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Archive for March, 2010

The Perfect Sale

Mar-29-2010 By Christine

Coming into the moment of the perfect sale is a feeling that everyone loves, and everyone can relate to. If we’ve come this far, then we all have some success stories of our own to tell. There are always new things to learn, and new ways to develop our sales techniques, and one of the ways to get that sales advantage is to stay constantly fresh, and always ready to learn something new.

It’s never a question of trying to recapture the feeling of the first touch of magic, because most of us understand that every situation is different, and magic comes more from a lifetime of work than a simple formula. However, a the same time, there are formulas that work, at least part of the time. Being caught up on the latest sales techniques can give someone a little bit of an edge, because there are new ways of doing things. But even more importantly, being current also means that one is giving their time and energy to a task, and that always pays off in one way or another.

It can be an interesting experience to find that learning something in one area of business can have positive effects in other areas. For example, looking at good customer service, and giving time and energy to learning about how to serve the clients better, can also teach one traits and skills that will apply in sales as well.

Something that works once might not work a second time, and might not work in every situation. Being effective and efficient in the sales force means having a number of techniques available, like a tool box . Every situation has its own rules, and there are some patterns that repeat, and ways of approaching that will always be effective. Landing the sale is another matter, and that can really depend on being able to think and act quickly, but with good judgment. This is where an every day sale can turn into an afternoon of magic.

Cafe Racing in Los Angeles

Mar-24-2010 By Christine

Living in a city where it’s possible to move in all directions, and find coffee in every one of them, is one of the great things about Los Angeles. It’s a city that’s built for travel by car, surely, but there are ways of working around that. The street laws for a bike say that you can split lanes, which means the pole position at every light, and this means travel is faster for those who are careful, and lucky. Riding a motorcycle in a city this size takes a little bit of sense and a lot of reflex. Espresso offers both.

Cafe racing is a perfect sport for the urban crawler, especially the ones who never much liked sports anyway. Anything related to pack behavior is anathema to the lifestyle of the care racer, and that’s part of the whole package. To spend a day moving from one coffee shop to another is a reasonable way to live a life, it’s full, and there are plenty of conversations in every place, and sometimes there’s even a little romance. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to get there, eventually, but it’s important to try to get there fast.

The trying is everything. It’s a thing that works with obsession, in all the right ways. Looking at a city from a hotel room , and wondering what it would be like to live in it. Living in a city and wondering what it’s like to be living in the world. Wondering about the streets that get you from here to there, and thinking that there’s a challenge in trying to get back and forth between songs on the jukebox , and it might not matter that this time is short, and these moments are fleeting, because at some points when the afternoon turns into the evening, something in L.A. says that this is all worth it.

I grew up in Long Beach, California and spent a lot of my teenage years, well my free time and weekends really, in Los Angeles. I had a cousin who lived there and I would stay with him as often as I could. I really loved Long Beach, as it was my home town, but thought I would move to Los Angeles as soon as I graduated from high school. Well, after I finished school I didn’t move as quickly as I thought I would. My parents continued to pressure me into going to school, but to be honest I hadn’t even thought about where I would like to apply. I played the guitar since I was nine and all I really wanted to do was spend some time traveling around and play my guitar in different places. It’s not overly ambitious I know, it just felt like the only time in my life I would have this opportunity. So, when I was nineteen, another cousin of mine invited me up to spend a week with him in Santa Barbara. I had never been there and thought I’d give it a try. Plus it sounded fun to spend the time with my cousin.

I couldn’t believe it. Once I arrived in the city I was struck not only by how beautiful and clean everything seemed, but also by how nice it was. It wasn’t that far from where I was from and not to knock my hometown, I’m not, but Santa Barbara seemed like a sort of paradise to me. I fell in love immediately and knew I wanted to live there. My cousin and I spent a lot of time on the beach and I brought my guitar with us on most days. One afternoon I casually mentioned that I really needed to make a change and I thought I might move to Santa Barbara. My cousin suggested I check out the Music Academy of the West , though its in Montecito, which is really close, and thought I might want to study there. He said they put on a music festival every summer and it should begin in just a few weeks. The entire trip felt almost fateful to me. I looked into the academy and decided that is definitely where I want to study. I looked out at the great beach resorts and knew that I would be back to stay.

Marco Island Brick and Sand

Mar-15-2010 By Christine

Imagine yourself located along the sandy lined beach of the Gulf of Mexico with the towering hotels filled with the best amenities standing behind you as you take in the warm sun. Start off by just simply grabbing a towel, book, snack and some sunscreen and head down to the calm waters edge for the chance to do absolutely nothing. Nothing accept feeling the cool breeze on your face. Splashing the refreshing water all over and hopefully loosing your mind to a nice quiet nap. Fight off those worries that you aren’t doing enough because spending time in this paradise is all about just relaxing and taking it all in. Yes, now you would be at a tranquil hotel on Marcos Island with plenty of time to spread your toes out in the sand and catch up on some much needed down time.  

When your mind finally gets a hold of you again and you are ready to explore some of the things to do and some of the near by areas, no worries, there are plenty of things to do. In between nap cycles you could find yourself out for a nice tour through the hundreds of mini islands on a canoe or kayak. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida offers guided and self guided tours and it is a great way to get some exercise and feel like you are on some tropical adventure. If you like the water you may also try some deep sea fishing or off shore snorkeling. When you are in need of some grounding you may want to find your way to the Marco Town Center Mall for a stroll in a very charming Spanish courtyard like outdoor mall area that is filled with lots of boutique shops. Surrounded with Spanish brick walkways, palm trees and flowerbeds nettled in with awnings and umbrellas over lunch tables it is a nice chance to integrate in with the locals and find a few treasures.

