Who Let The Dogs Out

"Some people have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to when all they need is one reason why they can."

Mary Frances Berry

The first and foremost rule in business is 'Put your emotions aside'.

Beware of the devil in disguise.  Many are out there.

What is Trust, and how does trust work in a business? 

Trust plays a vital role in any business, self-publishing, or other life in general.

When engaging staff in your self-publishing business, or any business for that matter, you must set your emotions aside altogether, or you may get burnt.  Once you get burnt, the ride back up the ladder will require much hard work and determination.   You will need to invest loads of time and effort.  You will lose not only your creditability.  Your spirits will fall low and much more for sure.

Finding a trustworthy individual who is a good worker, loyal, and highly ethical is challenging.

Getting burnt is more than just a drop in the Ocean for anyone.  In any industry, corruption in the self-publishing industry is all about money, and people don't matter.  Money talks... Oh Yeah!   In-house, publishing industries, outside anywhere.  Corruption exists.

You must be aware of dogs and wolves in sheep's clothing.  Characteristics of a Bully.  Bullying: Who Let The Dogs Out?

IT'S YOUR BUSINESS- GET A GRIP ON IT

Hint 1: Complete a full and detailed employment contract.  Cross the 't's' and dot the 'is'.  Make your presence and instructions very clear.  Leave nothing to chance.

Hint 2: Don’t worry about your emotional side when selecting or dealing with staff.  Especially if someone says, "Trust me"  Why?  Because money talks and comes first to some, especially in business.  

Hint 3: Ask for references.  AND CHECK THEM OUT THOROUGHLY.  Love of Books was never provided with any references nor did the owner ask for any.   

Julie employed the shifty salesman on trust. So it is her fault she found out the hard way.

It's too late to discover the skeletons of the past with your wolf after the event.  Yes, it was fruitless and heartbreaking, absolutely gobsmacking to hear the turmoil he caused to businesses by his past employers after she sacked him. You will feel like a complete fool or, even worse,  for not doing this first step.

Your years of hard work developing your business plans, marketing efforts, forms, databases, etc., are your gold, your daily bread, your livelihood, so to speak.

You may put your faith in God if you are a believer.   

Why do we have instincts?

As humans, we have instincts.  Address your instincts.  If you feel something is wrong, then it most likely is bad.  Learning to trust our instincts is one thing in itself.  Our emotions, again, do get in the way of our instincts.  Emotions rule, similar to how the Ocean rules.

If you suffer a significant upheaval, emotional stress, or turmoil while in business, I  recommend closing the doors to new clients until you feel better and can cope.

People may abuse you if you owe money. Especially the ones who don't know you. It is their right to get back their own hard-earned investment.  It is not their fault but your very own. You are the only one to blame here.

Put on your business head and your hard hat at all times.  It is against the odds that a caring and trusting relationship can be formed successfully in business in many cases.  Your staff have to like you to get paid.  Most of the time, this is all it is and nothing else.  Have faith!

Efforts Plus Determination and Motivation

While we know that support is an essential ingredient for success, two other ingredients are equally, if not more, critical: belief and determination.

Self-publishing can be an enriching and magical experience.  But, like anything in life, you need to put the effort in right from the start.  If you start a business for yourself, watch out for the dogs.  Corruption happens. 

The famous racing car driver Mario Andretti summed this up well when he said, ‘Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence, that will enable you to attain the success you seek.’

I have found that whilst motivation ignites the flame of change within us, it is only the inspiration that comes from totally believing in what we are doing and putting our complete dedication and commitment to excellence in whatever we do that enables us to reap the rewards of success that our hearts desire.

Many other people share dreams similar to yours.  Who do you admire the most out of the successful people you know? And who demonstrates success in the way you believe it to be.

Rules of the game:

Whether you are a woman or a man, the same applies.

1. EMOTION: Keep as much emotion of business as you can. Sure, you might make friends; I have made many. But there are snakes out there, and you will get bitten.
2. GUT INSTINCT: Why do we have it? Well, it's usually correct, so use it.
3. FRIENDS: If you are a bit naïve and too kind, listen to your friends who aren’t so naïve. If several warn you of a rotten egg, they are probably right.
4. TRUST: If someone begs you to trust them. It may be just a show to penetrate your gut instinct. Why would they beg? Have you indicated a sense of mistrust to them, and they need your assurance?
5. SHUT UP SHOP: If you are experiencing a lot of turmoil in your life, it may be wise to shut up shop until the coast is clear again. Or should I say head?
6.  COURT ORDER: A woman should seek out court orders very early at any sign of harassment. Don’t try to be friendly and ask politely by phone or email to be left alone. You won’t get a reply, trust me.  If someone is out to get you, they will hold down until the last grind. Get the police involved.
7.  PEOPLE AND MONEY: People will be angry if you owe them money. They don’t give a rat's ass if you don’t have any. They will go at you like a bull at a gate.  If you are really unlucky, some will torture the living daylights out of you in any way possible. But you will get some that are very patient and easy to work with.  Look after the patient ones first and show your appreciation.
8.  Go solo until you get back on your feet again. You did it in the beginning, so you can do it again. You are much wiser and have more experience now, so it’s easier to get the ball rolling again.
9.  GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE: Don’t be too proud to ask for government assistance. You need it. You are entitled to it, so go for it. They will tell you what to do and work out your entitlements correctly.
10. HEALTH: With all this going on, your health may suffer. Get help and make your health a priority. Taking care of your health and eating right are giving your body the right fuel and keeping up maintenance to give your mind, body, and soul the strength it needs.
11. JUSTIFICATION: Don‘t try to justify yourself or your actions to anyone. There is no poverty like ignorance. And believe me, some people are pretty stupid and very ignorant. Some people can be easily manipulated and brainwashed.  Some of the most intelligent people in the world have been in cults, allowing them to be brainwashed and manipulated to be, act and do some very horrible things.  When they finally reach a point of saying no or getting their wake-up call, they come out of a very dark hole to a very rude awakening.
12. REACH FOR THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN: With all the negativity and drama, you may need a bit of a pick-me-up. Surround yourself with positive people. Read success stories and books of successful people to create a positive dome of protection around you. Do what you do best, keep learning and hold your head high. You’re never too old to learn and grow in your personal life or business.

