I could use your help

My friend, Erin Baer, is on a mission and you can help me help her.

She's on a mission to have her book, From Beaten to Badass, in a total of 300 woman's shelters by the end of today!

If you go to her site www.beatentobadass.com and sponsor a book directly, let me know and I'll also sponsor one. So far, two of my friends have sponsored a book and I'll be matching them later today.

Also, if you're one of my SendOutCards customers and you upgrade to a $97 a month subscription, or if you sign up as a new $97 customer, I will not only sponsor a book in your name (which is an ongoing offer), I'll also match that book with another one if you signup or upgrade today.

If you want to find out more, call or text me at (707)685-1382 or email me.

Interesting days

Today - Social Media Day and Meteor Watch Day

July will be Plastic Free July, Bank Account Bonus Month, World Watercolor Month, Sarcoma Awareness Month, Picnic Month, Cell Phone Courtesy Month, Independent Retailer Month, Horseradish Month and Ice Cream Month

Tomorrow - Joke Day, Gingersnap Day, Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day, International Reggae Day, Postal Worker Day, Zip Code Day, Second Half of the Year Day and Canada Day

Next Tuesday - Cow Appreciation Day, Chocolate Day, Macaroni Day, Strawberry Sundae Day, Global Forgiveness Day and Tell The Truth Day

July 30 - Chili Dog Day, Cheesecake Day, Friendship Day, Paperback Book Day, International Day of Friendship, Share a Hug Day, Intern Day and Father-in-Law Day

July 31 - Raspberry Cake Day, Talk In An Elevator Day, Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day, System Administrator Appreciation Day and World Ranger Day

Your weekend guide to interesting days - June 27, 2020

This week

Sunday - Ice Cream Soda Day, Surf Day, Kouign Amann Day, Vanilla Milkshake Day, World Refugee Day, World Productivity Day and American Eagle Day

Monday - World Rainforest Day, Onion Rings Day, B Kinder Day, Positive Media Day and Chocolate Éclair Day

Tuesday - Let It Go Day, International Widows Day, Women in Engineering Day, Typewriter Day and Public Service Day

Wednesday - Swim a Lap Day, Fairy Day, Upcycling Day and Pralines Day

Thursday - Bomb Pop Day, Global Beatles Day, Goats Cheese Day, Strawberry Parfait Day, Color TV Day and Catfish Day

Yesterday - Beautician’s Day, Take Your Dog To Work Day, World Refrigeration Day, Chocolate Pudding Day and Canoe Day

Today - Pineapple Day, Sunglasses Day, Armed Forces Day, Orange Blossom Day and Industrial Workers Of The World Day

Next week

Tomorrow - Log Cabin Day, Insurance Awareness Day, Tapioca Day, International Body Piercing Day, Logistics Day, Ceviche Day, Paul Bunyan Day and Happy Heart Hugs Day

Monday - Waffle Iron Day, Camera Day, World Industrial Design Day, Cream Tea Day, International Mud Day, Almond Buttercrunch Day and Please Take My Children To Work Day

Tuesday - Social Media Day and Meteor Watch Day

July will be Plastic Free July, Bank Account Bonus Month, World Watercolor Month, Sarcoma Awareness Month, Picnic Month, Cell Phone Courtesy Month, Independent Retailer Month, Horseradish Month and Ice Cream Month

Wednesday - Joke Day, Gingersnap Day, Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day, International Reggae Day, Postal Worker Day, Zip Code Day, Second Half of the Year Day and Canada Day

Thursday - Don't Forgot Day, World UFO Day and Anisette Day

Friday - Air Conditioning Appreciation Day, Eat Beans Day, Chocolate Wafer Day, Disobedience Day, International Plastic Bag Free Day, Compliment Your Mirror Day and Stay Out Of The Sun Day

Saturday - Hop A Park Day Independence Day, Independence From Meat Day, Barbecue Day, Spareribs Day, Caesar Salad Day and Jackfruit Day

Next month

July 21 - Junk Food Day and Lamington Day

July 22 - Hammock Day, Hot Dog Day, Creme Brulee Day, Mango Day and Penuche Fudge Day

July 23 - Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day, Sprinkle Day, International Yada, Yada, Yada Day, Gorgeous Grandma Day and Vanilla Ice Cream Day

July 24 - Tequila Day, Drive-Thru Day, Pioneer Day, Cousins Day and Tell An Old Joke Day

July 25 - Wine and Cheese Day, Thread The Needle Day, Hot Fudge Sundae Day and Carousel Day

July 26 - Aunt and Uncle Day, Parents’ Day, Coffee Milk Shake Day, Holistic Therapy Day, All or Nothing Day and One Voice Day

Ju;y 27 - Walk On Stilts Day, Norfolk Day, Chicken Finger Day, Scotch Whisky Day, Take Your Houseplant For A Walk Day and Gary Gygax Day

Week long celebrations:

Jul 18 - Jul 26: Moth Week

The week in review - June 26, 2020

Monday - "Most Americans Wake Up Exhausted" From Dr. Michael Breus. "There are few things more frustrating than waking up exhausted."

