text:
EAS Round Up — Part 1
Essential Air Service (EAS) has been in the news frequently the past couple of months, and large airports aren't the…
Last week the United States' Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it has made TSA PreCheck available for Lufthansa passengers. The program allows US citizens and permanent residents to travel through airport security faster, with benefits of not having to take off their shoes, belts or removing laptops from their bags. While other airlines such as Alaska, Delta, Southwest, and United were already part of the program, they are all US based operators.
"This is one of several new initiatives that adds to our commitment towards constantly enhancing the quality level of the customer experience on the overall journey with Lufthansa." Says Juergen Siebenrock, Vice President, The Americas, Lufthansa Group.
The benefits for US travelers are numerous, when they are flying within the United States. Meaning, they help you skip the security lines on your way out, and, if you have Global Entry, speeds up the process of filling out the customs form on your way back into the USA.
But what happens once you are outside of the states? Normally, after landing at your destination, you'd have to stand in line for customs, as well as passport checks and depending on where you're traveling, visa checks as well.
The US has several programs for faster passage through customs in various countries. Most commonly known are the NEXUS and SENTRI program which are focused on passing to and from Canada and Mexico, respectively.
One of the less commonly known programs is the FLUX Privium program. This program works in two ways: it allows US citizens faster passage into Europe via Amsterdam Airport and it allows Dutch citizens to make use of the Global Entry program, speeding up the customs process for them as well. Similar to Global Entry and TSA Pre-check, you only fill out your information once and you will no longer need to stand in line upon entering Amsterdam or the United States.
Because this program requires extensive background checks, both by the Dutch and American authorities, you will need to plan two interviews. The first is at a Global Entry enrollment facility in the United States, and another interview at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Both interviews can be planned online and need to take place within 30 days from obtaining your approved background check.
While the Flux program is currently only been established between The Netherlands and the United States, other countries have expressed interest in similar systems. German citizens are eligible to participate in Global Entry by registering with the German Federal Police and obtain an EasyPASS. UK citizens need to apply for an access code through their government's office. UK members can then follow the Global Entry Online Enrollment System (GOES), like US citizens would to complete the process.
While these three European countries seem to take the lead in easier access for travelers, quite a few have yet to follow.
Essential Air Service (EAS) has been in the news frequently the past couple of months, and large airports aren't the…
In this week's edition of Spooktober, we explore something slightly more disturbing than the conspiracies of Denver International Airport. While…
We take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to take a look at some of the more unusual happenings…


text:
Sponsored Links
Want to beat your Scrabble friends no matter where you are?WordSolver Android App!
Is obia a scrabble word?
No Definition of 'obia' Found - It's still good as a Scrabble word though!
Obia is worth 6 points in Scrabble, and 7 points in Words with Friends
There are 4 letters in obia: A B I O
Words that can be created with an extra letter added to obia:
11 words found using the letters in "Obia"
3 Letter Words
2 Letter Words

subset: commoncrawl


text:
HOURS: Open Monday through Saturday BY APPOINTMENT Only! NO Walk-Ins. We do not make appointments on Sundays or religious holidays.
Our Location
Martin's Double E Kennel, LLC is located in central Pennsylvania just outside of Hartleton. Travel distance is approximately 2-2.5 hours west of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 1 hour north of Harrisburg, 1 hour east of State College, and 1 hour southwest of Williamsport.
Directions To The Kennel
- From Lewisburg / Mifflinburg, take Route 45 west towards Hartleton, turn LEFT onto Laurel Road in Hartleton.
- From State College, take Route 45 east from State College, turn RIGHT onto Laurel Road in Hartleton.
- On Laurel Road, travel approx 0.2 miles through "S" curve and turn LEFT onto Shirk Road.
- Travel on Shirk Road to top of the hill.
- The Kennel driveway is on the LEFT.
- Look for the Martin Sign (at right) at the end of the driveway.
Directions to the Kennel via Google Maps
View Martins Double E Kennel in a larger map


text:
The Footasylum collection of kids' slides has a huge range of styles and colours - perfect for lazy days by the pool or chilling out in the garden. With huge brands like adidas, Nike and Ellesse, you can get some seriously stylish slides this summer.
Don your feet in a classic with the Nike junior slides - Kawa style. These come in a selection of colours - black, red, blue and pink - and feature the famous swoosh on the strap. For retro-style cool, get your hands on a pair of Ellesse Fillipo Slides. adidas junior slides are the epitome of laidback chilling.
Done shopping for kids' slides? Don't miss the Footasylum holiday shop. Here you'll be find loads of designer summer gear for the whole family - shop for men, women and kids today.
Sign up for news, launches & offers
Our website uses cookies, as almost all websites do, to help provide you with the best experience we can. For more information on the cookies that our site uses click here. By continuing to use this website, you agree to the use of Cookies.


text:
Please join us in giving a warm BLI welcome to New York Times and National Bestselling Author Jaci Burton! Jaci is known for writing sensual, compelling love stories that will tug at your heartstrings and her latest publication is no exception. "The Perfect Play", the first of Jaci's "Play By Play" series hit the stands yesterday, February 1st, and IMHO she scored a touchdown with this story! Be sure and read the end of the post as Jaci is offering a chance to win a copy of one of the awesome books from her extensive backlist!! 🙂
Thank you so much for joining us here today Jaci!
Jaci: Thank you for inviting me Lea!
BLI: Jaci can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
I've been writing for almost ten years now, published for seven. I live in Oklahoma with my husband and dogs. Between us we have three children, all grown. We love the outdoors, which means summer is my favorite season—gardening and riding the Harley!
I've written over fifty novels in multiple genres from contemporary to erotic romance to paranormal romance, and I have a new romantic suspense series releasing with MIRA later this year.
BLI: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?
Coffee, email, browsing the internet while I wake up, followed by writing. Planning is done at the beginning of a book—sometimes. Every book is different. If I'm contracted to turn in a synopsis, then that's the planning part. Otherwise I'll just start writing the book. I don't have a set method.
BLI: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?
Jaci: A reader is someone who occasionally picks up a book when there's nothing better to do, who could go months and months or even a year without reading a book. A real Book Lover is someone who has to read, who reads every day, who counts reading as one of the things they love to do—they must do. A Book Lover covets stories and series and can't wait for the next to come out. At least this is how I view my love of books and the characters within them written by some of my favorite authors.
BLI: What can we expect of "The Perfect Play"?
Jaci: A wonderful romance. Football! A hero that will sweep you off your feet. A smart heroine you'll root for. A smartass but fun teenager. A loving, tight-knit family. Amazing friendships. Heart tugging emotion. Heartbreak. Hot, wicked sex that will curl your toes. An awesome happily ever after.
