"A nation of perverts and paedophiles" - Femi Fani Kayode

The Nigerian Senate includes some of the brightest minds in our country many of whom are friends of mine and most of whom have been in active politics for many years. They have my respect. However what transpired in the Senate chamber a few days ago was a great cause for concern for not just me but millions of Nigerians from all over the world. How an innocent and seemingly uninteresting, uninspiring and unimportant debate about when and at what age a Nigerian citizen could legitimately and lawfully renounce his or her citizenship turned into a referendum on paedophilia and child marriage I dont know. Yet sadly that is precisely what happened and ever since then the nation has been on fire. Senator (ex-Governor) Ahmed Sani, the Yerima Bakura and the Apostle of political sharia in Nigeria finally got his way and the futile attempt by a small number of good, noble and honourable Senators to amend the existing law on marriage and properly define the age of a female that is eligible to marry was thwarted by the pro-paedophilia, pro-child rape and pro-child marriage group within the Senate. Sadly our distinguished Senators eventually bowed to the will of Yerima and his friends and agreed to remain silent about the age that young girls can get married in Nigeria. What this means is that girls that are as young as 9 years old can continue to be lawfully bedded and married in our country providing they are deemed as being ''physically developed enough'' to do so by their suitors, their prospective husbands and their parents. That is the law and that is the sordid level that we as a people and as a nation have degenerated to over the years. I weep for Nigeria and, perhaps more appropiately, I weep for the Nigerian girl child. I weep because it is obvious to me that the Yerima's of this world wish to turn our country into a giant Bangkok to which millions of sexual deviants flock from all over the world to ''enjoy'' our ''tourist attractions'' and ''have a taste'' of our young and beloved children. Worst still they wish to use religion to defend and justify it. Yet we have no choice but to live with this new reality and to accept it as it is. After all, our representatives in the sacred halls of the Senate were not sensitive enough or ''man enough'' to shoot down the whole thing, to stand firmly against the unholy agenda and to say boldly and firmly that ''come what may'' our children must be protected from sexual deviants and reprobates. And since the Senate, in its infinate wisdom, has now bought into and openly endorsed the "Paedophile Charter" which essentially makes it lawful and constitutional for very young girls to get married and to have sex at a very young age it is my firm view that we have now become a nation of perverts and paedophiles. The Senate had a chance to clear the air and amend the law but, out of nothing but sentiment and an inexplicable eagerness to compromise with that which is clearly evil, they threw that chance away and sacrificed our most sacred values to Yerima and his gang. Worst still they did it with a smile on their faces. Every Nigerian should bow his or her head in shame because instead of crushing the head of the lustful beast that seeks to fornicate with our children, to steal their virtues and to destroy their future what the Senate did the other day was to compromise with and cater for the filthy appetites and godless fantasies of a bunch of child molestors and sexual predators. It is sordid. It is ungodly. It is evil. And it is unforgiveable. Surely we ought to be seeking to protect our children and not seeking to bed them. Yet it appears that not everyone shares our outrage and collective sense of shame. One Uche Ezechukwu made the following contribution which went viral on the social media networks and which I think speaks volumes. He wrote- "Those who are railing against 'paedophile' senators, like Yerima Bakura, must be told that a muslim can’t go wrong while imitating the examples of the Apostle of Allah himself and the founder of his religion, in the same way a christian cannot be criticized for following the examples of Jesus Christ. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) married Aisha at the age of six and consummated the marriage when she was nine. So, why are we judging muslims by our own standards?" I am appauled by these words. The truth is that I have never heard such a self-serving and specious arguement in defence of the philosophies and beliefs of the Ayatollah of Bakura, Senator Ahmed Sani, the practising paedophile who married and bedded a 12 year old Egyptian girl, as this one. Ahmed Sani himself could not have argued it better. Yet I think that it is an utter shame. And this is more so because the individual that is putting the arguement is supposedly a christian. The Old Testament of the Holy Bible prescribes ''stoning'' for adultry but that does not mean that christian countries, or indeed secular states like Nigeria, should stone adulterers. Neither does it mean that we should preserve the institution of slavery or crucify petty thieves simply because the Holy Bible endorsed both practices in the Old Testament. We must accept the fact that the interpretation of biblical and koranic provisions are evolutionary and are ever changing. Jesus Himself said ''laws are made for man and not man for laws''. The suggestion that paedophilia has any place in any modern and decent society simply because it was once practised in the distant past is not only a despicable arguement but it also does not make any sense. After all cannibalism and child and human sacrifice were once widely practised and were held as being perfectly acceptable throughout the world as well but that does not mean that we should practice any of those terrible vices today. The young man, Uche Ezechukwu, who appears to be defending child rape in the name of islam, should either let someone lay with and ''marry'' his own 6 or 9 year old daughter or he should seal his lips forever and stop trying to defend the indefensible. His assertions, and I daresay those of Senator Ahmed Sani and anyone that shares their primitive views, are not only utterly immoral and reprehensible but they are also intellectually dishonest. I say this because the truth is that there is NO muslim country in the world that has adopted the "paedophile charter" where 6 or 9 year olds can marry and be bedded except for Saudi Arabia, Iran and Yemen. Every other muslim country in the world, including Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Egypt, Jordan, Senegal, the Sudan, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Qatar, Bahrain, Dagestan, Albania, Bosnia, Somalia, Algeria, Libya, Mali, Azerbejhan,Niger, Turkestan, Chechnya and Syria have specifically banned child marriage, paedophilia and child rape in their various constitutions and laws and some have declared it ''repugnant'', ''unacceptable'' and ''unislamic''. Are these people not muslims too? As a matte if fact are they not better muslims than those that insist on sleeping with or marrying underage girls in the name of islam? Like christianity and judaism, islam is a noble, pure, honourable and ancient faith that seeks to protect the weakest and most vulnerable in society, including children. No-one should use the misinterpretation of its provisions to try to justify or rationalise what is essentially depraved, shameful, disgusting and barbaric behaviour and the most sordid and filthy expression of sexual deviance and perversion. Even animals do not marry or bed their own infants. The bitter truth is that paedophiles have no place in any civilised society. I am constrained to say that in the light of their "yes" vote to child marriage and their green light to paedophilia, every single member of the Nigerian Senate that voted with Yerima on that day and that supported his filthy agenda should bow their heads in utter shame and they should be compelled to offer their own infant and under age daughters to strangers for marriage. I repeat, they have turned us into a nation of perverts and paedophiles and I say a pox on all their houses. I reserve my commendations and respect only for those Senators that opposed and voted against Yerima's protestations and agenda and that stood for that which was right even though they could not muster enough votes to have their way. My word to this brave and righteous few is simple and clear- keep the struggle alive and continue to resist the evil that resides amongst us all. You are the only thing that stands between our children and the practising paedophiles in our midst who seek to ravage and bed them even before they have entered their teens.

