What a great week it has been; even though I did NOTHING on my NYC activity list! Here is what happened instead…

• The move-in was really easy. I arrived around 2:30 and had all my “stuff” in my room by 4pm. The house is fully furnished so it was really easy to pack only clothes and toiletries. I quickly rinsed off and headed out to dinner with a friend I had not seen for a couple of years. We met at a great little Italian restaurant in the Upper West Side. It was terrific to catch up!
• Monday through Wednesday was work and sleep. Similar to the back and forth I have experienced for a several years going to and from suburbia. The most significant difference between now and the commute from the past, which I consider a great motivator, is seeing the NYC skyline and the Hudson on the way out of the city and knowing I will see it again on my way home. It is amazing!
• Wednesday night I received a visit from someone very special in my life. I picked him up at Penn Station and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Citron which is also in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
• Friday night I met up with an old childhood friend and his girlfriend. Again on the Upper West Side! This time we met at a great Indian restaurant. The food in NYC is excellent! Catching up with him and re-living some great stories was wonderful!
• Today is Saturday and I explored Harlem; the area of Manhattan I am living in. There are so many interesting shops and eateries here. The people are friendly. I have been really pleased with the surroundings. There is such a stigma around “Harlem” and I am looking forward to dispelling that stigma among my circle of friends. Tonight I will be attending a charitable dance to raise to raise money for The Hunger Project. Later on I will pick up my friend at Newark airport who is coming in from Canada on business. We will enjoy a fun and exciting Sunday in the city.

Initially I was quite disappointed that I had not completed any of my list of NYC activities for this past week. My post was going to focus on my planner vs “go with the flow” attitude. After recapping my week above, I can say it was exciting! I spent a lot of time with people who have been a part of my life. So what, I did not experience the activities! That’s OK because I experienced something else much more important, deepening the bond with those I care about.

I could not wait to get out of bed this morning. The anticipation and excitement for my move into NYC is about to explode!!

It was 6 am when I literally tossed the sheets over and jumped out of bed. Over the past week I have been carefully packing all those things that I believe I can’t live without so I don’t have too much to pull together. Just need to pack up the car. Arrival time in NYC is 1 pm so I can relax and enjoy my last morning in Suburbia.

After a light breakfast with my daughter and  a quick run on the towpath along the Lehigh River, I have settled in at the local coffee shop and am watching families roll in to enjoy breakfast and possible kick-off their Mother’s Day celebration. There is a mix of chaos and love that is both annoying and fascinating. I have forgotten how much little kids like to sneak away as a form of asking for attention. Very cute! As I sit and watch a live modern version of “Family Circus” unfold, I can’t help but wonder what I will be observing the next time I post from a small coffee shop in NYC. What will it be like? I will soon find out…

Today I accomplish another milestone in my life. To ALL my readers, take a moment and make a promise to yourself  to live your life to the fullest. Make a conscious choice to always come from a place of contribution and love and only use fear to understand what your needs are.  I am so excited! I am moving into one of the greatest cities in the world – New York City.

Everyday we make choices. Some are simple and some are difficult; but all have consequences. One such choice that may have long-lasting effects is how we choose to show up for life; as a Rock, immovable and solid, or as Water, fluid and carefree?

I’m sure you’ve all met people who are passionate about their beliefs, strong-willed in how they act, and very vocal about what they’re thinking. These people are just very determined and have a need not be wrong. It’s either their way or the highway, most of the time.

You’ve also probably met people who are able to “go with the flow” and roll with the punches by accepting change without getting angry or frustrated. These people have mastered creating life’s events by being at the cause of their life instead of at the effect of their life.

Each experience we have in life allows us to decide how we want to show up. At times it is critical to stand your ground and be a rock or other times be fluid like water and open to all that comes your way. Too much “rock” and we have a drought. Too much “water” and we have a flood. Like so many other things in life, balance is found in moderation.

The questions below will help you decide if you are Rock or Water.

Are you Rock or Water?

1. Are you the person often referred to as jolly and happy most of the times? Share an example of when someone told you how positive and optimistic you are.
2. How often do you refuse to let anything get you down? When was the last time something happened that really bothered you but instead you chose to put it out of your mind and move on with your day?
3. How do you handle negativity in your life? If someone insults or criticizes you, what would you do?
4. Do your friends often come to you for advice? Provide examples of how your encouragement and upbeat nature has made a difference in their lives.
5. What difference are you making in your world?

Care to share your insight? Are you rock or water?

My body image is once again shattered. This morning, from the corner of my eye, I glanced at my backside and realized my mid-afternoon snack-attacks have, once again, reared their ugly head on my thighs. Nothing too drastic and if nipped at the bud (ie NOW) it is definitely manageable.

I finish up applying my body lotion and started to make plans to hit the gym in the afternoon. I must start-up the cardio and weight routine and stick to making healthy eating choices. Estimated time for recovery, 2 months. Not too bad. I have done this before and know the routine well. I believe they call it the Yo-Yo effect…

Einstein defined “insanity” as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So am I insane for embarking on this same routine to regain my self-esteem? What would happen if I decided, at this exact moment, to change how I perceive exercise and food in my life. What if I choose to only make healthy choices like exercising regularly and eating only foods that are good for me?

This leads me to ask: if you have made a similar choice to change your perception of exercise and food in your life, would it be best to first learn and practice making healthy food choices before establishing a full exercise routine or would you recommend first establishing a full exercise routine and slowly start modifying your eating habits? I have often found that changing both at the same time is too much of a drastic change and often leads to my giving it up.

Looking forward to hearing your opinion…

Are you afraid to choose a niche for your Trump Network prospecting? Are you afraid that you’ll be limiting your business if you narrow your niche down too much? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you are not alone. Lots of new marketers struggle with this issue. Making decisions that make you feel as though you are saying “no” to a segment of the world may not feel right to you. But by choosing to focus on a certain segment of the population, you are ensuring that your message actually gets out to those who may feel a strong connection to the opportunity, and you will be astounded at what does come your way.

The basic idea behind niche marketing goes in the opposite direction of mainstream marketing. Instead of trying to appeal to the masses (similar to engaging each and every marble), niche marketers instead find a very specific group of people who have a need that it not currently being met such as wanting more time to live life and/or more financial freedom. Yes, niche marketers have a considerable smaller prospecting base, but they will often have a greater connection with the prospect because of shared experiences (imagine if you could connect with every blue marble instead of possibly connecting to some of the marbles). Another great benefit of niche marketing is that it is easier and more profitable to market to a smaller portion of the market (there are lots of blue marbles!) than to try to be all things to all people.

There is a group of people out there who can only hear your message from you. Even if you think what it is that you’re offering is similar to someone else’s offer, the way you deliver your message (through your presentation, your filters, your view of the world, etc.) is as unique as you are. And there is a certain percentage of the population who can only ‘hear’ that through you and your offerings. Those people are YOUR people. Doing the digging and the research to figure out who they are is worth the effort as it will pay off in spades.

The following 15 questions will help determine who you connect with so that you can identify your niche.

Honing in on your niche.