Welcome to April. In the area I live this is the time of year that we get to sing, “April showers bring May flowers.” If April is anything like March, there will be flowers galore in May.

This brings a smile to my face. Mostly because I love to work in my flower gardens. At last count, I have 5 flower gardens. I find gardening to be such an incredibly meditative process. I can “play” for hours in my garden and it may seem like a fraction of the time.

The last month has been incredible. I have been working with a group of folks on a product launch that takes place beginning on April 1^st. There are ten people involved in the project. Each person is an expert in their field.

Six months ago these experts joined an exclusive mentoring course I developed to learn how to expand their market reach by way of the Internet, product development and sales, events development, increased visibility and much more. Not only have they learned what to do, they have been consistently putting their knowledge into action.

Before I launched the mentoring course six months ago, each person completed an application and had an interview with me. I was very clear on the fact whomever joined in had to be committed to what they would be learning.

Although quite a few people completed an application and went through the interview process with me, I could only accept those into the program who I knew would be the best fit for the group. A primary prerequisite was a sincere desire to learn and apply what they would learn. They also had to commit to a minimum amount of time to learn, study and implement the information.

On Tuesday, April 1^st you will reap the benefit of what they have been doing over the last six months. I persuaded the group to let me pull together an incredible package of information products valued at over $450.00 at no cost to you. Each expert has authorized the rights to free distribution for a limited time only.

Best of all, there is nothing to buy! All you have to do is decide which gifts you would like, click the link you will be sent in a few days and enjoy the gifts. You are welcome to download as few or as many of the gifts as you would like. It is a very diverse selection.

You can choose gift eBooks and MP3 files in areas of leadership, Internet Marketing, relationships, success, life purpose, health and nutrition, marketing, sales and more. Be looking for a special message to arrive soon.

As many of my readers know, I love animals. Over the years many of my pets have been rescues. The most recent addition to our family is Storm. She is a cat that we estimate is around 12 years old. She is more like a dog than a cat. She will follow myself and my partner around the house, roll over on her back for a belly rub, sit for food and lay next to my feet as I am working.

What a treat she is and a great addition to the menageries of critters in our household. The cat on the left is Storm. The cat on the right is Gypsy, our 1-year-old rescue cat.

On a completely different note, I have added a new feature to my website. I will be keeping my readers informed about upcoming events at http://www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/Marketing Teleseminars.htm#live. After any event such as an interview or teleseminar has passed that is free to the public, I will post the audio file. This allows you to listen at your convenience.

You will also see some conferences I am presenting at. One is the 2008 Publishing (PMA) Conference happening in Los Angeles, California in late May. I will be presenting on How to Promote and Sell eBooks in a Multi Media World.

I am the keynote speaker at the Executive Women International Little Rock Chapter Executive Night in June. My presentation is entitled, When Life Throws You a Curveball, Learn How to Catch.

In early April, I am the featured speaker at Women and Achievement:  The Real Story! http://oregonweo.org/april_2008.

If you are able to make any of these events I hope you will be sure to introduce yourself. For anyone who is interested in learning more about hiring me for your next conference or event feel free to email or call me. Kathleen @ kathleengage.com or 541.654.0426.

I also recently introduce my new blog called The Marketing Mindset. Visit www.themarketingmindset.com to subscribe.

In a few days I will be introducing another blog that has nothing to do with Internet Marketing, but rather it is the blog where you can read some of my thoughts on life, spirituality, community, giving and much more. Be looking for it.

Have a blessed month and live with passion!

Kathleen Gage
The Street Smarts Marketer™

Can Attraction Principles Work to Build Your Business?
By Kathleen Gage

Trends come and go. One day something’s hot, the next it’s not. Lately there’s been talk by millions of people about the law of attraction; think about what you want and it will manifest. Every month millions of dollars are spent on books, CDs, seminars, trainings and coaching sessions teaching the law of attraction or some version of it.

One would wonder if the information contained in these resources actually works. One might wonder what types of people subscribe to the law of attraction? And one might wonder if people are using the information solely for their personal life or are they applying it to business?