BLI: Book Bloggers far and wide have been salivating over the cover art for "The Perfect Play" since you first debuted it. And, I have to say, it suits Mick Riley, the hero of the story. I did some scouting around and here are a few of the comments on various blogs and websites in reaction to the cover:
• "growl"
• "man that is one HAWT cover"
• "Arrrroooooooo" (lol – I think that is supposed to be a wolf howl!)
• "OMG I think I'm going to swoon"
• And finally my personal favorite – "I'm going to buy the book so I
can lick the cover!" LOL
I think I am going to just sit and admire mine. 😉
What was your reaction when you first saw the cover art?
Jaci: I'm pretty sure I squealed like a girl. Then cried. When an author gets awesome cover art like that, we know we've hit the jackpot. A cover like that can make a book, because readers will be drawn to the cover first. I want them to see the kickass cover and want to read the book (and hey, the insides of the book are pretty darn good, too!)
BLI: You captured the lifestyle of a pro athlete so superbly, the plays from a quarterback's perspective during a game, as well as, how the competitive drive permeates every aspect of his life. Were you able to speak with a quarterback as part of your research?
Jaci: Oooh, thank you! And oh, I wish I'd had the ear of a quarterback. But no. But I love football, have watched it since I was a kid. I've watched and read extensive interviews of athletes, and one of my sons was an athlete for many years. The one thing I came away with after researching was that many athletes are driven and focused not only in the game, but away from it, too, not only in a game situation but in their personal endeavors. I've molded my Play by Play heroes after the goal oriented athletes I've read and seen.
BLI: As I mentioned in my review, what impressed me about "The Perfect Play" is that I found it to be a very special and very hot erotic romance, between two people who are at the crossroads of their lives for different reasons. However, I also loved the story because it was about a close knit family, the Riley's. You succeeded in showing the respect and love that Mick, his brother Gavin and sister Jenna have for their parents but the boys are especially close to their mom, Kathleen. It was telling that it was his mother Mick turns to when things get really rocky between him and Tara. I had the sense you have a good understanding of what it's like to raise boys after reading this book. I had to wonder if you have first hand experience raising sons Jaci?
Jaci: Thank you! And I do. I have two sons, and a very tight bond with both of them. Both my boys couldn't be more different from one another, but they've always been very close to me. I gave them both the freedom to make their own choices, but they've always known I'm always here if they need me. I think a mother's bond with her sons is a unique and very special thing. You do have to let them go when they grow up and make their own way (I hate clingy mothers!), but always be there for them if they need to seek advice.
BLI: I found Tara to be a unique heroine for a number of reasons, can you tell us a little about her?
Jaci: I love Tara, love what she's managed to achieve with her life. She didn't have an easy life, and what she's done with it is nothing short of remarkable. So she's very careful and very protective of those she loves, and also a little afraid of the good things that happen to her, because she hasn't had a lot of that in her life. And Mick is just an overwhelming amount of good things, and she just doesn't know what to do about his presence in her life. I love the dynamic between her and Mick, and also the fact that he thinks it's all about what he can do for her, when in fact she's a little bit of his savior, too, and he doesn't even see it coming.
Would you be willing to share a sneak peek of "The Perfect Play" with readers today?
Jaci: I'd love to!
Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game…
For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara's not interested in getting to know football's most notorious playboy any better.
As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara's life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick's latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.
But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.
Mick hadn't said much for the past few minutes, just seemed to content to stare out the window with her. Tara waited for discomfort to set in, but it hadn't. There was something special about him, something she'd noticed from the start, and it had nothing to do with his career and everything to do with who he was as a man. She liked Mick, liked him more than she had any other man in a very long time. Since she had the entire weekend to herself, why not indulge?
"Would you like some champagne?" He motioned to the bucket sitting on ice. "They delivered it earlier. I think we all got one as a thanks from the owners."
"I'd love a glass."
He popped the top and poured some into a glass, handed it to her. She took a sip, the bubbles tickling her nose. "It's very good. Aren't you going to have any?"
"I'm more of a beer kind of guy."
She laughed. "Me, too."
"Yeah? You're dressed like a champagne kind of woman. Your sparkly dress even matches."
She looked down at her cocktail dress. Admittedly, she loved it. Tiny straps hung on her shoulders, the bodice dipped across the swell of her breasts, hugging them tight. It fit her well and was her favorite. "Only when I work events like this. Believe me, there's no champagne stocked in my refrigerator at home. Only beer and soda."
"Chips and hot dogs?"
She laughed. "Two of my favorites. I'm sorry to say the elegance only comes out as part of my job. You'll typically find me barefoot, wearing jeans, with my hair up in a ponytail."
He examined her near-perfect updo. "So that doo-dah hairstyle isn't the norm for you?"
"Hardly. It'll be hell getting all these pins out."
"Want me to help?"
Heat swirled around her. "And shatter my Cinderella image? I don't think so."
"Okay, Cinderella. Your secret is safe with me."
She sipped her champagne and tried not to openly stare at him, but it was damned difficult, considering it was just the two of them in this room with the lovely view of the city. She stared out the window, still wondering what the hell she was doing here with Mick Riley.
He came up behind her. "You're a beautiful woman, Tara."
She turned to face him, wishing he knew the real her. But he never would, because the real Tara was light-years away from his world. "I usually don't follow strange men up to their hotel rooms."
He smiled down at her. "You don't? Damn, and I thought I'd found a sure thing in you."
Everything he said either made her laugh or made her hot. Why hadn't some woman grabbed him by the hair and dragged him back to her cave by now? There had to be some chink in this knight's armor. "Sorry. You should have gone for one of the actresses or models."
"Not interested in them. They have agendas."
"What makes you think I don't?"
"Because I came to you. You didn't come to me."
"Maybe that's part of my evil plan."
"Honey, I don't think there's a damn thing evil about you."
"I'm hardly innocent, Mick."
He took her glass and set it on the table, then grasped the lapels of the jacket and pulled her closer. "Is that right?"
Liquid heat rushed through her veins, opening her up to desires and emotions she hadn't felt in far too long. She normally closed herself off to men. Too busy. Too many other priorities. Right now there was no other priority but the feel of him against her. She leaned into him and tilted her head back, giving him the green light. "That's right."
He shifted his fingers, and the fire he'd stoked began to burn even brighter. There was a sizzle of magic between them. She'd be a fool to walk away from that, even if it was only for one night. And that's all it could ever be—just one night—so why not go for it when she had the chance? Who knew when something this good would come along again? With the way her life was structured, probably never. And she'd have this one hot night to look back on and remember forever.
