timothy ross (21)

Napoleon Hill's Thought for the Day

Please check out the comment section for additional thoughts will be posted there. (FYI check out all our blog posting comment sections as that is where you will find additional information on the topic, reason, it's a quick place for me to post info as i find it, click, done, plus it typically makes a nice picture that many articles come with) 

 

 I also encourage you to register yourself and enjoy your own daily reminder direct from  NH , click here https://www.naphill.org/tftd-signup/

 

** Napoleon Hill's Thought for the Day:

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** Act on your own initiative, be prepared to assume full responsibility for your acts.

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One of the primary differences between those who achieve great things in their lives and those who manage only to "get by" is that successful people learned early in life that they were responsible for their own actions. No other person can make you successful or keep you from achieving your goals.

 

Taking the initiative means assuming a leadership role, a position that singles you out for praise – and for criticism. The good leader is one who shares the credit for success with others and assumes full responsibility for failures or temporary setbacks. When you accept responsibility for your actions, you gain the respect of others and are well on the way to creating your own future.

https://naphill.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4c4529ce36ccec0645d107769&id=0a378ae3c3&e=687c10efc5

Success is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

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Timothy Ross,  Family Advisor ©, CEO & Founder, Brock Shores Financial, Family Office Providing Omega Stewardship ©  

Mutual Funds offered through PEAK Investment Services Inc.

Life & Travel, Insurance, Seg Funds  & Banking offered through Financial Horizons Group

Tax Services offered through Timothy Ross & Associates &  Brock Shores Income Tax Corp

Planning Services offered through Brock Shores Planning Corp.  

 

Brock Shores Financial / Timothy Ross & Associates, Family Office Providing Omega Stewardship
​4502 Airport Road – Tincap, GTA Professional Center, Elizabethtown, Ontario K6T 1A2
​613-345-0016 Office 613-213-4625 Cell/Text 613-345-5231 Fax advisor@timothyross.com

www.BrockShoresFinancial.ca

http://www.ImprovingFutures.ca/


​Executive Assistant: Heather Kiley heather@timothyross.com

Office Assistant: Tammy Abrams  assistant@timothyross.com


​Office Manager: Megan Ross megan@timothyross.com

Income Tax Associate: Kelly Potvin kelly@timothyross.com

Bookkeeping Associate:  Becky Eamon  becky@timothyross.com

Brock Shores Planning Corp: brockshoresplanningcorp@gmail.com

Planning Associate, Johanne Brennan johanne@timothyross.com  

 

Tim's Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omegastewardship/

 

OMEGA STEWARDSHIP
​* One Stop Process Driven Approach for Retirement & Income Planning
​* Personalized Tax Management Solutions for Individuals & Business Owners
​* Confidential Wealth Management Solutions
www.BrockShoresFinancial.ca 

Legacy Site: www.TimothyRoss.com 

View our Blog: #ImprovingFutures www.ImprovingFutures.ca


Helping Families Achieve ... Life's Major Goals
​1. Tax Smart Planning & Investing
​2. Worry Free Retirement
​3. Education of Our Children & Grandchildren
​4. Quality Care for Our Parents
​5. Meaningful Financial Help for Our Loved Ones
​6. Meaningful Legacy

 

Mission - Vision – Core Values

“Serving our clients and community since 1988”


​Member of Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada
​Member of IFB, Independent Financial Brokers of Canada
​Member of RIA, Responsible Investment Association

Member of  Efile Association of Canada

Member of Kingdom Advisors; Paul Harris Fellow

 

 

View our Blog: #ImprovingFutures www.ImprovingFutures.ca

 

PEAK Disclosure - Click here for Lots of Good Stuff

 

Corporate Links 

Brock Shores Financial https://www.facebook.com/improvingfutures

Timothy Ross & Associates: https://www.facebook.com/TimothyRossAssociates/

Peak Investment Services : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068640032385

Brock Shores Planning Corp : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089499457269

 

Founder Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/omegastewardship/

https://twitter.com/OmegaSteward

 https://www.facebook.com/omegastewardship

 https://www.facebook.com/newbetheadventure/

#Kitchen Moments https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088817142433

https://www.facebook.com/YourBladeOfGrass/

https://www.facebook.com/naturesenergywater/

https://www.facebook.com/CanadianFlagEducationCentre/

#Herbal Moments https://www.facebook.com/groups/641210264418792

#Fungi Fun https://www.facebook.com/groups/fungifun

 

PS: We welcome your Google Review, please  click on this link  https://g.page/r/CXYJPvedYlz0EBI/review

 

Be sure and register to keep track of  your credit bureau, we use Borrowell for this free service

https://improvingfutures.ning.com/blog/free-credit-check-borrowell

 
"People influence People”  We value your business, please leave a review on our Bark profile  Leave your Review Here & Check Others

 Access Your Peak Accounts www.YourAdvisorCares.ca  Inspiration: www.YourAdvisorCares.com

 

