One of the people who sponsored the Ironed Out Diva (me) for Unseminar 7 just published her new book! Connie Ragen Green’s “Huge Profits With a Tiny List” is moving up the charts at Amazon.com as I write this.

Connie is a really funny and down to earth person, but she is serious about her work.  I know several successful marketers, but probably none who are as dedicated to her clients, her customers and her products as she is.

I ordered my copy this morning and absolutely cannot wait to read it!  She is very detailed and organized, and I expect this book to be no different. Way to go Connie!

Posted via email from karenlkay’s posterous

I have a manipulative 8 year old.  He also has ADHD, and he is very smart.  Yesterday he got in trouble on the bus for getting off at the wrong stop.  It just so happens that was same stop where his girlfriend gets off (whatever “girlfriend” means at 8 years old… This is the same kid who has posters of Justin Bieber up in his room). So I ask him why he didn’t get off the bus at his stop and he says “I got distracted”.  I am not sure how to respond to that.  He is “distracted” easily with ADHD, and he well knows I am aware of this.  Is he using his “label” as an excuse?  Is he lying?  Because I am thinking he wanted to sneak over to visit with Little Miss “girlfriend” for a few minutes before snarking home.  Does he really think I am buying this?  And what if there was a slim chance he is telling the truth? 

Not a huge offense I guess, so I am letting that slide, but not the fact that he is using “I got distracted” as an excuse, nor the fact that I think he is not telling me the truth.  Yet I do not want to not trust him.  So this is how I handle it. 

“Just because you get distracted easily does not give you the green light to get out of trouble when you make a mistake”.

“And do not ever let me catch you telling me a lie, ever.”

……… Was I wrong or was I right?  In my own critique I should not have said “don’t let me catch you”… because I think that just encourages him to get better at lying, and he is good at it already.  He looks at me dead in the face with those big blue eyes tells a boldface lie without blinking once, fully expecting me to believe it wholeheartedly.  It’s a good thing I love him so much.  I think I’m going to have a lie-o-meter installed on his forehead. 

That was a relatively low key issue, but what about adults who lie?  I have a problem with a couple of friends who lie constantly (or at the very least they stretch the truth as far as possible) in order to get people (me) to feel sorry for them.  I have one friend who has “cancer” again, for like the 4^th time.  If she were telling the truth about each of them she would be a walking miracle.  Another friend is always complaining of being mistreated, but never wants to give me the details.  Yet another likes to make a mountain out of every little issue, painting herself to be a perpetual victim.  This type of deception is very tough to deal with, because I feel obligated to at least pretend to be concerned, just in case they are telling the truth “this time”.  I have to admit, I find myself avoiding these “friends” some of the time, just because of this very issue.  I do care about and enjoy being around them, except for this constant deception and overblown victim-ness.  Does that make me a bad person?

Then there is this:  My family is on a very tight budget, but our income is just over the threshold to qualify for state assisted medical insurance for my son.  So I pay twice as much to insure my kid as people who make a couple hundred dollars a year less than me.  I was discussing this with a fellow Cub Scout mom a few months back and she said she had the same problem, so she “just fudged a little” on her income.  I was so livid I wanted to scream!  Then the other day I heard about how this “fudging” is very common, even encouraged by government workers in some programs.  Encouraged!  What have we come to, people?

…… and now I see my own error in full blown billboard size – haunting me, shaming me — ”don’t ever let me catch you telling me a lie, ever”

Son, we need to talk!

  How to tell if they are lying…

Posted via email from karenlkay’s posterous

They have over 1,100 JV partners on board for this event and it’s
still growing.

The site goes live this Friday August 27th and it’s really shaping
up to be one of the BIGGEST events of the year.

Go here right now and check it out
http://ultragiveaway.com/go/1041

Posted via email from karenlkay’s posterous

I gotta say,the new social network Tobri's coming on at this particular time, when most of our Ning networks are going away, is kismet!  (I wonder if the developers knew?)

Either way it's a good thing.  I am still learning the ropes, but so far I really like it!  I like that you can help yourself remember how you know folks, (although, it's kinda weird to me. I am not really good at categorizing people, especially my friends)…. however, as I grow more gray hairs and get closer to (gasp!) having to color it, I seem to lose brain cells which control memory, so it's a good thing.

