Linked Local Network

Do you stop to smell the roses? by Marie Roth There’s a phrase you may have heard, “stop and smell the roses”, you know that one?  Be honest now, what’s the first thing that goes through your mind when you hear that phrase? “Roses make me sneeze”? “I hate roses”? “What the hell is a rose”? Let’s hope your experiences are more in line with mine, where you may have more pleasant thoughts waft through your mind as you reminisce upon the scent of a rose.    Reflect upon your last memory of eyeing the perfect rose.  What drew you in?  Was it the color? Was it the perfect shape? Was it accompanied by a gaggle of similar looking characters, their multiple smiles beaming in the sun, daring you to….stop….and smell them?  What is the attraction?    You realize, this is the moment , stop….everything!  Compelled (by what?) to bury your nose deep into the soft, perfectly formulated pedals, breathing in deeply without regard, (of your allergies) anticipating the fragrant scent of this alluring, so

I originally published this post in a Resin group on Facebook, and it was hugely popular for a while. Resin is not an easy medium to work with, and there are many, many opinions about techniques, safety equipment, the best resin brands, etc. I’ve seen huge fights in resin Faceboook groups about various hot-button topics. This post is a touch-in-cheek guide to using resin (and many of the points may only make sense to those who have been using the medium for a while). Enjoy! Here’s the ultimate guide to doing resin.  😉 1. Wear a respirator. Or not. 2. Wear gloves. Or not. 3. Resin is food safe. Or not. 4. ArtResin is the best. Or maybe it’s StoneCoat. Or maybe LiquidDiamonds. Or is it ProMarine?  5. All resins yellow. Some yellow faster than others. 6. Beachy waves are so last month. Or not. 7. Pouring is not art. Or maybe it is. 8. To get white lacing in waves, use Castin Craft white. Or Pinata white. Or spray alcohol lightly. Or maybe use silicone. 9. Resin sticks on a lot of stuff,

Jobs are disappearing in the corporate workplace but you can prepare now and be ready for the change.   Many companies today are replacing employees that retire or leave the company with contractors or freelance workers. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal titled The End of Employees states that The percentage of the American workforce that is not directly tied to a company has risen by almost 100% by some estimates, and it shows no sign of stopping. When an outside source is in charge of the recruitment hiring or firing of employees the company can focus more on the final product. I have seen this trend on the rise in the area of retail stores and the maintenance of their Point of Sale systems. In the past companies would have to send an employee to a store to troubleshoot a problem with a computer or printer, now that work request is posted on a freelance website offering the job to multiple technicians at one time and once the technician accepts the job the work is closely s

I am a parent, a husband, an employee, and a homeowner…just a few of my titles. With each of these comes a lot of responsibilities and things or events to keep track of on a daily basis. See the picture above? That is a list of things to do today. I am old-fashion and still write my list of the things to do for the day on a post-it note and write it out the night before so I am prepared when I wake-up the next morning. I attach it to my wallet and am constantly reminded of the important things I need to do for the day. As I get things done I cross it out with a pen or pencil. Everyone has their way of doing things. I get that my way of keeping track of things can easily be replaced with today’s technology. As a matter of fact, I have an app for my iPhone that is a post-it app. It allows me to type things on it and look at that instead of writing it with a pen on a piece of paper. I hardly ever use it. Why? Because a year ago I had a software problem with my phone and had to erase every

Topic: iLoveKickBoxing your way into franchise ownership. Discussing the growing health/fitness franchise vertical Broadcast Date: May 30th, 2019 at 5:00p Est/4:00P Cen/3:00p Mtn/2:00p Pac Join co-hosts Ray Pillar, Owner of Molly Maid Aurora-Naperville, Fred McMurray of Westvyne and Holly A Ford of Zarian Firm International as they discuss iLoveKickBoxing your way into franchise ownership, Discussing the growing health/fitness franchise vertical, ongoing franchisee development, franchise accounting, purchasing, growing your franchise, improving your franchisee performance, brand positioning, expanding franchise concepts, franchisee marketing, franchisor marketing and selling your franchise and with Rachel Sivapatham, Owner iLoveKickBoxing franchise. Our Guest: Rachel Sivapatham , Owner iLoveKickBoxing franchise.   Co-hosts, Holly A Ford womansplainer to Ray Pillar and Fred McMurray.     Chat live  to new episodes on Thursdays at 4p central. Call in on Thursdays at 323-580-5755. Listen

