Eyewitness Accounts from Tsunami Survivors

Tsunami survivors are turning to the Internet to record their experiences and reassure family and friends that they are well.

Brandon Behle of San Diego, CA was vacationing on Ko Phi Phi, Thailand when the tsunami struck. His travel blog for December 26 records, "The wave hit at 10:30 in the morning. I was getting breakfast, and was fortunate enough to see it and react. I survived the wave but lost most of my possessions. I headed up into the mountains with the rest of the survivors on my part of the island. We made it to the top of the island. And spent the night there. A Canadian family took me in and took care of me, kept me sane in general were my guardian angels.

We spent the night up there and in the morning helped carry down the critically wounded. Then we helped evacuate people at the MED EVAC center and search the debris for survivors. One of the most beautiful islands in the world was completely flattened and dead bodies lay all over the island. It was horribly, brutally, gruesome and something I would never want to see ever again. When our help wasn't needed anymore, we got on a boat and headed to Krabi on to the mainland. I am in a hotel safe and sound now and am heading to Bangkok tomorrow."

A full account of Brandon's experience can be found at http://www.mytripjournal.com/behle

Mark Chandler of Aberdeen City, UK was finishing breakfast on Ko Lanta, Thailand the morning of the 26th. His entry for that day reads "I noticed the sea disappear backwards away from the beach so the rocks and sand were uncovered, then out at sea we saw a huge freakin wave (about 20m - 30m in height) and basically we all stood and watched it pick up this 35ft boat and bring it towards shore. This brought the boat (about 150m out) right along in front of the resort as it was carried on this huge swell of murky water"

The URL of Mark's travel blog is http://www.mytripjournal.com/chan. It includes photographs of the tsunami from Ko Lanta as well.

Travel blogs will also have their part in the relief effort as aid workers attempt to communicate with supporters back home. Personal website provider MyTripJournal.com is offering free websites to any member of a relief organization who wants to use it to record their experience and keep in touch. Interested parties should email Paul Melhus at support@MyTripJournal.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Paul K. Melhus
Co-Founder, MyTripJournal.com
phone: 604.688.0914 (toll-free: 877.842.2507) email: pmelhus@MyTripJournal.com

MyTripJournal.com provides personal websites for travelers. A free trial version is available to at:
http://www.MyTripJournal.com.

Making Your Vocation Your Vacation

The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation. -- Mark Twain

Can I ask you how you spent your time this summer?

Did you spend it diligently updating your site, or on developing new offers ready to greet the "busy season" that is almost upon us? Now it's time just to sit back and wait for all those orders to come rolling in, right?

Yeah, we WISH! :-)

Don't fret if you didn't get everything done yet, because September is frequently better at inspiring us to make order out of our chaos than New Year. (Apparently, this might be due to Virgo's industrious influence.)

Maybe it's just a cultural habit we've developed out of the need to get organized at the beginning of a new academic year -- even if we're no longer *officially* in school.

And certainly, the incentive of jingling sleigh bells in a few short weeks (yes), accompanied by the similar tune of some extra pocket change, DO make it a good time to push ourselves forward with renewed enthusiasm and hope.

On another positive note, if you haven't actually taken a vacation, then at least you won't be suffering from what the media often terms as, "Post Vacation Syndrome".

It didn't have a name back in my day, but I can certainly identify with that depressing feeling of not wanting to get up nor go back to that awful office after any break.

And not having to suffer from this distemper any more is certainly another big item to tick in the PROS column when deciding to work for yourself, doing something you enjoy.

Your outlook at this time of year may actually be a good indicator of whether you are on the right track, or not.

Do you feel eager anticipation, do you dread the tasks before you, or something in-between? Use your *gut* to help you take stock and adjust your ideas where necessary.

You still have to work at it, but this way becomes fun. The demarcation between vocation (work) and vacation (play), all but disappears. Whilst working from home is unlikely to reduce your hours in the short term, this, I feel, is a much more fulfilling and enduring compensation.

