Offering Choices – A Good Marketing Practice

Ever notice how easy it is for someone to say “No?” Make it easier for them to say “Yes” by offering choices in your marketing.

If you’re a Realtor, rather than asking a listing prospect if they’re ready to list today, ask them if they’d like to list for 3 months, or for 6 months. If you’re trying to get an appointment with buyer prospects, ask them if they’d like to view homes on Friday or Saturday. Or ask them if they’d like to schedule time to see 3 homes or 5.

If you’re selling shoes ask if they’d like them in brown or black. If you sell furniture, ask them if they’d like the couch, or would prefer the whole set, with chair and ottoman to match.

That’s called an “assumptive close” because you go forward assuming that your prospect is going to say yes rather than fearing that they’ll say no.

It serves two purposes – the first being a change in your own attitude and the vibrations you give off. Your fear of a “no” could actually cause it to happen! We all give off vibrations all the time, and the one you want to give off is confidence. Confidence in yourself, and confidence that the product or service you offer is a good thing for your prospect.

The second reason is that as humans we all want to feel in control of our lives. We don’t want to be forced into a corner and we intensely dislike the “Now or never” ultimatum. I know, a whole lot of marketers use it, and some customers fall for it – out of fear.

But as a smart marketer, you’re in the business of creating lasting relationships with your clients – not one time orders based on fear of loss. You’ll gain their respect and their confidence when you offer them choices – even if that choice is waiting until next week to order.

If you’ve done the right things to collect your prospect’s names, you’ll be reminding them again in a few days. You can even tell them so, if you like.

You can use the same psychology in your on-line marketing and postal mailings.

Rather than offering a yes or no choice, offer 2 or 3 ways to take advantage of what you have to offer. Depending upon your product, it could be colors, styles, sizes, length of service, amount of service, or combinations of products and services.

For instance, if you have information products, why not offer individual e-books or bundles of 2 or more? Explain the difference between your books so your prospect has a clear understanding of which is best for his immediate needs – or why he needs them all.

If you’re selling a newsletter, offer choices in the length of the subscription. Of course offer discounts for longer terms, but let that be their choice, not your demand.

Whatever you’re selling – be it your services or your products, find some way to offer your buyers at least three choices – “no”, “yes this,” or “yes that.” And don’t mention the first one. They already know they can say no.

One caution – don’t overdo it. Remember that your goal is to make it easy for your prospects to say “yes” to something. When you offer too many choices you make it harder, so they’ll fall back on “no.”

A recent test showed that grocery store shoppers who were offered samples of a new jelly/jam brand chose a flavor and purchased when there were 4 or 5 choices. When they increased the number of choices to 15 or 20, they didn’t buy at all. Making the decision was simply too hard, so they walked away.

So, balance is once again the answer. Avoid only one choice, avoid too many choices. Always make it easy for your customers to say yes, based on a few good choices.

Marte Cliff is a Freelance Copywriter who specializes in making people feel good about buying products or services – or donating to worthy causes.

She has extensive experience in writing search engine optimized web copy, direct sales letters, postcards, space ad copy, press releases, and more. She is also available for marketing plan creation and editing services.

You can visit her at http://www.marte-cliff.com While you’re there, sign up for her marketing ezine. When you do, you’ll also get access to reports that will help you get better results from your own writing.

Web Design: Signed – Sealed – and Delivered

As a web designer starting out, I encountered this issue on two different projects and pass along the experiences so other designers don’t make the same mistake. The issue is this — when a client agrees to a web site design, be sure they sign off giving their approval in writing. Whether you devise a form or have someone such as a lawyer draw one up for you, the document should state two things. First, it should explain that by applying their signature, your client is approving the design as presented, with minimal revisions anticipated. Second, the document should state that any major revisions requested after the approval stage will cost your client additional money.

