I thought about just tossing the rules out the window, but how else would I flaunt my power
of ownership here?

Anyways, lets keep this simple:

- Only my Twitter and APSense friends are eligible to post here.

- No crappy, stupid blatant ads! Write something people will actually WANT TO READ, and leave a link back to your own website.

- Sign your post, and Add your picture...the one people know you by, you do have one people KNOW YOU by, right?

Thats about it, go ahead and join us if you haven't already!

P.S. I manually approve all bloggers before they can post.

P.P.S. If you need any help, just let me know.

Actually, I'm just re-organizing things a bit to get this blog the way I want it. So now the she'at(whatever the hell it is!) is the platform here at creative marketers workshop for people to expose, (heh) I mean express themselves on.

Many thanks to Matt Geib, Mark Hultgren and Tonya L. Heathco for past posts...and just for being really cool people who Care! Rock on Guys, and Gal..LOL...

By TL Heathco

Recently my husband surprised me with an 8 week old mutt puppy, supposedly for our 4 year old granddaughter. In order to help him live out his newfound joy, I agreed with keeping the young pup, although our granddaughter is in my thoughts too young for the responsibility of a new puppy.

The first couple of days(and nights) were easy, after all my husband was in charge of clean up duty when it came to the pup. The real fun started when my husband rejoined the workforce at the beginning of the week. Keep in mind, my husband had decided to potty train the pup before introducing it to our granddaughter. He knows the work that goes into potty training pups and I was about to refresh my skills in the area.

I use the term “potty training” because when you pay attention you will notice pups are much like toddlers; they eat, drink, sleep, play, poop, and pee.

Rule One: You are the human with control and reason, you are in charge. You allowed the pup into your home so grow up and deal with it.

Rule Two: Scheduling is key. Wake early and take the pup out to potty immediately. Pups have no control until they are taught control. Take the pup out to potty approximately 15 minutes after mealtime. Stay with him until he has accomplished the task.

Rule Three: Make the pup feel good. Positive praise goes a long way. While out with the pup, stay with the pup until the pup relieves himself and immediately pat him while praising him. He wants to please you and now he has.

Rule Four: Place pups food and water high above his eye level until next feeding time. Remember, you're the one in control. Who is really responsible if you leave the food & water down and the pup potties in the house

Rule Five: Take the pup out when he awakens from naps and before final bedtime. He'll be a bit groggy, as might you. The message is first things first. Remember, he has no idea to control his system. You are the one in charge.

Rule Six: Scolding only causes more trouble. You want the pup wetting the carpet or chewing your shoes or living in fear of you? Scolding is a common denominator in these types of behaviors.

Rule Seven: No need to leave pup locked up in a room or closet until he is trained. Would you do the same to a child? Your pup is a part of your family, as is ours. Treat him with respect while applying guidelines.

About the Author: TL Heathco is a loving pet owner and freelance writer specializing in article writing and children's books. She lives a Peaceful life with her husband and pets in Tennessee. TL has no formal education in pet training. Years of experience, love for pets, and intuitive thinking are the basis of this article.

The art of persuasion is a decades old art used by all successful entrepreneurs. Persuasion is a cornerstone in creative marketing. As an example, pay attention to commercials and advertising. The feeling you experience when given a “good offer” is that feeling of persuasion.

You want more customers, right? Take a look at your recent advertising techniques. Are your techniques persuasive enough? Understand persuasion is not unethical. When persuading someone to buy your product or service you are not telling untruths. Building up product or service strengths or highlights is a method of persuasion. Get to know your product or service intimately and persuasion will happen easily.

I encourage you to find out more about persuasion. This technique is easy to use and is an integral part of networking and creative marketing. When you consider a purchase, take a moment and think of persuasion. If the seller persuades with passion for the product or service and it is a product or service that fits in your budget and your plan, consider it. If the seller persuades with a passion to close a sale or a passion for profit (desperation), consider moving on at that time.

Persuasion works well for entrepreneurs and helps to build a solid business foundation when it is focused and used properly. I encourage you again, build your persuasion techniques and build your success.

The grand object for which a gentleman exists, is to excel in company. Conversation is the mean of his distinction, the drawing-room the scene of his glory.

In company, though none are "free," yet all are "equal." All therefore whom you meet, should be treated with equal respect, although interest may dictate toward each different degrees of attention. It is disrespectful to the inviter to shun any of her guests. Those whom she has honored by asking to her house, you should sanction by admitting to your acquaintance.

