12 Quotes for Christmas

I dedicate this song to YOU!  May you celebrate your "now" this Christmas, and anticipate for the best about to be unleashed for your "tomorrows", throughout the New Year!  As you hear this tune, feel and experience the growing anticipation as the music crescendos to soaring heights, building toward something unexpected and amazing!  Use your key of courage to step into the new, and with all the chords of your heart, fully embrace "all" that is waiting for you!  CHOOSE to make your New Year volcanic, where every opportunity dares to meet and join forces with your unstoppable abilities!  Warm Blessings with Love, Appreciation, Respect, and Profound Gratitude to all ... Merry Christmas dear friends!  ~Annie Armen

12 Quotes for Christmas 

1.  "Treasure the LOVE you receive above all.  It will survive long after your good health has vanished."  ~Og Mandino

2.  “If one moment of fear can give birth to failure, then one moment of FAITH can reverse it!”  ~Annie Armen 

3.  "Look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.  Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before."  ~Jacob A. Riis   (Take ACTION and PERSIST On!)

4.   "TIME is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."  ~Carl Sandburg

5.  “There are only two ways to live your LIFE. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”  ~Albert Einstein

6.  "There are indeed times when one should "trust" blindly, just as there are times when one should not.  WISDOM consists in being able to tell one from the other."  ~Daniel Quinn
 

7.  "Whether you are striving to be the first, the best, or simply different in life, at the core of all three choices resides the root of AUTHENTICITY!"  ~Annie Armen

 

8.  "Take a MUSIC bath once or twice a week for a few seasons.  You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body."  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

9.  "Customer satisfaction is worthless. Customer LOYALTY is priceless."  ~Jeffrey Gitomer

10.  A Perfect Partnership has no hidden agendas, a single purpose and an insatiable commitment to delivering incremental revenues resulting in a mutual beneficial relationship."  ~Don Farrell, Chief Cultivating Officer at Fresh Revenues 

11.  "When everybody tells you that you are being idealistic or impractical, consider the possibility that everybody could be wrong about what is right for you."  ~Gilbert Kaplan 

12.  "Only YOU hold the key to your inner WHY... Listen to your inner voice, gather your STRENGTH in quiet, find your target, aim, fire!"  ~Annie Armen

Do you have a quote for Christmas you would like to share?   Please post your quotes below in the comments section! Merry Christmas and a Volcanic New Year!  ~Annie Armen

Annie Armen Show Presents: Generate Revenues Using Social Media --Part 3 of Series

"Great content is essential for success in leveraging social media for business. 
Prospects will be IN-TE-REST-ED if YOU are IN-TE-REST-ING!" ~John McGrann

Annie Armen Presents

Topic for Discussion:  Generate Revenues Using Social Media...Yeah Right!

Trusted Social Media Specialist, Dear Friend:  John McGrann ... LIVE from Dubai

Where:  Annie Armen Show

Short Recap from Parts 1 and 2 Below

Is Social Media More Than Just a Craze? Part 2

My dear friend who I call, TRUSTED Social Media Specialist, John McGrann  -- Chief Executive Officer at Drive Social Media, headquartered in Dubai -- returns on the Annie Armen Show to take on Part 2 with me in an ongoing series throughout 2011, "Is Social Media More Than Just a Craze".  On this round, we focused on developing a social media strategy where you can measure ROI.  Imagine that!  

Is Social Media More Than Just a Craze? Part 1
If you recall from Part 1 of, Is Social Media More Than Just a Craze, John talked about  5 steps to success.

What are those 5 Steps?
1.  Plan
2.  Presence
3.  Reach Out
4.  Nurture
5.  Maintain

He also said, in order to make social media work for your business, you need 2 things:
1.  System
2.  Commitment 

Now, Who is John McGrann?

John McGrann is a UK national and his home was Cyprus for 10 years.  He has

lived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since April, 2010 and is married to Genny.

John has used his 20+ years IT and Oracle ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) management experience, chartered management accountancy training, social media certification and seasoned, people development skills to implement and drive business and systems performance on behalf of major organizations globally.

