Meet Joe Johnson, Entrepreneur, Career Coach, Speaker, Author, and Strategic-Optimist

A local Portlander, Joe Johnson loves to help people turn their biggest dreams into easy-to-follow roadmaps so that they can become their best selves. For as long as he can remember, Joe has been obsessed with the concept of unlocking human potential. Why do some people thrive and others struggle? And how many steps is the second person away from being successful? These questions are what drive him and get him excited about what he does.

To learn more about Joe and his work, check out this entry on job searching from his blog, and this entry on how to receive a salary increase.

1. How did you decide to start up the Earn More Academy website?

I decided to make Earn More Academy after I realized that my good fortune of finding great jobs wasn't luck at all--it was an invaluable skill.

I keep in contact with a lot of my friends from university; however, I noticed that many of them were really struggling to find a job. Sadly, some of them, now in their 30s, were forced to live with their parents because their current job wasn't helping them to move their lives forward.

A common thread was that each of them were both extremely unhappy with their jobs and severely underpaid. Then, after helping them with their resume, online profiles, and sharing some key career advice, they each landed a career in fields that made them happier and paid them more money.

Over the course of several years of privately coaching friends and colleagues, I finally decided to open the website EarnMoreAcademy.com to help a lot more people gain a better work life balance and financial independence.

2. Why are so many people earning less money than they would like to be earning--or even than what their skills should be worth in the current job market?

This is a BIG question. There are a lot of external factors both past and present that have affected the job market (ie: the economic slowdowns, company restructuring, layoffs, etc).

Despite this fact, I would say that the biggest thing that keeps people from earning more money, even though they may be overqualified, is they honestly don't know what they want from their own career path. Clarity is key forth finding the path to becoming a top-paid player in your industry. When you start to narrow down potential careers that leverage your real strengths and your unique talents, you can do some amazing stuff while at the right company.

Oftentimes, people suffer from job searching fatigue and grab ANY job that calls back after a long job search. However, it may not truly fit who you are and what you want to do. As a result, you will probably not excel nor be considered for a raise because your true potential will never be utilized.

3. What are some things people can do in the job they hold right now to improve their financial position/outlook?

This is a great question! We previously did a whole write-up dedicated to this exact question on our website. However, if a person is trying to improve their financial position at their current role, they are going to need to get on the same page with their employer. Here is a quick 3-part strategy for getting that salary increase that you deserve.

Stage One – Goal Setting

In the first stage, you need to approach your supervisor with the idea that you want to be considered for a raise in the near future and that you'd like to find out exactly what it would take to receive a raise. To your boss, it's going to be a refreshing change of pace that an employee is ambitious enough to go above and beyond for the company. It's very important that you get ultra-specific and repeat back exactly what they told you their needs are. Example: "So you're saying, if I were to do X, then it would make me the best candidate for a raise in the next 6 months?"

Stage Two – Execution & Recording

After you confirm your supervisor's needs, you want to make sure that you complete your new project on time and better than expected. Underpromise and overdeliver!

At the end of each week, make sure to document your efforts and show how you have either grown productivity or how your efforts have increased revenues. You will need this later, as it will be what you will use to position yourself for a raise.

Stage Three – Research & Rewards

Head over to one of the following salary comparison websites and research how much money other professionals in your industry are being paid:

Salary.com

PayScale.com

Aim to put yourself in the top 30% of professionals in your industry.

Next, you want to schedule a time to speak with your supervisor about the completion of the project and all of the benefits that have been the direct result of your work. This shouldn't be hard to do because your personal documentation serves to justify why you deserve the raise that you're requesting.

Finally, after you wrap up your project debrief session, smoothly transition into the money conversation by saying something like this, "Now several weeks ago, you mentioned that if I delivered on this project, we would discuss my salary. After researching on several payscale websites, I found the average compensation of people in similar industries was between Y and Z. Given my latest performance, I would like to request that my salary be moved from A to B."

4. What are some common mistakes people make or misconceptions people have when it comes to searching for jobs?

When it comes to the actual job interview, it can be very stressful. You basically have one shot to make an outstanding first impression. So many people have this misconception that you need to convince the employer that you are the best candidate by simply answering questions about yourself. This is huge mistake! If they wanted one sentence answers, then they would have read your resume and skipped the entire interview process.

The truth, is that every job interview is always about the company, and your answers should be crafted in such a way that it positions YOU as the best solution to their business problems. This is how you win more job interviews.

5. What else would you like readers to know about you and the services you offer through your site?

Just remember, EVERYONE has an 8-to-5. It's up to YOU to determine where you will spend that time! We have a full suite of tools to help you land a new job that will make you happier. We provide everything from eye-catching resume templates, to 1-on-1 coaching, and full job hunting online mastery courses.

Thanks, Joe!

Meet Adam Waring, Aussie Ninja Warrior

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Adam Waring is training to be the first Australian Ninja Warrior and the first Aussie to compete on American Ninja Warrior. He created his Aussie Ninja Warrior website to help create the amazingly supportive community in Australia that American currently has.

1. How did you first hear about American Ninja Warrior--is it popular in Australia?

Bizarrely, it was a young Olivia Munn that got me into American Ninja Warrior. The original Ninja Warrior show from Japan is called Sasuke, and I used to love it with all my heart. Eventually they had a couple of American competitors who were interesting, but I never really thought a lot about it until they showed Ms. Munn coming back a second time after training all year to pass the first obstacle--and that lead me to investigate and find American Ninja Warrior which promptly became my favourite.

American Ninja Warrior has only just started airing on Australian television, so for years and years I tried hard to track down episodes Due to regional constraints you couldn't watch them on Youtube or buy them from Amazon, so I had to convince overseas family friends to help me out. Now that Australian Ninja Warrior has been announced to air its first season in 2017, I think interest is very definitely rising. I think Australian Ninja Warrior could be absolutely massive. Aussies are extremely sporty and competitive, so I'm guessing it should fit into our cultural identity more than any other reality TV show.

2. What made you decide that you wanted to be on the show?

I've always been hugely into computers, even as a young kid. I'm an IT guy by trade and loved computer games and programming more than anything else. Predictably, I developed extremely severe RSI in my hands and was suddenly faced with not being able to do any of the things I loved and was good at.