"I didn't bring you here to seduce you, Tara. I just wanted to spend more time with you."
She covered his hands with hers. "Maybe I'm seducing you. You wouldn't want to hurt my feelings by rejecting me, would you?"
His lips quirked. "I'd never do that."
"Then kiss me."
The Perfect Play © Jaci Burton
BLI: Will there be more books in this series? What is next on your schedule?
Jaci: Yes! CHANGING THE GAME, the second book in the series (and Gavin's story) will release on August 2nd, 2011. I just signed a contract for more books in the series, too. You'll meet the next character in the series in Gavin's book. * grin *
I also have a new romantic suspense series releasing with MIRA in November, 2011. I should have more information on HEART OF A KILLER on my website, soon, but you can see the blurb now if you go to my Coming Soon page. 😉
BLI: Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your books?
Wicked hot romance
Heart tugging emotional connections between the characters
Always a happily ever after
BLI: Do you have a question for readers today?
Jaci: I do. I'd love to know what compels readers to pick up a book? There are so many books out there. Are you dedicated to certain authors and certain series that are autobuys for you, or are you looking for new authors, new series to buy? I have to say that for me as a reader, I'm very dedicated to certain authors and certain series, but it seems every year I'm finding new authors I hadn't read before and adding more and more books and series to my TBR pile. Usually this is by word of mouth, via Twitter or blog or reviews I've read, so I guess my question to readers is a two partner—what compels you to pick up a book, and how do you find new authors to read?
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us here today Jaci! As always it's been such a pleasure chatting with you. 🙂
Where To Find Jaci:
Jaci has generously offered a copy of one of her many wonderful romances from her extensive backlist to one lucky commenter! This can be a print or e-book depending on availability!
*PLEASE NOTE* A copy of "The Perfect Play" is not included in this giveaway – Thank you.
All you have to do is answer Jaci's question or leave a meaningful comment about the interview.
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)
Please leave us a way to contact you.
(Email in blogger profile or twitter name – no way to contact you – no entry).
This giveaway is open worldwide!
Giveaway ends on Saturday, February 20, 2011; and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good luck!
Great interview. I am so excited about this release! I have to be honest though, I think the cover for Changing the Game is even better than The Perfect Play. You sure did hit the cover jackpot!
I absolutely have a dedication to certain authors. The number of authors I "auto buy" has grown this last year. I started with only a few authors but when those authors would talk about books they liked I would give them a try to. I am happy to say that the awesome Jaci Burton was added to my auto buy list this year!
GeishasMom73 on twitter
What compels me to pick a book? I am as well very loyal to a few authors no matter what they are a must buy for me when I see they have a new release out, but since I started blogging I have found new authors through mainly through other bloggers, friends recommending on goodreads, and twitter.
When I am browsing in a bookstore it is the covers that grab me first. If it is something that looks appealing then I'll read the back. I also have my go-to authors that almost always get an automatic buy. As for find new authors, between reading different blogs and checking our my 'recommended for you' at Amazon/Barnes & Nobel, that provides me with info about new authors/titles.
I already have The Perfect Play ordered and it is on its way! I can't wait!
This is a GREAT question.
I think all of what you said, l will pick up another book by a author if l have enjoyed it, some l automatically pre order (Books in a series l have LOVED). The price also depends on if l will be interested as well as the cover. IF the cover grabs me its then down to the blurb to make me read it!
booksforcompany @ gmail.com
As I reader, I obviously have favourite authors and I buy their books even without reading the plot. But I am a very avid reader, so sometimes I pick a book just because I love the cover (talking about yummy covers….) or the colours or just because it has an interesting title that catches my attention. And then I read so many book blogs to find out new authors and new genres, so my TBR pile is really huge!
aliasgirl at libero dot it
I do both. I have authors that I will always read their books. But, I am always searching for new authors. I am even reading new genres that I never used to.
I've been a fan of Jaci's Riders series. Looking forward to this new one. Sports & romance. Perfect combo for me!
jenma76 at hotmail dot com
I have certain authors/series that I follow of course but I also get suggestions from friends. I also like to read the sneak peeks that are included in some books, if those catch my attention I will seek out that author. In a bookstore I am definitely drawn in by the cover of a book. Who can resist a eye-catching cover or an interesting title for that matter.
Great interveiw…. Thank you so much for sharing Jaci with us. And I do have to say that the covers of these book are beyond hot…
Jaci, where do you find these men and are you willing to share?
So my real questions for Jaci is, what do you find is the hardest part of being an author?
Thank you again for you sharing with us and I SO can't wait to read this book.
*fingers crosses*
Kelly M
What compels me to buy a book?
I am not ashamed to say some of it is the cover! Sexy men are weakness! See: Harrison Ford
The second thing would the the author! Jaci Burton is on my pre-buy/auto purchase list. She writes sexy, hot romance novels!
The third thing that compels me to buy a book is the story. A great story can overcome less than optimal cover art. Not that Jaci Burton is guilty of that!
If it is a new author, a great or hot cover can definitely compel me to pick up the book. The synopsis on the back determines if I'll actually read it. Authors I've read and enjoyed I'll pick up, even if the cover isn't steaming! 😉
I've found new authors by following recommendations from some online friends, or just by browsing the book store.
Can I just say wow! Those covers are hot!!! You are actually a new author to me but I would love to give you a try. Your books look like something I would definitely be interested in. Some are definitely going on my wishlist.
Fab interview. Don't enter me as I have most of Jaci's books. Loved them all & they're on my keeper shelf. When I read Lea's review a few days ago my comment was:
Jaci book – check
sports story – check
Can't ask for more.
Jaci, I can't wait to read your newest book! I was quite sad that your Wild Riders Series ended, but the last few weeks I was counting the days for the new series *g*
I've a list of auto-buy authors, but almost every day I see a new book by a new to me author I want to read and it's hard to keep the balance… through fantastic book blogs I find new books and then I get hooked up by the cover and the blurb…
wish you all the best, Ina
I mostly stick to my favorite authors, but I get to see works by new authors by participating in giveaways. I also find new author by reading anthologies with short works by my favorite authors and by recommendations on author pages.
smccar1 at hotmail dot com
Hi Everyone!
Thank you for coming out and supporting Jaci's visit here at BLI!
"The Perfect Play", was a wonderful read for me and I hope all of you who read it will enjoy it too!
Thanks again to Jaci spending time at BLI today!
