Attention business owners and sales professionals

This is the event I'm going to on April 18th in Fresno. Casey and Mary are 2 of my favorite people. If you live within a 6 hour drive (between Chico and San Diego), you should come listen to Casey speak and join in the fun meeting that Mary and her team always provides.

The following is from the Eventbrite page. If you're not in SendOutCards and want to go as my guest let me know and I'll get you signed up.

Event Details

Learn how relationship marketing will take your business to the next level by applying the Master Relationship Marketing philosophy to your current marketing plan while creating an opportunity for you to offer the same experience to other business owners.This event will show you the endless possibilities relationship marketing can provide to your strategic business model while giving you a specific system and outlined tools to bring you further success while strengthening the core of your business.

___________________________________________

IF YOU COULD HAVE CAPITALIZED ON THE SUCCESS OF COMPANIES LIKE AMAZON, iTUNES OR NETFLIX, KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW TODAY, WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IT?
Well, you may have missed the chance to take advantage of opportunities with those companies but you don't have to miss out on this one.

You're invited on Saturday, April 18th to learn about how YOU CAN take advantage of an opportunity with a company that’s revolutionizing the Relationship Marketing industry worldwide!

Learn how and why thousands of people and businesses from all over the world are taking advantage of this company called SendOutCards and how YOU CAN TOO.

CASEY D. EBERHART

Casey is a speaker/trainer on relationship building through networking and a well known social media guru. He works from home and helps other people get started on a "fire your boss!" plan. Casey majored in both Business Management and Human Resource Management at Washington State University, has owned his own businesses and is living and teaching the philosophy "For every month you do NOT have contact with a client or prospect you will lose 10% of your influence!" Casey will INSPIRE you to TAKE ACTION towards your GOALS and show you the vehicle to get you there.

NEW EXECUTIVE - MARY SWARTS

Mary recently achieved the coveted rank of Executive in SendOutCards! She is a Master Relationship Marketing Strategist who has consulted and assisted businesses for 6 years regarding their customer retention and referral systems. Mary teaches the importance of top of mind marketing and the value of creating an existing customer base of raving fans! Her commitment to her business, her clients and team members has resulted in numerous company awards as well as featured articles in SOCStars - SendOutCards Team Awards & Recognition Showcase Magazine. Mary is growing a rapidly expanding team, making a positive difference in the lives of thousands and her story with SendOutCards is just beginning!

On Saturday, April 18th you’ll also be hearing from a variety of people that are taking advantage of the SendOutCards system and leveraging this opportunity in their spare time along side what they're already doing.

RESOURCES | INFORMATION

Dress Code – Business Casual / Casual
Seating is first come first serve
Please arrive early to avoid delays 

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/beaver-day/ Check out these 10 must watch episodes of "Leave it to Beaver". It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/no-housework-day/ Something I proudly celebrate. And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-health-day/

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/zoo-lovers-day/ It's been a few years since I've been to the zoo. The last time was with Sora Azekawa, our Japanese foreign exchange student. We didn't go on Zoo Lovers Day, it was sometime in March. And for the artists out there, it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/draw-a-picture-of-a-bird-day/

Next Tuesday - http://www.benjerry.com/scoop-shops/free-cone-day I'm ready! How about you? And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/look-up-at-the-sky-day/ It's a bird. No, it's a plane. Don't forget https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/be-kind-to-lawyers-day/ Quit laughing…they need love too! How about https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/dolphin-day/? How many of you remember the old Avon decanters? My mom sold Avon and we had a collection of decanters, including this one:

May 7 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/roast-leg-of-lamb-day/ Can't say that I've ever tried it and where would I go if I wanted some?

Begin with the End in Mind

Begin with the End in Mind is Habit 2 in the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey.

And since today is Plan Your Epitaph Day, this seems like a good time to talk about this. I did touch on this briefly in yesterday's post but I'm expanding on the idea today.

Since the library decided that they would be closed on Easter and I don't know where my copy of the book is right now, I'm going from memory and what I can find on the Internet.

There is a visualization exercise in the book where you are to imagine you're viewing your own funeral and several people get up to speak about you, such as friends and family members, co-workers, etc. What would these people say about you if you were to die right now? Would it really be what you want to be remembered for? Or are there things you want to change in your life? If there are changes that you want to make, today is a good day to begin making these changes.

You don't have to apply these principles only to the end of your life. You can also apply them to any project or goal that you have. First, visualize the outcome that you want and then take the steps needed to accomplish that goal or project. For more on this, see my series of articles on goal setting here.

Interesting days

Today - Plan Your Epitaph Day…see above. It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/new-beers-eve/ Have a pint (or 3) for me too! And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tartan-day/ Here's some kilts and bagpipes for you. And if you have any caramel leftover from yesterday's Caramel Day celebration, it's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/caramel-popcorn-day/. Here's a recipe for making your own caramel popcorn using packaged caramels. This recipe contains peanuts so it's like Cracker Jack…but you can also just leave them out if you don't like, or can't eat, peanuts. Or you can be like me and just buy some Cracker Jack and get candy coated popcorn, peanuts and a prize!

