The Million Mind March

What is the Million Mind March (M3)? Well, for about a year, I lurked quietly in the background of this community, just getting a feel for what it was all about. I was networking with some great entrepreneurs, and one in particular invited me to listen in on their Monday night free training/mindset call.

Now, this is a forward thinking community of and for Entrepreneurs...people in MLM, network marketers and people who have their own businesses.

What I loved about this community was the lack of pressure, and the idea that they want to help you build yourself up, energetically, vibrationally and even financially.

The founder of M3, the Great Joe Schroeder, a nobody truck driver from NJ (in his words), started out as a street magician. He was introduced into the world of network marketing and later went on to build an empire. But, it took a lot of effort, and the ability to stay positive and build himself up has gotten him where he is today. The theme of this community is "Bury the words I Can't"! Joe is the first person to introduce the idea of "Attraction Marketing". Mike Dillard speaks highly of Joe Schroeder, as he helped him become who he is today. Diane Hochman is one of his success stories. She will tell you her story. She leads many of the calls and this lady knows her stuff. But, she didn't start out that way....but I'll let you find out for yourself.

If you fall into any of these categories, even if you just want to listen in on all the positive energy that flows, please feel free to click on the title link above to find out more info. Feel free to lurk if you want.... :), we understand.

Change your MIND, Change your INCOME, Change your LIFE!

Peace to all.

Life in France Without Starbucks, Oh My!

It's been awhile since I have written a post for my blog. I was feeling a bit introverted and didn't really have much to say. I've been back living in Brooklyn for 3 years now and I really do miss living in France. As I was doing dishes (I always have my best ideas while doing the dishes)....I was reminiscing about some of my fun experiences and remembering how hard it was at first adapting to a new country.

My first year there, after working non-stop for 21 years, my husband and I decided I would take a year off to explore, set up our living situation and try to perfect my French (ha ha).

Now, being a New Yorker, I was used to having everything I needed at my fingertips, 24/7. Need a bagel....bagel shop open 24 hours. Oops, need some milk....deli on the corner...open 24 hours. On Sunday's, you can hop on a train and do your best shopping in the city (I am from Brooklyn, we call Manhattan "the city").

Soooo, you can imagine what it was like for me when all of a sudden, everything closed by 1pm Sunday (supermarkets and malls were closed) and nothing opened again until Tuesday, yikes!!

This New Yorker had to learn how to slow down. If I didn't have most of my shopping done on Saturday...that was it. No dry cleaning, no hair salon, no meat from the butcher until Tuesday!!! I had a very hard time with this at first.

I looked forward to Tuesday's with such joy! My town had a huge open air market on Tuesday's and Saturday's. The Green Market here pales in comparison to a European open air market. It's the life of the village. It's social! You can buy anything.......clothes, housewares, and the food.........fuggedaboutit! I scooped up my wicker basket (it's very in style)...and skipped off to get my fresh poultry.....gorgeous baguettes and a wonderful Bordeaux to have with dinner. Cheese, you haven't seen anything like the cheese selection at an open air market.

Okay, so a year goes by, I found a job in Paris as a legal secretary and I had to get myself back into the grind.

Now, part of getting back into the grind was the daily commute and search for coffee in the morning.

Luckily, we only lived 15 minutes outside of Paris and I had a train right across the street from our apartment. That was painless. I was happy to find a job with a good law firm that was situated right in the heart of the main shopping district. Think 34th street.....just more chic, Parisian style.

But, I could not get a coffee to go! Now, in Manhattan, there is a Starbucks every two feet. You can imagine my dismay.

One day, probably the first week I started working in Paris, before getting on the train, I walked into the Brasserie across from my house. They have a bar...which is more for coffee drinking than drinking alcohol (if you've been to Italy, you'll understand). I asked the gentleman behind the bar if he could make me a coffee "pour emporter" (to go).....he just looked at me with this confused look on his face, as if I had 3 heads. At that moment, I did feel like I had 3 heads. I said...never mind, I'll just have "un cafe au lait" (a coffee with steamed milk)...in a regular coffee cup. Then, after I downed it, I went on my merry way..realizing how much I missed just walking with my coffee container from Starbucks. Some of the little things you miss when you live overseas.

Now, mind you, I did not really miss food from the states, because I lived in the center of gastronomical excellence. But my coffee to go........yep, I was lost.