Tuesday - "This Is What Recruiters Look For On Your LinkedIn Profile" If you're looking for a job, you should be on LinkedIn. "When you’re looking for a job, your LinkedIn profile is a 24/7 information resource for the recruiters who are looking for talent."

Wednesday - "To Control Your Life, Control What You Pay Attention To" What do you pay attention to? "To be consistently productive and manage stress better, we must strengthen our skill in attention management."

Thursday - "Communicate to Influence #TBT" Excellent book. "Whether you need to make a small or large business presentation, or even just a conversation with friends or family, this book will help you learn how to engage your audience and to get their buy-in for whatever you're presenting."

Interesting days

Today - Beautician’s Day, Take Your Dog To Work Day, World Refrigeration Day, Chocolate Pudding Day and Canoe Day

Tomorrow - Pineapple Day, Sunglasses Day, Armed Forces Day, Orange Blossom Day and Industrial Workers Of The World Day

Next Friday - Air Conditioning Appreciation Day, Eat Beans Day, Chocolate Wafer Day, Disobedience Day, International Plastic Bag Free Day, Compliment Your Mirror Day and Stay Out Of The Sun Day

July 26 - Aunt and Uncle Day, Parents’ Day, Coffee Milk Shake Day, Holistic Therapy Day, All or Nothing Day and One Voice Day

Week long celebrations:

Jul 18 - Jul 26: Moth Week

Communicate to Influence #TBT

Today's blog post was originally published two years ago:

That's the title of the book written by Kelly and Ben Decker from Decker Communications.

I first heard of Decker Communications when Kelly Decker did a presentation for AT&T. I found her presentation fun, entertaining and informative, so I decided to read the book.

The first chapter of the book is called "Business Communication Sucks", which it does. But so does a lot of personal communication.

I'm still reading the book. I'm on the last few chapters but I used The Decker Method to prepare for my presentation at our A Leg Up Meetup group a little later today. One of the key tools that is used in the book is called the Decker Grid. It helps focus your presentation on your audience and to organize your presentation.

Whether you need to make a small or large business presentation, or even just a conversation with friends or family, this book will help you learn how to engage your audience and to get their buy-in for whatever you're presenting.

This will be my first attempt at using the Decker Method but I'll let you know how it goes. I'm sure this first attempt will be a little shaky but I'm already sure that it'll be better than if I hadn't used their method.

Check out the Decker Communications website and be sure to read the book to upgrade your business and personal communications!

This actually turned out to be a good book. I did eventually finish reading the book and I really enjoyed it. It was a library book so I eventually had to return it. But i did just get the Audible book. I'll have to look into either buying a Kindle copy or a book.

Interesting days

Today - Bomb Pop Day, Global Beatles Day, Goats Cheese Day, Strawberry Parfait Day, Color TV Day and Catfish Day

Yesterday - Beautician’s Day, Take Your Dog To Work Day, World Refrigeration Day, Chocolate Pudding Day and Canoe Day

Next Thursday - Don't Forgot Day, World UFO Day and Anisette Day 

July 25 - Wine and Cheese Day, Thread The Needle Day, Hot Fudge Sundae Day and Carousel Day

Week long celebrations:

Jul 18 - Jul 26: Moth Week

To Control Your Life, Control What You Pay Attention To

Today's blog post is based on an article from Harvard Business Review:

One of the best insights on what true productivity means in the 21st century dates back to 1890. In his book The Principles of Psychology, Vol.1, William James wrote a simple statement that’s packed with meaning: “My experience is what I agree to attend to.” 

Your attention determines the experiences you have, and the experiences you have determine the life you live. Or said another way: you must control your attention to control your life. Today, in a world where so many experiences are blended together — where we can work from home (or a train or a plane or a beach), watch our kids on a nanny-cam from work, and distraction is always just a thumb-swipe away — has that ever been more true?

How can we control what we pay attention to?

Attention Management

To be consistently productive and manage stress better, we must strengthen our skill in attention management. 

Attention management is the practice of controlling distractions, being present in the moment, finding flow, and maximizing focus, so that you can unleash your genius. It’s about being intentional instead of reactive. It is the ability to recognize when your attention is being stolen (or has the potential to be stolen) and to instead keep it focused on the activities you choose. Rather than allowing distractions to derail you, you choose where you direct your attention at any given moment, based on an understanding of your priorities and goals. 

Better attention management leads to improved productivity, but it’s about much more than checking things off a to-do list. The ultimate result is the ability to create a life of choice, around things that are important to you. It’s more than just exercising focus. It’s about taking back control over your time and your priorities.

The article then goes on to talk about the things that you can control, both external and internal distractions:

• Control your technology. 
• Control your environment.

