What ‘REALLY’ matters in business?

Is it the product? The company? The trends?

I must say that those aspects do matter in business, and they are important…but not even half as much as the two most fundamental and imperative principles that are necessary to create true success in this industry.

Want to know what they are?

Mindset and Marketing

Those two ingredients right there are the most powerful skills and habits you could ever develop to succeed MASSIVELY in any aspect of your life!

Your MINDSET is your ultimate DRIVING FORCE to creating any type of success within this industry. And in all actuality your mindset is crucial to your entire life success and happiness.

The results you can obtain through the proper mindset will definitely give you more than you ever thought possible. I have seen levels of success, and happiness skyrocket because of having the proper mindset… and without a doubt, mindset is the source to ultimate ABUNDANCE.

This has been proven time and time again, to say it does not work is absolutely nuts in my opinion. It is a timeless keystone for success, abundance and prosperity.

I must say that without my proper mindset and heart filled passion for helping others I would not be here today. If I was not willing nor open to developing myself, this all would not exist for me. So, as you
can see not only is it IMPERATIVE to obtain the proper mindset but it is NECESSARY.

And when you have an awareness and mindset like that… you will come to realize that the possibilities, people, and events enter your life to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Trust me…I see it everyday through business partners and those in my life.

So really, WHY are you here?

What is it YOU are looking for?

Are you willing to develop your mindset? If not, you might as well forget finding success in network marketing.

Now that you understand the importance of mindset, let’s take a look at the second piece of the puzzle, the piece you need to bring network marketing and success together.

I am betting you might just be one of the marketers our there who has not found the real MARKETING strategies that are required for success. Because most have not. Actually 99% of this industry has not. You will come to find that most people are still using supposed marketing strategies that do not work.

There is more to marketing than meets the eye and I’ll share just a small fraction of that with you here…

The fundamentals of true network marketing have surrounded your ‘warm market’. Which basically requires you going to friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and networks that you have previously built and gained relationships in. This is definitely an important factor to this industry but what most of us entrepreneurs know, is that these avenues run out fairly quickly.

So where does that leave you?

In a position to have to LEARN and gain the knowledge, skills and base necessary for a higher level of network marketing success or simply quit. And I’m betting that you do NOT want to quit, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this post.

The key ingredient to achieving anything you want in network marketing is having an endless stream of prospects to speak to. Even though warm market is a very important and a beneficial ingredient to creating success in this industry, expanding your mind and skills to ‘REAL’ marketing knowledge will ultimately give you a position of influence at your finger tips.

Today, when you learn how to effectively harness the power of the Internet, and master the fastest growing trend online today…Social Media… you will have an advantage over 95% of any other “Network Marketer” out there online. To obtain the skills of true marketing will give you a position of leadership and entrepreneurship that is practically non existent in the industry even to this day.

The POWER truly lies in Social Media. I don’t mean list building! It lies in communities, forums, blogs, and in sites like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and now Pinterest. Never before in our history, has entrepreneurship been so ATTAINABLE to the average person. Brand new entrepreneurs everywhere are sharpening their skills and creating wealth online that never would have previously been possible.

It’s all about the NETWORK MARKETING. Take that message to heart.

So I am going to lay it out on the table for you.

This industry is much more than just ‘income’. This is an opportunity to not only change your circumstances but your entire life. To master your MINDSET and MARKETING is essential to your success and will ultimately bring you anything you want, once obtained.

Are you READY…

-to learn PROVEN marketing strategies?

-to empower yourself to a higher level of success?

-to inherit the knowledge necessary for life abundance?

-to partner with Top Industry Leaders?

-to create the PROPER MINDSET?

-to TRULY give back to others what will be given to you…

If you are READY and I mean READY then I WANT to work with you, I want to mentor you to reach every ounce of success you are striving for. I am looking to work with individuals just like you, who are READY to make this happen.

If you are dedicated and driven to creating abundance, prosperity and happiness in your life then you are exactly who I want to partner with. You are the type of person I will make time to develop and work with.