The list of the Senators who voted marriage for underage girls

Support the #ChildNotBride movement Below is the list of the Nigeria Senators who voted for underage marriage in Nigeria... 1. Sen. Abdulmumin M. Hassan (Jigawa South West, PDP) 2. Sen. Abdullahi Danladi (Jigawa North West, PDP) 3. Sen. Adamu Abdullahi (Nasarawa West, PDP) 4. Sen. Ahmed Barata (Adamawa South, PDP) 5. Sen. Akinyelure Ayo (Ondo Central, Labour Party) 6. Sen. Alkali Saidu A. (Gombe North, PDP) 7. Sen. Bagudu Abubakar A. (Kebbi Central, PDP) 8. Sen. Dahiru Umaru (Sokoto South, PDP) 9. Sen. Galaudu Isa (Kebbi North, PDP) 10. Sen. Garba Gamawa (Bauchi North, PDP) 12. Sen. Gobir Ibrahim (Sokoto East, PDP) 13. Sen. Gumba Adamu Ibrahim (Bauchi South, PDP ) 14. Sen. Hadi Sirika (Katsina North, CPC) 15. Sen. Ibrahim Bukar Abba (Yobe East, ANPP) 16. Sen. Jajere Alkali (Yobe South, ANPP) 17. Sen. Jibrilla Mohammed (Adamawa North, PDP) 18. Sen. Kabiru Gaya (Kano South, ANPP) 19. Sen. Lafiagi Mohammed (Kwara North, PDP) 20. Sen. Lawan Ahmad (Yobe North, ANPP) 21. Sen. Maccido Mohammed (Sokoto North, PDP) 22. Sen. Musa Ibrahim (Niger North, CPC) 23. Sen. Ndume Mohammed Ali (Borno South, PDP) 24. Sen. Sadiq A. Yaradua (Katsina Central, CPC) 25. Sen. Saleh Mohammed (Kaduna Central, CPC) 26. Sen. Tukur Bello (Adamawa Central, PDP) 27. Sen. Ugbesia Odion (Edo Central, PDP) 28. Sen. Umar Abubakar (Taraba Central, PDP) 29. Sen. Usman Abdulaziz (Jigawa North East, PDP) 30. Sen. Ya’au Sahabi (Zamfara North, PDP) 31. Sen. Zannah Ahmed (Borno Central, PDP).... 32. Sen. Ahmad Rufai Sani (Zamfara West, ANPP) 33. Sen. Ahmad Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central, PDP) 34. Sen. Bello Hayatu Gwano (Kano North, PDP) 35. Sen. Ibrahim Abu (Katsina South, CPC)..

Woolwich murderer Michael Adebolajo attacked & injured in prison

Michael Adebolajo, one of the two men who attacked and killed soldier Lee Rigby on May 22nd at Woolwich, has been injured in an attack in the prison where he's being kept, according to reports. Prison officials said the attack occurred on Wednesday July 17th at HMP Belmarsh prison and Michael is believed to have lost two teeth during the violent incident. Daily Mail reports that several officers were called in to help after Adebolajo began acting violently, and he was injured during the subsequent melee in the prison’s high-security wing. The murder suspect received medical treatment in the prison but did not need to go to hospital.

Nollywood twins Chidimma & Chidiebere Aneke release new photos

Chidinma and Chidiebere are simply known in Nollywood as the Aneke Twins. The actresses and movie producers just released some lovely new photos. More pics

Yay or Nay: Bridesmaids in black sequin dress

Y'all know I love black and these dresses look fab, but is black appropriate for a wedding? Are black bridesmaid dresses a 'do' or 'don't' ?

Akon suggests blacks move to Africa following Zimmerman's acquittal

Akon took to his Instagram page immediately after the 'not guilty' verdict in the George Zimmerman trial and suggested that African Americans move back to Africa. He wrote: Every African American in the United States need to move their money, family, knowledge back to Africa were u will be treated like the royalty you are. You don't deserve this treatment. This is not your country!! He's Senegalese o, but lives in America and he's asking the real Americans to move to Africa.

Obafemi Martins shows off his diamond watches & shoe collection

The footballer shared the photos on instagram. Everyone's showing off these days..lol. Well, if you work hard and make money, you're allowed to. It could inspire others to want to work hard too, abi?

New Music: Lynxxx ft Banky W - African Bad Girl

Two sexy guys collaborate on new music

Photo of the day

P-Square's elder brother Jude Okoye shows off a lot of dollars as he contemplates buying a new ride.

Comedian Chris Rock set to divorce wife of 16 years?

Another Star magazine report...:-) Read it below... From Star Magazine, Chris Rock may be a comedian, but the current state of his 16-year marriage is no laughing matter – because the actor and his wife, Malaak Compton-Rock, have called it quits! The shocking news surfaced in late June when Chris’ brother, Tony Rock, made light of the situation during a performance at the Hollywood Improve Comedy Club. “Tony poked fun at his brother’s divorce during one of his acts. An audience member tells Star. “He said, “I’m not supposed to tell y’all this, but Chris is getting a divorce. I’m so happy because now we can get p***y together. I didn’t like her anyway.” Sources say Chris,48, grew tired of having to answer to 44-year-old Malaak. “There’s been many arguments behind closed doors,” spills the insider. “Malaak is very controlling and demanding.”

Photo: Al Mustapha visits TB Joshua immediately after release

Al-Mustapha was released yesterday Friday July 12th after many years in prison, and his first port of call after his release was T.B Joshua's place. T.B Joshua explains why Al-Mustapha visited him first: I got to know him many years ago when a petition was addressed to General Bamaiyi who was the then Chairman of the NDLEA. As you know, several efforts had been made by my detractors to bring me and my ministry down. One of those efforts was that petition. I was arrested for investigation and it was later discovered that it was a tissue of lies. I spent nine days with them for investigation and they found the whole thing to be a fabrication. From there, I was taken to Aso Rock (City of Power) to see the president. It was there that I met Mustapha. I was able to reveal to them who I am by telling them what was to come as a prophet. One of those things I mentioned to them and to Mustapha in particular, was what he went through, though he did not believe me then. That was why when it came to pass, I was the first person he remembered. I told him that he would spend several years in prison and would be finally released which no one else had ever told him. That is why you see him coming here as his first port of call. Where there is no vision, people perish. I am surprised you are asking me why he is coming here first. When you look into your archives as journalists, you will find many stories in the past about my visit to Aso Rock, (City of Power) while Bamaiyi was Chairman of NDLEA. Many magazines and newspapers published my visions and prophecies on the government and the presidency. When you know your picture of tomorrow, it will impart a strength to endure your present difficulty. When you know what you are passing through now will not last long, you will endure it. This is vision; this is prophecy. This can only come by revelation. This is what the Bible means by, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). I will leave you here.

