How NOT To Make Your First Impression

March 13th, 2010

Have you come to terms with the fact that you need recent photos to meet someone online? Good.

Now let’s cover some photos dos and don’ts…

Smoking in Your Photo

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This habit is becoming more and more of a turn off. If you are looking for a date, I would suggest losing the photo with the cigarette in your hand or even worse hanging out of your mouth. If you refuse to quit or are just the smoke after sex type of person, then go for it and post your smoking photo. Just know that you will be placing the odds against you. Be mindful of what you are doing or what you are holding in your photos and how others may perceive it.

Drunkenness Photos

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Holding a glass of wine? Okay. Standing in front of a giant beer can pyramid? No good. You don’t want to come across as a fall down sloppy drunk. You can do that on your first date.

Risque Photos

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Why am I writing about this? You would be surprised at the kinds of photos that people upload to getsteady.com. I have nothing against putting yourself out there however way you wish. God knows I have done it. We have to be mindful of how we present ourselves on the different sites that are available to us.

When you look at getsteady.com homepage you get a pretty good idea that this is supposed to be a quality dating site. So why on earth do people upload nude photos to this site?


If you are looking for a date keep your clothes on and join sites that are clearly relationship minded. If you are seeking a fling, by all means take your clothes off and join sites that are geared toward that.


I am assuming you are here because you are looking for a friend, date or relationship. In order to accomplish this we need to keep our clothes on.


My Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/icecreamtruck


You Need A Photo!

March 13th, 2010

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It’s 2010 folks, if you plan on meeting someone online you need a photo. If you don’t have a photo you are just setting yourself up for frustration. Not only do you need a photo, you need a current photo and not one from 5, 10, 15 years ago.


Listen, I don’t care what you look like or what you may think you look like. There is someone out there that finds you attractive. Guess what? There is more than one person out there that finds you attractive. In order to find them you have to put yourself out there.


When you go out , do you go out with a paper bag over your head? I didn’t think so. Think of being online as going out too. You need to prepare for it.

Webcams, digital cameras and cell phone cameras. There are a plethora of devices out there to help us snap the perfect image. They are cheap too!


If you are going to attempt to meet someone online you need a photo. Just accept this fact. Some of you have this covered as you have 1,000’s of photos of yourself plastered all over the internet. Others I know are a little squeamish at the thought of having to put a photo online or having to take a picture of themselves. Get over it. I am going to help you tackle these issues over this weekend.




My Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/icecreamtruck


Let’s Find A Date! Make Your Dating Email Addy

March 11th, 2010

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The first step is to make a separate email account for your online dating adventure.  I highly recommend Google’s Gmail.


1. Go to http://www.google.com/

2. Select Gmail in the top right

3. Select ‘Create an account’ on the bottom right


Why? You need a powerful email solution to help you manage all the email from potential dates as well as all the spam from the dating sites you sign up to. Since this email is for dating purposes we want to avoid using certain phrases: “hot, stud, top, bottom, 69, etc”


Why? We are looking for a date so we want to come across as being as sane as possible even if we aren’t.


We don’t want to come across as a sex addict or someone who is narcissistic. If you think you’re hot, that’s great! If you are a bottom fantastic! What you want us to know may not be the first thing we want to know. Now come up with a generic name that relates to you somehow. It can be related to your hobbies, job or where you live.


Here are some examples:


PhotoGuy77 – Hints that I am interested in photography and possibly born in 1977.

Hiking2fit  – I like hiking to stay fit.

Nycguy1980 – I live in NYC and was possibly born in 1980 or maybe that’s when I moved to NYC.


Setting up a separate email for online dating is an important step to ensure your success. If and when you connect with the wrong person, who let’s say won’t stop messaging you – you can now apply a filter that blocks them. Never use your work email or your regular email.



My Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/icecreamtruck


Where Does Your Inspiration Come From?

February 25th, 2010


I feel so blessed to be surrounded by people who generously share their wisdom and insight with me. Sometimes they are not even aware of the powerful affect that their words have had.


This is a shout out, a grateful salute, a love wave to all of the amazing beings whose words have provided much needed inspiration over the past few months.


‘Duh, Uncle Joe.’ – Noel, my 3-year-old niece


‘Go deeper.’ – Murray Nossel, Narativ, Inc. Storytelling Founder and Facilitator


‘How are you going to fund your dreams?’ – Lisa Nichols


‘Where are you? You seem very far away.’ – a friend


‘Pay attention.’ – a consistent note in my meditations


‘You just need to ask for it.’ – Eugenia


‘No more second best.’ – Robin Coley


What inspiring things have been spoken in your presence lately?


Today’s Powerful and Positive Affirmation is:
“I am open to inspiration and wisdom from unlimited sources.”


Thanks and peace to all!


Joe

What’s Your Fear Factor?

