Things to do: Charlotte, North Carolina - 03/31/12 08:45 AM
Charlotte, North Carolina

There is so much to do in almost any area that you visit, whether it’s to see family and friends or a business trip.
Not sure what to do when visiting the Queen City of Charlotte, North Carolina?  You can always go to www.charlottesgotalot.com and find many things to do and see or you can go below and get a PDF of 101 things to do in Charlotte. This PDF is from www.charlottesgotalot.com. 
101 Things to Do in Charlotte
… (2 comments)

Things to do: Wines of North Carolina - 03/31/12 08:18 AM
 
North Carolina Wineries
Whether you prefer a different wine, white, red, Merlot or Muscadine, North Carolina has a winery and vineyard that you’ll want to explore and sample for yourself and your taste buds.

Fine wines mixed with friendly faces and a bit of Southern hospitality, make North Carolina wine country the place to visit and explore while visiting our fine state.
By visiting, you’ll be able to explore our scenic beauty of the vineyards, taste the fruits of our labor and enjoy a picnic and maybe take in some live music.  Take the time to set up a … (2 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 30, 2012 - 03/30/12 05:55 AM
 
Good Friday morning! 
Integrity:  It's what you're about. Dictionary.com defines Integrity in the following way:
 
in·teg·ri·ty    [in-teg-ri-tee]  Show IPA noun 1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness ofmoral character; honesty. 2. the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preservethe integrity of the empire. 3. a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of aship's hull.

I believe that it's all about YOU.  It's who you are whether things are good or bad, up or down.  It's who you are all the time and doesn't matter if anyone is watching you.
It's who you are and what you're made up of.  In business, Integrity is many times felt by those around you knowing who you are.  Many times it can be the deciding factor about whether someone wants to do … (4 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 28, 2012 - 03/28/12 04:37 AM
  Good Wednesday morning! 
Integrity:  A word to live by. 
 Wikipedia says that integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes.
I believe that about sums it also.  Wikipedia then goes on to say:
"In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions. Integrity is also said that in that it regards internal consistency as a virtue, and suggests that parties holding apparently conflicting values should account for the discrepancy or alter their beliefs."

 I believe that Integrity is something that every person that has ever done business … (4 comments)

Things to do: Lazy 5 Ranch Animal Parks & Zoos - 03/27/12 08:09 AM
 
The Lazy 5 Ranch is a privately owned exotic animal drive thru park that offers a 3.5-mile safari through the gently sloping pasturelands of Piedmont, North Carolina (just north of Charlotte by about 1/2 hour or so).
While visiting at the Lazy 5 Ranch you will have the opportunity to view over 750 animals from six different continents.
You can see these animals from the safety of your own car or call for reservations on our horse drawn wagons.  

You can even buy food and feed some of the animals as they put their head in … (0 comments)

Pinterest: Videos – It Can Be Done - 03/27/12 07:37 AM

Pinterest And Videos – It Can Be Done
Many people know that Pinterest is a social media platform that is also a photo-sharing site but what a lot of people don't realize is that it is also a video-sharing site. That is, if you share a video link on Pinterest the video will become embedded into your image for Pinterest and you've got another great traffic source.
What does this mean for your business?
Many of you that list properties, shoot videos of them as well.  Why not show both?  The pictures and the videos?  You can now show those … (2 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 27 2012 - 03/27/12 04:58 AM
Good Tuesday morning!
Integrity is something in you.
It is so easy to be able to do the wrong thing.  Sticking to your guns and believing in yourself and in what you do can never be a bad thing.
Remember, it is easy to say and do something else when noone is looking over your shoulder.
Integrity is doing the right thing, even when noone is watching.
Integrity is something in you.
“Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.”
  ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
… (4 comments)

Pinterest: Viral Marketing At It's Best And Simplest - 03/26/12 09:59 AM

Pinterest – Viral Marketing At It's Best And Simplest
Viral marketing is one sure fire way to gain exposure for you and your company with minimal efforts. Getting your site and products to go viral though, can be difficult. Well, at least it used to be. Now, with Pinterest you can get your products, brand and site to go viral with just a few clicks of your mouse and the odd interesting photo.
That's right. You can now take advantage of the viral nature of social marketing sites without having to put in excessive efforts and/or time. 
 All you … (0 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 26 2012 - 03/26/12 08:07 AM
Good Monday morning!
Over the weekend I was spending time with the family, but at night went on the web to do some work.  I found a website that allowed me to check other websites to make sure that my content (that I spent a lot of time writing) wasn't taken by others.
Lo' and behold, I found, not one, but two culprits.  One of them literally took my entire website, logos and all and just put their name on it.  The other took all of my icons and content.
I am now in touch with my attorneys and the legal … (8 comments)

