If old blind bassets can learn new tricks, maybe you can, too?

Willing to Learn
Yes, you can teach old dogs new tricks. I have a basset hound that is 12 years old and has not had eyes since she was 6. Lydia has learned to how to go anywhere using her paws, ears, whiskers and sense of smell to help her navigate her large yard and beyond. She is willing to learn, no one makes her and her teacher is trail and error.

As we come out the "Great Recession", businesses need to be ready to learn. As business owners, we need to be willing to ask questions, stay curious and put our arms around new technology. Many of the most successful entrepreneurs do not have college degrees, but they are usually willing to learn. 

• What do you need to learn to make your business the best this year?
• What does your staff need to maximize their strengths?
• What staff members have desire to learn and grow with your business?
• What staff members don't care to learn?

The ending of the recession won't wait for you. Make a plan now to garner the education you need to grow your business and plan who is going to do it with you. If Lydia can keep learning, so can we. 

Basset hounds are known for being stubborn, but when given a challenge, Lydia, the blind basset, will always look to maximize her knowledge of the world around her. Just ask the Maumee police where she has a rap sheet for being 'at large '- and they are not talking about her girth.

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather

Changing Lanes LLC
 419-897-0528

http://www.changinglanes.biz/

The Pressure's On Us All
April happens to be National Stress Awareness Month. April 16th is National Stress Awareness Day. To mark the occasion Fast Company (Apr10) shared the following information with their readers. I think they're worth looking at because their readers are your prospects and your clients!

Children:

 ~One third of American children between 8-17 worry about their family finances.
 ~Two other childhood stresses are homework and being teased. Their coping mechanisms:
 *Listening to music (44%)
 *Eating (26%)
 *Talking to their parents (22%)

 Adults:

 ~62% of Americans are stressed out about Work (source: American Psychological Assoc.)

 ~Two thirds of spoken curse words are a result of stress. The typical person will swear 80 times a day, out of the 15,000 words they'll speak.

 ~Each year, more than 275,000,000 working days are lost in the U.S. because of absenteeism resulting from stress.

 ~1 in 4 Americans admits to having a "mental-health" day to cope with their stress: This costs employers $602 per worker per year.

 ~More than 3 out of 5 doctor visits are stress related. In the US alone, more than $22.8 billion is spent on anxiety-related health care each year.

 Question to you: What systems do you have in place to make doing business with your company stress-less for your prospects and clients?

 Rebecca Booth

Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 10 years of delivering results for our clients.

http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/

http://www.marketinginabox.biz/

Trust but Verify

"Trust, but verify" --Ronald Regan

Since April Fool's Day was just 4 short days ago, I wanted to share a true story that has been going around for 13 years. It is a humorous example of how easy it is to take evidence and information and come to a conclusion. Before I posted this, I did check its authenticity through my favorite online source, http://www.snopes.com/ .
For those of you who are time-starved and count on Monday Morning Motivators being only 500 words of less of reading, let me give you a quick synopsis.

In 1997, a complaint was filed with Michigan Department of Environmental Quality that a debris dam had been created on private property and the flooding behind the dam was threatening the complainers property. Without investigating, the state sent a letter to the property owner demanding the removal of the dam or face the full impact of the law - fines and cost of removal by the State.

The results presented in a very humorous, sarcastic, and public letter exposed that the land owner was wrong and the debris dams were constructed by some very industrious beavers. In the next section below are the two original letters.

The take away for business is really very simple - we often are pressed for time and will sometimes take second-hand information and jump conclusions.

In a lean effective organization we should think about:
• picking up the phone,
• leaving a "see me" note in an employees in box,
• sending a email for verification or just
• doing a quick internet search.
This may keep our business from having to live with the likes of the "beaver dam affair".

Have a great week and keep laughing, it has great powers!

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
419-897-0528
http://www.changinglanes.biz/


______________________________________


STATE OF MICHIGAN

Reply to:
GRAND RAPIDS DISTRICT OFFICE
STATE OFFICE BUILDING 6TH FLOOR
350 OTTAWA NW
GRAND RAPIDS MI 49503-2341

JOHN ENGLER, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HOLLISTER BUILDING, PO BOX 30473, LANSING MI 48909-7973
INTERNET: http://www.deq.state.mi us

RUSSELL J. HARDING, Director

December 17, 1997

CERTIFIED



Mr. Ryan DeVries
2088 Dagget
Pierson, MI 49339

Dear Mr. DeVries:

SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023-1 T11N, R10W, Sec. 20, Montcalm Count-,),

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent
unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.

A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files show that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301,. Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially, failed during a recent rain event, causing debris dams and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all unauthorized activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the strewn channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 1998. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff.

Failure to comply with this request, or any further unauthorized activity on the site, may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action.

