Musings about business, marketing, copywriting and life from a border collie’s perspective.
05.23.08
Posted in A Dog's World at 9:50 pm by Nick the Border Collie
“How do I approach the quails?” I asked my friend Ralph.
Recently, I had decided to start asking around for a business coach. I realized I needed a business coach after losing my steam about creating a business. I had wanted to get the word out about obedience classes being for humans, not dogs. I thought dogs would be beating down the door to drag their humans to obedience classes.
The little ground squirrel told me the quails might help me find a business coach, so I decided my next step would be to find the quails.
I found them okay but talking to them was another story. They ran off before I could say anything.
“It sounds like you scared them,” Ralph said. Ralph is my outdoor friend. I don’t know what type of animal he is, I can only see his eyes.
“I wasn’t trying to scare them,” I said. “I only wanted to ask a question.”
Ralph slowly blinked his eyes. “Maybe they don’t want to answer questions.”
“But it’s just a little question,” I said.
“I don’t know if that matters,” Ralph said. “A question is a question.”
I put my head down and signed. Why is this so difficult?
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04.08.08
Posted in A Dog's World at 9:48 pm by Nick the Border Collie
I’m taking a break from my normal column this time. I broke not one but TWO teeth. I don’t know how I did it either. One day I noticed my jaw was hurting and I was bleeding on my toys. So I had to go to the vet (yuck) and get both teeth pulled. It really hurt so I’m not doing much except laying around. I can’t even chew my bone properly.
I’ll be back writing as soon as my mouth heals. Michele needs me back helping her so I know I can’t take too much time off!
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02.26.08
Posted in A Dog's World at 9:21 am by Nick the Border Collie
Although it was easy for me to find the quails, it wasn’t so easy to get them to talk to me.
Recently, I had decided to start asking around for a business coach. I realized I needed a business coach after losing my steam about creating a business. I had wanted to get the word out about obedience classes being for humans, not dogs. I thought dogs would be beating down the door to drag their humans to obedience classes.
The little ground squirrel told me the quails might help me find a business coach, so I decided my next step would be to find the quails.
I found them easily enough but getting them to talk to me was another matter. They like to hang out in the back of the yard in the weeds.
“Hey,” the mother quail squawked when I came running up. She gathered her chicks up and hustled them away, the weeds rustling behind her.
“No, wait,” I called back. “I just have a question.”
“No questions, gotta go,” mother quail said, fluttering her wings as she hurried away.
“It’s about your business coach,” I yelled, but she was already disappearing down the rocks.
I guess I need a better strategy to approach her.
Wuff,
Nick, the border collie
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01.26.08
Posted in A Dog's World at 10:55 am by Nick the Border Collie
It was time for me to find the quails.
Recently, I had decided to start asking around for a business coach. I realized I needed a business coach after losing my steam about creating a business. I had wanted to get the word out about obedience classes being for humans, not dogs. I thought dogs would be beating down the door to drag their humans to obedience classes.
The little ground squirrel told me the quails might help me find a business coach, so I decided my next step would be to find the quails.
“You don’t really believe that,” scoffed Maddie, my packmate. ” A creature who helps other animals who aspire to do more than just survive from one day to the next. And the quails know about it? I’m not sure which is sillier, that there is such a creature or that only the quails know about it.”
I dropped my eats. “You think the ground squirrel was lying to me?”
Maddie sighed and sat down. “Not intentionally. But maybe it wanted you to go away. Or maybe it was mistaken. Quails? Come on.”
I shook myself and stood up. “Well, it’s worth a shot. It won’t hurt to find one and ask.”
Wuff,
Nick, the border collie
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12.29.07
Posted in Business Tips, A Dog's World at 1:29 pm by Nick the Border Collie
“Really?” I said to the little ground squirrel. “You think you know someone who could help me?”
Recently, I had decided to start asking around for a business coach. I realized I needed a business coach after losing my steam about creating a business. I had wanted to get the word out about obedience classes being for humans, not dogs. I thought dogs would be beating down the door to drag their humans to obedience classes.
The squirrel swished its tail. “Well, it may just be rumors. You hear things. A creature who helps other animals who aspire to do more than just survive from one day to the next.”
I leaned closer. “Tell me more.”
The squirrel jumped back and started scolding. “Not so close. I don’t like the looks of those teeth.”
