It was early September 2010. At over 225 pounds and sporting a size 40 waist, I decided it was time to make a change. After all, at 46-years old, I wasn't getting any younger. In order to hold myself accountable to my desire to get fit and lose weight, I went public with my goals. I wrote about the changes I would be making extensively on this blog. My first entry was posted 9/14/10. By... Continue Reading

The holiday season can be pretty intense -- presents to buy, social events to go to, cookies to eat, and through it all you are still running your online business. But don't forget to take some time out to sit down and reflect on the year that's passed and the one coming up. Doing so can bring your business and your efforts into sharper focus and help you know what you want to shoot for... Continue Reading

I'm trying to blog regularly for a number of reasons. First, it keeps me sharp. Blogging on a regular basis makes me think about things that are important to me. Second, it allows me to share with others. Whether or not you agree with what I say, think, feel or believe, my articles are an extension of my self. Third, it keeps my blog healthy with the search engines. Google and the other engines like... Continue Reading

If you have been following this blog for any time, you probably know that it is not like other blogs. I don't have a template or formula for this blog. It is mine and I use it however I want. When I started blogging in 2003, my first entries were about my dog, my family and my travels. I blogged about my political views, current events and films I had recently seen. Then it happened... Continue Reading

Lots of people who are just starting out with their online businesses are stymied by a question that is central to the endeavor: What should my online business be about? Since most people have money as one of their main motives, lots of people make the mistake of thinking solely along the lines of what they think will be most profitable. It's not that profitability is bad, of course, it's just that it may not... Continue Reading

The business / office environment has come a long way from even ten years ago. Gone are the days when everyone needed their own extension, and soon the office itself just may become obsolete. In the meantime, here are some things that are essential to the efficiency of a modern office, no matter if you employ 100 people or just yourself. Continue Reading

If you have an online business and are looking to increase traffic to your website and therefore sales, there are some things you should be doing on a regular basis. Call them your daily or weekly online calisthenics. You should be posting articles on other sites, building your list and reaching out to them with pertinent deals and updates, staying active on forums in your niche, taking advantage of the press release resources out there... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Chris Harper) If you have spent time on YouTube, then you've probably seen at least one user's YouTube channel. And if you've seen more than a few, then you may have noticed that the design and attractiveness of those channels varies widely from user to user. Some of them are highly attractive with custom imagery, while others make your eyes hurt to look at them. If you have a YouTube account... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Alan Bechtold) This is a continuation of last week's article on getting inside the minds of your customers and prospects. Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Jared Newgent) We've all heard it, and we all know about it, but what is it really and what is it really doing? Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Joel Ownby) Contactless payments are certainly the wave of the future. They're already a huge trend in Europe and Asia. Contactless payments are poised to revolutionize commerce in the United States. Many of the largest chains have already adopted cashless payment systems and many "touch and go" devices are now available from the largest merchants, credit card companies, and mobile telecommunication service providers. Wikipedia has the following to say about contactless... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Chris Harper) Unless you're some super creative genius who's trying to keep your work pure of outside influence (aka a liar), then you're always on the lookout for some new inspiration. Inspiration is a funny thing. It seems to hide itself in different places, waiting for someone to stumble upon it at just the right time. Oftentimes, it's not even where you'd expect to find it. And other times, it seems... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Jared Newgent) We have all heard of them, and we all know how important it is to keep our computers free from viruses. But what exactly is a computer virus and how does it work? Continue Reading

When it comes to social media, it's not the numbers that count. You can have a Facebook page with tens of thousands of fans and a Twitter timeline with millions of followers, but if those people aren't interacting with you, you're not doing a thing. Continue Reading