The first time this happened, I was designing an initial web site for a non-profit foundation board I was familiar with. There were problems with the project from the beginning, in that no one was offering design ideas or providing feedback on the three prototype sites I developed. Once they did, the board decided they liked a combination of two, explaining how they wanted the designs combined. With deadlines quickly approaching, I and several other board members understood this design was the one and I began building pages. However, as I started constructing the site, three board members met and decided they really didn’t like the design after all. Hours of work had just been wiped out. With approval in writing, everyone is more likely to understand the web development stage is underway and there’s no turning back, at least not without additional cost to the client.

The second instance also involved a non-profit organization with a slightly different twist. Offering my time and expertise as a volunteer, I had provided an executive director with four designs, and he selected the one that best met his needs. Again, I neglected to have the client sign off on the chosen design. In this case I hadn’t actually started building the site when I got a call that it just so happened the director had a niece with training in web design. She had seen the proposed site designs and wanted to give some feedback and revisions. It seemed odd someone was offering feedback after the client had selected their design, but with nothing in writing I had little choice but to go along. Again, had the client signed off as approving the design, he may very well have reconsidered having his niece review the designs or had her do so before choosing one.

Having the client sign off as approving the design applies whether you’re working with a paying client or as a volunteer. As a volunteer, you may not have the option of charging the client extra, but you can make it clear any revisions requested after sign off will mean that you charge the client from that point forward. In either case the outcome is the same – extra time and work is required because the client changed their mind. With nothing documented you have no recourse but to make the revisions at the agreed fee or as a volunteer, to keep working on the project. As a volunteer it’s easier to walk away than from paid work, but you also have to assess if taking such action is best for your business in the long-term.

Once a client has given their approval for a web site design, insist someone in the organization with authority sign off, with the understanding that any major changes will result in additional costs. The person giving approval could be a project or team leader, executive director, manager, etc. Give a copy of the form/statement to the client and keep one for your records. Not only is it good business, should the client decide they don’t like the design you’ve implemented, you have a written statement of approval and a means of financial compensation for your work.

Kathryn Schleich is a writer by training with over 15 years experience. She is in her final year of studies in graphic and web design, and plans to build a business around these three areas. She can be reached at kathrynschlei777@yahoo.com.

Choosing an Assisted Living Home For Your Elderly Parent

Making the decision that your elderly parent needs more than assistance in their own home is a difficult one. However, finding an assisted living home that meets your needs can ease the process. What sorts of things should you consider when choosing an assisted living home?

1. Proximity. If possible, choose a home that is close to your own so you can visit often and spontaneously. Knowing you are just a few minutes away will be comforting to your parent and will ease the transition.

2. Caregivers. Visit the home during each shift to meet the caregivers. States require training and certification, but you should look for experienced caregivers who genuinely enjoy caring for the elderly. Sometimes you can tell by the expressions on their faces if they are happy there, or just going through the motions. Ask how many caregivers there are per shift, and how many residents live in the home. Try to find an assisted living home with a high caregiver to resident ratio.

3. Meals. Visit during mealtimes. It is important that the food served be nutritious and delicious. The elderly eat less as they age. Appetites diminish over time, and taste buds degenerate. Food must be appetizing, fresh and high quality so that the amount eaten provides adequate nutrition. Ideally, choose an assisted living home with a nutritionist on staff, or one that consults with nutritionists for meal planning. Be sure the home caters to dietary needs and offers substitutes for restricted items.

4. Activities. Activities should nurture the body, mind and spirit, and create community. Ask for the monthly calendar of activities. Are the activities interesting, fun, engaging, varied? The primary reason the elderly are placed in assisted living homes is concern for their safety living alone. An assisted living home should not only be a safe place, but one of community for your loved one. Are residents in the common areas, or are they all sequestered in their rooms? Do they speak to each other at meals or during activities, or are the only voices those of the caregivers?

5. Amenities. Amenities can add much to the quality of life in a care home. This is where care homes can differ significantly. Ask what makes their home special. Do they nurture the body, mind and spirit? Do they offer holistic therapies? Special programs? Do they have doctors that make house calls?