John has consulted on a range of projects and supports assignments for the UK

Government, and international private sector clients including but not limited to:  General Electric, Canon, Network Rail, Saudi Telecom, and Touristik Union International (TUI).

Nowadays, his main focus is social media consultancy. As mentioned earlier above, he is the Chief Executive Officer at Drive Social Media, headquartered in Dubai.

About Drive Social Media

In short, Drive Social Media (DSM) is about assisting clients in developing successful strategies, key training resources and in providing ongoing support to maximize value from social media marketing.  DSM provides excellent service and great value for money for  their clients.  Bottom-line, they have the expertise to understand, match, and exceed  clients' needs!

Valuable Resource to Share as a Take Away:

Statistics Show Social Media is Bigger Than You Think

Questions for Why Annie Armen Readers...

1.  WHY do you find that folks across industries find it difficult to "identify revenue strategies" from social media? 2.  WHY do you find that folks across industries find it strange to "assign the value of revenues" to Social Media? 3.  Want to discover what NOT to do in order to generate revenues using Social Media?

4.  Do you have ONE revenues results story you can share after implementing Social Media into your marketing plan to attract business?
 

Be sure to post your comments immediately below!  

Fire away,

~Annie Armen

That Does it ... I’ve had Just About Enough of This!

"Be everywhere, DO everything, and never fail to astonish the customer."  ~Macy's Motto

Today's post is Inspired by the BBC Classic – Two Ronnies, Fork Handles ....

Have you met The "Difficult" Customer?

"Customer satisfaction is worthless. Customer LOYALTY is priceless." ~ Jeffrey Gitomer

Have you had a run in lately with a “difficult” customer?  How about, the slightly peculiar one who may communicate his/her requests in a way that you may not immediately comprehend, leading to the rise of inner frustration levels, eventually resulting in words of outrage expressed, such as -- “That does it, I’ve had just about enough of this!” 

Looking for "Washers"  

Now… let’s say a customer walks into your fine establishment and requests for “washers”.  You (the seller) immediately presume the consumer is asking for dish washers, and begin directing said customer to the aisle where the dish washers are at.   

Moments later, customer comes back and says, “No ... washers.” 

Seller:  “Oh, you mean floor washers… that will be in aisle 10, sir.”    
Customer:  “No, I am looking for washers.”    
Seller:   “Then you’re looking for windscreen washers.  That will be in aisle 5, sir.”    
Customer:  “No, not windscreen washers … I am looking for washers, please.”    
Seller:  “Sir, have you checked for our car washers in aisle 3?”  
Customer:  “Not car washers … looking for washers.”    
Seller:  “That does it!  Mr. Smith, will you come out and serve this customer…I’ve had just about enough of this!” 

Questions for Why Annie Armen Readers

1.  What do you find to be the central “issue” in this particular scenario?    

2.  When the seller called out for Mr. Smith to the rescue, was that his best choice of remedial action to take in handling the “difficult” customer?     

3.  Could the seller have managed the situation differently?  If your answer is yes, tell us how so…

Looking forward to reading your answers! 
 ~Annie Armen    

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:     
1. 20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!   
2. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!   
3. 30 Quotes on ACTION in Business and in Life! 
4. 20 Quotes on PERSEVERANCE in Business and in Life!    
5. 14 Quotes on LOYALTY in Business and in Life  
6. Stealing Business From Your Competition -- Ethical or Unethical?      
7. Are You Working With a Resistant Employee?      
8. When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?

9. AnnieBiotics

The Brick ... A Thanksgiving Message

“Two kinds of GRATITUDE:
The sudden kind we feel for what we take; the larger kind we feel for what we give.”  ~Edwin Arlington Robinson

WHY "The Brick" as a Thanksgiving Message?

While tempted to give you the answer now, please read on... The message will become clear as the story unfolds.  The content is written by my favorite author ... "Author Unknown".  

The Brick ...
A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar.  He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the
Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot
where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting,

"What the hell was that all about and who are you? Just what the hell are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money.  Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic.  "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but didn't know what else to do," He pleaded.  "I threw the brick *because no one else would stop..."

With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car.  "It's my brother," he said."  He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair?  He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

 

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat.