Singapore’s Little India

Mar-8-2010 By Christine

Tired of the trips to Paris and the hustle and bustle of New York and Japan? Other destinations have been deemed unsafe. It is time to reconnect with nature and visit somewhere outside the box.

Singapore may seem like a bustling busy metropolitan city, but do not be fooled! This city has much more than just city lights and skyscrapers! Behind the lights of the city, there are rainforests, night safaris, farms, organic bistros, orchid gardens and rustic towns to get you back in touch with nature. These hidden treasures make Singapore one of the top destination spots!

The amount of nature interaction that can be found here is perfect for the nature lover in you! Many vacation spots take you to fancy hotels and bustling city noise where you have to pay for added relaxation. Why not get back to nature and spend time connecting and re-balancing. Fresh air and open fields paired with organic farms. Healthy eating and healthy living will be sure to give you a renewed outlook and strength.

A top attraction that cannot be missed is The Singapore zoo . The Singapore zoo is set in the rainforest of Singapore. You can take a walk through the surrounding rainforest, view the animals by mote, or even have breakfast with friendly monkeys! It is a world in itself and must be on everyone’s list of things to do in their lifetime. A great experience for all ages.

Now, if you have had your fill of nature and want to get out for an authentic meal, Singapore is home to some of the most authentic indian restaurants . With cuisine from the spicy south and the delicately creamy north, you are sure to be pleased. Little India sits on the southern tip of Singapore. With the authentic setting and large Indian population, its like visiting two places in one!

Adjusting to Night Shifts

Mar-3-2010 By Christine

These days most of know at least one person, maybe more, is who is out of work and looking for a job. Decent jobs are pretty scarce right now and, as a result, many people are working jobs and shifts they never before thought they would have to. For some that simple means adjusting to a new environment, but for others it is adjusting to a whole new schedule. working at night may not seem like a big deal but, for those who have done it, they know that it affects every aspect of your life.
One of the biggest areas that is affected is your sleep cycle. Humans are not nocturnal . We are not designed to be awake at night and sleep during the day. For many it is not enough to just cover the windows with a blanket. Too much sunlight is still allowed in and it is not very aesthetically pleasing. For some thick blinds or shades make it dark enough that they can get to sleep and stay asleep. However, if you are light sleeper or are having a particularly hard time adjusting to sleeping during the day, you might be in the market for some blackout curtains. Don’t worry, they are not as dreadful as they sound. They completely block out sunlight, making your room completely dark and allowing you to sleep, and they come in a variety of colors so you won’t loose any of your rooms decor in the process. For more ideas and suggestions, click here .
Night shifts are taxing both physically and mentally; especially if you desire to return to a normal schedule on your days off. However, do not get discouraged. Once you have an established routine and have adjusted to living the night life, it becomes much easier to switch between the two.

Art and Shopping in Singapore

Mar-1-2010 By Christine

Where on this planet can you find a place that brings together two passions at once — art and shopping?  Singapore provides the answer to this question in the form of Vivocity in the Harbourfront Precinct.  Travelers in the hotels of Singapore will discover a building designed by world renowned architect Toyo Ito, in his first major project outside of Japan.  Vivocity’s design is meant to evoke the idea of sea waves, and its home to entertainment and shopping businesses, providing an excellent environment in which to relax.  As the largest retail center in Singapore, the shopping practically takes care of itself, but what about the art?  There are six major works by international artists at Vivocity for its patrons to enjoy.

On the Harbourfront boardwalk, you’ll find a twenty foot tall sphere of flowers by Korea’s Choi Jeong-Hwa.  Set among the Promenade’s trees, it brings a great deal of color to its setting.  The Flower Tree causes people to stop and almost literally smell the flowers.  From the Netherlands, Marc Ruygrok has created Gogo, a thirty-three foot tall rocket, colored a brilliant red, that greets patrons as they enter the parking area of Vivocity.  It resembles a rocketship one might find in a science fiction B-movie from the 1950s.  Then there’s an elongated Snowman, another tall work at forty-three feet, also on the Promenade, rising high above the second story terrace and looking into the third story Sky Park.  Inges Idee from Germany has provided Vivocity with gigantic Snowflakes, each about three feet wide, sitting atop the Sky Park.  Combining this art work with that of the Snowman, there’s a curious comment on nature, snowflakes and snowmen sitting in the tropics, the man-made version of these items lasting even in the warm 80 degree heat of Singapore.

If you’re of a more romantic frame of mind, you’ll discover Aphrodite’s Roses, a series of four giant rose blooms that serve as seating for the patrons, designed by Hiroshi Yoshimiza from Japan.  The sculpture, There, by Netherland’s Henk Visch, depicts a gymnast going through a work out on a horizontal bar some twenty feet above the water.   Finally, you have Vivo Punch, work created by Hong Kong’s Michael Cheung, also known as Punchman.  His human-like figures are playful and colorful and add an extra level of energy to the Sky Park.  For those engaged in the eternal struggle between art and commerce, they may find a merger of the two at Vivocity.