We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

David L. Price
District Representative
Land and Water Management Division
616-356-0269
dlp:bjc

cc: LWMD, Lansing
MontcaImCEA
Pierson Township
Lieutenant Mary C. Sherzer, DNR LED

________________________________________

Reply:
Stephen and Rosalind Tvedten
2530 Hayes Street
Marne, MI 49435-9751
616-677-1261
616-677-1262 Fax
steve@getipm.com

1/6/98



David L. Price
District Representative
Land and Water Management Division
Grand Rapids District Office
State Office Bldg., 6th Floor
350 Ottawa, N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2341

Dear Mr. Price:

Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N, R10W, Sec 20; Montcalm County

Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me to respond to. You sent out a great deal of carbon copies to a lot of people, but you neglected to include their addresses. You will, therefore, have to send them a copy of my response.

First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan - I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, nor authorize their dam project, I think they would be highly offended you call their skillful use of natural building materials "debris". I would like to challenge you to attempt to emulate their dam project any dam time and/or any dam place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no dam way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

As to your dam request the beavers first must fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity, my first dam question to you is: are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or do you require all dam beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, please send me completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated. My first concern is - aren't the dam beavers entitled to dam legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said dam representation - so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer.

The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing dam flooding is proof we should leave the dam Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the dam stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition - contact the dam beavers - but if you are going to arrest them (they obviously did not pay any dam attention to your dam letter -- being unable to read English) - be sure you read them their dam Miranda first. As for me, I am not going to cause more dam flooding or dam debris jams by interfering with these dam builders. If you want to hurt these dam beavers - be aware I am sending a copy of your dam letter and this response to PETA. If your dam Department seriously finds all dams of this nature inherently hazardous and truly will not permit their existence in this dam State - I seriously hope you are not selectively enforcing this dam policy - or once again both I and the Spring Pond Beavers will scream prejudice!

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their dam unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I to live and enjoy Spring Pond. So, as far as I and the beavers are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more dam elevated enforcement action now. Why wait until 1/31/98? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then, and there will be no dam way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality (health) problem; bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the dam beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!)

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

Sincerely,

Stephen L.Tvedten

xc: PETA

Planning and Tax Chuckles

Planning is Everywhere

Yes, it is Monday Morning, but think back to Saturday morning and waking up imagining all you are going to get done and how your day will be so productive. Now, come back to Monday Morning.

Did you get all you planned done?
Did you get some of what you wanted done?
Are you wondering where the weekend went?

In my gardening world, I often call my work in the yard "project begetting". One project or job can't be started until another is completed and starting one task sometimes leads to other side jobs that will be nice. Oh yes, and then I need to take a trip to the hardware store for something I'm missing. . . and it goes on and on. Overall I don't mind when it comes to gardening because it is my hobby and it usually doesn't have a "to be finished by date". Come to think of it, I know my garden won't be done until my ashes are recycled in the yard.

The work of business is filled with life happening, chaos reigning and tomorrows becoming yesterdays at an accelerating pace. That said, the businesses that will be great are those that get comfortable, very comfortable with planning. If you hear yourself saying "I'll get to that" or "first I have to do. . .", realize you are experiencing project begetting. Planning is the key to managing this syndrome.

We need to approach all the work of business as not just a task or project, but as aligned to our goals. If what you are doing right now does not support your goals why are you doing it?

Getting your plan on paper starts the process and then we
Implement
Check
Review
Correct
Repeat!

If you want to be gainfully moving forward, get a plan aligned with your goals! Don't know where to start? Give me a call and I'll help you design the plan of your dreams.

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
419-897-0528
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
Tax Thoughts to Give You A Chuckle
February is here, so your mailbox should be stuffed with the various W2s, 1099s, 1098s, and other paperwork you'll need to complete your taxes. Gathering that information isn't much fun, so here's a collection of tax quotes to brighten your day.

"Worried about an IRS audit? Avoid what's called a red flag. That's something the IRS always looks for. For example, let's say you have some money left in your bank account after paying taxes. That's a red flag."
Jay Leno

"The only difference between a taxman and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin."
Mark Twain
"The difference between death and taxes is death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets."
Will Rogers

"Two years ago it was impossible to get through on the phone to the IRS. Now it's just hard to get through. That's progress."
Charles Rossotti (former IRS Commissioner)

" A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."
G. Gordon Liddy

"Day in and day out, your tax accountant can make or lose you more money than any single person in your life, with the possible exception of your kids."
Harvey Mackay

"If you get up early, work late, and pay your taxes, you will get ahead - if you strike oil."
J. Paul Getty

"If you are truly serious about preparing your child for the future, don't teach him to subtract - teach him to deduct."
Fran Lebowitz

"Our party has been accused of fooling the public by calling tax increases 'revenue enhancement'. Not so. No one was fooled."
Dan Quayle

"The question is: What can we, as citizens, do to reform our tax system? As you know, under our three-branch system of government, the tax laws are created by: Satan. But he works through the Congress, so that's where we must focus our efforts."
Dave Barry

"I wouldn't mind paying taxes... if I knew they were going to a friendly country."
Dick Gregory
We hope you enjoyed these quotes. But please remember this: there's nothing funny about paying taxes you don't legally have to pay. If you're looking for a plan to pay less tax, call us today!

