By Stephen Bucaro

Operating your own city guide on the Web can be interesting
and very profitable. Almost every city already has at
least one city guide. But there is always room for one
more. For example, I live near Phoenix, Arizona. I could
call my site “The Best Guide to Phoenix”, “The Official
Guide to Phoenix”, or “The Complete Guide to Phoenix”.

How do you generate revenue from a city guide? 1. You
charge a fee to list restaurants, accommodations, and
other businesses that are located in the city. 2. You sell
books and videos about the city, and city souvenirs and
mementos.

You should develop your city guide in phases.

Phase 1. Create the non-commercial sections of the Web
site. Some cities, like Chicago and New York, are popular
for their cultural attractions. Some cities, like Phoenix,
are popular for nearby natural attractions. Some cities
are popular for their artisans, monuments, or history.
Create an attractive front page that displays photographs
related to the unique attractions of the city.

Develop an “Attractions” section of your Web site. You
might also want to develop a “Maps” section. When you have
a reasonable amount of content, begin promoting your city
guide to start generating some traffic.

Phase 2. Create the commercial sections of the Web site.
You should develop an “Accommodations” section, a
“Restaurants” section, and a “Businesses” section. You
might also want to develop a “Search” section.

Contact all the large businesses that you want to list in
your city guide and offer them free listing. Yes – free.
In order to get things rolling, you will have to fill up
the commercial sections by offering free listing. Don’t
tell them you are going start charging as soon as you get
the sections filled out.

This is how you approach the business owners; “I’m
developing a new city guide web site and I’m listing every
important business in the city for free. Can you provide
me with some information about your establishment?” People
have less resistance to free, and this will get you access
to the decision makers of the businesses.

Phase 3. You contact every business listed in your city
guide and ask them if they want to renew their listing for
one year for $1 (or some incredibly low fee). You can
also approach businesses not yet listed with the offer to
list them for the same incredibly low fee.

If you were a restaurant owner or hotel manager looking at
a guide that has all your competitors listed, wouldn’t you
be willing to pay a small fee to remain in the guide? The
reason that you have such a low fee is because you want
your customers to take the important leap from a free
listing to a paid listing.

Phase 4. After their renewal expires, you present each
business with your listing options for the next year. You
can offer anything from a small advertisement to a
multi-page Web site. You are now an established city guide.
Even your minimal listing – an entry in the search section
only – costs $50.00 to $500.00 or more per year. The leap
from paid to a price increase is not as wide as the leap
from free to paid.

The potential earnings from a Web city guide varies with
the size and popularity of the city. Even a small town
with some attraction should provide you with a moderate
income. A large city with many popular attractions could
earn you much more.

For good examples of city guide web sites visit:
Explore Dickenson North Dakota http://www.dickinsoncvb.com
Glenwood Guide http://www.glenwoodguide.com
Santa Fe Always Online http://www.sfaol.com
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“But you took it out on me!” the man insisted.

Siegel, a loving and sensitive person, saw the truth in this and changed his behavior. Years later, he read a line of poetry by Rumi: Your criticism polishes my mirror. “When I heard that,” Siegel exclaimed, “it was like ‘Oh, thank you! Now I know why they’re all trying to make me better. It isn’t that I’m a terrible person. They’re trying to help me!”

And so it is for each of us, as the people in our lives hold up reflective mirrors enabling us to see who we really are. The problem is, as Bernie Siegel pointed out, most of us don’t take kindly to criticism. The self-defensive ego, a hero in its own mind, typically rejects criticism and stirs up negative emotions that close our minds to truths which could be larger than our own. At other times the ego, in disarray, absorbs undue or untrue criticism that becomes a less-than-useful way of relating to life.

What, then, is a body to do?

Science and spirit tell us that the body is to sit still and relax when the mind is confused. The mind quiets itself and consciousness listens for the still, small voice of the soul. We draw from this deeper well of knowing to get clear on the truth of a person or situation, because the only cure for ego’s well-meaning grip on our perceptions is disarmament through meditation, positive thinking and wholeness affirmations. These create in us the calm, peaceful mind of transcendence, in which we are attached to nothing of the ego and only to the mind of the soul. It is this higher mind which sees clearly by staying open and receptive to wise, loving guidance of every sort.