I was devastated for a long time, especially after a huge number of specialists would each promise resolution, and my condition would get worse as time moved along. Eventually, while moping around and feeling sorry for myself, I found the Japanese Sasuke and became a massive fan, and that got me out and training and excited about obstacle courses. I was always terrible at sports, but obstacle courses I was actually really good at really quickly.

A year ago, my partner and I were ready to change life up and decided to move overseas. America became our destination and so it was decided by everyone who had ever met me that I should train and try out for American Ninja Warrior. Then a couple of months ago they announced Australian Ninja Warrior, so looks like I'll be heading back home for a bit of fun.

3. What's your training regimen been like?

Training has been really fun, but actually extremely difficult. Unlike most other sports and disciplines, you have to be good at everything because you have no idea what is going to be thrown at you. So, rock climbing and parkour are a good start, which I started learning last November, and then it's just a heap of exercises. I don't do weights at all because I want to be light and agile, so a lot of body weight exercises and then a heap of training on obstacles where I can and swinging off all the things.

I actually developed a few tendonitis/overuse injuries because I just threw myself into training trying to develop all the muscles and all the skills. Now I'm a lot smarter and have structured three rest days a week into my training week so that I give myself a chance to recover and give all the tendons and fascia around the muscles to develop.

4. Why did you need to move to Portland, Oregon, and what are your plans leading up to appearing on the show in 2017?

I ended up in Portland, Oregon purely by accident. We had no idea it might be the fittest city in America when we moved here. We had no idea there was so much rock climbing and snowboarding and cycling to do here. We only knew of Portland from the television show Portlandia, so really, we had no idea what we were in for. I love it here now; it's such a fun city, and everyone is so active and health conscious. It's amazing.

5. Would you tell us a bit about your website and anything else you'd like readers to know about you?

I initially started www.australianninjawarrior.com.au just as a way to keep track of my own training for American Ninja Warrior. In my training, I've found that America has such a vibrant and supportive community of Ninja Warriors--it's the course versus everyone, so all the Ninja Trainers, Rock Climbers and Parkour Freerunners I've met have been so generous with their time and knowledge that I wanted to share that with my fellow Australian Ninja Warriors, so I’ve changed www.australianninjawarrior.com.au to be a one-stop shop for this budding community and sharing my experiences and training tips. When I first started training, I found it really hard to find any information on how to start, what do to, how to tackle anything, so I'm trying to remove that barrier for my Aussie Ninjas.

Thanks, Adam!

Meet Mark Pagaduan-Iha, Writer

Mark Pagaduan-Iha is a pet health and longevity blogger. He currently writes articles that offer tips and suggestions on ways that pet parents can not only keep their dogs healthy, but also increase both their healthspan and lifespan. Mark is currently at work on a book about dogs. Check out his website at http://dogadvertiser.com/.

1. How did your own experience as someone who loves pets inspire you to start your website?

I've always been a pet lover and especially fond of dogs, but I don't think I realized how much they really meant to me until my own pup became afflicted with heart disease. The whole ordeal was difficult to process, and even presently I find myself getting quite emotional about it.

My husband and I found very little answers from our primary vet and cardiologist regarding our fur baby's heart disease. Essentially, we were told that we would have to take a "wait and see" approach. Which I understood completely because they were trained in a certain school of thought, but at the same time it infuriated me. I've never been someone who doesn't take action. Listen, we're talking about my baby here, and I wanted to do anything and everything to help him.

After reaching out to other professionals, reading scientific studies, and scouring the internet for answers, I realized that there are other pet parents in the same exact predicament. They were either not given concrete answers regarding their pets' health or they were just given some medication and told to go on their merry way. In either case, their dogs weren't being helped. These pet parents, like myself, wanted more holistic or natural alternatives to help with the ailments that our fur children were facing. But many of us didn't know where to turn.

So a light bulb sort of went off in my head that maybe I should start a website dishing out my findings on natural and holistic methods to other pet parents. Here's something I learned as well: all pet parents want their fur kids to live as long as healthily possible. That in itself is powerful stuff.

2. What is the significance of the site's name, The Dog Advertiser?

To be honest when I first started the site, I wanted to be very inclusive of "all things dog." I felt the name The Dog Advertiser was very cute but also conveyed the feeling of a general dog news publication. However, I quickly realized two things. The first is that you can't be all things to all people; the task became overwhelming when trying to source every type of interesting story that came up. The second thing I realized is that my true passion is dealing with the health, wellness, and longevity of our pets.

So I decided to shift the focus of the site, but still retained the name. Plus, our two kids are in the logo, so how could we ever change it? ;-)

3. How do you decide what content to feature on your site?

I wish I could say that there's a real process behind it, but there really isn't. Well, I take that back. I keep track of pet health news, and if there's something I feel people should know, I'll post it. So for example if there is a new drug that might be coming out, I'll research it and write something regarding it. Something like that came up recently with a drug called Sileo, which is supposed to keep dogs calm and quell anxiety. It came out right before the 4th of July holiday, and the drug company was doing some press and media for it. I took issue with the fact that no one had written about the adverse effects of Sileo, so I went to task and wrote a piece about it, cited my resources, and outlined all the nasty things that could happen if your pup took it.

However, most of the time the posts come from identifying what's really going on within the pet community and what's going on in our own lives. Health in general is very broad, but we are writing about things that can help heal your pet and also little tips and tricks that you can use to help increase their longevity. Also, when it comes to longevity, the content regarding it is endless. Especially because our dogs' chemistry is so similar to ours.

4. Would you tell us a little bit about the book you're currently writing?

Which one? Haha. Actually, I have several books that I'm in the process of writing. But the one you're referring to is actually somewhat of a general guide to help pet parents navigate through the basics, such as diet, choosing a vet, a run down of some of the major pet ailments and of course various holistic/natural remedies that they can utilize. There will be much more inside of it, but that's the overall theme. The book is getting so big that some are referring to it as a "bible for natural pet health." I needed to cut a lot out, because I didn't want people to refer to it as that.

The book really is a starting off point to help people navigate through the sometimes complex world of pet health. The problem I often see (and I'm guilty of doing this in my posts sometimes) is that experts talk in their own complicated language. It's too hard for many newbies to understand and frequently intimidating. So much so that a lot of pet parents call it quits and just defer to their conventional vet. They end up back at square one. It's quite a big turn off, so I'm trying to take the opposite approach and lay the foundation, speaking in simple terms all the while giving them a ton of information that they can easily understand and implement.