Copyright 2010
Tim Pinkelman, CPA
Accounting Center & Tax Services, Inc.
419-882-9255 or 734-847-0400
http://www.accounting-centers.com/

Recycling & Being

Recycling - the Sault Way - Part 2

This week we are back at Sault Sainte Maria with Jim and Charla my gurus of Recycling.

Question: What do you mean when you say "Think beyond the Recycling Center for recycling and the office".

Jim: So many people now are recycling regularly at the curbside with the help of their municipality or trash collection service. Every little bit helps but sometimes, you can "repurpose" things.

Charla: Often we start by thinking about taking things to Goodwill, Savers or Salvation Army. This is a great way to get usable clothing and household goods to others. (Plus, if you get a reciept you may take a tax deduction-Linda).
Here are some of the creative ways we keep things out of both the trash AND recycle bin.
Charla's Favorites:

When we sort through our mail we share all our mail flyers, unused return envelopes and postcards with staff at the Cooperative Nursery School so that they can use them when the children play as mail carriers.

If you receive promotional calendars, note cards, or note pads share them with your local senior citizens center so they can give them to their elders who cannot afford them.

Use old 3-ring binders to keep projects organized, or last year's receipts. There is no need to go buy a new one for each new project. Same goes for file folders - most can be reused multiple times.

Toner cartridges from copiers are often collected by non-profit groups to raise revenue. Start a collection box and find a recipient. In our area the local hospice accepts them.

Jim's favorites are uses that go beyond the office and then some.

Old newspapers can be used for mulching in your garden beds. They work better at retaining water, suppressing weeds and breaking down; landscape fabric that you purchase never breaks down. Caution: This process take a long time because of all the news articles you did not read the first time!

Old bowling balls, vases, chipped tea pots, other treasured but odd office heirlooms can be used for art in the garden. If you don't believe us, check out Linda's garden - that orb covered with shiny pennies is Pop Pop's old bowling ball!

Old clothing can be stripped out and have all the buttons and zippers removed to be sold to painters or auto mechanics for rags or given to artists who make old time rag rugs. Do you have old wool sweaters? Other artists boil them and make mittens!

Shredded paper may be used by pet owners for bedding for their iguana, hamster, or even in the dairy barn. Then after it is used that second time it can be composted. What a great use for old legal documents!

Rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, and hogs, are composters' best friends. These animals are a great step between your kitchen sink and the compost pile.

Composting at work is similar to doing it at home: it has to be easy, you need a container that is cleaned out often and does not smell. It takes a dedicated employee to keep it going. One place I know has a 5 gallon bucket with a lid and it is emptied nightly. Details on management of your urban compost pile can be found under "backyard composting", again from your favorite search engine. It is important to have a balance of food scraps and shredded paper to keep the smell down. Compost is like a good wine, the older it gets, the better it is for your plants.

We are exploring the idea of under the sink worm culture at work. Google "worms eat my garbage" for details.
If you would like to share your favorite recycling program, please send me an email and we will post them on the website - linda@changinglanes.biz.

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather
What's working in your Business?
Changing Lanes LLC
http://www.changinglanes.biz/


Who are you BEING?

Have you noticed your state of BEING lately? Are you happy, healthy, financially free, and peaceful, or are you sad, depressed, financially strapped and angry? Have you even noticed your state of being?

Most people are so busy with the "doing" of their life that they don't even give their state of BEING a second thought. When you consciously choose your BEING, you give your life purpose and direction.

Choosing your BEING is just like incorporating a value into your life.
First, consciously choose the state of BEING you desire. For example, let's say you choose to be prosperous, abundant, successful or financially free; describe it in the way that feels right to you.

Second, determine why this is important to you. If you lived the rest of your life in the state of BEING prosperous what would that mean to you? Is there something about being financially free that you believe is significant to the quality of your life? If you don't have a compelling reason for your choice of BEING, it will be difficult for you consistently act upon your choice.

Which brings me to the third component of this process - consciously making choices based upon the state of BEING you've chosen. For example, if you want to be financially free, you might have to give up instant gratification spending decisions.

When you've chosen a state of BEING, you are motivated to take new and different actions from an entirely different state and you most likely won't even miss those impulse purchases. Before you know it, your new actions will be incorporated into your life in a way that will be so important to you that you won't be willing to give them up.

Spend some time consciously incorporating the state of BEING you desire and you'll find your life will unfold exactly as you desire.

Copyright 2010 Pat Altvater
Transforming Bodies and Minds
http://www.outsmartweight.com/
http://www.ignitethepowerwithinbook.com/