I’ve been listening to a wonderful discussion of how emotion influences consciousness, on a CD set, “Destructive Emotions,” by author Daniel Goleman. It’s a detailed report on a Mind and Life Institute gathering in which the Dalai Lama of Tibet met with some of the world’s foremost researchers on the effects of and antidotes to our destructive emotions (a staggering 84,000 of which have been catalogued by Buddhist philosophy). Scientists are confirming that negative emotions like anger, fear and depression alter physical structures in our brains so that we are quite literally unable to know the difference between fact and fiction: e.g., we get so mad and filled with aversion that we “see red” or “can’t see straight.”

Conversely, love really is blind to the truth about our objects of attraction and affection. Somewhere between the eyes and ears, the brain dumps this undesirable information, I suspect because the appreciative, energized heart, according to The HeartMath Institute (heartmath.org), emits a vibration that is 60 times stronger (within the body) than the power of our brain waves!

What a wonderful challenge and how critical it becomes for us to master even our most subtle emotions and moods, in order for our thinking mind and five senses to accurately perceive and interpret information. Otherwise, we live in emotional delusion and reality distortion. So we have a choice between truth or fiction. If we choose to see truth we must accept that this is not easy to do, yet work toward it by mastering our thoughts and feelings in the hope of a consensus reality that will lead us and our world to peace.

I am reminded of the Snow White fairytale, in which the wicked queen demands, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall/Who’s the fairest of us all?”and a sepulchral voice intones, “Snow White.” This response so infuriates the queen’s obsessive vanity that she dresses as a ragged beggar to give a poison apple to Snow White.

What if, instead, the queen had searched in her mirror for the perfect, radiant beauty of her soul? If, within the mind of her soul, she’d heard the voice of an inner critic, she could have allowed her higher self to remind her that we are all souls on a journey, none better and none less than another.

I see us living happily ever after in this adventure called life. Each step of our soul journey rids us of negative emotions like self-blame, guilt and shame, the worst distorters of all, so that eventually we love, honor and respect ourselves; attune to the still, small voice of the soul; and shift to the perspective of love. Through these eyes we see every person and event as a teacher and readily discern what is true and what is not. We are no longer pushed by pain, but pulled by vision.

When our mirrors grow cloudy, it is easy to polish them. We bring into our minds our joyful memories of love, and love carries us into Spirit’s realm of transcendence. Ego and its hazy illusions vanish because we now see in a new and better way. Through these eyes, on a clear day, we can see into forever.

Copyright © 2005 Judith Pennington

About Judith: Judith Pennington is a writer and teacher of consciousness development and the step-by-step path to enlightened mastery. She is the author of a critically acclaimed book, “The Voice of the Soul,” and presents workshops across the country. Visit her website, www.eaglelife.com , to check for an event near you, sign up for her free e-newsletter and read articles on how to attain peace, joy and prosperity.

So what makes the pet retail sector so unique? Well, in generational marketing terms, it’s one of the few retail sectors that appeals to each generation. Spoodles (0 – 4 yrs old), Juveniles (the Pester Power group, 5 – 14 yrs old), Generation Y (15 – 24 years old), Generation X (25 – 34 years old) , The Jones’ Generation (35 – 44 years old) , Baby Boomers (45 – 59 years old) and Greying Tigers (60 years and older) are all fascinated by pets.

That causes a retail challenge as the pet retailer has to design their store in easily managed categories but also to appeal to each generation.

This is unique in retailing, but get it right and you have a formula for success.

Most retailers only have to concentrate on one or two generations and put the picture together, but pet buyers and carers need special treatment and each group needs different requirements. That’s the challenge of success in this retail sector.

What services do you include within the retail sector, i.e. veterinary services, grooming services and care talks. Plus, what services do you provide to get customers to linger longer, i.e. café, restaurant, pet shows etc.

This is a retail sector that is growing and therefore innovation is inevitable.

I remember how I felt when my dad performed the ritual of Paying the Bills. The tension would escalate as he prepared the dining room table as his workspace. Out came the ledger, the check-book, three sharpened pencils, a big rubber eraser, a black-ink pen and a large calculator. I would run for my bedroom when the confrontation began: “Why did you spend so much on this?” “You didn’t write down how much check number 222 was for!” It seemed safer to hide in my room and blot out those sounds by listening to my radio.