I'm definitely dedicated to certain authors and their series like Nalini Singh and Sherrilyn Kenyon. I usually find new books through book blogs and Amazon.
Congrats on the new release and series, Jaci. I do get most of my recommendations from various blogs and review sites.
janie1215 AT excite DOT com
Covers and titles will make me pick a book up. But its the blurb that will make me want to read it.
I find most of my new authors from recommendations and book blogs.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Hi everyone!
Thanks to Lea for letting me guest here today, and thanks to all of you for taking the time to comment! I appreciate the love for The Perfect Play, and for my Wild Riders series!
I have to admit that I am a cover hoor 🙂 That is what draws me to a book, esp. if I have never read the author. Then, I love lots of angst and UST. If I select a new author, its usually by word of mouth. And even then, I wait to see what others think too before I will purchase it. When I find an author who pulls at my heartstrings and melts my insides, I put them on my auto-buy list:)
My favorite authors are auto buys. I find new authors by recommendations and from blog reviews.
kissinoak at frontier.com
For sure I am dediated to favorite authors. But I listen to friends recommendations, I read romance books magazines and I go on the web to search out new authors.
And I forgot my email address:
dsadler53 AT yahoo DOT ca
I love sports related stories. And that cover is oh so hot. Best wishes with the book.
Pat L.
So sorry, I forgot my email:\
patoct at yahoo dot com
Again, I love sports related stories.
Hot Cover! And best wishes with the new release.
I have a list of must-buy authors/series but I am always on the lookout for new authors. The cover of a book is what catches my eye first and then the summary/blurb. Of course, if the cover has my favorite cover models (Paul Marron and Jed Hill), I'll definite buy the book. 🙂
Well, I wouldn't have said "the cover" until I saw yours!! Your next cover is pretty good too actually.
Usually I buy books because I know and trust the author to give me a good read with an absolute ironclad HEA but I give new authors a go via NetGalley or after reading reviews like they do right here and various other blogs I visit. Excerpts are really helpful to, to help me decide if the style is going to suit my tastes. (Sometimes, even a negative review will lead me to get the book, frex, if I know the reviewer's tastes and mine are different.)
Most of my book buys are automatic because of the authors but I am finding a whole new world out there…new authors & series…… by my writers group online & from all these really cool blogs, interviews & in the comments that are written.
My tbr pile is HUGE…..but my "to be purchased" list is ridiculously long now!
I'm having.g so much fun though!
I would love to say that only the inside is important (you know, like with a person only character matters) but with such a cover I can't help myself and go for the outside! 🙂 But I love sports romances, so I'm certain the story is just as beautiful as the cover!
I read a lot of blogs and review sites where I learn about new-to-me authors and Twitter is definitely helping as well.
claudigc at msn dot com
Thanks for the giveaway. I am dedicated to certain authors which I always have to buy their books. When I am shopping for a book, the cover usually catches my attention and then I read what it is about and if I like what I read I will usually buy it. I am always open to new authors. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read your books. email@example.com
I have a guge list of auto buys that i buy straight away but usually when i'm in a bookstore i will browse and find great new authors who i love!
For me, I am dedicated to certain authors and certain series so they are pretty much auto-buys. As for what compels me to pick up new books and authors, it's usually word of mouth that comes from reviews and blogs that I read. Or if there are sales at bookstores, then I will be more inclined to try out new books/authors that have hooked my attention with a good cover or blurb.
Thanks for the giveaway, please count me in!
There are authors I trust and automatically pick up their books. I am also always scouting around for new (to me) authors. For the newbies I am looking for genre primarily, then I take a random peek inside for writing style, and yes, cover art can play a part, too.
donnafisk at bellsouth.net
I'm a person who judge books by their covers and blurbs. I also tend to pick up books by my favourite authors without much thought.
aikychien at yahoo dot com
I have very few auto-buys however there are a bunch of series I'm following that I love and will continue to read. I add new authors and series all the time. I mainly hear about them from the blogs, where I'll read a blurb that really catches my interest, however, many of the authors I've found have come from free and reduced price offers for ebooks. I've found so many new authors that way. The publishers make these offers are very smart to do so because I then get hooked and end up buying more books from that author at full-price.
jen at delux dot com
I have (way too many!) auto-buy authors but I'm always on the lookout for new ones and love to browse bookstores.
smaccall @ comcast.net
I do have autobuy authors. If it's a new author or one that I've been thinking about trying, the blurb, author interview, review, and word of mouth will do it for me. And if the cover has a sexy guy on it or just great artwork.
I really liked the little bit that was shared about what the book is about..w/ football season just ending, i definitely wouldn't mind reading about a sexy pro football player!! 🙂
I definitely have a list of authors that are auto-buys for me, but I still love the thrill of finding a new author I like. I usually get my ideas from blog reviews but sometimes I'll just walk up and down the aisles of a bookstore reading the backs of books.
cwilliams127 at gmail dot com
That cover is pretty famous now in the romance world; cannot wait to read both these sports books.
Best wishes with both of the books.
Helen L.
Several things compel me to pick up a book.
First – it's cover and yours are wonderful. I would love to have a post of them!
Two – the author. If I've read and enjoyed an author's works, I like to continue reading his/her books.
Three – chatting with others who like the same authors and/or genres I do. Those folks suggest so many books and I'm always willing to try their suggestions.
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
I have both, I have series and authors that are autobuys for me, but I'm also always on the lookout for new authors and usually go by recommendations by book bloggers or friends.
meredithfl at gmail dot com
There are some authors that I will buy all the new releases of (unless the books are really going downhill). For new authors, I may pick up a book if the cover catches my eye (depends on color scheme, things on the cover, etc.).
Email: angeldream3(at)gmail(dot)com
I think several things compel me to buy a book. First the blurb. The cover or authors name will capture my attention, but ultimately it is the genre and content.
Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Thanks for the great giveaway! As for what compels me to buy a book, it depends. I have a list of authors that I follow so their books are the first on my TBR list. After that a cover (like this one!) is what grabs my attention and I leave it up to the synopsis to decide whether or not I purchase it!


text:
[This is a repost from my tech blog, and super geeky. -J]
For those who have followed my blog for the last six years or so, you know that I've always had a love-hate relationship with the forum app that sits at the core of my own Web sites (CoasterBuzz being the "money maker," so to speak). For more than a decade, I've had POP Forums in my life in one way or another, dating back to the old ASP days. At times I sold it, then I gave it away, then I gave it away hoping you'd give me money for it. Today, I can safely say that the next version is going open source. For good.
