Stroke of luck

Started out the morning shoveling snow so I could get my car out to go to work. I worked a nin e hour shft again today.

While at work I talked to a lady who mentioned that she had bought a $50.00 pair of high heels to attend one charity event. She said she never wears high heels but she needed them for this one event. I said to her, "This charity must be very important to you if you are willing to spend $50.00 on a pair of shoes you will wear only once." She explained that this charity picks up the mortgage payment of people who have a family member who is hospitalized for a month. In her case she had a child hospitalized for 90 days so the Charity picked up three mortgage payments. I asked how the charity got it's money. She said they had endowments and individual donors but they had all dried up and this "event" she was going to was a fund raiser. I told her that this was my kind of charity and That I might be able to help them get some more funding. I go the name and will be contacting them next week.

bzm: no, the snow was not melted this morning. We got between seven and eight inches and the ground temp was below zero this morning. It did not melt!

Tom~{}~

Snow

I was at work all day today. It turned out that I had to work an hour of overtime so left late. It started snowing this afternoon and by the time I left work we had seven inches of new snow and high winds blowing it around. The commute home was long and strenuous. When I got home I ate my supper and now I am writing my blog.

Sorry, not much to report on MPM today.

Tom ~{}~

A slow day, but a good day

First of all, I am really happy about the visa gift cards. They will make life a lot easier for my own buying and for potential team members who are considering a card. This is a good thing.

I did not get as much done today as I had hoped. I had a number of personal errands that had been put off during the boot camp whose time had come and I had to do them now. They took considerably longer than I had planned. Consequently, less time was left for MPM. I did drafts of emails for the two NPOs that I am working with this week.One is just fine and I can send it. The other is a long way from fine. It needs more work.

Tom ~{}~

Good Meeting

I spent the remainder of last night (until 2 A.M.) and the early hours this morning preparing for my NPO visit. When I got there I felt well prepared and the visit went well. I followed my own suggestions and I feel this was the best meeting yet.

However, let's not celebrate too much yet. I also had a telephone conversation with one of lthe people I had a tentative meeting with tomorrow. He is not convinced that this meeting would be a good use of his time. He left the door open saying that he needed some concrete information to convince him hat something will come of this. I am finding that most NPOs are accustomed to calling people and with one phone call they get a check for 5,000, 10,000, 50,000. What ever they need at the time they ask for and get. We are suggesting something new and different and they don't know what to think.

bzm: I can suggest "Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude" which was coauthored with W. Clement Stone. If you are not familiar with Stone, I know you would like him. I will just say this: Stone was the son of a single mom in Chicago--he delivered papers and she scrubbed floors. At the end of each day they pooled their money to so that they have enough to get a single meal which they both shared. It was the only meal they had for the day.

Tom

Monday

Spending every free moment preparing for my NPO presentations. I am still not ready.

bzm: Is that from "Master Key to Riches?"

Tom

Friday

Made follow up calls this morning before going in to work. Did not reach anyone--left messages.

bzm: Thanks
a: Thanks

Tom

A good day

Spent what little MPM time I had preparing for my two visits next week and answering email.

bzm: Thanks for the encouragement, I look for it, it keeps me going.

Tom

Yes, those big numbers really ARE true

It has been another good day for NPOs. As of this evening, I have a confirmed appointment with an NPO for Tuesday, and a tentative appointment with another NPO for Wednesday.

I was rather surprised today when another NPO told me "No, we don't need anymore money.... but I will take your name and number down--- just in case." A lot of "Big NPOs" have not been having any trouble getting money from foundations that have been doing well up until now. When they seek the next round of financing they will find out what the small NPOs have already found out---those foundations who have been so generous in the past were getting their money from the stock market and money that has been there all along is not there anymore.

bzm: Yes, I will soon be saying "those big numbers really ARE true."

Tom

Work Day

Today I got the statistics for another NPO and worked on the presentation. The numbers are big--they really are to good to be true. I also got the name of another NPO which I am very interested in. I go it late in the day so I did the research on it and will contact them tomorrow.