When I got married, my husband carried on the ritual of Paying the Bills. He performed his duties with an even scarier tactic – icy silences, followed by a verbal blast three days after Paying the Bills. I never got used to this new, darker aspect of the ritual.

You might think that after 50+ years of experiencing Paying the Bills this way that the ritual MUST be acted out full of anxiety, fear, accusations and threats. Not so. I’m living proof that even if you’ve performed the ritual this way for as long as you can remember, you can change the entire mood of Paying the Bills.

Understanding how the Law of Attraction works to send me more of whatever I’m feeling, I decided that I wanted to feel good about Paying the Bills. I asked myself this question: When do I feel good about writing checks or spending money? The answer: When I’m shopping for things that I enjoy and appreciate. So, I decided to change the name of the ritual from Paying the Bills to Spending Money! As soon as I did that, my mood shifted.

At first, I had to remind myself that I’m Spending Money! and I LOVE Spending Money! I had to consciously replace the phrase Paying the Bills with Spending Money! Now it’s natural to think of the ritual as Spending Money!

Then I reminded myself of all the blessings I receive for the services that I’m Spending Money! on. I LOVE the way I’m able to speak with clients and friends, children and grandchildren who live far from me, by phoning them. So I LOVE Spending Money! to pay for the use of my telephone.

I LOVE the extra time I gain by the software enhancements my programmer has developed for my business, so I LOVE Spending Money! on programming.

I LOVE all the freedom I have to order my day for work and play, so I LOVE Spending Money! on secretarial and bookkeeping services.

I LOVE living in a beautiful luxurious harborside condo, so I LOVE Spending Money! to live here.

Now I look forward to the privilege of Spending Money! Each week I perform this ritual with such joy that by the time I’ve balanced four checking accounts, written a dozen or so checks, photocopied statements, stapled receipts, addressed and stamped all the envelopes, I am HIGH! I LOVE Spending Money!

The next time you begin the ritual of Paying the Bills, just try and NOT think of what you are doing as Spending Money! Now that you know it’s possible to have fun Spending Money! the old ritual just won’t be the same.

Do you have a secret dream, desire or hope?

Do you know that these “pre-approved” offers that pop up almost every time you open your mail are just gimmicks? Actually, the approval of your credit card depends on your formal application. If it fails to meet the criteria, you may be either denied the credit card or offered a higher interest rate on it. Moreover, don’t be in the illusion that just because your credit card is pre-approved, it’ll be compatible to your spending habits. Credit card basically means that you’re borrowing money by paying some charges. So, it’s essential to understand the terms and conditions of the credit card before accepting it.

Every credit card applier should be aware of certain terms before opting for that valuable plastic asset. Are you aware of them? If not, then read on…

Annual Percentage Rate (APR): It’s the measure of the credit cost that is charged annually. Before opening your credit card account, you should be familiar with the APR. In addition, some credit card issuers may change your APR with the change in interest rates or other economic indicators. Programs allowing such change are called “variable rate” programs.

Free Period or Grace Period: Always find out whether your credit card gives you a free period lest you may be deprived of the benefit of avoiding finance charges on full payment before the due date. If your credit card offers a grace period, you should receive your bill 14 days prior to the due date, so that you get sufficient time to make the payments.

Annual Fees, Transaction Fees and other charges: It’s vital to have knowledge about the annual and transaction fees charged by the credit card issuer. Besides this, you may also be charged in case of a cash advance, a late payment, or exceeding your credit limit. Sometimes, you’ve to pay a monthly fee even if you don’t use your credit card.

The Bonus Program: If you’re opting for a credit card that offers attractions like airline miles, merchandise, or cash back, check out whether there are any participation charges linked with them. If you think you won’t get a chance to use these bonuses due to your lifestyle, then it’s better to avoid such credit cards.

Zero percent financing: If you hold several credit cards, then a credit card with an initial 0 percent balance transfer rate would save you hundreds of dollars in the first year. However, such transfers may come with some charges. Check them out.

