Expectations On Christmas...

Preface / Introduction

@~~~>The LAST Time I Made This OFFER I was BURIED in calls so I am limiting this to the
NEXT 5 PEOPLE ONLY CALL ME NOW - don't miss out! CALL ME NOW for your FREE
Internet marketing consultation. ($100 value) Let an expert show you RIGHT NOW how to profit
online every single day without leaving home. CALL ME -- Liz English -- NOW, (315) 668-1591.
LIVE 24/7/365.

Table of Contents
1. 'It's not beginning to look a lot like Christmas,' yet, but it IS time to start planning.
2. Expectations On Christmas For Your Partner
3. Hints For The Gift You Want-Having A Hard Time Asking For What You Want

Expectations On Christmas...

'It's not beginning to look a lot like Christmas,' yet, but it IS
time to start planning.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Author's program note. I knew what the response would be when I played the classic "It's Beginning
To Look A Lot Like Christmas" yesterday for all the horrified folks in the Live Business Center, but
it was even better than I hoped for ... universal moans, groans, and expostulations that all meant,
"Dr. Lant, you can't be serious!" Nobody thanked me for my concern about making this year's
holiday season the smoothest ever because it would be the best planned ever.
I mean, you want to avoid the chaos and confusion that distinguished your efforts last year, right?
And you definitely want to avoid the acute Last-Minute- I-Tis that seems to occur every single year,
right? Well, I'm here in my role as Santa's Little Helper to make this dream come true.
"Are you sure you're not jumping the gun just a little?"
Unless you're a bona fide Christmas freak (and they do exist) you think of this most important
holiday of the year not with happy expectations but rather with dread and apprehension,
remembering what can go wrong because of all the things that have gone wrong in years past; some
of them certifiable doozies like the time you "forgot" to get that "little something" for your much
loved mother-in-law. That kind of faux pas can never occur if you follow the instructions I'm about
to give you. And that alone makes your attention now worth it.
1) Plan, don't just think about planning. Planning means just that. Sit down at your computer, open a
new file and brainstorm all the categories you must have and master to ensure the best possible
result. If your plan is complete and thorough and if you master it, you are going to have a superior
event. Guaranteed. Otherwise it'll be catch as catch can. That can be memorable, of course, but in all
the wrong ways.
2) Review what happened last year. Christmas is about traditions, but one tradition you want to
exclude is muddle. What really worked last year? What did people like... what did YOU like... and
what left a mess, even bad feelings? The earlier you walk through what happened, why it happened
and (where applicable) why it better not happen again, the better.
3) Select a tune that gets you in the Christmas mood, even when you most assuredly are not. I like
Der Bingle's version of "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" written by Meredith Wilson
in 1951. It works on even the most hardened Grinch. I know. I'm one.
4) Brainstorm all the people you want to gratify with a gift. Be expansive. The idea when
brainstorming is to jot down possibilities. Evaluation and exclusion are not part of this initial
process. Thinking broadly and without limits is.
5) Now prioritize. Who MUST get something (think mother-in-law) because the consequences of
not giving are too horrible to consider... and who would it be nice to give something, but not
necessary? Prioritizing is crucial... unless you have more money than God, although it's rumored
that even His pockets are not so deep as usual after our punk year.
Avoid the "January Hangover".
Many overly jolly holiday givers wake up in January owing a bundle that's sure to make all the
merry gentlemen dismay. Planning is crucial here.
6) Budget. First, estimate how much money you want to spend. Then look at last year's bills.

http://www.LizsWorldprofit.com Copyright Elizabeth English - 2012 4 of 9


Scrutinize them closely. Was the amount you spent before easy to pay... or did it leave you broke,
under a pile of debt? There are two keys here:
First, determine your budget, then resolve this year not just to live within that budget, but to cover
most if not all of your expenses with cash on hand, not credit. What! You're thinking that's
positively un-American. You're right... paying up front for Christmas expenses IS un-American, and
that's a very good thing. This means determining how much you can afford to spend as determined
by how much you can put away prior to December 15, then saving and spending accordingly. This
will save you a lot of grief and lamentation in January.
Shop early.
Right now as I'm writing Christmas is still about 100 days away. No rush to shop, right? That
depends on whether you want distinctive gifts... or whether any old gift will do. For all that I'm a
Grinch of unmatched performance, I make it a point to give gifts of thoughtful consideration only.
No mere "gift" will do. For me, this means scouting the catalogs of the world's major auction houses,
places like Sotheby's, Christie's, Dorotheum, etc. I never have any trouble finding things of beauty
and rarity, even if sticker shock comes along with it, especially fine jewelry. Every auction house in
the world has special bijoux sales before Christmas with eye- popping bling. You'd be surprised at
the bargains available for the diamonds which are always a girl's best friend.
Important note: if you take advantage of this recommendation, remember that things you purchase at
such auctions may and very likely will need restoration and professional TLC before being given,
not to mention adequate time for packing and shipping. Make generous delivery estimates
accordingly.
Plan for the "little people."
My life works because of all the so-called "little people" who assist, help, organize and, I admit,
coddle me. It takes many such people providing a plethora of such services to make my life work.
All must be remembered at Christmas, but how to do it without breaking the bank?
With me, Trader Joe's is the answer; specifically their unmatched for the price liquor department. It
takes just one trip purchasing just two cases of fine wine and sherry to solve the problem. Then all I
have to do is write ("For Aime") on my business card and tape it on the bottle. Voila, I have a gift
that never fails to please, especially if they didn't expect to be remembered. And thus my status as a
"good fellow" is secured for another year and so is their good service on which I so rely.
Check your lights and ornaments well before you need them.
One of the season's habitual frustrations is ensuring you have all the lights and ornaments you need
before you have to have them. Finding out you don't have them is a major hassle in December; just a
minor glitch in September. Thus review what you've got early. Then shop online to order what you
need; you can do this any day of the year by searching on the item you want. That's the sensible,
inexpensive, cool, calm and collected way to do it.
Wither goest thou?
Are you traveling this year? Air fares are up which means planning is even more necessary. Here's
where the online discount travel services come in. The earlier you consult and use them, the better
the deals. Just remember, once you've booked these specials, there is always a penalty for change or
cancellation.
Now sit back and enjoy the holidays.
I have seen 64 Christmases so far, this year my 65th and it has long seemed to me that too many



