Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Coastal Travel and DFI Contest!

I love being a part of DFI. We currently have one of the best contest ever running right now. Can you imagine 5 days on a Paradise Island!? How about several islands?

You see I love to travel that is why I chose a home based business in the travel industry. The only thing better than traveling at a discount is traveling for free! Right now Cutting Edge Media our advertising firm has put up a contest call the Caribbean Cruise Contest of 2009! Starting from the 1st of the this month going to our Team Event in January. We have a chance to win a cruise for 5 days for two aboard Carnival Destiny. This cruise includes all taxes, port fees, and gratuities. The winner just has to pack their bags and go.

The way this contest is being ran is awesome. Pretty much anyone can win. All you have to do is bring in 4 new members into DFI by January 22nd. In seven weeks that is very realistic for anyone who wants to shoot for that contest. When you bring in four new members you will get four entries into the contest drawing. Also you get bonus entries if you bring in more than 4 team members. So it works like this:

4 New Team Member will earn you 1 entry per team member.

5 New Team Members or more will earn you 2 entries per team member.

10 New Team Members or more will earn you 3 entries per team member.

At our DFI Event all of the entries will go into a drawing the first person to get their name pulled out of the drawing 4 times wins a 5 day cruise! This is the biggest contest we have seen so far in DFI, I am very excited to see who wins. I am looking to win myself to be completely up front. If I win I will be sure to post it on here.

We are going to have a special announcement call tomorrow night at 10 pm EST. Feel free to call in and listen like a fly on the wall. The number to call in on is 712-338-8100 pin# 1989#.

Take care,
Jackie O'Quinn

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Answer your critics with results!

The results simply speak for themselves. We have a proven track record of creating success story after success story. It's not about one or two big leaders who earn all the money. It's about helping the brand new person earn money as quick as possible. Watch the video and see for yourself.

If you want to work from home then you can join us. Click here.
Jackie O'Quinn

Monday, November 24, 2008

This is planting time...

I am about to give you a little known fact about the home based business industry!

This is planting time! This is one of the best times of the year to be working. This is for several reasons, first many amateurish homebased business owners are slacking off due to the pending holiday season. Second, people are still looking to work from home and still requesting information everyday. 30,000 people will start a homebased business this week! Right now there is less competition for those people. This time of year alot of people will look at a home business but may not get started just yet. This is of course due to the many distractions going on right now with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up. However, these same people are still looking to work from home and if they don't get started right away many will come back in Jan. to get started.

The secret to having a massive 1st quarter of next year is to be working right now! It's like getting a head start on next year. It's creating a wave of momentum and then having that wave come crashing down on your the first part of next year. Make sure you are not one of those slacking off right now, now is the time to be planting. Your harvest will come if you are planting now. If you have a home based business then go work it hard! If not then click here.

Happy Planting,
Jackie O'Quinn
1-888-309-5759

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

What is your plan?

"You are either planning to succeed or you already have a plan of failure"

This is something that has been hitting me very hard lately with a strong spirit of conviction. I have always been optimistic about the future and what we individuals are capable of. However, those closest to me have often heard me over and over speak about what will be happening, where we are headed, in business and in life. I have lately been reflecting on my life and my business and have come to some sobering thoughts and those thoughts are this...

I have always had trouble with the basics. It's the basics that I have not been consistent with. Yes I have made a six figure income working from home. Yes there are a lot of people who would like to at least be able to do that. However, when asking myself what has been my greatest weakness, what has help me back the most. Honestly, it's the basics! I have alot of advanced training from First Steps to Success. Skills that can never be replaced and that can never be taken away from me.

But when I ask myself what is it that will take me to a 7 figure income or a million dollars a year. It's not, more advanced skill, or at least not yet. It's get the basics down better. I have to focus on strengthening my foundations. Focus on improving time management, focus on consistently talking to new clients, focus on consistently advertising, focus on not getting distracted while I'm working... these are all basic skills. They are also skills that I realized I have learned well enough earn $100,000 a year but now it's time to master them at the millionaire level.

Thanks for reading my blog, thanks for being a part of this journey.

