Now Appearing in an Extended Engagement! Join David Robison as he takes you into his world and his daily life of reviving a stand-up comedy career. Prepare for side trips exploring the "art" of salesmanship and business ethics and his experience with Multi-level Marketing. Enjoy some frequent detours describing his observations on life. Read the exploits of this self-proclaimed Renaissance-man and blooming blogger as you go
On The Road With Dave.
This is the personal site of Lori Harrison-Smith. I'm just a regular gal living in a regular town making a regular living. I work as a freelance copywriter.
It's a blog filled with photos and commentaries from Ms. Harrison-Smith.
Lots of photos of her dogs and lots of photos of appetizing food.
Current photos of a muskmelon and a doorknob border on art in my opinion.
These photos are interspersed with entries such as this:
The faces of the Haitians haunt me. The blindfolded man from yesterday's headlines haunts me. There's so much hurt and devastation that goes on in this world. Yet I'm sitting here, comfortable in a home that, although it might not withstand a tornado, it's certainly not in danger of succumbing to a mudslide. My life is cake really. I'm not on the streets. I'm not hungry. I'm relatively healthy, and my friends and family are too.
"The Things We Think and Do Not Say: The Future of Our Business."
I got a "wild hair" this evening, and decided that surely somewhere on the Internet, was the entire Mission Statement written by Jerry Macguire in the movie by the same name. Sure enough, several copies are out there.
FROM THE MOVIE:
Jerry: Who had I become? Just another shark in a suit? Two nights later at a conference in miami I had a breakdown. Breakdown? Breakthrough. I couldn't escape one single thought: I hated myself. No,no, here's what it was: I hated my place in the world. I had so much to say and no one to listen. And then, suddenly, it happened. It was the oddest, most out-of-the-ordinary thing. I began writing what they call a mission statement. Not a memo, a mission statement. You know, a suggestion for the future of our company. It was great. Suddenly, I was my father's son again. I was remembering the simple pleasures of this job, how I ended up here out of law school, the way a stadium sounds when one of my clients performs well on the field. I was even remembering the words of the original sports agent, my mentor, the late, great, Dickie Fox who said "The key to this business is personal relationships." And suddenly, it was all very clear. The answer was less money. Fewer clients. Caring about them, caring about ourselves, and the games, too. Starting our lives, really. I'll be the first to admit, what I was writing was somewhat- touchy feely. I didn't care. I had lost the ability to bullshit. It was the me I had always wanted to be.I ran out in the middle of the night to find an all nitght fotomat before i could change my mind. It looked incredible. Even the cover looked like The Catcher in the Rye. I entitled it "The Things We Think and Do Not Say: The Future of Our Business."
Kinkos Employee: That's how you become great, man. Hang your balls out there.
Jerry: Thanks.
FROM THE MISSION STATEMENT
We must embrace what is still virginal
about our own enthusiasm, we must crack open the tightly
clenched fist and give back a little for the common good, we
must simply be the best versions of ourselves... that
goodness will be unbeatable and the money will appear.
I'm including a link to the Mission Statement in its entirety, and a link to writing your own mission statement.
Just want to make one comment, as you, MLMers, out there read it; and as you, corporate employees, read it; and as you people that simply are in the middle of a "breakthrough" read it; substitute whatever sports agent reference there might be into you own industry, your own history and see if any thing fits into your life.
I have stated before that I don't buy everything Quixtar sells. But, I do buy Quixtar products. I use Quixtar products. And, I like the Quixtar products that I purchase.
If I'm dissatisfied with a "Q" product, I return it. Quixtar is quick to send a refund, as well as, pay for shipping for the returned product.
But I thought everyone would like to know exactly what is currently being used by myself and my family that is ordered from Quixtar. Before I list the products, please don't make comments like, "you can buy that cheaper elsewhere". If you have read my previous posts, you know that the products I use from Quixtar are products that I am indeed "sold" on. I'm satisfied.