He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out his fancy
handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts.

A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.  “Thank you and may God bless you,” the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother

down the sidewalk toward their home. 

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar.  The damage was very noticeable, but the driver
never bothered to repair the it.

He kept the dent there to remind him of this message:

"Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!"

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us.  It's our choice.  ~Author Unknown

_______________________________________

“There are only two ways to live your LIFE. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”  ~Albert Einstein

Are you grateful for "The Bricks" in your life?  Is there a timeless message you can share with Why Annie Armen Readers as a result of  "The Brick" capturing your attention?






With Love and Gratitude Always,
~Annie Armen






Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest: 
1. Are you Tempted to Quit? 
2. 30 Quotes on HOPE in Business and in Life!
3. 30 Quotes on LOVE in Business and in Life!
4. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
5. 20 Quotes on Values in Business and in Life! 
6. Are You Working With a Resistant Employee?  
7. When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?

8. That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!

9. 20 Quotes on Courage in Business and in Life

10. Did You Say, Can't?
11. AnnieBiotics

What is YOUR Definition of a Perfect Partnership in Business?

"A PERFECT PARTNERSHIP has no hidden agendas, a single purpose and an insatiable commitment to delivering incremental revenues resulting in a mutual beneficial relationship." ~Don Farrell, Chief Cultivating Officer at Fresh Revenues, Inc., Author of Ethical Theft

Select Highlights About Don Farrell

Don Farrell started his hospitality career as a pot scrubber and worked through 30 different jobs on his way up to becoming the Founder and Chairman of the best and largest sales and service training company in the world -- Signature, Inc.  Don now writes, speaks, conducts workshops and consults with very "select" clients showing them how to produce FRESH Revenues when others can't.  See Article titled, Stealing Business From Your Competition, Ethical or Unethical?

Questions for Why Annie Armen Readers

1.  What is YOUR Definition of a "Perfect Partnership" in Business?  

2.  Is there even such a thing as "Perfect Partnership" in business?
3.  When do you know you found that "Perfect Partnership" you've always envisioned for your business?

Do Tell,

~Annie Armen

Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest: 
1. 20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!
2. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
3. 14 Quotes on LOYALTY in Business and in Life
4. Stealing Business From Your Competition -- Ethical or Unethical?
5. Are You Working With a Resistant Employee? 
6. When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?

7. That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!

8. AnnieBiotics

Annie Armen Presents: Tony MacAlpine -- Celebrity Artist ON FIRE (Beat 4)

“As with any true artist, change is the only constant.” ~Tony MacAlpine 

Annie Armen Presents
Artists ON FIRE -- Beat 4

Featuring Celebrity Rock Artist:  Tony MacAlpine

PLAY IT FORWARD! 

Direct Link to Audio Archive:  Annie Armen Interviews TONY MACALPINE!




About Tony MacAlpine

He’s been a producer, band member and solo artist. Guitarist Tony MacAlpine, in his 25-year career, has redefined hard rock jazz-fusion for a generation of progressive-minded music fanatics. Whether it’s with the groundbreaking prog-rock band Planet X (with Derek Sherinian of Dream Theater), the jazz-fusion super-group CAB or the band of another guitar hero Steve Vai, MacAlpine has set the bar exceedingly high.   

On June 21, this most anticipated all-instrumental masterpiece Tony MacAlpine (Favored Nations Entertainment) was released, his 13 solo album (and 26th album over-all). The album contains 12 tracks of complex, intricate heavy music that demands concentration. It is a true solo album in every sense of the word. Drummers Virgil Donati and Marco Minnemann, as well as bassist Philip Bynoe are utilized on various tracks. MacAlpine plays everything else: seven-string guitar, eight-string guitar, keyboards, bass and programming.  

