Also, Sandy is making some incredible videos chronicling her Breast Cancer battle. Please visit http://mypersonalbreastcancerjourney.com.

Watch the videos, leave a comment, and most of all please spread the word and share with your friends, family and online social media circles.

The post ZapPowee Fights Breast Cancer appeared first on Steve Rosenbaum.

At 4:30 this morning, I wrote these letters to my Senators and Representative.  I urge you to DO THESE 3 THINGS TODAY.
(Feel Free to use my exact letter if you like):

1. Find the names and addresses of your Senators and Representatives here: http://www.contactingthecongress.org
2. Mail them a “Stop SOPA / PIPA” letter just like this (notice differences for Sen. and Rep)
3. Urge others to take action. Write a post or tweet a link to this one. Mail to your list. Post on Facebook. Make a YouTube Video. Whatever it takes.

I know it may seem like our individual actions have little effect on the outcome, but nothing can be further from the truth. If you value the way you use the internet today, there is nothing more important that you can do right now.

Help me in spreading the word.

Steve Rosenbaum

The post What you should do now to Stop SOPA and PIPA appeared first on Steve Rosenbaum.

I take success very seriously.

Because Success equals Freedom.

A person I met a few years ago knows more about living without freedom than just about anybody on this planet. Dave Lakhani was raised in a religious cult. A cult that suppressed his freedoms and prayed for his destruction when he tried to leave.

Dave turned his experience into a powerful educational and motivational tool and is one of the most engaging experts you’ll ever here talk about persuasion.

I’ve dug up from my archives one of my very first interviews. The audio quality is terrible, my interviewing skills are terrible, and the content is absolutely priceless. The time I spent with Dave Lakhani has shaped and formed so much of what I do that I wanted to share it with you.

It’s funny, listening to myself interview Dave reminds me of Chris Farley interviewing Paul McCartney. Remember that??!! What a Riot!

Here’s to your success in 2012. I promise to continue showing you, inspiring you and educating you how to take your business to the next level.

There are a lot of businesses counting on our success together.

All my best,

Steve Rosenbaum
The Back End Specialist

The post Persuasion vs. Manipulation Video: Dave Lakhani and Steve Rosenbaum appeared first on Steve Rosenbaum.

Here’s a story a wrote about Grandpa waiting for a Cubs Pennant in 2009.

The post RIP Grandpa… Join the Crowd appeared first on Steve Rosenbaum.

David Gentiles, “the wisest pastor” at Journey I.F.C., was called away from us, and has left us feeling saddened for knowing the we will miss his contagious smile, heartfelt hugs, and unwavering friendship, but also feeling  truly blessed for knowing such an amazing person.  Amazing because, David shared his love, in this same way, with every single person he ever encountered.

David has been a shepherd for thousands of people in their spiritual journeys and is without peer in his depth of commitment to his faith and to serving others.

While sitting in prayer vigil Friday, I was blown away to find out something I never knew about David.  Millions of people, including my wife Sherri, read Don Piper’s New York Times Bestseller “90 Minutes in Heaven”, about a man that was killed in a car crash, later revived, and tells about his visit to Heaven.

While Don is in the hospital battling for his life, David Gentiles travels hundreds of miles to be with Don, hold his hand, and let him know that David, and hundreds of friends and family are praying for him.

“We will not let you die,” says David.

It is David, Don explains, that challenges and inspires Don to share his story about visiting Heaven.

Similarly, I didn’t realize that David was co-host of ESPN Austin’s “Faith in the Game” radio program, and also an inspiration to Donald Miller, author of “Blue Like Jazz”.

Maybe you were blessed, as we have been, to actually know David, or maybe you encountered his spirit through others, like Don Piper, Donald Miller or ESPN Austin.  Or maybe you never had the privilege of knowing my friend David Gentiles.  Whichever the case, please know that David served to make us live, laugh, love and enjoy life.

Lots will be written about David in the upcoming days.  But nothing can capture the truth about how intimately David Gentiles touched people than to read the pouring out of love and grief that has been posted on his Facebook wall or tweeted throughout the week.  This, to me, is an example of the power of social media.

Thank You, David Gentiles.

Rest in Peace.

The post R.I.P. David Gentiles appeared first on Steve Rosenbaum.

