Message From jl

Hi Everyone!

I hate to make anyone want to shoot me, but I gotta tell ya. For the most part, it's been quite a warm winter in Louisiana.

In fact, poor ET (my 6-year-old pet cockatiel) is about to have a nervous break-down. One day, he thinks it's so warm, he needs to start building me (as his mate) a nest. The next, he's crawling into my lap (as his mamma) to keep warm.

Cockatiels are desert birds, so I can't imagine how anyone raises them up North. My Michigan daughter told me it was 16 degrees BELOW zero one morning when she went to work. Now, that's just WRONG!

Anyway, more on ET's nest building in a few more weeks. It's just HILARIOUS - and, sometimes, painful - to watch.

Someone asked me last week, why I say that scams will increase over an economic turn-down. Well, this is an unfortunate situation, but it's just human nature.

When things get tough it simply becomes too tempting to some to cut corners in panic. Other folks are being more careful, so it seems easy to offer something for nothing.

I'm sure you've noticed the increase in “easy money” ads and spam. Allowing ourselves to get caught up in that will simply cause more grief.

Deal ONLY with solid business people. Resist the temptation to be sucked into questionable programs.

Remember this: Charles Ponzi died a pauper!

Even the Better Business Bureau has come up with a new little trick. They, now, rate the businesses who use their service with a new system.

Instead of rating them as satisfactory or unsatisfactory, they now want you to believe they are grading their members using an A+ to F model. Gimme a break!

How many BBB members will STAY with BBB if they receive anything under a B rating? Not many, I'll wager. So, all you'll most likely see are BBB members with A and B business ratings! Slick, eh?

We do it differently here at iCop. We don't take money from lower rated businesses. iCop members are either A+ businesses, or they're outta here. Simple, eh?

When I ran our survey asking readers who are business owners what they plan to do to get past this financial crisis, I noticed many already know the main secret to staying viable.

It's based on a universal law that tells us to give what we want to receive. And, I happen to know it works - every time. So, the answer is: GIVE!

We have multiple ways to do this. First, the obvious: help your clients and customers. Give them whatever breaks you can without hurting yourself.

I mentioned shipping and handling last week. It's an excellent place to cut customers a break. Sales go without saying. Offer great value!

We've become so used to crappy customer service, businesses that go back to giving this a top priority will flourish.

As one iCop member put it: “... concentrate on making my products better, more efficient/effective, at more reasonable prices.” Perfect!

GIVE! Help your customers. Work together with other business people. Give up a little control - we HAVE no control right now. We don't know where all this is going!

Rather than wallowing in this situation as a bad thing, use it to reestablish connections with the human race. Remember this ... we all work together, or we'll all go down.

Keep on keepin' on - make the changes that will help you - put one foot in front of the other. And, then, don't give the situation any further attention.

What we pay attention to - increases. So, we need to set our plan, then, work the plan, all the while putting our attention on what brings the good things.

Put attention out there - on others. See who needs help and give as much as we can to better life for others. This WILL come back to us!

St Jude Children's Hospital is a fabulous institution that NEVER charges a dime to families with children who need very expensive medical care. Their location in Galveston, Texas is shutting down. They are unable to finish repairs caused by Hurricane Ike.

In my opinion, this is one of the most deserving places for citizens of the USA to contribute. They do miracles in the lives of children and their families!

Main site:  www.stjude.org

You'll find many ways to contribute here:

tinyurl.com/2vukj9

And, of course, another of my favorites - The Hunger Site. You'll find a link for that below.

Here you can help more than you know simply by making it your browser home page and using the site every day - without cost. Although, they have some cool products there that increase the gift even more.

I have one rather large last suggestion for coming through the economic crisis in better shape than when we started. It will take more space than I have left, today so we'll wrap this up next week.

No - that isn't quite right. I will continue to pass along helpful information for as long as this situation lasts. Anything sent to me, that I find or that I remember will be presented to you for your consideration.

Worth Reading:

Downandup/Conficker worm infects 9 million PCs.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/116396

Have a fabulous week and ... keep on keepin' on!

  jl

P.S. Do YOU have the iCop seal on ALL your web sites? Scammers abound in a depressed economy. You will need the credibility of your iCop membership NOW, more than ever!

Use the iCop Seal on Every Site You Own at NO Extra Cost!

Join iCop Today!

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Online Business Trade Journal™ is published solely by dr. jl scott, Director of the International Council of Online Professionals (iCop) and may not reflect the opinion of all iCop members.

Material in the "Leaving You With a Smile" column may be copyrighted by unknown persons.

We accept no responsibility for your use of any contributed information contained herein. All of the information presented in the Online Business Trade Journal™ is published in good faith. Any comments stated in this newsletter are strictly the opinion of the writer or publisher.

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Copyright © 2009 jl scott, ph.d., Director
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