Over the years I've discovered that most things in life can be improved with a good spring cleaning. Your business is no different. After all, you choose to do a spring cleaning because stuff accumulates. Whether it's dust or dirt or junk mail or clutter or just "stuff" in general, it's good to take some time and get rid of it all. Then you can start fresh and clean.

Your business is the same way. Whether it's piles of old files that need to be thrown out or relationships that are no longer serving you, sometimes it's good to take stock on what's working and not working in your business, clean out what's not working so you can open up the space to more of what you DO want. And yes, this sounds sort of woo-woo, but it actually does work.So ready to get that "spring clean feeling" in your biz? Here are a few places to get started:

Environment --

1. Get rid of your stacks. File them, toss them, delegate them. Do something with them, but just get rid of them.

2. Clean out old client files. This works like a charm. The moment you clean out old client files, whether that means filing them into long-term storage or tossing them, you'll discover new clients starting to contact you. I first discovered this when I was a freelancer -- every time I wanted new clients one of the things I did (along with marketing and picking up the phone) was clean out my old client files. And it worked!

3. Get rid of the clutter in your office. Are there things that need to be mailed (for instance, books you borrowed from people and need to be returned)? Or do you have things you really need to donate? Box them up and ship them out!

Relationships --

1. Are you in relationships that are no longer serving you? Maybe you're in different places or one of you has changed and it's no longer a good fit. Be honest here. And be thorough. Look at your friends, associates, biz partners, JV or affiliate relationships, clients (yes even clients) and team members. If something isn't working (and yes, you know it's not working, your gut has probably already zeroed in the relationships you need to take a closer look at) then you probably need to move on. (Or at the very least, change the relationship.)

2. Difficult conversations. Are there some difficult conversations you've been putting off? Maybe someone owes you money or didn't live up to some other promise? Maybe they did something you don't agree with? Whatever it is, spring cleaning is a great time to get that cleaned up so you can move forward.

Habits --

1. Are there things you're either doing or not doing that you know would move you forward? Maybe you want to start exercising regularly, meditating, journaling, or just getting your ezine out each week? Or maybe you're wasting a lot of time on things that aren't serving you or moving you forward in your business? Take a look at what you're doing on a daily basis to see if that's helping you or hindering you.

None of these tasks are necessarily things you're going to enjoy, but once you do them, you'll be amazed at how good you'll feel (and how much energy it frees up for you). And don't be surprised if you start seeing a flood of things you want come pouring into your business.


About the Author: Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com. Copyright 2008 Michele Pariza Wacek.

Mt. Pleasant SC’s, Pinckney Elementary School, was turned into a highly competitive racing arena this weekend. It was the Cub Scouts annual Pinewood Derby race. One of the Scouts largest events every year. Moms and Dads, mostly Dads lets face it, work very hard along side their scout every year to build the fasted derby car with the best design or paint job.
This event was started in 1953 by Don Murphy. Murphy’s son was to young to participate in the Soap Box Derby, so he came up with the idea of racing miniature wood cars. The cars had the same gravity-powered concept as the Box cars, but were smaller and were not raced by the scout. By 1955 the pinewood derby was part of the official Cub Scouting program and, while always optional, has become a key part of many Cub Scout packs’ annual programs.

It is easy to see why the event has become so popular.
Flash ahead fifty-seven years to Charleston, SC and you will see the same principles and excitement of yesteryears. The Cub Scouts in pack 505 range from six to ten years old and are categorized by Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Weblo Scouts. Each group races against each other and then the winners advance to the final round. It is a lot harder done than said. Each scout receives the same block of wood, axel, and four wheels. The most difficult challenge after the actual car design, which takes some intense carving and shaving, is to find the exact balance of weight without butchering the cars. Cars can’t weigh over 5.0 ounces and those weighing under that don’t have much of a chance. The scouts have to be very creative as well with securing axels and gloss finishes, sticker placement, and unique names. Some of the favorites this year were Blue Thunder, Orange Crush, The dragon Claw, & Shake and Bake.

A casual observer might pick up on a few details in the all day event. One is the camaraderie among the scouts. They genuinely encourage each other and have fun no matter who is winning. Also, the scouts seem to always use their events to serve the community or those in need. This year a bake sale was added to the Derby to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Publix manager, James Bongalis, the 1971 winner of Pinewood Derby, was there serving ice cream to help in those efforts, along with donations from Joey Bag of Donuts and Pizza Hut.

