There are ways to grow your business, even in these tough times…
Here are some questions to ask your management team. Or, maybe, you should be asking these questions of yourself.

• Where does most of my business come from? Are we concentrating in that area?
• How well does our web site convert visitors into customers? Is it as user friendly as it could possibly be?
• Does our sales team (even if it is only you) have the right tools and materials to convert opportunities to sales immediately?
• Are you selling the most profitable products or just the easiest?
• What sales process works the best? Is this process followed by everyone?
• What are you doing personally to help the sales effort?
• How quickly are sales leads followed up? Time kills sales.
• Does there seem to be a point at which the sales process stalls? Analyze and correct it.
• What is your average sales cycle …compared to the competition? Analyze and improve it.
• Is time wasted creating follow up, composing e-mails, doing excessive paperwork? Automate or eliminate!
• Is your correspondence, invoicing, sales material, etc. professional, error free and promoting your best image?
• Does your sales team have immediate access to up-to-date information, materials and competitive data?
• How did you score on the above questions? There could be a lot of additional sales out there, as a result of being truthful in answering the above and taking appropriate action.
• Contact your local SCORE Counselor or find a mentor online to get answers how to correct/improve on your current activities.

Bill Haman, SCORE Cincinnati
View more posts by Bill

I’ve actually tried this and it works.  I’m still looking into the different varieties of kombucha mothers but so far I think ours is the heartiest.

I set a goal to blog everyday for 40 Days.  Since I set this goal my schedule has gotten quite busy and it’s not as easy, but I won’t stop.  I’m more than halfway there and even though I’ve been running errands and working since morning, and it’s almost midnight, I made a commitment to me.  It’s important enough to me and I’m doing it.   I’m on my way to 40.
My first post was November 2nd, 2009.  I’m on blog 23 and I’m sleepy, but I feel great.   I’m growing my dream: Regenna London…best author in my world.  Got a Dream?  Commit 40 days to making your dream come true, that’s only five weeks, and five days, something amazing can happen for you too!

November 23, 2009 – Patients with a doctor’s recommendation can legally possess and smoke marijuana in California for medical purposes. But where do they get their pot? The recent crackdown on marijuana dispensaries in San Diego has raised questions about legality of growing it and selling it.

California law says patients and caregivers can form collectives or cooperatives to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes. And that’s what Josh Bilben said he’s doing. He said he’s providing a place for patients, who don’t grow, to get medication from people who do.”

“One of the big concerns that communities, city planner, everybody has is where is this coming from,”said Bilben. “And what I’m able to say is this is coming from right here. No other place.”

Bilben is the director of Delta Nine Therapy, a medical marijuana collective in San Diego. He spoke as he pushed aside a metal cage door and unzipped a plastic sheet, that covers the inside of a seven by seven foot room containing 24 marijuana plants. The room is one of two locations where his collective grows product. Banks of lights hover over the plants. A fan keeps the air moving and a humidifier puts out a stream of vapor. Bilben says he’s growing a variety of plants.

“Now the Indica, the Purple Kush… when you take that it basically, in stoner terms, is called a couch lock,” said Bilben. “You sit on the couch. You don’t get up. You don’t really think about a whole lot. Like I said, the purple Kush is really good for chronic pain.”

The collection of plants doesn’t look like very much. But Bilben hopes, once the plants reach their flowering apex, they will provide ten pounds of smokable buds for him and three other patients. The collective charges its members 18 dollars a gram for Purple Kush to cover the cost of production.

In September, San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced raids on 14 medical marijuana operations. She accused the dispensaries of earning a profit and selling to anyone who came in the door, both of which violate state law. Dumanis and police chief Bill Landsdowne went on to say they knew of no medical marijuana dispensaries in San Diego that were following the law.

But Josh Bilben believes he is following the law. Will Johnson does too. Johnson is director of the Kind Gardeners Collective, which grows plants in several San Diego locations.

“We have somebody’s patio. Somebody’s spare bedroom. We have an area in a commercial office. And this next month we’ll have the basement of a residential home,” said Johnson.

Johnson speaks from the patio of his Kensington home, located on the same street where the San Diego mayor resides. The growth of the medical marijuana business has raised concerns that dispensaries have gotten marijuana from illegal sources. Johnson says that’s certainly possible.

“Is there a loophole where the cartel can come in and join the collective, and then start supplying the collective? I can imagine that,” he said. “But think about that. Because we’re not talking about Mexican pot being brought up here, because no dispensary is going to sell Mexi. It’s crap.”

The tussle over medical marijuana in California heated up last week when the District Attorney of Los Angeles said his office would prosecute any collective that sold marijuana. In September, San Diego DA Bonnie Dumanis said patients who need medical marijuana should grow their own.

But while state guidelines require marijuana operations to be non-profit, they do not say sales are illegal. Josh Bilben points out his marijuana collective generates state sales tax. Alex Kreit, the chairman of San Diego Medical Marijuana Task Force, adds that the law makes no requirement that patients just grow their own. He makes the comparison between a marijuana cooperative and a food coop.