Written and recorded at “The Cottage” studio in Pasadena, California, MacAlpine has blended jazz-fusion, metal, prog and rock’n’roll into a tightlywound trip of mammoth proportions. "My music is instrumental guitar-oriented heavy rock with a fusion flair," he explains. "Having started with classical piano since the age of five, I've been exposed to many genres and styles from contemporary to the Romantic and Classical periods. This early development helped me define my writing and improvisation which is evident in my sound today. My guitar playing encompasses many different styles, with an emphasis on composition and theater."   More at  http://www.TonyMacAlpine.com

During this Interview, you will hear the following 5 songs from Tony:
1.  Etude #4, Opus #10 (Chopin piece, from Tony's Maximum Security Album)
2.  Fire Mountain (From Tony's New, Self-titled album just released -- Tony MacAlpine)
3.  Chromaticity (from Tony's album -- Chromaticity)

4.  The King's Cup (from Tony's album -- Maximum Security)
5.  Angel of Twilight (From Tony's New, Self-titled album just released -- Tony MacAlpine)

Buckle up, and enjoy a shredder of a MacAlpine ride on The Annie Armen Show, coming up NEXT!

Annie Armen Show Presents: Heart 2 Heart with Artists ON FIRE!

"There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other."  ~Douglas Everett

Annie Armen Presents
Heart 2 Heart with Artists ON FIRE

Featured Guest Artists: 
Sam Amazyan (Washington)
John "JP" Iris (France)
Don Coleman (Canada)
Puguh Kribo (Indonesia)
 
When:  Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Time:  3pm Pacfic | 6pm Eastern
Where:  Annie Armen Show

Did You Miss Artists ON FIRE, Beats 1 - 3?

Visit Artistsonfire.com for details 

Please post your comments below, we would love to hear from you.
~Annie Armen

What IS the Right Price and WHY?

Remember the old classic game show, “The Price is Right, hosted by Bob Barker?” 

Here’s a scenario for you…Let me know your thoughts in the “comments” section below, at the end of this article.  It will be interesting to see what "prices" you come up with after you've had a chance to read through this piece.

Imagine….

Place yourself in the shoes of an author who not only writes articles, but also writes business books.  Now, you’ve composed and self-published several hardbacks, but there is this one comprehensive manuscript you just completed, that you find so practical, so tactical that you genuinely believe and know, there is no other published work out there which contains “usable information now” you’re about to unleash into the business world.  Your written masterpiece will save so many business professionals, years of heart aches and pitfalls you experienced.  So far so good…right?

Houston, we Have a Problem … I’m Stuck!!!
Here you are about to blast off with your comprehensive book to the public, but you’re stuck on “pricing” because unlike your other collections, this particular masterpiece contains over 600 pages of both relatable and actionable tips spelled out in simplicity and clarity, which will serve as a daily road map for small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout.  So you hire a professional business consultant for guidance.  The consultant says, “Start off by selling your book as an e-version at $XX.99”… 

You immediately ask yourself, “What is my goal … to sell books or to get the book out there to as many people as possible with the intention of getting hired to speak and educate the masses?”  Once you targeted your goal, you replied with the price of $X.99 as a reasonable and fair value because you know this will be a book folks will use daily for their immediate business needs.

 

Now That You Have the Scenario… I ask you…
What do YOU believe IS the right price for a comprehensive “E-Book” of Business of over 600 pages, and WHY?

Better yet, what price would you be willing to pay for an E-version of a comprehensive business book and WHY?

 

Fire away,
~Annie Armen

Are You Tempted to Quit?

"Dive into your soul
Search and you will find
The answers to all your doubts
The priceless gift of who you are!
Don’t give up, believe in yourself,
You are blessed, to exist,
So put your talents to the test!

You are meant to be, can’t you see,
You have a legacy, Unstoppable be!" 
~ Annie Armen, The Communications Artist

Dear WHY Annie Armen Readers:

Perhaps this message may be one of Divine intervention for some of you who are intrinsically fighting off the temptation to quit, whether in your personal lives or in your professional lives.  Perhaps you may be at the very edge of that choice, and you are "hoping" for a sign, a message from someone, from somewhere, anything that can keep your inner candle of "hope" lit for just a little longer until your dream morphs into tangible reality, right before your very eyes.

In the past month alone, I have received many emails requesting for prayers!  Know I am carrying each of you who have asked in daily prayers, and believe with all my heart that answers for you are around the corner!  Until such time, dear friends -- NEVER GIVE UP -- no matter what!  If you know of someone who needs to be nourished in mind and heart with this message, please pay it forward, thank you. 

