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By Audrey Lizee That farm woman would be me; a small town, farm grown girl, now small town farm wife and mother. There is a lot to be said about the benefits of being raised on a farm but I recall as a child always wanting to live in town, and my town friends wanted to be on the farm. The same can be said for our kids as they were growing up, but obviously there have always been pros and cons to both urban and rural living. Change is one guarantee we have in life and farming has surely experienced its share over the years, most of which has not been positive. So, what is it that keeps the diehards pushing forward? Perseverance? Stubbornness? Love of the land? No options? Debt? I have the opportunity of joining my husband on coffee row with the farmers once in a while and I guess I have gained a new perspective as well as some knowledge. I see beyond coffee row now. It is such a melding place of farmers from the area who all carry their different farming practices and opinions into one room, at the same table, sharing a common ground; camaraderie at its finest! What I see in a morning of coffee talk mostly revolves around the farming issues, but once in a while the topic drifts into space. I have noticed though, that the language adjusts a little when one of the women joins the table. Now, who ever said there is no respect these days? What I also see/hear is a sharing of stories, or experiences, or an attempt to solve government issues, vent about taxes, grain prices, wheat board, CAIS, AIDA or politicians. Sometimes conversation is in French, at which time I send my brain elsewhere, sometimes it is in English but it seems to me that the conclusion is not reached one way or another. I have heard comments like, just bring back the crow, or I am sick of fixing old junk or I guess the rain is good for next year or can I give you a hand this afternoon? or the detailed description about the latest inventions in someones shop! (At this point, us women cannot fake comprehension!) On these mornings I hear a lot of laughter, oh so good for the pessimistic soul. Sometimes the pessimist accidentally sits with the optimistic. Then you have your more experienced farmers making it clear that these new modern technologies are for the birds and the young farmers make it known that these old farts are behind the times, but all in good fun. Even the retired farmers can keep farming by joining coffee row. In recent weeks, I have heard anything from swearing at old machinery to grain price outlook, fuel prices, to rotten weather, risk of frost and late crops. These are just a few things they deal with year after year, but they keep coming back and so do I, as I try to figure out what keeps these guys farming and somewhat positive. There even seems to be some of the old bartering or horse-trading going on, whether it be machinery, favors, product or manpower. It appears to me that if they came there in a dilemma, they will leave with some sound advice, some physical help, or a better outlook just from the good conversation. If nothing else, the caffeine will keep them going till lunchtime. Ultimately, we all benefit if the farming community benefits. For those of you who do not believe this and still believe farmers are whiners, waiting for the handouts, how about dropping in on the locals down on coffee row some morning. You have nothing to lose and possibly some new perspective to gain. From A Farm Womans Perspective, I say you form a league of your own, and I believe we all win if your team wins! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Audrey_Lizee http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Farm-Womans-Perspective&id=110855 pogo payday freecell cheats cash advance locations in zip 43015 cash advance for bad credit pay day cash advance no faxing

By Paul Guzman Winter Care for Water Fountains Most water fountains and statuary are made of “concrete”. It has a tendency to expand and contract with climate temperature changes. Do NOT let water collect and freeze in the fountain bowl, planters, birdbaths and statuary. You should always protect any concrete type fountain, etc…from freezing conditions. If you cannot store your fountain, bird bath, or planter inside you should do the following: Remove pump from water fountain and store inside. Fill bowls or planters with burlap bags, blankets, or any type of material that will protect it from freezing temperatures. The entire fountain or statuary should be covered. Do NOT leave any surface exposed. Be sure to place planters and birdbaths on higher ground or surface. Keep them away from water that may freeze. Following the above precautions during the winter season, you will protect any cast stone products for years of beauty and enjoyment. You can use about 1tlbs of clorox to about 5 gallons of water to help minimize algae. Summer Water Fountain Care. Keep all debris out of water fountains. Clean at least twice per month. Clear pump of any debris that may accumulate around it. You can use about a capful of bleach in the water to keep algae from forming. You can also use a product call “Consan fungicide/algaecide” Water treatment. It helps to reduce the algae that builds up in your fountain or anything that holds water through the summer months. Call your local nursery for such a product. You can also read the above tips online at: http://www.guzmansgreenhouse.com/waterfountaincare.htm Gary & Paul Guzman are the authors of this article: Gary is the owner and Color Your World Nurseries Located in Las Cruces, NM. Paul is the webmaster of guzmansgreenhouse.com Comments should be sent to mgr@guzmansgreenhouse.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Guzman http://EzineArticles.com/?Winter-Care-For-Water-Fountains-And-Statuary&id=374186 jewelry no credit check johnny paycheck syndrome advance payday loans palm coast fl countrywide home loans short sale

