ActiveRain University - Ya Gotta Luv It - 01/30/12 07:22 PM
Ya Gotta Luv it - I'm talking about ActiveRain University.
Just think about any website or software that you use and ask yourself, "Do they provide excellent training to help you use the site or product?" 
Think about the sites you visit:  Facebook, Twitter and others  -- chances are there is no significant training unless you pay extra or go to a third party site.  Most sites and software companies must not even have live people because there is no way to reach them.
ActiveRain is the greatest -- there is an ActiveRain University with great classes and … (13 comments)

A Year of Growing Rich: Overcome Fear to Reach Your Goal - 01/30/12 03:13 PM
A Year of Growing Rich:  Overcome Fear to Reach Your Goal
 

 

This is the 40th week of a 52 week motivational journey and I want to invite you along.  Each week, I will touch on one of the chapters from Napoleon Hill's book titled  A Year of Growing Rich and subtitled "52 Steps to Achieving Life's Rewards."     If you would like you can pick up a new or used copy from Amazon for as low as a few cents  -- a great investment in your future.  Previous posts in this series can be accessed by clicking here.   … (6 comments)

What is the Last Thing You Taught Someone? - 01/29/12 11:12 PM
The 2012 BIG Jumpstart Blog Challenge has created a lot of awareness and interest in many things -- but one thing has always been very visible in the Rain and that is members sharing experiences and the best ways to do things.  

The ActiveRain philosophy (Weltanschauung) says:
"ActiveRain believes that it is in the best interests of real estate professionals to build a community that is focused on educating one another. ActiveRain believes its future depends on members of all experience levels openly sharing their experiences and best practices with others in the field. This communal dialogue offers a … (43 comments)

Recap for Weeks 3 & 4 of 2012 with Update on Yazmine - 01/29/12 02:32 PM
The December Posting Challenge kept many of us in touch and I am continuing with a recap each week. I'm behind so here is the recap for weeks three and four of 2012.
My office manager Yazmine (a Siamese and great friend) has developed severe kidney problems and many of you have asked me to continue updates.
Yazmine has been doing much better.  I have been giving her subcutaneous fluids most days.  Most of the time she doesn't seem to mind the needle but once in a while her little meow sounds just like someone saying ouch.  Today I was … (11 comments)

Horse-Drawn Carriages in Cartagena - 01/29/12 12:32 AM
As many of you know, my specialty is Latin America. I've decided this year to watch for posts that show a little bit about some of the wonderful places and re-blog them.  And, if you would like to know more about retirement homes, second homes or investments please contact me or go to my website, Paradise4Gringos.com. 
Via Carissa Acker (Real Estate by Design with Keller Williams Realty):
A friend of mine is working and traveling in Colombia.  He WAS in Thailand.  What a life, huh?  I thought that it would be good to share some pictures of his travels.  I'd love … (7 comments)

What New Things Have You Tried Lately? - 01/28/12 11:02 PM
One of the great things about the 2012 Big Jumpstart Blog Challenge is that it encourages us to take a closer look at ActiveRain.  The guiding principles and philosophy of the organization (Weltanschauung) is set forth and is a great guideline for us.  Principle #7 is: "We encourage dissenting and contrarian points of view because our industry is better served by continually examining the status quo.  Challenging conventional wisdom is often essential for the evolution of our industry and the development of new opportunities." ActiveRain has been quick to point out new and better technology and offers many educational opportunities which … (9 comments)

Top 12 SEO Mistakes - 01/25/12 09:24 PM
Do You Make any of My Top 12 SEO Mistakes?
Everywhere I turn, I see posts telling about Search Engine Optimization. The 2012 BIG Jumpstart Blog Challenge has created a lot of awareness and interest in SEO.  Many of the posts are great -- but I'm the guy who reads all the "Dummies" Books and I started thinking about the mistakes that we might make. 
Here is my list of things that may make that search engine spider unhappy and hurt your site.
12. No Internal links (or not enough links). Good links raise the quality of your site … (23 comments)