Many parents have their children in sporting events year round and as that is a great advantage for children to build self esteem and even achieve scholarships, there is something very pure about the Cub Scouts. The purpose of the Pinewood Derby event is to help the Cub Scout build a team relationship with their parent or helper, experience the sense of accomplishment and the excitement of competition, learn good sportsmanship, and to have fun

One of the 3 top goals set for the Derby race is “Family Understanding.”
Building a pinewood derby car puts the boy and his mom, dad, or other adult partner into a close and sometimes intense learning experience over, potentially, many hours.
Second, “Personal Achievement,” which comes to any boy who picks up a woodworking tool and shapes raw wood into a sleek design. 
And of course “Sportsmanship and good citizenship” is high priority and is taught by following the derby rules and cheering on friends and den partners as they race against others in the pack.
Congratulations to this years winners. Evan Myers, a Tiger Scout, took home first place. Daniel Reinhart, a wolf Scout placed second. Remington Hough, a Webelo, received third place. Riely turcotte, another Wolf Scout, placed fourth.


To find out more about the Scouts in Charleston, SC visit the Coastal Carolina Council http://www.coastalcarolinabsa.org/openrosters/view_homepage.asp?orgkey=1991

Voted Best use of weight. The middle coin is a Homeland Security coin.

Video Wrap up of the Day's Events.

We are guided by a culture of mutual respect, participation, openness, fairness, and honesty as we continue to develop and increase the value of our organization through our members and the Charleston community. Our goals are to provide leadership training through projects that positively impact our community, and to provide quality well-rounded individual development opportunities that will foster friendships and personal growth for our members. The success we achieve will allow us to reinvest in our future through continuous leadership development and to build long term relationships with the Charleston community. Monthly Membership Meetings are first Monday of every month at Tommy Condons 7pm-8pm.

Learn More:

www.charlestonjaycees.org

Relay For Life Fund-raising Idea Sheet

“Team Fundraising”

Book Sales – Dust those bookshelves and have a book sale for donations

Garage/Yard Sales- All profits benefit Relay For Life

Gift Wrap Booth – Teams can set up at the local mall or in a particular store.

Jail and Bail – An old American Cancer Society fundraiser. For a donation, employees can be arrested. For an additional donation, they can post their own bail. Those who are arrested are not set free until the entire bounty is raised.

Relay For Life Luncheon - Pick a theme and invite your friends and associates. Invite a guest speaker to present information on an interesting topic, such as financial planning, travel or gardening.

Poker Plays Pay- Invite 10 people over for a round of charity poker. Send invitations explaining your Relay For Life participation and request everyone brings $25-40 mad money. If you can recruit a few friends to help you, try this on a larger scale and hold it in your church basement or local school. Provide refreshments.

Car Wash- Get your team together for a local town car wash.

Deliver Meals- Have a meal day where your team will cook and deliver breakfast, lunch or dinner to other businesses in town. Fax them a few days ahead of time to inform them of the menu, donation amount and how to order.

Envelopes at Restaurant Tables – Teams generate donations by placing a Relay For Life envelope at every table, stating “Please Support Our Relay For Life Team and the American Cancer Society.” Waitresses check envelopes after every seating.

Hello Internet Users!

I'm Jim Bonham President & Executive Director of Lighthouse Food Farm.

It's hard to get known here in the world of many websites. I write several Blogs and write Articles to help promote our cause which is to Help Feed Homeless and Hungry Americans good nutritious organically grown fruits and vegetables. The massive emails are out of the question because I do not like Spam any more than any of you.

My articles and blogs are one of my best ways to get known out here in the massive sea of the internet without doing the Spamming and Annoying Others! The other way is you and your friends telling others about my website... which is the most important way and the way I appreciate the most. This makes me work so much harder to make my website a very useful tool for you all. In my book... a Satisfied Customer is the only way to make a business grow. My website is about you! The Customer that needs a place for service and a website that meets your needs. The feedback I get from my visitors help me continue to improve my site each week. So to keep it short... it's you (My Valued Customer and Visitor) that helps me continue to build this website into a very useful internet website for all! Thank you for your input and suggestions.

My website ( http://www.jimbonham.com ) has a lot to offer everyone. From shopping for most anything you need to finding a home For Rent or For Sale. You are able to advertise your home or properties for sale or rent, car, boat, ATV, etc. Investors... here is an avenue for Free Advertising your investment property with our Classifieds or our Auction, which are Free to Register and Free to Use. We do have a few paid options that will allow you to place your items on the front and if you chose all the options, it would be less than $2.00. All proceeds from my website goes to Help Feed Hungry Americans. All money received will be used here in the United States of America to Help Feed the Homeless and Hungry. Unfortunately, bad things happen to Good People. 

The Lighthouse Food Farm is trying to give Americans Hope where there is no Hope.

I have a Share Button like this: on my website to share anything with your social networks, friends, co-workers and associates really easy. All I am asking is that you visit and see the website that I have devoted so many long hard hours into to make it a useful website for all.

So in closing... I ask you to visit my website and share it with others. If you need something that I do not offer, send me a message from my site and let me know. I will try and make it available for you and others.

http://www.jimbonham.com

Thank you for taking time to read this article.

Sincerely,

Jim Bonham

Hello again my fans, here is another one of my opinions that I have formed over the years of watching our government in action. Frankly, it scares me to think that there is a very good possibility that this is taking place in the United States of America.