Former accountant & journalist, Pamela Heywood, has been working online since 1997 and from her home for even longer.
She writes many articles and tutorials, which range from inspirational to step-by-step tech stuff - explained in plain language. To benefit from her experience, visit:
http://www.pamela-heywood.com

Avoiding the Small Business Cash Flow Roller Coaster

By Rose Hill

A solopreneur I know disappears from my radar screen for weeks on end when she's actively engaged on a project for a client. During this time she is heads down, totally focused, and immersed in delivering her service to her current client. She works long hours each week, sacrificing her personal life, relationships, and self-care to meet her commitments to her client.

Laudable, but a destructive way to run her business.

After working all hours of the day and night to complete her project, she'll hand in the final deliverables and suddenly find she doesn't have another client lined up. Then she panics. That's when she starts returning phone calls and getting in touch her network, her former clients, and any prospects she might have ignored during her "work period."

She rides the feast-or-famine revenue roller coaster continuously. During her "work periods" she has cash coming in; during her "marketing periods" she has cash flowing out. And she has no idea how long her "marketing periods" will last or how much of her revenue she'll need to live on before she gets her next client signed up.

Does this sound familiar?

Here are the 5 biggest ways to avoid the feast-or-famine roller coaster:

1. Make time to consistently promote your business. Don't be like the solopreneur above and only participate in marketing activities when you are between jobs.

2. Build effective strategic alliances that leverage your marketing resources and enhance your visibility in the marketplace.

3. Get referrals from your current clients. (And that doesn't mean that you ask your client "Do you know anyone else who's hiring right now?" as you pass each other in the hallway! It does mean that you systematically build a referral engine for your business.)

4. Create project-oriented teams to level the workload, leverage your marketing resources, and expand the types of jobs you can get.

5. Work for multiple clients at the same time.

Running a business on the feast-or-famine roller coaster is hard on the cash flow aspect of your business and harder still on your nerves. With diligence and determination you can break this cycle.


***********Find more articles like this at www.Solo-E.com – Keeping Solo Entrepreneurs Juiced in Business and in Life. Our team of Solo Entrepreneurs are comprised of small business experts who support others in finding business success with the flexibility and freedom to have a life, too. Network with other freelancers, self-employed and Solo Entrepreneurs in our forums, enjoy our articles and newsletter, and find other online training opportunities.***********


___________________________________

Rose Hill, Founder and Owner, of Biz Whiz Expert (www.SoloBizVille.com) and Team Member of Solo-E.Com (www.Solo-E.Com) has been self-employed since 1990 — first as a technical writer and publications project manager, and now as a business coach for solopreneurs.

Knowing how to run corporate departments and how to market corporate entities, products, and services did nothing to prepare her for successfully running and marketing a one-person business. That is why Rose created the SoloBizVille and SoloBizU community — to specifically to help solo entrepreneurs jumpstart their business success without all the trial-and-error learning.

Shaping Your Reality

Greetings from Kauai. Usually I don't write an August newsletter but this year I'm breaking that pattern. Have you ever thought about how many habitual limiting patterns are controlling your life? You know, those belief systems that are preventing you from becoming who you want to be. No matter what you try to do differently you get sucked into that old familiar pattern that brings you down and is self defeating.

In my Letters on Life series I postulate that if you ask more empowering questions you can break out of this pattern because questions help you change what you focus on. If you focus on what is possible rather than on your limitations you are able to create new neuro-pathways and more empowering energy fields. You probably know the classic Native American Story about focus.

A Native American is having a conversation with his grandson about a tragedy.

"I feel like I have two wolves fighting a battle for my heart. A loving compassionate one and an angry vengeful one." The grandson then asks, "Which one do you think will win?" And the grandfather replies. "The one I feed."

Last night my wife Annie made a date with another couple for us to see a film and then have dinner. I was so totally inspired and stimulated by the film that a few days later I went to see it again and then came home and started writing.
"What the Bleep Do We Know" is the kind of film that you can see over and over again. The interviews with the many distinguished philosophers, physicists and psychics followed a day in the life of the main character portrayed by Marlee Matlin.

I have always been a firm believer in the way our thoughts influence our reality and our perception of reality. It has been my passion and desire to learn everything I can about the science of manifestation. In this pursuit I have read many personal growth and metaphysical books that have helped me understand the process in which we manifest our reality.