6. Volunteers. Befriend volunteers, as they can be eyes and ears of anything amiss with the home. Homes that are interested in the well being of their residents will often utilize volunteers, such as for reading out loud, helping residents with writing cards or checks, etc., because it allows them to offer more to their residents.

7. Pets. There are organizations all across the country that train pets and their owners to provide therapy visits. Visits with animals are particularly appreciated by the elderly, especially those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Find out if volunteers come to the home, and what they do for the residents.

8. Cleanliness. Is the home neat and clean? Do the bathrooms look and smell clean? Are the common areas tidy? Do the residents look groomed and are their clothes clean? (Residents have rights and they are free to refuse showers, food, medication, assistance with dressing and hygiene, all of which can cause a resident to appear uncared for; however, the resident’s doctor, guardian or relatives are to be notified so that any underlying issues can be addressed. If all the residents appear to be unkempt, there may be an issue with the care being provided.)

9. Violations. States have regulatory agencies that keep track of the violations of assisted living homes. It may not concern you that much if a care home failed to chart one of its routine fire drills, but it should concern you if there have been multiple claims of abuse, neglect, or safety issues.

10. Cost. Care homes usually have sliding fees based on the size of the room, whether it is a suite with a private bath, and the level of care the resident requires. The more care, the higher the fee. The larger the room, the more the cost, with suites being the most expensive. Personal items, such as Depends, other hygiene items, denture creams, medication, etc. are all the responsibility of the resident. Meals and snacks, assistance with daily needs such as getting up, going to bed, bathing, toileting, cleaning, laundry service, activities and entertainment are usually included in the monthly fee. Find out what is not included in the fee, so that there are no surprises at the end of the month. And do not be afraid to ask what their policy is in raising fees: do they give notice, how often have they raised fees in the past, do they anticipate raising fees in the next six months?

Take a checklist or list of questions when you visit care homes. Make sure you get the answers to all your questions so that you are fully informed when making your decision. When you’ve done your homework and narrowed it down to the best 3 or 4 that meet your needs, if possible, take your parent to tour the homes. Allow your parent to select the one that feels right for them. You’ll ease the transition by including your parent in the decision-making, and you’ll both have peace of mind that you’ve made the best choice.

Karla Roberts is owner and visionary of Sharon Gardens Holistic Assisted Living Home in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her vision is to create an environment that uplifts, fulfills and soothes the body, mind and spirit of all who enter Sharon Gardens: residents, caregivers and visitors alike. To ensure their well being in every way, holistic therapies and treatments are a routine part of care of the residents and caregivers.

Sharon Gardens will be the recipient of donations through the author’s work with Humanity Unites Brilliance (HUB). The intention is to give free care to the elderly who have spent their lives serving others and do not have the funds to pay for needed assisted living.

For more information on Sharon Gardens Holistic Assisted Living home, visit us at
http://holisticassistedliving.org/

For more information on how you can positively impact the world and your life, visit
http://hubaz.com/

188 Stage Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) – Hero Guardian, Hero’s Allies

FORWARD

Kal Bishop’s 188 stage Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template. Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

PLOT POINTS, MID POINT and ACTS

Conventionally, a plot point (or twist) occurs at around page 30 and page 90. Thus Act I is approximately pages 0-30, Act II is approximately pages 30 — 90 and Act III is approximately pages 90-120. With the inclusion of a Midpoint at approximately page 60, we have Four Act Structure.

However, Three or Four Act Structure in this form is little use in writing a screenplay.

A more useful Four Act Structure is:

a) The Hero is encountered in and pushed or pulled out of the Ordinary World (and Ordinary Self).

b) The Hero becomes a New Self.

c) The Hero recognises an incompatibility between the Ordinary and New Selves. A lack of Wholeness.

d) The Hero confronts the Old and New Selves (represented by a Greater Antagonism) and Masters the Two Worlds and Selves to remove incompatibilities and attain Completeness.