Jackie O'Quinn
1-888-309-5759

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

What is a Blitz

A Blitz has been defined in several ways. In military terms its known as an all out massive assault on the enemy. In football it can be defined as every man rushing the opposing team. In DFI (Decide Freedom International) a Blitz is defined as:

Each of us pushing forward to be better than we have in the past. To set new personal standards in our business breaking the old standard. Doing this for two purposes the first to improve and increase financial gain in our own businesses; the second is to encourage and motivate others with our own efforts. It's understanding that each of us needs and supports all of us and that all of us needs and supports each of us.

When you have such an organized coalition where the brand new part time person is giving it all they have and being held accountable to a team that supports and loves them as well as the seasoned veteran who keeps their focus on the number one activity that brought them where they are; advertising and talking to brand new clients. Even the veterans are held to the same standard and not given some special privilege just because of past success. During a Blitz past success no longer matters it's simply about what are you going to do now.

It's the attitude of humbleness regardless of where we come from. The ability to listen to the advice we have previously learned and keeping a solid grasp of the basics. Which in turn will be duplicated by those who are brand new and are awestruck and inspired by those veterans who are the leaders they look up to. During a Blitz in DFI magic happens...

Have a blessed day,
Jackie O'Quinn
1-888-309-5759
My website

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

I just found a cool new site called Twitter!

Notice on the right hand margin a new widget called Twitter. I recently found this website when visiting an investing site that had it on there. It's a really neat little tool. So check it out!

Jackie O'Quinn
1-888-309-5759

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Freedom with DFI and Coastal Travel


What is Freedom?
For me at different times it means different things. Most importantly being able to make plans and decisions to do things without asking a boss. Being able to take my business anywhere. Knowing I can take an extended vacation and still earn a living. Having the income to not have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck. That's freedom!
Recently DFI just launched a new marketing and business management system for members of Coastal Travel. This new system has simply increased my freedom. I know longer have to work using my script books or separate day planner. They have allowed me to simply take my laptop and now I have all I need to build my Coastal Travel business from anyway.
I recently did this for the first time this past week. My girlfriend was working out of town. She was staying in a Homewood Suites Hotel (which similar to an Embassy Suites where ever room is a suite), so I decided to go up there and spend 2 or 3 nights with her. She was able to go to work as usual and all I had to do was work from my laptop and my cellphone in the hotel suite. You have to understand up until DFI launched this new system for us. I would have had to take my laptop, a 3 ring binder that kept me organized, day planner, and two script books. I felt so free being able to work exclusively from the laptop!
If you are curious as to what I mean by business management system you can take a look at it, just click here.
Have a blessed day,
Jackie O'Quinn
1-888-309-5759

Friday, July 25, 2008

Mydfilive.com has a webinar coming up!

Monday night we will have a Presenation of our new system. You will
be able to listen in over the phone on 212-990-8000 pin 1989# at
7pm EST. You can also watch the presentation over your computer.
Click here to register for the Monday night Webinar:
www.mydfilive.com/webinar

Making money from home just got simpler. With the simplicity of the
system and all the added features, you can't help but to be more
productive and make more money. Don't miss this call, you will find
out why everyone is raving!

The new MyDFILive website is wonderfull, I have seen a lot of
systems, this one is a winner. I am amazed on how it all fits
together without putting the pieces of a puzzle together. It is all
integrated were the pieces work together. ...WOW...phone burner
burns up the phone lines were you don't have to burn up time on the
phone. You guys did a great job in putting it together. Keep it up.
-Henry Balasch

I have used many systems, this one is my favorite - Cathy Sedlacek

I love the new marketing/training system, and I can't stop working
with it. The broadcast feature is so cool. I like that you can
personalize it and send it to specific clients. It has so many neat
features!!! -Jamie Waltisperger

Well all I can say is .... I'm amazed!!! This system is totally
incredible. The boot camp is so easy to follow. I've seen and used
many systems - but this just blows them ALL Away - by Far! I will
use it all - I'm sure - but I Love the Audio and Video Generators -
the Webinar access and... the phone burner. These things add so
much to what we can do (sorry - it's too hard to keep it down to
one feature). The price is awesome - and FREE after only 5
referrals - WOW! Thanks So Much, -Carole Gardner

I really am excited about the new system and love the ability to
send audio and video messages, plus choose the ad site you desire
to promote and looking forward in hearing what other nuggets that I
haven't yet discovered. -James and Kristi Buckley

I'm most impressed with the "Goal Setting" page. The audio makes it
so easy to get them written and the email reminders will make it
happen. This is where everything starts! -Mike Reeser

The new DFI Marketing System is 'Five Star' all the way in both
content and state-of-the-art technological capabilities. Learning
the system is a pleasure. Its many cutting edge features will both
save us considerable time in our day-to-day activities, and propel
us in developing our business in a big way.