By Earl Powers Do you have a motor home, all-terrain vehicle, tractor, motorcycle or any other motorized transportation with less than four wheels? Did you buy it brand new only to find out it is a dud, something like a car lemon? Your rights as a consumer when it comes to the lemon law and its interpretation depends on which state you live in. Nope, it is not the state of denial, which is what you would like to live in after spending all that money, only to get a dud vehicle! Let’s look at the lemon law Florida has passed through legislature. Their lemon law only covers new vehicles bought or leased. The vehicle use must be for private or personal use and does not include any vehicles ridden off road or any vehicles less than four wheels. And the lemon law California has does not take into account the off-road vehicles and other modes of transportation other than a new vehicle with four wheels. However, motor home chassis are covered, but not the body. If you live in Texas, however, you can enjoy one of the most liberal lemon laws in the United States. Recreational modes of transportation like three or four wheelers, motorcycles, motor homes, cars, trucks and vans are all covered as long as they are new vehicles. No used car lemons or the like are considered. Other states are a bit more liberal in their interpretation of these laws. New Hampshire is one of them as is New Mexico and North Carolina. Other states typically cover new cars, small trucks and vans in their car lemon law. Some are conditional when it comes to recreational vehicles, motorcycles and motor homes. For instance, the state of Illinois covers recreational vehicles under their lemon law but not motorcycles. In New Jersey however, they do cover motorcycles and even motor homes. Ohio covers motorcycles as does Washington. Depending on where you live, you will probably want to consult with one or two lemon law attorneys to interpret the law for you. Because some states just mention any motorized mode of transportation that you use for family or personal use that leaves the field wide open to speculation. What is interpreted as a motorized vehicle? Each state will probably have a different answer. Virginia, Wyoming, Oregon, Maine and Minnesota have more general interpretations than most. You could be a retiree with a brand new motor home, ready to hit the open roads of the United States. Or you could be a farmer or rancher that used tractors and recreational vehicles like a four-wheeler for farm work. Maybe you are a motorcycle rider trying to save on gas or you ride a moped around your college town. No matter what the circumstance, brush up on the lemon laws your state has or consult with lemon law lawyers if you are having difficulties with your new mode of transportation. Remember your rights will vary depending on where you reside. Earl Powers, US Lawyer and Lemon Vehicle expert - focusing on Lemon Law In and Lemon Vehicle Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Earl_Powers http://EzineArticles.com/?Sour-Grapes-over-Lemon-Laws-for-Non-Traditional-Motor-Vehicle-Owners&id=143644 west virginia payday loan hialeah bad credit car loan payday loan lender no credit check loans

By Sean Carter Just remember the time when you were a kid. You would desperately try to complete your homework so that your mom would allow you to play basketball with your neighbor. At that point of time our friends were basically our playmates. And as we stepped into adolescence our childhood playmates had to make way for our new pals. With them, we would share anything under the sun and the topic of discussion would range from the annoying meal you had in the afternoon to the handsome new guy who had recently taken admission in school. However the serene land of friendship is often invaded by a green eyed monster and is better known by the name jealousy. And it affects different individuals in different manner. Some would get jealous about a new career opportunity that has come in way of his class mate, or it could be a more simple matter like winning female attention at a dance party. Surprisingly, friendship acquires a new dimension when it blossoms between two young people of opposite genders. It is a friendship with a fragrance of mutual liking and admiration and sometimes is a gateway to a romantic relationship. Though there is a thin line of demarcation between friendship and love, we can not deny