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One of the things I do which I have not really talked much about, is visualization. So, today, I want to just talk about it a little bit.

There are several versions of visualization. One of the most common lately seems to be vision board idea from the movie, The Secret. Basically, it’s a poster with a bunch of pictures, words, ideas and etc of things you want in your life. You create this poster and hang it where you can see it now and then.

About 7 or so years ago, I took a course and we studied some of these things. We did several techniques of the vision board – we made mobiles with things we wanted career wise and we made rock gardens that were labeled with things we wanted in all areas of our lives. In fact, I still have them and there is only 1 thing in my rock garden that has not yet happened. It will at some point, I believe.

But anyway, there’s another thing you can do and by the title of this post, you’ve likely guessed it already. You can create a picture for your computer’s desktop wallpaper that includes the pictures, words and ideas you want to manifest. I actually have several wallpapers that rotate on my desktop all day long.

Every now and then, I will minimize whatever I’m working on and just look at that picture. And it’s refreshing. It puts things back into perspective when I need it. It allows me to dream a little when I need it. It’s so helpful in many ways, I don’t think I can explain it, really.

It’s just one of those little ways I can connect with myself and my desires and I thought I would share it with you today! I hope you find it useful.

Be blessed,

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! May your day be filled with love and joy.

We’re going to hang out with family and friends and just enjoy visiting.

The Christmas Song
(Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping on your nose,
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir,
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe,
Help to make the season bright.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow,
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.

They know that Santa’s on his way;
He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh.
And every mother’s child is going to spy,
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.

And so I’m offering this simple phrase,
To kids from one to ninety-two,
Although its been said many times, many ways,
A very Merry Christmas to you

Be blessed,

I have a really strong desire to write about a certain American college student who was convicted of the murder of her roommate in Italy today but I don’t want the enormous amount of traffic such keywords could generate to my humble lil’ blog here so I’m not going to.

(If you even remotely read, watch or listen to anything news related, I’m sure you know exactly whom I am talking about. You’d have to be living in cave somewhere in the middle of no-mans-land not to know her name and the situation.)

Even *I* know who she is and I haven’t watched TV or read the news in years.

But anyway, instead of stating my opinion about her, I’m going to talk about some of the tools I use daily and discuss my plans for a potential app I’m thinking of building.

First – what tools do you use in your business and personal life to keep organized? Is there a particular application you find indispensable? Do you use offline or an online apps?

I began using the 37Signals products about 5 years ago, I think. Maybe 4. I don’t really remember. But the real estate investor/trainer I worked with at the time, used them for his business and since I did 90% of his admin and teaching stuff for the training programs he ran, I learned to rely on them. As a result, I have continued to use them for both my own business as well as personal related things.

They’ve become invaluable tools to me over the years. But to really get the use out of them I need, I would have to upgrade to their highest level to get the full potential out of them. Instead of doing that, I am seriously considering writing my own application that I can install on my own server.

In some ways, this app will be fairly basic. In other ways, it will be quite robust, adding in features that just aren’t in the 37Signals group of products. Also, it will include the pieces of the various 37Signals products I use, like Basecamp, Backpack and Highrise that I find most useful. (And yes, those are affiliate links.)

Now, I’m not an app developer so this is going to take some time! I’m hoping I can have at least a good working model in place by Spring 2010. At this point, I have no idea if I will be releasing it for public use or if it will just be for me. But we’ll see what happens as the project moves forward.

Right now, my idea is only in the outlining and thinking stage. I’ve spent a good portion of today thinking out the details and getting them written down. I’m hoping to get a visual design this weekend as to what I want it to look and feel like mocked up. If I do, I may post a few snippets here.

I am also considering developing an app for my cousins hair salon business. She wants something to keep track of clients, bookings, co-workers, schedules and all that fun stuff associated with running a growing salon. (If you’re in Whatcom County, Washington, let me know and I’ll send you her way. She’s a fabulous stylist and nail tech and I’m not just saying that cause she’s my cousin! She is truly that good at what she does.)

Anywho, it’s getting late and I’m suddenly quite tired. I’m glad the weekend has arrived! Hope yours is a great one!

Be blessed,

I’m going to run a special soon for graphics stuff so if you’re in the market for a new header, new logo, or whatever, keep an eye out here. It may be a buy one get one free type of deal.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

You ask “What does Annie do?”

It seems I get asked this question an awful lot lately so I’m going to put it here in black and white for anyone who wishes to know. How’s that sound?

Good?

Ok, then . . . here you go:

Writing

Ghostwriting – any and all.

Design

Layout
I’ve done layout work for both digital and print products including full length books, training manuals, workbooks, study aids, annual reports, business plans, whitepapers, and nearly everything in between. I’ve even done cover and interior design and layout for cookbooks!

Research
One of my biggest areas of expertise lies in research. I’m very good at research – digging deep to find anything and everything on a given topic, place, person or business. In fact, for a few years, I was a skip tracer. I can probably find what you’re looking for.

Marketing Consulting
Over the years, working in printing and real estate, I have learned A LOT about marketing. I’ve helped start businesses (house cleaning, convenience store/gas station, print shop, computer repair shop and others) and I’ve helped run those same businesses. Not only have I put marketing and other systems in place, I’ve done bookkeeping and other management tasks. So you can be sure I understand the unique needs of small business owners.

In short, if it deals with marketing, writing or design whether for print or web, I can do it for you. And even though I have areas of expertise (like real estate, etc), I enjoy working with many different subjects.

And there you have it! That’s what I do.

Feel free to contact me if you need help with any of those. I’m going to be filling up my schedule for the 2nd half of 2009 soon so get in now while you can!

In the arena,

I’ll give the 1st 10 people who sign up to work with me (copywriting, marketing or design related) a 25% discount. You can find my fee schedule on the “Hire Me” page. Link above. And I love to barter too! So don’t be afraid to ask about that.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

Someone asked for a desktop wallpaper earlier today with the word ‘breathe’ on it, so I’ve created one. As always, feel free to download it for your personal use. If you wish to use it for any other purpose, please contact me.

Enjoy!

If you like this one, let me know if you have favorite word you’d like to have on one and I’ll put a few more together.

In the arena,

“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

Please feel free to use these on your desktop as your background/wallpaper. And do share but sure to let others know where you got them.

Hope you enjoy them!

In the arena,

Want to work with an award-winning writer? Now is your chance! Hurry and book for the 2nd half of 2009 before the calendar is full. I still have some space available. Check out the Hire Me tab above for info on how to contact me and your reserve your spot now.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

Here’s a few more wallpapers for your computer desktop in the luck o’ the Irish flavor for March.

Same rules as always – feel free to use for your personal, non-commercial enjoyment.

In the arena,

St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic. ~ Adrienne Cook

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.