Is the law of attraction a fad or will it be around for some time to come? A better question might be, “when did people first learn of the law of attraction?”

The fact is, for some people it is a fad. For others it has become a way of life for years. A little research will quickly validate that the essence of the law of attraction has been around for thousands of years.

What’s missing?
I began studying the subject more than thirty years ago. Although not called the law of attraction, the resources I found dealt with the premise of “your thoughts become things.” As I look back, one thing missing in many of the books, CDs and seminars I attended was the fact that beyond thinking about something, taking action on my thoughts is essential. I also had to believe I deserved what I was asking for. And, it had to be my vision, not someone else’s.

For some it works!
I have met countless successful professionals who use the law of attraction to build their business and create a very happy life. These are people whose net worth is in the millions, they have a happy marriage or relationship, are in great health, overall they are very content and they are genuinely nice people. 

I also know plenty of people who struggle with how to make the law of attraction work for them. No doubt those who flounder ask themselves if the ability to attract what they want is true or is it a bunch of baloney?

It can be both depending on who you ask. Are you asking someone who has read a book, tried something once, given up and then said it doesn’t work? Or are you asking someone who has successfully applied the attraction principles as a way of life?

Consider this….
In order for the law of attraction to work you must first be clear on what you want. For example, highly successful business people are clear on what they want to see become a reality in their business. They think about it, write about it, talk about it, plan it and become very, very aware of it.

By determining what you want to happen with your business you create a high level of awareness. However, awareness alone is not a formula for success. You must also be willing to take action.

This is where many people seem to misinterpret what the law of attraction actually is. One client I have been working with for over a year is a master at applying the principles to his professional as well as personal life.

Not new to this way of thinking, he began studying the power of thoughts over 30 years ago. By applying attraction principles to all areas of his life he has built one of the most successful dental practices in the United States, will soon be celebrating 35 years of marriage, is in top physical shape in his late 50’s, has a deeply spiritual life, recently released his first book and became an Amazon.com bestseller in early March.

Dr. Joe Capista will be the first to tell you he keeps his vision clear, takes daily action, watches his self-talk and accepts that some things take time to materialize. He contends that giving up is what most people do before they experience what is possible through the law of attraction. His new book contains detailed information of how he applied this information to create a life that took him from a struggling student, growing up in an average blue-collar neighborhood to becoming wildly successful.

So how does this apply to you? Think about your daily conversations. On the one hand do you say, “I want to increase revenues by $xx amount” and then on the other hand talk about how hard times are? Many people do. Then they wonder why they can’t seem to move forward. Or if they do, before long they are backsliding. They’re conversation is in direct opposition to their goals.

The opening quote in Dr. Joe Capista’s book is, “You can have anything in life you want if you want it badly enough and are willing to pay the price.” Click Here

What is the price you are willing to pay to build the life you want?

Kathleen Gage aka The Street SmartS Marketer™, is an Internet marketing expert who works with Coaches, Speakers, Authors and Consultants who are ready to turn their expertise into money-making products and services. Entrepreneurs. To inquire about her consulting and speaking services visit www.kathleengage.com

Whether You Believe Things are Good or Bad, You’re Right!

Have you heard people talk about how slow business is right now? Read virtually any newspaper, watch newscasts, listen to commentaries and you’ve likely been exposed to the “business is slow” conversations. Millions of people are holding daily conversations about how slow things are.

On the other hand, there are those who are experiencing more business growth now than ever. Their conversations are not of how slow things are. Rather, about how much opportunity there is.

How can this be? After all, the media is telling us we need to worry. They’re not just telling us, they are repeating it over and over again until we “get it”. During a newscast talking about the state of the economy there is often a commercial on debt-reduction. Wow! That’ll fix it.

The fact is, whether you believe business is slow or it is booming, you are right. It has been proven time and again that what we believe to be true is true.