Its simplicity of use is wonderful. You feel as though you have
your own personal trainer beside you as it takes you from one step
to the next. This new system presents endless possibilities for
developing our business. I am truly excited about it...and the
price is right! It certainly is giving a new sense of pride as we
introduce our new prospects to this incredible system, and to DFI.
It makes a professional statement of who we are, the tools we use
that help us to achieve our success, and how much we care about
passing on our success to others.... -Pat Smith

Sign Up now! You have to click the link and sign up in order to see
the presentation. The dial in number for the call is 212-990-8000
pin 1989# at 7pm EST to listen in.

Come join us,
Jackie O'Quinn
1-888-309-5759

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Jackie O'Quinn, HBC, DFI, Dani Johnson

Wow, this past weekend was obviously the 4th of July. As my last post stated we went up to the lake and rented a boat. It was an amazing time! The Blue Angels were up there and they actually had an air show over the water and that night we watched fireworks which they shot off from a barge on the lake. It was just a great day overall, very relaxing.

This weekend we are headed to Pittsburgh PA. That promises to be a great time. First up we have our DFI event on Friday. I am very excited about this event. This will be our best company event yet. We will have such topics covered like, Discovering your Success, Prospecting Efficiently, plus plenty of awards and recognition. We get to see all of our team members in DFI, it's really like meeting up with family. This event could easily be renamed the DFI family reunion.

On Saturday and Sunday we have First Steps to Success with Dani Johnson. There is not a better training seminar on the planet. Dani is like the Bruce Lee of the business world! No joke, if you were into martial arts in Bruce Lee's time you would have felt honored to have had the privilege to be coached by him regardless of the cost. Dani Johnson, is the same way! It is an absolute privilege and honor to be coached by Dani in business. There is no one else that has her track record of personal success and then going on to teach that success to others.

Also this week Home Business Connection magazine also known as HBC featured me in one of their articles. I am on page 60 of this month's magazine. This is an honor to be written about in that magazine. When I was new to this industry 4 years ago, I found out about HBC and always hoped one day I would be featured in there. Now it's happened. I just hope my story helps to inspire someone to step out and start to improve their lifestyle with DFI. Coastal Travel and DFI, has truly transformed my life forever. I have been able to meet some of the most amazing people, I have created life long friendships, I have freedom to travel, freedom to work where ever I want, and I am now in control of my destiny instead of some boss! I love it and am humbled to be able share my story in HBC this month.

God Bless,
Jackie O'Quinn
My home office line
1-800-620-3019

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Coastal Travel, July 4th weekend, and FREEDOM

This weekend we have exciting plans. We have rented a boat and we are headed out to the lake. I am not exactly sure how big this boat is but it should comfortably fit 8 adults. Tonight the festivities start with a bonfire and a cook out in the backyard. Tomorrow morning we head out for the lake. We will spend the night up at Traverse City and have the boat the next day as well. On July 4th they actually shoot off fireworks from a barge on the lake and we will be able to pull our boat pretty close to the entire display. We did this last year as well. There is not too many places better to watch a fourth of July fireworks display in Michigan.

The best part about all of this is if I was still working at the hospital as a Registered Nurse. I would have to ask for time off and there is a good chance I might not get it. Then I would have to switch with someone so I would be on the phone begging people to switch my shifts for their shifts which would also mean next week I would be working a crazy scheduled just to make up for the days that someone switched with me. I would have been thrilled to work a hectic schedule next week just to be able to have Friday through Sunday off this weekend.

Working from home changes all of that! Yes I am my own boss, I create my own hours. I make a great income but besides that I really do have true FREEDOM. Four years ago before getting started with Coastal Travel I would have never known this was possible.