This has to be the most expensive right turn in history! Those of you who have seen me chronicle my recent Chicago trip, know that I was on a mad dash from place to place (especially restaurants!). In fact, this was after Bob Chinn’s and before Portillos!

The post Curses George Orwell! aka: The Hundred Dollar Right Turn appeared first on Steve Rosenbaum.

Kevin Warmath (3/20/65 – 1/31/09) was a giver. He gave his knowledge, his love, his friendship, his opinion, his best and his heart to everything he did.  It was this same heart that gave him up. A friend of Kevin’s spoke at his memorial service and said that this world wasn’t big enough for Kevin and he
had to move on to bigger places.

Kevin was a tall guy and a bigger man.

Kevin worked as an associate with Maxsell Real Estate and was a member of the Cherokee Association of REALTORS.  When asked to write down all the things he could about himself within one minute, this is what Kevin came up with:

“I am a fiscally conservative, left-brained, green-eyed, slightly
compulsive, mountain biking, computer programming, house selling, tree
planting, chocolate loving, self improving, tireless, sometimes impatient,
Mother Nature hugging, tomato growing, BBQing, western born and bred,
green-thumbed, lifetime student, book loving but slow reading, blogging,
problem solving, frugal, multitasking, cleaver, passionately independent,
straight shooting, NPR Pledging, Car Talk laughing, biscuit baking, orchid
reblooming, civic minded, competitive, discerning, opinionated, thorough,
dedicated, Nikon shooting, photo editing, Titleist driving, thankfully
educated, critically thinking, trustworthy, lacrosse coaching, politically
aware, freedom loving, sailboat desiring, thunderstorm missing, gadget
playing, quarter collecting, Ben & Jerry’s sneaking, efficiency fanatic,
boxing wannabe, child-loving father, husband and real estate consultant for
life.”

Kevin was an innovator in the real estate industry and developed one of the most successful real estate blogs in the country: Alpharetta Real Estate (LiveInAlpharetta.com).

It is certain that Kevin, being part geek and part Realtor, would have absolutely loved and appreciated this event as much as any of us.

Kevin is survived by his wife Sylvie and their three children; Will, Clara, and Sophie.

Earlier this month, VREBC established a fund in his honor, and in an effort to help the Warmath Children’s College Fund.  I have decide to offer my most prized internet marketing content in order to help raise even more money.   I hope you can find it in your hearts to make a small donation, because together we can make a big difference for the Warmath family.

The post The Warmath Children College Fund Charity appeared first on Steve Rosenbaum.

I was quite surprised how deep we got into my personal history.  Ray expertly drew out some very private and personal experiences, and illustrated how they were important to my successful transition from corporate America to starting my own business.

It’s a tough economy out there, and I know a lot of people are facing some very challenging times.  Listen to this interview and hear how I leveraged my experience to quickly gain new business helping other companies.

Thank you, Ray.
[audio:http://d3xdsm37ptvir.cloudfront.net/audio/RayEdwards_SteveRosenbaum_FINAL.mp3]

The post Regular Guy Makes Good In Internet Marketing with Ray Edwards appeared first on Steve Rosenbaum.

I’m on the plane coming back from my ride and I want to give you an update.  For the most part… I made it, but I’ll explain that below.

I cannot even come close to explaining the impact this weekend had on me.  Over 400 people with some connection to diabetes pushing and fighting their way through 100 long, hilly miles to combat diabetes.  I was overwhelmed by the spirit and determination these people had.  Yet, the spirit wasn’t targeted at riding 100 miles; the spirit was to rid the world of diabetes.  There were so many inspirational moments that I could write 10 pages telling you about my experience.  There was the family who has a friend with Juvenile Diabetes and owns bike shops. The entire family comes to every ride.  They drive all over the course fixing bikes, at no charge, during the event.  I met a young woman from Florida who was riding for her best friend who recently died of complications from the disease.  Young diabetics all over the country sent personalized posters (“Go Paul, thanks for helping us”) which JDRF staffers affixed to our hotel room doors prior to our arrival.  Volunteers rode up and down the 100 mile course ringing cowbells and yelling “great job, keep it up.”  Every time this happened, I thought of it as a gift to Marc.  The ride was truly about raising money and defeating this disease.  The Vermont ride raised over $1.3 million dollars.

Once again, I must tell you that along with the posters, cowbells and cheering, you are such a big part of what inspired me.  Every single one of you donated money that could have been used for something else.  Thank you so very much.