5. What else would you like readers to know about you and your work?

I would like your readers and really everyone to know that I'm in the trenches with them. They are not alone in this. I have a pup who has had severe skin/coat allergies and was diagnosed with heart disease. He wasn't feeling well for a long time. But along the way I learned some natural and healthy ways to manage it. As a result, he's not only feeling better, but our primary vet and cardiologist are very surprised and pleased with how he's doing. In addition, his skin issues have been completely resolved. After nearly 9 years of trying everything under the sun to cure his skin allergies with conventional medicine, he finally responded to a more natural approach.

So essentially, I know how they are feeling, what they might be going through, and the daily struggle that goes along when caring for a pet that might not have ideal or optimum health.

But beyond that I would like to convey that traditional medicine doesn't always have the answers. While I do believe it's important to consider both conventional and holistic treatments and therapies, it's crucial that pet parents see that there is hope with alternative medicine and remedies. Primarily, yes, I will often seek out the advice of my holistic vet, but I will also consult my primary one as well. It's important to get BOTH sides of the story and BOTH views.

That's what The Dog Advertiser is about. We want to help you with the health, wellness, and longevity of your pet using alternative and natural methods. But we also do our best to lay out both sides of the coin. It doesn't behoove anyone if you are one-sided, and at the end of the day it's not about us; it's about our beloved fur babies. It's our job to protect them, love them, and most importantly give them the best chance at having a fulfilling and healthy life.

Thank you so much for this interview; I appreciate it and hope to see you and your readers on The Dog Advertiser soon! :-)

Thanks, Mark!

Meet Thomas Moulson of Fruit Tank

Fruit Tank is a website that showcases creative works from unknown talent in hopes of getting the artists discovered and selling their work. The site currently features art, music, video, photography, and writing. Learn more at http://www.fruittank.co.uk, or click here to learn how to submit your work.

1. How did you choose the name Fruit Tank for your project, and what does the name signify?

The name was originally chosen for its mix of the words "Fruit bowl" and "fish Tank." This meant we could have sub companies for the individual mediums, mixing fruit with sea life. For example, music would be under Cherry Crab, films under Strawberry Squid, etc. That has been put on hold because it's rather confusing. But the name has stuck, mainly because it's unique and sounds quite good. It's not the best name origin story.

2. How does your site help creative people get their work out there?

Once the site gains more and more traffic and popularity, we hope that it'll become the go-to place for creative content. Eventually we are going to do member pages where creatives can host their contact info (only accessible for other members) so people can collaborate with one and other. For example, a filmmaker may go to the site and find music they really like and may want to contact the musician and get them to do a soundtrack. Or a musician may want an artist to design their record cover. It will just become the HQ for creative content. The dream is that record labels, production companies, publishers, and galleries will come to Fruit Tank to scout out new talent.

3. Would you tell us a little bit about the compilations that you're planning to put together with the work that people share with you?

Every few months, we will allow visitors of the site to vote for their favorite creative content on the site, and then the top creations will be distributed/sold. Music will organized into an album and distributed onto iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and 100+ other music sites. Art and photographs will be compiled into a graphics book and possibly showcased and privately held galleries, writing will also be compiled into books, and the the films will be shown at pop-up, drive-in film festivals in major cities. Sometimes there will be themes; for example, for Valentine's Day, we will have a call for content such as love songs, romantic poetry, and romantic films.

4. I like that you cite Andy Warhol as an inspiration for Fruit Tank. What can we learn from the ways that he got his own art into the world, and the ways he collaborated with and/or supported other artists?

Andy Warhol was a true one of a kind person; he knew how allow people to nurture their talents and really express themselves without boundaries. He had a place called "The Factory" where anyone was welcome; people could just walk in and join in. I can imagine it was such a creative environment filled with inspiration. He recognized true talent: he made Jean Michel Basquiat very famous, and he catapulted The Velvet Underground into fame. He knew what the world expected and always did the opposite--he knew controversy sparked a reaction, and therefore got people talking about his work. He understood what it meant to be an artist, and he knew how to get the best out of people.

5. What else would you like readers to know about Fruit Tank?

We just want people to be known for their talents. There are some really really talented people in the world but nobody ever knows them, because it's so hard to get discovered nowadays--you need to pull so many strings to get recognition. Talent alone isn't enough nowadays; you need the correct personality and the right friends. That's just wrong. Talent is talent, and we want to show off that talent. I'm a fan of the lifestyle of the 60s and 70s because everyone appears to be so free and open to self-expression. The streets were ruled by artists. However, in the present day, everyone is so restricted by boundaries. We want creative people to show off their talents and get discovered the right way, for their amazing gifts.

Thanks, Thomas!

Meet Minda Powers-Douglas of TheCemeteryClub.com

Minda Powers-Douglas is an author and cemetery expert who founded TheCemeteryClub.com, a website dedicated to the art and history of cemeteries. Her books include Images of America: Chippiannock Cemetery, Translating Tombstones, and Cemetery Walk, and she has given workshops on topics like cemetery symbolism, proper gravestone rubbing techniques (where rubbings are allowed), ghost stories, memoir writing, creative writing, and self-publishing. She also creates unique pieces of cemetery-themed art such as her Pocket Cemeteries, and Cemetery in a Jar necklaces.

1. What first inspired you to start writing about cemeteries, and what keeps you interested in the topic?

I started writing my first cemetery book, Cemetery Walk, in 2003. I had been leading a workshop for girls for a number of years and, frankly, I was burnt out (loss of grant funding, volunteers, etc.). The workshop had been based on a short non-fiction book I wrote.

I'm the type of person who feels lost without a project or two going on. I decided that it was time to fulfill my life-long dream to write and publish a book. The topic that kept coming back to me was my interest in cemeteries. I'd been interested in them since I was a kid. They'd always fascinated me. So I dug in, so to speak, and haven't looked back. I love doing research, and there's so much to learn about them.

2. How do cemeteries connect to our appreciation of history--and of beauty?

Every gravestone contains a story. It's the story of the person buried there (or not buried there, on occasion). Of course, many of us know the stories of the famous people who have passed before us, but what about the millions and billions of others? I love discovering a long-forgotten person's story.