Photos of actress Adaora Ukoh as a village prostitute

The big and beautiful actress pictured as Anika the village prostitute in a new Igbo movie titled Ogboto: The Naked One. See another photo

Andy Murray Wins 2013 Wimbledon Title

Andy Murray wins his first Wimbledon title and becomes the first British man to win the tournament since 1936. He defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-4 yesterday Sunday July 7th. Congrats to him...

A Simple Guide to De-clutter Your Mind

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo DaVinci. The goal of reducing clutter is to eliminate the non-essentials and keep only what is needed. If you are cleaning out your closet, this means deciding which pile each thing belongs in. But when it comes to the contents of your mind, the choice is where you place your attention. What do you want to feed with your most precious resource - your attention? We must however be aware that the beginning of any change and any new direction starts within. More accurately it starts with a thought. No matter what that new journey will be, no matter how far it will take us, that first step will quietly, occur within the realms of our own mind. An uncluttered mind is still and pristine like a mountain lake on a windless day. Even if a ripple appears, the tranquility remains, undisturbed. Your actions are clean and efficient. In the spaciousness, you notice creative impulses, novel ideas, and boundless peace. You feel light, calm, and alive. Mental Noise To a great extend, much of this can be classified as mental noise. We are forced to deal with it, blocking it out when we can, doing our best to filter out small pieces that are actually useful to us. We as humans were simply not designed to deal with this much information all at once. This noise keeps us at a disadvantage. It prevents us from focusing on our goals, focusing on what truly matters. It keeps us disconnected from the big picture and from each other. Without the much needed mental clarity, no matter how many courses we may take, we are not prepared to recognize that which truly makes the difference in our lives, what brings us the lasting happiness that we seek. Inquiry for Thoughts and Feelings Are you ready to de-clutter your mind? Experts suggest asking a series of questions to decide what to keep and what to let go of. Take each thought pattern, each emotion, and any internal experience that holds you back and pose these questions: * Do I need this? Is it essential or necessary? * Does it serve me? Is it helpful or useful? * Am I attached to it? Can I let it go? The Process of Letting Go Let's be clear about what "letting go" means. It's not exactly like throwing away those clothes you haven't worn for five years - or is it? Letting go might mean choosing to move your attention away from a non-essential thought or feeling every time it arises. Or, the process of asking these questions might automatically dispel a long-treasured, old, boring story. And sometimes the letting go is more of a process that happens over time. Start by asking yourself the three questions, and see what you discover. Maybe you will be ready to let go of a mindset that doesn't serve you. Or simply asking the questions may help the patterns loosen their grip. De-cluttering is not an order, or even a goal. With great wisdom and love, simply notice, inquire, receive, then watch what happens...effortlessly. Simple Breathing Meditation Technique Here is a step by step guide to a simple breathing meditation technique that can be helpful for de-cluttering your minds. Find a quiet dark area where you will not be disturbed for a duration of your session. Assume a comfortable position sitting down, without leaning back. * With your eyes closed, take a couple of deep breaths to help you relax. Now, breath normally. Gently bring your attention to the air moving in and out of your nose. Feel the cool air entering your nostrils, rising up through the nose passages on inhale. Don't hold your breath. Feel the warmer air moving through and out of your nose at exhale. You can keep your eyes focused at the point between your eyebrows if you like. * Continue with your attention on the breath. Never force your breathing but allow it to naturally flow in and out of your nose. Thoughts will come up in your mind. One by one acknowledge them and gently return your mind to the breath. Watch your breath, never forcing it, simply observing. The thoughts will come and go, but the breath will continue, calmly and peacefully. It may be helpful to mentally repeat "in" while breathing in and "out" when breathing out. * You may find that after a while, your breath will become shallower. This is normal and you should just go along with it. Don't force your breath. The key is simply to observe the air, become the air itself if you will. Let go of everything else, allow yourself to deeply merge with it. If your time is limited, you may want to set a gentle alarm in advance letting you know when the time is up. Slowly get out of the state of meditation but try to retain the calmness that you are experiencing. Bring this feeling of calmness with you when you're done. This simple practice will train your mind to focus on just one thing - in this case, your breathing. The effectiveness of this method comes from having a permanent point of attention. You may practice it as long as you'd like. It is recommend to start for just 5 to 10 minutes per day and growing your practice from there. Eventually, this meditation practice may be performed sitting at your office during a break, on the bus, whenever you have some down time or need to focus yourself. The benefits of de-cluttering your mind are felt almost immediately. You will become more focused and prone to less distraction in general. All of your ideas will evolve more naturally. Your decisions will become more intuitive. Any task that you approach will be more manageable and easier to achieve. You will be ready to handle the new journeys or to improve your current ones. The answers will naturally come to you, just listen. This practice may also make you feel more peaceful and attuned to everything and everyone around you. You will realize that we all have the same desire for love, peace and appreciation that connects us all. Conclusion To be in a position to create a brand new program we have to change the programming of the past. Clear the slate if you like. So let's get into how we can de-clutter our minds. It takes work, sacrifice and persistence. However this is the price you must pay to prepare the fertile garden in your mind. There is no such thing as something for nothing. The universe will only align with you when you are prepared to pay a price for what you will receive. I hope you can commit to the price being asked here. The rewards will far outweigh the asking price. The process is working when you begin to feel a difference in your energy level. Soon after that you will begin to be aware of the thoughts buzzing around in your head.