BANKRUPTCY: Gives you a chance to start over again. It seems like you're getting out of your commitments. But honestly, if you cannot pay, that’s it. Don’t put off the inevitable. You need to eat and pay your rent. Your health may suffer if you burn yourself out trying to maintain what debt you have.

LOYALTY: Many people still pay their debts once on their feet. Choose carefully if you want to pay and who you want to pay first. But the law says you don’t have to pay at all. You need to make sure that you can look after yourself first.

There are many good books out there that can help you put things back into perspective. The saying, "What doesn’t kill me will make me strong,"  is true to a degree.

ABILITY TO SET GOALS AND FOLLOW A PLAN TO ACHIEVE THEM

So many people don’t think about specific goals - they just think about wants or wishes. “I want to make more money.”  “I wish I could lose weight.” These are all widespread desires. Unfortunately, these thoughts alone will not lead to successful results.

By defining goals tightly tied to your values and personal dreams, you make a powerful start to happiness and success.  But knowing what you want is just the first of two critical steps in getting what you want.  The key is to have a plan that keeps you focused on your goals instead of simply setting and forgetting them.

Make sure you set high personal goals.  Then, back them up with a proven and structured process.
Links: 

Julie McGregor Supports Charities - Love of Books

Julie McGregor Supports Charities 

Love of Books 

Published on Feb 6, 2013

"Us Karen" was written by Richard Dove and illustrated by the talented Karen artist, Tha Do, to tell the amazing story of the Karen people's journey, as refugees, from Burma to Australia.

The book was published as a Wyndham Community and Education Centre project and was funded by the Wyndham City Council. "Us Karen" was launched at Wyndham City Council on the 22nd of February, 2012 before an audience of over 300 people.

The Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, kindly supported this book launch by recording this speech from her office, in Canberra. The book has already sold 1,000 copies.

Julie McGregor also supported this book enormously by providing her own valuable time with the layout of the book along with the creation of the cover design setup ready for printing.

Julie McGregor often supports charities with her gift of valuable time and knowledge.

At the time of this compilation, Julie McGregor had spent over 8 years in the industry. Julie worked very hard to develop her business named Love of Books.

Time is a gift, Julie says. Julie had no trouble giving the gift of time to many authors in many forms.

Julie McGregor strived to achieve her goals publishing thousands of authors successfully with full support worldwide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8dD72Ig6w8

Julie McGregor Love of Books early days 

Effects of Bullying and Cyberbullying

The effects of bullying and cyberbullying

People are people. Sometimes, bad things happen to us in our lives through no fault of our own.

Do we help and support people going through these challenging times?

Or do we mock, cyberbully, harass, and stalk them, forcing their state of mind into a deep depression and damaging misery, or even push them so far as to end their life?

What type of person are you? 

No matter how hard we try, sometimes some people don't care and have no respect for others, or there may be obstacles.

Let's use Julie as an example: 

For long days, Julie and her husband, John, worked tirelessly to build a self-publishing business model like no other. They had five years in business with not one genuine complaint. Julie cared deeply for her clients and still does. Julie claimed she was not paying anyone to consult with her clients, so her time given filled the need to care in her heart. That is who she really is and has been all her life. 

I have known Julie for 40 years. Julie had given her home, time, and funds to many homeless and young people, who she claimed 'simply fell off the track in life'. Some of these people were very appreciative and went on to lead good lives, and some took advantage of her soft nature. 

Yes, Julie has faults. Who doesn't? Julie is easily intimidated and bullied, quite naive, and very trusting. These faults portrayed a disastrous chain of events that devastated her at the most vulnerable time.

Her business was growing rapidly. A man from New Zealand phoned her and begged her for work. He came to Australia, and Julie eventually gave him a job. However, several of Julie's dear friends did not trust the man and warned Julie. However, Julie is quite naive and very trusting, and she employs him regardless. There is a lesson to be learned here.

