Archive for the ‘Personal Life’ Category

Earlier today I was moaning to my mentor about how I hated being pigeon-holed as the Squidoo expert when I felt it wasn’t all I had to offer. In fact, it was a tiny portion – I just happened to be one of few people in the Warrior Forum using it regularly and I wrote the 1st short report on how to do it. Suddenly, interviews and JV offers poured in and the next thing you know I was the go to Squidoo expert. I was relieved when other marketers took over that role, to be honest with you.

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Wow! Last time I was on Elance I was paying about $125 a month to use their services. Before, when I had first signed up, it was $69, so I thought $125 was STEEP. Still, it paid off – the $125 a month was peanuts compared to what I made there as a ghostwriter. Now, they’re even cheaper! They have 4 plans and the most an individual pays to be a service provider is $9.95 a month!

Here are some tips for being a freelancer on Elance regardless of what category you’re in:

1.) Create a great profile. Don’t skimp on profile details – let them get to know your personality and rules.

2.) Create a stunning portfolio. If you don’t have examples, MAKE some and have it for a variety of niche markets, too.

3.) Always create a personalized bid. No canned bids – I won a CRAPLOAD of projects for this very reason – my competitors were LAZY.

Start searching for a good Elance project below and for $9.95 a month, I can guarantee it’s WELL worth it:

If you’re trying to reach me, it might be difficult until my tech-god wizard husband comes home later today. My fan on my computer sounds like a VCR tape that’s being mangled. I got scared and shut down so I don’t burn up and lose everything. Right now, I’m on someone else’s computer – but just for a sec this morning.

When he gets home, I’ll run out and get whatever fan he says I need and then I’ll be back

Thanks for your patience!
Tiff

PS – he took my laptop, too, so I had no backup plan! lol

I don’t talk politics in a right versus wrong sort of way. But I want to get off-topic from Internet marketing for a second and say something. I’m so proud to be an American. I cry when I vote. I tear up because I’m such a lucky woman to be able to elect my government and have a say without being stoned to death or other horrible repercussions.

Tonight, my 9 year old son says to me, “Mom – it doesn’t matter who wins tomorrow because history will be made – Americans should be proud!”

Do you hear that Americans? Republicans? Democrats? Independents?

We bicker and fight and bless our hearts, we CAN! It’s wonderful. But I hope no matter who wins tomorrow, we can unite like we did in the days after 9/11 and build this country up stronger than it’s ever been.

I voted early. I wasn’t enthusiastic about either choice, to be honest. I respect both men in different ways. I’m proud that we’ve come farther in the United States so we can HAVE a woman and an African American on the ticket. I think it’s wonderful.

I’m proud of our country and we need to instill this pride in our children.
Tiff

I just donated $100 to the Amanda Jones WSO where she’s raising money in her walk for Breast Cancer here.

Here’s what Amanda says:

“For the third year in a row I’ll be participating in the Michigan Breast Cancer 3-Day. Starting on Friday, September 26, 2008, my little feet will travel 60 miles over the course of 3 days.

My goal: To raise $2200 and make a difference in the war against breast cancer and to remember those who’ve both won and lost the battle. I’m one of the lucky ones–my mom is a breast cancer survivor. Unfortunately for my teammate Carrie, her mom didn’t live to see a cure.”

If you need something in exchange for it, you can get the free squeeze page templates she’s giving away, or just do it just because.

Good luck, Amanda!

Someday – those funds might go to help someone like the woman who sat next to me in the waiting room. After I was given the all clear, I overheard the doctors telling her that her good news was that her tumor hadn’t grown anymore. And that was the GOOD news. It made me sad.

Tiff

Hi y’all!

Well as most people know (if you’ve seen my outdated pic), I’m overweight (by a lot – I have a whopping 130 pounds to lose). I’m embarking on an extreme program today (my doctor assured me I’m healthy despite my weight). It’s not an official diet or anything – I’m just going to push myself similar to how they do it on Biggest Loser, if you’ve ever seen that.

It will consist of eating a specific calorie count each day (1,200) and working out for about 2-3 hours per day. I plan to lose a lot of weight, fast. Don’t argue with me that it’s unhealthy, etc. I know the situation – and I’m doing it anyway. I’m a big girl – literally and figuratively.