A Year of Growing Rich: Learn from Defeat - 01/23/12 11:10 PM
A Year of Growing Rich:  Learn from Defeat
 

 

This is the 39th week of a 52 week motivational journey and I want to invite you along.  Each week, I will touch on one of the chapters from Napoleon Hill's book titled  A Year of Growing Rich and subtitled "52 Steps to Achieving Life's Rewards."     If you would like you can pick up a new or used copy from Amazon for as low as a few cents  -- a great investment in your future.  Previous posts in this series can be accessed by clicking here.         … (12 comments)

The Castillo San Juan de Ulúa - 01/22/12 04:04 PM
 
The Castillo San Juan de Ulúa has been a castle, a fortress, a prison and the site where parts of a major movie were filmed.
It is part of the City of Veracruz, Mexico and is the island where the first Spanish landed as they conquered Mexico.
As a fort it has protected the city from attacks by the British, the Dutch, the French and even the United States.
Fort San Juan de Ulúa was started in 1582 and completed in 1707.  It is now a museum which can be reached by boat or a bridge from … (26 comments)

Get Connected in the Rain - 01/21/12 11:36 PM
I love the connections that grow between members of ActiveRain. 

One of the ActiveRain Community Guidelines is:  "Get connected. At first ActiveRain may seem so big that you could never be heard, and so small and cliquish that you will never find your place. Everyone experiences this phenomenon! Our suggestion is to start off slow; read blogs, then start commenting on posts that interest you, and once you feel ready, blog away!"

It is fascinating to see newbies in the Rain.  At first they exist as a profile and a photo. Most start slowly and read some … (26 comments)

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas at Night - 01/21/12 10:14 PM
As many of you know, my specialty is Latin America. I've decided this year to watch for posts that show a little bit about some of the wonderful places and re-blog them.  And, if you would like to know more about retirement homes, second homes or investments please contact me or go to my website, Paradise4Gringos.com. 

Via Carissa Acker (Real Estate by Design with Keller Williams Realty):
A friend of mine is working and traveling in Colombia.  He WAS in Thailand.  What a life, huh?  I thought that it would be good to share some pictures of his travels.  I'd … (7 comments)

Please Welcome Annette Gray to ActiveRain - 01/19/12 11:08 PM
 
 Annette Gray is new to ActiveRain and was just featured in the Member spotlight in the ActiveRain Newsletter. 



Annette describes herself as an "almost"native and grew up in the Tempe area and knows the area well. 
 
"I am a go getter with out-of -the-box methods of advertising and marketing and will approach your home sale or purchase with my unique finesse and fresh ideas," Annette says. 
 
You will want to check out her personal website. Please take a minute to welcome Annette, look at her posts and subscribe to her blog. 
 
… (16 comments)

SOPA: The Internet will Go Dark on Wednesday. Will there be No more Facebook, No more YouTube, No more ActiveRain? - 01/17/12 11:51 PM
 
Fred Griffin has an excellent post about a danger we are all facing.  Please read his post.  I am disabling comments and hope you will leave comments on his post.
But the most important thing is to call your Congressman and US Senators!!
Via Fred Griffin Real Estate LLC:
Google will Protest.  No more Facebook, no more YouTube, no more ActiveRain.  This will happen if Congress passes SOPA and PIPA, bills to purportedly end "Online Piracy". 