Credit card terms differ with the issuers. You should know how you’d use your credit card. For instance, if you are going to pay your full balance each month, then you should concentrate on annual fee and other charges rather than the periodic rate and the APR.

Moreover, you should know your credit card limit too. Also, find out how popular the credit card is and what are the features and programs of the credit card you’ve opted for.

Once you are well versed with the terms of the credit card, just apply for it!

But, as usual, there is a lesson here: there are no rules about
how to conduct your business. Sure, there are some basic things
you should do, but the key word here is “should”. For example,
it’s simply common sense to treat your customers with respect,
but even that can be ignored as in the case of a restaurant that
I know where the big attraction is that the servers are rude to
their guests! Insults are the “special of the day”, and believe
me they let ‘em fly! It’s a successful business, too. Go
figure.

Since we’re talking about rules, let me clarify one thing: there
are definitely rules to follow as stipulated by the management of
the event. If they say that you can’t have loud music, then you
can’t. If they say that you have to stay within your assigned
booth when doing business, then you do. I just returned from
sharing a booth at a book fair. Some of the people in the booth
chose to ignore that particular rule, and they evicted us! They
actually came on the morning of the second day and moved all of
our materials into the street so that new occupants could move
in! It was unreal, and it was done in a rude, arrogant, and
unprofessional manner (but that’s another article!).

The point is this: don’t worry about the “right” way to do your
business, but rather worry about what works! Just because others
in your field do things a certain way doesn’t mean that you have
to as well. I think it’s important to stand out from the crowd,
so don’t be shy! I walked around that book fair (which drew
75,000 people the first day) in a bright white terrycloth
bathrobe with a sign proclaiming myself as “The Stay-at-Home
CEO”! Do you think that other authors were doing that, or
anything remotely like it?

We have a local tourist-oriented magazine and it carries a number
of advertisements from real-estate professionals. One particular
page caught my attention because there were at least a dozen
business-card-size ads that were virtually identical except for
the photos. I was astonished. What is it that would cause a
reader to pick one particular agent out of the crowd?

So, write your own rules. They are the only ones that matter.

The answer that came from my Inner Being was so delicious! “Was God, the Creative Force, content to create the earth, sun, moon and a few stars and planets? NO! The Master Creator created more and more and more–infinitely MORE galaxies, infinitely MORE stars, infinitely MORE comets, infinitely MORE nebulae–the Universe is endless! No matter how far out into deep space the Hubble Space Telescope goes it will still be viewing MORE and MORE and MORE.” I believe that even MORE is being created in every moment.

If we are the physical extention of the nonphysical creative force…

If we are “made in the image and likeness of God”… If we are here on earth to be powerful creators (sons and daughters of God)…

–then we cannot help but continue to create through our desires and thoughts.

Do you have a secret dream, desire or hope?

I have discovered over the years that more money doesn’t necessarily mean more fun. In fact, some of the simplest, age old activities, seem to feed their fun hungry souls the best. Remember, in the “old days” that is the “very old days”. Family gatherings provided a great source of entertainment. Its hard to believe that in today’s fast paced, high tech, world that children still enjoy this kind of interaction.

I have found that for some reason, maybe because it validates their own behaviors, kids love to hear stories of when we were young. No, not the kind that remind them of how good they have it today. I’m talking about our childhood antics, the times when we misbehaved, did something wrong, and the consequences .

Most of us have funny moments in our life that just stick with us. Sometimes they weren’t so funny at the time at least from our prospective, then. My kids love to hear stories of my childhood antics, when I broke the rules, how I felt about it , and what punishment I had to endure because of it. They especially like the punishment part. Some sort of satisfaction knowing that I had to endure the cruelties of punishment also!

Of course it doesn’t sound amusing to talk about times when you got in trouble. But, those memories are funny to us now that we look back at our childhood. Sure we can laugh now… We’re a lot smarter and see the innocence of our ways.

This is a great way to also remind ourselves that we were once kids also. And not so different than our own kids. With much the same innocence, gullibility, and scheming potential. Ahhhh. a great tool for reminding us that at least some of the behaviors we frown on in our kids is just the normal age old process of growing up! A very reassuring thought when you’re ready to pull your hair out.

