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Our first ride in the mountains of North Carolina was the most exciting trip I ever took. We rode our 1995 Anniversary Edition Goldwing from Orlando, Florida to Asheville, NC the latter part of September 1995 for the Wings over the Smokey Goldwing Rally.

Living in Orlando, Florida doesnt prep you for weather outside of 90 degrees and humid. The first morning we awoke in Asheville it was 41 degrees and raining. Our hopes werent dashed! Heck no! We were so excited about being in the mountains on our new bike that I dont think anything could have ruined our enthusiasm. What was missing however, were proper motorcycle accessories like good rain gear, warm leather jackets, or a proper motorcycle cover to protect the bike from these wet elements.

We outfitted ourselves as best we could with what we had and off we went. The first thing we wanted to do was ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, and so we did. I cant emphasize the dreariness of the weather. Oh. . .so cold and Oh. . .so wet! I couldnt stay off the CB or my camera. My adrenaline was running so high. To this day I apologize to our friends for burning up their ears while I was exclaiming about the scenery over here, the mountain over there, and generally telling them about everything they could see for themselves.

If you have never ridden the mountains of western North Carolina (regardless of the weather) you are missing a trip of a lifetime. The awesome natural beauty of the area knows no bounds!

We stayed in and around Asheville for 5 days. No, the weather never improved and we didnt care. We rode everyday about 200 to 300 miles and enjoyed every minute of it. We now live in these wonderful mountains and have a 2007 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic and rest assured we have all the motorcycle gear we need. Our Classic didnt come with a helmet to helmet intercom system, so we put that on the bike. Otherwise, we are set!

JoAnn Thompson

Youve been told that sales is just a numbers game. If you just make X dials youll talk to Y people and hold Z appointments that will result in S sales. Wow, hows that working for you? Ill bet you just love spending hours dialing the phone to speak to about 3 people if youre lucky who in no way want to talk to you.

How well do you respond when a stranger calls you unexpectedly and wants you to meet with them? If you are at all normal, the answer is not well at all. Your goal is to get off the phone with this intruder as fast as possible, and the last thing you want to do is meet this person face to face.

Yet, dont you need to sit down with people in order to get them interested in what you have to offer? Of those that you somehow wrangle into an appointment, how many are receptive and really interested in meeting with you and learning about how you can help them? Maybe 1 in 100.

If youre ready to give up on the myth that sales is just a numbers game and learn how to predictably obtain appointments with real prospects you may want to keep reading. You see your potential customers think and feel the same way you do, so instead of beginning what you are hoping will be a life-long relationship on the wrong foot, spend a little more time on the upfront so you are a welcome guest rather than a bothersome pest.

To earn the status of welcome guest requires that you gain your potential customers attention and interest. now that isnt an easy task because there are hundreds of other agents and advisors in your very neighborhood fighting to gain appointments with the same people you are. That means you have to be able to communicate what makes you unique in the market place. And I did mean you not your company because your customers have to buy you before they will ever do business with you.

Knowing what is special about you and generating interest in knowing more about what you do is a first step. The problem is that you cant articulate this because you havent taken the time to think things through and dig deep within yourself to discover what you bring to the table that is of value to the people you want to work with. plus you are so scared of excluding a potential customer that you think you have to be everything to everybody.

The simple truth is that as long as you insist on being everything to everybody you will continue to be nothing to anyone, and you will continue the daily drudgery of fighting for the scraps that fall from the tables of the specialists. A generalist will never financially outperform a specialist. Think about it. When you visit your general practitioner is the cost of the visit the same as the cost of visiting a pediatric orthopedic surgeon?

If you are new to the business you are thinking that you dont know enough or have enough experience to be a specialist. That simply isnt true. The first step is selecting a target market that is large enough to financially support you yet small enough for you to become a recognized expert. Then involve yourself in the lives of those in your target market so you know their business, you know their problems and challenges, you can speak to them in their language, and you know how to help them with the challenges they face through your service.

Proper planning today will enable you to make more and better sales tomorrow. All of this is part of your marketing planning process. Effective marketing enables you to communicate to people in your target market who will reach out to you wanting to know more about how you can help them. This eliminates endless hours dialing the phone trying to connect with people who dont want to talk to you, spending your time with people who cant wait to get away from you, and helps you to make immediate sales because you are meeting with ready buyers.

business coach Cheryl A. Clausen will help you to get results in your real estate, insurance, or financial services business. Coaching works and my clients results prove it. If you would like to Give Coaching a Try click here. To find valuable articles, book reviews, and other information visit http://CoachingMegaAgents.com/ To contact Cheryl directly: call 402-926-1134 or email Cheryl@CoachingMegaAgents.com

Only a few years ago the only place you would find stainless steel countertops would be in a restaurant. But today both stainless steel and it's more warm and rustic counterpart copper countertops are both popular in the home. So what does each have to offer?

Stainless provides a terrific look to a contemporary kitchen and the nice sleek lines are clean and smart looking and the antibacterial qualities make them the perfect place to prepare food.

The 10.5 percent chromium in stainless makes it resistant to corrosion and the nickel adds to its high temp performance. There are different grades of stainless on the market but for countertops you should use 304 stainless steel which is what is generally used for food prep areas.

Industrial counters are usually made from 12 or 14 gauge steel but home use usually uses 16 gauge. You can have stainless counters built to any shape or dimension. You should not have joints soldered.

Stainless can corrode if it is not properly cared for. Never use harsh products or products that have bleach in them and don't leave acidic products on the counter. To clean use warm water, rinse thoroughly, and dry.

Over time stainless will also age. Deeper dents and scratches can be difficult to remove but If you have a light scratch you can use a non abrasive pad to remove. If your stainless gets too marked up consider having the surface changed from polished to brushed. It's a great way to disguise years of use and abuse.

Stainless-steel counters cost from $50 to $90 a square foot plus installation. And of course you also have the cost of sinks, backsplashes, and cutouts. You or your contractor will need to take the necessary measurements so you know what you need. It's recommended that you have them professionally installed but if you are handy it is a project you might undertake yourself.

Metal countertops are not always stainless steel. In fact for many kitchens stainless just feels to distant or cool. Copper has always been popular for pots and pans and backsplashes and now it is increasingly finding a place in the kitchen counter. While copper countertops may not be mainstream it makes a wonderfully unusual statement and it is certainly warm and appealing. Copper is a much softer metal than stainless steel. Your countertops should be a minimum of .60 thick and .80 is preferred for better performance and strength.

Unlike stainless over time copper countertops change developing a beautiful patina. They shiny copper takes on a beautiful rosy brown color and scratches are considered part of the natural patina so they are not dealt with.

Copper is an excellent antibacterial material and all that's involved in cleaning is soap and water. Maintenance just requires beeswax applied to preserve the finish and help reduce fingerprints.

Copper isn't cheap so countertops are custom quoted. In general estimates usually run around $175 per square foot installed. Copper tends to warp more than stainless and it not recommended that you attempt to install it by yourself.

So which will it be stainless steel or copper countertops? Both will look great!

Steve has been a professional interior designer for more than 10 years who specializes in the renovation of the kitchen. If you are interested in tile countertops, be sure to start at http://www.purecountertops.com.