Aside from my site and books, I'm also a producer on a video web series we're working on called Tomb Trippin'. I'm based in Moline, Illinois, and the other producers, Dan Rosenfeld and Julie Pop, are out near L.A. Our goal with the show is to showcase little-known people with great stories that have been forgotten. We're really excited about it. My Facebook group members are also supportive and can't wait to see it. We're already working on things, and we plan to launch a Kickstarter campaign next year.

As for the idea of beauty of cemeteries, I think they are some of the most beautiful places you can visit. A number of people consider them "outdoor museums," and that is so true. In the U.S. alone, you can see gravestones that date back to the 1700s (and earlier if you look hard enough). You can walk right up to them and touch them if you want to (but please be careful!). How many indoor museums allow that without alarms going off? In old and new cemeteries you see a variety of artistic styles. Slate stone carvings in New England are often thinly chiseled yet have stood the test of time and elements. There are gorgeous marble monuments and sturdy granite ones. My favorites are from the Victorian Era and are carved with various symbols.

3. What will visitors find when they stop by your website, TheCemeteryClub.com?

When people visit my site, they'll learn about how important our cemeteries are. There's information on cemetery symbolism and other areas of research, news, an extensive links library, book reviews (for old and new books) and, of course, my shop. I sell my books through my site and have links to the ones I don't personally have in stock. Aside from my books, I sell tote bags, T-shirts and one-of-a-kind, handmade cemetery-related gifts.

4. Would you tell us a little more about some of your books about cemeteries? Which of your titles have been most popular over the years--and what are some of your most recent titles?

Cemetery Walk is a book filled with interviews with people who are connected to cemeteries in some way or whose work is inspired by them. It's also part memoir, as it has a lot of personal stuff in it. I self-published it through a small company because I wanted to do the book on my own terms (it took two years to research and write). Right after it was sent off for the first printing, I talked with an agent who told me she would have taken it! Due to my contract with the small company, I wouldn't be able to do so for a couple years. Such is life. It's okay because the experience taught me a lot.

I've also published my book Images of America: Chippiannock Cemetery through Arcadia Publishing. Chippiannock is a cemetery near me in Rock Island, Illinois. It's absolutely gorgeous and one of my favorite places. We plan to feature it in Tomb Trippin'.

My most popular book is Translating Tombstones, which is a handy guide on gravestone symbolism. I originally put it together for myself, but people in my Facebook group said they wanted copies, too, so I decided I'd publish it. This time I published through Lulu.com. I have a few other books and some issues of the magazine I used to do (Epitaphs Magazine). The magazine was great but overwhelming. Aside from contributions from writers or photographers, I did the whole thing on my own. I even did the design/layout for a while. I stopped producing it in 2008, but people still tell me they miss it.

5. Who is a taphophile, and what is a Pocket Cemetery (and why might it be the perfect gift for such a person)?

A taphophile is someone with a great interest in cemeteries. A cemetery lover. It's a name a lot of us have adopted. It's like we're in a special club! Being a taphophile means you get it--that you understand how amazing cemeteries are and want to share that with others.

What is a Pocket Cemetery? I'm glad you asked! LOL... A Pocket Cemetery is a miniature cemetery that I make by hand. They can be up to 4 or 5 inches long. I hand-paint the boxes and include miniature gravestones. Each one is unique. I can make them to order or with themes. One I've done (that's still available, BTW) was inspired by Van Gogh's Starry Night and other works. Inside there's a painting of his grave and his brother's. I recently sold a Day of the Dead one and one with a little skeleton hand reaching out of the grave. Taphophiles can have a macabre sense of humor while still respecting the dead.

I also make Cemeteries in a Jar. Same basic concept at the Pocket Cemeteries just in a little jar. My newest items include even smaller necklace pendants that have a cemetery in a jar. I have so much fun making them. More people need to buy them so I can keep making new ones! Otherwise I'll fill up my house with them!

You can see a number of these items on my site right now. And if someone mentions your blog, I'll give them 20% off their order of anything I have in stock! They can email me at minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com for details.

Thanks so much, Mandy!

Thanks, Minda!

Introducing TuiLand, Chat without Registration

Do you ever feel like chatting online but don't feel like signing up for another social website? TuiLand is a web-based chat tool that doesn't require registration. You just go to http://tuiland.com/en/, choose an avatar from a limited selection of cute, cartoony images, and then you can chat. You don't even use your real name--you use the name assigned to the avatar.

TuiLand was created with an idea in mind of the groups that form outside of the internet (classmates, work colleagues, etc). In other words, sometimes circumstances put you together with people, rather than choices based on common interests--or even geography. As anyone who has made online friends before can attest, you never know when you might meet someone with whom you end up building a lifelong friendship.

When visiting TuiLand, participants enter a social network made up of a fixed number of 32 people, equal parts men and women. The rest is totally casual. Because in TuiLand you don't use photos and real names, only avatars, you have the safety of guarding your own identity, and the freedom of chatting freely. The creators of TuiLand hope that in this new space, you can be yourself, starting from zero.

You can download the TuiLand app from Google Play, which is a fun and easy way to try chatting at different times of day when you have your phone with you and a free moment or two to try something new. Learn more about TuiLand and connect with other users in a less anonymous way on TuiLand's Facebook page.

Introducing Stephanie Hopkins' Photography Site

When it comes to an artist's website, I really like learning someone's story: why do they create, how did they get interested in creating in the first place, what keeps them motivated, and so on.

Stephanie Hopkins is a professional photographer based in California's North Bay area who specializes in portraits using natural light. I like her website because she gives you an insight into her life as an artist and why she creates--plus, she gives you an excellent idea of what it would be like to work with her.

On the front page of Stephanie's site, she currently has a video that gives you an inside peek at what it's like to have a senior picture photo session with Stephanie. Clever idea indeed.

Her site also has a blog where you can see a lot of samples of her recent work. This is also fun for people she's photographed as it gives them a way to share a preview of their pictures and also to give family and friends an idea of how they enjoyed their photo session.

In addition to senior photos, Stephanie takes wedding photos, family photos, and more. Do you need headshots for your acting portfolio, a book jacket, or to post on the website for your business? Stephanie's website gives me the impression that she is a warm and engaging person to work with and that she can draw out your true personality and show it in a photo.

