This blog has been kinda dead lately so I have decided to change things a bit. I am no longer training folks since my accident last May 2009, because of a couple of nagging back issues.

So this will now become a personal blog, where I expound on stuff I think is important, and you may too. Things like living a life of integrity, what ethics means to me, some anecdotes and updates on family goings on and whatnot.

If you want business building websites built, follow the links. If you want Hybrid Consulting to help grow your business, head here to Performance Marketing Warriors. If your business needs internet marketing packages specifically, look no further than Gold Coast Internet Marketing.

Speaking of congruence, that site is top of local Google search for internet marketing on the Gold Coast. This just proves the importance of local search in the future economic scheme of things, amongst others. And that I can do what I say I can do.

So many companies get bamboozled and buy SEO and other online services from companies who are not even on the first two or three pages of Google, much less the number one listing themselves for what they sell … Money and opportunity wasted unnecessarily.

One of my clients client used the internet to get more leads - yellow pages and referrals weren’t enough. Now about 40% of their new business comes from their website and they are growing where other businesses in the same sector are finding things very tough. Google the phrase “gold coast montessori” and see how Fridays Child fits in. They appear high in organic, online video and the local search box.

Congruence. Integrity. Alien concepts to some folks, but the very stuff of a long lived business.

Stay Awesome
Rick

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Just sent out another batch of emails as part of my “who answers their email” research program. This one is Home Air Conditioning (HVAC) installers. Will be interesting to see how many reply.

BTW the final tally of accountants was 33/64 which was 2% less than expected. So it begs the question, why spend all that money o…n a yellow pages ad with an email or web address IF you aren’t gonna answer sales enquiries from it?

Growing Up or Growing Old?
By: Author Unknown

The first day of school our professor introduced himself
and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already
know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched
my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old
lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire
being.

She said, “Hi, Handsome! My name is Rose. I’m 87 years
old. Can I give you a hug?”

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course you
may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze.

“Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I
asked. She jokingly replied, “I’m here to meet a rich
husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then
retire and travel.”

“No, seriously,” I asked. I was curious what may have
motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

“I always dreamed of having a college education, and now
I’m getting one!” she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and
shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends.
Every day for the next three months we would leave class
together and talk nonstop.

I was always mesmerized listening to this “time machine”
as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the
course of the year, Rose became a campus icon, and she
easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress
up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from
the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our
football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. She
was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began
to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her 3×5 cards on
the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed, she leaned
into the microphone and simply said, “I’m sorry I’m so
jittery. I gave up beer for Lent, and this whiskey is
killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order, so let
me just tell you what I know.” As we laughed, she cleared
her throat and began:

“We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old
because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to
staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have
to laugh and find humor everyday. You’ve got to have a
dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many
people walking around who are dead, and they don’t even
know it!” she said.

“There is a huge difference between growing older and
growing up. If you are nineteen years old, lie in bed for
one full year, and don’t do one productive thing, you will
turn 20 years old. If I am 87 years old, stay in bed for a
year, and never do anything, I will turn 88. Anybody can
grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability,” she
added.

“The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity
in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have
regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not
do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.”

She concluded her speech by courageously singing “The
Rose.” She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and
live them out in our daily lives.

At the year’s end, Rose finished the college degree she
had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation,
Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over 2,000 college
students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful
woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be
all you can possibly be.

I have seen most of the movies these clips are from - how many have you watched?

Live an inspired life.

Rick

p.s. I have a new internet marketing site for brick and mortar businesses - go see

I am no anarchist but people can show extraordinay courage in the face of oppressive government. This song is beast …