I hope you have a great 4th,

Jackie O'Quinn
1-800-620-3019
www.dfilive.com/jackie/landing1

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Succeeding is Simple

Succeeding is simple. I can tell you that after reaching a level of success myself. I currently work full time from home about 20 to 25 hours a week. I love what I do and feel like I am probably one of the luckiest guys around. However, I didn't always feel this way. It wasn't until I started working for myself and having success did I begin to realize how lucky I am.

One day I decided to take a afternoon walk in the middle of the day, it was beautiful out. While on my walk I started think about all the freedom I get to enjoy working form home. Then wondered why more people didn't work for themselves. Then I started thinking about all the statistics that show how many people fail at things like starting their own business. Maybe it was the fear of failing that kept most people from trying, I didn't know. I started to go back and focus on what helped me to succeed. I wasn't an extraordinary person, I made very average grades in school, I even failed out of college at one point, but some how I eventually did have success.

How did I succeed? The single biggest reason for my success was my education. I learned how to have success working from home. I don't necessarily mean formal education like college but rather an education that came from a strong desire to improve my lifestyle and to eventually have the freedom that allowed me to take walks in the middle of the day not worrying about what a boss might say. For me that education came from Dani Johnson and her training seminars First Steps to Success. Now there is even more training with our organization Decide Freedom International (DFI). DFI, provides training over live conference calls and at live events like the one coming up in July. You can get more details here http://www.dfipromo.com/.

Being able to have some place that I could consistently tune into, some place that whenever I had a question I could always get it answered. That was literally how I ended up having success and how I continue to grow my success. I know if something new pops up in my business I can hop on an Open Forum call and the host on that call will be able to help me get my question answered. Being humble, even though I have had success and have a team of people that I am working with, and knowing that I still have more to learn. This is the reason why I continue to learn from Dani Johnson and will likely continue to learn from her for the rest of her career and mine.

The moral of the story is simple if you want to succeed from home find someone who has done it and follow their every step. Also find out where they learn from, just like I tell my team that I learned from Dani Johnson and DFI. I tell them to plug into the same systems that I used to get educated on this business. If a college flunky can succeed at this and earn over $190,000 working part time in his first two years then I promise, so can you.

Jackie O'Quinn
1-800-620-3019

P.S. Dunn and Bradstreet, a company in charge of credit reporting for corporations, says that 90% of businesses fail due to a lack of knowledge and skill on the part of the business owner.

Monday, June 16, 2008

DFI, Coastal Travel, and the Month of Momentum

Last week was great. Went to a graduation party this week and it was a tremendous about of fun as well pleny of food, pleny of friends, and amazing weather. Overall it was just a great weekend.

Now I am back in my home office and going to work with the Month of Momentum! It is so much fun knowing that everyone else in DFI is working along side of me for the same goals this month. I have also increased my advertising with www.cemcoastal.com.

I will keep you posted,
Jackie O'Quinn
1-800-620-3019

Monday, June 09, 2008

Great time at the ball game and update on the week

As you read in my last post we went to the Detroit Tigers baseball game. We had a great time. I smoke a new cigar that I have never had it was called a La Fontana. It was O.K. nothing special to write home about. We watched part of the game from the Tiger Den, which is a restaurant at the stadium. Talk about just a good time. I plan to go back to another game, however I prefer to watch the game from the restaurant. You can get second seating which is at game time. You can make reservations at the window and you have a great view of the game. The restaurant is at the same level as the private boxes except on the other side of the field. During the game you can step down to the cigar bar which is inside of the restaurant and have a smoke. All just part of living the good life.

The week looks to be very productive. I have travel seminar scheduled for this coming week. We are also in our second week of momentum. It's all about consistent massive action throughout the month of June. I will keep you posted as the week goes by.

Have a great day,
Jackie O'Quinn

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Cigars and Baseball

Today we are headed out to a Detroit Tigers baseball game. Now I am personally not a big sports fan. For me it's more about the social aspect of our plans. For example I am going with 2 of my great friends here in Michigan, Tim Socier, and Timmy Nye. Tim, is now only my friend but he is also an inspirational business owner of "Timothy's Fine Tobaccos".

We got 4 free tickets to the Camacho Lounge at the Tiger's stadium so we are going to go relax in their posh lounge, enjoy good cigars, eat food, and just spend a great day together. I have been looking forward to this all week! I will definitely have to keep you posted on the updates and how much fun we have!

