Here’s a fun way to send a Mother’s Day message using video!

One day it hit me… I love video and I love my mom! Well my mom is in Pittsburgh, PA and I’m in San Diego, CA. Instead of just the traditional phone call, I think sending her a video message is super cool as well! I also call this a VideoGram. This is a unique Mother’s Day Gift!

[CLICK THE PICTURE TO SEE MY 23 SECOND VIDEO SAMPLE]

It feels good to break away from the old ways of sending Mother’s Day messages. The neat thing about is it’s unique, personalized, affordable, and a great “last-minute” idea! Not that mom should be a last-minute thought but, we get super busy and caught up in our own lives so, sometimes we just don’t stop in time to take care of things like this as quickly as we should.

Here in San Diego, I have clients that come in the office to record their message, choose a background, give me a picture and any names they want added to the background, and it’s ready within 24 hours!

For people who know how to upload a video from home to YouTube, I can take that video and add it to a personalized background just the same!

It’s fun and I had a 30 second Mother’s Day message special price of only $20!

“BUT I’M SO SHY”

I found that this was a great way for people to get comfortable being in front of the camera. They sit down with me and I’m a fun and easy person to work with. I have a knack for putting others at ease. Then it’s a message they are sending out to someone they love! That’s not so intimidating! This Mother’s Day message can be sent to any mom that you want to say something nice to… mom, grandma, aunt, sister, cousin, wife, friend, daughter, etc.

OTHER VIDEO MESSAGE IDEAS?

Now of course I realized that this idea can go beyond just Mother’s Day messages. Messages can be sent out to loved ones for any holiday, birthdays, anniversaries, wedding wishes, announcements, and more. Then if you have a video in addition to the message, we can attach it to the video and just like my sample above, after you’ve recorded your message, it can automatically play another video or go to a website of your choice!

I’ve primarily helped businesses with video messages but, it’s nice to do it on the “just for fun” side!

Pricing for the Mother’s Day messages were so low because I had ready-made templates. Contact me for even more personalized background pricing.

If you’re a mom and celebrate Mother’s Day, I wish you and all of the mothers in your life that you love, a very safe and Happy Mother’s Day!

If you didn’t get your Mother’s Day message done, contact me quickly!

“I Am” Lyrics – Lina

People that know me know that I LOVE music! I enjoy all sorts of music. I enjoy rock, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and my most favorite is Neo-Soul!

Hidden Beach Records seem to put out some of my favorite Neo-Soul artist! Every time I turn around, there’s a new artist that I’m totally feelin and they are with Hidden Beach Records. I mean, I went BANANAS for Jill Scott! So much so that wound up speaking with someone from HBR that wanted me to have a CD party for another artist. I just didn’t feel the grove for that particular album and couldn’t get motivated like I was for Jill Scott but, I did love that artist too.

So now we have “Lina”! You see, I live in San Diego, CA. We do not get to hear great soulful music being played on the radio here. If it weren’t for The Internet sites such as YouTube and radio stations like Pandora and Jango, I’d be missing out on all types of great music! Therefore, this finding for “me” is still new.

“I Am” is from her album, The Inner Beauty Movement” released in 2005! I just started hearing Lina’s music online last year! I hope that we do start hearing more from the Dallas, TX, native. She brings a very soft, sexy, and sophisticated sound to the music she performs. I find her music to be very inspirational, especially the song “I Am”.

As a woman entrepreneur, I found the lyrics to this song “I Am”, so on point for me. I searched to find the lyrics but, I wound up having to listen to the song and writing them out myself because I couldn’t find them! So if you’re an entrepreneur, especially a woman, read the lyrics below and see if you can identify.

The other key to seeing the power of “I Am” lyrics is you must be a POSITIVE woman entrepreneur! If you’re not positive about life, you won’t fully understand the meaning of the message.

DISCLAIMER: I Do Not own the copyrights to the song or lyrics and in No Way am I meaning any harm by sharing the lyrics to I Am. My hope is that more people will want to support the artists that perform good music and the writers that take the time to make it happen.

I AM performed by Lina

Thought I’d seen it all.
That’s when trouble called
They say trouble’s not your friend but, it helped me know who I am
Through my adversity
I discovered me
Healthy, strong, and free willin.

I know where I’m going
Love where I’ve been
I would do it all again if in the end it makes me the woman I am
Always here for you
Gonna be a friend
You know I’ll always love you, I wanna see us all win!

Keep on… keep on breaking down the walls
Keep on keep on standing tall
Keep on setting the people free
It’s the only way to make it
Keep on fighting for the cause
We gotta keep on standing tall
Keep on doing what you believe, you know you’re gonna make it.