(For the Complete 188+ stage Hero’s Journey simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ )

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

*****Hero Guardian*****

The Herald and Hero meeting is never quite as easy as it could be. There is always a block of some sort. Often Guardians block the Heralds from meeting the Hero. But obstacles can be expressed in many ways. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), the boys resist going into Joe’s camper.

*****Hero’s Allies*****

The Hero often has Allies in his Ordinary World that will accompany him on his Journey (often these are developed or more are encountered in the First Threshold). In Lord of the Rings (2001), Frodo has Sam and Pippin et al. It is these Allies’ Challenges that form the basis of the subplot.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.heros-journey.info/

188 stages of the Hero’s Journey can also be reached from http://www.story-structure.org/

You can also receive a free sample file by entering your email address at this site.

You can post this article on your web site or blog as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the links to our site URLs remains active.

**********************************

Kal Bishop, MBA

Texas Holdem Strategy – Making Money by Playing Poker

Everyone dreams to become rich by playing poker and be like Jaime Gold who won twelve million in the World Series of Poker. Firstly, to become a winning player you need to stop dreaming and start setting short term objectives and goals on how to achieve wins in poker.

Even in a game like Texas Hold’em you need to set goals. You should have determined the one thing you want and how you are going to get it. You must ask yourself that whether you just want to be going after the flushes or do you set an aim to be the holding Aces or the winning hand.

The best way to aim and set goals is by managing your bankroll properly in your pursuit of winning a major tournament. Professionals recommend that you always set a certain amount of your bankroll for a tournament and never risk more than 2%-3% of your entire bankroll on your tournament. It is advised by professionals poker players to make a spreadsheet (easily made through Microsoft excel) with your total money typed on the TOP. It will help you keep track of every penny you spend from your bankroll. Similarly, if your whole bankroll amounts to $2000 then, you should never spend more than $40 in one single cash game. No doubt, poker is a game of risk but spending more than 1%-2% is like giving it all away. The rule applies to all games whether they be multi-table, heads up, sit-n-go tournament or cash games.

Not spending more than 1%-2% of your bankroll is one wise way of strengthening your bankroll. This is not a hard and fast rule as you start winning beginners are advised to start raising their margins and risk more than 1%-2%.

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How to Read a Freelance Job Ad

The internet gives an entirely new dimension to job searching. You can seek, find, and answer job ads in a matter of minutes — and, if you’re lucky, find employment within days.

Of course, it isn’t always that easy.

When seeking the ideal (or just a darn good) freelance gig, you need to read ads with a more-critical eye. Here’s a few tips on sussing out the good job ads and ditching the rest:

1) Look for detailed, yet concise, ads. You want to know what you’ll be doing, but you don’t need specific job instructions just yet. Beware long, rambling ads — this is an indicator of an employer who’s not exactly sure of the job duties and will take up your time trying to explain what he or she wants from you. Likewise, stay away from vague ads that don’t provide enough detail for you to know whether you’re qualified for the position.

2) Beware the ad that seeks to micromanage your job application. It’s one thing for an employer to specify that they don’t want attachments; it’s quite another to be told that your application MUST be submitted as a Word doc, in 11.75 font, with no words that start with “s” or “u”. A micromanaging ad means a micromanaging employer.

3) Avoid defensive ads. An ad that starts out “Many of you aren’t good enough for this position, but you’ll apply anyway …” or likewise indicates a truly crotchety boss. And who wants that?

4) Look for a professional tone. Someone who can write a professional-sounding ad is likely (if not certain) to be a professional employer.

5) Don’t spend an hour on a job you haven’t yet gotten. Many ads ask for free work samples and detailed answers to questions. While it’s your call whether you want to put in this effort, be aware that it’s unpaid … and that this employer may expect more freebies in the future.

Good luck!