Jackie O'Quinn
1-800-620-3019

Thursday, June 05, 2008

DFI Event coming to Pittsburgh PA!


Just to know that I play a small part in a massive organization that has a mission of impacting the world... truly humbling...

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Catching you up!

Wow... where to begin.

Life has been good, busy, and fun all at the same time. Let's start with last night. Last night, we went out with some friends to a Brazilian Barbecue resteraunt. It was awesome! I would highly recommend it to anyone. The way it works is you go in and pay one price. On your table you have a cardboard circle one side is green and one side is red. When you want to eat you turn the green side up and all the waiters come up to your table to offer you one of 14 different types of meet. They then proceed to slice the meet directly from the spit that it was cooked on in to yoru plate. It is a delectable experience. Leg of Lamb, Filet Mignon, Top Sirlon, Chicken, Pork Loin, Lamb Chops, and several others when offered you accept what you want and turn down what you don't want. They also had a really great salad bar... but come on... who is wasting time with the salad bar?

After dinner, Shane and I went back to their house and the women went to our house because the girls had plans today and we had different plans today. On the way home we bought some Romeo and Julieta Reserva Reals, which is a great mild cigar. We sat on their balcony and solved the world's problems while having some great cigars. A good time was had by all.

In other news, business has been great. I was at a First Steps to Success event with Dani Johnson in Chicago and she said, "Just go make a mess". She was referring to fear, and not being afraid of trying anything new. So my friend Melissa Hecht, said Jackie let's go make a mess. We started doing Coastal Travel vacation seminars. This is a brand new way of marketing that I have never done in the past. However, I love it! Seminars are pretty easy and alot of fun, who doesn't want to travel or learn how to travel for less money. We did two and it looks like we have a Platinum sale coming in this week! We have another travel seminar scheduled for this Tuesday in Frakenmuth Michigan I will let you know how that goes.

Also over the past month I have been doing alot more studying on investing and the Forex market. The Forex market is complicated but the easiest way to explain it is by copying and pasting the explanation from Investopedia:

"The market in which currencies are traded. The forex market is the largest, most liquid market in the world with an average traded value that exceeds $1.9 trillion per day and includes all of the currencies in the world.

There is no central marketplace for currency exchange; trade is conducted over the counter. The forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week, and currencies are traded worldwide among the major financial centers of London, New York, Tokyo, Zürich, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris and Sydney.

The forex is the largest market in the world in terms of the total cash value traded, and any person, firm or country may participate in this market."

The forex market is a highly leveraged market, in layman's terms this means you can make and lose a lot of money in a relatively short amount of time. This is a market that I have researched quite a bit over the past two years looking for areas to invest the money I am making with Coastal Travel. I am actually trading now on a demo account and I made a simple website for people to be able to follow along with what I am doing. They can even trade along side of me if they want. You can visit that webiste at www.coastalforex.com.

I will be updating again soon,
Jackie O'Quinn
Jackie's Website
Contact phone 1-800-620-3019

Monday, April 21, 2008

Where is DFI going?

Our business coach Dani Johnson, often teaches that you have to live by design not by default. Living my design means you have to know where you are headed and you have to have a plan to get there. This weekend I did a conference call and I laid out a plan of where we are headed with DFI. I can't give you all of the details, to be quite honest, they are top secret.

Let me just give you the long term vision. DFI, is made up of a group of people who are absolute movers and shakers. We have team members who share the vision of "deciding to be FREE". We are home based business owners who are looking to achieve something greater than ourselves. As a whole we have an unmatched passion for what we do and where we are headed. In the next 3 to 5 years we will have our first Millionaires in DFI. I don't mean individuals who have made a million dollars we already have those. I am talking about people who started from very humble beginnings but will create a net worth for themselves and their families of over $1,000,000 dollars. In the same 3 to 5 years 25% of our entire organization will become totally debt free including mortgage.

We will have a team of people who not only have been able to reach financial freedom, physical freedom, and spiritual freedom in their own lives. But they will be passionate about helping others all across the world achieve those same freedoms. We will as an organization work to impact all parts of the industrial planet. We will work to impact the none industrial and third world regions though our donations, and our own volunteer efforts.