A year later. Julie's husband was diagnosed with a deadly illness, and her mother was also in the hospital with cancer. Her father was not very well either. While visiting the hospitals for her family, her employee started to remove her clients and work materials, databases, etc., positioning them elsewhere. Julie found out by accident and immediately fired this employee. It was a shocking surprise to see a new business name and new ABN online, in full operation days after the sacking.

Julie enrolled a litigation lawyer and filed a lawsuit against the perpetrators in the Beenleigh courthouse. One of her loyal authors witnessed the unethical behaviour and helped her with the initial deposit. 

The master plan was clear. There was no way these grown men would let her afford the fees to move her litigation filing forward. Then came deliberate pre-meditated bullying and harassment towards her and her business. She was slandered by her clients, unethical standards in business formed, and most of her clients were poached over to their new place of employment. One of her clients was told by the sacked employee to go sit on her office doorstep and wait for his books, as he would never get them. But the ones who saw through this unethical, illegal practice stayed with her and supported her. 

Julie was never compensated for the theft of her livelihood.

Julie worked day and night to stay afloat and ensure that whatever clients she had left with her were cared for. All while being harassed, bullied, and slandered at the same time, with illegal torting (removing contracts from another business)  in place, all while attempting to be there for her dying family. 

Now, this is a woman with a dying family, and these are supposed to be three grown men initially, going in full force at one single grieving woman. The damage control was enormous and took up much of her precious time. She was robbed of the time she dearly wanted to spend with her dying husband. This hurt her and would hurt anyone. There were late nights when she sat in her office at the computer, working ferociously fast to work with the damage control, where she was fighting back the tears so she could see her keyboard. Some of her loyal clients believe they did this so she could not afford the litigation she filed at the Beenleigh Courthouse. It was a robbery in the lowest unethical and cruellest form.

The woman was blackmailed, haunted, stalked, bullied, and defamed horrifically right up to today's date. Especially with this writing and comments on this Writer Beware site. Even the police and newspapers took advantage of him.

New clients she had in place were poached over to the sacked employees' place of work; some stayed, and some simply demanded refunds.

Julie eventually was forced into taking up bankruptcy and taken quite ill from all the pre-mediated unethical harassment. These supposed three grown men played a big part in this, as well as any other site riddled with harassment, lies, and tort. 

Cyberbullying causes such stress and illness to ordinary people. Soft-hearted people are easy targets. Suicide through cyberbullying is on the increase. 

Newspapers and news will not change the way they write stories. People are attracted to drama and other people's misery—the adrenaline rush! 

And they all claim they care so much about authors. Do they? 

If they cared so much about authors, they should have left her alone so she could work and care for her family and authors.

The length of time with the harassment took a toll on her health and state of mind. Not to mention reducing the care and time spent with her new and loyal authors.

She resigned from her domain name and threw in the towel in 2016, giving all her hard work to an ethical, professional businessman. He thought he would hide her from the prying eyes of the bullies and give her some peace to grieve for her dying family. She worked part-time as an employee under the care of a psychologist supplemented by Centrelink and commenced instalments to genuine authors who were out of pocket through bankruptcy.

But with pre-meditated unethical tactics, bullying, etc., the torting was too much for this honest gentleman to endure. After enduring sixteen months of harassment in many forms to remove him from the business world for the sake of competition and the green $$$, he finally resigned from the Love of Books ABN around 2018. 

This decision came after a long communication was done consoling one of his clients, where this client, A.G., was working on a large contract for several books. He was told he had visited a man named D.M.'s blog post. He rang this man D.M., and D.M. defamed and frightened his client and ordered him to pull his contract in place from the new owner- Love of Books Australia-wide business. Ian managed to console his client and keep the contract in place. But the communication was immensely torturing for him. Free design services were provided to comfort and compensate the client at $2,000 for the damaging, frightening communication he had endured with D.M. This job caused a loss - NILL profit for sale. 

He could see a pattern emerging, similar to what Julie endured, where clients engaged in communication with D.M. became frightened and pulled out of her business. One such example is a school with a contract for books with Julie. D.M. caused the contract to be pulled from her. Their funds were already overseas. It took months to get the funds returned to her business. But she paid this school back their funds as soon as they were returned.

Yes, Julie had a few clients who lost their funds through this tort and bankruptcy. Due to the bankruptcy conditions and terms, no one needs to pay their creditors. However, Julie is dedicated and committed, paying them through instalments. 

The harassment ruthlessly laid upon her, and her business was so out of control that the business was back peddling to pay even its own bills. She desperately needed to work and to care. People who see unethical harassment online will turn away. 

Unfortunately, I was not on the scene then. She was approached by a supposed Church, claiming God had called her. These people manipulated her through constant prayers of hope, consoling her and learning every single little thing about her profile you can imagine. Julie did feel better again being with these people. This kept her alive, as she felt a new life purpose: Serving God during her mourning. 

She was approached by these people claiming to be from the church. But it was some sort of religious mind-altering cult. I believe they saw her mourning posts on her Facebook, which is how they found her.