that the foundation of a romantic relationship is mutual understanding and rapport. It is at this point of time, our soul mates occupy the place of our friends. A good number of well known novels highlight friends as messenger of god. And any time a friend is unable to do a favor to us we tend to describe them as selfish. But we have to realize that a friend is a human being and just like other human beings he too has his own limitations. In the long drawn journey of life we meet new people, befriend them, and with the passage of time, they are left behind and are replaced by new ones. But only a few of them is left with us when we are on the verge of retirement. Our friends become our trusted companions. And it is at this time our friendships are festooned with the most essential component of it. It is faith. A child would trust anyone who comes in his life and his trust is shadowed by doubts as he becomes older but interestingly he regains the same at his old age. As per the psychologists, this happens due to the fact that during old age, just as a person becomes physically dependent upon others, he becomes emotionally dependent too. But, at the same time, it is quite true that a friendship is complete when you become emotionally dependent upon your friend. We often tend to forget, that just like any relationship, friendship needs to be nurtured with care. When was the last time you entertained your friend with a surprise gift? How often do we send friendship ecards to our pals? It is important to express our friends that we care for them. To conclude, when any relationship reaches a certain level of understanding, rapport and admiration, we term it as friendship. And it can blossom between a father and son, mother and daughter, grandparents and grandchildren or between two complete strangers. And it is the foundation of all existing relationship on the earth. Our friends make our life beautiful; they make us feel important, help us to understand that we are a part of them and ultimately makes our life fulfilling enough. Sean Carter writes on holidays, events and celebrations around the world. He also writes on complexitites and simplicities of relationships. He is a writer with special interest in ecard industry. He writes for 123greetings.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_Carter http://EzineArticles.com/?Colors-Of-Friendship&id=266732 bad credit secured personal loans payday loans available for persons paid monthly personal loan comparison cash advance structured settlement

By Earl Beal When you look at your figurine, what do you see? Do you see just a figurine or just an object? If so, I invite you to take a new look. I suggest you see your figurine as art. Why art you may ask? Because, in fact, that is what it is. But in order to see your figurine as art you must first understand what art is. If you were to look up the word art in a dictionary you would find various definitions. One of the definitions that I found in The Merriam Webster Dictionary was, the use of skill and imagination in the production of things of beauty; also works so produced. From the above definition you should have no problem in acknowledging that your figurine is art! But to further clarify, permit me to give you my interpretation of the word. Simply stated, art is anything of beauty that is produced that bear resemblance to or has imitation of its model. It is important to realize that art (that which is produced) may have an exact resemblance to or an imagined resemblance to its model. Equally important to keep in mind is that beauty is in the eye of the interpreter. Can you think of a more perfect definition of a figurine than the one just given for art? A figurine is a thing of beauty (in someones eye). A figurine has resemblance (in someones mind). And a figurine has imitation (it mimics its model). Beauty + resemblance + imitation = art (or figurine). When I view a figurine as art, I see the figurine in a whole new perspective. It gives me the ability to see the figurine beyond the object that it is and to see it in the essence of that which it represents to me. If you have never viewed your figurine as art I strongly encourage you to do so. In a sense, it gives you an opportunity to become the artist of the art. It allows you to use your imagination to produce the beauty in the art as you see it. It grants you the opportunity to determine the resemblance of the model from your perspective. But more than that, it will permit you to connect with your emotions and experience the imitation of the art as it relates to you. So, if you have not done so, go ahead. Give your figurine a new look. The look of art! Earl Beal Own/Manger Figurines and Such http://www.figurinesandsuch.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Earl_Beal http://EzineArticles.com/?Take-a-New-Look-at-Your-Figurine&id=494631 what is an unsecured personal loan same day money loans buy appliances utah county monthly payments no credit check unsecured loanand default

