Slow and Steady Wins the Race?

I've been pretty consistent with my Partylite business for the past week or so...I've been busy writing e-mails and letters asking people to host parties.  I've gotten a few "nos" and a few "maybes", but no one has pinned down a date for a party yet.

Its hard not to get frustrated, but I'm trying to stay positive.  My SRVP didn't get to where she is in Partylite in a week....she's been in business for twenty years!  So I can't expect things to happen overnight for me.  I just wish SOMETHING would happen soon and I can get even one party on the books.  That's my goal for this weekend....hopefully by tomorrow night I'll find someone to book a candle party!

Excited About Partylite

I'm getting back on track with my Partylite business and I'm actually really excited about it.  I love selling candles, and I'm really good at it.  The way I see it, my job at Olive Garden is kind of dead end, but with Partylite, the sky's the limit.  My income is determined by my performance, and I can earn as much as I want based on my sales efforts.

In Jack Canfield's book "The Success Principles," he talks about something called "the rule of 5."  Basically, the idea is that you take 5 action steps towards your goal every day, and that concerted and sustained effort is what will get you to your dream.  Another quote I've heard is "the universe likes momentum," and this seems to fit nicely with that.  It is easy to see where you can build momentum by taking small steps each day...every day.

So, I've been trying to put the rule of 5 to work in my Partylite candle business.  I am doing five things to promote my business each day, including making at least 3 customer contacts (the "rule" of contacting 3 people about your business each day is something I picked up from one of the direct sales companies I worked for).  I am excited about where this will lead me.

My ultimate goal is to be a Senior Regional Vice President with Partylite, which would afford me a lifestyle beyond anything I can imagine right now.  I believe it can happen, but I know its gonna take some time and a lot of hard work to reach that goal.  I love that because I own my own business with Partylite, I can get "back on track" anytime I want.

You Deserve Whatever You Want in Life

This is something I've been reading in Jack Canfield's book, and it has really struck a chord with me.  I think too often I settle for less than I'm worth....which is a reflection of my poor self esteem.  I need break that cycle and start being more assertive about what I want out of life.  That's the only way I'm going to create a life of my dreams.

Klonopin Knocks Me Out

So, my positive thinking didn't go so well today, and I ended up in a near panic attack by 4pm today.  My doctor has prescribed a very low dose of clonazepam (also known as klonopin) for panic situations, and occasionally I need to take a 0.5mg pill to feel better.

The Klonopin definitely makes me feel better and I am glad I have it.  But it really makes me sleepy and just ends up knocking me out.  I guess that is a side effect of all benzodiazepine medications, really...but it kinda sucks.  Sometimes it makes me more sleepy than others....tonight it sent me into a three hour evening nap.  Which of course means I probably won't sleep great tonight.

The good news is that it gives me time to work on other stuff...like my Partylite business and my vision board that I want to create.  But I might be a tired boy tomorrow.  Regardless, I'm determined to make tomorrow a better day.

It's Hard Not to Think About the Negative

As I've mentioned, I am a big believer in the law of attraction.  I've been reading a book called "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield, and it is really good.  I'm only about a quarter of the way through it, but one of the recurring themes is that the experiences you have are a result of the patterns of thinking you have...what you predominantly focus on is what you are going to manifest in your life.

To that end, I've really been trying to take time to just daydream and allow myself to think about what a perfect life would be like.  I feel really positive after I do that, so I know that it's good for me.

But then very real thoughts and circumstances come up during the day which suck.  Most recently, I've just been angry about a lot of things in my life.  Angry about my financial situation, angry about my relationship status...just grrrrrrr angry about a lot of stuff. x-(

If I believe in the law of attraction, which I do, I've created those situations in my life by what I've been thinking.   And to a large extent I do see where that's true...even though it is a tough pill to swallow.  But when I think about those things, which are still very real parts of my life, I feel sad, hurt, mad, etc.  Its hard to snap out of that.  Its hard to feel good about being broke or being single.

But I know that to turn things around, I need to really start to change how I look at things.  So today, that's what I'm going to try to do.