The newspaper wrote its own story on this, which is far from the truth. That is what newspapers do on an ongoing basis: to create public interest, just like this site does. People are simply drawn to gossip and exaggeration. The news would not sell if it were peaceful and boring, would it? 

But the facts are, and will never change and always be, the facts and truth. Julie is a caring soul, loved by many. The only thieves are the ones who robbed her of her livelihood, her time with her dying hubby and family, her business databases and equipment, her dignity and health.  

QCAT-WARNING:  If you are suffering emotionally, get someone to assist you in preparing any QCAT forms you are faced with. Evidence is vital for your case. Don't attempt to face a QCAT or any court believing the truth will win your case. The legal system doesn't work like that. It all relies on solid evidence. 

Julie failed with her naive belief that honesty would prevail. She failed to put forward evidence to assist her in overturning a court order. Clever people will win and rob you if you are not absolutely tuned in to evidence, crossing the 't's' and dotting the 'i's' with these court processes, forms, and evidence. 

Her most significant failure was the belief that by phoning the court on her initial date to say she was violently ill and could not go to court that day, she would be given another date for attendance. The operator on the phone simply said, 'OK, thank you for letting us know. ' If the operator had said, 'If you don't come today, then the judge will rule in the applicant's favour.' Julie would have gone to the court with a bucket and towels.   

Bullies, scammers, and thieves do rule the world. It is the world we live in. 

Love of Books was indeed a Love of Books.

Authors residing in remote locations were supported to open their homes for authors to reside during their publishing process. There was lots of love, laughter, and enjoyment in between. The family also visited disabled and elderly authors in their own homes. They assisted these beautiful elderly people, even with computer processes, to give them more control and self-confidence along their journey. The services provided were affordable, and the authors were well-advised and kindly treated.

STAYING ON TRACK in Business - Julie McGregor

STAYING ON TRACK in Business

To be edited...

"Some people have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to when all they need is one reason why they can."

Mary Frances Berry

The first and foremost rule in business is 'Put your emotions aside'.

Beware of the devil in disguise.  Many of these are in the big Ocean.

What is Trust and how does trust work in a business? Trust can turn out a Mangled Reeve!

Trust plays a vital role in any business, self-publishing, or other life in general.

When engaging staff in your self-publishing business, or any business for that matter, you must set your emotions aside altogether, or you may get burnt.  Once you get burnt, the ride back up the ladder will require a lot of hard work and determination.   You will need to invest loads of time and effort.  You will lose not only your creditability.  Your spirits will fall low and much more for sure.

It is not easy to find a true individual who is a good worker, loyal, and highly ethical.

Getting burnt is not a mere drop in the Ocean for anyone.  In any industry, corruption in the self-publishing industry is all about money and people don't matter.  Money talks... Oh Yeah!   In-house, publishing industries, outside anywhere.  Corruption exists.

You need to be totally aware of dogs and wolves in sheep's clothing.  Characteristics of a Bully.  Bullying: Who Let The Dogs Out?

ITS YOUR BUSINESS- GET A GRIP ON IT

Hint 1: Complete a full and detailed employment contract.  Cross the 't's' and dot the 'is'.  Make your presence and instructions very clear.  Leave nothing to chance.

Hint 2: Don’t even go to your emotional side when selecting or dealing with staff.  Especially if someone says, "Trust me"  Why?  Because money talks and comes first to some, especially in business.  

Hint 3: Ask for references.  AND CHECK THEM OUT THOROUGHLY.  Love of Books was never provided with any references.   

Julie McGregor employed the shifty salesman on trust. So it is her fault she exclaims that she never asked for any.

It's too late to discover the skeletons of the past with your wolf after the event.  It's fruitless and heartbreaking, and it will make you feel like a complete fool for not taking this first step.

Your years of hard work developing your business plans, marketing efforts, forms, databases, etc., are your gold, your daily bread, your livelihood, so to speak.

You may put your faith in God if you are a believer.   

Why do we have instincts?

As humans, we have instincts.  Address your instincts.  If you feel something is wrong, then it most likely is bad.  Learning to trust our instincts is one thing in itself.  Our emotions, again, do get in the way of our instincts.  Emotions rule, similar to how the Ocean rules.

I would easily recommend that if you suffer a major upheaval, emotional stress, or turmoil while in business, you close the doors to any new clients until you are feeling better and able to cope.

You can still work with your loyal and faithful clients, perhaps. Some of my clients were super, and all of my friends supported me throughout the whole ordeal. They may help you endlessly and be patient and caring as mine did. They may stand by you regardless and have faith in you. They are faithful clients with good hearts, and not many of those fish in the Ocean will stick by you.

If you take on new clients when things don't seem right and you don't close your doors, things can get very messy.  Your cash flow may dive as you attempt to process refunds galore.  If you are incredibly unlucky, you may receive harassment from the ones you may have fired or dismissed.

The fight backup will be long and hard.  People may abuse you if you owe money. Especially the ones who don't know you.  It is their right to get back their own hard-earned investment.  It is not their fault but your very own.  You are the only one to blame here.