Sometimes the internal distractions are the hardest to control:

• Control your behavior. 
• Control your thoughts.

Controlling your behavior ties in with calendar mapping, which I wrote about here. And I've read that about 87% of the things we see and hear are negative, so we really need to pay attention to what we feed our brains.

Practicing attention management will not eliminate distractions from your day. But as you start to recognize when you become distracted, and build your “attention muscle” through habits like those above, you’ll start to reclaim your life and devote more of yourself to what’s really important to you. Don’t allow distraction to derail your aspirations and intentions. Instead, control your attention to control your life.

Be sure to read the article for a more in-depth discussion on controlling what you pay attention to.

Interesting days

Today - Swim a Lap Day, Fairy Day, Upcycling Day and Pralines Day

Tomorrow - Bomb Pop Day, Global Beatles Day, Goats Cheese Day, Strawberry Parfait Day, Color TV Day and Catfish Day

July will be Plastic Free July, Bank Account Bonus Month, World Watercolor Month, Sarcoma Awareness Month, Picnic Month, Cell Phone Courtesy Month, Independent Retailer Month, Horseradish Month and Ice Cream Month

Next Wednesday - Joke Day, Gingersnap Day, Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day, International Reggae Day, Postal Worker Day, Zip Code Day, Second Half of the Year Day and Canada Day

July 24 - Tequila Day, Drive-Thru Day, Pioneer Day, Cousins Day and Tell An Old Joke Day

Week long celebrations:

Jul 18 - Jul 26: Moth Week

This Is What Recruiters Look For On Your LinkedIn Profile

This article from Fast Company is especially timely right now.

I don't know what the exact unemployment numbers are at the moment, but recently they were over 40 million Americans out of work. But those are only the ones who have successfully applied for unemployment. I read that the actual number could be as much as 50% higher...so we could be looking at somewhere between 40 and 60 million Americans looking for work, and no one even knows how many businesses will be able to hire new people, so it seems like an excellent time to put some job search tips into practice.

When you’re looking for a job, your LinkedIn profile is a 24/7 information resource for the recruiters who are looking for talent. In fact, in the Jobvite 2016 Recruiter Nation Report, 87 percent of recruiters find LinkedIn most effective when vetting candidates during the hiring process. 

But what really catches a recruiter’s eye when they’re scrolling through your profile? Here, several weighed in about profiles that make them reach out—or recoil.

• Incomplete Profiles Are a Turn-Off
• Don't Use Selfies
• Who You "Know" Matters
• Discrepancies Are Red Flags
• No One Has Time For a Long, Dense Summary
• Your Headline Matters More Than You Know
• Stop the Jargon
• Recruiters Read Your Thoughts
• Those Recommendations Are Nice, But ...
• Saying You're Job Hunting Helps

Check out the article for more details about each of these items.

And check out this blog post on resumes.

Interesting days

Today - Let It Go Day, International Widows Day, Women in Engineering Day, Typewriter Day and Public Service Day

Tomorrow - Swim a Lap Day, Fairy Day, Upcycling Day and Pralines Day

Next Tuesday - Social Media Day and Meteor Watch Day

July 23 - Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day, Sprinkle Day, International Yada, Yada, Yada Day, Gorgeous Grandma Day and Vanilla Ice Cream Day

Week long celebrations:

Jul 18 - Jul 26: Moth Week

Most Americans Wake Up Exhausted

Today's blog post is from a blog post by Dr. Michael Breus.

There are few things more frustrating than waking up exhausted. After all, isn’t that the entire point of sleeping — to wake up feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle the day? 

But unfortunately, that isn’t the case for most Americans. A recent study conducted by OnePoll found 65% of Americans say they rarely wake up feeling rested and energized. That’s nearly two out of three people walking around. Yikes.

Are you part of the two-thirds of Americans who wake up exhausted?

There are a few more statistics in the next part of the article. Then it goes on to state:

What’s the driving force behind these results? Sleep deprivation, which occurs when someone doesn’t get enough sleep to feel alert and well-rested. About half of the survey’s respondents said they’re not sleeping enough. 

And that makes sense, considering the survey results closely mirror the common signs of sleep deprivation. If you’re not familiar with sleep deprivation, here are a few common symptoms: 

Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation:

• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Memory lapses
• A hard time learning new concepts or processing information
• Reduced sex drive
• Clumsiness

Here are some facts about sleep deprivation:

First off, multiple studies have shown sleep deprivation leads people to being more accident-prone. That doesn’t mean you’re a little more likely to stub your toe on the coffee table, either. Sleep deprivation increases your risk of serious injuries or death. 

One study, published in the journal Sleep in 2018, found drivers who slept for six hours the previous night were 30% more likely to be responsible for a car crash, compared to people who got 7-9 hours of sleep the night before. For drivers who reported five hours of sleep the night before, the data was even more stark, showing a 90% higher likelihood to be responsible for a crash. And for those running on only four hours of sleep, they’re nearly three times as likely to be responsible for a crash. 