Topic: How Honor Yoga is rocking the fitness world & transitioning from franchisee to franchise professional Broadcast Date: May 23rd, 2019 at 5:00p Est/4:00P Cen/3:00p Mtn/2:00p Pac Join co-hosts Ray Pillar, Owner of Molly Maid Aurora-Naperville, Fred McMurray of Westvyne and Holly A Ford of Zarian Firm International as they discuss How Honor Yoga is rocking the fitness world & transitioning from franchisee to franchise professional , ongoing franchisee development, franchise accounting, purchasing, growing your franchise, improving your franchisee performance, brand positioning, expanding franchise concepts, franchisee marketing, franchisor marketing and selling your franchise and with Maria Parrella-Turco, Chief Yogini and CEO of Honor Yoga and Amanda Tokos, Multi-Unit Franchisee & Franchise Consulting Company Consultant Our Guests: Maria Parrella-Turco , Chief Yogini – Honor Yoga   Amanda Tokes , Multi-Unit Franchisee & Franchise Consulting Company Consultant   Surp

Topic: How to deal with  Franchise Equipment Financing Broadcast Date: May 16th, 2019 at 5:00p Est/4:00P Cen/3:00p Mtn/2:00p Pac Join co-hosts Ray Pillar, Owner of Molly Maid Aurora-Naperville, Fred McMurray of Westvyne and Holly A Ford of Zarian Firm International as they discuss Franchise Equipment Financing , ongoing franchisee development, franchise accounting, purchasing, growing your franchise, improving your franchisee performance, brand positioning, expanding franchise concepts, franchisee marketing, franchisor marketing and selling your franchise and with  RJ Grimshaw, CEO of UniFi Equipment Finance, Inc. Our Guest: RJ Grimshaw , CEO of UniFi Equipment Finance, Inc . Co-hosts, Holly A Ford womansplainer to Ray Pillar and Fred McMurray. Chat live  to new episodes on Thursdays at 4p central. Call in on Thursdays at 323-580-5755. Listen to  past episodes Interested in buying a franchise? Complete the  form  and receive a free copy of the Franchise MBA! Message at the following s

Forgiveness… a word that is spewed by many so-called spiritual gurus and they are quite dangerous because the majority of them have a dangerous attitude about how mental illness is made up and is a decision that the sufferer had made. With that said, if these spiritual gurus are spreading that type of dangerous crap around since mental illness is an illness, no less than a physical illness such as cancer or diabetes! Then why in the world would you believe anything else they say? Especially when it comes to forgiveness. And you have seen so many trite quotes on forgiveness such as these ones: The most important thing that I learned in growing up is that forgiveness is something that, when you do it, you free yourself to move on. – Tyler Perry There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love. – Bryant H. McGill Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr. The weak can nev

Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer just had their baby boy and named him Gene Attel. Say it fast and you will be either amused or stunned! This show will give you the goods on other crazy baby names that should really not be legal, and be prepared to stunned, amused, and blown away by this interesting collection of off-the-wall baby names.  The Expressive Mom Show - The Baby Names That Will Put Mom In Court

Topic: How to deal with  Franchise Equipment Financing Broadcast Date: May 16th, 2019 at 5:00p Est/4:00P Cen/3:00p Mtn/2:00p Pac Join co-hosts Ray Pillar, Owner of Molly Maid Aurora-Naperville, Fred McMurray of Westvyne and Holly A Ford of Zarian Firm International as they discuss Franchise Equipment Financing , ongoing franchisee development,  financing, franchise accounting, purchasing, growing your franchise, improving your franchisee performance, brand positioning, expanding franchise concepts, franchisee marketing, equipment financing, franchisor marketing and selling your franchise and with our guests: RJ Grimshaw, CEO of UniFi Equipment Finance, Inc. Co-hosts, Holly A Ford womansplainer to Ray Pillar and Fred McMurray. Chat live on Thursdays at 4p central. Call in on Thursdays at 323-580-5755. Interested in buying a franchise? Complete the form and receive a free copy of the Franchise MBA! Sponsored by The Franchise Consulting Company, Westvyne LLC, Zarian Firm Internatio

Okay, I’m stuck in bed in excruciating pain.  The doctor said, “Take these pills for pain and take these pills to sleep. Do these exercises for back problems and you’ll be fine.”  Then she handed me two prescriptions and a pamphlet with the exercises. I was unable to drive, unable to stand for more than a couple minutes and my pain level was so high that breathing sent sharp pains through my body.  The pain medication did nothing for me. The sleeping pills did help me sleep. However, they caused me to wake up feeling like I was hit by a truck. I tried to do what exercises I could. How on Earth was I supposed to be thankful and believe that this is God’s will? Since laying in bed was my number one activity there wasn’t much I could do.  It was 1998/1999.  I had no internet, let alone a smart phone.  I did have a television in my bedroom with a VCR and I was able to read.  At that time, I was a member of “One Spirit” book club.   I browsed through my catalog and ordered Sarah Ban Breathn

