A Smile

A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor, but that he can be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone, until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile; Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

Things change, keep up your faith!

For most people, graduation is an exciting day – the culmination of years of hard work. My graduation day… was not.

I remember that weekend two years ago. Family and friends had flown in from across the country to watch our class walk across that stage. But like everyone else in my graduating class, I had watched the economy turn from bad to worse my senior year. We graduates had degrees, but very limited prospects. Numerous applications had not panned out and I knew that the next day, when my lease ended, I would no longer have a place to call home.

The weeks ahead weren’t easy. I gathered up everything I couldn’t carry and put it into storage. Then, because I knew my small university town couldn’t offer me any opportunities, I packed up my car and drove to Southern California to find work. But what I thought would take a week dragged into two, and then four, and 100 job applications later, I found myself in the exact same spot as I was before. And the due date to begin paying back my student loans was creeping ever closer.

You know that feeling when you wake up and you are just consumed with dread? Dread about something you can’t control – that sense of impending failure that lingers over you as you hope that everything that happened to you thus far was just a bad dream? That feeling became a constant in my life.

Days felt like weeks, weeks like months, and those many months felt like an unending eternity of destitution. And the most frustrating part was no matter how much I tried, I just couldn’t seem to make any progress.

So what did I do to maintain my sanity? I wrote. Something about putting words on a page made everything seem a little clearer – a little brighter. Something about writing gave me hope. And if you want something badly enough… sometimes a little hope is all you need!

I channeled my frustration into a children’s book. Beyond the River was the story of an unlikely hero featuring a little fish who simply refused to give up on his dream.

And then one day, without any sort of writing degree or contacts in the writing world – just a lot of hard work and perseverance – I was offered a publishing contract for my first book! After that, things slowly began to fall into place. I was offered a second book deal. Then, a few months later, I got an interview with The Walt Disney Company and was hired shortly after.

The moral of this story is… don’t give up. Even if things look bleak now, don’t give up. Two years ago I was huddled in my car drinking cold soup right out of the can. Things change.

If you work hard, give it time, and don’t give up, things will always get better. Oftentimes our dreams lie in wait just a little further upstream… all we need is the courage to push beyond the river.

P.S:- This is not my personal story..Story has been taken from some sources.

I have learned…

I’ve learned- that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them. 

I’ve learned- that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back. 

I’ve learned- that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. 

I’ve learned- that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. 

I’ve learned- that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts. 

I’ve learned- that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse. 

I’ve learned- that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something. 

I’ve learned- that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do. I’ve learned- that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. 

I’ve learned- that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. 

I’ve learned- that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. 

I’ve learned- that you can keep going long after you can’t. I’ve learned- that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. 

I’ve learned- that either you control your attitude or it controls you. 

I’ve learned- that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place. 

I’ve learned- that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. 

I’ve learned- that money is a lousy way of keeping score. 

I’ve learned- that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. 

I’ve learned- that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up. 

I’ve learned- that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel. 

I’ve learned- that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. 

I’ve learned- that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have. 

I’ve learned- that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated. 

I’ve learned- that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it. 

I’ve learned- that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological. 

I’ve learned- that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself. 

I’ve learned- that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief. 

I’ve learned- that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. 

I’ve learned- that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least. 

I’ve learned- that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do. 

I’ve learned- that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change. 

I’ve learned- that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever. 

I’ve learned- that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. 

I’ve learned- that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process. 

I’ve learned- that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help. 

I’ve learned- that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. 

I’ve learned- that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. 

I’ve learned- that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings, and standing up for what you believe. 

I’ve learned- that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Believe in Yourself

There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren’t the way you had hoped they would be. That’s when you have to tell yourself that things will get better. There are times when people disappoint you and let you down. But those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself. There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them. Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are. So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be. Because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.

                                
                                                    Keep Believing in Yourself!

Helpless love

Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature, each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was advised to evacuate the island. The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty. Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realized it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope. Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, “Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?” “No,” replied Prosperity, “my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.” A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, “Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a lift. Please take me with you.” Vanity responded haughtily, “No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy feet.” Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. “No, I cannot take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.” When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone. Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, “Come Love, I will take you with me.” Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that she would reach a safe place. On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled, Love inquired, “Knowledge, do you know who so generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?” Knowledge smiled, “Oh, that was Time.” “And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety?” Love wondered. Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and replied, “Because only Time knows your true greatness and what you are capable of. Only Love can bring peace and great happiness in this world.” “The important message is that when we are prosperous, we overlook love. When we feel important, we forget love. Even in happiness and sorrow we forget love. Only with time do we realize the importance of love. Why wait that long? Why not make love a part of your life today?”

Do You Make Good Choices For Your Life?

Choices

For all of us who have not been afflicted by some ill fortune of disease or accident, our choices usually determine our successes in life. Each new day presents added challenges, opportunities, and possibilities. It is up to us what selections we choose. It is up to us how intelligently we make our choices. I might also add, a decision not to act is as much of a choice as a deliberate decision to act.

We make choices constantly.

They are our choices and we must own them.