POP Forums v9, in early preview form, has been posted to CodePlex. It just feels right. Since joining Microsoft in November, I've had the pleasure of working in the Server & Tools Online group, and that includes CodePlex. When you eat lunch with those guys every other day, and you hear about what they're doing, you get curious and want to get more involved with the open source community that they support. It was time to get this app out into the wild in a meaningful way. The app uses the Ms-PL license, and I hope you'll give it a look.
This is a project that I started last summer when I wasn't working, as an eventual replacement for vNext of CoasterBuzz and some other sites. After the birth of my son in March, I found that I consistently had a couple of hours most nights to devote to it, and I started to ramp up again. It has a long way to go, but I was anxious to get an early preview out. To be clear, this has nothing to do with the forums you use on MSDN, Technet, and a bunch of other places. I can't even begin to explain how different that app is (though in some future blog post, I'm sure I'll talk about some of the things that have gone on there).
So visit the project site, read the FAQ, and feel free to submit feedback about what's there so far. At this stage, because it's so feature incomplete (it doesn't even parse HTML yet), I'm not looking for feature requests. The goal is to get some parity to the old Webforms version and then go from there. This is the first true ground-up rewrite of the app since it was converted to ASP.NET in 2002. There's a lot to do!
While I'm excited to get this app out there, I do realize that it's one of a mess of existing projects that do the same thing. Perhaps you feel the world doesn't need another. That's OK. Just keep in mind that this is an app that I'm building for me first, so if I'm the only one who gets something out of it, that's OK too. However, it's my hope that people can build great communities around it the way I have. It's time for the forum to evolve, and I look forward to being a part of that evolution.


text:
I know most people like to lay out their goals at this time of the year, but I decided this year I am going to do things a bit differently. No doubt I have goals, but after several years of setting and reflecting on my goals, I've realized a few things:
- Most people (myself included) don't reach their goals
- By the end of the year, my goals are slightly different than the beginning
- A long term goal isn't nearly as important as your day-to-day approach to life
In the past I've focused too much on annual goals to the detriment of my daily life. My thinking was always "it doesn't matter how painful my current life is because things are going to be wicked sweet when blah blah blah".
Daily Checklist for 2019 (and Beyond)
Forget waiting to enjoy life if/when you win the lottery. Let's start now. To that end, here are a few things I am going to be doing on a daily basis to both move closer to my goals and enjoy the ride along the way:
- Planning – The more I plan out my life in detail on a daily basis, the better things turn out in all aspects of my life. I have had a tendency in the past to get caught up in one thing or another and put on blinders for weeks at a time during which my life starts to fray like an old rope. This year I am going to plan both the long term and short term on a constant basis. My plans will change frequently, but the process of planning helps me keep priorities straight and stay in sync with my family and co-workers.
- Reflection – I created a simple, self check survey to track my physical and mental health. It only takes me a few minutes to fill out but it forces me to reflect on the day and consider how things positively or negatively affect me.
- Meditation – I am a big believer in the power of meditation and think it is critical to my ongoing daily happiness. I have given up on trying to meditate at the same exact time every day, but I have found it relatively easy to find 5 to 10 minutes at some point during the day.
- Grit – Many people think about grit as ignoring pain, but I think of it more as finding a way to recognize and enjoy the pain. People that work out regularly understand this concept. It isn't just about losing a certain amount of weight or hitting a bench press record. Those things are great, but you learn to enjoy the process of going to the gym and working out. I have always been able to do this with work, but I want to double down on this and extend this mentality to all aspects of my life. In other words, whatever I am doing I want to find a way to be in the moment and enjoy the process.
- Intensity – This may seem like a weird pairing with #3 (Meditation), but this is all about "deep work" which is different than working for a long time period. In order to get into a state of deep work, I need to have my time planned out well (see #1) and I need a clear mind (see #3). I want to spend less time at work this year, but I want to accomplish more.
Each of these is an action or a skill, but they are also all super powers when utilized on a regular basis in a methodical way. Super powers that will not only help me achieve current and future goals, but also enjoy life along the way.


text:
Split Train Tickets to East Garforth
You could pay a lot less for East Garforth train tickets if you split your train ticket to East Garforth and book your East Garforth split train ticket online
You travel on the same East Garforth train, at the same times, in the same seat but pay a lot less for exactly the same East Garforth train journey
If you're looking for cheap train tickets to or from East Garforth, split your ticket and you could save yourself a lot more money
SplitTicketing.com finds you the cheapest split train tickets to East Garforth from any other train station. Use Split Ticketing to find the cheapest train fares to and from East Garforth as well as flexible Off-Peak and Anytime fares.
Why buy your East Garforth train tickets from your local railway station when you could book even cheaper split train tickets to East Garforth online at SplitTicketing.com.
Cheap Split Train Tickets to East Garforth
Advance East Garforth train tickets are great value Single (one-way) tickets. To take advantage of these cheap East Garforth train tickets you must book in advance. The earlier you book the greater the value for money!
Advance East Garforth train tickets have limited availability.
Remember you can book return East Garforth rail journeys by mixing and matching two single East Garforth train tickets to get the cheapest available train fare.
For more ways on how to get cheap split train tickets for East Garforth trains from any other train station, including all the cheapest advance fares to East Garforth click here to see how to save money when travelling by train. See also Off Peak Fares.
*Savings are based on the cheapest available Advance fare compared with buying a ticket at the station for the same train on the day of travel.
You may travel using cheap split train tickets with all National Rail train operators
The most popular split train ticket destinations with huge savings are
Rail journeys with split ticketing moneysaving coupon offers and voucher codes
Web page design and hosting by Split Ticketing Limited. Copyright is strictly reserved..
Keywords used on this site include: East Garforth split train ticket, official East Garforth split train tickets, split East Garforth train tickets, splitticketing East Garforth trains, East Garforth trains, cheap East Garforth train tickets


text:
As authors, our biggest conundrum isn't coming up with ideas, plots, or characters. It's marketing. It's so easy to label marketing as difficult, not in our wheelhouse, and an activity we creative people simply do not recognize. However, marketing is everything we already know. Marketing is extremely creative and done right, totally connected with the wonderful book (fiction or nonfiction) that we've written. It's all a matter of dropping our distaste for marketing and giving it a real chance. After all, marketing is the nerdy one in the corner wearing thick glasses, the kind we super creative types seldom spend serious time with. Go on. Take a shot. It could be sales success at first sight.
Like any first date, there needs to be a few ground rules. First, forget everything you thought you knew about marketing. Second, open your mind to concepts you haven't heard before from any your author friends. And third, be focused and consistent in your marketing efforts. Really, really consistent.
Here are four tools to help you find real author marketing success in 2016.