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/beaver-day/

And here's a day that I think we can all enjoy: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/no-housework-day/

Next Monday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/thomas-jefferson-day/ Probably one of the most, if not THE most, intelligent presidents we've ever had. And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/scrabble-day/

May 6 - A couple of days worth celebrating: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/no-diet-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/no-homework-day/

Happy Easter!

And Happy Passover to my friends who celebrate this holiday!

Interesting days

Today - What could be more interesting than Passover and Easter? I don't know but maybe these come close. How about https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/read-a-road-map-day/, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/deep-dish-pizza-day/ or https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/caramel-day/?

Tomorrow - According to "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" you should begin with the end in mind. One way you can do that is to write your own epitaph and since this is https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/plan-your-epitaph-day/ this may be a good day to think about it. What would you want to be remembered for? And if you continued living the way you're living now, is that how you'll be remembered? If not, it's time to do something about it. It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/caramel-popcorn-day/ Yum! And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/army-day/ Be all that you can be! Let's not forget https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/new-beers-eve/ or https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tartan-day/ Here is the Napier Clan tartan (my Mom's side of the family):

Next Sunday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/grilled-cheese-sandwich-day/ With a bowl of tomato soup! And how about licorice for dessert? Or since it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/walk-on-your-wild-side-day/ why don't you have your dessert first?

May 5 - What's your favorite comic? And can you name the cartoonist? If not, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cartoonists-day/ is a good day to find out more about the person who draws it. It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/ferret-day/

And lastly, it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/oyster-day/. Do you like yours raw or cooked? On the half shell or with something else? Or maybe you like listening to them? 

Or how about with more cowbell?

Interesting days

Today - I just came back in from watching the lunar eclipse. It was pretty cool (actually it was pretty cold so I only stayed out there about 10 minutes!). And on another note, it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/vitamin-c-day/ I keep saying I need to stop at the produce stand around the corner, maybe I should finally do that. It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pillow-fight-day/ but not with my oxygen pillow. And https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tangible-karma-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-rat-day/

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/read-a-road-map-day/ Do you even still have one? I don't think I do. And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/go-for-broke-day/ Go for it! And most importantly, the food...https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/deep-dish-pizza-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/caramel-day/ Like I've said before, I'm more of a regular crust kinda guy, but who do you think makes the best deep dish pizza? And like I've also said before, I really like the SendOutCards caramels! Yum!

Next Saturday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pet-day/ I'd love for you to post some pics of your pets. And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cheese-fondue-day/ I don't think I've had fondue in about 30 years! And how about https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/barbershop-quartet-day/? Here's a clip from one of my all time favorite movies, The Music Man. Or how about a one man barbershop quartet? Ooga chaka!

May 4 - Of course it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/star-wars-day/

And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/petite-and-proud-day/

Welcome spring with spring cleaning

Since many of you don't subscribe to my monthly SendOutCards blog, I'm sharing it here too. If you would like to subscribe, you can do so by joining my email list.

April 02, 2015

by r_tompkins

Spring is here! Do you welcome the season with a thorough spring cleaning every year? Many people look at spring as the perfect time to do this deep clean, and it has a long history. Many cultures have historically connected spring cleaning to religious celebrations, including Jewish Passover and the Persian New Year. But spring cleaning probably goes back even further.

Whatever its origins, spring cleaning is a good idea. Did you know that a good spring cleaning can make you more organized and happier? With that in mind, here are a few things you might want to add to your list this year.

• Baseboards along each and every wall.
• Ceiling fans. Most people just dust these; sometimes they need to be “cleaned” as well.
• Walls. Even if you can’t see any dirt on them, it’s there.
• Carpeting. Make sure you get them shampooed; vacuuming only does so much.
• Furniture. Take off the cushions and vacuum your couch; put stain remover on anything that might need it.
• Quilts and other blankets. Most of these can just be thrown in the washing machine.

Check out this link to see more commonly missed places. Happy spring cleaning!

Interesting days

Today - You can celebrate https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/chocolate-mousse-day/ right after you celebrate https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/fish-fingers-and-custard-day/ (I didn't know fish had fingers!). And both of these taste treats are reason enough to celebrate https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-party-day/! And let's not forget https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/find-a-rainbow-day/ And here's Kermit to brighten your day!

Tomorrow - Why don't you be a karma chameleon and celebrate https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tangible-karma-day/? And you can celebrate https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cordon-bleu-day/ by eating a blue ribbon winning meal (which is what cordon bleu means). And then there's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-rat-day/. There's even a love song about a rat named Ben. Let's not forget that it's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pillow-fight-day/. Pillow fight!