Products Currently Being Used
Double X Multi-Vitamin/Minerals Nutrilite Calcium Magnesium Plus Nutrilite Lecithin-E Nutrilite PriMroSe Plus Nutrilite Black Cohosh And Soy Nutrilite ChromPic Extra
SA-8 with the BioQuest System Laundry Detergent
Body Series Bar Soap Body Series Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap Pump Dispenser
Dish Drops Automatic Dishwasher Detergent
Harvest 12 Vegetable Drink
That's what is "Q" currently.
I have used other products in the past, and have an "order" ready to go for this week, that includes some other favorites of mine including L.O.C household cleaner and Glister toothpaste.
From time to time, I'll update you on more Quixtar products in use at my house, and what I truly think of them.
Products listed are registered trademarks of Access Business Group, Inc. and Nutrilite, Inc.; divisions of Alticor, Inc. Distributed by Quixtar, Inc.
It blew down houses. It blew out lives. It blew down trees. It blew down billboards. It even blew a 300 pound potted fern from a hotel balcony.
Mostly it blew through our money while we lived for two days in a hotel four hours from home.
And it blew through more money while we had to eat out a lot with no electricity for three more days.
It blew through a lot of personal energy for those three days back home, while we cleaned debris, tree limbs, and leaves.
But today, the last of the debris has been piled up, the electricity is back on for us(some 100,000 people are still without power)
Luckily for us, our home was intact. My partner's home also stood against the force. The house we were remodeling, lost part of the front porch and an attic turbine; that caused some minor water damage to one bedroom ceiling. Damn, that room has to be re-painted once AGAIN!
But, thankfully, we have had homes to return to. The heat was unbearable without AC for three days, but many thousands of others, have no home to live in, much less "conditioned air". Sleeping with the windows opened relieved the heat some, but then we were subjected to the constant roar of generators running in the neighborhood. (we really tried to find a generator to buy, but with almost 300,000 people without power in three states; a generator was hard to find.)
Tonight, when I lay my head down on my favorite lumpy pillow, with the ceiling fan spinning quietly overhead; the thermostat set on a chilly 65(...Hey I deserve it!); you can rest assure my last thoughts will be thankfulness that my family is together and a concerned prayer for those still suffering.
I spent the day "boarding up" two houses and a business. That means covering windows and doors with plywood to prevent debris from entering the houses during a hurricane.
I am officially "during a hurricane."
Hurricane Ivan's projected path has the storm coming straight up into my neck of the woods; which puts me and the family "on the road outta here!"
We've prepared the house for storm damage and packed up some clothes and "irreplacables" (including my ventriloquist dummy) and we are headed north into Mississippi back to our old hometown to stay with friends for a few days.
Be back in three days or so, and I am fully prepared to begin repairs. I'll update you further at that time.
Oh yeah.
That's it.
You know exactly what you are doing.
Oh Baby.
Yeah, right there.
That's so good!
Oh yeah!
Oh yeah!
Oh!
My!!
God!!!
:::heavy sigh:::
Okay, now it's time to blog.
If the opening of this entry confused you, hang on, an explanation is coming.
If it aroused you, then that's just sick, and you may be addicted to Internet Porn.
In this post, Qrush analyzes the recommended Links at Qblog's site.
Here's the list of sites:
Cleavelin.net
Crazy Apple Rumors
Cubicle Dweller
Dwighty's Journal
Fishkite
FormerDiamond
Inside Network Marketing
LawBlawg
MLM Blog
MLM Today
My Mind News
Random Observations
On The Road With Dave
Quixtar and Beyond
webraw/blog
Here's QRush's analysis:
Next Qrush tries to make sense of "QBLOG'S" Recommended Blogs, though it is tough for Qrush to follow the thinking patterns of the liberal mind. To better understand how the liberal mind works, just imagine a conservative and then eliminate accountability and reason. Back to these blogs, here is a summary, but as Qrush can clearly see, of the 15 listed, these blogs fit into 4 categories: anti Quixtar/pro Passport (5 of the blogs), fake neutral (1 blog), fake pro Quixtar (2 of the blogs), and non-applicable (7 of the blogs). And of course, "QBLOG" likes to add anti Quixtar links within posts so he can point his readers to lots of additional anti Quixtar information.