OK, the ride.  First, the weather was incredible and I don’t mean that in a good way.  Remnants from the hurricane from the Southeast merged with a storm blowing in from the Midwest to create terrible riding conditions.  It rained hard for the first 35 miles (and much of the last 43) and the temperature was in the mid 50s.  Many times I thought of lying to each of you and just saying I did the ride, but I pushed on.  The course was absolutely beautiful, but as Vermont tends to be, it certainly was hilly through out the ride.  There were only 2 areas that were incredibly difficult.  At mile 48, there was a 14 mile stretch that was uphill most of the way.  About two-thirds into this segment, there was a very steep hill that most said was the most challenging part of the entire course.  Fortunately, I made it.  At mile 88, we had a quick rest stop and then set out for the last 12 miles, also straight uphill.  After riding gradual inclines for about 6 miles, there were 3 more extremely steep hills.  At this point, I just couldn’t get up the 1^st or 3^rd of those hills so I had to walk about ½ mile.   After that, I finished the rest of the gradual climb to the top, riding a total of about 99 ½ miles.  At the end, there were over 100 people hooting and hollering as each rider crossed the finish line.

As a salesman, I can never stop selling, so here it goes.  Part of our weekend was spent looking at where your money will go and the specific type of projects that JDRF funds.  I was so impressed with the percentage of contributions that go directly to research and the causes that JDRF supports.  As an example, there’s a former MIT scientist who is doing amazing work on a new “smart insulin” that time releases as the body needs it.  Although possibly ten years away from market, this could be a wonderful bridge until a cure is found.  Banks and private funds were unwilling to take a chance on such a project so JDRF contributed $17 million dollars to start the research.

One of JDRF’s problems is that most Type 1s look fine and the disease’s complications aren’t known by many people who don’t have a personal connection.  Unfortunately, Type 1s very often have severe complications as they get older and the average life span for juvenile diabetics is 10 years less than normal.  By the way, JDRF also finances research for Type 2 diabetes which affects millions of people.  The reason I am telling you all this is simple.  Whenever you see a business donating proceeds to JDRF, a change jar in a store or your next door neighbor walking in a walk-a-thon, feel comfortable in knowing that your contribution is going to a great cause.  We WILL find a cure.

It may be a little while until I jump back on the treadmill or ride my bicycle, but I plan on doing another ride next year.  I plan on continuing to fight for Marc and everyone else affected by diabetes.  Thank you for fighting along side me.  Trust me, during the hills and rain, I was thinking about all of you (especially the ones who would make fun of me forever if I quit!)

From me and my family, thank you for your support,

Paul

The post Letter from Paul about JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes appeared first on Steve Rosenbaum.

And he’s seen it all since then.  He’s seen 18 US Presidents. He’s seen the discovery of penicillin and countless medical breakthroughs.  He’s seen unbelievable advances in communication including the development of radio, television, movies, and now the cell phone, computer and the internet.  He’s seen the construction of a national highway system and transportation break-throughs that make his long journey by ship a short jaunt by airplane.  And he’s seen us build buildings that stretch to the sky.

But there’s still one thing Grandpa Heinz has never seen… A Chicago Cubs championship.

Yes, Grandpa is a die-hard Cubs fan.  He can tell you what Ryan Theriot had for breakfast.  Or he’ll complain about Lou Piniella going to Kevin Gregg again,  after several blown saves.  He’ll let you know that Geovany Soto has a tough time hitting with men in scoring positions on Wednesday day games after a travel day.

Grandpa will even reminisce about past Cubs, like Jerry Morales making “hot dog” basket catches in center field, or Dave Kingman hitting the ball on the porch of the house “3 houses down Kenmore!”

It’s been a rough few years for Grandpa, especially with the White Sox winning their championship and Boston ending their mild drought.  And Grandpa is not too happy.

But I’m pretty good with it.  Because, despite an amazing 14,800 odd games since their last championship (and grandpa has seen most of them), the Chicago Cubs have squandered another chance to break all the curses, and have assured themselves that 2009, like the previous 101 years, will not be their year.

And of course that means just one thing: I can thank the Chicago Cubs for keeping Grandpa around for another year!

The post Thank you Chicago Cubs for Keeping Grandpa Around Another Year! appeared first on Steve Rosenbaum.