They never said this would be easy.....

What a disappointing week! I went to visit our favorite sports card store here in Dallas and she told me that they don't really need to advertise because they are a "niche" market and people just "Google" them.  That was a TOTAL bummer. I thought for sure I had an "in" with these guys.

Then I found in my mailbox a letter from Dave Ramsey and I was PUMPED! Surely the guy who talks about paying off debt so you can "Give Like No One Else" would want to give like no one else. .. well as you can see that didn't happen either. I can't say anything bad about Dave Ramsey though. I think he is doing the world a great service in his own right. He is helping a lot of people get out of debt! If you've never heard of him check him out!

 Hey at least he personalized it right?!?

So here's the thing that gets me.... In all my student/business partnership letters I explicitly explain that this is an ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY. I'm NOT asking for a "hand out" but a "hand up."  Even the Cooper Institute for Aerobics that gave me a call a couple of weeks ago...they said "we aren't able to DONATE at this time. Where oh where in my letter am I begging people for a donation? I'm simply giving them the opportunity to advertise THEIR business and in the process help some people struggling to pay down their student loan debt. Another thing I have discovered is that a lot of bigger businesses only want to donate to a 501(c) tax exempt organization so they can "write off" the money on their taxes. I get that. I mean who doesn't want a tax exemption at the end of the year to pay less taxes.

Discussing all this with the president of Lily's List she encouraged me to go to "Mom and Pop Shops" around my area. So that's going to be the next plan of attack. No one said this was going to be easy. You can't just put up a profile page and ask for help.....you actually have to start DOING something to raise the funds yourself. No one is going to do it for you. Not only that but YOU have to convince them why they should advertise with you and Lily's List instead of somewhere else. My advice to you dear reader is to come prepared! Come dressed well and have something simple to give to the business in question and be ready to ask for the manager. If the manager isn't there, give them the S/B partnership letter to give to the manager. Attach your phone number and call back or visit back. Even better you can set up a meeting with the owner/manager to discuss with them.

Here's what people don't really know about me....when I want something....I go after it. People may say "no"  a million times but you know what!?! It only takes a couple of  people to say "yes" and before you know it...you've reached your goal! So my advice for this week is don't give up! There are going to be a lot of people saying no before they ever say yes. Did you know that Abraham Lincoln tried approx 50 times before becoming president? He was REALLY used to the word "no" but that didn't deter him. Neither should we let our disappointments define our goals and dreams! Like Joel Osteen says " I DECLARE I will see my biggest dreams come to pass!" Stay around people who are positive! It's too easy to get stuck in the negativity cycle! Do your best and eventually your hard work will pay off!

On a side note, I am still working on the side door panel decals....as soon as those are installed I will post a picture! There will be more to come soon! Hope you all have a good week!