Pinterest: The Newest Social Marketing Medium For Small Businesses - 03/23/12 05:24 AM


Pinterest – The Newest Social Marketing Medium For Small Businesses
Trying to stay on top of the newest social media marketing methods can be difficult and just down-right maddening. Everyday a new social media site appears and it can make any small business owner shake their head and wonder how will they ever utilize this new one in their business, much less make the time to do so.

 
The newest one to hit the market and that everyone is talking about of course, is Pinterest.  What makes this is a great site is that you only really … (0 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 23 2012 - 03/23/12 04:49 AM
Good Friday morning!
Today is clean up day for me.  I'm going to stick to my list (unless something really important comes up) and work extra hard on clearing up many of the items that I have to get done.

I'd like to get many of these done so that I can spend some quality time with the family.  It really hurts when your little girl says "Daddy, you work all the time and are always on the puter.:
Ouch!

Today is clean up day!
“The secret of getting things done is to act.”
  ~ Dante Alighieri
… (3 comments)

Things to do: Richard Petty Driving Experience, Charlotte, NC - 03/22/12 09:55 AM

 
~Vroom, Vroom~
Experience the thrill and excitement of the Richard Petty Driving Experience where you get the chance to get behind the wheel or experience a Ride-Along in an authentic NASCAR Sprint Cup style stock car.
You’ve always wanted to drive fast and have the feeling of speed.  It's an experience you'll never forget and one no NASCAR fan should miss!
Check out the website HERE
6022 Victory Lane
Concord, NC 28027
Phone: 704-454-6263
Toll Free: 1-800-BE-PETTY
Fax: 704-455-5595
… (1 comments)

Pinterest: The Facebook Of 2012 - 03/22/12 07:21 AM

Pinterest: The Facebook of 2012
If you're already utilizing Facebook fan pages and groups there is a great, little (well, not so little anymore) new social media site that you should be using as well. You may have heard about it by now (and if you haven’t, where have you been?), it's called Pinterest and in many ways functions in the same ways as Facebook except that it’s more accepting of pictures and descriptions without having to go into an album.

To begin with, just like in Facebook, a lot of the power of the site lies in the … (0 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 22 2012 - 03/22/12 07:02 AM
Good Thursday morning!
Prioritizing the things that you have to get done is important, otherwise a lot of time can get wasted on the things that really aren't that important or that you can do at a later time when other things that are more "administrative".

Many people like to number their tasks that they are working on and work hard at it until that number is done.  Colors are also used.
I find that the mix of both works well for me because many times I have something colored that is high-priority, however, the numbers let me know which … (2 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 21 2012 - 03/21/12 06:25 AM
Good Wednesday morning!
Yesterday I didn't cross off as many things as I was hoping to.  Today my list of things to get done and accomplish is much larger than it usually is.
I am definitely going to be putting "the nose to the grindstone" (sounds painful, doesn't it?) and get things done today.

The blinders are going on and my focus is in high gear, how about you?
“Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of.”
  ~ Josh Billings
… (13 comments)

Pinterest: A Picture Can Be Worth Thousands To Your Business - 03/21/12 05:56 AM

Pinterest – A Picture Can Be Worth Thousands To Your Business
There has been a saying for many, many years A picture is worth a thousand words".  While this has been true over time, it has never meant as much to online marketing as it does today.  A single picture, you could say, is worth thousands of dollars if used properly.  That is, if the picture is "pinned", "repinned" and "repinned" some more.If you're confused, believe me, you're not alone. Many business owners have yet to realize the potential that lies with the newest picture sharing site - Pinterest.
You … (4 comments)

Pinterest: Free Marketing, an Awesome Way to put Yourself out there! - 03/20/12 09:20 AM