Okay, now we're getting to the "meat" of my initial opening.
Now, I have to think like a "conservative" and add "accountability and reason"; which will be difficult for this liberal, but I'll give it a shot, and try to categorize these blogs according to QRush's opinion.
These are the seven Non-Applicable blogs, although Random Observations has posted many negative things concerning Quixtar. So, QRush misses the boat on that one, it's sometimes applicable and is Anti-Quixtar, yet, not Pro-Passport.
Cleavelin.net
Crazy Apple Rumors
Cubicle Dweller
Dwighty's Journal
Fishkite
Random Observations
webraw/blog
The next blogs are indeed Anti-Quixtar and Pro-Passport. All are published by Passport reps. Although, My Mind News discusses various topics other than MLM, and has no links to Passport business sites. So, QRush is correct; in that the author is Anti-Quixtar/Pro-Passport, but the blog doesn't consistently perpetuate that theme. Qrush loses another point.
FormerDiamond
Inside Network Marketing
MLM Blog
MLM Today
My Mind News
On to Fake Neutral.
LawBlawg
LawBlawg is written by author, LawDawg. It consists of legal opinions of MLM court cases, and entries concerning other legal aspects of the MLM industry. The author could be defined as a critic of Quixtar, but he is also critical of the MLM Industry, in general. I suppose this is why Qrush labels him as "fake neutral."
Fake Pro-Quixtar.
Aha! Now, I'm finally getting to the point! (I know this breaks "Blogging Rule 101..Be Brief)
Quixtar and Beyond is a blog written by Figure 8, a Quixtar employee. It details the "happenings" of life in the employee cubicle at Quixtar Corporation. Nothing contained in the blog promotes one Quixtar IBO organization over another, and nothing endorses the actions of QRush; so I guess that's why he labeled it a "fake Pro-Quixtar" blog.
Since, QRush's original analysis, QBlog has also added an additional Quixtar-employee blog called Quixtatic. So I guess, that's another one in the "fake Pro-Quixtar" column.
And finally my little blog. You guess it! There's no other slot for it to fit in; other than the remaining "fake Pro-Quixtar" category.
What's up with that?
I'm a Quixtar IBO.
I sell Quixtar products.
I register others to be Quixtar IBOs.
I post frequently about Quixtar.
Could it be that I'm a "fake Pro-Quixtar" site because I don't advocate QRush's opinions?
Could it be that I don't talk about how great the motivational books and tapes that other IBOs sell, as a second business, are?
Could it be that I don't advocate discrediting QBlog, and I consider Qblog a good friend despite any differences we may have?
Could it be that I choose to think like an individual and run my Quixtar business like a legitimate business?
I wrote a post yesterday here at On The Road With Dave, edited it twice, ran the spell check program and then my computer froze. I lost the whole damn thing!
I'm gonna try to re-create this post later on. But, that's why there was no post yesterday.
To provide a day to day diary online. To Share Photographs. To Champion a Political Cause. To practice poetry. To advance private Online Journalism. To Share Opinions and Perspectives. To Sell To "scratch" the "writing" itch. To target areas and topics of dissatisfaction or injustice.
Wait, back up.
To Sell.
How does one sell in a blog?
I'm not talking about "selling" an idea. I mean; sell for profit, make money, moolah, increase the bottom line.
How can you use a blog to do that?
Well, you find a topic that's controversial, a topic someone is interested in knowing more about, something they might enter into a Google search.
You offer information on the topic at your blog, you become a place of solace for that person to come to. You fuel whatever stance you take on that topic, drawing in more readers. If the stance, is "anti-topic", you present what you feel is an alternative, a clear solution to the problem.
That solution is your business, your "sell".
Your blog becomes a variety of links that champion the solution and denigrate the "anti-topic". Your links include your business websites, your associates' websites, and more links that make the case to come back to your blog and your business links.