Do you know your family history or your family origin?   If you asked your parents where your grandma or your grandpa were born would they be able to tell you?  If your child asked you about their family’s origin would you be able to tell them? I became very interested in this topic after recently attending a memorial for a close family member. At the memorial several members of my family ask me questions about my dad’s family. I was asked if my father was still alive and if so where he was living, and other questions about his parents. Most of the questions I could not answer because my mom never shared with me details about my dad, his parents or my grandma and I never thought to ask until now. After the memorial, we decided to stay with my cousin overnight and drive home the next day and while sitting around the table talking with my niece she asked me if we could meet in two months for a weekend as a family to share family photos and put together photo albums for each of our famili

Topic: The Home Care Boom and Franchise Equipment Financing Broadcast Date: May 16th, 2019 at 5:00p Est/4:00P Cen/3:00p Mtn/2:00p Pac Join co-hosts Ray Pillar, Owner of Molly Maid Aurora-Naperville, Fred McMurray of Westvyne and Holly A Ford of Zarian Firm International as they discuss The Home Care Boom and Franchise Equipment Financing , ongoing franchisee development,  financing, franchise accounting, purchasing, growing your franchise, improving your franchisee performance, brand positioning, expanding franchise concepts, franchisee marketing, equipment financing, franchisor marketing and selling your franchise and with Barbara Schuh, VP of Franchise Operations – Home Care Assistance. Our 2nd guest is RJ Grimshaw, CEO of UniFi Equipment Finance, Inc. Our Guests: Barbara Schuh , VP of Franchise Operations – Home Care Assistance RJ Grimshaw , CEO of UniFi Equipment Finance, Inc . Co-hosts, Holly A Ford womansplainer to Ray Pillar and Fred McMurray. Chat live  to new episodes on Thur

Community Voices Update and Happy Mothers Day! I want to wish all of the Mom’s a Happy Mother’s Day. It’s been a few week’s since I last communicated with everyone and much has happened so I wanted update everyone on what has been going on. First I want to apologize to everyone I was unable to meet while I was in Chicago. I just ran out of time.  It was a great trip and I spent some quality time with the little woman who makes my heart go pitty pat.  Addison and I got to do artwork, eat raisins, play with toys, go to the Racine Zoo, and chase bubbles. It was incredibly hard to leave and I can’t wait to spend time with her at the end of June. Please welcome  Marty Rosenbloom ,  Madeline McNicholas ,  Deni Weigel- Eads  and  Andrea Mather  to our growing Community Voices. Marty still holds the record for the most views of a Linked Local Network video with his What does an Industrial Engineer do. Madeline is a past Linked Local Network volunteer. Yes, Deni is of the Chicago Weigel’s and a

Topic: The Home Care Boom and Franchise Equipment Financing Broadcast Date: May 16th, 2019 at 5:00p Est/4:00P Cen/3:00p Mtn/2:00p Pac Join co-hosts Ray Pillar, Owner of Molly Maid Aurora-Naperville, Fred McMurray of Westvyne and Holly A Ford of Zarian Firm International as they discuss The Home Care Boom and Franchise Equipment Financing , ongoing franchisee development,  financing, franchise accounting, purchasing, growing your franchise, improving your franchisee performance, brand positioning, expanding franchise concepts, franchisee marketing, equipment financing, franchisor marketing and selling your franchise and with Barbara Schuh, VP of Franchise Operations - Home Care Assistance. Our 2nd guest is RJ Grimshaw, CEO of UniFi Equipment Finance, Inc. Our Guests: Barbara Schuh , VP of Franchise Operations - Home Care Assistance   RJ Grimshaw , CEO of UniFi Equipment Finance, Inc .   Co-hosts, Holly A Ford womansplainer to Ray Pillar and Fred McMurray.     Chat live  to new episodes

Have you ever had plans that didn’t work out? If you’re reading this, I’m sure you have.  Sometimes it just feels like someone pulled the rug out from under you.  That’s how I felt in November of 1998.  I had ran a home daycare for about twenty years and was ready for a change.  A friend had a cleaning business and had asked me if I would be interested in cleaning with her.  So I had given notice to my daycare parents and after they had found new caregivers, I decided to help my friend and see if this was a change I wanted.  After a week of physical activity that I wasn’t used  to my back was aching.  My oldest daughter was 18 at the time and she had offered to give me a back rub.  I was laying on the floor and after she had finished, she stood up, lost her footing and her knee came down on my spine.  Then a month later, I was in an auto accident.  Someone had attempted to beat me through an intersection and we collided.  It totaled my car and left me disabled.  I was optimistic, and t