Free marketing methods are an important aspect to any business, especially in the current economic times that the U.S. and other parts of the world are experiencing.
Pinterest is a free marketing method that you should be using for your business if you are hoping to capitalize on a lack of capital for marketing.  You should be using it even if you don’t have a lack of capital!
Pinterest is one of the newest social media marketing sites that is out there to that is taking the Internet by storm.  I mean, it really is taking the Internet by storm. … (7 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 20 2012 - 03/20/12 09:12 AM
Good Tuesday morning!
Going through the "To Do" list and getting things done.  It feels good to be able to cross things off your list, however, when one gets crossed off, it seems to keep growing.
I believe that it's impossible to get it all done.  If you do, you're not moving in the right direction - forward.
“If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it.”
  ~ Anthony J. D'Angelo
… (3 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 19 2012 - 03/19/12 04:20 AM
Good Monday morning!
The plate of things to get done is full again!
Well, it's not that it's really full again, it seems as though it's always full.
I finish one thing and it seems as if another takes its place, sometimes two - (like Hydra. Mythically, if one head of the monster is cut off, two take its place.)
I will admit that I've been a little slack in finishing some of the things that I've started, but looking at how much time has gone by this year already, it's time to look at and stick with the game plan.
… (6 comments)

Things to do: Discovery Place - 03/18/12 02:57 PM

So Much to do…
Start off by spending your day at Discovery Place and get introduced to an amazing world of wonder, where you’ll be amazed by science, which will also educate and entertain you.   There’s something for the entire family to enjoy, from little ones just starting to explore, to adults who have seen the world. 

See a movie on the largest screen in the Carolinas.In particular – catch the latest movie and find out about Mummies:  Start your journey into the extraordinary world of mummies and mummification.

To see more about this go HERE
Cool Stuffis … (0 comments)

Pinterest: Terminology and understanding - 03/16/12 06:30 AM

As with any social media marketing site being used for business, the basics always require you to understand the terminology being used and what it means. Pinterest has just become one of the top ten social media sites and thus deserves a place in your marketing arsenal. In order to do that you need to understand exactly what pinning, repinning and all the other words that have evolved as a result of Pinterest mean.
So let the understanding begin! 
Board – This is the place where you “pin” your images. Just like a cork board in real life a board … (5 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 16 2012 - 03/16/12 06:09 AM
Good Friday morning!
There is so much to do!
I have so much to do and get done that it seems as though my main business is falling behind in getting things accomplshed to move forward.
I've been doing some other things that will bring in extra income, however, my business seems to have suffered somewhat as a result of it.  I forgot (briefly) what was most important and spent time on the other things when, in fact, I should have been doing the other things in what little spare time I have.
This means that I have to re-focus my … (4 comments)

Print Maps Without Violating Copyrights - 03/15/12 04:55 AM
I saw this on another re-blog and wanted to share it with those that are around me.
This can come in handy in many different ways, you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Via Jeff Pearl (RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA MD DC):
Just thought I'd share this in case others haven't heard about it yet. Technically we're not suppose to copy maps from many places online or from ADC books for example. Many times I want a map of the surrounding area of my listings to leave at the house or in brochure boxes to show what's within a … (1 comments)

Pinterest: Marketing With Pinterest - 03/15/12 04:45 AM

Marketing With Pinterest
If females in their twenties, thirties and even forties are your target (and they are!), then Pinterest better be in your marketing arsenal.  If you've been anywhere online as of late you'll already be well versed in what Pinterest is, if not, stay tuned.
Pinterest is a social bookmarking site that is taking off in leaps and bounds, but it doesn't work quite like other social bookmarking sites you may already be familiar with. Instead of using URL’s and articles like many other sites do, Pinterest is based solely around pictures and “pinning”. With the picture, users … (7 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 15 2012 - 03/15/12 04:15 AM
Good Thursday morning!
There always seems to be distractions.
Whether it's one of the multitude of social media sites that suck up your time, the bs emails that come in, or even the noise or vibration that your phone makes when an email, text, or whatever happens. 
All of these things take up your precious time from focusing on what's important - the end result - getting things done that need to be taken care of now and for tomorrow.
Have the things that you need to do written down and start workiong on them so that you can cross them … (6 comments)

Pinterest: 5 Reasons Why You and your Business Needs Pinterest - 03/14/12 08:16 AM