Allison Landa is a freelance writer and editor in Berkeley, CA. She is experienced with marketing copy, writing for the internet as well as for print, SEO, business-to-business, and journalism. Though she specializes in topics related to real estate, she’s written for industries as diverse as childrens’ products and womens’ lingerie. Visit her online at http://www.allisonlanda.com, or read her blog at http://www.allisonlanda.blogspot.com

Growth Stock Investing Versus Value Investing

What are the differences between the two, and does one work better than the other?

Growth Stock Investing

This form of investing was especially popular in the dot com era – growth investors invested extensively in high growth industries such as biotechnology and dot coms back in 1999. Growth investors bet on the stock’s strong future returns, and are willing to pay more than what the stocks are really worth based on today’s returns. This can easily create speculative bubbles – the most famous recent growth investing bubble was the one that burst in March 2000. Nonetheless, growth investors will also look to traditional industries if they predict a possible major change in trend or change in consumer tastes.

In contrast to value investing, investing in growth stocks also means foregoing the dividend yields that traditional stalwarts would offer. This is because growth stocks are also usually small to medium cap stocks – while Microsoft might have been an excellent growth stock pick back then, it has now reached the maturing stage where it would be difficult to double its value in one year.

Value Investing

Value investing means to invest based only on the actual value of the company today. The company must have strong assets, low debt, strong earnings, strong cash flow and a stable, established market position. The most famous value investor is probably Warren Buffett, who mastered this approach on his path to becoming the wealthiest investor in the world.

Value investors such as Warren Buffett are bargain hunters. They pay careful attention to the times when stocks are under-priced. These are the times when the market prices the stock below what it is actually worth, actually due to short term fluctuations. They look for competitive barriers that build a strong moat for the company; these include intellectual property rights, strong brands, and so on. These companies whether financial storms relatively well, and provide greater portfolio security.

Growth Stock Investing versus Value Investing

Given the current market conditions, growth investing is gradually shifting out of favor. Present market conditions suggest that it is time for bargain-hunting – value investing. The question that hangs over us all is whether we have already hit rock bottom, or if the bottom is going to fall out altogether.

Yuen is a financial expert, personal finance specialist and motivational speaker who writes for the Financial Freedom Guide and other major financial blogs. His writing emphasizes financial independence and the creation of long term residual income streams. Read his success story at Site Build It Reviews.

Cork Flooring Saves Trees

For some people when it comes to installing new flooring, they stick with the standard wood, but others know that cork flooring can be a great alternative. A cork floor may make some people think of a bulletin board in their old school, but it’s really nothing like that. Cork is beautiful and comes in almost every shade and color you can imagine, it will fit with any décor. You can get a cork floor in a wide array of textures and patterns too. Some make you think of pergo flooring and havea faux marble or wood grain pattern.

If you need something that will offer you excellent insulation then try cork. You will feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It is very energy efficient and you will have your bills lowered in the cool months. It is much better in terms of energy efficiency than discount wood floors or laminate floors. It also helps keep noise pollution down too. From between floors or even rooms.

Cork feels soft to the soles of your feet and more comfortable to walk on than stone, wood, tile, or bellawood. In the kitchen it is a great option since you spend so much time on your feet there. If you drop a plate, you might find that they don’t break or crack quite as easil on your cork flooring. This is a great plus, not to mention the fact the it is fire retardant, which can make your home safer.

Cork is an excellent choice in terms of the environment, since it is made from the bark of the tree. These cork oak trees grown in Spain and Portugal and do not need to be cut down to use the cork. The bark is simply stripped down and then it grows right back so it can be stripped down every nine years or so. This means that buying cork flooring does not deforest any land area, which is a major problem today.

You install cork flooring by either gluing it down to the ground or nailing it. You can lay it down on top of concrete or wood. You need to ensure your subfloor is dry before you put it down. Make sure you paint a sealant down before you lay down the cork flooring so it can be less moist. You can also get tiles of the peel and stick variety too,. These are super easy to lay down.