The more the "anti-topic" is held in contempt, the more you look like the good guy. Soon, the bucks will be rolling in. You are on top, your business is on top and life is rosy; thanks to blogging.
Of course by then, your business may become the current "anti-topic" of the blog world. What goes around, comes around.
"This blog is not a "recruiting" vehicle for my Quixtar Independent Business."
You can not purchase Quixtar products through this blog. I am not seeking potential partners for my business through this blog.
Quixtar is a part of my life. I write about things in my life. I enjoy discussing Network Marketing/MLM and I like to discuss sales and training practices about the industry. I may even write entries that may help someone in their own business. It's what I like to do.
I have other avenues that I like to use to introduce people to my business or my services."
So you will not see a link to my Quixtar web page, you will not see a link to my online training forum, and you won't see all positive Quixtar links at my site.
You will see open, honest opinions and thoughts concerning my Quixtar business and MLM; and daily happenings and thoughts on the rest of my life; plus a few really bad jokes from time to time. I hope I can "sell" you on that!
Ribs are slow cooking on the grill. (dry rub seasoning; a vinegar-based mop sauce)
A cold Bud in my hand, as I sit and relax and watch the smoke and enjoy the savory smell in anticipation of a fine afternoon with my friends.
Tropical Storm Francis is a good 3 hours east of me, some clouds in the sky, a little wind, but all in all, a nice afternoon.
After you read this, turn your computer off, don't get caught in any Internet drama, close your prospect book, turn off that motivational tape, put down those papers from the office, and go outside.
If you are one of the unlucky ones working today, make a point at quitting time, to go home and relax. Nothing has to be done today, that can't wait. Enjoy some time with yourself or your family, reflect on some good things in your life.
A few months back, I received an email from a member of a chat room. Really, almost everyone in the chat room received the same email. It was a questionaire designed to get to know each other.
Recently on another forum I belong to; that email was implemented for forum members, as a "sticky post". I had since discarded my original answers to the email, and so I filled out the questionaire again.
The rules are pretty simple. You answer the questionaire and then copy and paste the questions and send them on out again(along with YOUR answers) to anyone you would like to get to know.
I thought you guys would like to know more about me, other than my jobs, and Quixtar, and my political affiliations.
Here's my answers to the questionaire. Feel free to send your answers to me.
1. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR KITCHEN PLATES? White with a gold and black trim around the edge. I call them the "chinese restaraunt plates". These are for special occaisons. Most days plain white Corelle plates or the fine cellulose china from Dixie. (other wise known as paper plates)
2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Nothing at the moment. Favorite books are Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino and How to Get Out of Debt by Jerrold Mundis
3. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? umm...after I take the mouse off, there's an ad for PacWare Software and cigarette ash smudges.
4. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BOARD GAME? Nude Twister...oh you meant Board Game; not "bored" game.
5. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINE? BackWoods Home..that's what I say in public
6. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SMELL? "Pear" perfume from Victoria's Secret when my wife is wearing it.
7. LEAST FAVORITE SMELL? Ever been in a Rest Area in South Carolina on Interstate 85?
8. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? Where did I leave my cigarettes?
9. FAVORITE COLOR? Red
10. Least FAVORITE COLOR? Chartreuse green, and did I mention that Rest Area on Interstate 85?
11. HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE? Three
12. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? Jesus..cause it's gonna take an Act of God before I want any more kids
13. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE? Never giving up
14. FAVORITE SOUND? Being introduced and handed a microphone
15. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Vanilla
16. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST? "No, Officer, I have no idea how fast I was driving...but you caught me, so probably not that fast"
17. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? No, but I have my favorite pillow, that goes with me even when I travel. It's lumpy, made of cotton, and is older than my kids.
18. WHAT TYPE WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? 1972 VW van camper, with a fridge, couch/bed, sink...but no heat, no air. I was so cool..NOT!