Watch the video above and think about what you have seen in this country called the United States of America. What if the U.S. government released an "educational video" to teach today's Americans how to be good citizens?

Our country is known as the country of "Freedom"! Do we want this to change?

If we don't make some serious changes in our government this could very well happen.

Please take time to think long and hard about the video after you have watched it. This could be our last chance to rise and STOP the Tyranny.

Thank you for taking time to watch the video. Leave your comments below and discuss it among yuor friends and family. I know Americans will do the right thing and Stop Tyranny Today!

We’ve seen this movie before. The Democrats’ populist plans can’t possibly work, because government bankrupts everything it touches. History teaches us that ObamaCare and unfunded entitlement programs will be utter, complete disasters.

Today’s Democrats and Republicans are guilty of more than stupidity; they are enslaving future generations to poverty and misery. And they will be long gone when it all implodes.

They will be as cold and dead when the piper must ultimately be paid.

It is Time We Declared War on the Stupidity!! We MUST Win This War!!

Visit here > Lighthouse Food Farm - Feeding Hungry Americans for more details of our mission.

www.jimbonham.com

Lighthouse Food Farm wants to give Hungry Americans hope where there is no hope.

Lighthouse Food Farm is a standalone Christian Agency and is depending upon many Companies and Individuals like you to help with this greatly needed work that serves so many.

We donate 100% of the all the crops that we grow to Soup Kitchens, elderly, Shut-Ins and to individuals that we learn that need help from the different local authorities, churches and other agencys.

We are a Non-Profit Organization, our 501(c)3 Tax-Exempt Status is in Progress. This means your donations and contributions are Tax Deductible Exemptions to the Lighthouse Food Farm with 501(c)3 status pending. Together we can continue to Help Feed Hungry Americans and Homeless Americans. Your generous donations and contributions are greatly appreciated.

We have had help from many individuals, small businesses, local Farms, Garden centers, Small and Large Corporations like: Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Home Depot, Park's Seed, Dicksons Tractor, Local Chicken Farms, Wilson's Processing, local grocery stores, and people willing to allow us to borrow their equipment when needed here at the Lighthouse Food Farm. There have been many more individuals that don't live in our area that donated to help us help others in need. This doesn't begin to cover all who have donated time, expertise or monetarily to help the Lighthouse Food Farm. Thank you all for the Help that has made this Lighthouse Food Farm a Great success.

Our mission is to eradicate hunger, alleviate poverty and green our environment. We also bring together children, adults and seniors in urban areas to plant food gardens on unused land and space throughout America. Community members are given the tools and education to create a lasting sustainable solution to these issues and receive hope for a better future. Neighbors share their fresh, healthy, organic produce with local food banks to help others in need. This system of working together for a common cause while increasing diversity builds safer cities. Planting beautiful food gardens helps to lower the heat index in urban areas, aiding the fight against global warming.

Visit Lighthouse Food Farm - Feeding Hungry Americans for more details of our mission.

Lighthouse Food Farm has been focused on upper region of South Carolina. Because of the Great need we have expanded our ideals and work across America.

We grow fresh vegetables and fruits to donate to help feed hungry Americans. All vegetables and fruits are organically grown. We raise a spring crop of the normal spring vegetables and during the winter we grow greens like Turnip Greens, Collards, Curly Mustard and Kale. We donate the fresh vegetables and fruit to soup kitchens, food banks, food shelves and to people that have fallen through the cracks of our system.

We are continuing to expand our farms as the need for what we do is expanding as well. We expand our crops in the event of finding a good deal in property to purchase or if someone is willing to donate the use of their land for us to use.

Our emphasis and attention has been focused on an outcry of distress in Hunger, due to the excessive layoffs from the Job market.

We have dealt with the Elderly, Shut-ins, displaced families, medically Indigent, and those that are working, but having a difficult time in making ends meet.

Our great focus is toward the specialized needs in surrounding Areas of immediate Hunger that faces so many today. There isn't enough money if just one person in the family is working; children are not eating well with the common family. It takes every penny when you have small babies to exist.

Have you ever looked into the eyes of a hungry child and watched them when a small amount of food was put before them? It will make your heart sing with delight to know you have helped that suffering to end.

We have looked on these suffering issues for too long. Help us give them Hope.

Lighthouse Food Farm wants to give Americans hope where there is no hope.

Lighthouse Food Farm is a standalone Christian Agency and is depending upon many Companies and Individuals like you to help with this greatly needed work that serves so many.

Thank you in advance for your consideration in this matter to Help End Hunger.

If you wish to make a contribution, please make it to:

Mail Contribution to:

Please Make Checks Payable to: Lighthouse Food Farm

Lighthouse Food Farm

% Jim Bonham

1282 Dr. Johns Road

Westminster, SC 29693

or

Use PayPal, Credit Card or Debit Card to Contribute

Jim Bonham - Executive Director
Lighthouse Food Farm
http://www.jimbonham.com

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