I'm currently getting between six and six-and-a-half hours of sleep. When I was driving to work I was only getting four hours of sleep.

Fatigue is also a prime factor when it comes to injuring yourself at work. Workers who are very sleepy are 70% more likely to injure themselves on the job, according to The National Sleep Foundation. In short: you’re more accident-prone because sleep deprivation diminishes your alertness. 

Sleep deprivation also hurts our body’s ability to fight back against illnesses. That’s because sleep critically fosters T Cell production; T Cells are white blood cells that play a big part in the immune system’s response to viruses. Their activation allows the immune system to attack and destroy virus-carrying cells. But research has shown insufficient sleep curtails T Cell production — and puts us at greater risk of getting sick. With the coronavirus going around, that’s the last thing we need.

Here are 3 tips for getting better sleep:

1. Develop a Consistent Sleep Schedule
2. Limit Blue Light Exposure
3. Avoid Long Naps

Be sure to read the article for more details.

Interesting days

Today - World Rainforest Day, Onion Rings Day, B Kinder Day, Positive Media Day and Chocolate Éclair Day

Tomorrow - Let It Go Day, International Widows Day, Women in Engineering Day, Typewriter Day and Public Service Day

Next Monday - Waffle Iron Day, Camera Day, World Industrial Design Day, Cream Tea Day, International Mud Day, Almond Buttercrunch Day and Please Take My Children To Work Day

July 22 - Hammock Day, Hot Dog Day, Creme Brulee Day, Mango Day and Penuche Fudge Day

Week long celebrations:

Jul 18 - Jul 26: Moth Week

Your weekend guide to interesting days - June 20, 2020

This week

Sunday - Flag Day, World Blood Donor Day, Bourbon Day, Juggling Day, Cupcake Day and International Bath Day

Monday - Nature Photography Day, Beer Day Britain, Lobster Day, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Magna Carta Day and Smile Power Day

Tuesday - World Tapas Day, Fresh Veggies Day, Fudge Day and Arborist Appreciation Day

Wednesday - Eat Your Vegetables Day, Garbage Man Day, Tessellation Day, Cherry Tart Day and Apple Strudel Day

Thursday - International Picnic Day, Go Fishing Day, International Sushi Day, International Panic Day, Splurge Day, Dump The Pump Day and Clean Your Aquarium Day

Yesterday - Garfield The Cat Day, Take Back the Lunch Break Day, Martini Day, World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, Sauntering Day and Juneteenth

Today - Ice Cream Soda Day, Surf Day, Kouign Amann Day, Vanilla Milkshake Day, World Refugee Day, World Productivity Day and American Eagle Day

Next week

Tomorrow - Ice Cream Soda Day, Surf Day, Kouign Amann Day, Vanilla Milkshake Day, World Refugee Day, World Productivity Day and American Eagle Day

Monday - World Rainforest Day, Onion Rings Day, B Kinder Day, Positive Media Day and Chocolate Éclair Day

Tuesday - Let It Go Day, International Widows Day, Women in Engineering Day, Typewriter Day and Public Service Day

Wednesday - Swim a Lap Day, Fairy Day, Upcycling Day and Pralines Day

Thursday - Bomb Pop Day, Global Beatles Day, Goats Cheese Day, Strawberry Parfait Day, Color TV Day and Catfish Day

Friday - Beautician’s Day, Take Your Dog To Work Day, World Refrigeration Day, Chocolate Pudding Day and Canoe Day

Saturday - Pineapple Day, Sunglasses Day, Armed Forces Day, Orange Blossom Day and Industrial Workers Of The World Day

Next month

July 14 - Shark Awareness Day, Mac & Cheese Day, Grand Marnier Day and Pandemonium Day

July 15 - Gummi Worm Day, Orange Chicken Day, Pet Fire Safety Day and Tapioca Pudding Day

July 16 - Guinea Pig Appreciation Day, Corn Fritters Day, Fresh Spinach Day and World Snake Day

July 17 - World Emoji Day, Peach Ice Cream Day, Tattoo Day and Yellow Pig Day

July 18 - Insurance Nerd Day, Caviar Day and Mandela Day

July 19 - Ice Cream Day and Daiquiri Day

July 20 - Moon Day, International Chess Day, World Jump Day, Space Exploration Day and Lollipop Day

Weekly celebrations:

Jul 18 - Jul 26: Moth Week

The week in review - June 19, 2020

Monday - "Relationship Marketing Grand Summit update" Some changes have been made. "There's been a big change, not so much with the Relationship Marketing Grand Summit, but with the SendOutCards convention scheduled for the same week."

Tuesday - "Much nothing to ado about" I ended up writing about how to make the perfect martini. "The article then concludes with some martini drinking etiquette."