I am
Because I chose to be, wonderful at ease
Nothin holding me, the sky’s the limit
Hold on to your pride
Don’t give way to doubt
You gotta keep pushin, keep pushin! Come on!

I know where I’m going
Love where I’ve been
I would do it all again if in the end it makes me the woman I am.
Always here for you
Gonna be a friend
You know I’ll always love you, I wanna see us all win! Keep on!

Keep on breaking down the walls
Keep on keep on standing tall
keep on setting the people free
It’s the only way to make it
Keep on fighting for the cause
We gotta keep on standing tall
Keep on doing what you believe, you know you’re gonna make it.

Ooh, keep on
So many before us
They paved the way
They make it possible to have what we have today
Like many before us
We should learn from our mistakes
Struggles not in vain
Don’t let nobody take your hope away

Keep on breaking down the walls
Keep on keep on standing tall
keep on setting the people free
It’s the only way to make it
Keep on fighting for the cause
We gotta keep on standing tall
Keep on doing what you believe, you know you’re gonna make it.

Keep on breaking down the walls
Keep on keep on standing tall
keep on setting the people free
It’s the only way to make it
Keep on fighting for the cause
We gotta keep on standing tall
Keep on doing what you believe, you know you’re gonna make it.

“I Am” performed by Lina from her album – The Inner Beauty Movement

It’s time to get naked about my life in 2011. By “getting naked”, I’m talking about being really open and real about myself. 2012 is here and I’m excited, encouraged, empowered, enlightened, and “in love”!

THE BEGINNING of 2011

2011 began with excitement about my new business, 9to5Not Business Solutions. I was feeling good about the possibilities and the various ways of how I could help other businesses. It took a lot of work but, I was able to see a lot of growth in my new venture since getting laid off from my job in 2010. It looked as though things were about to go my way and then… (Here’s where I get naked… very naked)

LOVE LOST

The man that I had loved for so many years decided to drop me right before Valentine’s Day! This was not expected! I mean, he and I had been together for over 7 years… loved each other (I thought) for longer than that but, one day, over the phone I’m given a list of “why this isn’t working” and then I am told that, “It won’t be long before another guy wants to be with you”… WHAT?? Well this threw me off for a bit in terms of working my business. I couldn’t focus. I was grieving and had to just deal with the pain. (Very naked information here)

I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to cry about this forever. I gave myself 2 weeks to cry as much as I wanted to. I bought a plant to take care of as I saw one in the store that looked like it needed a friend too. I had friends that talked to me and helped me to understand some things and just supported me as I cried like a baby. I prayed and opened my heart to be ready for what our Creator had in store for me. I had no idea He was going to send someone else so quickly!

LOVE FOUND

One day I get a friend request on “MySpace”. I don’t pay this much attention but, I eventually accept. Then I start getting messages just saying, “Hello. How are you?” it takes me a few weeks to even pay this any attention but, I finally start responding. The next thing ya know, I’ve met and enjoy talking to this nice man on the East Coast. Now don’t get creeped out, there are benefits to online dating. We had great conversations and so many common interest. This man was soothing, caring, patient, and made me feel special. We eventually started video chatting so, I could look him in the eyes… I could see his environment, he could see mine. We got to see each other’s children. We learned a lot about each other and enjoyed each other without ever touching. It was tough during the “technical difficulties” stages but, we made it through and after 9 months of communicating via the phone, mail, and Internet, he finally made it to San Diego to see me for Thanksgiving! It was wonderful! I’m so glad that I didn’t close my heart and mind to meeting someone new. Who would have thought there was a reason to still have my MySpace account? Lol!

FAMILY & FRIENDS

2011 really showed me what true UNSTOPPABLE friendships were and how much I love and appreciate my friends and family.

As an evolving entrepreneur, finances don’t always work out right in the beginning. I wasn’t making much money and had to let some things go. I filled bankruptcy and had to let go of my car. Not having a car really sucks! But in the midst of all of the financial struggles, I found that I had far more support than I could have imagined. I have friends that care enough to make sure I had rides to dentist (even going to Mexico with me). Friends that made sure I wasn’t stranded. Friends that helped me make it to my daughter’s air force boot camp graduation, and friends that just showed love and support by having a listening ear and words of encouragement. (These are my “naked” friends)

I am honored by the love and support of those that have shown love and I am strengthened by identifying those that really don’t give a care. We learn from all experiences. Be thankful for the lessons.

GOALS FOR 2012

Now it’s time to get naked with our goals! Find out who you are and what you truly want out of life. I’m going to take the advice of Zig Ziglar who gives the formula for setting goals. So often we are told to “write down our goals” but, then what? Do you have the goals that will lead to success?