We choose our actions or our inactions, our beliefs and our non-beliefs, just as we choose the clothes we wear or the books we read. In the compilation of life’s choices, there is an abundance of experiences to draw meaning from. Through time, our actions and beliefs move us in the direction we choose to go. Hopefully, growth occurs from consistently making the right choices and learning from the wrong choices.

The process of learning to make good decisions is the heart of growth.

As we grow, life gives us new and exciting challenges to choose. If we fail, life will continue to give us more opportunities to achieve or fail. So, ask yourself the right questions as you ponder your choices and you will choose the correct answers. As you go through life, you’ll find that your choices have a definitive impact upon you, so you will need to make them carefully.

Your very being is determined by your choices.

Ask for God’s guidance and care along the way. Have the faith to trust Him with your choices. Seek His wisdom and have courage to persevere when the pathway is hard. But, always remember, only you have the freedom and the responsibility to determine your station in life. 

Google’s “Fresh” Video SEO Tips for Website Product Pages

DigitalMarketingContest2012

Google wants to always be featuring the freshest and relevant product information; and does so with their “freshness algorithm’ – originally released last fall as part of their effort to provide more relevant, real-time results for search queries. In this article you’ll learn of special opportunity and urgency for updating your product page videos so you don’t get left behind!

Why Search Marketers Need to Wake Up (to Google’s “Fresh” Update)

Thad Rueter, Senior Editor for InternetRetailer.com, reported last December that Google’s fresh update was designed to demote websites with low-quality and unoriginal content around this Spring. This especially includes sites that rely on the same manufacturer product descriptions that many other retailers display, and which web users seem to find of little value.

The Fresh Opportunity for Search Marketers with Video

What was especially interesting is the article also reported the “big winners” in Google’s algorithm update included “sites that feature a lot of video,” which suggested Google gave special weight for rankings boost along with constantly updated content.

Search marketers handling websites featuring video now need to treat Google’s Fresh Update as both a big opportunity and a big urgency. You can’t expect to let your same old video content to just “sit” on your site. Not updating your site’s videos and their landing pages can depress a site’s position in Google’s organic search rankings (i.e., demotions). If you aren’t already planning on releasing new video content and having that featuring prominently throughout your site, you need to do so now.

 “Fresh” Google Video SEO Tips for Product Pages

I’ve been in the SEO space since 1997 and doing video SEO since 2006, and am glad to see that Google’s social technologies are allowing for more recent and relevant results to appear at the top of search queries. What I’ve done here is taken some of the ideas from the original Internet Retailer article, and combined them with my own experience in the online video and e-commerce industry, for some content-related improvements with web video for e-commerce sites – certainly for better algorithmic SEO, but more importantly for better consumer experiences that lead to social sharing and link popularity (which ultimately count with Google as much more valuable SEO factors).

• Be Unique. Don’t rely on product videos and manufacturer descriptions. Create your own unique videos with original content.
• Be Fresh. Don’t repeat the same thing that’s already been done. Change up your home page to feature your latest (new) videos, including on your videos category page and product category pages.
• Be recent. Getting fresh videos onto your site quickly, such as in a response to online conversations around any of your products; or on a larger scale, any topics in mainstream media or industry media that relate to your products, brand, or consumer lifestyle.
• Listen. Pay attention to what people are saying in the news and online conversations on social media channels, search queries, and directly in contact forms, emails, and consumer surveys. Pay attention to topics around your products, your brand, your competitors, and even your consumers’ lifestyles.
• Monitor. Key an eye on what consumers are searching for on your website and adjust your videos accordingly. If your search queries and page analytics show that people are querying for a particular product or product line, or even spending more time on pages with those products, then feature new and related videos around the most queried items more prominently on your site (including on the home page).
• Respond. Organize your feedback from consumers and create video content that responds to not only their search queries on products, but also more general items like FAQs and mainstream media topics that related to consumer needs.
• Encourage. Encourage text conversations and reviews around your existing videos – and promote those conversations around your existing videos on your own web pages. The easiest way to do this is by having a comments section on your video landing pages, and including social widgets for Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest sharing.
• Promote. Make your own customers the stars! Many SEO experts say featuring user-generated videos are a great way to provide fresh content for Google’s search algorithm. You should try to feature consumer-generated product video reviews and testimonials along with your own brand-generated videos and in-house videos on your related product web pages. Consumers will also be more likely to link from their own blogsites and social media sites to your own video pages, boosting your link popularity and SEO as a result.
• Test. Test your own pages to make sure pages upload properly. Google penalizes sites that have content that causes pages to load relatively slowly, and sometimes videos that are poorly coded or having server issues can cause a slow loading time.
• Rotate. Add video user reviews to existing content and rotate new reviews in regularly.
• Be social! As Internet Retailer’s Thad Rueter says, “SEO is social media, and vice versa.” You should duplicate your website Video SEO efforts on your social media sites. I recommend regularly scheduled blog posts that feature new video content, and post them also to your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and other social media channels where your audience already is. Take it from the experience of Ellen Burgan, Internet Marketing Manager for Drs. Fosters & Smith, an online retailer of Pet Products, who says: “A strong social presence, one that demonstrates a loyalty among consumers that can translates into links, is another sign of good content, and therefore another way to earn the good graces of Google.”