Wednesday - "How to Escape From Killer Bees" From The Art of Manliness. "You'll never know when this might come in handy, especially if the murder hornets decide to come back."

Thursday - "The 3% solution #TBT" How to stand out from your competition. "Only 3% of businesses send a thank you to their customers...whether email or otherwise but the thank you is very powerful. How powerful?"

Interesting days

Today - Garfield The Cat Day, Take Back the Lunch Break Day, Martini Day, World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, Sauntering Day and Juneteenth

Tomorrow - Ice Cream Soda Day, Surf Day, Kouign Amann Day, Vanilla Milkshake Day, World Refugee Day, World Productivity Day and American Eagle Day

Next Friday - Beautician’s Day, Take Your Dog To Work Day, World Refrigeration Day, Chocolate Pudding Day and Canoe Day

July 19 - Ice Cream Day and Daiquiri Day

Weekly celebrations:

Jul 18 - Jul 26: Moth Week

The 3% solution #TBT

Today's blog post was originally published two years ago:

This post is on the power of thank you cards to your customers.

Only 3% of businesses send a thank you to their customers...whether email or otherwise but the thank you is very powerful. How powerful? Check out the examples here.

You can send a thank you via social media or email, and while better than nothing, they're gone in a moment and very few people will print them out and put them on their fridge or their desk.

The most effective type of thank you is the thank you card. You can go to the store, buy a box of thank you cards and a book of stamps, but for most people the cards sit in the box, unsent. Why is that? I mean, the intention is there, but the execution is often a bit lax. I think a big reason is that it seems to be too much work to fill out the card, address the envelope and get it in the mail for such a small gesture. Two things...it's a HUGE gesture and it is too much work to send a card that way. But SendOutCards makes it very easy. You don't have to fill out the card (unless you want to), you don't have to address the envelope and you don't have to get it in the mail. SendOutCards does all of that for you.

Joe Girard, the World's Greatest Salesman, per the Guinness Record Book, simply sent out a card every month to every customer who ever bought a car from him (13,001) or prospect. That came out to 14,000 cards a month. No sales pitch. Just "I like you" and "Happy New Year" or whatever holiday occurred that month.

Joe needed a full time staff to send out his cards every month. With SendOutCards, you just need your mailing list. We do the rest!

So, click on the link, check out the 2 minute video and I'll be glad to work with you to set up the right plan for you.

Interesting days

Today - International Picnic Day, Go Fishing Day, Clean Your Aquarium Day, Splurge Day, International Panic Day, Dump The Pump Day and International Sushi Day

Tomorrow - Garfield The Cat Day, Take Back the Lunch Break Day, Martini Day, World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, Sauntering Day and Juneteenth

Next Thursday - Global Beatles Day, Catfish Day, Color TV Day, Goats Cheese Day and Strawberry Parfait Day

July 18 - Insurance Nerd Day, Caviar Day and Mandela Day

Week long celebrations:

Jul 18 - Jul 26: Moth Week

How to Escape From Killer Bees

Today's blog post is based on an article from The Art of Manliness:

You'll never know when this might come in handy, especially if the murder hornets decide to come back.

In 1978, The Swarm premiered in theaters across the country and illustrated the raw, destructive capabilities of bees. In the film, starring a young Michael Caine, swarms of bees crash helicopters, derail trains, and wreak havoc on communities. If that sounds ridiculous, it was, but then again, these were not just any bees. These were killer bees. 

In reality, when people talk about killer bees, they’re referring to the Africanized honeybee. Developed in the 50s, the Africanized honeybee is a hybrid of Western honeybees and East African honeybees. The purpose of this experimental cross-breed was to increase honey production. But in 1957, swarms of the bees escaped quarantine in Brazil and began working their way toward North America. Today, they can be found throughout the Southwest (as well as Florida) and are spreading a little more each year.

These hybrid pollinators got their “killer” name because of their extremely defensive behavior. They sting more and chase farther, in some cases following people for more than a quarter of a mile. As individual bees, they’re no more venomous than an average honeybee. But as a group, killer bees can become a deadly force; hundreds of their stings will inject enough venom to overwhelm the body’s vital functions. 

Killer bees make their nests in all the typical places you’d expect. In rotten logs, beneath house eaves, and underground. They’re typically most aggressive in spring when making new hives. It’s at this time of the year when they tend to move in large swarms. If you find yourself in their path, or accidentally disrupt their hive, here’s what to do. 

Be sure to check out the article for a graphic on how to escape from the killer bees!

Interesting days

Today - Eat Your Vegetables Day, Garbage Man Day, Tessellation Day, Cherry Tart Day and Apple Strudel Day

Tomorrow - International Picnic Day, Go Fishing Day, International Sushi Day, International Panic Day, Splurge Day, Dump The Pump Day and Clean Your Aquarium Day

Next Wednesday - Swim a Lap Day, Fairy Day, Upcycling Day and Pralines Day

July 17 - World Emoji Day, Peach Ice Cream Day, Tattoo Day and Yellow Pig Day

Much nothing to ado about

I really have no plan for today. I had looked at a couple of articles on The Art of Manliness, although nothing really caught my eye. The article on How to Make an Authentic Philly Cheesesteak at Home did sound pretty tasty but since Cheesesteak Day was on March 20th I decided to skip it for now.