You can also follow Stephanie's photography page on Facebook.

Introducing ThingsTwoDo, A Website for Finding Great Things to Do

One of the most common questions in the world has to be, "What do I do?". I remember asking my parents that question over and over as a kid when I would get bored and didn't want to do the usual things I enjoyed. And I still ask that question as a grownup at times! But guess what? There's a website with the sole purpose of providing creative answers to this very question.

The site is called ThingsTwoDo. What I like about the site is that the writers offer suggestions geared toward activities for people who are looking for different things. For example, there are ideas for things to do on a date, and there are ideas for things to do by yourself. There are also lots of ideas for things to do with kids and as a family. You can find ideas for things to do with friends, too, and ideas for activities that can be fun to do with seniors.

Sometimes there's something in the back of your mind that you know you want to do, but it takes someone suggesting it to you to really make you actually plan to do what you want. I feel like ThingsTwoDo functions in that way. I read a recent post on things that married couples should do without their kids and found some very practical suggestions for activities that people get so in the habit of doing as a family that they neglect to take the time to do the activities just as a couple.

There is also an app currently in development from ThingsTwoDo to make it even easier to find ideas for activities for yourself, your friends, or your family. I can see that this website and app is really going to grow over the next months, and I'll be checking back to watch its development.

The next time you want to find a new activity to explore--or maybe to be reminded of an activity you haven't done in a long time!--check out www.ThingsTwoDo.com for a diverse selection of ideas. And new posts are being added all the time.

Meet Paul Fredrickson, Author and Researcher

Paul Fredrickson has been researching multilevel marketing for 13 years. His research indicates that virtually all MLM companies including Shaklee and Herbalife, operate much the same way as a pyramid scheme. His focus is on Shaklee reviews, which the company itself appears to design. His research shows that hundreds of fake review sites have been built by companies to block unbiased information from consumers and past participants. For more information, check out http://shakleemlmreviews.pyramidscheme.wiki.

1. What first got you interested in wanting to learn more about MLM companies?

My interest in MLM began as the result of my sister's involvement with Shaklee in 2013. Loretta is the loveliest person one could hope for in a sister, but I think the issue was that she naturally trusted people; we were raised by a Baptist minister in Illinois farm country. Our mother worked from home turning our small farm's produce into jams and flavored ciders to sell. So when a "friend" offered her a "business opportunity," she believed everything he claimed was true. The money would be fast, and there would be plenty of it. She was excited to start her own business.

It was a combination of Loretta's excitement over this investment coupled with her lack of any plan set off the alarm bells for me. I began to do Google searches for MLM experts including Jonathan Brand, Bob Fitzpatrick, and others. Mr. Brand was able to speak with me by phone briefly when I asked his advice about Loretta.

And I guess that was the first time I understood how organized fraud is allowed to dupe American consumers. Brand, Fitzpatrick, and Taylor shared the same expert opinion. They arrived at it independently of one another, and each of the top US pyramid scheme experts explained the exact same thing in various levels of detail. They top minds in MLM fraud explained that the members of US oversight committees in congress annually agree not protect US consumers from multilevel marketing fraud, but rather, to accept lobbying, meaning bribe money, from the central pyramid scheme lobby or Direct Selling Association aka the DSA. This is astounding to me still. I built the Shaklee products and MLM reviews sub-domain at pyramidscheme.wiki in order to test a theory that the American rule of law can be restored one day by the FTC or Federal Trade Commission.

2. When and why did you decide to set up your website?

I decided to set up the website after my sister lost the remainder of her college savings chasing the business opportunity. Of course she was chasing something that others could see didn't exist, and she was losing the money my father and mother always worked so hard to earn and put away for her. I was left with this sinking feeling which stemmed from a dark place, from the reality that despite having a physical office in Washington DC and a realistic logo on the letterhead used by its employees, the FTC was not and is not a legitimate consumer protection agency. The laws against pyramid schemes in Section 5 of Federal FTC law already makes Shaklee and Amway and 1000 other MLMs illegal. But known, named politians are taking money from the pyramid scheme lobby/DSA in return for allowing criminals to scam people like my sister out of their entire savings. She lost more than $10,000 since they brainwash victims to buy.

3. How can consumers tell the difference between real and fake reviews of MLM companies?

That's an easy one--thank you for that. If a review of an MLM company contains widget links or any links to MLM tools systems or ways to build your MLM downline, it is a scam. Leave the site, and try again to find a real MLM review. I have learned that all MLM companies want to manipulate Google into showing fakes high in the list for these specific searches:

"[MLM name] + products"
"[MLM name] + reviews"
"[MLM name] + complaints"
"[MLM name] + scam"

In other words, I had to make a website that came up high on the first page of results for the searches, "Shaklee products," "Shaklee reviews," "Shaklee complaints," and so on. So I did this, and now the site is getting tons of traffic. I have never seen one of my sites get so many visitors each day. I'm spreading the truth for free, and I'm doing it in memory of Loretta because I loved her very much. I always will in some ways--you know how family is. It's for life and her memory is with me wherever I go.

If an MLM review site suggests that more than 1% of the scheme's participants will earn back their initial investment or buy-in cost, it is a fake reviews site, so move on to the next. This is because Brand and Taylor have shown that more than 99% of MLM participants fail to make their investment back, and this statistic appears to be true of the MLM industry as a whole.

4. What can people do when searching on Google and elsewhere to find unbiased information, rather than information put out by the companies themselves?

This is a great question, although a slightly harder one to answer. It has an answer, though. If you suspect that information you're viewing online is biased, follow the links on the page to see if they try to sell you anything that would tend to compromise the author's credibility. If you see any site claiming that a company is not a scam, it is a fake. If you see any site that encourages you to join an MLM rather than run from all multilevel marketing, it is fake. This is rather simple to determine because all MLM companies are illegal pyramid scams. I have not seen one exception to that rule. Any site claiming the opposite is fake.

5. For someone who is looking to start a business (or join an established business as an independent consultant, etc), what would you suggest they do when it comes to researching business opportunities?