Step out in style courtesy of Tunisian fashion atelier, S&M kaftans

Last week, on what was the 2nd anniversary of the debut of their ready to wear kaftans and tunics Tunisian fashion atelier , S&M Kaftans, announced it has a fashion line in the works for the Nigerian market. The atelier has introduced a ready to wear collection, on pre order basis only, for Nigerian fashionistas. Superior quality, creativity, sophistication, minimalistic yet elegant creations with great attention to detail are all qualities of S&M Kaftans creations. The fashion atelier is presently showcasing a collection, which is a mix of Tunisian inspired tunics and kaftans. The colour palette range from black, pink, beige to lilac and grey. The new collection targets uber chic modern women who want to be confident and look glamorous without going overboard and breaking the bank. The designs have detailed embroidery, structure and are made from high quality 100% organic breathable cotton fabric. This type of cotton is very supple and kind to the skin. n addition, each design is individually tailored by talented artisans in Tunisia and NOT mass produced in a factory thereby delivery to Nigeria takes between 2-3 weeks. However, you can be rest assured that it will be worth the wait. There is also a limited run per design which means that only a handful of people, in Nigeria, will be wearing each design out of a population of 160 million! Pre-orders are being taken now for July delivery. To pre-order or for other enquiries, kindly contact S & M Kaftans representative in Nigeria on 08094715854 (10am-10pm) or BB PIN 2A40BD85 (24hrs).

Chivas Presents "Top 100 Men in Nigeria"

The Market's leading Scotch whisky Chivas, in conjunction with the new luxury 5-star hotel, InterContinental Lagos, are scheduled formally to recognize the Top 100 game changers in Nigeria today. The highly anticipated and much talked about exclusive event is scheduled to take place on the 4th of July, 2013 at the new prestigious InterContinental Lagos. The Top 100 list of powerful and well established men were unanimously selected based on their achievements, entrepreneurship, ambition, sophistication and all in all contribution to the development of Nigeria. Some of the names include Wole Soyinka, Dr Newton Jibunoh, Segun Oniru, Tonye Cole and General TY Danjuma just to name a few. The event boasts a lineup of amazing performances and is slated to be an unprecedented event in Lagos. Continue... Chivas is well known for luxury, brotherhood and chivalry. Chivas is a product of unique origin, a proud lineage of whisky makers and more than two centuries worth of history since the year 1840. This brand of whisky which is produced by the Chivas brothers and owned by Pernod Ricard, has won numerous gold medal awards. This highly sought after Scotch was an immediate success since its introduction to the market and has been a long-time favourite among real Scotch connoisseurs as well as members of the well to do stratum of the society. Chivas can be found only in the hands of the upper echelon such as those attending the Cannes Film Festival etc. in the South of France. On the other hand, the InterContinental brand came into being in the year 1946 when the Pan American airways launched their International Hotel brand, its first opening was in Belem, Brazil, then extended a trailblazing portfolio across the world with over 170 hotels in 60 different countries. Many guests will walk the black carpet attending in anticipation of the unveiling of what will be the best hotel ever in Nigeria. InterContinental brand has become a byword for luxury travel to a jet-set generation with an impressive guest list; from Louis Armstrong to Princess Grace. Chivas in the past has associated with movies stars like Frank Sinatra and has also been a sponsor of the Cannes film festivals for a number of years. “We are delighted and privileged to be hosting such a prestigious event at InterContinental Lagos," said Didier Coeln, General Manager "and we look forward to growing our partnership with Chivas and welcoming the esteemed Nigerian society to experience the newest and most luxurious hotel in Lagos." The evening which will treat guests to a 6 course meal, entertainment set in the 20s and much more launches Chivas scotch into the Nigerian market. Chivas...Live with Chivalry!

Horrific video: Catholic priest beheaded by jihadist rebels in Syri

A Catholic priest, Father Francois Murad, (left and circled) was killed on 23 June in Gassanieh, northern Syria by jihadist rebels in front of a cheering crowd, the Vatican news agency reported yesterday. The beheading of the 49 year old priest was filmed on a camera phone and recently posted on the internet. The priest had been staying in the convent of the Custody of the Holy Land when he was seized by the rebels who accused him of collaborating with Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

Nollywood actress Stephanie Chijioke set to wed

Nollywood actress Stephanie Chijioke set to wed Nollywood actress Stephaine Chijioke is set to wed her oil businessman boo, a Port Harcourt based big boy named Frank. Their traditional wedding will take place in Ngor Okpala LGA in Imo state on the 3rd of August! Congrats to them!

What is wrong with these photos?

This is actress and Love & Hip Hop Atlanta star Karlie Redd at the BET Awards on Sunday night. Do you see what is wrong? It's more clear in the right photo. #Someplasticsurgeonsaremadsha! Lol