This Friday will be Martini Day, so that might be an interesting topic. Let's see what AoM has to say on the subject:

It’s an argument that has plagued modern man since the dawn of time. Well, since the early fifties, at least. Just how does one make the “perfect martini?” If you ask ten different martini drinkers, my bet is you’ll get ten different answers. Most will be crap. Gentle readers, I intend to put this query to bed, once and for all. The following is the only way to make the perfect martini. Read it. Memorize it. Become one with it. For this, indeed, is the ultimate guide to the good life.

The article then describes what ingredients you'll need as well as a 12 step program on how to make the perfect martini.

• Ice. Lot’s of it.
• Properly chilled, stemmed martini glasses (Properly chilled means your glasses should be in the freezer for a minimum of one hour prior to making the martini. To avoid confusion, or disaster, I suggest putting said glasses in the freezer and leaving them there permanently.)
• Vermouth
• A glass pitcher or metal shaker
• Garnish, be it olives, or lemon peel. These are the only things, garnish-wise, that are permitted. Sure, you can use things like cocktail onions, but then it isn’t a martini, now is it? The answer is no. It’s a Gibson.
• And last, but obviously not least, gin. Pay attention, dear readers. I said GIN. I did not mention raspberries, chocolate, or anything involving butterscotch. Those drinks may be “martini-like”, by virtue of the type glass in which they rest, but the similarity ends right there, buster. And don’t give me any of this James Bond crap about vodka. No! That is not a martini, either. Case closed.

Here's an article on the debate between gin and vodka, as well as shaken vs stirred.

The article then concludes with some martini drinking etiquette.

Gin? Vodka? Shaken? Stirred? What's your preference?

Interesting days

Today - World Tapas Day, Fresh Veggies Day, Fudge Day and Arborist Appreciation Day

Tomorrow - Eat Your Vegetables Day, Garbage Man Day, Tessellation Day, Cherry Tart Day and Apple Strudel Day

Next Tuesday - Let It Go Day, International Widows Day, Women in Engineering Day, Typewriter Day and Public Service Day

July 16 - Guinea Pig Appreciation Day, Corn Fritters Day, Fresh Spinach Day and World Snake Day

Relationship Marketing Grand Summit update

There's been a big change, not so much with the Relationship Marketing Grand Summit, but with the SendOutCards convention scheduled for the same week.

I've written about the two events here. SendOutCards has decided to split the virtual event into two parts, with the RMGS still scheduled for Labor Day week (Wednesday and Thursday, September 9 & 10), check out the Eventbrite page for both events (both are included on the same ticket). The convention will also be virtual and will be held on November 6th and 7th.

When the 2 events were originally scheduled they were going to be held in Dallas, and since people would be flying in it made sense to have both events together. But since both events are now virtual, they've been split up so that their attention isn't split between two different events being held at the same time.

Here's a list of the speakers scheduled so far for the RMGS...several of them presented last year at the first Relationship Marketing Grand Summit.

Here's a brief description of the RMGS:

Build a better business today! Join author, business owner, and relationship marketing expert Kody Bateman for the Second Annual Relationship Marketing Grand Summit. During this virtual event, you’ll learn from a wide array of professionals who will help you take your business to the next level by focusing on cultivating the relationships around you. 

This event has been approved for Continued Education Credits for Texas Realtors and for CPAs nationwide.

You can get tickets for just the Relationship Marketing Grand Summit here or you can get tickets for both events here.

The speakers will teach quite a bit about both marketing and sales, with the emphasis on relationship marketing. The 2 day RMGS is highly recommended!

Interesting days

Today - Nature Photography Day, Beer Day Britain, Lobster Day, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Magna Carta Day and Smile Power Day

Tomorrow - World Tapas Day, Fresh Veggies Day, Fudge Day and Arborist Appreciation Day

Next Monday - World Rainforest Day, Onion Rings Day, B Kinder Day, Positive Media Day and Chocolate Éclair Day

July 15 - Gummi Worm Day, Orange Chicken Day, Pet Fire Safety Day and Tapioca Pudding Day

Your weekend guide to interesting days - June 13, 2020

This week

Sunday - Cancer Survivors Day, VCR Day and Chocolate Ice Cream Day

Monday - Best Friends Day, World Oceans Day and Upsy Daisy Day

Tuesday - Rosé Day, Donald Duck Day and Call Your Doctor Day

Wednesday - Iced Tea Day and Ball Point Pen Day

Thursday - Yarn Bombing Day, Jerky Day, Farm Workers Day, Corn On The Cob Day and German Chocolate Cake Day