If you truly feel like this is you, that you are ready and that you have the driving force of something deeper than just ‘income’, then take a few minutes to fill out our team application right now…

http://www.cynthiagratzer.com/partner-with-me

The Fear of Cold Calling!

So, you’ve got some phone numbers, a slight fear of cold calling, and you have never tried to sell anything before in your life.  You don’t know where to begin or how to close the sale.  You finally pick up the phone and, without even being prompted, you vomit your product all over your prospect.  You never ask for a sale or even try to find out what your prospect wants.  You end the phone call with something like “Yeah, go to the website and check it out!”

Does this sound familiar?  I have to admit that I was in the same boat when I first started, but I’m here to tell you that practice makes perfect! There are a few very important things to keep in mind when cold calling a prospect.

A Few Cold Calling Techniques to Help Smooth OUT the Rough Edges

1. You’re the expert and you’re in charge
2. They have to validate that they are worth your time
3. It’s better to make a sale in 10 minutes than 45 minutes
4. You are interviewing them, not the other way around
5. Smile while you are talking to them

Too many people with the poverty mindset talk on the phone like they are interviewing for a job.  They give their credentials, explain why the prospect should work with them, and they are the ones answering questions.  This is all COMPLETELY backward!!  People want to work with leaders.  Being a leader will go a long way.

When you get on the phone, the first step is to introduce yourself.  This is obvious, but it gives you a chance to see if the prospect recognizes you.  If they don’t, you’ll have to explain a little more about yourself.

Explain why you’re calling them.  They left their name and phone number on your website, so let them know that’s why they are getting a phone call.  Begin finding out more about them, starting with things like “Where are you from?” or “Do you have any kids?”.  You need to genuinely want to connect with your prospect. Do not think of this person as just another sale or another prospect. They will see right through you if you don’t care and will be completely turned off.

After you get to know them, then you can slowly transition into questions more pertinent to business, like “Do you have any experience in network marketing?” and “How serious are you about building a successful online business?”.

This IS the most crucial part of your conversation because it does 3 things. First, it shows that you are interested in them.  Second, you can better understand how to solve their problems.  Third, it puts you in charge of the conversation because you are asking the questions.  Asking the right questions is the key to the whole thing, so take some time and write down questions that will get you information that you want to know about your prospect.

All of these questions are NOT company specific.  In other words, don’t talk about your opportunity or product yet because then you sound like a salesman.  It is an awesome point if you find something they are struggling with and you have the answer! If you talk to them first about themselves, you sound more like a friend showing another friend a useful product.

Now it’s time to find out how much they know about your product and answer their questions.  Start this off by asking if they checked out the website they looked at after they opted in.  If they haven’t, tell them to go back and review the website (give them the URL in case they can’t find it) and set up a specific time and day to call them back.  If you have to spend an extra 20 minutes explaining every last detail you are not going to be duplicatable.

If they have reviewed it, ask them what they think and what questions they have.  Explain to them how the product will solve their problems.  Relate your product to something specific that they talked about in the beginning.  If they mention that they have been in MLM’s and haven’t had success, pinpoint why they think that is and relate it to the tools that your system has to overcome this. This shows that you are actually listening to the conversation and not just selling.

It is very important to listen for “buying questions”.  These are when they begin to ask you specific questions about buying the product.  These can be like “Can I pay with Mastercard?” or “So I can get my money back if I don’t want to keep it?”.  When you hear these questions, a ‘click’ should go off in your brain because this person wants to buy your product!

Closing is the easy part, but often overlooked.  If you don’t ask for the sale you won’t get it!  Say something like “How about we get you started?”  If you don’t ask them to get involved, many times they’ll forget about it, or even think they can’t get started because you didn’t invite them!

Don’t be afraid to get off the phone at any point along the way.  Your time is valuable, and as soon as you realize the prospect doesn’t want anything or if they are someone you don’t feel is a good match for your team, get off the phone!  Remember, they have to validate why they are worth your time.  I call prospects periodically that go off on wild tangents for 5 minutes as soon as I introduce myself.  Redirect the conversation back to the subject ASAP or end the call.

