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Our 25^th Year of Useful Information For Your Business and a

Couple of Laughs to Make Your Day Brighter!

Marketing Thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . Many companies develop marketing strategies the way the Greeks conceived constellations: They do it in the dark. They do it without data, without market-place information. They persuade themselves. They take a few bits of experience, of guess, and concoct a rationale for how a new product will sell or how creative the advertising is. And they spend very little of their time in the actual marketplace - with customers. In contrast, marketing superstars have big marketplace ears. They listen to the customer. They have control over their egos. They don’t kid themselves. If they are missing data, they freely admit it. They don’t fall in love with their own ideas. And they test their ideas with real customers. (How to Become a Marketing Superstar)

What to Purchase? . . . . . . . . . . Help your prospects get over the fence. Whenever Ben Franklin had a decision to make, he would take a sheet of plain paper and draw a line down the middle. He’s put Yes over one column and No over the other. He would then list all the reasons why he should and shouldn’t make the decision, and compare the two lists. I’ve described this process to hundreds of customers who were on the fence and have actually given them a sheet of paper to help them through the process. I begin by saying, “Let’s think of all the reasons why we should do this,” and I coach the customer through the yes list. Then I ask the customer to take a moment to list the no reasons - without my help. The yes list usually wins. (50 Ways to Close a Sale)

Food Facts . . . . . . . . . From Gourmet Magazine: ○ In 1982, American farmers received 34% of the money consumers spent on fresh vegetables at retail stores; by 2004, it was only 19%. ○ It took 27 hours to make one Peeps marshmallow chick in the 1950s. Today it takes six minutes. ○ Every week to ten days our TASTE BUDS wear out. We replace them, but not as frequently after we reach the age of 45. ○ Study of endurance-trained cyclists found that Chocolate Milk works just as well as most sports drinks - and significantly better than many - at helping athletes to recover from vigorous exercise. ○ 95% of the Avocados grown in California today trace their lineage to a single tree owned by Postman Rudolph Hass, who patented the variety bearing his name in 1934. ○ White eggs come from hens with white feathers and white earlobes; brown eggs, from hens with red feathers and earlobes. ○ Dodecenal, a compound found in fresh Cilantro leaves, has been found to be twice as effective in fighting salmonella as the antibiotic most commonly prescribed by doctors worldwide.

USA Today’s 25 Most Memorable Quotes . . . . . . . . . . How many do you recognize?

1. “Let’s Roll.” - Said by Todd Beamer, Sept. 11, 2001, just before he and other passengers attacked terrorists controlling United Flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field. The White House may have been the target.

3. “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” Sept. 27, 1995 by Johnnie Cochran in the O.J. Trial.

4. “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.” January 26, 1998 by Bill Clinton at a White House News Conference.

5. “You’ve got mail!” - America Online - 1989. The voice, which still greets users, is El Edwards, the husband of an AOL customer service representative.

6. “Read my lips: no new taxes.” George H. W. Bush on August 18, 1988, accepting the GOP presidential nomination in New Orleans.

7. “Obviously a major malfunction.” Steve Nesbitt, NASA public affairs office, January 28, 1986, shortly after the space shuttle Challenger exploded.

8. “How do we know what irrational exuberance has unduly escalated asset values?” Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, December 5, 1996, interpreted as a warning stat stocks were too high. Markets plunged briefly the next morning.

9. “You can’t handle the truth.” Actor Jack Nicholson in 1992 - A Few Good Men.

10. “I knew Jack Kennedy; Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.” October 5, 1988 from Lloyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle during a vice-presidential debate.

12. “I want to focus on my salad.” Martha Stewart, June 25, 2002, on CBS’ The Early Show, when questioned about the probe into her stock dealings.

13. “Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?” Former labor secretary Raymond Donovan, May 25, 1987 after being acquitted of fraud charges.

14. “Keep hope alive.” July 19, 1988 - Jesse Jackson in a speech at the Democratic National Convention.