I dropped my head and kept my mouth closed. “Sorry. How do I find this creature?”
The squirrel paused, picked up a nut from a crack. “I’m not really sure. Rumors you know. But you might try the quails.”
I got up and shook myself. “The quails. Thanks, I’ll ask them.”
“But be careful,” the squirrel squeaked at me. “They don’t want to be eaten either. And leave us alone like you promised.”
“No eating,” I promised. “And yes, I’ll leave you alone.”
Wuff,
Nick, the border collie
Michele PW (Pariza Wacek) is the author of 5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make That Kill Their Sales…And How To Prevent Them. Ready to turn lookers into buyers and watch your business skyrocket? Click here to learn more about this special report, free for a limited time.
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11.27.07
Posted in A Dog's World at 3:56 pm by Nick the Border Collie
A little ground squirrel popped its head up behind one of the rocks and glared at me. “Why are you bothering us?” it squeaked.
Recently, I had decided to start asking around for a business coach. I realized I needed a business coach after losing my steam about creating a business. I had wanted to get the word out about obedience classes being for humans, not dogs. I thought dogs would be beating down the door to drag their humans to obedience classes.
“I just want to ask a question,” I said. “I don’t want to eat you.”
The squirrel sniffed. “I’ve heard that before. Right before there’s a pounce.”
“Really,” I said, sitting down and trying to look as non-threatening as possible. “I eat dog food. Every day. I get it in my bowl. I don’t want to eat squirrels.”
The squirrel swished its tail. “If I answer your question, will you go away?”
I cocked my head. “I can’t go away too far, I live here. I guess I could go back in the house.”
The squirrel glared again. “I meant leave us alone.”
I agreed and asked if the squirrel knew of any business coaches.
The squirrel swished its tail. “Business coaches? I don’t have time for business coaches. I have to spend my time looking for food and keeping myself from being food.”
I sighed and started to turn away. “Thanks anyway.”
“But,” the squirrel said. “I think I might know someone who could help you…”
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11.10.07
Posted in Business Tips, A Dog's World at 11:34 am by Nick the Border Collie
Maddie, my packmate, had a point. I should be looking for a business coach from animals who have aspired to more than hanging out at the same clump of grass for generations, like the snail I was talking to.
Recently, I had decided to start asking around for a business coach. I realized I needed a business coach after losing my steam about creating a business. I had wanted to get the word out about obedience classes being for humans, not dogs. I thought dogs would be beating down the door to drag their humans to obedience classes.
So what animals aspired to bigger things than staying in one place? I pondered this. Maybe I should look for ones that are more mobile. Such as the little ground squirrels that hang around the rocks.
Unfortunately, the little ground squirrels didn’t want to talk to me. The moment I got close, they squeaked and ran off. Worse, they started scolding me. Except they talked so fast I couldn’t understand them. I tried to get in a word edgewise and they just chattered faster.
Maddie trotted over. “I don’t think that’s going to work,” she said.
“But why?”
Maddie shook herself. “Maybe because dogs eat ground squirrels?”
I looked back at the ground squirrels, who were twitching their tails and glaring at me. “I’m not going to eat one though. I just want to talk to one.”
Maddie trotted away. “Good luck with that,” she called out.
Wuff,
Nick, the border collie
Michele PW (Pariza Wacek) is the author of Sales Letter Secrets: Rev Up Your Business With Copy That Sells! Tired of your competition making money hand over fist while you struggle to sell ANYTHING? Click here to discover their secret so you can put it to work for YOUR business.
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11.09.07
Posted in Business Tips, A Dog's World at 11:24 am by Nick the Border Collie
After my conversation with Ralph, I was all set to find myself a business coach.
Recently, I had decided to start asking around for a business coach. I realized I needed a business coach after losing my steam about creating a business. I had wanted to get the word out about obedience classes being for humans, not dogs. I thought dogs would be beating down the door to drag their humans to obedience classes.
So I started asking around again. I started with the little green snake that lives under the deck.
“Do you know where I can find a business coach?” I asked.
The snake’s tongue darted out of its mouth. “I’m just trying to stay alive here, I don’t have time for business coaches.”
Next I found a snail gliding along a piece of grass. “Do you know where I can find a business coach?” I asked.