Smile and be confident. As soon as you pick up that phone before you dial you need to have a smile on your face. Put in a mirror in front of you if you need to. Because so much of what helps the buying decision is emotion you need to reflect the emotion they will have after purchasing and using your product. Happiness! There are a lot of people that might be offering what you are offering but not everyone is as happy and confident as you.

This is obviously a very loose sales script, but this should help you get started with your phone calls.  Plan and write down a script that works for you, and don’t forget to brainstorm good questions for your prospects.  When you get really good at asking questions, you can even get your prospect to basically explain to you why they need your product!

The fear of cold calling plagues many network marketers today

One of the best ways to overcome the cold calling fear is to practice, practice, practice. Take your biz to a whole new level and call with confidence.

If you liked these tips then please share them!

A Declaration of LOVE with Egg… these are sooooo adorable!!!! Great for Wedding Showers and more too!

You will need:
- Eggs
- A Milk carton or any juice carton (cut open, washed well and dried)
- 1 Chopstick (round one is ideal)
- Rubber bands

How to make a Heart shaped hard boiled egg
Step 1: Cut the milk carton and fold it in half lengthwise.
Step 2: Make a hard boiled egg.
Step 3: While the egg is still warm, peel the egg and put the egg on the milk carton, place a chopstick on the center of the egg, and put rubber bands on the both ends.
Step 4: Leave it for about 10 minutes. (Keep the egg in the fridge if it’s summer time.)
Step 5: Take the chopstick off and cut the egg in half.

Kids and Sports Definitely go Together

Kids play sports… it has always been that way in the past but the trend is moving away from that. Why? Today’s society is all about being the best or thriving to be. Having 2 boys I was shocked at how crazy competitive sports are even at such young ages like 7 and on. My husband says it has always been that way and I think that is true to a certain extent. I think it is all relative to the times.

The Verdict is in… Many kids are moving away from organized sports

With the obesity epidemic in America, this is not a move in the right direction. So why are kids having a different look at organized sports? Here are a few reasons.

Some Reasons Kids Lose the Love for the Sport

1. Too much pressure – Kids like to play with other kids and have fun. Many sports teams especially in school have taken that away. The pressure to win is paramount to any enjoyment they may have gotten from participating in the activity. For parents who live through their kid’s successes, the weight can be crushing. Instead of building their confidence it can have the reverse affect.
2. Negative feedback – Yes, you did your best in the game but you didn’t win. That is all coaches and sometimes parents can see. That could be the result even for the star player on the team. With every game, there should be something to be proud of, but constant negative feedback is not an incentive to keep playing your best.
3. Exhaustion – Practices can go long and hard especially after a loss to another team. Kids can feel like they are being run into the ground. This can also be detrimental to their bodies. During the adolescent and teen years, the body is still growing. Stunting that growth can be dangerous.
4. Burnout – When you are inundated with the first three, the fourth is inevitable. You don’t want to play anymore because there is nothing in it for you. For many kids, there never was except what everyone else expected from their performance.

Tips to Help Re-Kindle a Child’s Love for Sports

Now that you know what keeps kids from staying in sports, here are some ways to coax them into a lifelong enjoyment of group activities.

1. Pep talk – Kids put a lot of pressure on themselves to perform anyway so why add to it? Ease their anxiety by telling them to do their best. Stress that they are there to have fun and not to take themselves too seriously.
2. Positive feedback – Support your kids whether they win or lose. Cheer for them and also have something positive to say about their performance in the game. They are most likely already feeling as though they have let someone down or themselves. Acknowledge that. Address it and find the good also.
3. Practice makes perfect – Encourage practice but talk to the coach if you think they are taking it overboard. Also, be sure that your child is getting the appropriate amount of calories and sleep to enhance their performance, not detract from it. Schedules today can often prevent good nutrition so nutritional meal replacement shakes are a great snack for kids on the go and provides the protein ad carbs needed to keep their energy levels at their best.
4. Encourage time away – Many kids play sports in school and then again during the summer. If this is their idea, then that is fine. But, maybe they just want to have free time once school is out. Trying other sports or even other group activiites such as going skating or an open bounce at your local are bounce party house to keep them engaged in physical activities and prepared.