Put on your business head and your hard hat at all times.  It is against the odds to form a caring and trusting relationship in business successfully.  Your staff have to like you to get paid.  Most of the time, this is all it is and nothing else.  Have faith!

Efforts plus determination and motivation

While we know that support is essential for success, two other ingredients are equally, if not more, critical: belief and determination.

Self-publishing can be a truly rewarding and magical experience.  But, like anything in life, you need to put the effort in right from the start.  If you start a business for yourself, watch out for the dogs.  Corruption happens.  In-House or Out-house.

The famous racing car driver Mario Andretti summed this up well when he said,

‘Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence, that will enable you to attain the success you seek.’

I have found that whilst motivation ignites the flame of change within us, it is only the inspiration that comes from totally believing in what we are doing and putting our full dedication and commitment to excellence in whatever we do, that enables us to reap the rewards of success that our hearts desire.

Many other people share dreams similar to yours.  Who do you admire the most out of the successful people you know? And who demonstrates success in the way you believe it to be.

What unique qualities do they have that separate them from the ‘rest’?

Was it just ‘luck’ that got them to the success position you now see, OR was it a combination of many little successes they experienced along the way – the results of their determination to find a way through the many obstacles they probably faced combined with their continual focus (commitment) and belief (dedication) in the attainability of their goal that laid the solid foundations for the success they now enjoy? Or through corruption within their industry.

We can name a few individuals who gained their ‘success’ (or financial windfall) through luck—maybe an inheritance, winning the lotto, or some other equally fortuitous way.

But if you wait a while and then look back at the people who gain sudden wealth, you will often see that the majority lose that wealth within a very short time frame simply because their hearts/minds are stuck in the habits of poverty (spend first & save last, believing there is not enough, spending to impress others) rather than the habits of abundance, and as such, they have no understanding of how to manage a newfound wealth.

An important factor in staying on track may be learning from the successful.

You could call people around you whom you would like to emulate.  Ask them if they would like to share their secrets of success or offer to work for them for free so that you can learn all you can about how they created and now manage their success.

Make a point of learning about wealth and how to develop an investment rather than a spending mentality.  Keep a notebook and label the information in sections.  Seek advice from qualified and respected advisers, find someone who has experience at being successful and engage them as a mentor.  Your self-published book can be a success.

Going outside the family circle for Mentoring help and/or advice is better.

Whilst I know my family would like to help (and I am sure yours would be the same), we often create frustration because they either don’t know how or don’t have the knowledge or expertise to provide the answers or help we require.

If you look behind every successful person, whether in sports, self-publishing business or any other field, you may find that they either have or have had some very powerful Mentors and coaches to help them along the way.  For this reason, we both use and recommend that you find an appropriately honest and successful Mentor to help you on your journey.

It has been an incredible blessing along the way—both in helping me stay focused on what really matters in creating my own small self-publishing business and as a resource for discussing many ideas and concepts.

The money I invested in this support type is nothing compared to the value I received.  Self-publishing costs are an outlay, to begin with.   But you can gain a good return on your investment and profit, which will make it all worthwhile.  Just stay on track.

So, what should you look for in a mentor or coach?

Firstly, make sure that the person you choose is successful in what they do and that they have a sound understanding of the industry you will work in and/or the business type that you intend to create.

Secondly, agree with them that only total honesty in their appraisals and advice about what they see is going on is allowed.  In making this agreement, it is equally important that you are prepared to listen to what they tell you – especially when you don’t like hearing what they have to say.  After all, you will never get good support or advice about improving if you’re only willing to listen to what you would like to hear rather than what you have to hear to help you grow.

Thirdly, make sure you have a deep level of trust and respect in the Mentor you choose and that you feel comfortable with their style. Working with a Mentor or Coach is best when communication is at its absolute ease and you both have a mutual commitment to your growth.

Balance

The vitally important point of balance is the next point to consider in the ongoing development of your life/business.

Take time out to exercise, eat healthy food, and spirituality) required to sustain both yourself and the relationships around you.  If you let this area of maintaining balance go, I can assure you from personal experience that the business you are working so hard on will suffer, as will your family and/or your health.

Lastly, prioritize time for working on and in your business.  Treat this time with the same level of commitment and reverence that you give to your most important client.

I have found both in my own business and in the businesses of clients that unless regular time is given to working on the business—planning, reviewing, researching, analyzing, and adapting to changing circumstances—we all get bogged down in the work and are left wondering why our businesses are failing.

In short, we believe that you owe it to yourself, those who support and love you, those who may come to rely on you for their livelihoods, and the many clients you will come to serve to ensure that you do everything in your power to be the best you can be.

Have both the confidence and trust that your journey will be a spectacular success – if you allow it to be so.

Planning

A planner is a good habit to get into.  You can write down areas needing assistance and allocate time to tend to them during the week.  If you adapt your workflow properly, you can use your time well.