Tom

Quick response

bzm: We think amazingly a like. More later.

Prayers,

Tom

Feelin' good

I had a great Valentine's day with my wife and daughter. Thanks for all the good wishes.

I've been feeling good all day today. I work on Sundays. I don't like to do it but it is a fact of life for now. On my way into work today I saw two hawks. One perched and one soaring. It got me off to a good start and I've been feeling good all day.

I never blogged once on a Sunday all during boot camp, now here i am blogging on a Sunday. You are having an effect on me. I'm sure it is a good effect.

tkny: Yes, follow up is a hard part. Before Christmas I did a very poor job of it. I am pleased to say that since Christmas and since I found my niche, NPOs, I have been doing a very good job of staying on top of my follow ups.

bzm: I am glad Big Z is hearing me. He is in my prayers daily. I know that he is going to do big things. As for Big Z's Mom, I appreciate the support she has given me.

Prayers for everyone,

Tom~{}~

St. Valentine's day

Hi guys:

I don't normally blog on Saturday but since you responded to my Friday night blog on Saturday, I will at least acknowledge it. Thanks!

If you were on the call Thursday night, Jacki asked me about an NPO that gives .90 cents of every dollar to its' clients. That was not the NPO that I visited on Wednesday. I have been calling, leaving messages, and sending emails to the one that gives .90 cents back but I have not heard a thing in quite a while. Last night I got an email from them. It appears the person I am dealing with has been gone. The email says she wants more information. This is a good thing.. I will certainly get it to her.

I worked all day today and I spent the evening celebrating St. Valentine's day with my wife and daughter. Big Z, you're the best and I know you are making sure your Mom is having the best St. Valentine's day ever. Tina, you have a great St. Valentine's day too! I am going to get back to my wife and daughter.

More later,

Tom ~{}~

Last day of boot camp

We are finally here, the last day. Yes, it is sad but it is also a relief. It is my fond hope that all things good continue on without skipping a beat. I suppose that "all things good" implies that some things were not good. That is not my intention here. As the boot camp progressed, I discovered that some things were more good than others for me. Those same things that were "less good" for me I am sure were most good for others. In any event, I wish that all good things continue.

Last night in my blog I mentioned that my wife had had to make a supreme sacrifice for me to be on the boot camp as I am sure everyone Else's significant other has had to do the same. I do not wish this moment of thanks to pass without giving special recognition to Big Z. He has shared his Mom with us for the two months of the boot camp. I did not realize that he was only nine years old. My wife is an adult and the sacrifice for her was supreme--you can only try to imagine what a sacrifice it is for a child to share his mom with all of us. Big Z, you have taken on the job of a man and done it better than most men could have done. Big Z. you're the best!

Also, congratulations to your Mom on her new position!

Tom~{}~

End of boot camp eve

Tonight's blog is dedicated to three wonderful people without whom I would not have made it through this boot camp. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the three of you. Big Z, his Mom, and Tina from New York this blog is dedicated to you.

I am not trying to imply that other people did not help me make it through this boot camp. There were many others and certainly I owe a debt of gratitude to each and every one of them. My wife is at the head of the list. She has had to make many sacrifices so that I could participate in this boot camp. Hopefully, I will find a suitable way to thank all of them but to night I am going to concentrate on Big Z, his Mom, and Tina From New York.

Jacki keeps saying I am a man of few words--I don't believe it, but to night I don't have the words to express how important each of you is to me. Tonight on the call, several times I had tears too. We have come through the thick and the thin, we have developed a relationship and we are better for it. The end of boot camp does not mark the end of the relationship, it marks only one step in the beginning of it. This relationship will move forward with us. I am going to continue working with NPOs and I will continue blogging but I need your continued support. You are a part of my business, you are a part of my life, you are a part of me.

As I said on the call tonight, you all are members of this boot camp, and when this class graduates tomorrow you will be members of the graduating class just as much as I am. I am inviting you to continue on with me, my victories will be your victories, and at those times when I don't view the outcome as victorious immediately, it won't be victorious for you immediately either. In either case we go forward together.