Yesterday - Superman Day, Red Rose Day, Flip-Flop Day, International Falafel Day, Peanut Butter Cookie Day and Loving Day

Today - World Gin Day, Sewing Machine Day, World Softball Day, International Axe Throwing Day and Worldwide Knit in Public Day

Week long celebrations:

Jun 8 - Jun 14: Love your Burial Ground Week

Next week

Tomorrow - Flag Day, World Blood Donor Day, Bourbon Day, Juggling Day, Cupcake Day and International Bath Day

Monday - Nature Photography Day, Beer Day Britain, Lobster Day, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Magna Carta Day and Smile Power Day

Tuesday - World Tapas Day, Fresh Veggies Day, Fudge Day and Arborist Appreciation Day

Wednesday - Eat Your Vegetables Day, Garbage Man Day, Tessellation Day, Cherry Tart Day and Apple Strudel Day

Thursday - International Picnic Day, Go Fishing Day, International Sushi Day, International Panic Day, Splurge Day, Dump The Pump Day and Clean Your Aquarium Day

Friday - Garfield The Cat Day, Take Back the Lunch Break Day, Martini Day, World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, Sauntering Day and Juneteenth

Saturday - Ice Cream Soda Day, Surf Day, Kouign Amann Day, Vanilla Milkshake Day, World Refugee Day, World Productivity Day and American Eagle Day

Next month

July 7 - Cow Appreciation Day, Chocolate Day, Macaroni Day, Strawberry Sundae Day, Global Forgiveness Day and Tell The Truth Day

July 8 - Math 2.0 Day, Chocolate with Almonds Day and Scud Day

July 9 - Sugar Cookie Day

July 10 - Kebab Day, Piña Colada Day, Teddy Bear Picnic Day and Don’t Step On A Bee Day

July 11 - Free Slurpee Day, Mojito Day, Blueberry Muffin Day and World Population Day

July 12 - Etch A Sketch Day, New Conversations Day, Simplicity Day, Pecan Pie Day and Different Colored Eyes Day

July 13 - French Fries Day, Beef Tallow Day, International Rock Day, Town Criers Day and Embrace Your Geekness Day

Week long celebrations:

Jul 6 - Jul 12: Great British Pea Week

The week in review - June 12, 2020

Monday - "The Eisenhower Decision Matrix" Time management. "If you've read "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", then you're familiar with the matrix."

Tuesday - "How Do You Use Your 168 Hours Each Week?" More on time management. "By viewing our weeks in terms of hours available, even a 15-minute increment can open up opportunities for relationships, hobbies, and workouts."

Wednesday - "How to Be a Time Warrior" Even more on time management. "If you struggle with procrastination, goal-setting, and generally moving ahead in life, the heart of your struggles may be your view of time."

Thursday - "Sleep Better - Day 7 - 8 #TBT" After 3 days of time management, you should be sleeping like a baby. "Day 7 covers supplements and day 8 covers jet lag."

Interesting days

Today - Superman Day, Red Rose Day, Flip-Flop Day, International Falafel Day, Peanut Butter Cookie Day and Loving Day

Tomorrow - World Gin Day, Sewing Machine Day, World Softball Day, International Axe Throwing Day and Worldwide Knit in Public Day

Next Friday - Garfield The Cat Day, Take Back the Lunch Break Day, Martini Day, World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, Sauntering Day and Juneteenth

July 12 - Etch A Sketch Day, New Conversations Day, Simplicity Day, Pecan Pie Day and Different Colored Eyes Day

Week long celebrations:

Jul 6 - Jul 12: Great British Pea Week

Sleep Better - Day 7 - 8 #TBT

Today's blog post was originally published last year:

We're almost to the end of this series!

Day 7 covers supplements and day 8 covers jet lag.

There are many different supplements that can help improve your sleep:

Anti-Histamines (Benadryl): 

• These cause sleepiness but  they last for 12 hours, so they are also likely to cause drowsiness the next day. 

Xanax:

• Xanax is a benzodiazepine that can cause grogginess in the morning. With long term use it may also increase your risk for dementia or alzheimer's disease. 

Ambien/Lunesta: 

• These prescriptions target the GABA system in the body to increase sedation and sleep onset. 

Melatonin:

• Melatonin is a hormone the body produces naturally in the brain. Levels of melatonin should be highest at night and lowest in the morning. Melatonin is not a sleep initiator, it’s a sleep regulator. 
• Ideally it should be taken 90 minutes before your desired bedtime.
• Typical dose: 0.5-1.5 mg

Valerian & Hops:

• These two herbs are often taken together. They are historically taken for restlessness, nervousness, and anxiety.
• Both are thought to increase levels of GABA in the brain which is our calming neurotransmitter. 