 
 
     Tomorrow, Wednesday January 18 2010, major websites including Wikipedia, Mozilla, WordPress, Reddit, and others will "Go Dark" in … (0 comments)

Recap for Week 2 of 2012 with Update on Yazmine - 01/17/12 10:01 PM
The December Posting Challenge kept many of us in touch and I am continuing with a recap each week. This is for week two of 2012.
My office manager Yazmine (a Siamese and great friend) has developed severe kidney problems and many of you have asked me to continue updates.
All the prayers and thoughts from everyone here in the Rain seem to be helping.  Yazmine had a good week.  She has her good days and some that are not so good. She seems more alert each day and gradually her strength is building but she is still skin and … (14 comments)

A Year of Growing Rich: The Blessings of Failure - 01/16/12 08:01 PM
A Year of Growing Rich:  The Blessings of Failure
 

 

This is the 38th week of a 52 week motivational journey and I want to invite you along.  Each week, I will touch on one of the chapters from Napoleon Hill's book titled  A Year of Growing Rich and subtitled "52 Steps to Achieving Life's Rewards."     If you would like you can pick up a new or used copy from Amazon for as low as a few cents  -- a great investment in your future.  Previous posts in this series can be accessed by clicking here.       … (14 comments)

Trust as Seen Through the Eyes of My Cat - 01/15/12 11:04 PM
My cat, Yazmine, has really taught me about trust.

I've been  giving a lot of serious thought to the subject of trust since it was announced as the ActiveRain challenge this month. I've read dozens of outstanding posts and each of them touched on some part of what trust means to me.

Tonight, I'm looking at Yazmine as she watches me work and suddenly the subject of trust seems so simple. Trust is very simple yet still extremely meaningful to a pet.

Pets can teach us all about trust. Our relationship with each pet is … (14 comments)

Looking for a Great Place to do Business - Take a Look at Chile - 01/14/12 06:44 PM
Are you or your clients looking for a great place to do business - take a look at Chile.




Chile now ranks higher than the US in economic freedom (7th v 10th) and it is even perceived as less corupt (22nd v 24th). 



The GDP in Chile is projected to grow at 6.3% this year v  2.1% in the US. 



Another reason to love Chile is that it is now the fifth largest exporter of wine.  The wines are excellent and one of my favorite brands is Concha Y … (14 comments)

The Skyline of Cartagena, Colombia - 01/13/12 01:34 PM
As many of you know, my specialty is Latin America. I've decided this year to watch for posts that show a little bit about some of the wonderful places and re-blog them.  And, if you would like to know more about retirement homes, second homes or investments please contact me or go to my website, Paradise4Gringos.com. 

Via Carissa Acker (Real Estate by Design with Keller Williams Realty):
A friend of mine is working and traveling in Colombia.  He WAS in Thailand.  What a life, huh?  I thought that it would be good to share some pictures of his travels.  I'd … (9 comments)

Just Watch This Newbie Go - 01/12/12 09:47 PM
Robin DeCapua joined ActiveRain today and she has already posted four outstanding posts.
Robin and her daughter, Rachel Moore, are a powerhouse mother-daughter design team ready to tackle any home, condo, townhouse or apartment.
Robin has known about ActiveRain for awhile, but just joined today and she really jumped into the community here in the Rain. 
"I'm reaching out to make connections," Robin says. "We love to help on problem properties and see them sell". 
Their company is Madison Modern Home and on the company website they say "no one just purchases a home, they purchase a lifestyle" … (18 comments)

A Year of Growing Rich: Progress Calls for an Open Mind - 01/10/12 07:52 PM
A Year of Growing Rich:  Progress Calls for an Open Mind
 

 

This is the 37th week of a 52 week motivational journey and I want to invite you along.  Each week, I will touch on one of the chapters from Napoleon Hill's book titled  A Year of Growing Rich and subtitled "52 Steps to Achieving Life's Rewards."     If you would like you can pick up a new or used copy from Amazon for as low as a few cents  -- a great investment in your future.  Previous posts in this series can be accessed by clicking here.   … (10 comments)

Recap for Week 1 of 2012 with Update on Yazmine - 01/08/12 11:55 PM
 
I enjoyed the way the December Posting Challenge kept many of us in touch with each other and have decided to start posting a recap each week.
During December, I kept including progress reports on Yazmine (my office manager, Siamese and great friend) who has developed severe kidney problems and I have had a number of members asking about her this week.
Yazmine continues to battle and I try my best to take care of her.  She is 18 years old and Siamese cats do often have kidney failure.  When I took her to the vet just after Thanksgiving … (18 comments)

Call Two Each Day in the Rain - 01/08/12 09:32 PM



Have you ever stopped to think about the referral business that you could generate if you had 730 new team members? 