“Anyone who’s been a member of a food cooperative knows, it’s not like everyone who’s a member has to come in and grow their own turnips and grow their own radishes,” said Kreit. “I think that is just not consistent with what is meant by a collective and cooperative, and what the law contemplates as a collective and cooperative.”

The task force is writing recommendations to the San Diego City Council as to how medical marijuana businesses should be permitted and regulated. By Tom Fudge. Source.

I’m Willing …

To speak my truth
even when it feels uncomfortable.

I’m willing :
To try something different
even if I feel afraid

I’m willing :
To love without demands
even when my heart is hurting

I’m willing :
To learn something new
because I can never know enough

I’m willing :
To work harder for what I want
 even when I can’t see the way, I won’t stop.

I’m willing:
To accept responsibility for my success.
If it’s important enough to me, I will do what it takes.

I’m willing:
To forgive even when it’s hard.
I don’t want ill will corrupting my heart.  

I’m willing:
To live with passion every moment
because right now is all there is.   

I’m willing:
To be happy.
Why would I choose less?
Regenna London – poet
www.WhereWomenGrow.com

Well, I’m still a mess but at least for now, I think I know what to do:

1. Wait: what’s my bloody rush? If something develops between Mr. NY and LG… well, that’s life. I doubt that I could really stop something even if I wanted. I need time to digest this and figure what I want.
2. Be honest: (minus the email snooping incident) talk to Mr. NY and point blank ask if he is fucking her or is trying to.
3. Consider being even more honest: (still minus snooping) tell him why I was so upset and that I am confused.
4. As my dear friend March says: Do my things. That means, make art, do yoga, swim… do what I enjoy and what fulfills me.
5. Get lots of sleep. Time to go to bed.

I don’t want to feel belittled.

I don’t want to be around anyone or anything that makes me feel less than I am.  No, I want to feel big.  I want to grow.  I want to fill the space that my shell provides, I want to press into its corners and smooth myself into its crevasses – even ooze out the sides a little.  I want to send deep roots to forge down into the past and nest themselves there among the thick dust and the rich memories. I want a strong, rough, tough base so that I can grow higher.

I don’t want to be around anyone or anything that tries to box me in.  No, I want to expand.  I want to reach.  I want to push against the glass ceiling until it shatters, and then keep shooting up and out until I’m groaning against the canvas of the sky.  I want to press against that painting ’til I tear a hole and go sailing through into beyond.  I want the ambition of a thousand helium balloons.  I want to move fast and in every direction so that I can never be caught or held down.

I don’t want to be around anyone or anything that puts me down.  No, I want to succeed.  I want to stand tall.  I want to sprint to every finish line, and stop to smell the roses in the middle.  I want to ride unicorns, not horses, eat manna, not bread, see shooting stars in the daytime as well as at night.  I want to write, love, feel, live, sing, dance, and cry until I break.  I never want to hesitate.  I never want to wait.  I want the breath of a dragon and the heart of a prince in this gypsy’s frame.  I want words to build me a fortress, an armour, a sheath for my body to crawl into when it expires.  I want to feel as invincible as I am.

No, I don’t want to feel belittled.  I don’t want to be around anyone or anything that puts me down, tries to box me in, makes me feel less than I am.  And what am I?

I am the Universe.

I’ve observed situations where at one time in my life I would have described them as ‘crazy’.  For example; the woman astronaut who drove across country, wearing a pamper to confront a romantic rival.  At the time of the incident, I said that was crazy, but now, I’m thinking she exercised poor judgment, extreme poor judgment, that could mean the end of her freedom.  I don’t think that astronaut will ever repeat this action again, but if she does, I believe that would be crazy.  Crazy is doing the same thing and expecting different results.    

I notice that some of us complain a lot, and I’m not talking about venting.  We hate our job but are unwilling to take a course, learn a new skill, or look for another way to earn a living.  We love to moan and complain about people in our life, but we won’t put any effort into learning new ways to communicate, or techniques that can help make relationships better.   All that complaining never makes life better so why do it?  If complaining does not change the situation, then maybe we should stop, because it’s ‘crazy’ to expect different results when we’re doing the same old thing.

We may all exercise poor judgment at some point in our lives.  We learn from our mistakes and grow better at making choices. Then, there are people who keep hitting their head against the wall. They’re the ones whose calls go to voicemail when you see their number of the caller id.  I know I don’t want to hear the same old complaints over and over and over, when someone is unwilling to do anything different.  We all experience frustration, and venting is a way we can express that, but there’s no need to complain about rush hour traffic every day, that’s just crazy.  When we take responsibility for what happens in our life, we find that it’s hard to complain.  Wouldn’t it be nice if there was nothing in the world to complain about?  I know it’s possible, and I’m not crazy!   
www.WhereWomenGrow.com

Just Keep Swimming

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Two non indigenous plants are flowering this week and are beautiful. (in pots) The christmas cactus and an orchid.
I planted more seedlings this week, cauliflower, beetroot, green pepper and black basil.
Michael is quite busy this time of the year, moving seedlings into new pots and selecting the keepers. All the millions of seeds on top of the fridge are almost ready to be planted out so he has to make space for them. The have to make space again for the new seeds that have to go on top of the fridge. We still have some beauties flowering like my favourite clivia that is only starting now.

