New York and 60 stories of falling glass

I had no idea my life could end that day. It was autumn in New York, I had been there for 10 days and had spent practically every daylight hour holed up in my hotel room working for the army of clients I was representing there. I was making a lot of money but I was exhausted and I missed my family. Finally after completing my projects I had 6 hours to kill before I had to leave to catch my plane. I planned to spend those hours outside in the sun. The weather was perfect “autumn in Manhattan’-- crisp, colorful and brisk. I set off for Bryant Park, a slice of peace behind the New York Public Library, and walking from 59th I headed down 6th Avenue. A vendor beguiled me to buy a purse and then I picked up a banana at the next. This was more like it, I could finally relax, breathe even. As I stepped into a crosswalk with several other New Yorkers I heard a large resounding crack and looked up. Way up above us was what looked like be a giant piece of cardboard wafting down. I barely had time to think about why a large piece of cardboard would float down from the top of a huge skyscraper when a voice shouted in my head, “Run!” Still looking up I realized it wasn’t cardboard but a city-block-sized piece of glass falling from the building to our right and it was huge enough to crush all of us. (more later)

I had no idea my life could end that day. It was autumn in New York, I had been there for 10 days and had spent practically every daylight hour holed up in my hotel room working for the army of clients I was representing there. I was making a lot of money but I was exhausted and I missed my family. Finally after completing my projects I had 6 hours to kill before I had to leave to catch my plane. I planned to spend those hours outside in the sun. The weather was perfect “autumn in Manhattan’-- crisp, colorful and brisk. I set off for Bryant Park, a slice of peace behind the New York Public Library, and walking from 59th I headed down 6th Avenue. A vendor beguiled me to buy a purse and then I picked up a banana at the next. This was more like it, I could finally relax, breathe even. As I stepped into a crosswalk with several other New Yorkers I heard a large resounding crack and looked up. Way up above us was what looked like be a giant piece of cardboard wafting down. I barely had time to think about why a large piece of cardboard would float down from the top of a huge skyscraper when a voice shouted in my head, “Run!” Still looking up I realized it wasn’t cardboard but a city-block-sized piece of glass falling from the building to our right and it was huge enough to crush all of us. (more later)

60 stories of falling glass

Today we made the final changes on the Small Business Marketing Survival Series “24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing” and the “Do it yourself Marketing & Social Media Strategy Series” training. Internet, Web and Online Social Media Communications Education for people who want to market, sell, connect, and compete online!

Before I can do one more thing I need to share the story of the day I decided to put all I know about marketing on to paper, or computer. What was it that urged me to immediately focus? 60 stories of falling glass! I want to share a life-changing story so you know why I think learning to use marketing and social media to promote your business is essential. It’s the reason I wrote this Small Business Marketing Survival Series.
I had no idea my life could end that day. It was autumn in New York, I had been there for 10 days and had spent practically every daylight hour holed up in my hotel room working for the army of clients I was representing there. I was making a lot of money but I was exhausted and I missed my family. Finally after completing my projects I had 6 hours to kill before I had to leave to catch my plane. I planned to spend those hours outside in the sun. The weather was perfect “autumn in Manhattan’-- crisp, colorful and brisk. I set off for Bryant Park, a slice of peace behind the New York Public Library, and walking from 59th I headed down 6th Avenue. A vendor beguiled me to buy a purse and then I picked up a banana at the next. This was more like it, I could finally relax, breathe even. As I stepped into a crosswalk with several other New Yorkers I heard a large resounding crack and looked up. Way up above us was what looked like be a giant piece of cardboard wafting down. I barely had time to think about why a large piece of cardboard would float down from the top of a huge skyscraper when a voice shouted in my head, “Run!” Still looking up I realized it wasn’t cardboard but a city-block-sized piece of glass falling from the building to our right and it was huge enough to crush all of us. (more later)

Sentimental over Facebook

how wonderful it is to reconnect with old friends and chat with them in quick snippets almost like you are running into them in the halls of university or workplaces from the past! Facebook warms my heart and reminds me of all the good people I have know! Okay a little mushy still the way I feel is the way I feel!!

The first tip for Online Marketing Survival in 2009

Marketing equals sales!