You have been here for me in my times of need. I was serious when I said on the call that I am making a commitment to be here for you at any time you wish. Just let me know. I will blog, I will email, I will call. In fact I think it might be a good idea to get together on the phone once in a while. Calls are no charge for me so I will be happy to make the call but I need a number.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are in my prayers daily,

Tom~{}~

As always, a good day

For those of you who were on the morning call, yes, I got my numbers changed in time to make my appointment.The appointment went well. I was prepared with the right information which I covered up front.The Development Director was impressed with the possibilities and wants to move forward. Moving forward means that she wants to present it to her staff for their evaluation. I offered to come back and do the presentation but she wants to do it. I am to get back with her on the 20th to see what they had to say and to see what we will do next.

tkny: Sorry for your loss of Simba, they get to be family. I know that you know what we are going through.
bzm: Thanks for the encouragement regarding my appointment today and thanks for the kind words regarding NPOs.

Celebrating a really good day

I missed the AM call today because I was gone, we took the dog to a new vet this morning. When we were finishing up the new vet asked if we knew the number for a doctor we had seen earlier. My wife rifled through a big wad of business cards trying to find it and about half way through she came to four or five of her own, nicely printed, in living color, MPM business cards. The conversation switched to MPM right there. When the conversation got to NPOs the vet asked if we ever did anything with animal NPOs. I mentioned the one I am working with now and the vet if I would contact one of her favorites. I assured her that I would certainly do that.

Now that we are well into the third week of pain and agony for this little dog, we have finally found her some relief. We are not yet sure what brought this on but we have eliminate the shakes and painful cries. In fact, she slept all afternoon in peace--the first restful sleep she has gotten in three weeks.

I continued working on my presentation for the NPO I will see tomorrow, and attended the evening call. I am so relieved that the dog is doing better that right after the evening call I fell a sleep. It is 12:45 Minnesota time and I just got up now to do the blog.

bzm: Thanks for the hugs, and the quote on hope, I really like it. tk: Thanks for the prayers.

Tom~{}~

another good day

Things went particularly well at work today. In a round about way, this mornings call was about detachment. This is an area that I really need to work on not just in my MPM dealings but in all my dealings. It just so happened that I was presented with a wonderful opportunity to practice detachment at work today. I did not get off to a very good start but when all was said and done I did a super job of practicing detachment.

bzm: Thank you for the prayers for our dog--she is not out of the woods yet. Some instruments come to some people more easily than others. It appears that Big Z's instrument is the piano. That is great! Who knows, he may pick up the guitar at a later date. As for my creations, I promise you will see some in the not too distant future.

Still having a great day

Having a great day does not necessarily mean everything is going the way you want it to go or that you are getting everything that you want. Now I had a great day today. I woke up about two hours earlier than I wanted, to a dog in pain. My wife and I both tried to comfort it, we gave it pain pills before they were due, but still the dog cried out in pain and shook and shivered no matter what we did. We have had the dog to the vet twice this week but we can't figure out how to stop the pain. I cut my breakfast short and started on my commute to work. I got there in time to tune into the morning call before it started. After the call I pulled my nine hour shift. I don't like nine hour shifts but they are a fact of life. After the shift I started my long commute home (long to me, I am sure other people have much longer commutes than I so I shouldn't complain). Once home, I sat for an hour and a half comforting my dog. It is now 11:00 PM, I have not had my supper yet and I did not get as much done on MPM as I had hoped.