Message on Time
Over 10 years ago, on my very first LIVE television show produced in Los Angeles, I read the message of "Don't Quit" by Annon.  My prayer is that when you read this message today, you will be renewed in Faith, your spirit will be uplifted, your heart will be filled with HOPE, and in mind, you will choose NOT TO QUIT!!!  The fact that you are receiving this message IS your answer, confirming your inner instinct to stay on course and go all the way!

That said, let's jump start the month of July, on this first day, with unwavering hope, with unshakeable faith, and with unstoppable action!

DON’T QUIT!
By Annon

"When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest if you must, But don't you quit.
 

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learn,
And many a person turns about,
When they might have won, had they stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow.
You may succeed with another blow.

Often strugglers have given up
When you might have captured the victor's cup,
And you learned too late when the night came down,
How close you were to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the cloud of doubt.

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you
Mustn't Quit!"

Now... are you tempted to quit? 

Please post your comments below...
~Annie Armen

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest: 
1. Did You Say, Can't?
2. 30 Quotes on HOPE in Business and in Life!
3. 20 Quotes on COURAGE in Business and in Life!
4. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
5. 20 Quotes on PERSEVERANCE in Business and in Life! 
6. 20 Quotes on GO FOR IT in Business and in Life!
7. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
8. 30 Quotes on CONFIDENCE in Business and in Life!
9. Are You Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
10. Are You Working With a Resistant Employee?   
11. That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!

12. Communicate Anyway

13. AnnieBiotics

Annie Armen Show Presents: Artists ON FIRE (Series) -- Beat 3

"MUSIC is an outburst of the soul."  ~Frederick Delius

Annie Armen Presents

Artists ON FIRE (Series) -- Beat 3

Featured Guest Artists:  Puguh Kribo (Indonesia) and Don Coleman (Canada)
When:  Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Time:  3pm Pacfic | 6pm Eastern

Where:  Annie Armen Show


Who is Hurricane Artist Victim #5:  Puguh Kribo?
Puguh Kribo, originally born in Surabaya, is from Jakarta, Indonesia.  He holds dual bachelor degrees -- One in civil engineering (ST) and the other in law (SH).  Influenced by the spiritual tunes of church music growing up, he began pursuing his passion for music since the age of 9 years old, by learning to play the guitar.  Today, he is an accomplished, award winning guitarist in Indonesia, endorsed by Stranough Guitar.  By day, Puguh is a guitar instructor at music school, and by vision, he is expanding on his dream and passion for music, not only as a respected musician, but also as an accomplished writer, arranger, and music director in Jakarta, Indonesia.  In the recent, Puguh launched his new book, titled “Extreme Speed Picking”, and together with his band, Puguh Kribo and The Tritorium, he launched his new album called, "The Black Kraken" --  the first of many promising milestones ahead!    http://www.xhredder.com/

Who is Hurricane Artist Victim #6:  Don Coleman?

Don Coleman is a Canadian vocalist, songwriter, performer and AC/DC tribute vocalist whose original songs have received air play on broadcast radio in 126 countries. His songs have been acknowledged in writing by President Bill Clinton and HRH Prince William. Coleman's humanitarian efforts have raised thousands of dollars for many charities including the Canadian Cancer Society, The Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and The Hospital for Sick Children. His song written for the charitable non-profit organization Moncton Headstart has been utilized by Headstart offices in California and Texas for the betterment of children and as an inspiration to members of the organization. He is a songwriter who has captured fans from around the world from all walks of life and musical tastes with his music that touches on many genres including; blues, adult contemporary, hard rock, bluegrass and country.

What's NEXT on the Annie Armen Show?:  Heart 2 Heart with Artists ON FIRE

Did You Miss Artists ON FIRE, Beats 1 and 2? 

Visit Artistsonfire.com for details

 

Question for WHY Annie Armen Readers?
What key disciplines do you find in common between the fields of music and business?

Please post your comments below, we would love to hear from you.
~Annie Armen