If you meet any one whom you have never heard of before, you may converse with him with entire propriety. The form of "introduction" is nothing more than a statement by a mutual friend that two gentlemen are by rank and manners fit acquaintances for one another. All this may be presumed from the fact, that both meet at a respectable house. This is the theory of the matter. Custom, however, requires that you should take the earliest opportunity afterwards to be regularly presented to such an one.

The great business in company is conversation. It should be studied as art. Style in conversation is as important, and as capable of cultivation as style in writing. The manner of saying things is what gives them their value.

The most important requisite for succeeding here, is constant and unfaltering attention. That which Churchill has noted as the greatest virtue on the stage, is also the most necessary in company, to be "always attentive to the business of the scene." Your understanding should, like your person, be armed at all points. Never go into society with your mind en deshabille. It is fatal to success to be all absent or distraught. The secret of conversation has been said to consist in building upon the remark of your companion. Men of the strongest minds, who have solitary habits and bookish dispositions, rarely excel in sprightly colloquy, because they seize upon the thing itself, the subject abstractly, instead of attending to the language of other speakers, and do not cultivate verbal pleasantries and refinements. He who does otherwise gains a reputation for quickness, and pleases by showing that he has regarded the observation of others.

It is an error to suppose that conversation consists in talking. A more important thing is to listen discreetly. Mirabeau said, that to succeed in the world, it is necessary to submit to be taught many things which you understand, by persons who know nothing about them. Flattery is the smoothest path to success; and the most refined and gratifying compliment you can pay, is to listen. "The wit of conversation consists more in finding it in others," says La Bruy,re, "than in showing a great deal yourself: he who goes from your conversation pleased with himself and his own wit, is perfectly well pleased with you. Most men had rather please than admire you, and seek less to be instructed, nay, delighted, than to be approved and applauded. The most delicate pleasure is to please another."

It is certainly proper enough to convince others of your merits. But the highest idea which you can give a man of your own penetration, is to be thoroughly impressed with his.

Patience is a social engine. To listen, to wait, and to he wearied are the certain elements of good fortune.

If there be any foreigner present at a dinner party, or small evening party, who does not understand the language which is spoken, good breeding requires that the conversation should be carried on entirely in his language. Even among your most intimate friends, never address any one in a language not understood by all the others. It is as bad as whispering.

Never speak to any one in company about a private affair which is not understood by others, as asking how that matter is coming on, &c. In so doing you indicate your opinion that the rest are de trop. If you wish to make any such inquiries, always explain to others the business about which you inquire, if the subject admit of it.

If upon the entrance of a visitor you continue a conversation begun before, you should always explain the subject to the new-comer.

If there is any one in the company whom you do not know, be careful how you let off any epigrams or pleasant little sarcasms. You might be very witty upon halters to a man whose father had been hanged. The first requisite for successful conversation is to know your company well.

There is another precept of a kindred nature to be observed, namely, not to talk too well when you do talk. You do not raise yourself much in the opinion of another, if at the same time that you amuse him, you wound him in the nicest point, his self-love. Besides irritating vanity, a constant flow of wit is excessively fatiguing to the listeners. A witty man is an agreeable acquaintance, but a tiresome friend. "The wit of the company, next to the butt of the company," says Mrs. Montagu, "is the meanest person in it. The great duty of conversation is to follow suit, as you do at whist: if the eldest hand plays the deuce of diamonds, let not his next neighbor dash down the king of hearts, because his hand is full of honors. I do not love to see a man of wit win all the tricks in conversation."

In addressing any one, always look at him; and if there are several present, you will please more by directing some portion of your conversation, as an anecdote or statement, to each one individually in turn. This was the great secret of Sheridan's charming manner. His bon-mots were not numerous.

It is indispensable for conversation to be well acquainted with the current news and the historical events of the last few years. It is not convenient to be quite so far behind the rest of the world in such matters.

Now while most of you may think this article is just about manners and talking with others, it is also pointing out the MAJOR features of an excellent salesman! Listen, don't just hear what the customer is telling you. Look between the lines and try to find if there is a hidden want or need in the consumer's request or comment. If there is, and you can find the one(s) that are indeed a need, then you have just found your latest product! Now, you just need to build it or find the person that can!