The first thing is to understand that the entire fraud industry is competing to come up high in Google for the search "business opportunity," so you have a breed or variety of scam that tries to imitate something very specific, "business opportunity." You will not have good luck searching Google for terms such as "income from home," "residual income," "home income," "be your own boss," and so on, because the SEO for these terms is rigged by about 1000 MLMs, all of which are fraudulent chain recruiting schemes.

So I suppose the best answer I have on how to tell the difference between a legitimate business opportunity and a fake is to keep in mind that:

1.All MLM "home business opportunities" are fakes. If it looks good and you find out it has anything to do with MLM, run away and warn your friends. It's a fake, just another MLM scam.

2. Look at the compensation plan. If it requires you to buy any products to qualify for commissions, it's a scam.

3. If the compensation plan requires that you use a different system of measurement for money, it's an MLM scam, run. For example, if you have to convert US dollars to "PV" or "Personal Volume Points," watch out: it's a scam. This is done so that participants get the illusion that they are spending "points." It works because the simple act of figuring out what you've spent vs. the commissions you've earned now requires decimal conversions between real currency and make believe company points. That makes it harder to realize that you're spending 80-$100 for every $15 you earn back in commissions--get it?

4. Look for unfamiliar pairing of nouns where each is capitalized. Jonathan Brand refers to this as proprietary (made up) language. If your compensation plan introduces a bunch of new capitalized nouns that have different, special meanings in the context of the comp plan, you have a scam. Examples include, "Team Bonus," "Diamond Leader," "Upline," "Downline," "Business Leader Pricing," "PV," "Point Value," or anything similarly made-up and ridiculous sounding, it is a scam. I hope this helps readers to make good choices down the road.

Thanks, Paul!

Introducing NicerOdds, a Site for Comparing Odds

The people behind NicerOdds.co.uk have been comparing odds for over 30 years. Their website launched in 2003. You can find odds tables related to all sorts of sports betting.

As a newbie when it comes to betting, I was glad for some of the explanatory info about odds on the NicerOdds website. Basically, they explain that if you are going to do some betting, you would do well to compare and analyze the odds for different events to choose the odds that might help you maximize your chances when it comes to any money you're going to lay out. You can find odds for sports in the UK, US, and more--plus you can find odds for specific non-sporting events such as the Academy Awards.

You can also use this information for fun that doesn't involve betting, such as participating in fantasy sports leagues, etc. One thing I like about the NicerOdds site is that if you click on the sidebar for a specific sport, you can get an overall preview/profile of the current or upcoming season. For example, I clicked on the link for baseball and learned that my local Seattle Mariners have better odds that I realized to win the World Series this year. Go figure!

At the bottom of the sidebar, below the list of individual sports, you can also find links for "old odds" and "upcoming odds." These are interesting resources if you want to get a historical perspective on how the odds have related to the actual winners of events. And the upcoming odds can help you think ahead, especially to unique events. For example, the current list of upcoming odds includes the Eurovision Song Contest and the Nobel Prize for Literature (go, Haruki Murakami!).

The best part about NicerOdds is that the site has a straightforward, simple layout, and there aren't a bunch of ads or anything. It just feels like an informative site, not a site that's trying to sell you a bunch of stuff. And that's always a pleasure to find!

Meet Kiran Karidi, Founder of iKare Cafe

iKare Cafe is a new social networking site which encourages positivity and happiness. Users are encouraged to post about happy moments in their lives and to make a difference by sharing positive feelings and experiences with others. The site also donates 60% of their ad revenue to charity. Learn more about iKare Cafe in the video below.

1. What inspired you to start iKare Cafe?

Social networking sites are very powerful tools and if properly utilized, can do wonders for the world. But the current social networking sites are more used for entertainment and information sharing. These sites have mixed content, both positive and negative. I see that negative content spreads more rapidly than positive content. I always wondered why we couldn't have a dedicated social networking site just for positivity and happiness. I am happy it became a reality now with iKare Cafe.

2. How is iKare Cafe similar to other social networking sites--and how is it different?

The core functionality of iKare Café is similar to other popular social networking sites, but the motive behind it is very different. Other social networking sites make the founders rich, but my site brings invaluable hope into the lives of numerous people around the world, and the best thing is that the members of my site are making this happen. Also, the positive content will bring a positive outlook towards life to many people.

3. Could you give us some examples of the types of positive content that you encourage people to publish on the site?

We encourage posting any content big or small which can induce positive vibes, make someone smile, spread happiness, and share happy moments of life. We enjoy it when people take time to thank someone for doing charity work, challenge someone to surpass past contributions, and share content which can provide inspiration and encourage a pay-it-forward mindset. We want a balance of entertainment and inspiration for our users.

4. How do you see the site evolving over the next year or so?

Nowadays, I see lot of people who aren't happy with the current generation of social networking sites because there's too much information, and it is very hard to separate which information is good or bad for oneself and others. We have already been seeing a lot of positive response from the community, and I see it could give tough competition to other sites over the next couple of years. But we are not competing with anyone as our only motive is paying back to the community, and our site is just a medium for that. We have lots of features on our site already like posting photos, videos, polls, blogs, forums, etc. Over the next year we will release a lot of updates for our community to realize our dream through our members' eyes.

5. Do you think that changing our mindset to focus more on the positive can change our own lives?

Yes, having a positive attitude can really change the world, and it is a proven fact around the world that positive thinking and actions can lead to important changes. A ripple effect can be generated with positivity, and we can make the world a happy and better place to live.

Thanks, Kiran!

Meet Jordan Hernandez, Entrepreneur and Afghanistan Veteran

Jordan Hernandez is a veteran of the US military who served in Afghanistan. Now living in Texas with his wife, Dulce, he is working on starting his own business called Article Express. He is raising start-up funds for his business through this GoFundMe campaign. Jordan also hopes to help his parents and brother through his new business.

1. When it came to developing a business idea, what inspired you to focus on an online-based business?

The thing I love about doing anything online is that it's liberating--it's totally creative. I feel as though this was how the "American Dream" was back when we had such a massive and booming society. It allows anyone with a vision to create it and get the benefits from that creation.

2. Why did you decide to create a site focused on articles and content marketing?

Well, I started meditating a few years ago, and it has helped open up my consciousness so much. It helped me understand what thoughts ran through my head, and how to better interpret the meaning of those thoughts. The way I understood what popped into my head has led me to a gut decision that this is something that I am meant to do too liberate my family's life! So I'm doing it, one way or another!