Youth Sports are good for physical activity and learning to work as a group. Encourage but don’t push too hard. Kids can try their best but won’t win them all. Find the balance of fun! Remember they are kids!

We LOVE our popcorn in this household! One of our favorite things to do on the weekends is a family movie with a big bowl of popcorn mixed with our famous SECRET ingredient. Yes, something my grandfather started with me and now I can’t eat it any other way. Kids come to our house and ask for our popcorn with the “Secret Ingredient” because our kids won’t tell them what it is. Believe me it is the only thing from my kitchen that I actually cook that is getting request. Heat and food do not mix well with me because it usually involves some sort of charring.

After our latest family movie night we were cleaning up and we dropped our favorite popcorn bowl! (yes, for those of you that know me well and keeping tabs on all that is ceramic I have broken lately this one wasn’t me!) It was a large old pasta bowl I had gotten with a set when my husband and I had moved in together before we were married. It was perfect because rather then being deep it was wide… perfect for getting the maximum amount of our secret ingredient smooshed onto your popcorn. YUMM! We had a lot of good popcorn in that bowl!

No problem.It was a free day and we had nothing to do except watch College Football (sorry babe!) so I suggested we run up to The Glazery and paint a new family popcorn bowl. The Glazery is one of those little places you go in and select a blank ceramic thing to paint and even if you are not artsy it turns out awesome. Perfect, right up my alley! We went in and selected the perfect bowl and after the shop guy showed us what was traditionally used as a popcorn bowl we explained the obsession and dedication we have to making each popcorn piece that best. He looked intrigued and I feel confident he went home and tried it. The kids picked out a couple things to paint too so we could get the base painting done on the bowl without them trashing the store. It was the 2nd day of January so I thought it best to not break a resolution of yelling at my kids so soon, at least in a public place where everyone would know.

What we did not know is how looooong it would take to paint a simple bowl. Each coat of paint must be painted on 3xs and be completely dry between each coat. This meant we were literally watching paint dry the majority of time we were there. We even had fans to make us feel as though we were hurrying the process along. About 2 hours in and only halfway done we realized we were going to have to stop and eat. This is when I realized my hubs was missing doing one of his very favorite things, watching football! It was right in the middle of all of the College Bowl games, ooops! He had just been sitting their quietly painting, Thanks Babe! We did get to watch about 30 minutes in the bar next door. Yes, this pretty much knocks me out of the mother of the year award for 2012 because I had my kids in a bar the 2nd day of the year but if it redeems me at all I only had a Diet Coke. It was also the closest option.

Finally we got to the fun part! The inside. We each picked out a “popcornish” color, T painted our name in the chosen color of each us and we did thumbprints to look like popcorn to match. 4 names, 4 colors! 

After 4 hours of painting we were done! Wow, that took patience. Now we only had to wait 1 week to see how the finished product would look. A week? Yes, in fact this entire progress was a test of my patience which is something I often lack. So we left with this…

and a week later picked up this…

and our very favorite part…

This is one of those things as a family we will cherish forever! It took so much longer than expected but we got out of it a day that we will always remember and every time we use it someone will say “Remember how long that took” and we will reference one of the things that made us laugh while we were sitting there watching paint dry. The memory will just be one more secret ingredient that will make the popcorn taste so good coming out of this bowl!

Want to know what the ingredient is?  Can you guess? What is your favorite thing to add to popcorn? Ours is GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE!

5 Factors for Starting a Small Business from Home

If you are considering setting up your own home business or are restructuring a home business you already have, these are the 5 Most Important Factors For Starting A Successful Home Business.

