Why? (relevance, value)

Why does a person/consumer need or want this?

How? (method)

How can we deliver/make/offer this?

What? (product/service itself)

What do we offer?

We are still working away on our new site. It is a significant upgrade and still got a lot to cover before we can launch. However, given the new timeline updates via Facebook and our web magazine going out this week, it seemed appropriate to update our logo.

You can get a sneak peek here: http://www.facebook.com/elfproduct

Our current site does have some glitches and we’re sorry about that.

Our new site will be ready in just a few more weeks. We appreciate your patience and your kind words. Thanks!

Our winter issue for Hayden’s magazine, our free web magazine supporting the work of artists, entrepreneurs and businesses is almost ready. : )

Here is the magazine cover.

In the meantime, check out our facebook page for the magazine here: https://www.facebook.com/HaydensMagazine

Update as of 3/35/2012, Magazine is now live on Issuu. Check it out here.

Every day we are bombarded with information and demands. There is always someone to be paid, an urgent request to be fulfilled and pressing matters at hand. Apart from that, you have your own personal goals that you want to achieve, whether they are physical, emotional, financial, spiritual or other. Most people feel drained and exhausted by the constant barrage of demands and information overload. So when the question arises of “gratitude,” a smirk or even at times, a feeling of resentment might surface. “Why would I feel grateful when I am under so much stress already?” is the instant thought that pops into the minds of most people.

Well, the funny thing about life is that you get a lot of what you put out there. What does this mean and how does this fit into how you feel on a daily basis? Well, let’s take a look at it step by step.

You Always Have Demands

The demands you have in your life currently vary in intensity. Some are urgent and need to be done immediately while others are like a slow burn, constantly in your mind as things you need to do, causing you to be tense and anxious as you start or end your day. It is easy to see why many people, when they are confronted with the beginning of their work week, would rather climb right back into bed and not even start the day.

Well, those demands are going to come and go. Some of them will be finished once and for all but they will often times be replaced by new and even bigger demands. The bigger question then is how are you going to handle these demands? How are you going to respond?

You Always Have Choice

The way you feel about your life – the people, environment, work, choices and thoughts you have about every aspect of your life – significantly impacts the quality of your life.

When you have a barrage of demands or things that need to be done, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and also to feel confused. That is perfectly natural. But the important thing to realize is that you always have a choice. You can always choose.

What can you choose?

You can choose how you want to respond to any situation, any person and any environment. You can choose your attitude. If you wake up in the morning, grateful for the life you have and the person you are, what kind of a day do you think you are going to have?

This then comes to our next question, “What is gratitude?”

What is gratitude?

We have all been taught on some measure to be grateful and to say “thank you.” However, there is a lot more to simple lip service, which can be courteous but not meaningful.

Gratitude involves being deeply thankful on a spiritual and emotional level for your life. In every situation, there is something that you can be grateful for despite how difficult the circumstances. Being grateful connects you with a feeling of abundance and joy that is the essence of creating positive relationships, positive work and living environments. Being grateful accelerates your emotional growth, leading you to directly to the way of life that you desire.

Being grateful is a way of life. In fact, success coaches like Tony Robbins suggest putting aside at least 3 minutes a day to quietly be grateful for all the things in your life that are working for you. It can be as simple as the ability to breathe freely and to have a well functioning body and mind. You will be surprised when you start to list all the things in your life that you are grateful for, how many things are on that list!

The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude can dramatically make the difference in your ability to see things differently. You are able to see things differently and this will stop you from complaining. You will instantly change your perspective and instead of focusing on what you do not have, you will begin to appreciate what you do have. Appreciation is very powerful.

When you are appreciative, you are joyful and more open. This in turn, attracts like-minded people and circumstances. A more positive outlook enables you to see and seize opportunities that you might have missed otherwise.

You will also begin to feel positive immediately – both emotionally and physically in your body. In fact,  studies conducted at the University of Davis in California revealed that people who are more grateful are more alert, enthusiastic, determined and attentive.

Being grateful enables you to instantly connect to abundance and increase your focus. It is impossible to be negative and grateful at the same time. The state of gratitude enables you to come into the present moment, offering you perspective and increasing your ability to connect with the people, environment and things that you are most grateful for in your life.

Being grateful is a terrific way of both starting and ending your day. Try it out for 2 weeks. See and enjoy the benefits yourself. You will be amazed at the difference it makes!

To all of our clients, vendors and collaborators, we want to thank you for working with us and look forward to our collaborations to come!!

Thank you to all the writers who applied to work with us! We have had an overwhelming response and it has been very positive. We appreciate all the effort, the kind words and the talent that we got to meet. This has been an enjoyable collaborative process.

We are in touch with the candidates and appreciate the follow up and effort put forth.

Thanks again!

Jan

© BBB 2011

Today we are happy to announce that Elf Productions has joined the Better Business Bureau as an accredited member. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers consumers information and reviews of local and national business in both the United States and Canada. BBB members must meet accreditation standards and follow ethical practices outlined in the BBB Standards of Trust.