When people support a specific belief they often reinforce it over and over again in order to prove they are right. After all, don’t we want to be right? Even to the detriment of our business and livelihood?

If you are one who has been chanting, “Business is slow, business is slow,” there’s an equally good chance you are talking more than taking action that could feasibly create revenue streams that will counter this belief.  This allows you to be right.

On the other hand, if you happen to be one who believes there are ample opportunities you will likely take the action that supports this belief. Thus, you make yourself right.

Which would you rather be right about? How slow things are or how abundant things are?

More than simply thinking about increasing your business flow, you must also take action behind the thought. I hold a belief that massive action creates massive thought. I also believe my actions must be specific to the result I desire. I also choose to be in the group that believes there are ample opportunities for others and for me. I also surround myself with people who have similar beliefs with opportunity.

Interesting that my business is doing great as are the businesses of others who hold the belief that there are incredible opportunities at every turn. Hmmmm.

If you want to increase not only your revenues, but your profit margins, here are a few tips on building a consistent flow of business throughout the year.

When someone first uses your service, send some type of a follow up to him or her. This can be done via emai0, phonel or the postal service. Since email is becoming so commonplace, you may want to consider an actual letter or card in order to stand out from the crowd.

Additionally, if you have a slump in business take that time to call clients/customers in your database. This seems to be a lost art.

Some time ago I stopped into a pet store to pick up supplies. I took the time to say hello to the groomer and see how things were going. Rather than being happy to see me, the customer, the groomer started complaining about how slow things were.

The groomer expressed frustration because several people had made appointments for that day and didn’t show up. She went on and on about how inconsiderate “all” people are.

I asked her if she made it a part of her business practice to call clients to remind them of their appointment. As I suspected, there wasn’t.

It’s not uncommon for people to forget. Also, what her customers may not realize is that if they don’t show, she doesn’t make money.

Instead of taking action, she kept telling me how slow business was. “I knew it would be. Everyone I know is saying the same thing.” Wow! Talk about supporting a belief. When I told her that the people I knew were talking about how great business is, she was shocked.

She asked what she could do to increase her revenues. My suggestions were as follows:

1. Require a 50% deposit when the person makes the appointment. No shows forfeit the deposit. There is a level of commitment people make when there is a monetary exchange.

If someone refuses to put down a deposit they may not be serious about their appointment.

It is about setting appropriate business boundaries.

2. After the appointment, send a thank you card to the pet – of course addressed to in care of the owner. This is not a common practice so the groomer will suddenly become someone who cares about your pet rather than someone who simply grooms the pet. By sending the card to the pet the groomer is adding a pinch of humor. It is likely the pet owner may show his or her friends the thank you card because it is so unique. This likely could increase referral business.

3. When business is slow, pull out the past and current client list. Get on the phone and find out who needs a grooming right now.

A dialogue such as, “Hi Mary, I notice that Max is due for a grooming. We tend to get very busy this time of year and I want to make sure you are able to get an appointment. Let’s go ahead and book you for one right now. Let me go ahead and get your credit card number so we can take care of your deposit on that. Thanks and see you on _____.”

4. Each day, spend a few minutes going through the booked appointments for the following few days and make a quick call to remind people of their pet’s appointment. You will be amazed at how this will reduce the no shows.

What was amazing is the groomer said, “That won’t work. I tried it once.” Aghhhhh. She is destined to continued frustration and likely will be closing her doors very soon. Of course, that would support her belief that business is slow thereby making her right!

You say you don’t have a pet store and grooming services. No problem. Think about what you just read and how it might apply to your business.

In these changing times, it is up to you to be as flexible and creative as possible. Instead of singing the “Business is Slow” blues, keep in touch with your customers and clients, check your beliefs and take action towards a specific result. You will be amazed at the results.

Kathleen Gage aka The Street SmartS Marketer™, is an Internet marketing expert who works with Coaches, Speakers, Authors and Consultants who are ready to turn their expertise into money-making products and services. Entrepreneurs. To inquire about her consulting and speaking services visit www.kathleengage.com