In some ways this ritual of reminiscing shows our children that we love them unconditionally. That we understand. Why, because we’ve been there, done that. And we acted in many ways , and felt in many ways , the same way they do today. Its true that some things never change. I have a shorter list of tales to tell being one of three siblings. My husband on the other hand is one of eleven children, and he can keep them in belly busting laughter for hours, leaving them begging for more. Telling not only his own antics but those of his brothers and sisters.

So, if you ever find everyone sitting around looking bored to the gills, start up a casual conversation and work in some of your funny moments in life. You’ll have them begging for more and more tales. “Tell some more, tell some more!” And the best part … It’s Free Entertainment!

With a little research..what was that?….research? If you’ve been to visit http://www.simpledebtfreeliving.com you know this is one of my pet peeves… If you don’t know what’s out there or if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you’re doomed to spend too much of your hard earned money!

There no disputing the fact that an ” Informed Consumer = More Savings! ” There! I said it again. Boy did that feel good. Well now that I got that off my chest let me share some ideas on this FUN thing.

• Roller skating- went once a week when I was a kid. Loved it! Guess what? My kids love it too! And it’s cheap if you do your research. Our local rink has a family night. Get this , $1 to get in $1 for skates if you need to rent.

  If you make this a regular outing, invest in the skates. That’s one of those birthday or Christmas gifts that will pay you back in the long run. My husband and I don’t skate, those days are gone. Although I highly recommend it for a great workout. That means four kids can get in for $4. Three hours of fun for $4. You can’t beat it!

  I could get us in for even less . . .only $2. We have a local grocery store that prints coupons on back of the receipts, one of the most frequent coupons I get ..the local roller skating rink “buy one entrance fee, get one free” .

  I prefer not to use these for family night since my oldest daughter likes to go to the rink on “teen night” The rink socks it to them at $6 an entry. They know where the money is! This is a social event that many teens in the area just can’t miss! This way she can get in free if she goes with a paying friend. Sometimes, just to be fair, we share the savings with her friends and each of them only has to pay $3. This way she doesn’t feel like she’s taking advantage of anyone.

• Bowling: this can be a great low cost avenue for FUN if you don’t get carried away. Usually you have to pay by the game, per person. So set your limits and have fun. Most lanes have bumper guards now that prevent the little ones from excessive “gutter ball blues” It helps put the fun back in it for the very young children. A great feature. Even for the fumbling adult. Who am I kidding, I love those bumper guards!
  Most alleys have a discount night. So, try to plan your activities so you can enjoy the benefits of the discounts.

Just a Note: Both of the above businesses usually offer birthday party rates as well. If you’re not into planning your own party at home (by far the most economical way) then consider checking out the party packages.

• Cookouts and Picnics: Cookouts don’t have to be for special occasions. We have several wonderful parks in our area that sport wonderful playgrounds and scenic walking or biking trails. So take the boredom out of lunch one Saturday or Sunday afternoon and throw together a cookout or picnic at your local park. My kids just need to get out of the house sometimes. They don’t really care where they go, as long as they go somewhere!

  As I mention on my Family Entertainment page (www.simpledebtfreeliving.com/family-entertainment.html) , parks are a great resource for free fun! The internet is a great resource for finding new, different, and exciting parks in your area. Just do a simple search and you will probably be amazed at the numerous parks within driving distance from your home. So keep it interesting and travel a little bit to get to exciting new places!

  An extra bonus . . . . You will be making great memories for your kids!:)

• Museums and Historical Landmarks: Don’t think you have any near you? Bet Ya’ do! Why even in the far out sticks of nowhere you might be surprised to find a museum within a reasonable distance. I am blessed to live in a highly cultural area between Washington DC and Baltimore. So museums, tourists attractions, and historic landmarks (yes many of them Free) are abundant.

  But, no matter where you live, do a little research (yes, again) and I’ll bet you’ll find some interesting attraction or museum convenient to your home. If in a rare case you don’t, then plan to visit an area on a weekend trip where you can enjoy these types of historic attractions.

• Family Game Night:

- I know that many times after a hard days work we just want to sit, relax, and well, basically, do nothing! But, once you get in a habit of designating one night “Family Game Night” I guarantee you’ll look forward to it.