people are too harassed to enjoy them. If you follow the directions in this article carefully and
thoroughly, you will savor and enjoy them, perhaps for the first time in years. And that may be the
biggest gift of all.



Expectations On Christmas For Your Partner
It's easy to get in "It's A Wonderful Life" mode during the holiday season. It's easy to start expecting
things in our life to actually be better than they really are. We can all fall into this trap, but it is a trap
so you don't want to let your expectations on Christmas for your partner to get out of hand and
actually makes things worse.
If you have unrealistic expectations on Christmas for your partner you are just guaranteeing that you
will be disappointed and you will probably make yourself and your partner miserable.
Instead of forcing it and trying to make your relationship what you want it to be, why not take this
time to figure out what your relationship is? If your partner isn't the type of person who likes to
dress up or go to a lot of parties, why do you dream of doing just that?
They will resent you and you will end up being disappointed. If your partner isn't the romantic type
and they don't do things spontaneously, why would you expect some grand romantic spontaneous
gesture at this time of year? Again, you are just setting yourself up for disappointment.
Instead, don't expect your relationship to change just because it is the holiday season. I'm sorry to tell
you this but if you want things different and you don't want disappointments during the holiday than
don't set yourself up for disappointment by expecting your partner to suddenly turn into someone
different than who they really are.
Another thing that is easy to do, and many of us are guilty of it, is that we have unrealistic
expectations about our holiday season in general, not just in relation to your partner. We expect
everything to be romantic and perfect, and that is just not realistic and we are only setting ourselves
up for disappointment.
You have to remind yourself that things don't need to be perfect to be great. Just roll with everything
that happens and keep your sense of humor. You can have a fantastic holiday season, even though it
won't be perfect, it can still be perfect for you and your partner.
Why not plan activities that you both enjoy? Even if they aren't "holiday" events, why not just try to
do things and go places where you will both have fun and have fun together?
There are no "holiday police", Martha Stewart isn't going to come knocking on your door if you
choose not to decorate for Christmas or if you prefer to have a pizza for Christmas dinner rather than
a ham.
Do what the two of you will find enjoyable and don't force yourselves to do what you are
"supposed" to do but rather what each of you likes to do. That will make for a much more enjoyable
holiday season. There is no right or wrong, only what is right for you two.
So, if you don't want to deal with unrealistic expectations on Christmas for your partner than don't.
Just keep yourself grounded and don't expect either of you to change for a few weeks out of the year.



Hints For The Gift You Want-Having A Hard Time Asking For
What You Want
It's that time of year again...Christmas. You know what you want but are having a hard time asking
for it. So, what do you do? You need to find ways to drop hints for the gift you want. This is not as
hard as it sounds. Read on to get a few ideas on how to do it.
Dropping hints for the gift you want can be as simple as leaving little notes around the house that
are easy for others to find. They will pick them up and then can put them in their pockets or wallet to
remind them of the thing you want when they go shopping.
If you are too shy to come right out and ask for the gift you want then leaving little notes around is
the best way to get someone else's attention. You could even be a little more sneaky and put these
little notes in the car and in their briefcase, stuck to the bathroom mirror or in their lunch box, any
where they are sure to find them.
Another good way to drop a hint is to act all excited when you see a commercial for the thing you
want. Sing it's praises and mention to whomever is listening what you could do if you had one of
those items.
When you are out shopping, go look at this thing you want. Take whomever you are with to see it as
well. Show them all the features it has and all the different colors it comes in, if it has to be a certain
size then tell them at that time what size you take. Try to remember anything you can about it so
when they go shopping without you they can remember to get just exactly what you want.
Get a catalog from the store that stocks what it is that you want and circle the gift and it's
description and leave the catalog out in plain sight. I do not know anyone who will not look at a
catalog when one is available. We all want stuff and sometimes looking in a catalog will give us
other ideas of other things we may not be able to live without.
At some point earlier in the year start a wishlist and keep it tacked to the refrigerator door. When you
thinks of things you want, add them to the list. If it remains on the refrigerator door then it is out it
plain sight and anyone who cares to look can and probably will especially when the holidays get
closer.
In this electronic age you could be a little less subtle and send an email or text about the gift you
want as well.
Dropping hints for the gift you want can be quite creative if you really put your mind to it. Come up
with unique ways to tell the ones you love what it is you really want for Christmas, and if all else
fails, pretend they are Santa Claus and whisper it to them in their ear.



Resource
About the Author Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., providing a wide
range of online services for small and-home based businesses. Services include home business
training, affiliate marketing training, earn-at-home programs, traffic tools, advertising, webcasting,
hosting, design, WordPress Blogs and more. Find out why Worldprofit is considered the # 1 online
Home Business Training program by getting a free Associate Membership today.
Republished with author's permission by Elizabeth English http://LizsWorldprofit.com.


Expectations On Christmas...

Empfohlen

Empfohlen

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Empfohlen

Empfohlen (20)

Expectations On Christmas...