By Mary Jeanne Vincent Are you one of the thousands of job seekers who question their sanity, marketability, and capacity to make smart decisions-just because youve lost your job? Are you wondering how to overcome these psychological challenges, rebuild your self-confidence, increase your marketability, and regain your sense of sanity? In todays competitive job market you need more than a killer rsum and great interviewing skills to survive. Twenty-first-century job seekers must be able to deal with ambiguity, maintain a winners mindset, demonstrate customer focus, and have a blow-your-socks-off rsum and excellent interviewing skills. All of this requires that you be at the top of your game emotionally, physically, and mentally. At one time or another, all job seekers face the same basic challenges: rsums that dont generate responses, telephone inquiries that dont produce interviews, few or no callbacks for second interviews, networks that dont perform, feedback from employers about not being a good match, and feeling stuck or otherwise unable to take action. Why is it that some job seekers are able to overcome these obstacles and move on to interesting, well-paying positions, while others languish in low-paying, uninspiring jobs-or worse yet, simply drop out of the market? Smart job seekers have learned that 99 percent of job hunting has to do with developing a Winners Mind-Set. Apply these tips and you too will succeed in the job search mind game. Todays Successful Job Seekers… 1. Have a handle on their emotions. They know that getting past negative emotions-fear, worry, anger, and embarrassment-all of which erode self-confidence-is essential to their long-term success. 2. Seek positive outlets for the frustrations that inevitably surface during a job search. 3. Refrain from job hunting until they are emotionally ready and prepared with solid marketing materials: rsum, business cards, and references. 4. Take time to review and assess their accomplishments, knowledge, and abilities before developing their job search strategy. 5. Learn from the experience of losing a job-whether it was the result of downsizing, company closing, or other circumstance - and find a way to capture the essential elements of the event and explain them in a meaningful way during job interviews. 6. Determine the price of being stuck in the job search, calculate the cost of not moving forward, make adjustments, and then take action. 7. Brainstorm ways around repeated resistance. 8. Use lulls in the job search wisely, to catch their breath and prepare for the next summit. 9. Let go of any shame or embarrassment they may feel about their situation and concentrate on the future. 10. Ask for help when they need it! Implement these ten tips and you will have mastered the psychology behind a job search! — This information is for educational purposes only. Do not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention. If you are concerned about your mental health or that of another, please consult your family’s health care provider immediately. About The Author Hi, Im Mary Jeanne Vincent. I help real job seekers just like you find jobs that meet the triple-F test: work thats fun, fulfilling, and financially rewarding. Ask about WorkWise Words of Wisdom Uncover Your Passion tip cards-50 easy-to-use tips guaranteed to jumpstart the process of finding the work you love and loving the work you do. Only $24.99! For information, write to mailto:mjv@2bworkwise.com or call 831.657.9151. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Jeanne_Vincent http://EzineArticles.com/?From-The-WorkWise-Collection:-Ten-Ways-to-Win-the-Job-Search-Mind-Game&id=22390 paycheck stub samples payday advance loans guarenteed day before pay day cake payday installment loan

By Damian Sofsian Criminal bail bonds are necessary for people who have been accused of a crime to get out of jail while awaiting court dates and/or trials. Once people are charged with crimes, they are entitled to apply for bail while the court case is being processed. There are companies that specifically deal in the processing and approval of bail bonds. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) is considered a crime. Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is similar to a DUI, and is also a crime. When arrested for DUI or DWI, it is often very serious. The court proceedings often take months, sometimes even a year or more, so it is common for people involved in these cases to seek and post bail, so as not to spend the time waiting for the court dates in jail, but rather at home. Criminal bail bond agencies help the accused make bail, which can be very high at times, and friends/family may not have the money for it on hand. Bail bond agencies normally collect particular percentage of the total bail amount (as dictated by law) and assure the court that the defendants will appear to all hearings as and when required. Bail bond agencies collect 10% of the bail amount as a premium. To have a friend/relative freed from jail, this amount has to be paid instantly. Once the payment is received, the procedures for getting that person released from the jail are arranged. Criminal bail bonds may sound simple, but in general, they are not. These proceedings take a long time and one has to be very patient. Especially in metropolitan cities, the number of crimes is increasing and so the criminal bail bond businesses aren?t lacking in customers. Bail Bonds provides detailed information on Bail Bond Agents, Bail Bond Companies , Bail Bond License, Bail Bond Schools and more. Bail Bonds is affiliated with Law Enforcement Training. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Damian_Sofsian http://EzineArticles.com/?Criminal-Bail-Bonds&id=410090 long term personal loans for people with bad credit 30 day loan where to get bank loan with bad credit long term no credit check loan