5-HTP:

• 5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin, a calming neurotransmitter. Serotonin is also the precursor to melatonin, our sleep hormone. 
• Typical dose: 25mg- 500mg

Magnesium:

• Magnesium is a mineral that about ½ of the US population is deficient in. 
• It helps regulate our circadian rhythm.
• May be helpful in restless leg syndrome. 
• Typical dose: 100mg-350mg

L-theanine:

• Increases levels of GABA, serotonin and dopamine in the brain. 
• One study showed that it may be helpful in improving the sleep of boys 8-12 years old with ADHD. 

Magnolia Bark:

• This herb is a gentle sedative. It also may help protect our memory and reduce stress.
• The bioactive ingredients in magnolia bark may increase the time spent in REM sleep and slow wave sleep. 
• It also may decrease cortisol levels which also benefits our sleep quality. 

Glycine:

• Glycine is another calming amino acid that helps you fall asleep faster and may improve sleep quality. 
• It increases blood flow to the extremities, thereby reducing our core body temperature to help initiate sleep onset.
• Glycine may also increase serotonin levels, which goes on to produce melatonin.
• Typical dose: 3-5 grams

Guava leaf tea:

• Guava leaf may help to balance blood sugar. Dips in blood sugar can cause us to wake up in the middle of the night (around 3am). Low blood sugar triggers the release of cortisol which wakes us up from sleep. 
• Adding raw honey to your tea can further stabilize your blood sugar throughout the night.

I've taken melatonin and 5 HTP but that was years ago. I didn't really keep track of whether it helped or not. And I currently have some GABA, so I'll try using it and see if it helps.

Here are some ways to make your supplements more effective:

• Take them at the same time each night to develop consistency.
• Do NOT mix sleeping pills with alcohol. Many of these if taken together have additive effects, meaning that they have more of an affect on the body than if each is taken separately.

I haven't traveled much lately, but if you travel maybe this will help:

Jet Lag

• If you are crossing more than 3 time zones, especially when traveling east, then you are likely to experience jet lag.

Sleep optimization tips: 

• Go to TimeShifter.com and download the app. (Use the code TheSleepDoctor for 2 free plans.) -
• Tap “Add Trip”
• Load your information (city, departure date etc) 
• You will end up with instructions on when to take melatonin, when to avoid caffeine, and all of the information you need to prepare for travel 2 days before your departure day. 
• This will help you avoid jet lag and ensure you are on top of your game when you land in your destination.
• Exercising at 7 AM or between 1 - 4 PM can shift your circadian rhythm to an earlier time.
• Exercising between 7-10 PM can push your body’s clock to fall asleep later
• Choose the time of your flight wisely. Pick the flight time that will require you to sleep the least on the plane. A redeye flight might be cheaper, but is it worth the reduced sleep quality? Not in my book. 
• Use www.seatguru.com to find out which seats in the plane are better for sleep compared to others. Reserving a window seat is usually your best option for sleep quality. Make sure to choose a seat that is NOT next to a bathroom to limit disruptive noise. 
• Wear comfortable clothes and dress in layers so you’re prepared for all temperature ranges. This one is obvious, but don’t forget!
• Relax with a neck pillow. These are part of my sleep-essentials travel kit. Turning it around so your chin sits on the thickest part can help your neck from bobbing while sleeping.
• Stay hydrated! Flying is dehydrating because of the low humidity in the airplane so keep an extra water bottle handy.
• Limit alcohol. Alcohol will disrupt your sleep rhythm and dehydrate you — two side effects that you don’t want to add to the stress of flying. 
• Create a soothing music playlist or have a guided meditation handy to help you relax and fall asleep.
• Limit light exposure. Eye masks are part of my pre-packed sleep travel kit. When trying to sleep on a plane, make sure to block out additional floor and overhead lights to optimize your sleep quality. 
• Pack a sleep kit to optimize your travel sleep quality:
• Eye mask
• Ear plugs and noise-cancelling headphones
• Travel pillow 
• Water
• A reusable water bottle 
• Sleep Doctor Blue Light Blocking Glasses
• A relaxing playlist 
• At least one new audiobook 
• A light blanket or sweater
• Compression socks


Tomorrow, we'll wrap this up!

Day 1
Day 2

Day 3
Day 4 - 6
Day 7 - 8
Day 9 - 10

Interesting days

Today - Yarn Bombing Day, Jerky Day, Farm Workers Day, Corn On The Cob Day and German Chocolate Cake Day

Tomorrow - Superman Day, Red Rose Day, Flip-Flop Day, International Falafel Day, Peanut Butter Cookie Day and Loving Day

Week long celebrations:

Jun 8 - Jun 14: Love your Burial Ground Week

Next Thursday - International Picnic Day, Go Fishing Day, International Sushi Day, International Panic Day, Splurge Day, Dump The Pump Day and Clean Your Aquarium Day

July 11 - Free Slurpee Day, Mojito Day, Blueberry Muffin Day and World Population Day

Week long celebrations:

Jul 6 - Jul 12: Great British Pea Week