How To Manifest Everything That You Want

Manifesting is the metaphysical art and science of how we can easily bring our desires into the physical world. It is natural process that involves a specific vibration of energy which you experience that will attract any heartfelt desire to you quickly and effortlessly! To start this process, you should think of something that you would like to have. Start from small things first because this will give you more faith as to that they will manifest. When you manifest small things, you will be able to gradually progress to bigger and bigger ones. Some fail to manifest because they want to get large amounts of money, houses or cars with their first intention. But that does not work this way because you cannot possibly completely believe that such big things will manifest when you are just a beginner. How to manifest your desires * Slow Down, Relax and Fully Be Here Now. Being ever-present to this eternal moment is one of the most essential and basic key to manifesting. The mind will jump from past to the future and back again to the past, distracting you from the Infinite Source of power that is only here now. The entire Universe is happening only in this moment. If you are thinking about anything but this moment you are missing out on the Source that is connected to everyone and everything in it. The mind/ego is an extraordinary tool and is what we use to manifest our desires with. If the mind is free from the distracting thoughts about the past and future, then the amazing core of your magical manifesting power has room to come through! By slowing down you are able to shut off the mind chatter and tap directly into the infinite Source of manifesting power that is available ONLY in the Now. As you learn how to slow down your thoughts, your breathing and the movement of your body, eventually the mind comes to a halt and creates space of timelessness. Here we tap into the Infinite Source and you make contact with a super-natural power inside. When we live throughout our day at an enjoyable relaxed and peace filled pace, we can truly resource the intelligence and power in this eternal moment. Remember, every idea begins with an intuitive hunch. We know we need certain things at certain times in our lives. There is an inner voice which tells us. We encounter omens or coincidences which point to it. Conversations trigger ideas through synchronicity. There are times when you know you want something. * Practice Stillness Everyday. In order to stop the constant chattering of the mind, we need a conscious daily Meditation practice of training the mind. Manifesting happens instantly when you have made the mind to act according to your way. The longer you can maintain focus on your breath, the faster your goals will manifest for you. The actual time it takes to manifest is directly proportional to the number of minutes you can concentrate on what you want without distraction. Become the master of your thoughts, get to know this seat of consciousness inside. Be clear on what it is you wish to create in your life. The more specific - the better. We teach making lists as a way to clarify what you want. The world is a reflection of our mind. We attract into our lives a reflection of the thoughts we project. If you really want anything, you can have it. Creating a crystal clear vision is an important step. * Make Conscious Contact With The Universe The first step here is to acknowledge that there is a higher power inside you right now, and its very easily available to you. The next step is to be open to this extremely ever-present intelligent Source that is always happening everywhere you are. Believe and get to know your personal conscious connection with this sacred Omni-present Source of power. As you progress in your relationship with this very real divine intelligence, center your mind closer to your heart. You will come to know that God is closer to you than your heart, your mind or your next breath of air. By spending time getting clear on what you desire, you will recognize it when it turns up! That will provide you with certainty that you have found what you are looking for and give you the courage to complete the plan to manifestation. * Trust in Life's Magical Unfolding Process. Be infinitely patient! Discover a deeper "knowingness" inside you that can help you let go of anxiety, disbelief and doubt. Decide and believe that your goal is on its way. The Universe is always supporting what you want and if you affirm what you want it will always help you to achieve it. The more you can surrender to this deeply wise and powerful feeling of trust and letting go, the more the Universe can help you. It's about getting in touch with that infinite patience that ignites and engages this manifesting process. The experience of Trust is really the greatest and deepest surrender to the Universe from the tiny ego trip we're on. Thus, be crystal clear on your outcome; daily visualize what you desire, but release the need to have it. When we project neediness, we block manifestation. When we don't care, miracles happen. Be confident. Release any negative thoughts. Affirm that what you desire is on the way with everyone you meet. Brush off any thoughts or comments that you can't achieve what you wish. * Focus on your Desired Outcome without Attachment to it. When you allow your mind to ONLY have positive thoughts towards your desired outcome you are saying to the Universe that you are devoted to manifesting your dream. Being in a deep, positive, open connection with your desired outcome without being overly attached to it, is one of the greatest hidden keys to manifesting it. Positive thinking is a way of sending direct messages to the Universe saying what you want is important and sacred to you. Visualize, feel and imagine that your greatest dream is happening to you without clinging to it. Assume that your imagination is real! Honor and respect your goals in life as if they were given to you from the highest and most powerful being you can imagine. By now you need to put in place all that is necessary to make your dreams come true. Completely let go and it is a matter of time. We live in an infinite universe of absolute abundance. It is only our limiting beliefs which restrict our experience. * Love Yourself Always and In All Ways. By simply and profoundly giving Love to yourself everyday in every way you are saying to the Universe you are worthy of attaining any dream, vision or goal. Immediately drop any neediness for love, acceptance and approval from others and replace it with self-love. Step aside from everyone's judgments of you and use that crucial time and energy to send yourself loving and appreciative thoughts. You will increase your manifesting ability and power with every loving feeling you have about yourself that is usually negative and skeptical. The greatest manifesting energy comes from within this Infinite Source of Thought of your being which is in essence Absolute Love. In simple words, anchor in your belief in your own power to manifest by celebrating your success. The more you do this, the easier it becomes to find exactly what you want in life. Have a glass of champagne. Go out for dinner. Splash out. It is important to honor your victories. Angels tread lightly. You are an angel. Lighten up, have fun with life, and watch your desires come to pass with ever increasing rapidity. Make it so!

Time Management Skill

What have you done today to move you closer to your dreams? Are you expecting to wake up one morning and suddenly do everything to achieve your dream in just that one day? Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do." Success is a daily habit. It's the little things you do every day that will get you to your destination. Developing time management skills is a journey that may begin with this Guide, but needs practice and other guidance along the way. One goal is to help yourself become aware of how you use your time as one resource in organizing, prioritizing, and succeeding in your studies in the context of competing activities of friends, work, family, etc. Put first things first It does not have to be a huge thing. Neither does it have to be something that requires a huge investment of time, energy or resources on your part. It just has to be something that you can do consistently. You will discover that you will eventually be doing more of that one thing than you could have thought possible when you started. Over time, it will make a huge difference. Stephen Covey, the leadership guru further adds that "it's usually not the dramatic, the visible, the once-in-a-lifetime, up-by-the-bootstraps effort that brings enduring success. Empowerment comes from learning how to use this great endowment in the decisions we make every day." We subordinate our dreams for our jobs, our bosses, our friends, our parents and a whole lot of other people and activities. We should instead place our hopes and dreams as the most important thing every day. The time management matrix Most people spend their time doing things that are neither urgent nor important. One thing that immediately comes to mind is the person that spends every bit of his free time at the bar hanging out with the guys and just having a good time. I would not be very mistaken to say that such a person is not only drinking their income away, but also their dreams. Television is another not urgent and not important activity which, unfortunately, most of us spend a lot of our most productive time on. It is amazing how television sets in most homes are perpetually on and people are fixed on them like zombies, watching everything that is dished out to them! TVs have invaded our lives and crippled our dreams. Do the important things What we need to do is concentrate on the things that are most important. The hard part is that these are usually the things that are not urgent. Yet they are things that will make the biggest difference to our lives. Why not turn off the television set tonight and read an inspiring book? Why not take a quiet moment to sit down and write down what you want to do with the rest of your life? Why not spend some time with your kids rather than with the guys at the bar? It is not always fun As you can see, the important things are usually not the most fun or exciting things to do always. However, they must be done. There is a price to be paid for attaining greatness and at times that means doing things we don't necessarily enjoy or want to do. But you must do those things because you realize that your future depends on it. Think about this: if you only had to do the things that are fun and exciting at work would you get anything done? No. But you do it anyway, for the sake of that paycheck at the month-end. Why then, won't you do the things that matter most for your own life? Given are some quick tips that will help you to learn the art of Time Management better. Schedule Your Day. If you want to learn how to improve your time management skills, then you need to have a concrete schedule for the day. Don't get out of bed thinking that you'll just wing it, because it often leads to a lot of time wastage. It would be best to schedule and plan your tasks the night before, because your subconscious mind will help process their fulfillment while you're sleeping. Create A Check List. If you have deadlines coming up, then you need to create a list arranged according to priority. This helps keep you on track and even encourages you to do more as fast as possible. There's nothing like a list to keep you motivated and pressured to do your job. Stop Wasting Time. Spacing out for even just five minutes is a waste of time. Not taking a shortcut is also a waste of time. If you want to learn how to improve your time management skills, then you need to cut down on the activities that aren't related to work. Chatting with your co-workers is fine; but perhaps you need to cut down on that too, especially if you have a deadline to meet. Learn To Multi-task. Multi-tasking is not always advisable, especially if the tasks you're doing need your full concentration. In smaller tasks, however, I'm sure you can do more than one thing at a time. Want some examples? How about reading a book while waiting for the food you're cooking to boil? Perhaps one of the best multi-tasking activities you can do is listening to motivational CDs while on the go. Conclusion If you have not done anything today to get you closer to your dreams you are not a dreamer, you are a wisher. Wake up and do something about it or watch the dreamers take hold of their dreams, one little step each day. In the words of Jim Rohn, "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going," Develop the habit of putting first things first today. Work on your dreams each and every day. You are all you can be. Go on and be it!

