Just wanted to share a unique opportunity for the young people of Hardin County, Kentucky.  I thought I would share two fabulous opportunities to help young people become the amazing people they were created to be!  Both workshops will be held at   This is an amazing space for kids that is a real gem for this county.  Please visit their website to find out more about the awesome opportunities that the Play Space offers at www.fiddlesticksplayspace.com     Here are two of the workshops that will be offered starting in October:       Eye on the Prize   School can be tough for many reasons.  Discovering how you learn the best, how to keep it all together, and knowing what “YOUR” prize is and how to get there are just a few of the “clues” we will use to uncover  this mystery called succe... 10/13/2011

INVESTMENT PROPERTY $ 625,000 12 Units All 2 Bedroom, 1-1/2 Baths     Great investment opportunity. 8.5 cap rate. Well built and maintained building w/ solid tenant base Close to downtown Elizabethtown. Many updates. All units have seperate furnaces and A/C's as well as seperate meters for electric and water. Tenants pay all of their own utilities. Owner pays for trash pickup. Maintenance free exterior. Talk to Tom Johns 502-419-3186 tpjbildz@aol.com       11/01/2010

As a Real Estate Professional, I consistently have buyers feel they don't need to get approved because they know what they make, and they know what they can afford. However, with all of the changes in the financial market, a lot of people that spoke to a bank 12 months ago and got issued an approval, find the home they want and are no longer eligible for financing. The reason for this is because the financial market has really cracked down on who they will lend money to. Over the past 12 months, minimum credit score requirements have changed drastically, down payment amounts have changed drastically, mortgage insurance premiums have changed drastically, and dozens of other changes have taken place since the housing market crash. A few years ago, a buyer could basically state the income ... 10/20/2010

As a stager and owner of Staged SO Right, one of my favorite things in the world is furniture.  I love to place it, rearrange it, be satisfied for a little while and then start all over again.  Needless to say, working for a furniture showroom would be a dream come true and that is exactly what has happened to me!   I started a new job in marketing and sales for Corvin's Furniture, a local furniture company and I love it!  It really is a dream job - I get to "stage" the business for success, but the best part is to help clients and customers who come in to stage their rooms!  What a fabulous opportunity it is to help pick out the right pieces for people and have them leave excited about the mood we have created for their home.    I have learned a few things so of course I want to share ... 09/27/2010

I am amazed at how many houses are selling around Hardin County.  That is exciting news for those of us selling homes!  As I have foraged into that category, I am reminded of some precautions that sellers must make when the sign goes out front.  This advice is good for anyone selling - especially those not using a realtor.   Remember that although it is a necessary evil, there will be complete strangers walking through your home!  I was in Cleveland last weekend and my brother is selling his home and we were prepping the house for a showing.  While we were getting ready, his wife said to me, "It just occurred to me that complete strangers are going to be walking through here and seeing all of our stuff.  I wish I had put more away."  Not only is there an aesthetic value to decluttering,... 08/03/2010

I am taking the plunge!  Yes, I am about to become a home seller!  This will be the second time I am selling a home and what a completely different experience than the last time.  I contribute most of that to becoming an accredited stager since then.   Learning lessons is part of life, and I have certainly learned my share.  I want to share with you some of the lessons I have discovered since beginning the process of staging my current house for sale.   First and foremost, give yourself time to get all of the important things you want to get done, completed.  Clutter takes longer than a couple of days to accumulate and will take at least a few days (or more) to tame.  Expecting to get it all done in a day or two is not realistic.  Maybe I could have done that when I was twenty, but thes... 07/07/2010

I recently presented at a Senior Education Resource Team Seminar and was reminded of some very important ideas.  The SERT Seminar was geared towards sharing what community resources are available to the senior population.  Obviously there are some special needs as one ages and this seminar was designed to educate the audience about what resources are available to assist them.   As the aging population increases, there is a growing need for seniors to make decisions about selling their current home and moving to a smaller, safer environment.  For some that would be a smaller home or apartment, but for others that would be assisted living or a nursing home.  Either way, downsizing is a monumental task.  The burden so overwhelming that it paralyzes most people.     There are some key ideas... 06/05/2010