STOP MARKETING TO OTHER AUTHORS – Yes, I do understand. Other authors are our friends. We love the support and camaraderie, the emotional and creative help, and especially the feeling that we're not in this alone. That's all wonderful and very nice, but have you ever really thought about this from a marketing point of view? First of all, other authors are your competition. And when it comes to marketing, they seldom, if ever, know any more about marketing than you do. Keep in touch with other authors for writing craft and support, but strategically step away for marketing.
I know that authors do buy books, but spending a majority of your time and effort marketing to other authors will never get you to the top ten sellers list. Trust me, Hershey's Chocolate marketing executives aren't hanging out with Mars Candy marketing executives on Facebook sharing promotional strategies. Step away from other authors. Eliminate them from your twitter and Facebook accounts. Stop promoting your books on FB groups loaded with, and targeted to, other authors.
Real marketing is about identifying audience and connecting with them. The first step is to stop surrounding yourself with the competition. Recognize marketing as the success tool to create awareness for your book and gain sales.
SEEK BROADER AUDIENCES – Okay, so now that you've purged all your author friends out of your twitter and Facebook accounts, who are you going to talk to? Well, eliminating the social part of social media will drastically open a lot of time for you to do some real marketing. The most important thing to do now is seek out broader audiences. We all know to join the book sales groups on Facebook, and follow all the book clubs and book reviewers on twitter. But there's far more than that. You just need to think creatively – in relation to the book you wrote – to find them. Here are a few brief tips.
- If your write Romance, remember, the biggest audience for romance is women. Not just women who love to buy romance books, but women in general. They love romance films, romance television shows, romance in travel, clothing, etc. In other words, while you're joining Facebook groups for marketing, take a look at groups that talk about romantic things like dating, finding the perfect man, and fitting a dating life into the single parent life. Think of the reader of your romance as a woman with a whole life, not just a book buyer/reader life. Reach out to romance lovers on twitter through romance film accounts (just go to the romance film's twitter account, and all films have a twitter account these days) then click on the followers. VOILA! You'll see hundreds and hundreds of women who love romance. Follow, follow, follow and most will follow you back because your twitter account description will be about you and your romance book(s).
- If you write Historical, seek out new friends and followers and groups that focus on the elements of that historical book. The clothing, the weapons, the parts of the world, the historic landmarks. Relate to a new audience that already loves what you've written in your book.
- If you write nonfiction, how to, or memoir books, focus on the unique hooks within those books and target groups and audiences that are interested in those things. Think WIDE. If your book is about organizing your life, look for all the people who can benefit from this book—mothers, crafters, day care facilities, teachers, hobbyists—the list can be endless. You may not always find a Facebook group that directly targets your topic, so consider creating one. Think about speaking and doing book events at places that relate to your topic, like craft stores, pet shops, day care facilities, teachers group meetings. Step away from the norm. Be creative.
- If your book is loaded with powerful imagery, no matter what the genre might be, consider using Pinterest. Create a board that is pinned with imagery that matches the feeling of your book—along with your own descriptions under those pinned pictures that relate to your story and a buy link for the book. Now you have something else to post instead of the tired old "buy my book" links on Facebook and twitter. Be sure to talk about your Pinterest board in all your unique hook connections. It's visual, and that's an added punch,
- Whatever you write, fiction or nonfiction, can be extremely effective in the YouTube universe, but ONLY if you creatively stand out and apart. Boring book trailers are no longer effective, however, if you have one of your book's characters write a diary and make it a series of YouTube 30 second videos, you can really catch attention. If you have written historic, focus on things in your book, like suits of armor or medieval weapons, explaining how they work, how they were used, and how masterful your characters are with them. BE CREATIVE. Use a talking sock puppet for a humorous book, have the entire 30 seconds focused on a Victorian pair of button down women's boots or corset while you voice your 25 word pitch. Make people raise their brows and want to tell others about it. And of course, never forget to get your book cover and buy links on the closing frame.
THINK ABOUT CROSS MARKETING – Cross marketing is sort of like using someone else's money to make money, only in this case we'll be using someone else's audience to sell books. Not another author's audience, but an audience related to one of your book's unique hooks. This is something really cool with the potential for great ales success.
For example, if there is a dog in your book, a dog that plays a big part in the plot (not a stray that sows up once on page 23), dog lovers can be a major audience for you. Think about everything people do with and for their dogs. They go to dog parks, use doggie training schools, doggie day care, pet supply stores, and so much more. For this strategy you need to step away from the book world and think completely about your unique hook. A great technique is to locate an online healthy dog food website and contact the company about contributing content for that website. You would write a 1,000 word monthly article about dogs for their website, and in return they would permit you to post your book cover and buy link. It's a win/win. They get monthly creative content that keeps their customers coming back for the next article, and you get access to all their dog loving audience.
This works with any unique hook—coffee, cigars, antiques, vintage clothing, pets, candy, horses, music, anything!
CONSIDER CHARITY CONNECTIONS – Here's a simple tip to seriously help your bottom line, but it only works when the chosen charity is deeply connected with the elements and unique hooks in your book. You can do this three ways.
- First, simply donate a portion of your annual sales to a unique hook related charity. Make sure this is stated on your book cover and your website, and make note of it in your blogs and social media.
- Second, find out what fund raising activities the unique hook charity holds in your area during the year and simply participate in the event. Donate a reading basket loaded with copies of your books, coffee mugs and a pound of coffee. Or offer to speak and do a book sale/signing at the event with a portion of your sales going to the charity. Make sure to promote the event.
- Third, create an entire event to support the charity. Notify the local media and communities and have a lot of fun with it. The charities are always supportive of these events and you will get a lot of visibility, as well as do something good for a charity you care about.
There you are; four powerful tools for author marketing success in 2016. Questions? I'm here to help.
Deborah Riley-Magnus, The Author Success Coach
Write Brain/Left Brain: Bridging the Gap Between Creative Writer Author


text:
Feast Day: July 11
Patronage: Against poison, Against witchcraft, Agricultural workers, Cavers, Civil engineers, Coppersmiths, Dying people, Erysipelas, Europe, Farmers, Fever, Gall stones, Heerdt (Germany), Heraldry and Officers of arms, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, Inflammatory diseases, Italian architects, Kidney disease, Monks, Nettle rash, Norcia, (Italy), People in religious orders, Schoolchildren and students, Servants who have broken their master's belongings, Speleologists, Spelunkers, Temptations
Birth: c. 2 March 480 A.D. Norcia, Umbria, Kingdom of Odoacer
Death: c. 547 A.D. Monte Cassino, Kingdom of the Ostrogoths
Canonized: 1220, Rome, Papal States by Pope Honorius III
Attributes: Bell, Broken tray, Broken cup and serpent representing poison, Broken utensil, Bush, Crosier, Man in a Benedictine cowl holding Benedict's rule or a rod of discipline, Raven
Life: Benedict of Nursia (Latin: Benedictus Nursiae; Italian: Benedetto da Norcia; Vulgar Latin: *Benedecto; Gothic: Benedikt; c. 2 March 480 – 543 or 547 AD) is a Christian saint, who is venerated in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches , the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Communion and Old Catholic Churches. He is a patron saint of Europe.
Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy (about 40 miles (64 km) to the east of Rome), before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. The Order of Saint Benedict is of later origin and, moreover, not an "order" as commonly understood but merely a confederation of autonomous congregations.
Benedict's main achievement is his "Rule of Saint Benedict", containing precepts for his monks. It is heavily influenced by the writings of John Cassian, and shows strong affinity with the Rule of the Master. But it also has a unique spirit of balance, moderation and reasonableness (ἐπιείκεια, epieíkeia), and this persuaded most religious communities founded throughout the Middle Ages to adopt it. As a result, his Rule became one of the most influential religious rules in Western Christendom. For this reason, Benedict is often called the founder of Western Christian monasticism.
Apart from a short poem attributed to Mark of Monte Cassino, the only ancient account of Benedict is found in the second volume of Pope Gregory I's four-book Dialogues, thought to have been written in 593. The authenticity of this work has been hotly disputed, especially by Dr Francis Clarke in his two volume work The Pseudo-Gregorian Dialogues. Book Two consists of a prologue and thirty-eight succinct chapters.
Gregory's account of this saint's life is not, however, a biography in the modern sense of the word. It provides instead a spiritual portrait of the gentle, disciplined abbot. In a letter to Bishop Maximilian of Syracuse, Gregory states his intention for his Dialogues, saying they are a kind of floretum (an anthology, literally, 'flowers') of the most striking miracles of Italian holy men.
Gregory did not set out to write a chronological, historically anchored story of Saint Benedict, but he did base his anecdotes on direct testimony. To establish his authority, Gregory explains that his information came from what he considered the best sources: a handful of Benedict's disciples who lived with the saint and witnessed his various miracles. These followers, he says, are Constantinus, who succeeded Benedict as Abbot of Monte Cassino; Valentinianus; Simplicius; and Honoratus, who was abbot of Subiaco when St Gregory wrote his Dialogues.
In Gregory's day, history was not recognised as an independent field of study; it was a branch of grammar or rhetoric, and historia (defined as 'story') summed up the approach of the learned when they wrote what was, at that time, considered 'history.' Gregory's Dialogues Book Two, then, an authentic medieval hagiography cast as a conversation between the Pope and his deacon Peter, is designed to teach spiritual lessons.
He was the son of a Roman noble of Nursia, the modern Norcia, in Umbria. A tradition which Bede accepts makes him a twin with his sister Scholastica. If 480 is accepted as the year of his birth, the year of his abandonment of his studies and leaving home would be about 500. Saint Gregory's narrative makes it impossible to suppose him younger than 20 at the time. He was old enough to be in the midst of his literary studies, to understand the real meaning and worth of the dissolute and licentious lives of his companions, and to have been deeply affected by the love of a woman. He was at the beginning of life, and he had at his disposal the means to a career as a Roman noble; clearly he was not a child.
Benedict was sent to Rome to study, but was dissatisfied by the life he found there. He does not seem to have left Rome for the purpose of becoming a hermit, but only to find some place away from the life of the great city. He took his old nurse with him as a servant and they settled down to live in Enfide. Enfide, which the tradition of Subiaco identifies with the modern Affile, is in the Simbruini mountains, about forty miles from Rome and two from Subiaco.
Saint Benedict orders Saint Maurus to the rescue of Saint Placidus, by Fra Filippo Lippi, 1445 A.D.
A short distance from Enfide is the entrance to a narrow, gloomy valley, penetrating the mountains and leading directly to Subiaco. The path continues to ascend, and the side of the ravine, on which it runs, becomes steeper, until a cave is reached above which the mountain now rises almost perpendicularly; while on the right, it strikes in a rapid descent down to where, in Saint Benedict's day, 500 feet (150 m) below, lay the blue waters of the lake. The cave has a large triangular-shaped opening and is about ten feet deep. On his way from Enfide, Benedict met a monk, Romanus of Subiaco, whose monastery was on the mountain above the cliff overhanging the cave. Romanus had discussed with Benedict the purpose which had brought him to Subiaco, and had given him the monk's habit. By his advice Benedict became a hermit and for three years, unknown to men, lived in this cave above the lake.
Gregory tells us little of these years. He now speaks of Benedict no longer as a youth (puer), but as a man (vir) of God. Romanus, Gregory tells us, served the saint in every way he could. The monk apparently visited him frequently, and on fixed days brought him food.
During these three years of solitude, broken only by occasional communications with the outer world and by the visits of Romanus, Benedict matured both in mind and character, in knowledge of himself and of his fellow-man, and at the same time he became not merely known to, but secured the respect of, those about him; so much so that on the death of the abbot of a monastery in the neighbourhood (identified by some with Vicovaro), the community came to him and begged him to become its abbot. Benedict was acquainted with the life and discipline of the monastery, and knew that "their manners were diverse from his and therefore that they would never agree together: yet, at length, overcome with their entreaty, he gave his consent" (ibid., 3). The experiment failed; the monks tried to poison him. The legend goes that they first tried to poison his drink. He prayed a blessing over the cup and the cup shattered. Thus he left the group and went back to his cave at Subiaco. There lived in the neighborhood a priest called Florentius who, moved by envy, tried to ruin him. He tried to poison him with poisoned bread. When he prayed a blessing over the bread, a raven swept in and took the loaf away. From this time his miracles seem to have become frequent, and many people, attracted by his sanctity and character, came to Subiaco to be under his guidance. Having failed by sending him poisonous bread, Florentius tried to seduce his monks with some prostitutes. To avoid further temptations, in 530 Benedict left Subiaco. He founded 12 monasteries in the vicinity of Subiaco, and, eventually, in 530 he founded the great Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino, which lies on a hilltop between Rome and Naples.
During the invasion of Italy, Totila, King of the Goths, ordered a general to wear his kingly robes and to see whether Benedict would discover the truth. Immediately the Saint detected the impersonation, and Totila came to pay him due respect.