19. IF YOU COULD MEET ONE PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Live...Johnny Carson...Dead...My Dad's Father
10. FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK? Jose' Cuervo 1800(slightly chilled, no salt, no lemon) with a Budweiser
11. WHAT IS YOUR SIGN & YOUR BIRTHDAY? May 6..that makes me Bull-headed
12. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB WHAT WOULD IT BE? Successful Stand Up Comedian
13. EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Yep
14. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? Tremors, Murphy's Romance, Sunset, Baby Boom
15. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT KEYS? pklimljloiuj.....oops if you just use the RIGHT keys, it looks like gibberish
16. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED? Those magazines that I don't talk about in public
17. FAVORITE NUMBER: 11
18. WHATS YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST FEAR? Heights
19. ONE NICE THING ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON THAT HAS POSTED HERE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS. paitence
20. PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I did actually send this to someone and they responded, but it wasn't on this forum (or this blog) 21. THE PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
22. FAVORITE CD? Carole King's Tapestry
23. FAVORITE T.V. SHOW? Star Trek...yes I'm a trekker
24. KETCHUP OR MUSTARD? Ketchup on fries...mustard on a hot dog
25. HAMBURGERS OR HOTDOGS? Hamburgers
26. FAVORITE SOFT DRINK? Dr. Pepper
27. THE BEST PLACE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN? I have the most fun in New Orleans
28. WHAT SCREEN SAVER IS ON YOUR COMPUTER RIGHT NOW? Selected works of Artist Wyatt Waters
29. BURGER KING Or MCDONALDS? MickeyD's for breakfast...a Double Cheeseburger from Burger King
Okay, I'm online despite my Computer Woes; so I'll try to catch you up to date on a few things.
In Quixtar news:
August 31, 2004; Quixtar Sales set a new one day record of $12 Million.
September 1, 2004; Quixtar celebrated 5 years as a new separate entity in the Alticor structure. Quixtar reports that there are 360,000 IBOs now operating under Quixtar.
This weekend Quixtar's website will be shut down for 36 hours. What's the deal?
Well, on Tuesday Quixtar 2.0 goes online. A completely new redesigned site highlighting ease of use for visitors, clients, members and IBOs. I've seen some of the demos of a few pages of the new site. It looks extremely impressive. New flashier Log In page, product pages, Business Presentation pages, the works!
It seems the redesign project is the culmination of months of work at Quixtar Corporate. Blogger Figure 8 will be blogging the details at his site over the weekend.
Once again, I think this will lead to even more Independence for "non-tool" IBOs. More corporate support, means less dependence on "organizational" support.
In Handyman News:
We are in week two of remodeling a new house to be put up for rent. I spent the last few days, applying drywall mud to cracks, nail holes, and seams; and sanding everything smooth.
It appears that the previous owners were really in love with masking tape. Instead of fixing the walls properly, they covered everything with masking tape and painted over it. It was one surprise after another peeling the "years old" tape off and fixing things correctly. Also, quick word of advice: Never paint over wallpaper. It makes a handyman really mad, when he peels sheets of the stuff down, after the paint pulls the paper away from the wall after "so many years."
I started ripping up the gold and blue shag carpet today,(Yes, you read that right, and it looks as bad as it sounds) and discovered hardwood floors. Do I refinish them? Or do I cover them back up? The floors could be salvaged with a lot of work, BUT, the emphasis is on a LOT of work. Anyway, we'll see what we decide after Labor day.
In Comedy News:
I got a link to a new ventriloquist dummy available, but arrived at the site too late, all copies are gone. But it's worth a look to go see it. It's the George "Dumbya" dummy. It could have been a real treat to pretend I was Dick Cheney.
(Joke Explanation: A ventriloquist is often accused of having his hand up a dummy's ass..you figure it out!)
Hope this update satiates all you guys that have been coming here to look at the same page for the last few days, I know it helps me "clean out" all these thoughts, I wanted to write about the last day or so.
Until next time, I'll be on the internet dirt road, traveling in the slow lane!