Ways To Let The Money Flow Into Your Life

"When it comes to creating wealth, wealth is a mindset. It's all about how you think." - David Schirmer Money is energy and energy is always moving, always changing, moving in waves and cycles. Money will flow in and out of your life, like the ebb and flow of the ocean tides. At times you will find that money flows in easily, at other times, it flows out, and sometimes the tide of the flow of money will seem not to change at all, but you should know, that moment is called the turning of the tide, and the cycle will inevitably start over again. How you attract money is your responsibility; it is connected directly to your magnetic ability, that is to say, your energy vibration in relation to money. This varies from person to person and depends, to start with, on how much money you think you want or need to support you in the lifestyle of your choice. In this article you will find out what may be stopping you from letting the abundance flow and how to be open to receiving increasingly larger amounts of money. * Remain Conscious Of The Law Of Attraction In simple words, if you focus on abundance, you get abundance, but if you focus on lack of money, you will create more of a lack of money. What you radiate and vibrate in your life with your thoughts, emotions, words and beliefs, you will attract to you. You start by asking with your desire, you receive, and then you allow 'it' to come into your life. * Say 'Yes' To Wealth When you say 'yes' to money, you include that in your vibration and you will attract money, and if you say 'no' to money with your feelings, thoughts or emotions, you will also include that in your vibration. So, do not settle for what life throws your way, instead create your life just as you want it to be. * Think Positive Thoughts About Your Money Focus on what you have, versus what you do not have, and allow what you do not have only to serve as a light in helping you to see what you want to create. Think positively about the money that you have, visualize it growing, and flowing in and out of your bank account with ease. Feel good and get excited about creating money. * Create more money evidence in your environment Get rid of all the cheap things that you have and leave only good quality products. You should not go shopping often because you will end up buying many cheap things that emanate the energy of lack. Buy less often but more quality products that symbolize wealth. * Get into the vibration of abundance Raise your vibration so that you would become a vibrational match to the abundance. Focus only on positive things and symbols of abundance, speak positively and never get involved in the thoughts of hatred, envy or powerlessness, because such thoughts will materialize into negative manifestations. * Feel good about the subject of money If someone brings up the subject of money, how does that make you feel? Do you feel interested to hear about it, eager for it, excited about it? Or do you feel fear, doubt, confusion and disempowerment? These are very different vibrations that tell what your financial point of attraction is. Try to approach money from a respectable and positive attitude, and soon you will experience money flow into your life. If you feel that it is hard for you to express such attitude towards money, then it means you still hold some limiting beliefs about this subject. * Treat money with respect Pick up coins if you see them in the street, sort money neatly in your wallet, don't keep the money scattered in your bag or pocket. Have respect for money and money will flow to you. Pay your bills on time. If you don't return money you owe, you will not get any money in return. If you hoard money, that's all the money you will have. * Donate money Give money away to charities, people that need help and for other good causes. Such money will be returned to you tenfold. This is a universal law. Be grateful for the money and other good things you have in your life because the more grateful you are, the more things of the same nature will start flowing into your experience. * Be patient Enjoy the process of becoming abundant because then you will become wealthy sooner. However if you keep looking at the evidence that you still do not have money, be sure that the money will flow into your experience very slowly. You should have complete faith that the money will start flowing into your life, even if there is no evidence of it as yet. Try to ignore the absence of money and put all your energy into having faith that the money is coming - and it has to come. Conclusion Keep money in perspective in your life. It is simply a tool you can use to create the kind of lifestyle you desire. The hippie surfer is happy with minimum money inflow. His happiness does not depend on how much money he has. Don't make money the measure of your happiness either; life is far too grand for that. Open to the abundance vibration, expect money to flow in and out, to ebb and flow in a natural cycle in your life, and build your feelings of prosperity and happiness hand in hand but never from a place of need.