You can use a paint roller to lay down the adhesive before the cork flooring. When you put down the tiles you won’t see the seems. If you use a razor knife you can cut the tiles to fit difficult angles or corners. You will need to use a 100 pound floor roller after installation to make sure the flooring goes down properly. You can rent this. You should put a urethane layer over it for better protection.

Greg Hansward’s long articles can be found on many web pages related to laminate floors and cork tiles. With his detailed writings like http://www.insidewoodworking.com/flooring/cork_flooring.html, he confirmed his knowledge on things associated with cork flooring.

How to Get Your Articles Read

Are you one of those people that dread the thought of having to write articles? There are a lot of people that think there’s so much work involved and feels it’s all a total waste of time if no one reads them. On the other hand, some people hate reading articles – it can seem like a real chore, especially when the article is boring and doesn’t really offer much useful information. The main thing is that articles are meant to be read and their purpose is to impart information and your message. If your article is not read then it can be considered a waste of effort and time.

Articles have to be written to be read and it’s all a matter of making them interesting and good.. To write a good article does not have to be an arduous exercise. There are some guides to follow and some points to be reminded of. For some people article writing is not always easy at first. The more you do the easier they become. Then once you get the hang of article writing it can become fun as well as a profitable experience both for you and your website.

Writing articles is far easier if you write about already something you know about. If you own your own website then you’re probably already knowledgeable about a certain topic. If that’s the case, you’ll find it’s so much easier to write about it because you already know what it is and what it’s about. The only thing you need to do next is to make your articles interesting to your reader and creative. Even if you don’t own your own website there may be many things that interest you or you know enough about to write an article sof anything from 300-500 words.

Once your article is finished you want to get it read and enjoyed by the reader. Here are some useful tips for getting your article read and also make them interesting.

1. Your paragraphs should be short. When they are too long it’s difficult for the reader to read and the words can become a jumble in the reader’s head and can get quite confusing. If this happens the reader will skip over the paragraph and not really read it at all. Make your paragraphs short and make the sentences short. Write using simple words that the reader can understand.

2. Keep your article interesting. From the start try and grab your reader’s attention with a story or real life situation that makes your reader want to keep reading. Use good descriptions, metaphors and similes that appeal to their imagination. If the experience is an enjoyable and pleasurable one for them they are more likely to read from start to finish.

3. Use facts and figures. This isn’t always possible but if appropriate it can make your article more authoritative. Imagine you are having a chat with a friend so keep it friendly and informative without being too formal.

4. Use bullets or numbers. For each point that you want to stress bullets or numbers make the points easier to read and remember. When each tip, method, point etc. is made then the reader knows that this is where each one starts and makes them more memorable.

5. Create an attention-grabbing header or title. If the title does not get your reader to click on the article then it won’t get read, simple as that. Make use of keywords that people are looking for. Use a title that will evoke curiosity and you’re on your way to getting your article read. Make your header or title short and concise. For example, use articles such as “How to stay safe at night”; “10 tips for keeping the romance in your relationship”; “Coping with toddlers and tantrums”

Article writing gets easier the more you write. Think of it as a 3 step plan.

1. Tell the reader what you will be writing about.

2. Write about it and keep to the point.

3. Remind the reader and summarize what you have written.

Milos Pesic is a professional freelancer who runs a free content article directory. To submit your quality articles for massive web exposure, visit his article directory and share your knowledge with the rest of the world.

Your Life, Your Reality, Your Thoughts, Your Stability, Your Existence, Your Responsibility

I am, in this article, going to tell some uncomfortable, but real honest truths about reality that you may need to hear like medicine that burns, but heals. Everything you do makes you responsible for yourself, from thinking to action, everything. In a reasoned out and detached manner, I will explain how this rationally works in my life or the life of anyone in this article. When actions are taken, self responsibility is premium when being disciplined and honest in life, and existence. Think about it, everything we do is a cause that creates a result either rational or irrational. Avoiding responsibility is the ultimate dishonesty, and that does include blaming others for problems. Avoiding responsibility at the highest level ruins economies and societies of whole countries. Think about those past few sentences about responsibility, sure it burns, but it is the reality of the situation. The reality of each person in the mirror is your reality, it is as good or bad as you make it.

