Take Charge Success Strategies
Volume 4 Number 3 May 8, 2004
publisher: Jo Condrill info@jocondrill.com
http://www.goalminds.com
© GoalMinds, Inc.
###############################################
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Take Charge Success Strategies newsletter is sent only to subscribers and clients. You are receiving this newsletter either because you signed up for it or someone has forwarded it to you or you purchased a product from us. If you are receiving this issue as a
forward, and would like to get your own free subscription, please put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line of an email and mailto:info@jocondrill.com OR visit
http://www.goalminds.com
Welcome to all our new subscribers!
Please forward this EZINE to anyone you know who is interested in personal development, communication, and leadership topics.

If you do not wish to receive future issues, please unsubscribe by going to the end of the newsletter and clicking on Unsubscribe or send an email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line to
info@jocondrill.com and your name will be deleted from the list.
=================================

Next issue will be sent by kickstartcart.com. Please allow this email traffic through your spam filter.

=================================
IN THIS ISSUE
=================================
1. Memorial Day 2004--Making a Difference
2. Are You Listening?
3. Small Business Buzz
4. Book News
=================================
In the future, book news will be published in a separate
newsletter, Publish and Prosper. To subscribe to that newsletter, please send an email to mailto:info@jocondrill.com

"The Art of Writing and Editing Books" with Penny Post.
FREE one-hour teleseminar May 13, 2004. Among her many
accomplishments, Penny worked with Alex Haley,author of "Roots," and edited Seventeen Magazine. For more information go to http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/javanof.asp?MerchantID=
32873&ProductID=1853038

=========================================
1. MEMORIAL DAY 2004--Making a Difference
=========================================

It's an old holiday and we tend to forget. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. After World War I the holiday was changed from
honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war. To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed in Dec 2000 which asks that all Americans "Voluntarily and informally
observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps'at 3 p.m. local time."

There are many who sacrifice daily, some suffer from old wounds, some will never recover. One week before Christmas last year I met a veteran on the shuttle from Los Angeles International Airport. Our conversation quickly disclosed that he is a Vietnam Vet and I was involved in the burial of the Unknown Serviceman
from Vietnam twenty years ago.

He talked about returning from Vietnam and landing at the airport in San Bernardino, CA. He was in the Marine Corps and he couldn’t understand why people were calling them names and throwing things at them. "Things I can’t even mention in public. I tried to understand," he said. "It’s a free country and they could protest. But why the insults? We didn’t do anything wrong. I
still think of it sometimes and when it gets so bad I can’t stand it, I go for a walk in the woods. And I cry. You understand, don't you?"

He is not angry or bitter. He is dealing with vivid memories of his fellow Americans turning on him and his buddies. "You understand, don’t you?" You can make a positive difference. Stand behind our military men and women. Take a lawn chair, sit on the curb, and watch a local parade. Stand when the flag goes by and shed a tear when you hear "Taps."

David Merchant's website suggests that you remember
-- by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes
-- by visiting memorials
-- by flying the US Flag at half-staff until noon
-- by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act)
-- by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
-- by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and
orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans

President Ronald Reagan, presenting the Medal of Honor on May 28, 1984, at the Tombs of the Unknown, said
An American hero has returned home.
God bless him.
We may not know of this man’s life,
but we know of his character.
We may not know his name,
but we know his courage.
He is the heart, the soul and the spirit of America.

God bless America!

==================================
2. Are You Listening?
==================================

Regardless of your profession, communication is an essential part of your day. Think about the conversations you have throughout the course of any given day. Are all of them productive? If you’re like most people, they’re probably not. Communicating
effectively requires planning, concentration, and consideration of others. Check your skills in a free self-assessment. http://www.goalminds.com/RateYou.cfm

"No one would listen to you talk if they didn't know it was their turn next," Edgar W. Howe said. Good conversation is like a tennis match. You talk--they listen, they talk--you listen. Sometimes you hit the net and a misunderstanding occurs. Chances are, though, with a better understanding of your natural listening style and good listening skills, you'll be on top of
the game quickly.

Effective listening is an art. It requires you to:

-- Reevaluate assumptions and biases and work to eliminate stereotypical thinking.

-- Pay attention to what is said; don't be distracted.

-- Take notes. Jot down words that will jog your memory for follow up actions.

-- Be attentive to what is NOT said but don't jump to conclusions prematurely. Is the speaker trying not to offend you by side-stepping a question?

-- Check out your hunches by giving the speaker feedback. Ask if your interpretation of their meaning is correct.

-- Find their intent. Poor communication skills frequently lead to misunderstandings and sometimes to hostility.

-- Ask questions and paraphrase for fuller understanding.

-- Use your body language in a positive way. Make eye contact.
-- Nod appropriately and appreciatively; lean forward.

-- Avoid being defensive about your ideas. State them clearly without a confrontational tone.

-- Avoid signs of restlessness, such as tapping a pencil, while listening.