Topic: 5 year Bucket Challenge Anniversary – Giving back to the community Broadcast Date: April 18th, 2019 at 5:00p Est/4:00P Cen/3:00p Mtn/2:00p Pac Join host Ray Pillar, Owner of Molly Maid Aurora-Naperville, co-host Fred McMurray of Westvyne and Holly A Ford of Zarian Firm International as they discuss the 5 year bucket challenge anniversary, ongoing franchisee development,  financing, franchise accounting, purchasing, growing your franchise, brand positioning, expanding franchise concepts, franchisee marketing, legal issues, franchisor marketing, cause based marketing, giving back to the community , expanding and selling your franchise with Jerry Akers – Owner at Sharpness, Inc DBA Great Clips and Josh Nuss – Executive Director of The ALS Association Iowa Chapter Our Guests: Jerry Akers , Owner at Sharpness, Inc DBA Great Clips Josh Nuss , Executive Director of The ALS Association Iowa Chapter Special co-host, Holly A Ford , womansplainer to Ray and Fred. Chat live  to new episodes

…the Darkness of DENIAL into the light of ACCEPTANCE and Ultimtaely RECOVERY…. Join us every week as we “TRUDGE THE ROAD OF HAPPY DESTINY” One Day at a TIme, reflecting on issues relating to various types / forms of addictions such as Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling, FOOD, Se, ography, Chaos, etc,,, Don’t go it alone – Recovery is always better with a friend / companion. Our shopw airs 7 to 9 pm every Sunday evening and we are about to start our 8th year of Broadcasting. As a person in recovery for over 23 years, 7 months, and 22 days TODAY – But who is Counting? “I AM!”  I am proud and very Happy that I have been able to maintain my Sober State of mine and enhance my Sobriety on a Daily basis. There are no secrets to doing this – just adopting a commitment to wanting more out of life and becoming willing to go to any length to getand keep it!   The ROAD TO RECOVERY Hosted by Daniel Czuba - working to bring Addictions out of

Topic: SuperSlow Zone – Helping you Look & Feel Good at any Age and taking control of your online reputation. Broadcast Date: May 2nd, 2019 at 5:00p Est/4:00P Cen/3:00p Mtn/2:00p Pac Join co-hosts Ray Pillar, Owner of Molly Maid Aurora-Naperville, Fred McMurray of Westvyne and Holly A Ford of Zarian Firm International as they discuss How SuperSlow Zone helping people be strong, healthy, look and feel good at any age , ongoing franchisee development,  financing, franchise accounting, purchasing, growing your franchise, improving your franchisee performance, brand positioning, expanding franchise concepts, franchisee marketing, legal issues, franchisor marketing and selling your franchise and with Madeline Ross, Founder/CEO – SuperSlow Zone, LLC. Our 2nd guest is Erika Feinberg, President of RevuKangaroo, Keynote Speaker, Service Excellence Specialist Our Guests: Madeline Ross , Founder/CEO – SuperSlow Zone, LLC Erika Feinberg , President of RevuKangaroo, Keynote Speaker, Service Exc

Topic: Molly Maid – A New Era of growth for franchisees of Neighborly and beyond.  Broadcast Date: April 25th, 2019 at 5:00p Est/4:00P Cen/3:00p Mtn/2:00p Pac Join co-hosts Ray Pillar, Owner of Molly Maid Aurora-Naperville, Fred McMurray of Westvyne and Holly A Ford of Zarian Firm International as they discuss a new Era of growth for franchisees of Neighborly , ongoing franchisee development,  financing, franchise accounting, purchasing, growing your franchise, improving your franchisee performance, brand positioning, expanding franchise concepts, franchisee marketing, legal issues, franchisor marketing and selling your franchise and with Mary Kay Liston, CFE, President of Molly Maid® and Mitch Cohen, CEO of  Performax Franchisee Advisors & a Jersey Mike’s Subs franchisee. Our Guests: Mary Kay Liston , CFE, President of Molly Maid® Mitch Cohen , CEO of  Performax Franchisee Advisors & a Jersey Mike’s Subs franchisee. Co-hosts, Holly A Ford womansplainer to Ray and Fred. Chat l

Community Voice & Host Expressive Mom If you believe that you have heard the worst and off-the-wall baby name? Chances are you haven’t because you are about to hear a collection that will make you shake your head. And I figured this would be the best pilot episode for the Expressive Mom Show which is being relaunched once again! Have fun guys! Live on Wednesday at 1p Pacific. Call 323-580-5755 with questions   The Expressive Mom Show - The Baby Names That Will Put Moms In Court

Community Voice Veracity Matters, Part I. Nine Ways To Know If Your Politicians’ Lips are Moving   Remember that joke – “How do you know if a politician is lying? His lips are moving!” The following are my tried and true ways to get to the truth, learned over fifteen years in public service. When I was studying for my communications degree, I learned that it takes three exposures to a message to get the attention of the public. Now, 40 years later with the overstimulation created by electronic messaging, political consultants say the message must be received seven times before entering the consciousness of voters. However, the “3 Times” test served me efficiently as an elected representative. Once I heard something three times from members of the public who were independent of one another, I knew it was of enough constituent importance to take to the next level. Conversely, when I receive information, or when my research or experience alerts me to a “red flag,” my policy is to keep it