Flash forward a few more months. I am walking to work one day.....and lo and behold...I see a small coffee shop.........with, yep, you guessed it, coffee in a container to go! The owner was French but had lived in New York for a few years..and had this great idea. I forget the name of it....but I almost got down on my knees with appreciation. That day, I walked to work with a big grin on my face....an American with her coffee to go.

Now, the French are very into tradition, and are very resistant to Americanization (i.e. McDonald's and Starbucks, things like that). Honestly, I embraced the French way of life and I understood it. My husband has family in Italy, and having spent a few weeks there...I just "got it" in a different way. So many things about living in Europe reminded me of traditions we had when I was small...that have fallen by the wayside.

Now, they do have McDonald's in Paris....but soo much nicer. You get a piece of chocolate with your morning coffee, and the people eating in McDonald's are of a normal size. They do not supersize over there....(not yet anyway). Even going to the movies, popcorn comes in one size only.

Okay, I am getting off track here.

One day, I was in Paris with a friend, helping her hand out flyer's for a concert/benefit that was going to take place. We split up arrondissements (neighborhoods, basically) and I was in the middle of, if I remember correctly, one of the more happening quarters in Paris. I was strolling along leisurely, handful of flyer's getting ready to be posted..WHEN....I.....SPOTTED.....A......STARBUCKS!!!
The heavens opened up............I heard trumpets..........tears sprang into my eyes!! Could.....it.....be....true! Is this really just a mirage! I can have a Grande Skim Latte Extra Hot pour emporter??!!!

I composed myself, quietly put the flyer's into my handbag, and walked into Starbucks. This was a big step for the French, and I am sure many were opposed. It was a nice big Starbucks, with tables outside. It was packed. It was the younger generation, sitting outside, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. A new social scene, from America. The younger generation love American things. I had a hard time speaking French, because as soon as they heard my accent, they wanted to practice their English on me. I had to hang out with the older generation if I wanted to become fluent in French.

Now, I think there are a few Starbucks in Paris. And that's okay. I ordered my coffee that day and smiled to myself. I didn't want too many American stores to arrive....but this made my adjustment into French living just a tad easier. Then I was off to finish posting those flyer's.....and get myself a crepe with Nutella and banana's to go.....

Ode to Mom

Mother's Day is upon us again. How fast a year goes. I became a mom 4 1/2 years ago. It was something I didn't think was going to happen to me. But at 40, I became pregnant after losing two, and my miracle baby, Zoe Isabella Danese was born.

I have become a different person since that special day. Yes, a bit more neurotic than before (no comments!:)) but only because she is my only child. Deep sleep is a thing of the past. All she has to do is make a peep, and my feet are across the room before my brain is even awake!

I always remember my mother telling me this. "Wait until you have a child. You'll never be a deep sleeper again." But, being young, I just shrugged it off and went out to play.

I have a much deeper appreciation for all that my mother did for us. She may not always feel that from me, but I do, more than she'll ever know. She raised my brother and me all by herself and I still cannot even imagine all the worries and stress that she experienced. I know how challenging it can be, working full time and coming home at night for second shift :), and I have my husband there with me.

Yes, it can be quite challenging sometimes, but there is always a big reward to make it all worthwhile. Why, just this morning, I went to a Mother's Day show at the daycare that my daughter attends. It was so sweet and special. I can't believe how tall she already is........and that my baby is growing up so fast. I cherish every moment, because I know that someday, she will become a teenager....and prefer to be with her friends all the time, just like I did.

It's never easy for a parent to let go, especially a mom. Every new experience we have is about letting go. First day at daycare. First day of kindergarten. First sleepover. It really never ends. But, all we can do is give them our love, encouragement and support and know that one day....we will finally have to let them fly off and find their own lives.

So, this is a special tribute to all the mom's out there! YOU ROCK!

HAVE A WONDERFUL MOTHER'S DAY!

Lizard Hunting

Today I wanted to write about a cute little story that makes me think of my days in France. It is a beautiful spring day today in New York, and this was something I did with my dog when the days got warmer and the sun got stronger in our little town outside of Paris. What is that you ask? Lizard hunting!

My dog, Stoney Curtis (in Bedrock, twist twist) and I would go for our daily hour long walks at noon. As we lived across the street from a train station, there was a small wall with a chain link fence that ran along the train tracks.