Question is – how can I turn this experience into a money-making one? I have good writing abilities, so I can convey it to others in a good way. But should I do a blog and rely on affiliate and AdSense income or make it an eBook once I’m completely finished? Perhaps sell it as resale rights?

Since I’m following no specific diet “plan” per se, I’m not sure how I could market that.

I know the weight loss niche is big, but saturated. Still, it’s something that has potential. Since I’ll be devoting 3 hours a day to this topic in my life, I’d hate to just do it without connecting it to my income in some way. In fact, it will be motivating to know it’s somehow being turned into a product.

Why am I doing this? Aside from the superficial and emotional reasons, it’s hampering my business, too. I have turned down SO many seminar invitations (to be a speaker), invites to network in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I won’t do a video other than a screen capture because I’m ashamed of my weight, and that old pic you keep seeing of me and my husband on all my sales pages? It’s about 4 years and 45 pounds ago and I refuse to take a new updated picture of myself because it’s so humiliating and I have an irrational fear that it will negatively impact my sales and even friendships (I know it’s stupid, but it feels real).

So what’s your advice? I start at 12:30 PM today. I need to set up asap.

Tiff

P.S. – I bit the bullet and took my before pictures IN A SWIMSUIT! (Gulp!) If you have just eaten, please avert your eyes and even if not, I’m so sorry for what I’m about to show you. I might as well be nekkid on here because that’s how exposed I feel. I also gained some common sense about doing 3 hours and 1200 calories. lol That’s laughable. I got real really fast:

Hi everyone!

Well tomorrow I pack up the biz and head off to Galveston Beach to celebrate my 38th birthday on the 3rd and the 4th of July, too. Should be a lot of fun. Like most entrepreneurs, I’m never “truly” off work anymore.

I will check into email from time to time, but I won’t respond to anything that’s not urgent.

A couple of things I wanted to let you know about before I go:

1.) When I return, I’ll be launching more in the series of http://www.MarketingMaze.com based on what you guys have said you need and want to learn about.

2.) It’s possible I’ll be launching a ghostwriting WSO. If I do, it’ll be a mix option of having an eBook written or articles, so if you’re considering outsourcing, you might keep that in mind.

3.) My business partner from BuildMyLens.com, Lewis Smile, has launched a cool new thing I wanted to tell you about. Awhile back, we did a couple of these automated blog sites together – I wrote the content, he made an autopilot machine for the marketer.

Well I am not going into this with him, but he’s launched a special offer on the Warrior Forum at http://www.warriorforum.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=255980 that lets people just buy the site operation. You use your own content.

This thing is amazing and one of the reasons I partner up with him whenever possible. It posts your posts for you, Twitters and bookmarks itself, and even translates your content into 22 different languages! (In fact, you might feel left out because you’re not needed anymore). It also comes with a guidebook and help blog so you don’t get stuck.

His full sales letter is here (but make sure if you’re interested you go buy from the Warrior Forum link above):

http://www.yournicheblog.com

Anyway – those of you who know Lewis know how amazing his blend of technical prowess and creative genius is, so you can trust that his offer is one of a kind.

I’m out the door to stock up on sunblock (thanks to my previous skin cancer scare) and possibly get a swimsuit (oh the horror).

Will chat with you when I get back – have a great week ahead!

Tiff

How many of you actually get in the car and drive somewhere to do your Internet marketing business?  I wake up every day, plop my butt down on my couch, and sip my coffee.

To be honest, this has become a sticker in my marriage for a few reasons, so I’m working on changing that.  First, it’s too easy to stick my long hair that my husband loves up in a blob on top of my head. I figure, “Hey! I’m not going anywhere, so why style it?”

Same goes for make-up.  My poor Mr. Wonderful would love to see me fixed up more than just on Saturday nights.  So I’m making an effort – to clean up myself and pretend I’m going to a corporate gig. I won’t be wearing hose and heels though – a home worker can only give up her perks so much. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m half man I think.

You know how men are able to put nose to the grindstone and work continually, obliviously to time and whatever’s going on around them? I used to not be that way. I had a house to run – kids to raise, meals to prepare. The usual mom tasks.

Lately, I’ve been spinning my wheels – and while I was working from 6 AM to 11 PM, a 17 Hour Day YIKES, I wasn’t getting as much done than if I’d kept my hours reined in and given each project a laser focus for a shorter period of time.
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