For the first time I have become aware of a visual interpretation documenting the science that explains this process. Masaru Emoto, the renowned Japanese scientist, with the use of the electron microscope was able to visually demonstrate the effects our thoughts have on water molecules. When loving thoughts are sent to the water molecules their whole molecular structure changes and what we see are beautiful snowflake like molecules. And with angry vengeful thoughts the water molecules mutate to this thought pattern.

Taking Emoto's work further it is scientifically accepted that our human bodies are comprised of 80% water. And if our thoughts can influence water molecules of which we mainly consist of, then our thoughts influence the way we think and feel.

Our thoughts are usually a reflection of our beliefs and attitudes. If we want to change our reality then we have to change these beliefs and attitudes that shape our thoughts.
Let's look at the process in which we do this.

It is important to remember that these negative thoughts are not the truth and just beliefs. Such a limiting belief might be "I'm not lovable." If this limiting thought persists it will become a self fulfilling prophecy and thus a barrier to our experience of love. Most people have experienced love at some point in their life and if probed usually feel that it is possible to experience it again. Once we breakthrough this barrier and change the inquiry to possibility we start to rekindle hope and optimism. Asking what is possible is the first step in shifting our focus. Once we shift our focus it is easier to recognize what it is we truly desire.

As I mentioned last month in Start Your Day With Intention this shift begins when you first begin your day. As you are able to stay focused on your intention as the day progresses your life becomes a masterpiece.

Here's a challenge for you. Identify one limiting belief and shift your attitude as to how you perceive it. Ask yourself what is possible.


© 2004 Mark Susnow, formerly a trial attorney for 30 years is a coach, speaker, and group facilitator. He’s inspired hundreds of people to believe in themselves and to achieve their goals and dreams. Contact Mark now to discover how you can benefit from coaching or subscribe to his newsletter at http://www.inspirepossibility.com

How To Get Paid Every Time You Speak - REALLY!

For many, speaking or training is a full time business. Yet for other business owners, we use speaking/training as a way to market a business and bring in extra income. No matter which it is… all or part of your business gets paid!

Being paid means receiving money for the value you present.
So first off, find places that will pay you. Even Community College Continuing Education programs pay the trainers by the hour!

However, sometimes it is customary for a group to NOT pay you with $$ - like the Rotary, Elks Club, or many associations. Other times, they won't pay you for speaking at an event, but will pay you to speak at a retreat or conference. What do you do when there is no money? Determine if the event is something that will give your business value. Ask yourself:

--Will at least 95% of the audience be your ideal client - i.e. your best fit, target market?
--What can they give you in return that will equal the value they are receiving?
--What can you ask for in return for the value they are receiving?
--Do you really want to speak to this venue for free?
Remember, you can always say no!

There are many ways you can be paid when cash isn't available. First decide what should you be paid. Then find ways to be paid that amount in full. How? Read on…

o Request that your business card or article you've written be placed on each person's chair who's attending the event.

o Let the audience know that you are not being paid and in return, you're giving them an evaluation to complete. On that evaluation, include things like: "I know a company or organization looking for speakers" and "I want to receive your ezine." Etc. etc.

o Do they have a conference room? Ask about using it for "x"
hours in payment.

o Do they send their membership a newsletter? Request an ad, maybe business card size.

o Ask to put a flyer in their newsletter.

o Make sure that a bio including an active link to your site appears in their newsletter(s), any announcements they send, or on their web site. Ask them to keep it active for at least 6 months.

o When I speak for free, I give out the least amount of notes as possible - if any. I have people take their own notes AND tell them that the full notes can be found on a specific page of my web site for download.

o Put the notes on a CD or disk and have them pay for them (sell them in the back of the room, on a table between the coffee and bathrooms!).

o Bring books, ebooks, booklets, CD and other materials to sell in the back of the room. (Usually you do have to ask for approval to do this.)

o Ask if they have "education money." Sometimes they have money for that, but not for speaking. Then they can purchase a book for each person, and you'll make some money that way!

o Think "out of the box" for ways to be paid to be in front of your "ideal clients".