3. For you as a reader, what makes for interesting web content--and what keeps you coming back to a website?

Anything that would keep me coming back would have to be giving me insight on something. It's that feeling whenever you hear something so true that you just can't help but smile and shout "YES!!! I know exactly what you mean!!".

4. Why did you decide to kick off your project by seeking backers through a crowdfunding platform?

Honestly, I decided to go this route because I would like to avoid the debt of a loan. My wife and I are trying to get a new house which we got pre-approved for, and took on a new car bill recently as well. Reaching my goals this way will avoid all the excess debt we just can't handle. I believe when people see a legitimate cause, they are compassionate, and they are loving. I have high hopes for humanity.

5. As you and your wife look ahead to the next year or so, what are your goals?

I try to place myself in this present moment. If I do try to think of a future, I'm creating separation from this moment, and now have a chance to be dragged down by thoughts of anxiety and worry. In the present moment that will be in the "future" so to speak, we are hoping to accomplish an income that will take care of us and my family around us. I hope to help my father and brother who are addicted to antidepressants, and to free my mother from a household of gang retaliation due to my brother's lifestyle. I just wish to ease the pain and hurt from their minds. Thinking about that every day must be torture.

These pictures show my brother today, and back when we were kids.

Thank you for taking the time to interview me!

Thanks, Jordan!

Excerpt from How to Say

How to Say is a website with information geared toward people who are interested in learning different languages. It features vocabulary sets for over 10,000 words and phrases in ten different languages. It also includes posts about languages, travel, and related topics.

The following is a guest post reprinted with permission from How to Say.

Improve Your English Pronunciation

Let us be honest with ourselves. Reading about pronunciation is not going to take you anywhere. You have to speak English to master the pronunciations, and it doesn't matter if you go wrong. You fall down; you learn to get up.

Every English speaking country has its own form of English. There is the American English, British English, Australian English, etc. And then we have our own Indian English. Pronunciations are different in each country's English. Learning them all would be inane. Start with clarifying and neutralizing your own regional English accent and then move on to learning the accents and slang of other countries.

Learn the phonetics

There are phonetic symbols which indicate whether a word should be pronounced as "cat" or as "cut." These symbols are often found in dictionary. It is advisable to have a dictionary by your side all the time for quick meaning and pronunciation references.

Watch movies, and listen to songs and radio

The best way to improve pronunciation is not through reading grammar books, but by watching native English programs and movies with subtitles, and listening to English songs with the lyrics in front of you. Listening to the radio is another excellent way. You have less distraction visually and your entire concentration is on what is being said.

Understanding stress

Words that can be split into two or more syllables will have distinct stress. The shift in stress changes the pronunciations and in some cases their meaning. Stress markings can be referred to in a good dictionary.

Miscellaneous tips

If you have to communicate in English with another person and you are not sure about your pronunciation, it doesn't matter. Just give them a background of what you are going to talk about so that they can tune in.

For example, it will be a good idea to ask, "Can you help me? I need directions to this address," rather than jumping directly to the address.

Write down the words that trouble you often. There are plenty of websites where you can listen to pronunciations.

Just a word to conclude: "Practice makes perfect." Speak good English taking cues from the above-mentioned tips, and make your way up the ladder of mastering English.

Introducing Alarm-Reviews.Net

If you're interested in buying or upgrading a home security system, you're probably eager to read some alarm reviews, and Alarm-Reviews.Net is a website that reviews the major home security companies and their security systems.

As you browse the site, you'll find well-known names such as ADT and Protect America. The reviews include pricing information (installation plus monthly rates) and the features that each system provides as well as the company's customer support practices. The reviews are concise and give you a good overview of each company and what you're getting for your investment.

Alarm-Reviews.Net also includes comparison tools which allow you to line up the features offered by different companies against each other. This can be helpful if you have a couple of companies in mind and want a little help making a decision. Another tool specifically offers an equipment comparison, where you scroll through pictures of all of the different equipment provided by each company--this is a great idea for people who like to see visual representations.

The site is meant to offer an unbiased, third-party perspective on security systems available in the US and Canada. If you're shopping for a home alarm system, it's worth checking out.

Introducing INRTracker, a Tool for People Who Take Warfarin

Do you or does someone close to you take Warfarin (Coumadin)? It's a very commonly prescribed blood-thinner. Personally, I've had more than one relative who has been on this medication, and it's one of those meds where you have to keep on top of your follow-up appointments for blood draws to make sure that you have the correct level of medication in your body.

INRTracker is personal health management tool for people who take Warfarin, and the name of the tool comes from the INR Test that patients get to check their level of Warfarin. INRTracker is a free web app that lets you enter your personal health data and generate reports to keep track of your medication level and try to figure out why you might be having any fluctuations in your drug therapy. You can use the app to enter lots of data that factors into your health, such as what you eat and what your blood pressure is.

INRTracker was co-founded by someone who is on Warfarin therapy for a genetic blood clotting disorder (Veronica), and someone who learned code specifically to build the website (Pavan). Oh, and they are also a couple. :) In other words, the site is brought to you by people who care about people who need to take Warfarin.

In addition to their app, Veronica and Pavan share other resources useful to patients. For example, check out their Warfarin diet guide. And check out this article about blood clot symptoms in the leg.

This screenshot also gives you a good idea of the app.

I think this is definitely a resource worth exploring if you are managing Warfarin therapy!

Introducing CreativInn, a Site to Share Creativity

I was glad to happen upon the CreativInn website. The idea behind the site is to help creative people share their work and be noticed. Creatives can sign up for the site and showcase their projects, link to their websites, share videos, promote events, and more. Also, if you are someone who represents artists, you can use the site to set up pages for the people you represent.

The best way to get an idea of CreativInn is to check out their directory. There are some interesting profiles to explore, with more added all the time.

In browsing the site myself, I found some cool photography work from several different artists. One listing that really stood out to me was the page for Le Village des arts de Dakar in Senegal. The village has exhibitions year round and supports Senegalese artists who work in many different media. The photo below is from the profile for Village des arts de Dakar, and I have to say that it makes me want to see more!

The site also has a blog which offers creative tips and tools. And you can follow CreativInn on Facebook and Twitter to learn about updates to the site.