To sell you need customers, to reach customers you need marketing. Marketing can be expensive. Expenses are often cut when sales dip. To keep selling you need to keep marketing but it needs to be affordable. Traditional marketing in the form of print, direct mail, TV and radio ads are enormously costly and are not producing the desired returns. This is a serious problem that will affect every business which needs to keep marketing if they want to keep selling. The good news is that now more than ever before in the history of the world there are marketing options that are more affordable and effective thanks to the Internet, the Web and online social communications. So, if you want to survive in 2009 and definitely beyond, you'll want to make a note of some of these simple online marketing survival strategies.
First, learn to do it yourself! If you are going to survive in the new marketing industry you will need to learn how to implement online marketing and use the many tools the Internet offers. There are thousands of companies and website that offer their services but do you know what you are looking for? Do you know which marketing tools are best for your company? Before you hire anyone or buy anything, know what to expect by taking an affordable online marketing training that will give you an overview and help you build a marketing strategy that will work for your company. Visit www.powerstrategies.TV for Internet, Web and online social communications training series. Take the 5-part audio, video and downloadable guide training that will give you a crash course on marketing survival and have you strategically selling online. Get your FREE Small Business Marketing Survival Terms just for taking the time to visit.
Additionally, while building your company marketing strategy learn how listening and buying online in the same location makes Internet talk radio the perfect venue to advertise any online product. Learn to make your product and website dynamic and give it validation. Messages couched in an informative third-party validation style, easily familiar to listeners used to receiving content from a network aggregator like NBC or FOX, makes listeners comfortable and open to the host’s message.
This is just the tip of the iceberg on how you can survive in online marketing. Honestly, if your company is going to survive in 2009 you will need to learn about the latest online marketing trends and implement them. Remember, education is the first step to effective marketing and selling online!

Kim Power Stilson ponders life

What makes the difference between a successful business and one that you pour years, your money, your soul and your family's soul into only to become another business failure statistic in 2-5 years? Why do some people work like we do, out of the garage, basement or dining room, and end up a "million billionaires", while you end up losing your house?

Why? My company had its shining moments, we had a good product/service and, in fact, the first four or so years showed we were headed for success. So, what happened? As much as I hate to ask why and less like to face the answers, I discovered the answer, the secret, the key to success while face down in the mud.

It was the day after we had to close the business and my world was dark. Winter was turning slowly to spring and by that I mean the 8 foot wall of grey ice next to our driveway was finally beginning to melt. I had read every "power of positive thinking" book out there and some twice while trying to convince myself that there was a silver lining. I kept asking myself why I had failed. All comparisons to Edison's 6,000+ light bulb tries failed to cheer me up. I was supposed to be successful. I had watched others succeed and had confidentially joked with them that I would invite them to my castle in Ireland someday. Now, my hopes for someday seemed to be "never-ever day." What had I missed? The answer would not come and the pain of failure was sharp making it difficult to even breathe.

I did what a lot of people do when they need to think. I decided to go for a walk. After all, I had no business to claim my time and nothing else to do. I walked along seeing the beauty of the mountains forcing myself to be grateful. Look at the positive side; I said to myself, finally after years of working 70 hours a week now at least I had time to take a walk.

Suddenly, as if the world dropped off in front of my feet I fell, face down into a pool of post-thaw snow mud. I just lied there in the mud and wondered why I should get up. When I was finished feeling sorry for myself and grieving my lost business I suddenly knew why I had failed. It hit me right there in the mud exactly what the one strategy of success we had neglected which had caused the lack of success, the failure. It was embarrassing. We had a good product/service but it all had come down not doing this one thing. I had gotten so busy that I had forgotten, put off, not placed the importance into "marketing" my product/service. How many years had I wasted in doing the efforts of business only to find at the end that my product/service was worthless when not sold into the hands of consumers? If consumers did not know about my product then I wasn't selling and if my product wasn't selling than I did not have a business. Like me, I thought, as I started extricating myself from the tear and snow laden mud, with no business.

How I Became a WAHM!

I am guest blogging for Power Strategies today. Enjoy! - Debbie

I was reading a recent post on twitter which said SAHM wanting to be a WAHM. I thought those were the strangest acronyms and quickly googled them to see what they meant. I guess SAHM means Stay at Home Mom and WAHM is Work at Home Mom. Having just gone through the program created on www.powerstrategies.tv I have now become a WAHM. Amazing that finding one program, a program that actually supports being a SAHM and will discount their program becuase they see value in who I am, can change my life. I know you have heard this a million times, but Kim Power Stilson is the real thing and she really wants Women, Small Businesses, and Stay at Home Parents to become successful and accomplish their dreams. So about the business I have…

I owned this site since 2005 called Links for Learning, www.links-for-learning.com and this was a great site for parents to come to and educate themselves and their children. Yet, I was missing a great aspect of online marketing that I knew I needed but was unable to figure out. Having just graduated with social media certification, I am able to take my company to the next level and truly support my family from the home. I think this is every mothers dream. So now I guess I am both, a SAHM and a WAHM… what more in life could I ask for? Maybe a dog.