1. Financing

One of the most important determining factors when starting your business is financing. If you cannot get the money you need you will have a hard time getting off the ground. When you are trying to secure financing or decide if the investment is worth the risk the most critical decision making piece is the business plan. Look at more than just the initial investment but also monthly costs compared to income to keep business operating. A business plan includes details such as daily action plans, marketing tactics, measurable accountability goals and long term objectives. Many of todays opportunities, such as network marketing, have this laid out for you already making it easier to achieve your goals. It you find yourself questioning the investment ask yourself a few simple questions. Can I commit to the plan 100%? Is this something I want to do long term? Do I have a peer or partner that has had success to guide me? If I follow the plan will I have success?

2. Fast Revenue Growth

Success is all about creating momentum. Focus on growing your revenue immediately after getting started. If you can get things moving right away you will have a much better chance for long term success. If you procrastinate and take your time, it will not be long before you run out of money. In today’s economy it is so important to be able to immediately create revenue and a return on your investment. How quickly in your business plan can you get a return on your investment? Will the revenue you are creating cover your monthly business expenses? Have your plan in place and start to execute this the moment you start your business. Momentum builds momentum!

3. Taxes

As a Home Business owner you will be responsible for your taxes and withholdings. More importantly keeping detailed records so you are able to report this correctly on your taxes. Having your own business can be very advantageous however it is important to be very specific and detailed. As an independent contractor you pay all your business-related expenses. You can claim some of those expenses on your taxes. To claim an expense, it must be reasonable and necessary for the success of your business. This includes expenses spent on your website, purchasing products, demo product value, office supplies, office equipment, business cards and advertising. If you have an office devoted solely to your business, gather receipts reflecting office expenses, such as rent and utilities. Calculate the total miles driven on your vehicle for your business. This includes mileage used soliciting orders, delivering products, throwing parties, recruiting and attending conventions. Complete Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040. On the 1040, you have the option of taking the standard deduction. If your business expenditures exceed the standard deduction, choose to itemize deductions. (Blah blah blah, I know taxes are boring but still important so thanks for staying awake through that.)

4. Treat It As A Business

When you are starting a home-based business, it is imperative that you treat it as a legitimate business. If you treat it as though it were a side project or something that is not important, you are not going to be able to have success with it. You need to set a specific schedule for working and stick to it. If you treat it as a job and a successful business, you are going to be much more likely to become successful. This is your investment for your future. If you are not willing to commit I would advise taking that investment and choosing a Hobby instead. Business makes money and hobbies cost money, however if you treat your business like a hobby it will cost you to.

5. Be a Product Of Your Product

Seems simple enough yet this is one of the things I see so many miss. Once you choose your product or company you represent it is imperative you become a product of your product. People will buy from you because they trust and like you. This trust will be very hard to earn if you are not reflecting 100% belief in what you are selling and promoting. This doesn’t mean that if you are going to sell a skin product you must have perfect skin but you do need to have your own personal story of what changed for you in using this product and why you believe everyone should be using it. You need to have a story about why you personally believe in the product and why you want to help your prospect do the same. If you don’t have passion and reason for what you are doing it will be very hard to create that in your prospects.

What tips do you have to share for launching your home business? Share them in the comments section!

Do you have your own business but have not had the success you know you can achieve? You need a partner that will mentor you to your goals. Partner With Me

It is time for a RESOLUTION REVOLUTION! Join the rally and be a part of a resolution revolution. We are going straight to Guinness with the MOST resolutions!!

What if you made a 2012 Resolution Or Else? That’s right… Declare your resolution and define what you will do if you don’t stick to it!

40 to 45% of American adult make one or more resolutions each year. Among the top new years resolutions are resolutions about weight loss, exercise, and stopping to smoke. Also popular are resolutions dealing with better money management / debt reduction.

The following shows how many of these resolutions are maintained as time goes on:
– past the first week: 75%
– past 2 weeks: 71%
– after one month: 64%
– after 6 months: 46%

New Year’s Resolution Rally! 

Challenge yourself and anybody you know to declare a New Year’s resolution for 2012 NOW!