In the September Estates blog post, You Say Tomato, I Say…, I discussed how to start tomato plants.  Already, the tomatoes are sprouting and are big enough to leave the greenhouse flats.  They are now in 4” pots and available for purchase.

Many people don’t realize, but the tomato is actually a fruit.  They are low in fat and packed with fiber, Lycopene, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, Iron, Calcium, and Folate. 

When you plant the varieties of tomatoes I have chosen for our Florida climate (Bella Rosa, Floralina, Homestead, Florida Basket, Snow White, and Cherokee Purple) there are some techniques you should employ to increase your chance of success:

• Plant in raised beds, mounds, containers, or buckets with holes drilled for drainage
• Use the best good draining soil possible
• Place in full sun
• Water when the soil is dry
• Incorporate organic fertilizers
• Insert a tomato cage

Tomatoes are what you call “heavy feeders,” needing a balanced fertilizer throughout the growing season (September through April). The Estates uses worm castings, sea kelp, fish emulsion, bone meal, and Espoma brand fertilizer on ours.  We spray a soap solution once a week to keep insects at bay, and hand- pick the caterpillars off the leaves. Tom’s Plant Soap is available in the Estates Museum Store.  Other insecticides include neem oil, hot pepper spray, and pyrethroids.  As always read the label directions.  Beware of blossom end rot (caused by a calcium deficiency) and fungal diseases, such as early blight and light blight (soil borne fungi). Copper fungicide is labeled for tomatoes and can help control fungal diseases.

Cultural practices highly affect the outcome of tomatoes.  Hand watering at the root zone or using drip irrigation in the morning hours can help prevent withering.  Wetting the soil roots rather than the foliage decreases the chances of fungal diseases. Put dead leaves and rotting fruit in your regular garbage (you don’t want to risk contaminating your compost). High nitrogen fertilizer should be avoided as well. 

You can purchase Estates sprouted tomato plants, fertilizers, insecticides, and fungicides at the Estates Garden Shoppe, open daily from 9AM-5PM, or at the Downtown Farmers Market on Thursdays from 7AM-2PM.  We will keep you posted on the progress of our tomato plants.

Thanksgiving is a big holiday for my family.  It’s the one time of the year that my sibling and I get together to spend with Mom and a host of relatives.  There’s lots of laughing, and picture taking, and shopping and cooking and loud talking and being together.  I’m usually in charge of decorating the Christmas tree but my schedule won’t allow me to be there this year.  Thanksgiving will not be the same but that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy the day.   Someone else will be in charge of decorating the tree and it will be beautiful.  I won’t be with my family and I have no idea what we’re eating for thanksgiving dinner, but I’ll be with people I love.  I’m not worried about the ending of good olds day.  I’m creating new good days so I’ll never run out of good old days. 
To Jaquetta…enjoy every day!

Happy Holidays

www.WhereWomenGrow.com

Change can feel scary.  You don’t know what will happen next.  But think about it.  Do you ever know what will happen next?  Relationships are constantly challenged by change.  Children grow, and as early as the age of two, a child starts declaring their independence.  We call it the terrible two’s.  We can discipline a child, but we can’t control a two year old.  We can’t make them eat food, use the potty, or stop screaming.  It may be terrible for us, but the two year old is growing and the nature of the relationship between you and the child will continually change.  But the love you feel for that child, from the moment of conception will never end.  You may feel your heart is breaking the day your child leaves the nest for a life of their own.  But would you deny your child the opportunity to grow; to be independent; to explore the world because you don’t want to be alone?  That wouldn’t be very loving would it? 

Relationships change, but that doesn’t mean love ends.   I can be in love but not in a relationship.  Lots of folks are in relationships, but not in love.   It takes more than one person to have a relationship and just like you can’t control a two year old, you cannot control how another person will feel about you in ten years, or ten minutes.  It’s interesting how ugly we can treat people we love when they choose something different, especially if it means not being in our lives in the same type of relationship as before.  You may feel like your heart is breaking when things change, but denying the person you love the opportunity to live the life they want so that you can be comfortable, feel secure, or not have to change, isn’t real love in my opinion.  I think that is dependency. 

There’s no guarantee a relationship will last forever but real love will never end.   I know this because the love I have for people in my life who’ve passed away, is as strong as ever.  And I don’t have relationships with all the people I love for any number of reasons and that’s okay.  Because loving doesn’t require that I write a card, or see them every day, or ever again.  The love I know doesn’t have rules and regulations or a flow chart that says if they do this, continue love; if they do that, stop love.   A clue to real love is if you can think of any reason to stop loving, then it’s not real love.  True love is unconditional and without demands.  It is how God loves us.  Change is natural in relationships and life.  It’s how I get to grow better every day and I love it. FOR REAL.

Nothing Remains The Same

www.WhereWomenGrow.com

Rambled about Fuck Buttons & Growing show at Trip Trip Trip Rock for Fast Money Music.  Hope Sadie Laska takes my chauvinism with giant grains of salt. I do it cause I love!