Nicotine (Nicotrol) Nasal Spray: Minimizing the Side Effects

One of the many strategies I have used to try to quit smoking is nicotine nasal spray (also known as Nictorol) can be an important part of a quit-smoking strategy.  This article, which I originally wrote for the Yahoo Contributor Network, discusses some tips and tricks to help people overcome side effects that can be caused by nicotine nasal spray.
_______________________________________________



There are many products available to help smokers kick the cigarette habit once and for all, ranging from pills to patches to gum, and much more! One of the product available for people with an extremely addicted smokers is nicotine nasal spray, also known by its brand-name Nicotrol. Nicotine nasal spray is available by prescription only, so you must talk to a doctor before beginning its use.

Once you get a prescription for Nicotrol nasal spray, you will be able to begin using the product whenever you have a nicotine craving. Unlike the gum or the patch, the nicotine nasal spray has much more intense side effects that can catch first-time users off guard. A burning sensation, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes can all result from using the nicotine nasal spray to quit smoking. Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to minimize any potential side effects:

1) Use the spray frequently, at least 8 times per day. According to the package instructions, the body quickly becomes accustomed to Nicotrol nasal spray and side effects subside substantially when the product is used regularly. At first, you may not want to use the nasal spray that often, but it is important to use the spray at least 8 times per day to get your nasal passages accustomed to receiving nicotine.

2) Do not use Nicotrol nasal spray more frequently than directed. While you don't want to use the spray too little, you also don't want to use it too much. Make sure to follow your doctor's instructions closely in terms of what your maximum dose is, and do not exceed your dose. Doing so may worsen side effects from the medication.

3) Make sure not to sniff or inhale through your nose directly after using the nasal spray. This is one of the most important "rules" with nicotine nasal spray. When you sniff the spray high up into your nasal passages, horrible burning will be the inevitable result. Instead, you'll want to insert the tip of the spray bottle just inside the nostril, spray gently, and then refrain from sniffing for a few minutes. This will ensure that the nicotine spray stays in the lower part of the nose and not higher where it can cause more problems.

By following these very simple steps, you can minimize side effects caused by Nicotrol nasal spray, and may be able to integrate nicotine spray into your successful quitting routine. Only your doctor can decide if nicotine nasal spray is right for you, so talk to your primary care physician about quitting smoking today!

New Phone, New Post

Those of you who know me personally know I have had a lot of phones over the past several years.  Between bad service and breaking a couple of phones, I've ended up switching devices like 10 times in 4 years.

The most recent round of this was last week when my prepaid wireless provider decided to disconnect my service for "excessive data use"....which was actually like 600mb in a month and not at all excessive, but I digress.  After that happened, I decided that I was pretty much fed up with the whole prepaid cell phone thing.  I know they "run on the same networks", but the customer service is shitty....I just want a phone that works all the time, and a knowledgeable, easy-to-understand customer service rep to help me out when there's a problem.

With all that in mind, I decided I would try to get a new cell phone account with one of the "big four" carriers.  I had been previously rejected for a cell phone account thru Verizon Wireless due to my credit, but since my credit score has been improving, I decided it was worth a shot to put in another application.  This time, I was approved instantly for a Verizon Wireless account with no security deposit needed!

I was thrilled.  Previously, I had been somewhat limited in my phone choices, since prepaid cell phone carriers tend not to have the best and latest devices available.  I looked through Verizon's selection of phones with two criteria in mind....it had to be an Android phone, and it had to have a physical keyboard.  That pretty much limited my selection to two choices: the Motorola Droid 4 or the Samsung Stratosphere II.  I liked the specs on the Samsung phone better, so I picked that one. 

Better still, Verizon was selling the phone for $100, but I discovered wirefly.com was offering the same phone for free, so I placed my order through them.  My out of pocket cost for a brand new, kick ass phone was literally zero dollars!

So I'm excited.  I got a real, "grown-up" phone. And I love it.  The phone is awesome and the service works great.  It is definitely more expensive than the Straight Talk wireless service I had before, but the service is so much better and its so much less hassle that I feel the extra money is worth it.  I'm glad my credit improved enough to get a cell phone from Verizon.  Now I just have to improve it enough to get a car loan.