One day, while we were walking, I noticed that there were lizards scurrying along this wall. Now, mind you, we lived 10 minutes outside of Paris. I was in shock. It's not like we were living in Provence, where the sun bakes everything in its path. You would expect to see reptiles in the south of France, just like you would in the Southern states of the United States or near the desert. But, in Paris???

Needless to say, I was tickled silly when I saw my part shepherd part hound dog going nuts when he saw the lizards. The lizards were quietly sunning themselves on the wall........when along came my frisky 1-1/2 year old dog (he was young at the time).

I had to keep the leash short and my arms strong, because I basically went flying along with him. The lizards of course would go running off, but one warm sunny day, he actually got one (to my dismay)! He bit the tail off, but the lizard was lucky enough to get away (and don't their tails grow back)?

I realized that as a hunting dog, he needed to do this. It was just in his nature.
I myself was really enjoying it, especially seeing my little guy, with his big floppy ears, get so excited. And no animals lost their lives, so that is a good thing :).

After our walks, we would go in search of a baguette. Now, in France, people hold their baguettes in their hand, at their side. Baguettes are not generally placed in a paper bag, but a small piece of paper goes around the middle, where your hand holds the bread.

I always had to carry a Euro with me, because lizard hunting was not enough for my mutt, he needed to go baguette hunting. Said baguette was in perfect alignment with his mouth. He almost snatched a few....but never got lucky enough. But, I had my Euro with me just in case.

Now that I am a full time working mom, we don't get to have fun adventures like that anymore. I miss those days. But, optimistic person that I am, I am confident that my home office will accommodate me full time someday soon, and I can resume my hour long walks with him, albeit in Brooklyn (but, the lizards have been replaced by squirrels!) But that's another story..........

MLM Lead Systems Pro - Review

Many of you out there are new to the internet marketing world. It's an exciting world, but can also be an overwhelming one to the newbie. I am talking from experience here. All of a sudden, emails are coming at you. "Try my program, it's the best." "Earn $10,000 in your first month"! Sounds enticing doesn't it?

But, the reality is, if you don't know how to do the marketing, no matter how wonderful the program/system is, it's not going to work for you.

Now, I am on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace and a few other social networking sites.

Networking in these arena's give you the time to connect with other network marketers. If you are wise, you will connect with people that have more experience than you, and who have already achieved success. Don't be afraid to ask questions and maybe copy their style, just a little bit. It's okay, it's how we learn, by emulating those we admire.

I have been lucky enough to connect with a few different people like that. I read what they write, watch their videos, and listen to what they have to say. I take their advice and in essence, I am really studying them.

One of those people lead me to MLM Lead Systems Pro. He was not aggressive at all. Always showed leadership. I read his blogs, and sent him notes from time to time. I did not decide to go with this program right away. I knew a few others using it and put myself on the mailing list. I received the emails regularly and took into consideration everything they had to say.

I pretty much knew by the time I signed up to take the $1.00 test drive (good for 14 days) that this was something I was going to love and stay with.

Well, it's been a few months now and I am happy to say that I am thrilled with it.

I love the step by step training, weekly Webinars (couldn't even get on the Mike Dillard call!), the auto-responders provided by AWeber, the live chat support, the list goes on! I can listen at leisure to the recorded calls. There are video demonstrations walking you through all the different ways to market your program. But the part I like the most is the ability to earn multiple streams of income on auto-pilot while promoting your primary business.

It's a great system for people who are not starting out with a lot of money, and once you start earning, you can add streams of income to your program (i.e. you can get paid to market ViralURL after you have become a member and user). There is a only a one time sign up fee for ViralURL, but maybe during your first month you are not able to do it. There is no pressure. You set the pace and learn what you can according to your budget and time constraints.

I hesitated to write this review, but then I figured, hey, this is my web site and I have something positive to say that might be able to help someone else who is just starting out and maybe a bit confused.

If you need to learn how to market your primary program and don't know where to begin, I invite you to take a look. No pressure, no obligations. It's your decision. If you do decide to take a look and want to stick around, I can only hope to share with you what I know and lead you in the right direction, just as my mentor has done for me. Thanks for reading!

http://www.TheMLMLeadSystems.com