We will create life long friendships within our own organization that can only be shared by individuals who share our goals and our vision. We will become a group of entrepreneurs who are truly living lives of freedom. Being able to be free from financial stress not only because you operate a successful home business but because you have learned to manage and invest your money. Now you are living the life of travel, being able to take vacations with friends and family at a moments notice. You are now in a position where if you hear of someone in need you can quickly take care of their financial needs if you so choose. You will individually impact your neighborhood and know that as a group our entire organization is impacting the world. You will know that you are a part of a movement that is much much bigger than yourself.

Maybe you have always wanted to travel to third world countries and volunteer. Now you can do that and you know because of your business with DFI and the training provided by Dani Johnson, you now are able to have the freedom to do that whenever you are called. Maybe you simply grew up like I did with very humble beginnings. You will now be able to have the house you have dreamed about. It could be a huge luxurious mansion with your exotic sports car or luxury car in the garage. You are able to take vacations and cruises but you no longer book trips with Carnival or Royal Caribbean; you are now able to use your own yacht that you have been able to purchase and have custom built due to your success as a home based entrepreneur.

You will then be internationally recognized as part of a greater movement. A movement that crosses business, religious, and political boundaries. Your influence as a speaker and a teacher whether from a stage, book, or just in your daily life will have credibility because of your track record and your part in helping others become free.

In closing I would say this... go to work, remain coachable, and teachable. Keep this vision in front of you always and be confident in where we are all headed together.

The future is bright,

Jackie O'Quinn
Jackie's DFI website
1-800-620-3019

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

It's amazing what an ambulance can remind you of...

I just back from Applebee's, my girlfriend Carmen, called me this evening and asked if I was available to go out to eat. She wanted to take me out to eat. (That was sweet of her wasn't it) Of course working for myself, I was able to finish up early and enjoy a nice dinner with Carmen. I drove separately and met her at the resteraunt so on the way home we of course were driving separately. In the distance I heard sirens, then up ahead I saw the read flashing lights. It was an ambulance. I was immediately taken back to the most memorable moment in my life of seeing an ambulance.

We were in my Nannie and Papa's car, my twin brother Stacy O'Quinn and I, it was dark out and we were backing up past the parked ambulance. It was sometime after 3am and it was our driveway we were backing out of. Earlier that morning (closer to 3 am) we had been awaken by our mama who quickly clicked on the bedroom light that we shared saying "Get up boys, your daddy is sick".

Daddy, had never really been sick. The night before we had attended church, afterwards we had went home. The evening had been uneventful by all accounts, it ended with us kissing mama and daddy goodnight. And now mama was waking us up. We were only 9 years old and we had no idea what time it was, thinking it was closer to the time we would normally wake up we were moving at our normal groggy pace. In a moment mom came back down the hall and said, "Boys, you have got to hurry up".

In the next minute we overheard her say this on the telephone with a seriousness we were not use to, "Mama, it's me. Mama, call Johnnie (my uncle who was a first responder and volunteer firefighter) it's Edgar, (my dad) I think he's having a heart attack". Now my brother and I, heard that and we knew it was pretty serious we knew our Nannie and Papa had friends that had died from heart attacks. We quickly finished putting on our pants and T shirts, mama came to our room as we were finishing. Standing at the door, she called us out. I can still remember she was standing between us and the hallway that opened up directly to their bedroom. She hurried us into the opposite room which was the living. She sat us on a chair, and told us that we needed to pray. She reminded us that just weeks before we had learned the Lord's Prayer at church and in unison we started, "Our father which art in heaven; hollow be thy name...'

This continued several times through with mama moving about doing what amounted to busy tasks, she was almost robotic like. In a few minutes the door opened, it was my Uncle Johnnie and Aunt Brenda. My cousin, Tabitha who was probably about 14 yrs old was with them. Uncle Johnnie and Aunt Brenda, went past us with their supply bags in their hand. Tabitha, came over to Stacy and I on the chair, mama followed them down the hall to the bedroom where daddy was. Within a few moments we heard Uncle Johnnie say something over his radio, my brother stood up from the chair we were sitting on and ran to the couch, which gave him a clear visible view down the hall to where daddy was laying in his bed. Tabitha, quickly ran after him and called his name, "Stacy, come back here". I ran behind her as she pulled Stacy back to our original chair. I glanced down the hall before following Stacy and Tabitha; I have since had that picture burned in my memory. It was a picture of my daddy laying on the bed, he looked very peaceful as if he was sleeping. He was on his back, and his hands were on his chest with his fingers interlaced.

