The 100th Monkey Effect --- Day 37

Day 37

Today we were a bit slower than yesterday getting out of our starting gates 'cause we didn't really go to bed early after all ;-). Instead, Big Z pressed forward with his homework and I kept on replying to blogs. By the time he was done with his work, it was l-a-t-e, way past our usual earlier bedtime. So when 7 a.m. rolled around, why, it was a stretch to get up and get ready by our a.m. call. Glad we did, though.

Pressed through with good energy until early afternoon and the wind blew out of our sails for productivity . . .

However, the most exciting part of my day was putting into practice the tip from NY Tina Katz about calling American Express to place my name and address upon the American Express Gift Card we just had arrive yesterday. Yippee!!! How fun to get to purchase another card through Big Z's Foundation Mall at http://www.bigzgivesbig.com/ and gain rebates on it ;-).

We immediately used it to pay our wireless phone bill online ;-).

I spoke with Big Z's teacher about using the travel certificates in fundraising baskets they are putting together for a raffle on Valentine's Day. She looked at MPM months ago and found that for her, it was a conflict of interest. However, she was open to the certificate usage, and, for my offer of Reconnective Healing sessions as another addition to the baskets. I let her know that many of our Boot Campers are working with their NPO's, and I hope, that one day she will see how it doesn't have to be a conflict of interest, but rather, a supportive system that gives a very sweet way to support her, her vision for the school, our kids, ourselves, and our communities. We are able to shop online and locally. In each our own timing; I honor our own paths.

I gave a VM to my friend back East who is thinking about expanding her MPM business . . . I was so excited that I want to tell her about my excitement and what is happening . . . She called back tonight, but I was on our evening training call and missed her when I called her back. We WILL connect. It's time to help her move forward ;-). She's got a young girl and is studying for her Master's Degree from home. Her husband just got a new job recently, and though it's good, she is still looking for a way to create an income for her own money.

I wrote a f/u email to a family member regarding the search I was doing for a specific product in the mall. The invitation to take a look at MPM came out of my little fingertips before I knew it because she will need to create her own income very soon. She just lost her husband. She emailed me back and wants to wait on it for now, but, she's passed info onto her daughter and has taken a peek before. I called her back and we visited for a time over other topics, but it was good to know that at least she is aware of what we are doing AND our desire to help her. She has itchy feet and wants to get out and get a job again when she is able to do so. It's been a long time at home for her, and she just wants to get out and be in the community like she was used to being when she had her last job as a waitress. She enjoys people and wants to share her smile and good energy with folks again on a daily basis.

I sent an email to a friend that has been exchanging email with me this week. We only see each other occasionally, but this person is exceptional and creative. She was talking about the renovations she is making to her shop and the fantastic things she's doing, one of which is using her skills for "mad money" which will help her gain more tools for her trade. Well, that was just the spark I needed, so, I fired an email off with an invitation to take a look at what we are doing to create our own "mad money" ;-).

I attempted to pay my renter's insurance online using our Amex Gift Card, but alas, their system isn't taking Internet payments yet. Will have to call them and do this over the phone ;-).

I sent an email to Ginny thanking her for the tip on our call about copying and pasting the e-cards vs. using the links. I think this is a fantastic idea and I didn't realize we could copy and paste the whole thing. I believe this will be a beneficial tip for us. Thanks, Ginny ;-).

I got caught up in my files while I was looking for some important info with regards to our insurance needs and wound up clearing out papers. Certain files have to go to the garage as they are not necessary to have in my file cabinet and handy. I cleared out other junk mail that was in the files that is no longer needed. In essence, I got sucked into a little bit of house-cleaning and shredding that IS good. Even though it wasn't constructive use of my time for growing Big Z's Biz, it was GOOD to have that mini-cleansing.

Afterwards I did some blogging and ate a late lunch. This is where my yawns came in ;-).

Well, needless to say, by the time I got Big Z from school after letting him and the kids run wild on the playground in the freezing cold for an hour, and by the time we went to the market to get some sort of treat to provide at his school celebration tomorrow afternoon, it was almost evening call time. We arrived home, cooked dinner, made brownies, and got on the evening training call.

Since then, we've been replying to blogs, viewed the Lost Marble marketing videos, and, Big Z got to visit with our neighbor for a bit, sharing some birthday party gifts.

And seriously, we ARE going to bed early tonight, because . . .

The most interesting news is the radio shows and other technology that we're going to gain skills with as we move forth into a time in My Power Mall history that is going to explode like The 100th Monkey Effect . . . AND, we need our rest to keep our efforts going in the direction of our dreams.