By Mark Webb Every marriage will go through times of challenge. Some marriages will be strengthened while others will be destroyed. Tough times may be as common as financial problems or the aftermath of a hurtful argument. Marriages may suffer as the result of a miscarriage or the death of a loved one. Whatever challenge you face, remember this: It is better to be prepared for tough times and not have them than to have tough times and not be prepared. Here are five of the essential principles to strengthen your relationship and give you an edge during times of adversity. 1) Be Mindful Not To Worry. If something needs to be fixed, fix it if you can but remember that worry never fixes anything. Worrying is a waste of time and energy. It’s like sitting in a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it gets you nowhere. Worry prevents you from seeing hope and solutions. Besides, most things we worry about never happen. 2) Be Patient Towards Your Partner. Patience is an excellent remedy for the tough times you will go through. You love your partner so don’t choose the moments of crisis to come down on them. Don’t let stress sway you into losing perspective. Realize that if you are not careful, adversity can damage your relationship. Stay away from blaming, using criticism to make a point, lecturing, sarcasm and name calling. Everything becomes possible again when love and patience are present. 3) Practice Forgiveness…It is amazing how quickly someone will turn on the person they love. Don’t let upset feelings infect your relationship. Resentments close the door on the possibility of a bright future. Love is a continous act of forgiveness. Everybody likes the idea of forgiveness until they have to be the one to forgive. If you want your relationship to be better than most, you must instill this habit of forgiveness. 4) Use Your Sense Of Humor. A laughing couple is much stronger than an arguing or withdrawn couple. If you can find humor in the challenge you are facing you can survive it. Laughter dissapates hopelessness. You cannot argue and laugh at the same time. It is impossible. The choice is up to you. 5) Vow To Stay Connected. Stand together against adversity. Promise to endure throughout the storms that most likely will come your way at some point or another. Staying connected takes practice. People commonly choose to withdraw from each other at times of trouble. This distance may feel safer but it does long term damage to the relationship. If you truly love your partner then vow “We will get through this, Together!” You are the only one who is responsible for your character. Do not let other people or circumstances determine your actions. If there is goodness in your relationship, then it is worth fighting for. Give your partner a message of committed reassurance. Let them know, “I’m Here For You.” and “We Will Get Through This.” Things To Keep In Mind During The Tough Times 1) Don’t blame each other for the situation. 2) Lower your expectations of one another until the crisis subsides. Eat leftovers or fastfood. Don’t worry too much about the housework. 3) Remind yourself that the tough times won’t last forever. 4) Don’t take advice from people who have a negative attitude. 5) Ask for help from family and friends. 6) Remember your love and commitment to each other. 7) It’s okay to let the answering machine take your calls. Reduce your stress by exercising and getting plenty of sleep. Mark Webb is the author of How To Be A Great Partner and founder of Partner Focused Relationships. Sign up for Mark Webbs Relationship Strategies Ezine ($100 Value). Just visit his website at http://www.powerfulrelationshipadvice.com or http://www.therelationshipspecialist.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Webb http://EzineArticles.com/?Getting-Through-The-Tough-Times-In-Your-Relationship&id=300784 hard money loans nj cash advances with savings accounts pay day loans portland oregon payday loans uk only

