As I plan for 2010 and reflect on all that happened in 2009, I realize that there are several things I was tolerating in 2009 which will not be a part of my 2010.

You may choose to call this "adhering to boundaries" or "acknowledging and eliminating pet peeves", I simply refer to it as clearing space.

After all, if my energy isn't being ursurped by the things which take, rather than nourish, there's more space for those things which I want to attract.

Here's a partial list of those things (and people) which (who) won't be coming with me into the New Year (warning, this isn't for the faint-hearted):

* Vendors who don't meet the terms of our agreement (they've been fired)

* Clients who want everything and yet implement nothing (yes, I've let a few go)

* Biz owners who fail to recognize the importance of building relationships and being authentic (we can tell when you're being inauthentic, REALLY!)

* Companies who don't know the meaning of customer service or who retain employees who don't believe in it (I'm boycotting)

* Negative Nellies (I wish them well and would gleefully welcome them back into my life if they cold display some optimism)

* Voicemail messages with no contact info, no real message (just "call me") and no good time to return the call (do everyone a favor, leave a detailed message with your phone or email so we can actually get back to you)

* Ditto incoming faxes with no return contact info (DUH!)

* Sales letters which promise the world and don't even deliver a county (we're back to being authentic)

* "No shows" who schedule a call and don't call or reschedule (this one shows absolutely no respect for the person being called)

In case you're wondering, the above isn't negative...it's about respecting my time, energy and "self" -- after all, those things we tolerate have a way of taking over and affecting our creativity, ability to manifest and general well-being.  And my family, and clients, deserve the best me I can give them.

Please leave me a comment below and let me know what you were tolerating in 2009 and how your 2010 will be different -- I'd love to hear from you!  And remember, YOU control your environment -- no one else.

Have you ever put up with things, tolerations as it were and then, finally, you have enough and refuse to deal with it anymore?   

That's exactly where I am with the design of my email newsletter.

I just don't like it anymore.

And while a new one is currently being designed, I couldn't bring myself to send out even one more issue with the design I've been tolerating.

So. . .there's no standard ezine this week.

Instead, a few questions for you to ponder:

1.  It's midnight and you're answering client emails. Is this a boundary issue or are you working on your terms?

2. You're in the office Monday through Friday, from 9am - 5pm, have you created a J O B for yourself or are you maintaining boundaries?

3. Are you working when you THINK you should or when you're most productive?

While internet marketers have online businesses, not all online businesses consider themselves internet marketers.

I was recently introduced as an "internet marketer" and was surprised at the immediate feeling of "oh no, not me" that welled up inside.

Before I ask whether you think of yourself as being an "internet marketer" or having an "online business", let me share the definitions as I see them:

An internet marketer appears to focus first and foremost on the money -- how much can he earn and how quickly?  He tends to send lots of emails and is always promoting something, whether his product or an affiliate's.

To me, internet marketers include the people who are using funky testimonials, who promotethemselves as being of the highest integrity while being misleading during promotional launches, etc.

Not that all internet marketers use questionable techniques by any means, many are very up front about their strategies and charge thousands of dollars to teach them to others.

I was on a webinar last week and the person presenting said, to paraphrase: "I don't worry about bills or expenses, every time one comes in, I send an email promoting something and in comes the money."

There was nothing about quality or relatonships, it was all about milking his list.

I stayed on the webinar to see if I'd hear anything which would make me feel differently about him or his techniques, I'm sad to say I didn't and immediately unsubscribed afterwards.

An online business on the other hand is a business which maintains an online presence and uses internet technology to assist in the running of the business.

Online businesses are certainly "in it" to be successful and make a profit, but not at the expense of building good relationships and providing quality.

The online businesses I work with truly want to make an impact (and a profit) and help their clients, in whatever ways their gifts allow.

So in planning your business for the upcoming year, which are you focused on: being an internet marketer or building an online business?

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the Comments section below.

And if you're not sure what your 2010 is going to look like, I'd love to see  you in my upcoming "From Your Vision Board to Reality: How to Create Your Best Year Ever" program. :-)

Remember, there are no absolutes -- there are internet marketers who are of the utmost integrity and online business owners who use questionable strategies to make a sale.

requiring they set up special pages on their sites,
requiring they send out emails on certain days and tweets on others – usually when many other people are sending out the same email or tweet,
requiring affiliates to do promotional calls – so several people are doing the same calls, and
as a result of the above, actually cost the affiliate money to have all of the above done by their team.

how it looks to your readers when they receive the same exact email, verbatim, from multiple people telling them “they’re special and only a few people are getting this incredible deal”,
how it appears and feels to your affiliates when they’re emailed again and again to send something out, often with it interfering with their own marketing efforts (it can actually feel harassing), and
as a result of everything above, how it feels to the affiliate who’s put so much into the program to not be paid for 60 or more days as is often the case.

Have you ever felt exhausted at the end of the day, knowing you worked your butt off and yet wondering what the heck you actually accomplished toward your goals or, worse yet,