I have quite a few goals, both Personal & Financial goals but, here’s the formula as per Mr. Zig Ziglar:

#1 – Determine: WHAT Your Goals Are
#2 – Write the OBJECTIVE
#3 – Write TIME expected to COMPLETE
#4 – Write down OBSTACLES
#5 – Identify PEOPLE, GROUPS, AND ORGANIZATIONS to work with
#6 – Devise a PLAN OF ACTION
#7 – Spell out what you NEED TO KNOW to get it done
#8 – Write it all down … “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?”

I want to add 2 more to the list and that would be:

#9 – Keep you goal(s) VISIABLE. Find a wall or door where you can keep your goals in site
#10 – GET STARTED!

Well that’s enough of the naked truth for me, Ms. Tracy Allen! What was one of your favorite “naked” moments of 2011?

“Moving On Up!” A New Direction by My Guest, Ms. Yvette Porter-Moore

Zara Cully Brown 1892-1978

As I continue to gather information to hire a certified researcher to help me with the Higgins Papers, I will be reading books and documents that I can draw from to help me to place the Cully Family in historical context.

This Novel that I am preparing to write has morphed into a different direction again, and I now believe that I have settled on the theme and integral character for this Non-Fiction masterpiece. The historical novel will cover the periods of 1800 to 1978, with emphasis during the life of Zara Cully Brown who was born January 26 1892 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Zara F. Cully was born during the Reconstruction Era, who’s paternal ancestors were a free people of color rooted in New Bern, North Carolina in the late 1790′s. Zara Cully Brown was known for her appearances on The Jeffersons-Television Sitcom, as she played the part of Olivia Jefferson-The mother of George Jefferson.

I had initially wanted to write about my mother’s memoirs of Harlem-Sugar Hill, NY, then upon further research and travels to my ancestral hometowns of Sugar Hill, NY; Worcester, Cambridge and Boston, MA; Washington D.C.; Maryland and Florida, I realized that the story was larger than my mother, because it was her ancestors who set-up the next generations to achieve the American Dream. I then decided I would research the Cully Family and the families they married into and talk about the family in historical context with my mother being the integral character, but after some thinking and advice from a mentor, I realized the theme “Moving On Up!” would be the thread that needed to run through the novel.

It is common knowledge that people and families migrated throughout history looking for better opportunities, equality and a better life. This is what the making of this novel is about. I am still formulating and trying to visualize what this final project will look like.

As I continue searching for documents, literary works, papers, and conduct interviews, this project will take a more solid form.

As I always say, Happy Research!

Why should you use video email for your business?

I’m going give you 5 great reasons! And I’m going to show you how it can be fun and easy … especially if you use a really neat system called “IM ToolSuite”! You’re about to see how this can enhance your business for you!

<1> – Video is INTIMATE. Instead of sending the same old boring emails, you get to come from your heart to those you’re trying to reach. Your audience gets to have a better understanding for who you are.

<2> – Video is FUN! You don’t have to sit there and be serious! Have some fun with people! For example, if you sell furniture, make a video lying on a couch from your store with your feet up and telling people a short (emphasis on short – about 60 seconds) story about good times you had growing up with your family as you sat around on the couch.

<3> – Video can MAKE AN IMPACT. Example: Let’s say you’re a car salesperson and you’ve kept up a nice client base. Do a short video reminding them of certain features you went over once they bought the car. Hardly anyone remembers all of the information you go over once they are excited about their new purchase. But just imagine how they would feel if you send them a video message, thanking them for becoming your customer, reminding them to come in for the new owners workshop, refer clients to you, and (really important) to make sure they give you the top scores on the evaluation that follows that sell! (Former car sales here – Lol) But you get the point?

<4> – Video can SAVE TIME. Now-a-days many people don’t want to read too much. This is a fun way of blogging too! If you have a short video that you can email your customers on something you get calls on daily from them… say it once in a video instead of saying it over and over again.

<5> – Video makes you “THE EXPERT” in your field. Since video is still kind of a new concept and not everyone is doing it as much or how they should for their business, you come out looking like more the expert because YOUR business does! Your business does something different than the others! You are giving tips and showing that you know about your product/service that you sell.

As I mentioned in the beginning about a company called ”IM ToolSuite” (Internet Marketing ToolSuite), this video email system is super HOT because it’s very easy to use (you need a webcam) and you can say what you want in front of that camera, choose a background template, and send it with another website or video that plays immediately after the video you made stops! No telling people to “click” here or there, it will automatically go to your website or another video that you want that person to see.

For $5, you can try this system out for 2 weeks and see just how easy and fun it is and get a glimpse of all of the other HOT marketing tools in there but, I strongly urge you to use the video email the way I’ve explained and then let me know what kind of feedback you’re getting. I’m sure you will be happy with the results!

If you are using video email already, will you please share your experience here? You ROCK!!

THANKS FOR READING!!

Tracy R. Allen