15. “I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these building down will hear all of us soon.” President Bush on Sept. 14, 2001.

16. “My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.” Vice President Cheney, March 16, 2003, on NBC’s Meet the Press, describing how Iraqis will react when U.S. troops topple Saddam Hussein.

17. “One more thing.” Apple CEO Steve Jobs, 1999. He uses the phrase before unveiling products such as the iMac and iPod at computer shows.

18. “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” Former North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano, March 4, 1993, accepting an ESPY Award shortly before he died of cancer.

19. “It takes a village to raise a child.” Hillary Rodham Clinton in her 1999 book, borrowing from an African proverb.

20. “I’d run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl.” Russ Grimm, 1984, a Washington Redskin who ended his career as a player with three Super Bowl rings.

21. “You gotta fight for your right to party.” The Beastie Boys, 1986, in the song Fight For Your Right.

22. “People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?” Rodney King, May 1, 1992, after the acquittal of Los Angeles police in his beating trial sparked widespread rioting.

23. “Where’s the beef?” Wendy’s TV commercial, 1984 later used by Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale to ridicule opponent Gary Hart.

24. “I can’t deny the fact that you like me! Right now, you like me!” Sally Field, March 25, 1985, accepting the Best Actress Oscar for Places in the Heart.

25. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” Jerry Seinfeld, Feb. 11, 1993, in the episode The Outing, later used whenever a gay character was discussed on the show.

# 10 -- Golfer: “Think I'm going to drown myself in the lake.” Caddy: “'Think you can keep your head down that long?

# 9 -- Golfer: “I'd move heaven and earth to break 100 on this course.” Caddy: “Try heaven, you've already moved most of the earth.”

# 8 -- Golfer: “Do you think my game is improving?” Caddy: “Yes sir, you miss the ball much closer now.”

# 7 -- Golfer: “Do you think I can get there with a 5 iron?” Caddy: “Eventually.”

# 6 -- Golfer: “You've got to be the worst caddy in the world.” Caddy: “I don't think so sir. That would be too much of a coincidence.”

# 5 -- Golfer: “Please stop checking your watch all the time. It's too much of a distraction.” ”Caddy: “It's not a watch - it's a compass.”

# 4 -- Golfer: “How do you like my game?” Caddy: “Very good sir, but personally, I prefer golf.”

# 3 -- Golfer: “Do you think it's a sin to play on Sunday?” Caddy: “The way you play, sir, it's a sin on any day.”

# 2 -- Golfer: “This is the worst course I've ever played on.” Caddy: “This isn't the golf course. We left that an hour ago.”

And the # 1 Best Caddy Comment..... Golfer: “That can't be my ball, it's too old.” Caddy: “It's been a long time since we teed off, sir.” (O’Hara)

Management Ideas . . . . . . . . . . Ideas are the lifeblood of an organization. Great organizations possess leaders throughout the organization who produce great ideas. The progress they make and the innovations they create don’t come down from on high. Their creative sessions are not dominated by top-sown leaders. Nor does every meeting become a kind of wrestling match to see who can dominate everyone else. People come together as teams, peers work together, and they make progress because they want the best idea to win. Leaders in the middle of the organization who help to surface good ideas are creating what an organization needs most. They do that by producing synergy among their peers - which makes the whole team better. (The 360-Degree Leader)

Selling . . . . . . . . It’s important to “thank” your customers every day. But here are times to be extra sure you thank them: * When they do business with you - every single time. * When they compliment you or your company. * When they offer useful comments or suggestions. * When they try a new product or service that you offer. * When they are patient - and also when they are not so patient. * When they complain to you. * When they help you to serve them better - some customers are prepared and make your life a lot easier. * When they recommend you to a friend or colleague. (Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service)

● At Three Minutes and Four Seconds after 2 AM on the 6^th of May - This year, the time and date will be: 02:03:04 05/06/07

I’m not going to remind you again - this is it - have you gone on-line and checked your personal credit? www.annualcreditreport.com is where