Have you ever 'cold called' someone for business?

How can it be successful?  I'd like to expand my business in a new part of the country in a new industry but unsure how to do it successfully and quickly. 

1-research companies to see if their products and processes could benefit from you
2-find out a name if you can of the "title" you think you need to talk too
3-mail out information about you and your services before you call..

What do you think?  What to add?  How to improve?  How to leave the door open?

:~)

The truth of the matter is..


it's happening. We've known this for a long time. 'We' being scientists who have not only supported each other's data and claims, but who've never disputed any facts.

The film, The Inconvenient Truth communicates what's been going on in the world using scientific data in laymen's terms. If you truly didn't get it already, please watch this film available at your local rental place or library.

Have you ever wondered how bad you are relative to contributing to global warming?

You are.

I am.

It's the sad truth. Check out: www.fueleconomy.gov to see how your car is polluting your air. (Look along the left side of the home page and click on 'Compare Side-by-Side' and follow the prompts defining your vehicle). You think to yourself that the 11.2 tons of CO2 your vehicle emits every year is minute. I mean really, if 11 tons was that big of a deal, governments around the world would putting a stop to it, right?! (actually China's fuel efficiency ratings are double that of U.S.) It's widely researched and publicized that one tree in it's lifetime -that's assuming the tree will live 100 years and not be deforested after 30 nor chopped down because someone wants to grow full-sun perennials and annuals in their front yard, will absorb 1,100kg of CO2.. that's only about 10kg per year.

For me, that means I need to plant 1,120 trees a year just to support my driving habit.. yes, I'm looking for a new car, one that gets better gas mileage and one that runs on renewable fuels (and I'm not talkin' corn!).

Governments around the world are finally talking about what to do next. While it's sad that President Bush refuses to join in the Kyoto Protocal, a few governors around the U.S. are joining and creating legislation that work towards a positive change. Please research and support these efforts locally.

This film will actually raise your awareness enough that you'll start to make bigger changes in your daily life. It's a problem if not addressed will affect us in our lifetime catastrophically. Let me know how you do.

(more tips on how to combat global warming on www.climatecrisis.net)

I had been wanting to get out to the lake since returning from my extended vacation. I've been the most uncomfortably cold in my house more than anywhere I'd been traveling which is odd as it had been colder in some of those places than now. With my heat cranked to seventy five it was hard to believe that I would even venture out but I couldn't help it.  Images of the icebergs and an endless horizon of water in crisp wintry quiet air awaited me on the coast.

Luckily I opted to ski verses hike as I glided effortlessly fast and ventured where surely I would have sunk feet into the snow or water.

It was gorgeous.

As I slid through the woods and came upon the last dune to the shore, I was immediately blasted by wind unbroken by any tree. The waves were rough and dissipating far from shore causing the edge of the bergs to undulate. It was gorgeous seeing the ice pushed upon itself creating large rolling hills as if waves frozen in motion. I broke a new trail close to the edge of the woods. The snow was really deep there but my skis held me up. We were pounded with all new snow this week yet there was none on the beach proper.  The snow ended just outside of the trees and started again with the shore line.  I didn't trust the ice originally having talked with some snow shoe-ers on the trail whom had broken through, but spied some cross country tracks horizontal to the shore.  After several hundred feet of breaking fresh snow I high tailed it to the water over the snowless beach. This still makes me chuckle as if you're not supposed to do that; ski on sand. The ice was fine holding me up and creating a roller coaster anxiety as I saw pools of water or experienced an occasional pole breaking through the crust to a create a slushy new pool.

I took many pictures because it seemed so strange to see tall icebergs where there should be flat water, standing up to fifty feet off shore where I should be swimming. The wind is really strong but I risk taking my glove off anyway to snap away. I imagine myself as an artic explorer breaking new ground and braving the hardy tundra.  Of course my warm car and a ride to a hot coconut hazelnut soy decaff latte are only a few miles away.

Reluctantly , I turn around as thoughts of all I should be doing that day start to crowd into my child like glee.  I didn't have to go all the way to the channel I justified to myself as surely more turbulent waters were brewing under the ice there perhaps creating thinner sections than could be anticipated. The wind pushed me along such that I was only steering as if on a sleigh. I think I heard myself giggling.  I wanted to continue on the lake but was getting worried as from this viewpoint facing north now, I saw more cracks, dips, and puddles of water freshly frozen over.  I had forgotten about all the rain and heavy wet snow that fell only days before this latest blizzard.  I went into the woods taking in the shadows of the falling sun and enjoying the exertion of actually having to propel myself along.