February 24th, 2010

“When you take a leap into the well of fear, you may notice that things do not feel very good there. When you retreat into that darkness, things may seem overwhelming and impossible. You may become ‘paralyzed’ and find that you are moving AWAY from your dreams instead of INTO them.


What price do you pay when fear takes hold? Notice what happens on the physical level – perhaps constriction of muscle, a tightness in your chest, shallow breathing, or cold sweat. When you are lost in fear, what emotions creep in? Where do your thoughts go? What happens when you are happy and full of excitement?


When you can identify your fears and embrace them with love and compassion, then you will find that the time you spend visiting them DECREASES and the time you spend in excitement, joyful curiosity, wonder, and PURE LOVE INCREASES.


Which would you prefer?” – At One


Today’s Powerful and Positive Affirmation is:
“I live in excitement! Life is so good to me all ways!”


Today I am grateful for the teachings of love vs. fear, prosperous new business ventures, new Spiritual Coaching clients, Murray and Jerome at Narativ Inc. for breakthroughs in storytelling and writing, Lisa Nichols, Ardyss International, Robin, Fred, workshops that are overflowing with participants, gray skies, winter rain, deep sleep and YOU.


Thanks and peace to all!


Joe

What Are You Doing In That Box?

February 22nd, 2010

“When you open to possibility, possibility enters. When you open to YOU, YOU enter.”
– from a meditation on the morning of 2/21/10


I met Lisa Nichols yesterday afternoon. If you don’t know who she is, I highly recommend that you find out (you could start with The Secret or Lisa’s book No Matter What), check out her inspirational story and get into one of her transformational workshops or other events ASAP.


Lisa knocked my socks off when she spoke at Sacred Center NY. I was so impressed I stayed for her 2-hour workshop after the service. By the end of that I was a devotee, so when she asked us to continue the conversation at her hotel room I practically offered to carry her there on my back.


The main thing I took away from that meeting, besides a new business and new business partners – which I’ll share more about soon so that you can share the wealth, was (yet again) “Get Out of The Box!”


“When you limit your self based on beliefs and stories from the past, you take a back seat in your own life.


All of the could haves, should haves, and would haves don’t matter today, right here and NOW. Once you move beyond the shelter of what was, you’ll find that what is and what can be is far more exciting and often more comfortable and prosperous. Love the stories and know that you can leave them behind. You will be just fine without them!


Where in your life are you being quiet and small? What do you want for your self? What kind of life do you dream of living? When will you start living it?


Are you willing to take a chance and jump out of the box once and for all?”


Today’s Powerful and Positive Affirmation is:
“I am in the process of growing the life of my dreams. I have all that I need, all of the time. All is well.”


Big thanks today to Lisa Nichols, Sacred Center NY, Greg Halpen and his Profound Visibility commitment/teachings, NYC libraries, the McBurney YMCA, my breath and body, sugar-free days and nights, sexy men and women who love their bodies, my book agent, editor and publisher, Mondays, and the excitement that new awareness brings.


Thanks and peace to all!


Joe

What Do You Expect?

February 18th, 2010

The New York City subway system is one of my greatest teachers.


The other night I was waiting for the #3 train to take me from 14th St. to my stop uptown in Harlem. The #3 is an express train and on a good night I can make it uptown in less than 30 minutes. Alas, this was not a ‘good’ night – all express and local trains were switched to the local track.


“Well,” I thought angrily, “now it’s going to take me longer to get home than I expected, and I’ve got to pack my bag and prepare my lunch for tomorrow. This sucks. I probably won’t get to bed until 1am.”


As the subway moved slowly uptown I became more irritated. “This train should be moving faster!”


At 23rd St., 34th St., Times Square and several other stops the train was delayed and sat motionless with the doors open. “Those doors should be closing now,” I said aloud.


“Really?” answered my voice in my head. “Should the train really be doing anything but what it’s doing now? You could get up and go to another subway line, take a bus or a cab, or even walk home. What you are doing now is painful.”


I took a deep breath and sat up, long and tall, in my seat. I had been leaning, knees on thighs, shoulders hunched and forward with my head in my hands, rubbing my furrowed brow. I looked at the clock on my Blackberry. I had been lost in stressful thoughts about the train (and a few other things that my negative thinking dug up) for nearly 30 minutes and my body was showing me what happens when my mind takes a stroll into the land of expectation.


“If you think you can lead a happy life by going through your days with a list of expectations, please think again.


There is nothing that is guaranteed to go exactly as you think it should.


‘My kids should behave.’ ‘My husband should keep the bathroom clean.’ ‘The trains should be on time.’ ‘Everyone should be happy.’


Those ’shoulds’ can lead to disappointment, frustration and anger.


What if you just let things be? Or, ask that things be done or kept a certain way without expecting that they will.


Release your self from the nightmarish grip of expectation and you will find that your ride home is always pleasant and that your heart is filled with gratitude for the way things are.


What else is there but what is?”


What expectations are you harboring?


Today’s Powerful and Positive Affirmation is:
“I am open to experiencing everything as it is.”


