by Patty Gale • Aug 28th, 2007

What is stopping YOU from becoming successful?

I just listened to the most amazing audio I’ve listened to in a very long time. It’s not for sale, so don’t worry, there isn’t going to be pitch.

Seriously, though, think about this for a minute. If you have been “at this”, meaning your home business, for years now and are still struggling, you have got to ask yourself some serious questions why.

What is the difference between YOU and somebody else?

Why is it that “other people” seem to “make it” and some don’t?

It’s not because of some “magic button” product, it’s not because of some “push button system” or some so-called latest and greatest tool.

Forget about “underachievers”, “the lazy way to riches” or any other lame marketing tactic that preys on your emotions.

Do you really want to be an underachiever and have people call you lazy?

Here’s the deal and pay close attention.

The difference between people who are struggling and people who are not is that those who are successful made a decision to be successful.

We all have 24 hours in a day, we all have circumstances and “stuff” that comes at us every single day.

It’s what YOU decide to do with that 24 hours and how YOU react to those circumstances which decides if you will move forward or stay behind.

That’s it. A simple decision to do whatever it takes to be successful.

It doesn’t matter how tall you are, how pretty you are or the kind of childhood you had. There are thousands of stories of famous and not-so famous people who decided to overcome their adversity.

Oprah Winfrey and Famous “Amos” immediately come to mind. “Sure, they’re famous” you may be thinking, but they weren’t always famous. They were both born into poverty and had horrendous childhoods, but they made a choice to overcome.

Then, there’s Sandy Morgan. Sandy Morgan is not so famous. She is an entrepreneur in a webased card company who was born with cerebral palsy. While she has very limited motor functions, yet she has 100% of her intellectual function. She can’t speak or walk, but she can use a keyboard.

Sandy may not be so famous, but she is very successful. She uses greeting cards to communicate with the world. She may not be able to use the spoken word with her mouth, but her brain and a computer allow her to use the written word.

I suppose if anybody has a reason to give excuses and live off of government assistance, it could be Sandy, but she chooses not to.

Sandy made a choice to be successful, to not live off of government handouts just because of her physical challenge. She uses Send-a-Card to build a business for herself. Go Sandy!

So, what is stopping YOU?

Life isn’t a dress rehersal. This is the real deal, folks. You either make the decision NOW or you don’t. One day, you’re going to wake up at 75 or 80 years old and the last thing you want to say to yourself is, “I wish I would have…”

You can either create results or create excuses.

Are you fired up yet? I hope so because I know I am.

So, what’s it going to be?

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Happy Easter everyone! Besides finding colorful eggs and yummy chocolate bunnies, I find Easter to be a day of renewal. Even with Easter coming early this year (not to be this early again for some 228 years), I sense signs of spring! The sun is higher in the sky, days are longer, the snow is melting and there’s an excellent probability there won’t be any more below zero temperatures in Minnesota for at least 6 months!

A friend led me to a blog today, spurring on my inner renewal. The blog, http://simplyqna.blogspot.com/, is a beautiful collection of quotations my various people. Reading through the entries, I was reminded of people in my life who needing comforting, hope or just a “hello” from me. I immediately opened my website and sent 3 greeting cards! I realized that I am so fortunate to be able to act on my promptings the moment they hit me using inspirational cards.

Something else dawned on me too from this experience on this Easter, 2008. I’m doing exactly what I want to do. I’m giving of myself to others, uplifting their spirits and showing I care.

I am renewed. I feel good. I urge you to read Monique’s blog and get inspired!

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Greeting cards are indeed one of the best ways to reach out and touch the person to whom you wish to convey love. Love is one of the greeting card industry’s best friends. Love sells products. Love sells words and images. Love even sells colors.

When you give cards, you give emotions. Love is the strongest emotion.

The love that is shown with a simple greeting card can start a relationship that will last a lifetime. Whether it be a friendship-only type of love or a relative reconnecting with another relative after a long absence of closeness, or the most common love of a couple seeking that special bond, a greeting card can play a big part.

Anytime a greeting card is given to someone who is in pain, it shows a love of someone who cares. When a person is hospitalized for a life-long illness, a greeting card can be a daily reminder, placed by the bedside, that the person is not alone in their suffering. When someone has suffered a hurt with another kind of pain, the pain of losing someone loved to death or separation, a greeting card can show a tender love of compassion. When someone has hurt feelings, a greeting card can show a love from empathy or a request for forgiveness. When a small child has been separated from their parent, grandparent, sibling, or even a best friend, a greeting card can send love across the miles. Love is the most tender of emotions.

The pictures on a greeting card can show love to introduce the caring that is placed inside with the words of the card. It helps clarify and create the mood when a greeting card has a loving picture as a preview to the feelings inside. The card may even help melt a hardened heart that has closed itself off to love.

Never underestimate the power of a greeting card meant to send a bit of love. While some scoff at the simple act of a card given, others depend upon the card’s power to smooth the way for a deeper relationship with the recipient. A person’s favorite colors, favorite flowers, favorite animals, or a hobby shown on the front of the card can touch something inside their hearts or jog a long-lost fond memory. The person then opens the card and may smile if a smile has not yet been forthcoming. Once they read the words that were chosen with care, it will seal the mood. After that, it is often only a bit of time before a phone call or letter or even an email of much awaited thanks will evolve. Once more, love is revived and celebrated.