I set up a simple workflow sheet from Excel. The spreadsheet has columns.  At the start of every week, I write in the items that must be attended to and the time for each item.  Your main items should be analysing, reviewing, researching and planning.  The success of your business will depend on many factors.  Enterprises use these steps to succeed.  I have spoken to several successful people who confirm this.  I also know that people need to be listened to.

Customer service

The customer service should be spot on. In most instances, your customer service approach, like the chair-side manner of a dentist, will win your sale rather than your price.

I go to a dentist who adopts a caring and positive approach, is sensitive to my feelings, and takes the time with me to ensure my utmost comfort rather than the one who offers the cheapest rates and the straight and mutual treatment.

The message here is to take the time to care for your clients.  If someone gets good service from a business, they are also more likely to recommend you to their friends.

You should always be respectful. My father always said, 'If you have no respect, you have nothing'.

Hold your head up high - regardless!

Do the research

Through endless hours on the internet and investing time in reference books, not only for self-publishing and book marketing but also for other areas of my life, I am able to make a difference in my life and, hopefully, yours. You don't have to believe everything you read, as some information may not fit right or be correct. Collecting information and trying different ideas all help.

Definition of Self-publishing Success

My success in the self-publishing business came from my determination to succeed.  Of course, there was a lot of hard work in the beginning.   There is much to learn about self-publishing to succeed in this business.

Final summary

Do the research.

Keep a business head in place.

Follow the steps correctly with any instructions.

Watch the budget.

Write down notes.  Keep notebooks, one for self-publishing, one for book marketing, one for design, one for print production, and one for every aspect of your business.

Who let the dogs out?

Introduction

You can go a long way in business by building up your clientele and forming good relationships for a long period. For me, it was eight years. Eight years of trust built up with eight years of people like us. It was a heaven that I loved. I was debt-free. I came from a caring background. Caring for the clients in my work gave me much satisfaction.

I thought I was smart, after all, I had a beautiful family and a thriving business over such a long period.  My heart was always in the right place.  I worked hard to earn what I got and the respect that came with it.

Six months prior to my mother’s death there were things happening in the business that was not right.  Following your gut instinct is one thing I neglected.

On January 7^th, 2013, my mother passed after a long-term illness of over 10 years.  Before she passed, I visited her as much as I possibly could.  At the same time, my father was in the hospital, and my husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

My emotions were low, but I thought I could keep going. Wrong!

I lost my bearings, so to speak.  I trusted where I should not have and took my eye off the ball.  I lost much of my hard-earned respect and work.

One day, the bottom fell out.  Right out of my nest.  The nest that I had nurtured for so very long.  The nest that my husband worked night shifts in the initial stages to support me with our goals and dreams.  When I say bottom, I mean bottom.  It was like a reem of cards falling over fast and furious.  One might call it a massive kick in the ass.  And then I would suffer immensely as to why? It took me a whole year of therapy to finally let go of, 'the whys'?

But even to date, the hurt, pain and agony of the torturous, pre-meditated, angry harassment and violation of my rights still continue to haunt me.

Yes, it wasn’t just the losses of family and much of my business livelihood I endured.  A woman in business is easy prey.  And to be easy prey to not only one man but three. Three men against one woman with a dying husband.  Don’t seem fair, does it? But that is how it was for me.

I eventually lost my dear husband in July 2015.  He was a man who loved people and his family and loved me so very much.  I guess I thought that all men were good and protective of women. Well, the ones in my life I thought all were. Wrong!

I knew I would never let any of them bring me down.  My friends and family would say I am a competition and should remain.

I fought so hard that my tears were rolling down my face days when my dying husband asked me if I was ready yet.  Ready for a little outing I planned for him, whether it was the beach, dinner or the movies, as we could not afford much.  I was always trying to work to pay for the horrendous damage and keep our livelihood.  Couldn’t plan much, although these times were crucial for him.  I was mostly late getting off my computer. I worked over 12 hours daily to catch up.

I tossed over ideas of giving up and giving in, as I knew the torture and harassment may stop only if I threw in the towel.  I also felt the bills would stop if I gave up.  But the debts kept me going as I was determined to pay them all, every single one.

For the love of my family and friends, I stayed strong.

I developed an eBook from the learning experience to assist others in beating the dogs in the business.

Rules of the game:

Whether you are a woman or a man, the same applies.