Wow!  Another social media for us to learn about and to see if we can utilize for our business.
Every time a new social media marketing method comes out we're told we must be apart of it, that we need it and that it will be useful. It's going to be the next big thing and sometimes it is, other times not so much. Well, here it is! The newest big thing your business needs to be a part of is Pinterest. Why?
It's addictive. The columnist, Petula Dvorak for the Washington Post calls it “Digital Crack for Women”.  … (4 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 14 2012 - 03/14/12 06:03 AM
Good Wednesday morning!
Sometimes you just have to go with your gut.  
I love the business that I am in and I have created many different marketing letters that are very personalized to send out to potential clients. I have run the different letters by my partner and others whose opinions that I respect because many times I feel that I am too close to my business and don't have the objectivity that others may have.  
What I had been doing has not gotten the phone to ring like I wanted it to or expected it to, so I … (10 comments)

Things to do: Daniele Stowe Botanical Gardens - 03/13/12 05:30 AM
 

Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens
If you like connecting with nature, then the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens is the place for you.  This place is known as the Carolinas’ Garden for All Seasons (because it’s open all year, except for the major holidays).
This wonderland of nature sits on the banks of beautiful Lake Wylie on 380 acres.  There are a multitude of themed gardens, sparkling fountains and lots of nature walks for the nature enthusiast.

They are well known throughout the country for their dazzling display of beautiful orchids in the region’s only glasshouse Orchid Conservatory.
 
Depending … (2 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 13 2012 - 03/13/12 04:59 AM
 
Good Tuesday morning!
Sometime's it amazes me how quickly time goes by.  In two more weeks, the first quarter of the year will be gone.  Are you where you thought or planned that you were going to be?  Are you close?
“Being busy does not always mean real work.  The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration.  Seeming to do is not doing.”
  ~ Thomas A. Edison
 
… (1 comments)

Things to do: U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charltotte, NC - 03/12/12 07:54 AM


When visiting Charlotte, if you’re the outdoorsy type or you just want to do something really different, then this is the place.
This 307 acre wonderland has Whitewater Rafting, Zip-lines, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Paddle boarding, Rope courses and more.
This place is home to the world’s largest man-made river and just plain fun as the ultimate playground for families with numerous indoor and outdoor activities.
 
This place has it all!  It is even known as a training ground for many in the upcoming 2012 Olympics.
To learn more, go HERE.
The most popular way to play at … (6 comments)

Daily Inspiration: March 12 2012 - 03/12/12 04:24 AM
Good morning!
It’s good to be back.  For a little over a week I was unable to log on (which, as you can see, has now been fixed) and I had the unfortunate experience of a bad car accident that put me down with broken ribs and various bruises…
Well, it’s important not to lose sight of those things that are important to you.  Many of us are tempted to do other things less important because we feel that something else may always be there.  Do not take those things (especially other people!) for granted.  Make sure that you express yourself … (9 comments)

Things to do: Carowinds Theme Park - 03/07/12 06:19 AM


When visiting Charlotte, North Carolina you need to take at least one day out of your trip (if not two!) to visit Carowinds Park located in South Charlotte.


It borders North Carolina and South Carolina and while there, you can take a picture of yourself and/or family standing on the border of both!

This place is 122 acres of family entertainment.  From some amazing rollercoasters to an entire water-theme park - it's all in one place.

     
Enjoy!

To visit Carowinds website, go HERE
… (1 comments)

Things to do: NASCAR Hall of Fame - 03/07/12 05:31 AM
The NASCAR Hall of Fame
 
When visiting Charlotte, NC make sure that you head to the Uptown area where, if you’re into racing, you can visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame.


 
This beautiful building is 150,000 square feet of high tech, interactive fun.  If you ever wanted to know how NASCAR started and wanted to look at the roots of how it began to where it is now, this is the place.


 
There are over 50 interactive exhibits.  The average visit is around 3-4 hours starting with a history of NASCAR and stock car … (3 comments)

I was missing, but then was found - 03/05/12 06:09 AM
Usually, each day I write a little something and then give an inspirational or motivational quote.  I do my best to do this every day.  
A couple of weeks ago I was unable to log onto Active Rain and post.  When I couldn't log on, I sent emails to AR explaining the problem.  Even though I could be found on a search and I was right there, I could not log on.  Finally, AR figured out the problem and I was able to be active again.
Well, last week I took some time to go visit a good friend of … (8 comments)