By Dr John Anne Fed up from the side effects of the drugs, people are now shifting towards alternative therapies for the cure and treatment of common problems. Home remedies are one of the alternative methods that have been proven inexpensive and can be easily made at home without many efforts. Since ages our ancestors were using these home remedies for the treatment of diseases but the latest inventions and discoveries in the field of medicines darkened the benefits of these home made treatments. In the recent times the people have again shifted towards these home remedies. Home remedies for some of the most common diseases and problems are: Acne Application of cucumber leaves or grated pieces of cucumber to the affected areas. Paste of fenugreek leaves applied overnight on the affected area and washed off next morning is also effective. Mix one tablespoon of besan flour and one teaspoon of lemon juice till a smooth paste is formed. Apply on neck and face and wash off when it gets dry. Acidity Drink a glass of cold milk to get quick relief from acidity. Drink a glass of water with a teaspoon of baking soda for immediate relief. Chewing bubble gum will also provide relief from acidity in few minutes. Arthritis With an empty stomach take 3-4 walnuts (akhrot) or 1 fresh coconut. Spread warm mustard oil on a madar leaf and apply to the affected area for a few hours . Drink some radish juice with sugar added to it. Asthma Drink a cup of black coffee, the warmth will break up the flem and the caffeine will help to remove tightness from the chest and throat. Add 30-40 leaves of tulsi in one liter of water, strain the leaves and drink the water throughout the day. Anaemia Eat 2-3 apples daily without peeling to increase the iron stores in the body. Intake of beet juice is highly beneficial for the anemic persons. Backache Drink some hot milk or water with powdered sonth, meetha soda, and salt. Massage the back with turpentine oil. For temporary and quick relief heat can be applied at the back with hot water bottle. Common cold Drink a cup of water with a few drops of garlic oil and a teaspoonful of onion juice. Rub the chest and throat with camphor water or oil. Drink honey and lemon juice in hot water to get relief from sore throat. Constipation Drink a tablespoon of corn syrup in a cup of water. Drink a glass of prune juice to facilitate bowel movement. Drinking a cup of coffee will also provide relief from constipation. Eczema Mix one teaspoon of camphor and one teaspoon of sandalwood to form a paste and apply on the affected e areas. Drinking Aloe Vera juice will help cleanse the system. Hair loss Wash hair with peppermint or spearmint tea to prevent hair loss and to promote hair growth . Wash hair with white vinegar periodically to prevent falling of hair. High blood pressure Mix half onion juice and half honey. Take 2 tablespoons once a day for 1-2 weeks. Eat two cloves of garlic every early morning. Eat one Papaya on an empty stomach daily for a month. High blood cholesterol Drinking onion juice daily for a week will lower the blood cholesterol. Eat a few garlic cloves every day to reduce blood cholesterol. Indigestion Drink aloe vera juice, papaya juice, or chamomile, comfrey, red raspberry, or peppermint tea. Drinking a glass of water with a tablespoon of baking soda will provide immediate relief. Obesity Eat 10 fresh curry leaves in the early morning for three or four months. Drink a cup of water with 3 teaspoons limejuice, one-fourth teaspoon powdered black pepper, and a teaspoon of honey every day for three months. Eat freshly sliced tomatoes with onion and lemon juice. Drink lemon juice with honey and warm water every morning. Sore throat Gargle every hour with vinegar water or salt water. Drink hot milk with honey at bedtime for immediate relief from sore throat. A teaspoon of honey will provide relief from sore throat. Stress Chewing 12 tulsi leaves twice a day, morning and evening is the highly beneficial treatment of stress. Various seeds such as alfalfa, sunflower and pumpkin are highly beneficial in the treatment of stress. The use of these home remedies is highly effective and causes no side effects on ones physical body. Visit http://www.ayurvediccure.com for Natural Home Remedies for Various Ailments, Diet, Lifestyle, Causes and Symptoms and Natural Herbal Remedies and Treatment by Herbs Checkout Home Remedies at http://www.ayurvediccure.com/homeremedies.com Natural Herbal Supplements at http://www.ayurvediccure.com/products.htm Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_John_Anne http://EzineArticles.com/?Natural-Home-Remedies-for-Acne,-Arthritis,-Backache,-Obesity,-Stress-and-Many-Ailments&id=117614 how to make paycheck cash buy generator loans goods paper free online payday advances christmas no fax cash advance

By Kelly O’Brien How to Take Your Law Firm to the Next Level Third in a series of three articles SO youve done such a good job at bringing in new clients to your firm that youre swamped with business, your firm is large and growing, and all parts of your marketing system are in place and running smoothly? Congratulations! If you can confidently answer “yes!” to the following metrics, then youre ready to take your practice to the next level: Is your firms mission perfectly aligned with your market? Do your marketing efforts create exactly the relationship your customers most want and need? Are your services well packaged, presented with a Whats In It For Me? punch, and priced at various levels? Do you know exactly where and how to promote your firms services? Does your marketing system routinely and predictably create the kinds of new customers your business requires? What happens next in many successful firms, however, is not good news. Instead of sticking with whats created success in the first place, the focus shifts