I only have one Ning site (http://lovemastermind.com)  – and I am still not sure if I want to keep it.  I did put some work into it and hate to lose it, but on the other hand, it takes work to keep bringing people to it.  Even at under 3 bucks a month, is it worth it?  I guess it's not really the money, but the fact that I have to decide to make the commitment.

I seem to be babbling here, but I do have a valid inner argument going.  If no one stops to look at a piece of art hanging in the museum, do the curators take it down?  How much foot traffic and eyeball time makes the piece worth keeping? The Love Mastermind site is a dream I have long had but have given little attention to.  There are other fires burning brighter which need my attention.  As I fashion myself to be somewhat of an expert on focused attention (see http://learntoconcentrate.com )  I know that too much is too much and at some point we need to let things go. 

 Ah.  So I have my answer.  Sadly, my dear Ning, I bid you adieu~

Posted via email from karenlkay’s posterous

Hoarders: your stuff might save you a bundle in taxes (if you’re willing to give it away that is)

Are you a late filer? Dreading October 15^th? Has your accountant given you some bad news lately? Are you getting sick of paying taxes?

If you’ve got too much stuff and are willing to give some of it to charity, you can deduct fair market value of the items you donate to qualified charities. There are plenty of limitations but the basics are this: if you make an average income and you itemize, it will probably work in your favor to make non cash contributions, as long as the value of these contributions is not more than 20% of your adjusted gross income.

Take a moment to think about all the stuff you have that you need to get rid of. Instead of dumping it on trash day, take some time next weekend to sort it. If anyone at all could use it, chances are there is a charitable organization who needs it. Even if it is not in mint condition, it might be worth something to somebody. Isn’t that why you had trouble getting rid of it in the first place? Why not consider giving some of it away, knowing it will go to good use, and get a nice deduction on your taxes in the process.

Why this is a win-win: We are still in a recession, and a lot of people are struggling, perhaps many who have never struggled before. Your old coffee table with that stain on it might be the only table newlyweds can afford, if you were to take the time to donate it, that is. You’re pocketbook might be a bit stressed as well, and that contribution you made is 25 bucks you don’t have to pay in taxes next year.

Here is a nice guide to value of common items from the Salvation Army

http://www.salvationarmysouth.org/valueguide.htm

Do it now. Do not put this off. If you are still reading, you have something to give. Put it on your to do list at the very least. You will thank yourself come tax time (can you say, ‘refund’?) plus you’ll feel good for giving as well!

It’s not just thrift stores who can benefit from your stuff either. Do you have any artwork, or strange artifacts, hand-me downs from an elderly uncle that are just collecting dust? Consider contributing these items to an appropriate museum. There is a museum for just about everything. My quick search came up with a couple of museums that are pretty out there:

Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco

http://cartoonart.org/join-support/in-kind-donations/art-donation-guidelines/

American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City

http://www.americanbanjomuseum.com/become-a-member/donating-banjos/

Due to economic downturn, some museums are not currently accepting contributions. Budget cuts force layoff of museum staff that might normally take care of contributed artifacts. Here is one example:

http://www.greeleygov.com/museums/collections.aspx

Here are some general contribution guidelines from the IRS: (http://irs.gov)

1. For any contribution of $250 or more, you must have written acknowledgment from the organization to substantiate your donation. This written proof must include the amount of cash and a description and good faith estimate of value of any property you contributed, and whether the organization provided any goods or services in exchange for the gift.
2. To deduct charitable contributions of items valued at $500 or more you must complete a Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions, and attached the form to your return.
3. An appraisal generally must be obtained if you claim a deduction for a contribution of noncash property worth more than $5,000. In that case, you must also fill out Section B of Form 8283 and attach the form to your return.

2009 deduction limit was 166,800 AGI for married filing jointly, $83,400 if filing separately. If your adjusted gross income is above this, there is a worksheet which will help you figure the percentage of contributions you can deduct. In addition, if your contributions are more than 20% of your AGI, your contribution may be limited according to the type of property you give and the type of organization you give it to.