I've thought of a fun way to work towards that goal.  I plan on calling two members here in the Rain each day this year and I challenge you to do the same.


In 365 days I will visit with 730 members and let them know more about me and at the same time I will get to know more about them so that I can look for referrals to send their … (94 comments)

Silent Saturday - Clouds - 01/07/12 08:18 PM
 

 
Follow my blog as I give you tips and fun facts about Latin America, expatriates, relocation and making referral income.   
 

 
 
  Latin America --  Isn't it about time you learned more about the opportunities for YOU?  
 
 
  
 

 
 
Viva Latin America
 
 
If you are looking to
Buy or Sell real
estate contact
 
Gary Coles 
702-508-8440
garytcoles@aol.com
 
Do you have questions about real estate in Latin America? We are glad to provide assistance if you are considering a real estate purchase in Latin America
… (23 comments)

Friday's Fotos -- Time for A Break - 01/06/12 11:59 PM




Follow my blog as I give you tips and fun facts about Latin America, expatriates, relocation and making referral income.   
 

 
 
  Latin America --  Isn't it about time you learned more about the opportunities for YOU?  
 
 
  
 

 
 
Viva Latin America
 
 
If you are looking to
Buy or Sell real
estate contact
 
Gary Coles 
702-508-8440
garytcoles@aol.com
 
Do you have questions about real estate in Latin America? We are glad to provide assistance if you are considering a real estate purchase in Latin … (16 comments)

2012 BIG Jumpstart Back to Basics Blog Challenge Atlanta Metro ODAT Realty CDPE Advanced Buy/Lease/Sell Buckhead Altanta GA - 01/05/12 08:11 PM
Here is a great challenge that will be a huge help to your blogging efforts plus it will give you some bonus points.
I have disabled comments so go to the original post and thank Lynn B. Friedman of Atlanta for creating this challenge.
Via Lynn B. Friedman 404.939.2727 CDPE Advan AtlantaMetro ODAT RealtyServices,Inc. (Ready to Serve YOU! Buy/Sell/Rent Prop.Mgt. SE HABLA ESPAÑOL):
2012 - BIG Jumpstart Back to Basics Blog Challenge - 21 blogs to contribute B I G ? B - Back to Basics - Let’s review what makes ActiveRain such a special community. I - Interaction -  Let’s meet … (0 comments)

A Year of Growing Rich: Concentration - 01/02/12 10:21 PM
A Year of Growing Rich:  Concentration
 

 

This is the 36th week of a 52 week motivational journey and I want to invite you along.  Each week, I will touch on one of the chapters from Napoleon Hill's book titled  A Year of Growing Rich and subtitled "52 Steps to Achieving Life's Rewards."     If you would like you can pick up a new or used copy from Amazon for as low as a few cents  -- a great investment in your future.  Previous posts in this series can be accessed by clicking here.         "The most … (18 comments)

Happy new Year Everyone!! May Your Dreams Come True This Year! - 01/01/12 01:07 PM
 
 

 
Follow my blog as I give you tips and fun facts about Latin America, expatriates, relocation and making referral income.   
 

 
 
  Latin America --  Isn't it about time you learned more about the opportunities for YOU?  
 
 
  
 

 
 
Viva Latin America
 
 
If you are looking to
Buy or Sell real
estate contact
 
Gary Coles 
702-508-8440
garytcoles@aol.com
 
Do you have questions about real estate in Latin America? We are glad to provide assistance if you are considering a real estate purchase in Latin … (16 comments)

 


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