away from a marketing mindset. Instead of being an essential lens through which people in your firm view their role, marketing as an every-day focus fades from importance. After all, why continue to invest the time and resources on marketing when youve got more business than you can handle now anyway? And shouldnt you spend time on whats now important, like internal operations, serving current clients, and other more urgent priorities? The answer is an emphatic NO! Not only will you erode all the hard work youve invested get to where you are, but it will be much harder (and expensive!) to turn your now larger and more complex ship around, once you lose that marketing mindset. The truth is, that once your firm gets more successful and, by definition, more complex, your energy and focus turn naturally more inward. As your business grows, it takes on a life of its own in the form of meetings, policies, training, politics, and reports. The larger your firm gets, the more energy is directed inward it simply takes more planning, management, and systems to keep things running smoothly. So how do you keep your firm from being consumed with internally focused activities? By developing and executing a strategy to Keep your firms mission alive, real, and relevant in the marketplace. Think of your firms mission as the magnetic north in your compass. For everything you do, constantly ask, what difference does this make in the lives of our customers? If it makes no difference (or the wrong difference), then why are you putting resources into it? Build this line of questioning into decisions you make and resources you allocate. Create and maintain laser-like internal alignment with your external mission in the marketplace. Everyones job should have a direct connection to serving the customer. That means tying rewards and consequences to how everyone at your firm contributes to building client relationships. Even if someone has no direct client contact, theyre supporting someone who does. Connect the dots between what they do and what it means to the client. Create new customers for old packages. Chances are, you havent saturated your current target market. Dont let the basics that got you to your current level of success fade away. And what about new target markets? What successful services do you have that you could offer to another segment? Create new services for old customers. Do a little researchask people on your front line what they think your customers need. Ask your customers directly or hire an outside firm to ask for you. Find out why you won and lost business. Youll be surprised, inspired, and motivated by what you learn. Create new packages for old services. Take what you know or do and put it into a new format or offering. You can create workshops, CDs, e-books, mini-books, on-line content, workbooks, checklists, and more out of just about any professional content you know or work with. Think beyond just charging an hourly fee for your services. Productize what you know by offering people helpful tools they can use. Ensure you and your leadership team are role models for the rest of your firm on how to create lasting relationships. What behaviors, words, standards, and approaches create lasting relationships with both clients and employees? Make sure your senior team walks the talk and, if they dont, fix the problem. If you cant model how to create lasting relationships at the top, others are less inclined to do it well. Deliver on your firms brand promise through solid practice management. The mark of a true professional is when your firms own act is together. Its not enough to be experts in your field, backed by the credentials and experience that are important to your target clients. You must also engage in continuous learning about your profession, your clients industries, and how to professionally manage your firm. Your firms leadership must act as a role model for how you want to be perceived in the marketplace. Are these high standards to set for your firm? Absolutely. But then again, youve already proven you do the basics well. Resting on your laurels will only go so far. Sooner than you think, loosing your focus on marketing will put you back to square one, scrambling for clients and worried about cash flow. Except this time, the stakes are higher, your profile in the marketplace is higher, and you have a lot more to lose. So why go there? Take your firm to the next level, and be confident you wont have to look back! References Putman, A. Marketing Your Services. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1990. (c) 2004 TurningPointe Marketing, Inc. All rights reserved. Marketing educator, Kelly O’Brien, is creator of the “Create a TurningPointe!” Marketing Bootcamp. To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up for FREE how-to articles and 20-page marketing guide, visit http://www.turningpointemarketing.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_O’Brien http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Take-Your-Law-Firm-to-the-Next-Level&id=7161 christmas cash advance company bad-credit-personal-loan-source costa rica money lenders desperate for a personal loan