Just because there are some challenges in the market, doesn’t mean people aren’t selling or buying homes in metro Atlanta. Real estate deals in metro Atlanta are still being made every single day. Veda Wood, one of our resident experts and business celebrities, shares some inside information about her real estate success during this time which is still ripe with opportunities!

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I’ve discovered that many people are still confused about the difference between advertising, marketing and publicity. When it comes to positioning yourself as a business celebrity, knowing the difference between these three terms will be essential to your success.

Simply put, advertising uses various forms of media, i.e., print ads, radio, billboards, TV commercials, etc., to let people know who you are. In other words, advertising is about making you, your product, or service known to the public.

Publicity, on the other hand, is an act or device designed to attract public interest or public attention. It takes advertising a step further by bringing you, your products and services to life, via write-ups in newspapers/magazines, promotional giveaways, sponsorships, radio interviews, an article where someone else endorses you or your product, a spot on the six-o’clock news or CNN etc., which increases your name recognition, educates the public, and thereby helps to promote your brand. And marketing…it’s a combination of the two aforementioned functions in order to move your goods and services from producer to consumer.

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Need to send a gift that’s perfect for all occasions? Why not send some delicious, fresh-baked, gourmet cookies from Atlanta’s Premier Cookie Company, The Dough Bar.

Using some of their favorite recipes, they’ve loaded them up with yummy add-ins such as, toffee and apples and CRaisins, creating a gourmet cookie with the cookie lover in mind. In their Cookie Bar, you can mix and match to create your signature cookie pack or you can select just one from the bar and they will package it beautifully and send it right out to your loved one.

Whether you choose from the oatmeal variety which includes, oatmeal apple, cranberry walnut oatmeal, and oatmeal raisin, or “The Signature” - Toffee Chocolate Chip, chewy coconut chip, mocha latte, or chocolate white chocolate macademia, which starts out with their basic chocolate chip cookie dough, then they layer in white chocolate chips and semi sweet chocolate chips and top it off with large chunks of fresh whole macadamia nuts, chopped by hand – your loved one won’t be disappointed. In the end, you may just order some for yourself.

Cookies are shipped within 24 hours of placing your order.

Everyone knows that entertainment and business celebrities generate a lot of revenue. I believe all business owners who adopt the “celebrity model” can boost their businesses to the next financial level.

Jim Rohn, a titan in the speaking business once said, “No matter what goals you set in life, there will always be some simple things you must identify - and do - along the way.” For instance, if you want to lose weight, you’ll have to cut back on saturated fats and sugar - drink lots of water – exercise - and add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Do these things and, like magic, the pounds will begin to melt away. If you want to be a better spouse, you’ll need to spend more quality time with your mate and family - help out around the house - and be more respectful of your spouse’s time. If you accomplish each of these interim goals, you’ll reach the larger one, too.

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If you’re a tennis lover, you will absolutely love attending the Family Circle Cup in Charleston. It’s the Family Circle Cup’s 35th Anniversary, believe it or not.

For the past five or six years, my husband and I have made our voyage to Daniel Island to be spectators of this wonderful and exciting event. He’s been an avid tennis player since he was twelve years old, so this trip has become one of our traditions to celebrate his birthday.

Not only will you have an opportunity to see top players like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic, Anna Chakvetadze and many others, you’ll meet some wonderful people from all over the country. I even saw Alexandra Stevenson play this time around. The setting is very intimate so you’ll have a chance to get autographs, photographs, and even watch the tennis greats practice.

In addition to seeing all of the celebrities there, you’ve got to indulge in the food! You’ll find comfort food all over the place. My favorite this year was the freshly popped kettle corn. After all of these years, it was my first time having it and I was immediately addicted.

The whole atmosphere is warm and inviting and I would encourage tennis fans to definitely check it out next year. Unfortunately, we could only stay a couple of days this time…duty called. By the way, Serena defeated Sharapova today.

Update: Serena won the title!

A native of Danbury, Connecticut, Melody Y. Cherry has provided professional legal services for the Metro-Atlanta community for over 16 years. Attorney Cherry received her undergraduate degree in 1988 from North Carolina State University and law degree from Loyola University in 1992.

Upon receiving her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University, Attorney Cherry worked for a well-known law firm that specialized in major personal injury and medical malpractice claims. For six years, she honed her skills as an exceptional negotiator and trial lawyer. Her professional focus is to serve clients who have been victimized by the carelessness of others.

In addition to maintaining a successful law practice, Attorney Cherry is also a real estate developer. Her greatest achievement, however, is her six-year-old daughter, Jaida Elise. Attorney Cherry’s office can be reached at 404.622.6611.

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It’s never too late to live the life you want! Though sometimes you must slightly alter your plan, there’s still a way to achieve your goals. Ms. Tiffanie Davis, Intimate Details, LLC, reminds us that we can break free from fear. Today is YOUR day.  Let it be a brand new beginning to the life you know you can live as you walk in the sunshine of success!

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A first generation high school and college graduate, Dr. John believes in the power of education. She received her B.S. degree from Alabama State University, her M.S. degree from Nova Southeastern University and completed her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Argosy University in Atlanta.

Dr. John credits her elementary gifted resource teacher, Ms. Beverly Rickerts, with shaping her commitment to educational advocacy. She ran into her former teacher at a local restaurant a couple of weeks after her college graduation. After sharing the exciting news of obtaining a college degree, Dr. John’s life was forever changed when her teacher responded with, “I am so proud of you. I can remember when my colleagues did not believe that a little Haitian girl could be labeled as gifted. I knew you had the potential to accomplish great things.” Those words became the foundation to Dr. John’s lifelong commitment to providing a voice for students who are voiceless to ensure that they reach their destiny.

When off the clock, Dr. John enjoys volunteering with community organizations, writing, surfing the Internet, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. She is a member of numerous local and national educational and civic organizations.

Dr. Wislene John graces the cover of the 2008 Platinum Edition of People You Need to Know. Her office can be reached at 678-206-2673.

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Don’t know how much insurance you need to purchase? The worst thing that can happen is you find out you have “too little” insurance too late. Expert insurance agent, Ms. Sharon Mathis will explain the ins and outs of insurance and how to make sure you have what you need. We hope you stay safe on the road, but please don’t wait until you have an accident to find out you are underinsured.

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It’s never too late to get the smile you’ve always wanted. Dr. Karen Mills, President of Advantage Dental has been serving metro Atlanta since 1992. She is certified as Cobb County’s Lumineers Dentist. Learn about Lumineers and find out how easy it is to get a Hollywood smile.

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Cheryl Cousins is an Interior Decorator, Certified Staging Professional and Nationally Certified Trainer for the Society of Decorating Professionals and the One Day Decorating Association. She is the owner of Interior Transformations, a full service decorating company which specializes in Interior Redesign and Real Estate Staging. Listen as she shares how easy and affordable it is to transform your home into a signature living space which reflects who you are! She has 15 years experience in this industry and believes passionately that everyone deserves to live beautifully.

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Learn from the People You Need to Know Experts and become healthier, wealthier and wiser!

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Lisa Nicole Cloud shares her journey with us. Growing up with her mother, she learned what it takes to stay in the race and what to do when the market changes, seemingly overnight. Lisa is the CEO of Elite Marketing Strategies. Her drive, tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit will definitely inspire you to make yourself your best investment, reach higher and dream bigger dreams for yourself!

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Summer is on the way! Are you ready? Fitness expert, Tammie Leady can inspire you to reach your goal of having a leaner, stronger, healthier body. Listen as Tammie reminds us of the basics of taking care of our Temple…the only one we’ll ever have in this life. So why not treat it well?

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