1. EMOTION: Keep as much emotion out of business as you can. Sure, you might make friends—I have made many—but there are snakes out there, and you will get bitten.
2. GUT INSTINCT: Why do we have it? It's usually right, so use it.
3. FRIENDS: If you are a bit naïve and a bit too kind, listen to your friends who aren’t so naïve. If several warn you of a rotten egg, they are probably right. I did not listen to mine.
4. TRUST: If someone begs you to trust them. It may be just a show to penetrate your gut instinct. Why would they beg? Have you indicated a sense of mistrust to them and they need to get your assurance?
5. SHUT UP SHOP: If you are experiencing a lot of turmoil in your life, it may be wise to shut up shop until the coast is clear again. Or should I say head?
6.  COURT ORDER: A woman should seek court orders very early at any sign of harassment. Don’t try to be nice; ask politely by phone or email to be left alone. You won’t get a reply, trust me. If someone is out to get you, they will hold down to the last grind. Get the police involved.
7.  PEOPLE AND MONEY: People will be angry if you owe them money. They don’t give a rat's ass if you don’t have any. They will go at you like a bull at a gate.  If you are really unlucky, some will torture the living daylights out of you in any way possible. But you will get some that are very patient and easy to work with.  Look after the loyal patient ones first to show your appreciation.
8.  Go solo for a while until you get back on your feet again. You did it in the beginning so you can for sure do it again. You are a lot wiser and have more experience now. So, it will be easier to get the ball rolling again.
9.  GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE: Don’t be too proud to ask for government assistance. You need it, you are entitled to it, so go for it. They will tell you what to do and work out your entitlements correctly.
10. HEALTH: With all this going on, your health may suffer. Get help and treat your health as a priority. Taking care of your health and eating right is giving your body the right fuel and keeping up maintenance to give your mind, body, and soul the strength it needs.
11. JUSTIFICATION: Don‘t try to justify yourself or your actions to anyone. There is no poverty like ignorance. And believe me, some people are pretty stupid and very ignorant. Some people can be easily manipulated and brainwashed.  Some of the most intelligent people in the world have been in cults, allowing them to be brainwashed and manipulated to be, act and do some very horrible things.  When they finally reach a point of saying 'no' or getting their wake-up call, they come out of a very dark hole to a very rude awakening.
12. REACH FOR THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN: With all the negativity and drama happening, you may need a bit of a pick-me-up. Surround yourself with positive people. Read success stories and books about successful people to create a positive dome of protection around you. Do what you do best, keep learning, and hold your head up high. You’re never too old to learn and grow in your personal life or business.

BANKRUPTCY: Gives you a chance to start over again. It seems like you're getting out of your commitments. But honestly, if you cannot pay, that’s it. Don’t put off the inevitable. You need to eat and pay your rent. Your health may suffer if you burn yourself out trying to maintain what debt you have.

LOYALTY: Many people still pay their debts once on their feet. Choose carefully if you want to pay a debt to anyone and who you want to pay first. I slowly scrolled through like this. It felt good, as if it were my heart. But the law says you don’t have to pay at all. You need to make sure that you can look after yourself first.

There are many good books out there that can help you get things back into perspective.

When they say, 'What doesn’t kill me will make me strong,'  it's true to a degree.

ABILITY TO SET GOALS AND FOLLOW A PLAN TO ACHIEVE THEM

So many people don’t think about specific goals - they just think about wants or wishes. “I want to make more money.”  “I wish I could lose weight.” These are all widespread desires. Unfortunately, these thoughts alone will not lead to successful results.

By defining goals tightly tied to your values and personal dreams, you make a powerful start on the path to happiness and success.  But knowing what you want is just the first of two critical steps in getting what you want.  The key is to have a plan that keeps you focused on your goals instead of simply setting and forgetting them.

Make sure you set high personal goals.  Then, back them up with a proven and structured process.

Julie McGregor Sun Herald The True Story

Julie McGregor Sun Herald -The True Story

It was never about money for Julie McGregor. It all went upside down and pear-shaped after Ocean took her business from underneath her and her husband. I can't imagine that Ocean would have cared about the authors he also hurt in the process. 

THE TRUTH: Pleading guilty was what the police forced her into. When two policewomen arrived on Julie's doorstep, they said they had something Julie could help them with. Julie felt proud to help the police with anything she could. Julie went voluntarily and happily to a police station to assist police with inquiries. She was trying effortlessly to assist the police with their twining and twisting questions, but she was totally awestruck, dumbfounded and confused. Her blood sugar was way below par as she had not yet eaten. She told them that she was a diabetic, feeling dizzy and had not eaten yet, but they did not seem to care. Two policewomen stood over her, bombarding her with twisted guidance. Mentally, she became more confused and nearly passed out. It was too easy to simply charge a grieving emotional victim with fraud. 

The bottom line here is: Do not act so naive and gullible as this woman did repeatedly. Do not trust from your heart; use your head. Never try to assist police with inquiries unless you have a solicitor present. The police did not care to follow up or look for the actual con men because they knew that these con men operated overseas.  The police were only concerned with charging someone in Australia. 

Never click links you do not recognise in your emails like she did initially. Why? It gives fraudsters access to your personal data, banking logins and passwords on your computer.

Now: Once the fraudsters collected the funds from the restaurants, where they made Love of Books invoices for flowers, limos, etc., they did not stop there. More invoices were discovered under her business name and sent to further businesses. The police did not stop there either. They believed Julie would be naive enough to go to them again when they politely asked her to. LOL... 

Julie must not have watched many TV police shows. 