Have you been trying to Network your way to the next level of business?  Do you feel like your networking techniques need an overhaul so you can start seeing some real results?  How does your thirty second commercial sound lately?   If you need some inspiration to make networking a more successful part of your business, make sure to listen in this morning to TVPG, Get More Business, Radio Show at 11:30am EST.  Our topic today is Networking and willinclude the essentials for a successful 30 second commercial.  Our guests today are Susan Rider, President of Rider and Associates and co-founder of Speakers With Spark and Marilyn Kleinberg, Executive Managing Director of SJ Chapter of eWomenNetwork.  If you can't listen in live at 646-595-4184, be sure to check out the podcast after the sho... 06/02/2010

  I know that there are many throughout the real estate industry that work with non-profits as a volunteer, mentor, or funds-raiser!  Some of you may have even wondered about creating your own non-profit, but aren't sure about how to go about it and what the benefits and drawbacks might be.  TVPG, Get More Business, Radio Show decided to explore the possibilities of non-profit status with two phenomenal guests: Al Rider and Melanie Parker Hibbard.  I have posted some bio info on my Speaker With Spark blog, but if you want the real good info, please check into the podcast!  I know you won't be sorry.  If you have been sitting on the fence at all, this is a great session that will inform and convince you the non-profit status may be just the fit for what you are planning to do. 05/31/2010

  As posted by Sheila O'Mara on TVPG Radio: A few weeks ago on the TVPG, Get More Business, Radio show we discussed specification vs. diversification.  Points were made in favor of both and you can listen to the podcast for more information. I have always been a big believer in diversification.  There are so many possibilities out there – why limit yourself to one?  I will be the first one to admit that it is important to do what you do well before you move on to something else.  No one wants to be a jack of all trades and a master of none.  Having said that though, there is so much to be said for expanding into new horizons. [...Click Here To Read The Rest On TVPG Radio] Jason Sanders @ValuePagesGroup Business Networking Specialist Help Spread The Word! 05/06/2010

As a Realtor you want to get a listing but so many seller's homes are not ready for the market.  Sellers don't realize that in order to get a home ready to sell it takes some preparation  If they don't have the money to do all that is needed in a short period of time they have to start the preparation time early sometimes up to a year before they plan to sell.  The things needed can be expensive and if left unrepaired the seller better be prepared for the buyer to use it as a bargaining tool.  Here are just a few things that a seller should think about: 1.  Get a home inspection by a professional.  This can give you insight into what might be a serious potential problem and can keep you from the closing table.   In the event that something is found you can make the repair and avoid the ... 05/04/2010

As posted by Sheila O'Mara on TVPG Radio: On Wednesday, March 24, the TVPG, Get More Business, Radio Show had a guest on the show.  Adam Horning was our guest and shared with us some of his techniques for taking a very small start up business in 2005, in a very crowded field, to company that made just shy of a million dollars last year.  Adam did a fabulous job not only adding revenue and also employees and that is great for him and his local economy. Adam doesn't have a magic product and is very reasonable in his pricing - I would say on the reasonable end without a doubt.  He has built this company by recognizing some very simple ideas very early on and capitalizing on them.  Allow me to share ... [...Click Here To Read The Rest On TVPG Radio] You can use the player below to liste to... 03/30/2010

It is Spring and that means more buyers and sellers come out of the woodwork.  Everyone wants to be in their new home for summer! When getting a house ready to sell there are a few things to keep in mind.  Here are some gentle reminders of the things to focus on when prepping your home.  First and foremost is to clean the house!  I don't mean tidy up either.  I mean get into all of the nooks and crannies of the entire house and clean them out.  When I went through my accreditation course, they called it "Q-tip clean".  All of the fingerprints, cobwebs, door jams, appliances, baseboards, lighting fixtures and window sills need attention.  It might not get noticed if you do clean all of these items, but I assure you it will definitely get noticed if you do not! Once the house is clean, de... 03/26/2010