The snail twitched its antenna. “What do I need a business coach for? I spent my whole life on this clump of grass, and so did my father and so did my father’s father. If it was good enough for them, then it’s good enough for me.”
Maddie, my packmate, trotted past me. “Perhaps you’d have more luck if you asked creatures who have aspired to more than just hanging out at the same clump of grass for generations.”
Wuff,
Nick, the border collie
Michele PW (Pariza Wacek) is the author of 5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make That Kill Their Sales…And How To Prevent Them. Ready to turn lookers into buyers and watch your business skyrocket? Click here to learn more about this special report, free for a limited time.
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10.16.07
Posted in A Dog's World at 10:11 pm by Nick the Border Collie
You know, people have no idea how difficult it is to be a star. Michele decided we needed new photos, so a couple of weeks ago, she loaded me in the car and off we went.
First stop was the groomer for Michele (when they’re for humans they’re called stylists, but it’s all the same). The groomer did Michele’s hair and makeup while I looked out the window and kept an eye on things (the groomer was nice enough to let me be in the salon with them).
Luckily, I didn’t need any grooming as Michele had taken me a few days before. (I don’t particularly like going, but Michele doesn’t seem to mind it as much.)
Then it was off to the photographer. At first it was a lot of fun. We were in a huge room with lots of new smells. I got to run around and check everything out.
But then, the photographer started taking pictures and it was WORSE than the groomer! I thought getting a bath was bad, but this was horrible. The lights would blink and there would be this awful beeping noise. Worse yet, I had to stand in the middle of it with all this blinking and beeping and it was just terrible. Finally Michele let me go and I went to hide in the dressing room in the corner. I would occasionally peek out to see if we were done yet, and when we weren’t I’d go back and hide.
But despite all of that, I still got lovely compliments on the photos. That’s the mark of a true star — no one else could tell how terrible the experience was.
Wuff,
Nick, the border collie
Michele PW (Pariza Wacek) is the author of Sales Letter Secrets: Rev Up Your Business With Copy That Sells! Tired of your competition making money hand over fist while you struggle to sell ANYTHING? Click here to discover their secret so you can put it to work for YOUR business.
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10.03.07
Posted in A Dog's World at 12:23 pm by Nick the Border Collie
(Continued from my last post)
Ralph blinked slowly at me. Ralph is my outdoor friend. I’m not sure what animal he is because I only see his eyes, but he comes and talks to me some times.
“What makes you think one has anything to do with the other? That losing your steam about starting a business means you don’t have what it takes to have a business?” Ralph asked.
Recently, I had decided to start asking around for a business coach. I realized I needed a business coach after losing my steam about creating a business. I had wanted to get the word out about obedience classes being for humans, not dogs. I thought dogs would be beating down the door to drag their humans to obedience classes.
I was puzzled. “Isn’t it the same?”
Ralph studied me. “Not necessarily. People lose their steam all the time about things. They get overwhelmed, they’re trying to do too much, they don’t take a vacation. None of that has anything to do with not having what it takes. Plenty of people have what it takes to do things but they just get caught up in life. And if that happens to people, why wouldn’t it happen to dogs?”
I thought about that. “So I shouldn’t listen to the evil cat then?”
Ralph blinked again. “No you shouldn’t be listening to the evil cat. The evil cat is just saying what you fear. But what you fear isn’t necessarily true. In fact, it probably isn’t true. It’s just all the doubts inside you.”
I perked my ears. “Just doubts inside me?”
“Sure. Just doubts. Nothing that’s true. But, here’s the thing.” Ralph’s voice dropped lower, so I had to scoot forward to hear him. ” The doubts aren’t true unless you let them be true. If you let the doubts stop you, then they win and they are true. If you don’t listen to the doubts, and move forward, you’ll prove them wrong. And they won’t be true.”
I nodded. “So I need to find that business coach.”
Ralph’s eyes disappeared. “Yes you do.”
Wuff,
Nick, the border collie
Michele PW (Pariza Wacek) is the author of Why Isn’t My Web Site Making Me Any Money? 10 Easy Steps to Make Your Web Site Go Ka-Ching! If you have a Web site and no sales, In 30 minutes or less you can quickly and easily pinpoint EXACTLY what’s wrong with your site and what you need to do to transform it into a money-making machine! Click here to learn more and get your copy.
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