Max Ehrmann's Desiderata advises us to listen to others,
"even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story."

Effective communication skills are the mark of an achiever. Always have been, always will be.

To learn your natural listening style and how it affects your ability to communicate effectively, complete a Personal Listening Profile. It can be sent to you via email and you get instant results. Go to http://www.goalminds.com/perlistprof.html

==================================
3. The Small Business Buzz
==================================

The U.S. Small Business Administration has tapped our friend, Jim Blasingame, to again provide his expertise in a number of ways at the SBA Expo 2004, which celebrates Small Business Week in Orlando, Florida May 19-21, 2004. http://www.sba.gov The SBA Expo 2004 wraps up the SBA's 50th anniversary celebration, during
which it will recognize the top small business owners in the United States, conduct numerous educational venues, as well as a Business Matchmaking event, which provides small businesses face-to-face sales calls with government organizations and contractors.

On Thursday, Jim will moderate the forum titled, "The Balancing Act: Managing Your Business in a Dynamic Economy," which will include several other nationally recognized small business experts as panelists. And on Friday, Jim will emcee the National Awards Luncheon, during which the national business procurement
winners will be recognized.

Jim is the president of Small Business Network Inc., and the creator and award-winning host of the nationally syndicated radio/Internet talk show, The Small Business Advocate. He is also a syndicated columnist and author of Small Business Is Like
A Bunch Of Bananas. In 2004, Jim was again named by TALKERS Magazine as a member of the "Heavy Hundred," the 100 most important talk show hosts in America.
http://smallbusinessadvocate.com
------------------------------
If you do business on the Internet and are looking for a
shopping cart system, you can download a free eBook to help in your selection. We found it helpful and are very satisfied with our system.
http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/javanof.asp?MerchantID=
32873&ProductID=1851358

==============================
4. Book and TV News
==============================

Writer's Camp at Lavender Spring Ranch, July 29 to August 3, 2004
Smell the roses and the lavender while learning how to get your book published and marketed! For information, call 1 800 697-5680 or go to
http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/javanof.asp?MerchantID=
32873&ProductID=1853022

-------------------------------
Publishers Marketing Association is again presenting it's "University" prior to Book Expo America in Chicago. PMA-U will offer 64 courses from June 1-3 for independent publishers. http://www.pma-online.org
-------------------------------

Congratulations, 2004 PULITZER PRIZE WINNERS

FICTION
The Known World by Edward P. Jones (Amistad/HarperCollins)

HISTORY
A Nation Under Our Feet by Steven Hahn (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press)

BIOGRAPHY
Khrushchev: The Man and His Era by William Taubman (W.W. Norton)

POETRY
Walking to Martha's Vineyard by Franz Wright (Alfred A. Knopf)

GENERAL NON-FICTION
Gulag: A History by Anne Applebaum (Doubleday)

----------------------------
If you want to publish a small book with lots of color photos, this may suit your needs:

MyPublisher, Inc., has launched a new line of perfect-bound, paperback photo books. Called Pocket Books. They contain 20 pages with up to 80 photos for $9.95. Extra pages, up to 100 in total, can be added for 49 cents per page. The 6-inch by 8-inch perfect-bound Pocket books offer 11 different professional jacket designs. Hard cover books with up to 40 photos cost just $29.95.
Go to their website and download their free Bookmaker Photo Organizing Software, select the photos you want to use in your book, and add text or captions if desired. Books usually ship in two days. Phone 1 800 432-8290 http://www.mypublisher.com
Testimonials are posted; however, we have not yet used this service.
------------------------------
The Jo Condrill Show, Take Charge of Your Life! will begin showing May 16, 2004, at 7:00 PM and continue for three consecutive Sunday evenings. It has been quite an adventure filming the shows with great guests: David Heavener, a film maker and songwriter; Dr. Mel Harter, a retired physician and writer; Charles Kray, humorist and writer, Dr. Letitia Wright, entrepreneur and TV host, and Cheryn Smilen, legal services and identity theft prevention agent. Viewing is limited to the
greater Los Angeles area, including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica at this time. Expansion and sponsorship opportunities are being discussed.

=================================
Please FORWARD this newsletter to anyone you know that is interested in personal-development, communication, and leadership topics.

PRIVACY STATEMENT: We will not distribute your email address to anyone. If our business is sold and the EZINE is part of the sale, the mailing list will be included to facilitate your continued access to Take Charge Success Strategies

*************************************
Thanks for being with us. We welcome you to be a guest author.
Please email your suggestion to info@jocondrill.com. You will get full credit if we run your article. If you would like to advertise, please contact us.
Please tell your friends about this newsletter and recommend that they sign up.
To subscribe just type SUBSCRIBE in an email
Email Condrill@goalminds.com or go to
http://www.authorsden.com/jocondrill and sign up there.
#####################################
GoalMinds, Inc.
http://www.goalminds.com/
11301 W. Olympic Blvd. #345
West Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: 310 993-7553
Fax: 310 445-4016