Its Time to Quit Smoking

Its Time to Quit Smoking * Next * Back "I am going to quit smoking tomorrow..." How many times have you said this and how many more times have you heard it? Smokers, like alcoholics, make this pledge many times in their lives because they need to and they break it for the simple reason that pledges are always meant to be broken. This does not mean that every time you will take a pledge you will break it. Try to make this the last one because you can do it and you are going to do it. Believe it and you will, here's some help: * Believe in yourself. Believe that you can quit. Think about some of the most difficult things you have done in your life and realize that you have the guts and determination to quit smoking. It's up to you. * After reading this list, sit down and write your own list, customized to your personality and way of doing things. Create your own plan for quitting. * Set a quit date. Decide what day you will extinguish your cigarettes forever. Write it down. Plan for it. Prepare your mind for the "first day of the rest of your life". You might even hold a small ceremony when you smoke you last cigarette, or on the morning of the quit date. * Drink lots of water. Water is good for you anyway, and most people don't get enough. It will help flush the nicotine and other chemicals out of your body, plus it can help reduce cravings by fulfilling the "oral desires" that you may have. * You need a good reason to quit. Simply deciding to quit because the sky is blue is not a sufficient reason. The need to quit smoking is obvious, but the desire to quit needs to come from inside in order for the process to be successful. * Look for small rewards that you can give yourself as you make progress. You are not likely to just quit cold turkey with no complications. Set up small rewards that will help you to want to make progress towards ultimately quitting. This can be a great motivation to keep you on target. * Plan out your quitting strategy. Decide how you want to try to quit and stick to it. Set a specific amount of time for your plan. If after a time, say six weeks you have not quit, work on a new plan. This will allow ample time to try each method, while still giving yourself flexibility to try something else. * Work to overcome your struggles. If you are smoking due to stressful things in your life, you need to deal with the stress before you can successfully quit. Regardless of the reason why you are smoking, it needs to be dealt with in able to quit for good. * Set up a punishment for yourself. For example, if you generally stop at a Cafe each day for a coffee you might consider skipping that on days when you have fallen short of your goals for smoking. Whatever punishment you select, make sure it is something that you care about. * Seek out help from your friends and family. You need support as you are trying to quit, and this will help you to ensure that you are not alone in the entire process. * Look for someone to quit with you. If you are entirely on your own, you are going to be much more likely to slip back into smoking. If someone is working with you and holding you accountable, you are more likely to struggle to succeed. Working to quit smoking is not easy, but hard tasks are much easier to accomplish with a partner. * Aim to quit for good. This might seem a bit strange, but if you are just planning to quit for a weekend you are not going to put much effort into the process. If you are planning to quit for good, a lot more time and effort is going to go into the process as well as your plan to quit. * Look for ways to take your mind off cigarettes. If you are always thinking about cigarettes, you may find that you are much more tempted to smoke. Reading a book, exercising, talking on the phone, surfing the internet and even cooking are all great ways to occupy your mind and keep from thinking about when your last cigarette was. Conclusion: The decision to stop smoking can be one of the best choices that you can make for your health and your life. So it makes sense to put everything into it when you decide to quit ensuring success. Think of the things that motivate you, find a support system, and use tips like the ones in this article to create a plan that is sure to succeed. Most people are readily aware that stopping smoking can improve their health, but learning how to really conquer the urges to smoke is not easy. With so many temptations circulating around, as well as the stresses of daily life it is easy to see why jumping into a pack of cigarettes seems like a good idea. But, the bottom line is that you need to just take it one day at a time and step by. You can achieve the ability to quit smoking, but it is something that you do not want to look too far in the future. You do not want to get to the place where you think you are so strong that you can put yourself in vulnerable situations. You need to surround yourself with other non-smokers, or you can hang with the same friends you have always had as long as they are respectful to the path which you are walking; they may even be inspired by you to take control of their own life.

I Can Make It Happen

History abounds with tales of experts who were convinced that the ideas, plans, and projects of others could never be achieved. However, accomplishment came to those who said, "I can make it happen." The Italian sculptor Agostino d'Antonio worked diligently on a large piece of marble. Unable to produce his desired masterpiece, he lamented, "I can do nothing with it." Other sculptors also worked this difficult piece of marble, but to no avail. Michelangelo discovered the stone and visualized the possibilities in it. His "I-can-make-it-happen" attitude resulted in one of the world's masterpieces - David. The experts of Spain concluded that Columbus's plans to discover a new and shorter route to the West Indies was virtually impossible. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand ignored the report of the experts. "I can make it happen," Columbus persisted. And he did. Everyone knew the world was flat, but not Columbus. The Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria, along with Columbus and his small band of followers, sailed to "impossible" new lands and thriving resources. Even the great Thomas Alva Edison discouraged his friend, Henry Ford, from pursuing his fledgling idea of a motorcar. Convinced of the worthlessness of the idea, Edison invited Ford to come and work for him. Ford remained committed and tirelessly pursued his dream. Although his first attempt resulted in a vehicle without reverse gear, Henry Ford knew he could make it happen. And, of course, he did. "Forget it," the experts advised Madame Curie. They agreed radium was a scientifically impossible idea. However, Marie Curie insisted, "I can make it happen." Let's not forget our friends Orville and Wilbur Wright. Journalists, friends, armed forces specialists, and even their father laughed at the idea of an airplane. "What a silly and insane way to spend money. Leave flying to the birds," they jeered. "Sorry," the Wright brothers responded. "We have a dream, and we can make it happen." As a result, a place called Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, became the setting for the launching of their "ridiculous" idea. Finally, as you read these accounts under the magnificent lighting of your environment, consider the plight of Benjamin Franklin. He was admonished to stop the foolish experimenting with lighting. What an absurdity and waste of time! Why, nothing could outdo the fabulous oil lamp. Thank goodness Franklin knew he could make it happen. You too can make it happen! It Couldn't Be Done Somebody said that it couldn't be done, But he with a chuckle replied That maybe it couldn't, but he would be one Who wouldn't say so "till he tried." So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried, he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done, and he did it. Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that; At least no one ever has done it." But he took off his coat and took off his hat And the first thing he knew he'd begun it. With the lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, Without any doubting or quiddit, He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done, and he did it. There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done. There are thousands to prophesy failure. There are thousands to point out to you, one by one, the dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle right in with a bit of a grin, then take off your coat and go to it; just start in to sing as you tackle the thing that cannot be done, and you'll do it. From Candles to Soap In 1879, Procter and Gamble's best seller was candles. But the company was in trouble. Thomas Edison had invented the light bulb, and it looked as if candles would become obsolete. Their fears became reality when the market for candles plummeted since they were now sold only for special occasions. The outlook appeared to be bleak for Procter and Gamble. However, at this time, it seemed that destiny played a dramatic part in pulling the struggling company from the clutches of bankruptcy. A forgetful employee at a small factory in Cincinnati forgot to turn off his machine when he went to lunch. The result? A frothing mass of lather filled with air bubbles. He almost threw the stuff away but instead decided to make it into soap. The soap floated. Thus, Ivory soap was born and became the mainstay of the Procter and Gamble Company. Why was soap that floats such a hot item at that time? In Cincinnati, during that period, some people bathed in the Ohio River. Floating soap would never sink and consequently never got lost. So, Ivory soap became a best seller in Ohio and eventually across the country also. Like Procter and Gamble, never give up when things go wrong or when seemingly insinuations problems arise. Creativity put to work can change a problem and turn it into a gold mine. A Ten-Cent Idea When young F. W. Woolworth was a store clerk, he tried to convince his boss to have a ten-cent sale to reduce inventory. The boss agreed, and the idea was a resounding success. This inspired Woolworth to open his own store and price items at a nickel and a dime. He needed capital for such a venture, so he asked his boss to supply the capital for part interest in the store. His boss turned him down flat. "The idea is too risky," he told Woolworth. "There are not enough items to sell for five and ten cents." Woolworth went ahead without his boss's backing, and he not only was successful in his first store, but eventually he owned a chain of F. W. Woolworth stores across the nation. Later, his former boss was heard to remark, "As far as I can figure out, every word I used to turn Woolworth down cost me about a million dollars." Time To Think Henry Ford hired an efficiency expert to go through his plant. He said, "Find the nonproductive people. Tell me who they are, and I will fire them!" The expert made the rounds with his clipboard in hand and finally returned to Henry Ford's office with his report. "I've found a problem with one of your administrators," he said. "Every time I walked by, he was sitting with his feet propped up on the desk. The man never does a thing. I definitely think you should consider getting rid of him!" When Henry Ford learned the name of the man the expert was referring to, Ford shook his head and said, "I can't fire him. I pay that man to do nothing but think - and that's what he's doing. Conclusion If an impulse comes to say some un-thoughtful word today that may drive a friend away, don't say it! If you've heard a word of blame cast upon your neighbor's name. That may injure his fair fame, don't tell it! If malicious gossip's tongue some vile slander may have flung on the head of old or young, don't repeat it! Thoughtful, kind, helpful speech," 'Tis a gift promised to each - this, lesson we would teach"!