The truth is: She was used in her grieving and emotional state by con men who prey on widows online through Facebook to assist in moving funds for them. She posted details of her husband's passing on Facebook. This is how we think they found her. They sent prayer links to support her in her time of grief.  These links gave them access to her banking information, passwords, etc. The con men used an old bank account of hers to transfer funds into and withdraw funds from. Julie did not know the businesses they used to take the money from. Only the con men knew the identities of the claimed businesses involved and the details of the credit cards they stole and utilised. However, as it was one of her bank accounts they used, she felt sad for them as they lost their funds. Yes, she cried for these people. In the courtroom, she offered and repaid the funds to the businesses. Now, she was in grief and under much stress. Her decision to do this was based on her emotional state. She admitted months later that it seemed the right thing to do at the time but a stupid one considering 1. She did not take their money, and 2. She was not well off enough to gift them. But she hopes they appreciate her gift for their losses.

Now, the police did not care that another bank account she held had funds taken by con men—funds to the tune of $27,650. When she walked into a police station to report it, the officer said, 'It's not our problem; there's nothing we can do; it is a civil matter.' WOW.

THE SUN HERALD HAS A LOT TO ANSWER TO -
NEWSPAPERS ARE FULL OF GOSSIP AND LIES TO ATTRACT INTEREST AND SIMPLY HURT PEOPLE WITH NO REMORSE SHOWN.

WHAT WOULD JULIE MCGREGOR DO WITH LIMOS AND THOUSANDS OF FLOWERS? LOL...

How it all began: Julie filed a document for litigation against Ocean Reeve and his new Ali. However, they cleverly bullied her in person, through the phone, through her clients, through the newspapers and online so that she could not afford to go through the court filing. Doing this also meant that they would prosper from more of her clients. Such greed! Would be or new clients would pull away from Julie's business based on their research of these negative posts online? Yes, they prospered $$$$ from her many years of hard work. Clever!!!!

Julie contacted the Sun Herald Newspaper several times to tell the truth, with written evidence she presented that much of their writing was untrue, but they did not retract their article or even attempt to visit her for the truth.

Ocean and his Ali's contacted several newspapers and Current Affairs before the Sun Herald agreed to publish their words. Julie was interviewed by several other newspapers and Current Affairs who Ocean and his Ali's sent to her.  They refused to publish anything about her after viewing much-documented evidence of the bullying and poaching. Ocean and his Ali's were refused publications of her by them. Why? Current Affairs and the other Newspapers took the time to actually interview her, see the evidence, review the court filing and the truth and felt sorry for her, unlike the Sun Herald, which did not do any of this. 

The Sun Herald did not take the time to sit with Julie, hear the truth and visit the real evidence. 

Interestingly, one of these newspapers and current affairs wanted to write a story about Ocean and his Ali. Why? They were interested in the actual truth, NOT like the Sun Herald.  Julie declined at the time as she was scared of these 3 male bullies and what else they may do to her. She was still in grief with her family dying too. She was already threatened by one of them, stating that he would visit her home at night if her true story made the TV or newspaper. Her friend reported this to the Police. 

See this letter WRITTEN IN AFFIDAVIT FORM from one of Julie's poached authors below: Names edited pending court appearances.

My name as you can see below, is ................. and I am the author of ................... I am also the first person to part-company with Love of Books, when .O.R........ was fired to establish INH..... Publishing, a division of ....... Printing. Back then; I asked Julie for all my electronic files, which she provided; as a result, I have absolutely no issue with Julie McGregor.

I have however, kept up to date with various issues she was experiencing with Fair Trading, Current Affairs, QTAC, News Limited, and ...... to name a few. I advised Julie, that she needs to let your authors know she is not completely at fault, and she is willing to support them, and make efforts to do so.

More importantly, I do not accept what O.R...... is trying to do to her, how he is using authors to do his dirty work, or how he is treating some of the authors once loyal to him when they are no longer generating an income for him. He is, and I can prove it, not only using authors to achieve his personal vendetta against her but also truly giving the self-publishing business a bad name.

I am happy to support Julie in any attempts to get justice, but please remember, O.R...... is very cunning and will use whatever he can to achieve his own [and none else] objectives.

Please accept my issue with O.R......, his unprofessionalism and what it has cost others and me. Just so there is no misunderstanding, I am willing to consider supporting any action against .......personally and/or professionally. ...... Printing and many of the authors, as I once was, are only guilty of stupidity, the stupidity of believing O.R......, as I once did.

We can discuss what I know of how O.R....... orchestrated and is continuing to fuel everything currently happening between you and the authors. How do I know this? Simple; I was one of his closest allies, strategist, and confidant for many months.

Julie, this is a legitimate offer and I await your reply. A written or verbal testimony from me in a courtroom, or to any newspaper, or investigative style TV program, would turn the cards around in your favour very quickly. I have kept contemporaneous notes of every discussion between O.R....... and I.

We can also discuss how O.R...... poached authors in preparation much before parting company with Love of Books [I was one of those approached before he was fired] and continued to do so after. Perhaps we could also discuss how he asked each and every author [after the event] to provide him with a statement clearly saying he did not attempt to take them away from Love of Books. I believe his actions are a breach of his duties applicable to a current and/or ex-employee, defamatory, unethical, vindictive, and, without a doubt, unprofessional.

Written by Jenny P. - Advocate for Registered National Bullying Awareness Australia-wide. MBA