I did not tell you all of this to make you think I am working hard. No, I am telling you this because I want you to know that not everything went the way I wanted it to but still I HAD A GREAT DAY! I would not trade it for any other day. This is the day that I was supposed to have, and mind you there were many blessings through out the day--so many that I did not have time to count them all. We all have many blessings every day but we sometimes concentrate so hard on the things we didn't like that we fail to see the blessings. Many times we fail to see the blessings because they are disguised as something we don't like. Anyway, I want you to know that I had a really great day today. My prayer for each and everyone of you is that you have a great day tomorrow. At the end of the day you will know if you had a great day if you can name at least one blessing you received during the day that came disguised as a problem.

bzm: I am really glad to hear that Big Z likes the keyboard. I like all kinds of music.I played in a band when I was young but now that I am old I make guitars and flutes for a hobby. I have a special message for Big Z: pleas find the time, at your convenience, to clear your mind of all distractions and listen to Philip's story. When you are done, please make a comment on my blog site telling me what you thought of Philip's story. Big Z, would you do that for me?

Tom ~{}~

How can it not be a good day?

I listened to Richard on the morning call this morning and after listening to him I can not see how anyone can have a bad day. How can it not be a good day? Richard is spectacular! Thanks Richard for sharing your storey with us. The message may be delivered with an accent (I'm from Minnesota and [to me] people from Texas have an accent) but it is loud and clear. If you should ever think you are having a bad day, check out the AM call from 2/5/09, you will never ever have a bad day the rest of your life. Life will not deal you a bad day. There may be times when you think life has dealt you a bad day but these are only thoughts, (I don't mean to be little thoughts, they are one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon mankind) if you think you are having a bad day it is because you chose to think you are having a bad day. You can choose to think another way. Wayne Dryer has said "Change the way you think about a thing, and the thing you think about changes." This certainly applies to your day. Thanks again Richard.

After all that, yes I had a good day. I am completely caught up on all of my NPO follow ups. Now that is a good day! I am also happy to report that I have an appointment with another NPO for next week.

Enough for today, a good day.

Tom~{}~

Untitled

Made follow up calls today, all NPOs whom I have contacted in the past. Did not reach anyone, left messages.

bzm, special thanks to all of you who said prayers last night (or this morning) there are a lot of people out there who do not have hope. You are right, to not have hope is not to have life. I can not get that word "hope" off my mind. Special thanks to that wonderful woman brought it to my attention yesterday and whom has made it her life's career to return hope to those lives whom have lost it. She is truly on the right path.

Tom~{}~

Visitation

Spent the early part of the day going over the new form Ginny gave us. I wanted to be sure I was familiar with what it said and to be sure I had made it out right. It takes a fair amount of time to get it right.

There was excitement and disbelief. Sometimes people want things very badly but when they see that it is possible, that they really can have what they want, they resign themselves into believing it is too good to be true. we must be prepared for this. You will know when people are headed down this trail. They will latch on to things that would seemingly indicate that this is not for real. One of the first ones is "if it walks like a duck, and it talks like a duck ... it must be an MLM." While we know this is definitely not true, the image we put before people's eyes screams so loudly "I am a duck" that it drowns out what ever our mouths can say to the contrary. Once this image is in peoples minds it is difficult to change it. This issue has come up several times for myself and for other people. If we are to be successful; it is absolutely compulsory that we take every possible step to negate this image before it ever comes up. Enough rambling for tonight.

I met a most impressive woman today who reminded of a vocabulary word that I hadn't thought about in a long while. The word is hope. I ask you all to say a short prayer when you read this that all the people in the world who have given up on hope will get it back again. When you have finished that one say one for yourself that when the going gets tough you won't give up on doing your part to bring that hope to the people who need it most.

Tom ~{}~

Good News

I have several items of good news to report tonight. First, I want to thank those of you who sent me instructions on how to get on to the call now that it is in radio form.I got on the call this morning with no problems. Thank you.Second, one of the NPOs I contacted last week and who agreed to review the web site has sent me an e-mail today saying that they have reviewed web site and are interested in learning more.

In addition, I have an appointment for a personal visit to an NPO tomorrow. I have spent my MPM time today preparing for that visit. Gathering additional information that I needed and preparing the formal Proposal took up all of the time that I had today. I will let you know in tomorrow night's blog how things went on the visit.

bzm, taf, ale and tny thanks for the kind response to my "ramblings."

Until tomorrow,

Tom ~{}~