Sure, I could say unreality. But unreality is an irrational condition that does not count in real existence. Only reality counts, and that is the only thing we are responsible for, our reality. Sure we can avoid or fear all that we want to, but it will still be reality and it will still be there. That bill will still have to be paid in every way. The only solution is to go through the problem, learn the lesson and understand it. There are no short cuts. There are no tricks. All short cuts are a total illusion. Step by step integrations are the only way to exist. Developing genuine competence is the only logical way to work effectively. There is a better way to do it, but it always has to found through creative thinking and productive effort. No hops, skips and jumps about it. This is the way reality works.

The way genuine fantasy and mysticism works is to avoid. It is that simple. There is nothing else to it. When I say fantasy and mysticism, I do not mean religion or science fiction and dreams. I mean by mysticism, avoiding problems irrationally. I mean by fantasy, playing tricks on yourself with short cuts and substance abuse providing “benefits”. Sure, I could be less “blunt” and “mean”, but what value would it be to anyone, including you, me or anyone. None. Sure I am “a pragmatic and ridiculous idiot” to some who read my articles, but when push comes to shove, I do not mind that title, because if it helps myself, anyone, you and genuine reality in a genuine way and sense, then it is worth every word and worth it all. There is nothing to write for a good laugh when it comes to real grit and sweat business and reality. This is life, real existence and everything that counts. It is the super bowl final here every minute we are alive. Every second counts, there is nothing better than what counts. There is nothing worse than what does not count.

If life was not as good as we make it, we would all be nothing but what does not count, which would be an animal existence instead of a genuine, spiritual and human existence and conscious experience. Reality is ours when we are conscious, that means that there is genuine objective volition behind every action, good or bad. That means we have a genuine choice in what we make. I am not saying that whatever happens is alright, I am saying that we have a genuine hand in the genuine choice. So, what am I saying, existence is the ultimate business, the business of handling energy, situations, life and everything that has existence, including consciousness. That is it. Oh, there seems to be much more to it than that, but that is the essence of it all. That is the reality behind all the reality and unreality, energy and existence. There is no real nonexistence, except for mysticism and fantasy which lead to nothing but destruction and foolishness. Indeed, the reality of any situation is all that matters.

My name is Joshua Clayton, I am a freelance writer based in Inglewood, California. I also write under a few pen-names and aliases, but Joshua Clayton is my real name, and I write by that for the most part now. I am a philosophical writer and objective thinker and honest action taker.

I also work at a senior center in Gardena, California as my day job, among other things, but primarily I am a writer. As a kid I did construction work with my Dad which taught me many things like plumbing, hard labor and electrical systems, and I took notes for my Dad’s home poker games at my Uncle Johnnie Gilmore’s house, so I have a lot of life experience, sure. But I went to Cal State Dominguez Hills College, UCLA, and El Camino Junior College and learned a lot, but never got around to getting a degree, just lots of money spent, good grades and some credits. So, here I am currently freelance writing and working at a senior center for a living.

But enough details of my life, what I do is not what I am. So here is what I enjoy, I enjoy reading, listening to music (everything from Beetoven, Strauss and Bach to The Meters, ELO and The Band and Dylan/Garcia and The Grateful Dead also, when they were the Grateful Dead. Well, as you can tell by SOME of the music I listen to, I am a very eclectic person. I am also a deep science fiction fan and as said before, a lover of books. If I were to go into everything it would take thousands of words and I only have about three hundred words here, of which I have used 290 of already. Well, I end here. Thanks. Joshua Clayton.