We were quickly back on the chair waiting for what was to happen next. In a matter of minutes my Nannie and Papa came in the front door. They went back and ended up talking to mama and then mama came and proceeded to ask us to leave with them to go to their house. I remember telling mama, "We want to go with daddy. We want to go to the hospital with daddy".

She encouraged us to go with Nanny and Papa saying we had to get some sleep. We eventually resigned and went with them. Hence, my memory as we left the driveway passing the ambulance that arrived shortly after Nannie and Papa. We went to Nannie and Papa's house and went to sleep in Papa's bed. We woke up as it was getting light outside. Laying in Papa's bed I realized we were not going to school. In a few minutes we heard mama come in. There was some conversation between her and her parents but I don't remember being able to understand what was being said.

Mama called to us to come in the living room. We got up and went in there and found her sitting in my Nannie's recliner. We asked if daddy was OK and when he was going to be better. Mama, asked us to sit in front of her. We sat on the floor and she leaned forward and proceeded to say, "Your daddy is in heaven". It was not that simple but that was the jist of it. My life has forever been changed. It continues to be changed to this day. A picture of the greatest man I have ever known hangs in my home office. I am forever reminded that we are never promised a tomorrow.

**Note -- My daddy's autopsy was inconclusive. To this day there is no known cause of his death. I reread it myself after I become a nurse. It was not a heart attack as my mom had originally thought that morning.

Tonight as that ambulance passed me on the way home, this entire memory ran through my mind in a split second. As it went by, I said the same prayer I have said to my self every time I have seen a ambulance with sirens blaring for the past 19 years. "God please let them, get their in time".

I have spent this time writing this entry to remind you of the same thing I was reminded of tonight. We are not promised a tomorrow, make the most of today. Are you where you want to be in life? Are you taking steps now to get to where you want to be in your life?

Thanks for sharing my memory,

Jackie O'Quinn
1-800-620-3019
Jackie's Website

Monday, March 24, 2008

What kind of CEO would you be?

So Sunday after my Easter festivities, I decided to hop online and partake in one of my favorite past times, online poker. Ok, so this blog isn't really about me playing poker. It's about what I started thinking about between hands.

What Kind of CEO You Be?

Being in business I often times try to imagine what would I be like as a CEO of a large public Corporation. Have you ever thought about this? If not, then I want you to imagine you where given total freedom to head up any corporation you wanted. No worries, you are not expected to know everything. Your first year you will have several knowledgeable members of the Board of Directors mentoring you until you get the hang of calling the shots. What I really want you to think about is your work ethic, your life, and even you extravagant finances. What would your life and even your daily routine look like if you were "The CEO".

Would you wake up early each morning watch the news and catch coffee before your day started. Would you be at work promptly? Would you be consistent with your work? Would you be eager to learn, and would you be excited about the company you had chosen to head up?

What would be your motivation in work each day? Are you saving up for some sort of exotic vacation like the Caribbean or maybe the Mediterranean? Are you just looking to get established financially so you can help your family and get them out of debt? Maybe you are just focusing on getting yourself financially secured and professionally established? Or maybe you want to help greater man kind through your corporation and with your personal finances. Maybe you are the type of person that really wants to do your part to impact the world, helping the poor and those less fortunate.

Do you realize that you are a CEO now? That's right we are currently the CEO's of our own life. Making decisions and choices that impact our net worth just like we would be making decisions and choices that impact our company's bottom line. How much profit do you make each month? Are you as excited about your own life and where you are taking it, as you would be if you had the dream job of running the company of your choice? Working towards your life's goals start by what you are doing right now. What actions are you take on a day to day basis? Are you excited about your life and where you are headed? If not, that is the issue holding you back.

Make a decision to day to be the CEO you would want to be and who knows you may become that CEO one day!

Just a thought,
Jackie O'Quinn
1-800-620-3019
Jackie's Business website