If you had told me a few months ago that I would be stuck on Twitter, I would have told you that you were definitely reading me wrong. But over the past few weeks, I’ve really been enjoying this micro-blogging service and its benefits. Yes, I’m a Twitter Fan.

So who's responsible for my new micro-blogging adventure? The credit goes to @AYellowHouse. I was very hesitant about joining, but Dori convinced me to jump in and give it a try. So…a couple of months later, I gathered up the courage to take the plunge and I’ve become a better person because of it. The people who have helped me grow are too numerous to mention and I'm very thankful for each and every one of them.

One of my favorite benefits is the fact that you can talk in real-time to anyone in the world. From authors, CEOs, activists, musicians, graphic designers, you name the profession, there’s someone you can talk to 24 hours a day and seek advice.

Another great benefit it offers is that it actually helps you with your writing skills. You’ve got to be clear about what you’re writing since you only have 140 characters to get your message across. I don’t have a big problem with that because I’m not a big talker so that part was rather easy.

To help us become more comfortable with Twitter, Corvida Raven (@corvida), was gracious enough to be our guest on Spark Plug Radio. She gave us the goods on Twitter basics. Her interview basically answered the question…What’s the Big Deal About Twitter? After her interview, it didn’t seem so overwhelming but a very simple concept indeed.

To me, Twitter is similar to a Lego brick. It starts out very simple. However, if you keep building and building, connecting and connecting, you just never know what’s possible, but it helps to have a plan. So far, I’ve been pleased with the rewards I’ve received from my experience. Keep in mind, if you’re self-centered, only wanting to push your own agenda, you’ll get turned off very quickly because it’s all about sharing in the community.

Feel free to follow us on Twitter. If you haven’t joined, at least give it a try. Have fun!

~ Jacqueline

On September 9, 2009, Morrow police were called to the Cracker Barrel Restaurant on Southlake Plaza Drive at 7:30 p.m. It was reported that a woman had been savagely beaten by a man, 6'2", 215 pounds.

Her seven-year-old daughter had chosen the Cracker Barrel Restaurant as a place for them to go and have a nice meal, but as most of us now know, they never even had a chance to sit down.

Edmund Burke once said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing!”

Anthony 'Spark Plug' Thomas, a local motivational speaker, and publisher of People You Need to Know, decided to do something and launch what he calls a day of Joy & Pampering for the mother and daughter. After hearing about this in the media, he believed that the metro Atlanta business community would want to do something collectively to reach out to Ms. Hill and her young daughter, who was also traumatized.

So, he contacted several local businesses and most were eager to donate their services because they wanted to show, especially the daughter, that she still lives in a world where strangers care.

Ms. Shamone Green, sales manager at MTI Limo & Shuttle Services didn't hesitate to donate two days of limousine transportation for Ms. Hill and her daughter as well as offer additional assistance. Sweet Success Salon volunteered to style their hair, and Mary Kay Beauty Consultant, Atrice Baker will give the mother a complimentary facial and make-over. Spa Sydell in Buckhead donated a manicure and pedicure for them and the Atlanta Marriott Marquis has given them a night of luxurious accommodations at their hotel.

The Fernbank Museum of Natural History is giving them tickets to their IMAX® Theatre as well as two free passes to the Museum. Houston's Midtown restaurant on Peachtree is providing complimentary lunch or dinner for the mother and daughter. Additionally, the Midtown Mediterranean Diner is offering breakfast, lunch or dinner. Mr. Patel with Bruster's Real Ice Cream in Morrow, Georgia, is giving them a gift card for free ice cream.

Spark Plug says, "I'm getting tired of seeing crimes being committed against women in our country and around the world. They give birth to us all and spend most of their time nurturing us in our formative years, literally holding up the world without getting the credit they so richly deserve. As men, we need to do a better job of protecting them and not hurting them. Without women, where would this world be?"

"I hope this day of Joy & Pampering gives Ms. Hill and her daughter something more positive to focus on for a long time."

Sherry Thomas is a leading Etiquette and Life Skills Expert. She credits her attention to manners to her Southern upbringing and to her wonderful mother who placed her into Etiquette classes at an early age. Coupled with her Psychology training at Clemson University, she brings real life situations to real people.

She has worked with many people that you see on television each week in the areas of Etiquette, Public Speaking, Image Consulting, Media /Press Coaching and Life Skills. She often incorporates video into her training, affording a client the opportunity to view ‘befores’ and ‘afters’. Video, she says, is the only way for us to see ourselves as the world does.

Sherry believes that proper Etiquette in all areas of our lives is an integral part of how we’re perceived, thus affecting our advancement in the workplace and our overall well being. She has coined the phrase Public Persona Optimization, meaning that if you practice certain techniques long enough in order to maximize your public perception, eventually those techniques and changes become a natural part of who you are, thus optimizing your private persona.

Sherry’s clients include Corporations, new Socialites, Athletes, Children, Adults, new Graduates, people from all walks of life – all seeking to master the polish and skills required to ‘get ahead’, ’seal the deal’ or ‘make a favorable impression’. She has been featured in magazines and newspapers, on radio shows, and has had many etiquette articles published.

“Confidence without arrogance” is her favorite mantra.

Sherry loves children and can often be seen in the middle of the floor with kids and teens of all ages, participating with them, instead of staring down at them.

In addition to Etiquette, Sherry is a Writer and Video Producer, having produced Commercials, Infomercials, Corporate Video, and Elite Weddings. She is President of Breathless Video Productions. Based in South Florida, her international video company shoots anywhere in the world!

Having been a New York City actress, she can still be found, occasionally, on the stages of South Florida, performing . . . just to keep the acting blood warm.

Listen to her interview below and learn how etiquette can help as well as hinder your progress.

Aurelia Flores founded PowerfulLatinas.com in 2007 as a company that would gather together Latina women to learn from and share with one another. In particular, she was interested in successful Latina women who have overcome obstacles to provide inspiration to others and remind them that anything is possible.

PowerfulLatinas.com launched its first project, an interview series, to compile a storehouse of wisdom from Latinas who have reached successful peaks in their lives. The project is an exciting one and geared to provide inspiration, personal growth and motivation for Latinas and others nationwide.

The goal is to motivate and inspire women – young, old, and everything in between– to learn from others’ life lessons.

Her own life story being one of inspiration, Aurelia understands what it means to overcome obstacles. After becoming pregnant at 15, she graduated from high school a year early and went immediately to college where she received her B.A. in Sociology. She received her law degree from Stanford Law School and then was awarded a post-graduate Fulbright Fellowship to study in Mexico City.

Aurelia has been practicing corporate law for the past ten years, first at a prominent law firm and now for a Fortune 300 company where she specializes in intellectual property.

As a young woman, Aurelia personally found a lack of positive role models in her life. The scope of possibilities and opportunities that were known to her was very narrow.

During the course of her own academic and professional life she found the lack of guidance and experience a hindrance to her at various points in her life. She believes it would have been great to have had role models to look up to.

Aurelia wants to offer a learning opportunity to other women who might find themselves in similar shoes. She strongly believes women can learn from other women, no matter where they are in their career or life path.

Aurelia volunteers for various non-profit organizations, and sits on the Board of the San Diego Museum of Art. She is a proud mother and her son now attends Georgetown University.

Tune in below to listen to Ms. Aurelia Flores. She will be sharing some benefits about her life-changing organization, PowerfulLatinas.com. Her office can be reached at (858) 569-0710.

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