Want to lose weight? Stop Smoking? Make more money? Floss your teeth daily? Tell your FB friends what your resolution for 2012 is going to be!

For those of you who need some extra motivation, you can even declare your New Year’s Resolution…OR ELSE!

Here’s how:

Declare your New Year’s Resolution

Declare your “Or else” (what you commit to do if you DON’T stick to it.. For Example — I’m going to lose 20 pounds or i will shave my head! Or Sing a Lady Gaga Song on Youtube! Or Run through Wallmart in my PJs! … you get the idea)

Declare Your Resolution here NOW… www.2012ResolutionOrElse.com 

Share your page with your Facebook friends!

We wanna see you stick to your resolution…
All “Resolution or Else” entries will be entered to win a $500 Product Gift Card. Winners selected WEEKLY through December.
And the resolution with the most “likes” by the end of December 2011 will walk away with $1000 cash!

Lastly, you can win prizes by inspiring others to declare their own Resolutions!

Refer 25 friends to set a resolution = Win a $25 Product Gift Card.

Refer 50 friends = Win a free Challenge Kit of your choise.

Refer 100 friends = Win $100 Cash

He/she with the MOST inspired resolutions by the end of December 2011: will WIN $1000 Cash!

Declare Your Resolution here NOW… www.2012ResolutionOrElse.com 

These are the Top 10 Resolutions from 2011 to get you thinking:

1. Lose Weight

2. Get Organized

3. Spend Less, Save More

4. Enjoy Life To The Fullest

5. Staying Fit And Healthy

6. Learn Something Exciting

7. Quit Smoking

8. Helping Others In Their Dreams

9. Fall In Love

10. Spend More Time With Family

2012 Is a new beginning in life. Create your list of resolutions and make a quantum leap in your life for this New year!

Declare Your Resolution here NOW… www.2012ResolutionOrElse.com 

Christmas is such a fun time and when the kids break for school it is just one more reason I love being a stay at home mom. I’m already here and can make plans around my schedule. There is no vacation time I need to worry about or anything I will miss because my kids can always be first! A lot of my friends ask me how I do it and my mom thinks I’m crazy. When I left my full time position in TV ad sales over eight years ago I knew there was no other place I wanted to be besides home. I also knew I had a taste for making money and I liked it! I’m not all that great at budgets so it is better for me to be in a position that gives me a little cushion : )

MOMpreneurship was for me. I decided that being successful for me at home isn’t necessarily all about making $100,000+ a year, $500,000+ a year or more. I wanted to make a good extra income and not give up my stay at home mom lifestyle. Why should my husband be the only one with an escape of “I have some work to do, can you take the kids _____” to go have a little quiet time and play on faceboook? (Luckily, he is an awesome husband and totally supports me, Thanks Babe!) Don’t get me wrong, it is possible to make as much as you want there really is no limit because you will get out of it what you put in. For me, my measure of success was 1) How much extra do I want to make a month? 2) How much time am I willing to put in? Once I had my answer I had my goal and success was made.

If you have ever thought about starting something or maybe what you have been doing isn’t producing income worth it’s time you and I need to partner. With my help you will be positioned to make that additional income so come January when you are paying off those Christmas Bills you can still do it with Christmas Cheer (not to mention claim the tax breaks for those pesky taxes around the corner). Visit the Partner With Me page and fill out the form today.

I made this video as a little fun peek into the life of a MOMpreneur and her MOMbiz! Thanks MommyToMommy.TV for featuring it!

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

On the ELEVENTH day of MOMbiz what’s in store for me,

11 Great Tax write-offs,

10 Networking functions,

9 Blog post all done,

8 Maids a cleaning,

7 Casseroles cooking,

6 Presentations,

Myyyy Maaac Desktop,

4 Calling prospects,

3 Friends to lunch with,

2 Kids a fighting and

************ Watch the Video for the 12th and 1st Day!

Related articles

• Who the heck is Cynthia http://www.cynthiagratzer.com/cynthia-gratzer-the-savvy-mompreneur
• How to be a MOMpreneur http://www.cynthiagratzer.com/being-a-mom-and-how-to-be-a-mompreneur

I see the news of missing children and stories that haunt me that I can’t sleep. It is a parents worst nightmare to think of anything happening to our precious children (even on their not so precious days). This is going to be a short post because this is a quick message but probably the most important thing you will read today.