This is a great way interact with your kids. It’s fun, educational, and provides an opportunity for conversation (Now that’s something those teens don’t offer up much). Choose games that everyone enjoys and is capable of doing. Games that suit the family’s entire age span are always more fun. And, there are many out there.

If you have a large family with some large age differences, you can opt to have two game nights so you can include games suited for the younger children that the older ones might get bored with. Of course, always provide the option for older ones to be included. Sometimes, believe it or not, they just enjoy the quality time with parents and siblings.

Well, that should keep you busy for now! And Remember, it doesn’t have to cost alot to be alot of FUN!

1. Take a temporary job or part-time job that still allows you time to coach clients and build your practice.

It generates income, but also extends your reach. You’ll meet new people who might need your coaching services Everyone’s curious about temps! You’ll also get a taste of different offices which will make you a better coach in the long run.

2. Have sources of passive revenue — tapes, ebooks, Internet courses.

Run a special. If they buy in the next two weeks, they get half price. Give a Bonus — buy one, get one free.

3. Make a push for referrals. Offer a bonus for referrals.

We so often forget to ask our current clients to recommend us to their friends! You should always be working referrals , but at low times, go back over your list. Email, phone, or ezine your list asking for referrals. Don’t forget to ask other coaches for referrals.

4. Go back over the 80-20 principle.

20% of your efforts and clients probably account for 80% of your revenue and return. Go back over your data and see where the 20% is.

In doing that, you’ll re-find the ’sphere of influence’ clients who’ve referred a lot of other clients to you or helped you in other ways. Take this time to take them out to lunch, write them a thank you note or call them and ask them how they’re doing.

5. Amp up your sig on your emails.

Make your sig work for you .

6. Use the motivation to make cold calls.

7. Use the time to make your practice lean and mean.

Shop around. Find a cheaper ezine service, Virtual Assistant, web host, or computer tech. Get a lower LD rate.

8. Get a Virtual Assistant and delegate.

Delegate some maintenance chores that’ll allow you more time to market your practice and attend to your clients. It’s the Law of Attraction. When I turned the logistics of my Distance Learning School over to my VA, I got an immediate surge in students (who pay) and also coaching clients. It’s like they knew I had more time!

9. Get out more!

You have the spare time! In my days as a fundraiser, I found all sorts of lunch-time events “open to the public.” Some cost money, some don’t, but they all give you exposure. Once you get on the circuit, your calendar will be full. Sitting around a lunch table waiting for the speaker is a great time to talk about coaching!

10. Introduce a new product to your “old” clientele.

If they’ve bought from you before and found it to be of value, they’ll want to again. Introduce a new product (course, teleclass, ebook), or a new form of coaching. Coaching is a new field, and clients sometimes don’t know all we offer. A “business” client may not know that you do “relationship” coaching.

The persistence of these men and women will be challenged to the fullest as their determination shines through. The 2.4-mile swimming loop will be in the incredible waters of beautiful Lake Monona. The biking portion is a 112-mile loop that stretches into the rural country backroads touching the entire town of Verona. Take time to visit this proud community as spectators stand on the curbs cheering the disciplined bikers as they flash by. Verona’s festival last year alone attracted over 20,000 people and was likened to the “Tour de France”. The pumped-up pedalers will also be racing through Mount Horeb and Cross Plains. The final 26.2 miles is the running portion that tests the endurance of each individual. This part of the course will take the triathletes through scenic parks, historical sites and local attractions such as the University of Madison.

Ironman North America and Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation should stand tall as the lead organizations that brought this exciting event to our magnificent state. Their generous sponsors and ambitious volunteers deserve credit for sharing their efforts in setting up water and first aid stations along the way, coordinating shuttles and lodging, working with local and state officials, and their endless generosities could go on. Thanks for helping make this triathlon run so smoothly. If you are unable to attend, don’t feel left out. You will be able to view the Ironman Wisconsin on various regional stations throughout the state and on National TV stations: ESPN, the Outdoor Life Channel and CNN.

The vigorous training of each triathlete should be commended. The mindset to push oneself to attempt an Ironman triathlon goal is exhilarating. Each contestant should embrace the honor of participating in this inspiring event. The hard work and time spent in developing these awarding-winning talents to accomplish their dream is the true reward.