Keep in mind this only matters if you are itemizing deductions on your 1040 (Schedule A). If your total deductions are not more than your standard deduction, you do not need to itemize (in 2009 the standard deduction was $11,400 before personal property for married couples filing jointly). In this case it makes more sense (and dollars for you) to go ahead sell your items.

Posted via email from karenlkay’s posterous

Plus you'll save lives.

Kids lives.

You can have the satisfaction of knowing that you 
have saved a kid's life today. These
children have fatal heart diseases that require open heart
surgery to survive.

And if that's not enough, you'll also have the opportunity
to drive traffic to your websites, build your lists and make
upsells for additional income.

There's an ancient Greek philosophy called "Enlightened
Self Interest". Basically, it translates into: What's good
for you is good for me, so I'll always do good for you
first.

Here's your chance. Don't believe me, take a look at Dr.
Mani Sivasubramanian.

Do you know Dr. Mani?

If you've been online for any time at all as an information
marketer or student of online marketing, you've probably
heard of Dr. Mani or purchased some of his products. He's
one of the most successful and respected information
marketers, coaches and sought-after instructors working
today.

But did you know that he is a practicing pediatric surgeon
in Chennai, India?

And did you know that he has raised more than $137,200 from
donors and portions of his profits to sponsor heart
operations for more than 70 children with congenital heart
defects?

And did you know that the Niche Affiliate Marketing Workshop
(the fastest growing internet marketing workshop in the U.S.
today) has adopted Dr. Mani's foundation as the focus of a
listbuilding and joint venture workshop during the week of
NAMS4?

Here's the thing:

You can help drive traffic to this monster giveaway to
encourage folks to donate to the Dr.Mani Children Heart
Foundation with just a couple of emails.

Here's what super-fundraiser Beth Kanter says about Dr.
Mani:

"Dr. Mani is simply amazing in his passion and dedication
to his cause. His knowledge and ideas about personal fund
raising have also helped and inspired many other people –
like me."

We're expecting more than a million emails to go out that
week to promote this event. You can step in front of that
stream of traffic by joining us today.

Contribute a product to the event to drive traffic to your
website and build your list.

And you'll be in great company with these contributors
who've already signed on:

Willie Crawford
Kevin Riley
Kathleen Gage
Jeff Herring
Lynn Terry
Bob "The Teacher" Jenkins
Maritza Parra
Nicole Dean
Sid Hale
Denise Wakeman
Dan R Morris
Roger Carr
Cindi Dawson
Joe Marsh
Karon Thackston
Paul Evans
Doug Hudiburg
Traci Knoppe
Doug Champigny
Mark Hendricks
David Perdew

and 185 NAMS attendees, and…

…we're holding a spot right here for you -

Don't have an expertise in internet marketing? No problem!
We'll have software, reports and books from all walks of
life, especially in self help, education, self improvement
and building business online.

I was invited to be part of this great JV and now, I'm
inviting you too.

We're shooting for 1000 contributors and 100,000 members
during that week.

To get the "by Invite Only" private JV details, just go
here:

http://nams4kids.com/go/309/jv

There is only a few days to get involved.

Thanks,

Karen L Kay

P.S. They made it so easy. It's all dynamic. You set the
text and logo's yourself it it is automatically and
instantly added to the sales pages and members area.
.

Posted via email from karenlkay’s posterous

My son is starting 3rd grade next week. Although he has to wear uniforms, he still wants some “cool shirts” to wear after school.  Weird how this is all of a sudden. Like he could not have cared less just a few months ago!

I found a deal to share with you  – if you have boys, they love this stuff.  Discovery channel is offering 20% off shark week stuff today only, if you check out with coupon code “FRENZY”

I don’t think it’s anywhere on the site.  I got a notice because I’m an affiliate (sometimes it pays to like Discovery toys!)

So, if you’ve got a boy (big or small) or you just happen to like shark stuff, go steal a deal!

Here is your link:

 Today Only: Save 20% on Shark Week items with coupon code FRENZY

Have a great weekend! 

Last summer blast for a lot of us…. stay safe!

Posted via email from karenlkay’s posterous

Posted via email from karenlkay’s posterous