Establish a Safety Adult List and Family Password!

A Safety Adult List is 3 people that you know without a doubt your children would be safe with. A Family Password is simply a word or a phrase that only your immediate family knows. We never want our kids to talk to strangers but there are some cases where it might happen anyway or in other cases it might not be a stranger that is a threat but someone they know. I’m sorry to be freaky here but seriously these are things you need to think about and just be on the safe side and prepare. It is better to be safe than sorry, right?! Decide on 3 Adults that you and your children know will be the only ones on your Safety Adult List. This way when you are running late to pick up someone from after school because you are running the other one to practice and your BFF says she can pick up your kiddo you know your child will know that this is safe to do only with names established and not “OK” this with anyone else but instead know to seek out help from someone. Another way to ramp this up a notch in safety is to establish a Family Password. When your child is picked up by your BFF from the Adult Safe List you can also teach your child to ask if she has been given the family password. If she doesn’t know the word your kiddo will know….No Don’t Go. This is also a great way to see if your kids will use the safety you are teaching them in the proper situations.

These are just a few ideas of what you can do for added safety with your children. Fit these into your safety routine! One more quick tip. I have taught my children to not just yell if someone is taking them against their will but to yell “This is not my mom!!!” because let’s face it, there have been a few days leaving target that someone would think I was stealing kids the way mine were screaming for not getting them what they wanted.

Please spread the word by sharing this and keep our kid’s safe!

Share your safety tips below….

There has been a lot of concern over the new Facebook Changes with the biggest being how to keep certain information being broadcast to everyone especially in the new “Ticker”. Privacy Settings are the top concern right now that I see people questioning. First off, I want to put your mind at rest that YES you still have control over who sees what! Moms with kids I know all of the sudden it became evident that if you are friends with your kids on facebook and make a comment on another friends facebook status or a picture they have posted that could potentially end up in your kiddos ticker! As you know if you are a mom privacy is not something we get a lot of (seriously, mine still follow me to the bathroom) but there are ways to set boundaries.

With the new Open Graph apps there is a single “permissions” page that has you allowing all publishing all at once – Frictionless Experiences and Real-time Serendipity according to Mark Zuckerberg. Sharing in real time! Now facebook users can instantly what they are listening too, reading, watching, cooking and more. Apps such as Spotify for Music, as soon as you click play on a song it pops up on your profile and in your ticker. As this goes by it shows others what you are listening to allowing them to listen immediately and comment. Very cool, if you are in the mood or maybe not if you are listening to your guilty pleasure one hit wonders. There are Reading Apps like Huffington Post and Movie Apps like Netflix, Cooking Apps, Exercise Apps and anything else you can think of all made with Open Graph. As Zuckerberg explains it is a Serendipitous experience when you are on Facebook and someone you are going to see tomorrow shows as watching Netflix Movie Bridesmaids in the ticker so you hop on and watch it also then can chat about it when you see each other. Again, something that at times can be really cool (imagine being a teenager and knowing what your BFF is watching and being able to do the same) and other times you might be embarrassed that you were watching Real Housewives of Atlanta’s past season on Netflix and now everyone knows.

No worries! Yes there are a lot of changes (and yes, there are more coming such as timeline that launches soon) but the core of facebook is still the same. Now you just need to learn your way around as they add things that one day we will not remember how we lived without. Check out how you can find and control your privacy settings for each of these changes. If you have questions on something not shown here or are confused comment on the post below and I will get you an answer! Don’t forget to share this with your friends… now that is a Serendipitous Experience!

Here is an article that goes more in depth on the changes and how they will forever change us : ) http://www.slashgear.com/facebook-open-graph-ushers-in-new-serendipitous-era-for-apps-22181979/