© 2004 Maria Marsala, business builder who helps service businesses owners increase their bottom line in less time. A former Wall Street trader and manager, she used her business expertise to create 6 S.I.M.P.L.E. Business Steps, a program developed to help her clients succeed in less time. Learn more at http://www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com

HEALING - MY LIFE

by Craig Hitchens

My life as a healer began around 33 years ago, the day I was born. I have had a heightened intuition since a young age. I always seemed to know things that others didn’t and how to do things others didn’t and I never knew how. I just thought everybody could do this. As time went on my abilities were squashed a bit by an overbearing mother and the inevitable rebellion that followed was a path to destruction. Never the less I still seemed to know that it was o.k. and that I would use this some day, how, no idea!! The day came when I had to emerge, truly emerge and I went to a reiki healer and received some very profound healing. This lady later became a very close friend and is now my reiki master. My abilities began to slowly blossom. I was attuned after I had been healed for around 6 months and began working closely in a group reiki environment and started to get used to it. It was blissful to finally find my true purpose for being here, healing people. From here I went to the next level of reiki and began incorporating crystals intuitively into my healings and found my self drawn to reflexology and “thought field therapy” and so proceeded to learn these techniques so as to provide more options for the healing energy to flow.

The next part was taking it out into the big wide world, scary stuff!! I started a business with my wife Jenny whom is a gifted healer and psychic as well.
We offered reiki, “thought field therapy” counseling, massage, and natural skin care which are Jenny’s passion, along with readings. We looked at many options for starting the business and decided to run a treatment room at home. We are lucky enough to have a bottom story room perfect for such a room. We were attracted to this as it keeps the overheads low and claimable at tax time. We began advertising. This was a huge and bloody expensive learning curve! We found that large ads that the reps will try to sell you return little if nothing. Don’t do it. Believe it or not simple linage ads in the paper and alternative magazines returned more interest than anything else except word of mouth. My advice is also keep a partime job somewhere else too if you can cause you won’t get instantly rich from healing, it just doesn’t work that way. The universe sends you people at the right time and when it’s needed. There will be no rush! My other line of work is making surfboards and I can tell you healing people is so far and above the better occupation. You meet nicer people and work in such a positive and nurturing environment, that sometimes it’s hard just to go outside!!.

Gradually we are getting more and more people and we are getting that through word of mouth. We send every client home with a brochure and an invitation to return any time and they do. Get to know your local healing community as well because that brings leads and shares knowledge. We are at the stage now where we are ready to take it further and grow the business and this means we either move into a shop front or go into spas and resorts etc in a contracting sense.
We feel that there isn’t enough clientele to warrant a shop front yet, the overheads would sink us. The main thrust of our business is to get people well. We figure that’s why they go to these places so we are now looking to make our services mobile and hopefully I can give up making surfboards!! Hope springs eternal!!

I personally find healing work to be extremely satisfying and blissful as every time I work with someone, I receive healing also, that’s the way it works. . To see a person arrive in pain of some sort and leave smiling is a true blessing for me. I think being able to give this to people is a privilege. I am also a practicing Buddhist so this is very good karma and merit!! My wife Jenny feels the same way; she does the most beautiful healing massage I have ever experienced without sounding too biased! Truly, she has a gift and passion for healing like few others I have met.

My advice to those who wish to become healers is trust without exception you heart and intuition as to what area you feel pulled to i.e.; reiki, massage, crystals, counseling, natural medicines etc but seek carefully the institutions to study at. Not all courses are the same and some professing to be “government accredited” teach you little about healing people and lots of flashy legal mumbo jumbo etc which is not always that useful. Choose carefully; be guided by your heart and intuition. Just because it may be a different school doesn’t mean you learn less. In my case I feel I learned more. The world needs as many healers as we can muster; there are a lot of un-well people out there who need us, so go for it. You won’t regret it for a second.

Well that about sums up my 33 year history as briefly as I know how. I hope you feel encouraged to pursue healing as a treatment or field of work.

My business name is JENTLE EARTH HEALING TREATMENTS and we are available for healing at any time, just give us a call.

PH (07)55239535 0421213898 0408942457 We are based in Banora Point northern N.S.W \ Southern Gold Coast and are prepared to travel to you if needed.