Heart Choices: 2007 -->

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The Break Up


This is a great video. Advertising and marketing need to get the message. Conversation is a two way street.

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Evolution


You must watch this video. What does it say about beauty?

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Is Anyone Listening?


Listening is a choice. Traditional advertising is great at pushing out messages they think we need to hear. But there's a backlash of consumer protest. Consumers are becoming more and more powerful. The Internet has changed everything. In the past, word of mouth was from one person to another but now a dissatisfied customer can post a bad review and it can be broadcast instantly to the world. It's time for advertisers to LISTEN to the consumers. Advertising and marketing executives are waking up to the reality. And I for one, am glad!

I saw a commercial on TV for a mascara that is supposed to make your lashes about ten times thicker and more lush. Yeah, right? The model had the longest lashes and it was obvious they were false eyelashes. Who do they think they're kidding? No wonder we don't trust them anymore!
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My recommendations at ThisNext


Panda444's recommendations at ThisNext

I've found a fun website called ThisNext. I posted some of my favorite recommendations and this is a compilation of a few of them. You must check them out.


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What is Real Beauty?


I was fascinated by the Dove commercial called Evolution. It actually began on the Internet. I read this morning that it won the 2007 Cannes Film Grand Prix which is the big prize for people in the advertising industry. I was glad to read that because I think the advertisers have been going in the wrong direction regarding beauty.

You can click on the commercial and view it for yourself. But it really does show how our standards of beauty are pretty screwed up. An ordinary looking woman is transformed into a cover girl "beauty" with the help of makeup, hair and of course photo refinishing and touchup. Her face is plastered on a huge billboard as two young women walking by check it out. Do they really know that she doesn't really look like that? The message that women often get is that they need to measure up to that perfection, which actually is not perfection at all.

No wonder so many young girls are dieting and dealing with addictions and eating disorders. It's unrealistic to look like the ads in the magazines or the celebrities they see at the grocery checkout stand. What ever happened to the wholesome look? And whatever happened to developing those inner qualities?

How does this come back to choices? We have a choice to accept what "they" are telling us is fashionable and beautiful or to discard it and decide for ourselves. By the way, who exactly are "they" and why should we listen to them? I think it's normal to want to be pretty and to look nice but the obsession with being just like the images on billboards, magazines and in the movies is so impractical. I think we need to focus on the other qualities of honesty, intelligence, doing what is right, knowing what we believe and why. I've learned over the years that beauty only lasts so long. As I look in the mirror and see far too many wrinkles, I'm glad that I attempted to also focus on other areas of my life.

So, I'm thrilled with this Dove Evolution commercial. May young women view this and realize they are each beautiful in their own very special way.
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The Choice to Mentor


Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a brunch in honor of a woman who has mentored more than 20 women. Susie is 71 years young and has probably never considered the word retirement. As I looked around the room, I saw many young mothers and some who were a bit older. But the common denominator was that each woman had spent hours with Susie one on one as we allowed her to mentor us using a program entitled "Called to Obedience". It is a Christian based program that uses the Bible as the standard and has helped many people over the years. The author of this study is Dennie Dowell and she was in attendance also. It was so interesting to hear her testimony of becoming a Christian in her adult years. She and her husband helped many people who were struggling and he has since died. I'm sure it was inspiring for her to see the impact of their work in obedience to God.

As I'm entering the latter half of my life, I have a choice. I could rationalize that I've worked hard for many years and now is the time to sit back and enjoy. Or I could learn from both Susie and Dennie that it's even better to give to others and be used as a mentor. I believe our world has too few people who are willing to sit with another and offer wise counsel. I enjoyed having a mentor and I hope to be a mentor to other women.
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Choices People Make


I have to admit that I'm a fan of the reality TV show "Survivor". A part of me would love to be a contestant on the show and the other part of me doesn't like to starve and be seen without makeup and in a bathing suit, especially on national TV. Not that they would pick me since I'm older than 45 (and that's all I'm saying). But I would like to show those young people that just because you're older doesn't mean you can't compete. I've learned much about relationships and I believe that's a big part of outlasting the others.

However, I have to say that I was so disappointed in Dreamz. He made a verbal agreement with Yau Man and he didn't deliver in the end. He got greedy and wanted the 2008 truck and in the end used the excuse "it's just a game". Yes, it may be a game but integrity would have been the better choice in this instance. Dreamz has a son and what will that tell his son about his father. That when it comes down to a new truck or delivering on your word, greed got in the way.

I think Yau Man would have won if Dreamz had delivered. But I also liked Earl and I'm happy for him. What do you think Dreamz should have done? What choice would you have made if you were in his shoes?
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Premier Issue of Heart Insight


Heart Insight is a brand new magazine for patients, their families and caregivers. It is published quarterly by the American Heart Association. I just read their premier issue and it's very engaging and easy to read.

This is a magazine that needs to be in the hands of every person who has heart disease, diabetes, or stroke or who has risk factors for developing those diseases. There was a section that discussed portion sizes and you'd be amazed at what actually constitutes a portion size. When you see a picture of three dice next to a cheese portion, it looks pretty small. There was an interesting article on making sense of food nutrition labels. They can be very challenging and furstrating unless you know exactly what to look for. I think they did a great job in making it simple for the average person. The magazine is FREE to all! You simply need to go to their website: www.heartinsight.com and enter your information and you will receive the next Heart Insight magazine.

As a cardiovascular nurse, I am excited that this publication comes from a very reliable source, the American Heart Association. They are committed to public education and outreach and I applaud them.
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Word of Mouth Basic Training


As a member of WOMMA, we're gearing up for Word of Mouth Basic Training-- and we want you to be there with us! Trust us when we say it's worth it. It's April 17-18 in New Orleans and there will be tons of cool speakers, authors, and keynotes. Plus, there's food. Lots and lots of food. This is no snoozer, either. If you want to learn more about word of mouth marketing, and schmooze with word of mouth marketers, this is the place to do it.

We've arranged for a special $75 discount as a courtesy to our friends, colleagues, and associates. Just use the code guestofinvolvetech when you register at http://www.womma.org/wombat3.

Involve Technology is a leading member of WOMMA, which is committed to building a prosperous word of mouth marketing industry based on best practices, measureable ROI, and ethical leadership. You can learn more about WOMMA at http://www.womma.org.
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