Thanks go out to Jean at Nurture’s Path for giving me an opportunity to see and say what I’m good at, clients who teach me valuable lessons, a sweaty Spin class, friendly bank tellers, Sound Circle participants who fill the room with sounds of love, waking up to the sun, new and prosperous business, my book agent, editor and publisher, Narrativ Inc., and a chocolate-free day.


Thanks and peace to all.


Joe

Bring On The Love!

February 8th, 2010

Valentine’s Day is coming up on Sunday (Feb. 14th), so I thought I’d dedicate this weeks posts to the topic of love.


As I sat to type this, two examinations of love appeared on my Google News Sidebar. One is a scientific piece on how love may be measured, and the other is about an Indian woman called Amma who shares love freely through a hug (a hug that I have experienced and wrote about last July).



Amma

So we’ve got science and spirit working the love angle.


Here is what my spirit had to say about the subject:


“When was the last time you danced with someone you love?


When was the last time you sat quietly, looking into the eyes of someone you love?


When was the last time you looked in the mirror and said, ‘I love you’?


Love will all ways be here, waiting for you to tune in, to acknowledge and receive it. It cannot go away. It lives, endlessly, inside of you and all things.


Love just loves.


How about you?”


Today’s Powerful and Positive Affirmation is:
“Love is all around me. I welcome it all ways.”


Today I am grateful for another opportunity to know love, to joyfully share my vision through this blog, to know and love so many amazing people, and to make money by doing what I love. I am grateful for Odwalla Mango Tango juice, the Jefferson Market Library, ever-changing technology, my new mini-notebook, new and prosperous business opportunities, and my book agent, editor and publisher.


Thanks and peace to all!


Joe

What Are You Whining About?

February 2nd, 2010

The way we ask for or talk about something can have a great impact on the way it ultimately appears (or does not appear) in our lives. Are you a whiner or a commander/allower?


“Whenever you make a request for something, the Universe all ways responds. It doesn’t matter what the thing is. The Universe doesn’t judge the size, shape or cost of your request, it just provides you with the means with which to manifest it.


The Law of Attraction or Manifestation says that what you focus on grows, your thoughts are things that appear or disappear according to the attention you give them.


If you whine about something that is not showing up in your life, then chances are that it will continue to not show up. If you say in your whiny voice, “I really want that, but…” and the underlying conviction is that you are unworthy or undeserving, than guess what happens? It doesn’t come, and if it does, you are likely to miss it because you are focused on it not being there.


Pay attention to how you are thinking and talking about what you want. Use your mind to empower you, to command the results that you desire, to allow the most pleasant events to unfold with great ease.


Focus on the mess and there will be more mess. Focus on the gold and you will find rainbow after rainbow after rainbow on your path.


Like attracts like. What are you like?”


Amen!


Tuesday’s Positive and Powerful Affirmation is:
“I allow my dreams to unfold in the most abundantly beautiful and empowering ways. All is well.”


Today I express my gratitude to the wise trees, the waters, the wind, the sun, moon and stars, the New York Shamanic Circle, my home at the beach, my feet and hands that take me where I want to go and open the doors, my breath, my open-mindedness, my book agent, editor and publisher, new and prosperous business opportunities, friends and family.


Thanks and peace to all!


Joe

What Does It Mean to Be Selfless?

February 1st, 2010

I recently had the great pleasure of being part of a group that organized a fundraiser for a friend in need. Well, quiet honestly, it didn’t always feel like a pleasure. I volunteered to take a leadership role and as things progressed my negative thoughts sometimes got the better of me.


It wasn’t as if I didn’t want to help, I just realized that I was not interested in doing some of the things that seemed to be required of me in order to make the event a ’success’. So I delegated what I could and as the event date approached I began to loosen up about the remaining tasks.


On the day of the fundraiser I had lots of fun playing cheerleader and rallying attendees to bid on the auction items. “This is what I’m good at,” I thought. “This is what I enjoy.”


Once again I learned a lesson about doing what I love and allowing myself to let go of what I don’t. Super! Then I hit the bonus round: Selflessness.


I realized that as soon as I let go of thinking that the small yet necessary tasks were a bother, and got into the flow of what I love, my energy picked up, and I allowed my ‘true self’ to shine. And that helped me rediscover the pleasure of giving.


As I heard in my meditation,


“One way to be sure that you are acting from a place of pure generosity of spirit is to ask your self why you intend to do the thing that you say you are going to do. From what place inside of you does the desire to do, give, or act come from?


Perhaps when you can learn to do for you then you can truly give in a way that is selfless.


As with many things, that may require practice.


Are you willing to try?”


Sounds good to me.


Today I am grateful for the Jefferson Library, heat and hot water, sunny Mondays, instant messaging, the start of a new month, books, music, memories that make me laugh, my jobs, new and prosperous business opportunities, my book agent, editor and publisher.


Thanks and peace to all!


Joe