20 Internet Marketing Trends since 2009

There is something refreshing in these year, in that it affords us time to reflect, analyze and develop strategies for our companies for the coming year. For example, now is a great opportunity to identify the major Internet marketing trends for 2009, and to develop corresponding marketing plans to capture market opportunities and to maximize revenue accordingly. To that end, the following is a list of 20 major Internet marketing trends taking shape . Internet Marketing Trends Trend #1: Recession Marketing Expect a lot of marketing messaging related to the recession. Don’t be surprised to see lots of offers that “save you money” throughout the year. With fewer purchasing dollars available, how will your marketing message be distinctive and stand out? Trend #2: Internet Marketing-palooza Due to its cost-effectiveness and inherent measurability, expect many more small businesses to take Internet marketing seriously in 2009. This includes everything from email marketing, pay-per-click advertising and social networking, to increased investment in websites, microsites and custom landing pages. Trend #3: The Customer Voice Customers are demanding a voice in your business, or they will seek alternative solutions. Think forums, blogs, crowdsourcing, feedback forms, etc. Want proof? Whereas in Q2 of 2007, 25 percent of the online audience called themselves “critics” contributing to the social media discussion, a year later this number jumped to 37 percent (Source: Forrester). Trend #4: Video Marketing Many studies show that adding videos to a website increases traffic and time-on-site. Look for a major increase in online videos in 2009. If your website does not yet have any videos, look to add them this year, but be sure that they are relevant and useful to your target audience. Look for interactive video technology in 2009, through which users can click on elements within the videos to be taken to associated content, microsites and shopping carts. Trend #5: Blogging Look for blogging to continue its growth in 2009. The barriers to entry in blogging are so low, expect many more small businesses to launch their own blogs in the coming year. Trend #6: Social Marketing Small businesses have been relatively slow overall to embrace social marketing. With greater verticalization of social media and social networking websites, expect more small businesses to get involved in targeted environments where ROI will be easier to achieve. Trend #7: Mobile Marketing It feels like everyone has an iPhone or other similar type of digital mobile device these days. According to Nielsen, nearly 40 million people in the US access email on a mobile device. Mobile marketing will finally realize its potential in 2009, especially for local businesses such as restaurants, movie theaters and just about anyone targeting Generation Y. Trend #8: Behavioral Targeting Expect online ads to become behaviorally based. Many new behavioral advertising networks will become available in 2009, some serving dynamically generated images and messages based on each user’s online behavior. Trend #9: Behavioral Analytics Complementary to Trend #8, expect the world of measurement and web analytics to take a behavioral turn as well. This means measuring not only which pages people visit on your website, but more importantly why they do so. Trend #10: Widget Marketing Widgets (tiny, interactive Web applications) are relatively inexpensive to develop, and they can be an effective way to ensure that your customers spend more time with your brand on an ongoing basis. What widgets will you deploy in 2009 that will save your clients time, help them get things done, or simply provide them with useful information? Trend #11: Innovation With the recession will come a greater intensity of competition for the fewer available purchasing dollars. With this will bring a surge of creativity and innovation in the online marketing world. Do not let your competition out-innovate you. Trend #12: Back-to-Basics Marketing Expect less fluff in 2009, and more marketing messages about how companies solve problems for their customers. Be sure that you understand how your business solves real-world problems, and then clarify that in your marketing messaging. Trend #13: Relationship Marketing Companies will move towards a relationship-building model with their customers. The downturn in the economy means fewer new customers for a business. To address this, companies are going to need to focus on thrilling their existing customers and building longer-term relationships. Trend #14: Verticalization Verticalization is the natural progression of many marketing channels, providing marketers an opportunity to communicate with a highly targeted audience. For example, if you are a shoe designer or retailer, think ShoeTube.tv instead of YouTube.com. Expect verticalization in the online space in 2009. Trend #15: Personalization What customer wouldn’t prefer a customized product or solution vs. a generic, cookie-cutter version? Trend #16: Multicultural Marketing In the effort to uncover new audiences, many small businesses are going to realize the untapped potential of the Spanish-speaking market right here in the US. Trend #17: Mixing Display Ads & Search Marketing Multiple studies have found that by adding an online display ad campaign to a pay-per-click advertising campaign on the search engines, website traffic can double and conversions can increase significantly. This type of ROI cannot be ignored. Trend #18: The Long Long Long Tail Chris Anderson coined the phrase “The Long Tail” to describe the strategy of businesses (e.g., Netflix) that sell a large number of items, each in relatively small quantities. The long tail represents an opportunity for small businesses to capture segments and sub-segments of any market. With the economic downturn, expect the long tail to get much longer as small businesses go after narrower and narrower niches towards the end of the tail. Trend #19: There’s No Place Like Home With the growing unemployment numbers, expect a surge in home-based businesses and in mom entrepreneurs in 2009. Correspondingly, expect a surge in marketing directed at this segment of the market. If you can help these individuals be successful, start getting the word out now. Trend #20: Speed With the growth in entrepreneurship and home-based businesses, we can expect the speed at which these businesses respond to prospective customer inquiries to be fast. As such, small businesses that want to thrive in 2009 need to operate at lightning speeds and to have websites that fully serve the needs of their customers. Action Plan Is your business ready? Based on the above Internet marketing trends, explore and define ways that your small business can leverage the opportunities in the upcoming marketing landscape so that your company grows and you achieve your 2009 business objectives. Tom Shapiro is CEO and founder of Digital Marketing NOW, which helps clients maximize their online marketing results. What makes Digital Marketing NOW different is the company's expertise and focus on digital strategy and strategic design. Services include digital strategy development, website development & design, conversion optimization, SEO, paid search, online display advertising, social media marketing, and analytics. Follow us on Twitter: @DigitalMN.