You see, we've set in motion the new skills that become habits of successful people . . . We are learning daily and implementing daily. Though we've not kept up with the arduous tasks of the Boot Campers to a T, we are doing activities that we weren't doing before in relation to growing Big Z's Enterprise. New grooves are being created in our brains that enable us to advance further because of the new we are learning and the new we are taking action with. We are gaining a new mindset, new skill sets, and becoming better and better with each passing day.

And our sleep, our rest, enables us to continue to move forward with strength and power to have the ride of our lives as the 100th Monkey Effect breaks loose in this amazing company that is here solely to effect the most delicious and positive change in people's lives ever imaginable. We will continue to learn and to implement as we move forward in the growth of our business. And if that means learning how to blog (how are we doing?), learning how to do radio shows, learning how to use social networking sites, learning how to maximize the power of the Internet for relationship marketing, then by golly, we are going to keep learning and implementing. We may be novices at first, but we'll be polished diamonds, polished professionals, just like our Boot Campers, as we ride the WAVE of Success and Philanthropy.

Wanna come along?

http://www.bigzgivesbig.com/

WOW.

It's going to be something else! This will be something that Big Z will be telling his grand kids about when he's a Grandpa . . . He'll have lived a wealthy and vital life, full of opportunity, hope and service to others by then. I hope that I'm around to hear him tell it ;-).

Saturday Satisfaction --- Day 27

Day 27

I've spent much of today reading blogs, and reading The Next Millionaires by Paul Zane Pilzer, seeking current info he may have, and catching up on some house-keeping for office and home. I saw Big Z when he and his Dad came by to get some accouterments for a trip to the ice skating rink --- it's an indoor rink. What was most ironic about the trip to the rink was that this is our first SUNNY day in a long, long while. I got a trip on my bicycle in to the post office and felt the thrill of impending Spring ---never mind that it wasn't much above 30 degrees. I know, I know. Much warmer than some of the Campers have it.

All day I've been mindful of where I'm placing my energies. I realize I ought to be making calls, but I just can't get my head out of this Pilzer book. My thoughts are swimming, and before I say that it's giving me another affirmation that we're right where we're supposed to be in our lives, I want to finish it to make sure I don't miss anything that may change my opinion ;-). Ed, it's one good read ;-).

I spoke with a friend and MPM member last night. She and her family were on their way to D.C. to take in as much as they could of the events leading up to Obama's Inauguration Day. How very, very cool! I was able to share with her our newest bonus for being World Changers: $300 Certificate for Groceries. WOW! I just can't get over the benefit this will bring into our household ;-). If there were any time we could use it, it's n-o-w.

I also called a friend I haven't spoken with since last year. Left a message.

I called another friend from my home town that I missed seeing in November, and, didn't get another chance to call or see her at Christmastime. We had a very long visit, catching up, as we rarely get to do. She's got twins in college, a 13 year old at home, and she's taking a break from her own education while she adjusts to life without her beautiful twins, a boy and a girl.
She works hard for people in her community, and has always been civic minded. Due to the pinching of pennies, she's wearing about 5 different hats within her organization.

We once got to share a Relay-For-Life that she and her kids were participating in on one of my visits home. This was the first time we ever spoke about the concept of doing what we could to help the world. It was a very uplifting experience, and it was awesome to see how her kids relished the challenge of creating their own fundraising teams, and brought people together. My friend has a Together We Can Change the World Heart.

I caught her up on our life and what we are now doing to create income-- MPM and Reconnective Healing. She's on my old high school's Booster Club, so, of course, after we discussed how to solve the woes of the world (;-)), I let her know that MPM may be able to help fund the Booster Club. Right now, their main source of funding comes from the sales at the snack booths during games, which are mostly football. She ran down the list of cuts that have happened this year due to the economic situation at the school:

Hiring freeze
Grant helpers laid off
Reimbursements for school supplies being paid with IOU's
No increase in mileage reimbursements
Cola increase is zero
All field trips cancelled
No after school trips
No after school tutoring

Ouch. And I thought it was bad when I was a student.

I used the template in the back office to create an email to my friend, and I created an E-card for schools, and added the NPO voice message to it and sent her the link to learn more about having a f'ree World Changer Mall to fund the Booster Club after she said she would like to know more. I'll check in with her again on this. For years, I've wanted to have a way for us to spend more time together, and in collaboration on a project in which we can make a difference. This just **may** be the answer ;-).

Thanks to the Boot Campers who are paving the way. Gotta love you guys and gals, that's for sure.

Lastly, I emailed our friend at our credit union, as per the message in the blog last evening.