Meet SanDanYi (Journey #7)

I was juggling too many things: web design, efusjon, pranzo, SMT, KOC, family, & friends. Did I mention that I was also the President of the most dysfunctional homeowner association in Los Angeles? At least that was the word on the street.

SanDanYi entered like a stranger from a distant planet. I'd seen him several times around the condo building, walking the dog, getting the mail, etc, but no one seemed to know who he was. He seemed like a normal sort of guy. It was said by one homeowner, he was a life coach or a healer or a therapist? No one really knew, but, like a guarding angel, he appeared in my life, offering me his time and help with my task as president. Oh BTW (my new lingo), I do believe in angels.

After a couple of sessions with this very unusual and perceptive man, I was feeling more focused. I realized I could handle this job (at least for a year or two) no matter how crazy the other board members were. Little did I know what was in store for me and how my life was going to change.

Catalina Correspondents (Journey #6)

Promoting Catalina Island was the primary goal for me. Catalina is a day trip, weekends max. Many Californians had forgotten about this island 26 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. They had been traveling to more exotic places, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Capri, etc. But now expensive travel was out of the question for most people.

How do I begin? I was told the only way to get my message across now-a-days was through the world wide web. That meant creating a website. No one I knew had created their own website but I was the proud owner of a Macbook Pro. It had a program called “iweb.” How hard could it be?

Now that I had discovered my new passion, building websites, I spent all my spare time at the Apple Store learning my new trade.

~ a person who is not living their passion will only become exhausted by their workload~SanDanYi

I didn't know any programming terminology, let alone what I was doing. The trainers at the Apple Store were more than willing to help an old lady try to do what of course, only the young could. They thought it was cute that I was trying to build a website on my own. Whenever I updated the site in order to admire my new creation, I got an "error" message which of course I didn't understand, thus sending me back to my new "happy place,"the Apple Store.

The specialists were beginning to know me by name and could identify my URL ("website address" for those who don't know the correct terminology) simply by looking at my face.

Meanwhile back at retirement central, Mary spent most of her time working on Efusjon as she was sure that is was the way to get rich. We both had our three and things were going along well.

Mary read everything on the subject of "how to create a home-based business" and was very impressed with the accomplishments of Derek Broes. She believed that he had the talent to bring Efusjon to the top of the MLM's and she became his loyal follower.

Both ventures were taking far longer than either us expected. Mary did research and wrote articles for our travel site. I tackled the web issues. We thought three months was enough time to be on the road to financial independence. But, Efusjon's highly anticipated launch on Facebook came and went without much notice and catalinacorrespondents.com is still under construction.

Enter: SanDanYi, a stranger from a distant planet!

Join Me at The Bar

Join Me at The Bar

THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Journey #5)

I hadn't told my husband about my new business venture, as he tends to be a bit negative about this sort of thing. There was no need to let him in on my brilliant plan, at least not yet. I had enrolled 3 before the big launch in July. I was now entitled to receive money and would automatically be part of the new Facebook promotional game that assured automatic something or other…

My first order arrived. My family and friends enjoyed Efusjon Raw giving it rave reviews. It was a healthy alternative to the typical soft drinks, lower in calories, carbs, sodium, and sugar. Edge was to appeal to the red bull drinkers, touting it's nutrient benefits. But, amazingly, none of my family or friends drank these products and did not see the opportunity Mary and I had.

At work, I promoted the product by replacing coke with Efusjon in Pranzo's lunch orders. My strategy was to get everyone hooked on the drink. You know “the first one is free” concept. That did work! Clients were requesting the drink and within two months my investment was covered.

Now to work on the young and innocent. I knew they drank red bull and soft drinks. They needed additional income. The product would be delivered right to their doors. Also, it could be used as a marketing tool, much like the Fuller Brush Man and the Avon Lady. Once I explained who those people were, well I think you catch my drift.

I told you I was going to be popular!

Join Me at The Bar

Join Me at The Bar

MEET MY GIRLS (JOURNEY #4)

I started Pranzo, a lunch catering business 12 years ago. Starting a business gave me something to do while my youngest child, Blaine was at school. I can do lunch! My father had a lunch business that we all worked in. I love lunch, no weekend, nights, or holidays, & some extra income for all those singing lessons.

Heidi my eldest daughter, wanted to try her hand at marketing. OK, let's see what she could do. Before I knew it, I had a commercial kitchen preparing and delivering 300 lunches a week. Everyone Heidi met became a client. They were either in the post production or pharmaceutical industries. Before I knew it, we had to turn down business. She even managed to get her brother, Tony a job with a post production company. How perfect was that, he was a graphic designer!

Heidi was taking over the business and I prepared menus and did the billing. I developed some computer skills, worked from home, continued with my school and church charities, played some tennis, lunched with the ladies, etc.

Blaine, my youngest was in high school. She made the desserts after school, in between singing lessons, and we had a wonderful family business.

Life was great!

Join Me at The Bar

Meet Me at The Bar