As posted by Sheila O'Mara on TVPG Radio: This week on the TVPG, Get More Business, Radio Show, we celebrated St. Patrick's Day.  We tied most of the topics from the show to our theme of St. Patty's Day and I was on location at my local Networking for Women in the Heartland Luncheon at the Schmidt Coca-Cola Museum in Elizabethtown, KY. As you may or may not know, St. Patrick was at one time a slave.  We asked local business owners from Elizabethtown what, if anything, they felt they were a slave to in their business.  I know for me it could be a couple of things, but here is a run down of the female business owners that shared their perspective with TVPG, Get More Business, Radio Show. [...Click Here To Read The Rest On TVPG Radio] Jason Sanders @ValuePagesGroupBusiness Networking Speci... 03/23/2010

Saturday, March 20th, Gail Demery and Associates will be hosting a Teen and Tween Fashion Show at Colvin Community Center in Radcliff.  Lunch and show begin at 12pm. The theme of the show is to illustrate that "modesty" can be fashionable.  Dressing your heart is just as important as dressing your body.  It is important to pay attention to both! That is where I come in.  Sheila O'Mara of Speakers With Spark and Staged SO Right will be giving a short presentation about exercising modesty and why it is important.  I will provide encouragement for being leaders in the community and showing others through their example.  There are a few scenarios I will share about young women who have been fed up with the immodest apparel that they have to choose from in retail stores.  They have taken a s... 03/19/2010

As posted by Sheila O'Mara on TVPG Radio: You are struggling with capital for advertising and need to get your message out.  You use all of the social media tools you can think of, but can't seem to grab a hold of local consumers. Sound familiar?   It is a common problem for many small business owners and there are a few ways to pick up a bigger market share and save money in the meantime. [...Click Here To Read The Rest On TVPG Radio] Jason Sanders @ValuePagesGroupBusiness Networking Specialist Help Spread The Word! 03/16/2010

As Posted By Sheila O'Mara on TVPG Radio: This week's TVPG, Get More Business, Radio Show revolved around two topics that are near and dear to my heart - volunteerism and Free Publicity.  Is it possible for the two to intertwine? You bet!  As a matter of fact, I have built the majority of my business on the basic "how to get free publicity" principles.  As a very small business starting out, I had very little budget for advertising so I felt the need to get very creative with my marketing.  Honestly I relied heavily on my volunteering opportunities to help me build my business. [...Click To Read The Rest On TVPG Radio] Jason Sanders @ValuePagesGroupBusiness Networking Specialist Help Spread The Word! 03/06/2010

As Posted To TVPG Radio by Sheila O'Mara: Last Wednesday was my first broadcast as a co host of TVPG Radio Show, Get More Business.  I am co-hosting with Jason Sanders, Rich Bradley and Josh Chandler.  We had a great time and I have enjoyed getting to know the guys prior to today.  I think the format will work well for this particular platform and I am looking forward to the shows to come.  This week coming up is going to be fabulous [...Click To Read The Rest On TVPG Radio] Jason Sanders @ValuePagesGroupBusiness Networking Specialist Help Spread The Word! 03/02/2010

As you will see in the flyer below there is a promotion going on with the photographer that took my headshot.  She is truly a pro who even made little old me from Staged SO Right look good! LOL! What I want you to notice is the fabulous headshots in this flyer, but also there is something in particular.  Okay give up? ... Which one was your eye drawn to?  The photos are all different and all great quality - but one thing that stands out is the color.  Many people choose to wear black for photos.  I have heard all of the excuses, but none of them are really valid.  Can someone look fabulous in black - absolutely! But ... if 3 out of 5 photos are in black and white, without a shot of color, is that photo really going to stand out from all of the rest?  When you have a head shot taken - it... 02/28/2010

Lots of people have been asking me what some of my favorite I Phone Apps are since I have had my I Phone for quite awhile now. I thought I would share them here so whether for business use, there should be something for everyone. I will list my favorites first then describe each one according to how I use them.FacebookAmazon KindleDragon DictationEvernoteGoogleWeb Albums5-0 RadioLose ItDrop BoxFacebook speaks for itself, no better way to catch up than using Facebook for the IphoneAmazon Kindle- the Iphone version of the Kindle App is even better than the real Kindle if you ask me. I actually purchased a Kindle for Christmas because I loved this app so much but was disappointed with the "real thing" because of the lack of touch screen that comes with the Iphone app. Also, the screen flas... 02/24/2010