Next Friday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/golfers-day/ Celebrate the golfer in your life! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sibling-day/ Show your brothers and sisters how much you love them by tormenting them more than usual! And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-safety-pin-day/ An awesome invention but thank goodness for Huggies and Pampers!

May 3 - It's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/lumpy-rug-day/ Time to smooth out your lumpy rugs! And is https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/paranormal-day/ what happens when you get two normal people together? (I don't know either…I've never seen 2 normal people together!). How fun…it's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/two-different-colored-shoes-day/ 

And the winner is...

Elizabeth Walker!

Elizabeth receives free brownies (or one of our other delicious treats) for selecting a favorite blog post during yesterday's 200th blog post contest. And a huge shout out to Linda Arrowwood for liking all of my previous posts! Thanks ladies!

The winning blog post won't be reposted until later this month since a field trip is involved and this weekend I'll be working on my taxes and possibly part of next weekend also. The rest of next weekend will be spent watching Bonnie Lafer in "Seussical" in Walnut Creek at what used to be Del Valle High School, where my cousins went (Happy birthday to my cousin, Janet Bohannon).

The following weekend I'm going to Fresno to watch Casey Eberhart speak…this will be the 3rd or 4th time I've seen him speak. It's always a lot of fun. Thanks to Mary Swarts, Donna Blohm, Sara Smith, Susan Smilanich, Mindy Van Vleet, Marie Ferreira and everybody else on the SendOutCards TNT team out of Fresno. (I love these ladies!)

That's it for today, now on to the

Interesting days

Today-

Yes, that's Barney, Baby Bop and the rest of the gang celebrating https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/peanut-butter-and-jelly-day/. Not all fruit is lucky enough to become jelly, some of it ends up in the produce aisle of the supermarket. Today you can thank the produce managers for giving that fruit a second chance since it's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/love-your-produce-manager-day/. Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies…but this is the truth…it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tell-a-lie-day/

Tomorrow - Who likes https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/fish-fingers-and-custard-day/. No, that isn't a question. Dr. Who likes them. And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/find-a-rainbow-day/ Who says that chasing rainbows is a bad thing? How else will you find the pot of gold at the end of them? And let's not forget https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-party-day/ I'm going to boogie oogie oogie till I just can't boogie no more! If I leave now, I'll get to work at about midnight because it's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/walk-to-work-day/ (It's a 10 hour and 41 minute walk). And last but no way it could possibly be least it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/chocolate-mousse-day/

Next Thursday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/winston-churchill-day/ Maybe he should've taken advantage of https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/name-yourself-day/. And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cherish-an-antique-day/ And no, we're not talking about me

May 2 - 

It's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/free-comic-book-day/. There are a couple of other days happening today, but who cares? 

Free brownies!

No, this isn't some nefarious April Fools prank. It just so happens that April 1st marks my

And to celebrate I'm asking my fan(s) to tell me which of the previous 199 posts were their favorite and why. Then over the next week or two I'll republish those posts, with updates if needed, and send a 2 pack of brownies to the person who chose that blog post as their favorite. You may choose as many favorites as you like, but only one package of brownies will be sent per person. And this offer expires at 11:59 PM PDT today!

Interesting days

April is https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/inventors-month/, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/decorating-month/, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/straw-hat-month/, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/jazz-appreciation-month/, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/poetry-month/, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/garden-month/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/couple-appreciation-month/. Whew! That's a lot, but there's pretty much something for everybody!

Today - First, and far from least, it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sourdough-bread-day/. I'm all set to get some fresh sourdough from the bakery today. It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/reading-is-funny-day/ I always thought that reading was fun-damental. And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/day-of-hope/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/one-cent-day/ When I was in England (in 1976) a phone call in a phone booth cost a tuppence or 2 P as it was common to say. It was hilarious (or so we thought) that when somebody wanted to borrow money for the phone and asked "Do you have 2 P?", we said "No, I just went". OK, if you were an 20 year old guy it was funny!

Tomorrow - And another day to get children to read is https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/childrens-book-day/. Honestly, it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tell-a-lie-day/ And little lies may be the best. It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/love-your-produce-manager-day/ Hug yours today! And yes, I did save the best for last! It's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/peanut-butter-and-jelly-day/ Chunky or smooth? Grape, strawberry or olallieberry? If you don't know what an olallieberry is, you can ask your produce manager as you're hugging them. There was a huge debate over the existence of olallieberries, but I have it on good authority that they exist.

Next Wednesday - If you get a book from the bookmobile on how to draw birds, you can go to the zoo and draw some…maybe a toucan or an ostrich. 

May 1 - 76 trombones may have led the big parade, but today is https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-tuba-day/. It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/school-principals-day/ Take your favorite principal to lunch today. And let's not forget https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/lei-day/ The 1st (and last time) I went to Hawaii was on this day. And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/new-home-owners-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/no-pants-day/ I kid you not! Let's not forget https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/mother-goose-day/ or https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/batman-day/ Check out this short video to find out who Batman is.