Happy Valentines Day,

Sometimes you just wake up and have a hard time getting things done.  On days like this, if there is nothing extremely pressing (which is rare!), take a little "me" time.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

  ~ Lao Tzu

I'm looking forward to today being productive.  But that just doesn't mean getting things done, but also getting a deal done or moving in the right direction.

After all, what good is getting things done if you can't buy groceries?

“Do not let your grand ambitions stand in the way of small but meaningful accomplishments.”

  ~ Bryant McGill

Today is going to be a day of non-stop work.  There never seems to be a shortage of what needs to be done.  It’s just a matter of working on the list and getting some of it accomplished.

“A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey wrench than a loafer will accomplish with all the tools in a machine shop.”

  ~ Robert Hughes

Last week, I posted about needing some help (http://activerain.com/blogsview/2786009/help-me-to-succeed-better-please-) and received, not only an excellent reply, but a phone call as well from a marketing master of short sales (and a few other things).  His name is Fernando Herboso and I found our talk and his comments to be very stimulating.

Today, aside from my usual doing my best to get in touch with clients, I am going to be taking Fernando’s advice and will be working on some of my marketing pieces to put out there.

I have been asked advice often, but have not had to reach out and ask it of myself.  I have learned that we can always learn from those around us and that when we stop learning, we might as well lay down and die.

“It takes a great man to give sound advice tactfully, but a greater to accept it graciously.”

  ~ Logan P. Smith

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Time moves quickly and it's hard to believe that the first month of the new year is over.

There is so much to get accomplished, but by tackling these things one at a time, I'm chipping away at my list that seems like it's never going to end!

"It's not the situation, but whether we react (negative) or respond (positive) to the situation that's important."

     ~ Zig Ziglar

Hello to all in our Active Rain community.  I am seeking your help and advice.

I am in the business of Asset Recovery.  I get lists from county governments with funds in them that do not belong to them (the county).  This money belongs to people and to financial institutions.  Many times it is from a mortgage foreclosure or tax sale, but sometimes it is from an estate as well.

When I find out that the funds belong to an individual (or couple), I then do everything that I can to locate this person, which includes current address, phone number, cell number, email(s), social networks and even work information.

My company is rated highly with the Better Business Bureau and all of our transactions are handled through attorneys.

Here is my dilemma.  When I contact someone, I explain to them who we are, who I am, what we do and that we are part of the BBB and everything is done through attorneys and that at no time is any money required from them.

They ask what the money is from and I let them know that I can answer any question they have, but that, because if I tell them what the money is from and where it is, they usually don’t need me and then I don't have a business.

Many times they feel that it’s a scam and I do my best to let them know that it’s not:

• I don’t want any of their personal information (I already have what I need)
• I don’t want any money, I want to pay them
• By paying them now, I am buying their rights and interests to the funds and they can have money now instead of waiting up to 3 years (in some counties)
• I will pay them within 30 days and don’t want any money given back
• Everything is handled through attorneys in the state where the money is located
• We are BBB rated
• We are in the United States
• If they ask (and I offer), they can have my home address
• They can Google me and find out all about me and my business and my family
• I am on Facebook and have nothing to hide
• I will pay for everything, including the attorney’s fees, court filing fees, court costs, notary fees, etc.I am still having a difficult time getting the person to commit to me.I am looking for Your help and YOUR suggestions as to what I can do to be better at my business and get past what I call the BS factor or scam factor.

I am looking to be able to help out more people to get their money, because if they don't accept my help, many times the counties and states have laws in place that if the money is not claimed by a specific time, they have a legal right to keep the funds.  In many instances, they don't want the person to find the money.

This is not money that (in most cases) can be found on the Internet on any website.

Please help.

I take part of being in the Active Rain community very seriously and do my best to adhere to the rules laid down by all involved.

Someone using the AR email system sent me an unsolicited and very uncalled email that said:

You've received a contact message from your Contact Form on the ActiveRain network.

Message details: 
From: Hafeezullah 
Email: kalwarhafeez@yahoo.com 
Subject: For my poor condition (Sent via Activerain)

Dear Sir
please send me some of 5000$ for my poor family problems

This how I received it:

      From:   Hafeezullah <kalwarhafeez@yahoo.com>

      Subject: For my poor condition (Sent via Activerain)

            Date: January 31, 2012 7:19:05 AM EST

            To:     USFF Jeff@USFinancialFunding.com

I then sent back a reply that this was in poor taste and not to use the AR network to sent out emails such as this.I then received this email this morning:

From: Hafeez Kalwar <kalwarhafeez@yahoo.com>

Date: February 1, 2012 1:22:15 AM EST

To: Jeff Richman Jeff@USFinancialFunding.com

Which said: please any side arrange the above said subject

I don’t know who this is, but if he is part of our AR network, he should be removed.  If he is not part of our network, how is he getting and sending emails through the network?

Am I the only one having this issue? 

Please comment and let me know your thoughts and possible actions. 

I think that the AR community is a special place and needs to be treated with the respect it deserves.

"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible whith ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."

     ~ Dr. Suess

I spent a part of yesterday regrouping and planning some additional things to be done for February.  I am looking at starting some of those things today.  As they say, there is no time like the present.

"If and When were planted, and Nothing grew."

     ~ Proverb

Wow, it's the end of the first month of the new year and I find that I am nowhere near where I want to be.

Yes, I know that "life gets in the way" at time, which is what happened to me, however, I am far off of track of where I expected to be.

I am going to spend part of my day today regrouping myself and planning my course of action which I am going to stick to.

"There are three constants in life... change, choice and principles."

     ~ Stephen R. Covey