– Christi Simus Non Nostri


text:
Recalls, Canada's meals information, diseases, immunization, and health risks whereas travelling. The north west arts and health community is changing – flexing and evolving with the occasions – nonetheless with its toes firmly on the bottom within the north of england, but conscious of the various worldwide voices that get in contact. The humanities must be central to contemporary society. We'll share opportunities – each local and international – and provide timely responses to the cultural and political components that perpetuate societal inequalities, which exclude people from the arts, and affect on public health.
Patient had to see primary care for the referral. Estimated wait time (based mostly on history) is 1-2 weeks for non-pressing issues, 3-5 days for urgent but not emergency points. This was mid-range, and we really did OKAY considering the vacations. The engine at the heart of Microsoft Health calls on our firm's collective expertise with cloud know-how, privateness, and security. With higher participation by people dedicated to tracking their health, the facility of the Microsoft Health cloud and its predictive analytics will at all times be improving the actionable insights that empower you to lead a healthier life.
WellDoc's flagship providing is BlueStar, an FDA-cleared mobile utility and program for folks with Kind II diabetes that's prescribed by physicians and adjudicated by means of pharmacies identical to pharmaceutical therapies. The program is supported by WellDoc's Automated Expert Analytics System, which includes actual-time motivational messages, behavioral teaching and educational content, delivered right to the affected person's cellular device. This system additionally provides patient's doctor with clinical determination support instruments primarily based on how they're doing.
Brian wanted his insurance company's preauthorization for an upcoming surgery, so he known as Health Advocate for assist. The person normally spends three to 4 days in hospital and then goes home to recover and recuperate. Some folks need a few weeks off work. Others need longer depending on how they are recovering and the type of work they're doing. The donors have comply with up after the surgical procedure to verify they're healthy. Health: is published six occasions per year and makes an attempt in each quantity to supply a mix of articles that inform or that provoke debate. The readership of the journal is extensive and drawn from different disciplines and from staff each inside and outside the health care professions. Broadly abstracted, Health: ensures authors an in depth and knowledgeable readership for his or her work.
Irish Life the biggest life and pensions group and fund manager in Ireland, employing 2,000 individuals and servicing a million prospects. A Health Care Reform Blog–Bob Laszewski's overview of the latest developments in federal health policy, health care reform, and market activities within the health care financing enterprise. I just want to thanks a lot for working with me. I know there have been times when issues had to be expedited, but you met the challenge with flying colors. I also wished to thanks for giving CGS Billing Services a chance to show what they'll do to assist college students get credentialed without so many months of education and at a fraction of the fee. I hope your day goes effectively and as things continue to unfold, I'll hold you posted.


text:
Nike's design for Chelsea's home kit in the 2018/19 campaign will have one key difference, according to Footy Headlines.
The manufacturer's first task when designing a Chelsea kit was to make one fit for the champions to wear – and they did fantastically. Although the 2017/18 design is simple, it's gorgeous, and looks even better on the field of play than it did in initially leaked images.
However, despite the success of this year's kit, Footy Headlines believe that Nike will ditch the simple Blue theme and add another colour into the mix – red.
Although Footy Headlines note that the kit will still be predominantly blue, as you would expect, we are Chelsea of course, there will reportedly be at least a little bit of red on the design – a nod to the traditional scarlet coats donned by the Chelsea pensioners.
We could see something similar to the 2010/11 kit, which once again, looked fantastic. It seems strange to be speculating about how next season's kit will look when this year's has only just been announced – but that's the nature of football!


text:
The First Step is To Ignore Reality — 5 Lessons From the Summit Series
What happens when you put leading thinkers and founders together on a boat? You get sunburnt and realize the possibilities are endless...
Well over a week after Summit at Sea, I find myself wanting to high-five strangers and dance to music in public. When I got the invite back in January it was shocking given how early stage my start-up was but by the time the ship left port in Miami it all made sense: the world is serendipitous.
On the boat the energy was incredible, you had leading thinkers, founders, artists and philanthropists all in one place and eager to chat. Ideas were brainstormed from various perspectives and soon a small feature could turn into a new product buildout. Even at one point a few passengers jumped from a ferry boat while near a island stop and I couldn't help but wonder what rules were actually enforced on the cruise ship and would in fact this group of people who made a living from defying logic actually listen?
Sun burnt, voice gone and with techno music blaring in my mind I had one day to recover before going to a radically different conference. While sitting on my next flight out of NYC I realized even the way I looked at people changed from Summit Series. The open possibilities, the stories behind people's lives, the knowledge to be shared. Ever since Summit Series I've gone from focusing on the who but the how.
Sure enough, like a bottle of happenstance corked with destiny, it became apparent on the boat the laws of attraction. You would run into the same person a hundred times but never meetup with someone you tried desperately to. When all was said and done and even as the techno music plays on, the lessons I learned from cruise ship packed with leaders I plan to follow for the rest of my life.
#1) The World is Small
Not in the "you should pick up trash small" but in the "your best friend married my investor small." Especially in terms of being an entrepreneur the mere fact that you were drawn to start your own company already puts someone in the top 1% of any given population or category. Friends, investors, colleagues – it all becomes small. Even though Summit Series had close to 1,000 participants quite often a new acquaintance heard of or uses your product. Be nice, but most importantly, listen.
#2) Smile at People
Simple but true. The boat was filled with such happy people it was common to see both friends and strangers randomly throwing around high-fives. Why? Why not! Just walking around with a smile puts out to the universe the message that you are ready to be happy. The universe will listen. Try it.
#3) Pack Light
This is more metaphoric. An investor once told me "take twice as much money and half as much baggage" and its true. On the boat there was essentially two things being done: dancing or networking near the pool. I packed for an adventure filled weekend but at the end of the day all I needed was a good pair of sandals and sunglasses which reminded me about life: pack light. Bring two or three necessities and rock it. Everything will be fine.
#4) Stop Limiting Yourself
We always hear it, your mind is your worst enemy but in truthfulness imagination is key to growing and building. If you set a limit then a limit has been set. On a boat with a bunch of maniacs who coordinate all kinds of activities with minimal resources is a gently reminder that a lot can be done with very little. Stop limiting yourself.
#5) Everyone Loves Energy
Again simple but if you expel energy, energy will be attracted to you. Its pretty hard to not be attracted to positive energy. For a few days after Summit Series, besides my sunburnt glow, others could pick up on my Bahamas high energy coming from all the other people I had been around for 4 days and the responses were incredible. Even in the grocery line or at the bank I have been able to make new friends and connections. Why? Because I'm smiling and throwing around high-fives. You should try it.