Greeting cards….so simple and yet a saving grace for many. It should jog the memory to recall the nervousness with which the first greeting card was given by a shy teen to a sweet first love. Maybe the memory is of a lonely elderly person trying to find a soul-mate after years of missing their spouse. Whatever the memory, you can bet there is a greeting card involved somewhere along the line!

And greeting cards can be kept forever, to allow the reliving of a cherished moment over and over….

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So far you have seen glimpses of what our cards look like. If you haven’t, click on the “Creative Cards” category on the right.

….. But do you actually understand these greeting cards are sent though the U.S. postal service?  People are receiving cards by mail!  With all the sophisticated technology of the 21st century you readers may still be thinking we’re talking about the “cutesy E-Card”, so famous to computer users.  Cards generated by this service are definitely NOT E-Cards! These cards are Real, stamped and mailed cards that allows anyone to keep in contact with grandparents as well as other relatives who may not so computer savvy.

You are looking at the cards from a web-based card service company, located in Utah. Yet I sent this particular greeting for my friend Claudia as I sat at my computer at home (see Creative Cards).  Awesome, huh?

You can include photos on a custom card, which I decided to do for this birthday card.  This is a popular feature by all that use the system!

With the click of your mouse, you can choose a card from well over 12,000, type your message, as I did for Claudia’s surprise party, and send it on.  The company in Utah does the rest!

What is really nice about this is that I can have birthday and anniversary reminders for each person I have in my Contact List. I am reminded to send a card 7 days before someone has a birthday or anniversary.  I love knowing that I will never forget a special event again!

Do you like to include something in the card you send? No problem!  Gift Cards from major stores (Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Old Navy, even American Express) and food goodies can be included when sending your card. It’s like one stop shopping from your home!

Many of my friends have come to me, asking “How can I do this?”  In no time they have become a customer!  And love it!!

If this interests you, please don’t hesitate to contact us by commenting on this post or sending a free card at my demo site  at http://www.sendoutcards.com/3721!

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Picture Plus is a feature that allows the creation of one’s own cards. With creativity and the help of borders and bubbles, anything is possible!

This card was made   by  Jan  for  a surprise birthday party for her friend, Claudia. Using the thought bubble in Picture Plus, Jan was able to express thoughts of “Let’s Party!”.

This is a Valentine made by Sandy for Isabella  (Bella) Morgan, first granddaughter of  Rod and Sandy.  The cool selections of borders available with Picture Plus gave the card that extra special touch!

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Our purpose in doing this blog is not only to share our lives as women with CP, but to tell you how Send-A-Card has enhanced our lives!

To do that, I have to talk about the exciting features added just in the last year. We can now send a card with a Gloss Finish. We also are now printing with green recycled paper to save our trees. So, not only are these cards good for the recipient and the sender but also the environment!

The opportunity of being able to enclose a gift, gift card or even money has excited me when first introduced! I’m a person who has more fun “giving” presents than receiving them. I love including something a little special in cards when there’s a birthday or event about to occur.

In the past, to do the “gift thing” always meant that I needed to go buy the card and gift first. requiring the scheduling of bus rides to shop. Then I had to find someone to wrap it, schedule another bus trip to run it to the post office. This always was the biggest hassle, which usually forced me to just send cash and be done with it!

This web-based greeting card system has opened up a whole new world for me with just a click of my trackball on the computer! Gift cards can vary from giving Starbucks Coffee,  Wal-Mart and Home Depot to name a few. I can also choose the gifts in different price increments.

For the Holidays, we got another cool surprise! We now can ship a variety of candy choices and other goodies (brownies, cookies, teas and coffees!) Your selection is mailed with your card inside the box! This is by far a very popular feature!

We now have available 3 Panel Cards, so you can create your own brochures, holiday newsletters, or just be able to send out a newsy long letter to someone.

If any of the above could help give your business a lift or allow you to spend more time with your family, be sure contact us.

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I’m sad. I want to be in Utah today, giving support t0 my dear friend Kody and family, as they put Kody’s Mother to rest. Diane Bateman passed over Tuesday, February 26th.

Kody knows the importance of keeping in touch with those you love, keeping lines of communication open. He also knows that keeping that open communication with clients/customers is good for business as well.

To quote Kody,

“A prompting is a gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to others. When you read the stories of people in need, you will, likely, not know the person you are reading about. If you are prompted to send a card to that person, that is a gift to you. The card you send is your gift to that person. This is what sending out to give is all about.”

-Kody Bateman, CEO of Card Company

Thanks, Kody, for giving me the technology to communicate my gift!

Sandy

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After 30 to 40 years of being encouraged to write a book—-I am writing a book! I had many excuses for NOT writing a book: hurting feelings, too much hard work, too long of a commitment and, even thoughts of being sued! Heck, I said, “I can’t even keep a journal going for more than 2 weeks!”.

Lame, oh so lame my excuses were. I have piles of half written journals staring at me daily. They started staring at me, as if to say “Let us out! Let us come alive!” Staring back, I’d began to acknowledge all the stuff I had in those sporadic hours of typing my 8 words a minute to write something down I then believed important to me….

One morning I woke up with a solution. Kim! A new friend I’d met on Ryze.com (an excellent networking community I recommend), is an awesome woman who is an author among other things. I quickly contacted her before loosing my prompting, and my book is becoming a reality!

For a snippet of my book, yet nameless, go to http://sandymorgan.blogspot.com/.

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