In short, CreativInn is a new platform for artists, and I think it is going to grow quite a lot this year as more and more artists--and art enthusiasts--discover the site and what it has to offer. One of my favorite things about the site is that it has an international scope, so you can learn about artists and projects from all over the world. And isn't this one of the best things about the internet, that it allows us to share in the creativity of other people without geographic distance being a barrier?

Meet Paul Etienne of 1Branch

Paul Etienne is the founder and project manager of 1Branch. His background includes graphic design and web and mobile development, and he has published games in iOS and Android in the past. Paul is a Christian looking for his true purpose, but he found he was sometimes afraid to ask questions of members of his church because he's been going to church for so long, so in 1Branch he has created a platform where people can feel free to express themselves and to find their true purpose.

1. Could you tell us a little more about some of the features you wanted to include when you came up with the idea for 1Branch--and also, how did you choose the name?

I wanted to include: a church suggestion feature that would send you notifications about suggestions for churches to attend based on reviews whenever you go to a new town or city. I came up with the name from John 15:5, in which Jesus said, "I am the Vine. You are the branches." 1Branch means each of us is 1 branch from Jesus' vine.

2. Is going to a website on a computer the only way to access or sign up for 1Branch?

No, right now we know everyone is always busy and always on the go, so there is a very responsive version of 1Branch for all mobile phones. Also, the official 1Branch app is available in the Apple app store, and in Google Play by just typing "1Branch" in your app store's search bar.

3. How have you been reaching out so far to tell people about 1Branch?

So far, we have used press releases to let the press know about 1Branch, and we use social media a lot to get the word out. Social media is now the new "word of mouth," and it is very powerful, so when people see something they like, they share it on social media with their friends.

4. The impression I got from checking out the site is that the main idea is that it's a place for conversations and mutual support. How would you describe your goals in building it--and where do you hope to see it go over the next year?

The spirit of 1Branch is to embrace the totality of the religious experience; I want to enable people to talk about issues that really matter to them, even if they are considered off-limits. When a user signs up, that user is asked to enter a denomination. This is the "Branching" section of the network. Branching offers two streams: "Dirty Laundry" and "General," and those streams are specific to the chosen denomination.

Dirty Laundry allows users to post freely and anonymously about things they don't like or don't understand, or things that confuse them, and even about secrets a denomination may have. Anyone (within the denomination branch) can comment on the posts to bring answers and clarification. The idea is to connect people who know the truth to people who are seeking the truth, so I hope that a lot of people contribute to the overall experience of 1Branch. I hope to hear people talk about how they have found the truth through 1Branch.

5. Based on your own experience, what's your advice to other people who want to develop their own apps?

If you have a good and unique idea, then go for it. Reach out to people who have done it before, and ask for advice if there are things that you do not know how to do. There are a lot of resources out there for people who are willing to learn. "Ask and it will be given to you." Matthew 7:7

Thanks, Paul!

Introducing Akado.fi for News about SEO, ORM and More

It always makes me happy when an internet marketing company has an informative, content-rich blog. To me, it demonstrates that the company is sincere and really knows how to do their job well. Akado is one such company. Founded in Finland just over ten years ago, Akado offers services in SEO, online reputation management, and more; they also offer services in Russian.

When I visited the site, the most recent article was a thoughtful piece about the differences between manual and automated SEO. In short, automated is cheaper, but manual is more likely to return results because you actually have someone sitting down to write meaningful content and to work on creating quality links.

I was also interested in a recent article on online reputation management for doctors. This makes a lot of sense to me because I know that when I get a referral to a new physician, I look the person up online. Even one bad review online can create a reduction in patients choosing a doctor. It really is a different world today where "word of mouth" can easily become distorted.

If you're interested in increasing your visibility online in Russia, Akado's site has some relevant articles for you. I learned about the popular Russian search engine, Yandex, by scrolling through the posts on the site. There are several articles on Russian SEO and how to reach the Russian market more effectively.

Akado's blog is officially known as its "news" page, and the articles are archived by year. Check out the articles from 2015 here, the articles from 2014 here, and the articles from 2013 here. It is definitely worth browsing these archives if you have even a passing interest in how you can improve your web presence and search ranking.

Introducing Mavenrose.com and a Book about Movies as Inspiration

If you're interested in the ways that movies can help us explore meaning in our lives, be sure to visit Mavenrose.com. The author behind the site, Primrose Roberts, regularly posts thoughtful content about the ways that we can enjoy movies as a way of gaining perspective on our own situations in life.

The posts combine a variety of interesting source material, such as Jungian archetypes and Joseph Campbell's writings. There's also a connection to the Law of Attraction as the author analyzes the ways that movie heroes reach their goals. In other words, you can look at movies through different lenses and appreciate movies in new ways--and appreciate how they can even help you actualize what you want to achieve in your own life.

Primrose Roberts is the author of a book called SPUN: 101 Movies to Recreate Your Reality. You can get a good idea of the content of the book by visiting her website--and in fact, you can read Chapter 1 of the book there for free. The book is available on Amazon, in Kindle format.

We've always heard the expression about the "magic of movies," so I like the idea of someone taking this notion and exploring it more fully. We spend a lot of time watching movies, so why not watch them in a way that's more active rather than passive? The author also works with the metaphor of "writing a script," extending it beyond screenwriting to the idea of writing scripts for our own lives.

Introducing IMDEX Asia 2015, a Maritime Security Conference

If you have an interest in maritime safety and security, you'll want to make note of the fact that there's a maritime security conference to be hosted from May 19-21 by the Republic of Singapore Navy and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

The International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference, also known as IMDEX Asia, is hosting its tenth biennial conference in 2015. The event will be held at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore. The conference theme is "Safe and Secure Seas - Strengthening Cooperation in Maritime Security."

The conference includes an exhibition, strategic conferences, and a warships display. The exhibition has become so popular that booth spaces for exhibitors have sold out very quickly, which reflects the growing naval industry in the region where the conference is being held. According to a media release from the IMDEX website, the Asia Pacific market recently surpassed Europe to become the second-largest naval market in the world, after the US.

The IMDEX website is very thorough and contains detailed information on past conferences as well as a lot of information about what attendees can expect at the 2015 conference.