PS: We welcome your Google Review, please click on this link  https://g.page/r/CXYJPvedYlz0EBI/review  

 

Be sure and register to keep track of your credit bureau, we use Borrowell for this free service, click through at  https://improvingfutures.ning.com/blog/free-credit-check-borrowell

"The beauty of being in business is that your business engages all aspects of your mind, I think that is why you become successful, business challenges you to be more than you are, and that is where the miracle takes place." Timothy  Ross, May 2004

I like Winston Churchill, he had the incredible  ability to move the English language into action. My mentor Jim Rohn, say's , "Don't be afraid to borrow if someone else has said it well. Winston Churchill said, "The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is." That's so well said. You could  stay up all night and not think of that. " ~ Timothy Ross

Have a Blessed Day! TLR

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Employment Impact TRA-BSF since 1988

Going through the payroll process this season, I was able to reflect on those lives that we have had an impact on our payroll, for fun I started remembering everyone and expanded the list to include other relevant parties. Over time people change, companies change, life accumulates. ~ TLR

 Employee's & SubContractors  39 since 1988

Tammy, Heather, Megan, Michael, Katina, April, Adonica, Leigh, Mikayla ,Dean, Rebecca, Tina, Melanie, Sue, Cassandra, Cody, Andrew, Rodger, Neil, Brandon ,Leonard, Charly, Lisa, Stepheny, Tim, Peter, Mike, Don, Isaiah, Stan, Bob, Geo, Ron, Natasha, Douglas, Luke, Derek, Alex, Wayne, Brenda

Investment Dealers

Professional Investments, Peak Investment Services

Insurance Dealers

Professional Insurance, Cartier Partners, Financial Horizons

Insurance Companies

Ivari(Transamerica) Manulife (Commercial Union), Empire Life, Canada Protection Plan (Forestors), Canada Life, Equitable Life, Standard Life, Travellers, Best Doctors, RBC

Branch Offices

Professional Investments Belleville, Brockville,  Nav Group Trenton

Investment Companies

Invesco ( Trimark, AIM), NEI ( North West, Oceanrock, Meritas ), CI, Tempelton, Vengrowth, Covington, Tricycle, Standard Life, AIC, Manulife, Sprott, Mackenzie, RBC, Dynamic, Criterion, Medical Discovery, Bridgehouse, Empire Life, ING, Fidelity, Growth Works, AGF, Mineral Fields, Sprott, O'Leary, Elliott & Page, Gaurdian, First Ontario, Clarington, Triax, Talvest

Tax Collection Agencies, Canada Revenue Agency, Her Majesty The Queen as Represented by the Minister of National Revenue,  Uncle Sam for the United States of America 

Regulatory Bodies

FISCO,MFDA,OSC (Ontario,BC,NB) , CRA

Professional & Community Organizations

RIA,Advois,IFB,BCOC,BCC,ACC,CFIB,CAIFA,CFIB,Kiwanis,Rotary,CSA,CARP,CC,EFILE-AC,GBAS,BAFB,PPC,CPC,NB,BHS,FF,4-H,BIC-1862,

 

Reflecting on all of this, I am reminded of the beauty of business quote that I penned many years ago. I will post that below these guiding principals.

 4-H teaches us to, "Learn To Do By Doing", with your Head, Heart, Health, and Hands

 

The Mountain teaches and demands  "One Step At A Time"

 

Business embraced "Where Client Goals Become Our Goals"

 

Investments reminds us to be the "Guardians of Your Family's Wealth"

 

Nick Murray taught and reminded us of the Mission, "Helping Families Achieve Major Goals" , the rest is commentary

 

Our Vision was to provide "Omega Stewardship" , the People and our Core Values made that possible

 

Business evolved into "The Family Office"

 

Brock Shores Financial focused us on "Improving Futures"

 

Covid reminded us "Your Advisor Cares"

 

Timothy L. Ross, Family Advisor, since 1988, CEO, Founder Brock Shores Financial , Timothy Ross & Associates

Chief Weekend Warrior for every other crazy thing I do!

 "The beauty of being in business is that your business engages all aspects of your mind, I think that is why you become successful, business challenges you to be more than you are, and that is where the miracle takes place." Timothy Ross, May 2004

I like Winston Churchill, he had the incredible ability to move the English language into action. My mentor Jim Rohn, say's , "Don't be afraid to borrow if someone else has said it well. Winston Churchill said, "The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is." That's so well said. You could stay up all night and not think of that. "

8536526501?profile=RESIZE_710x

In case your compliance cruising, full stop, see, read, digest disclosure  

https://improvingfutures.ning.com/blog/peak-dealership-representative-disclosure

READ THE FINE PRINT

Member of the Ship's Company , Bytowne Brigantine's Tall Ship Sail Training Program Adventures

8536532256?profile=RESIZE_710x

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Legacy Evolution Hot Links

 
LEGACY: Evolution of Estate Planning
Virtual Summit Series

 

November 18, 2020 – My Legacy: Envision, Build, Communicate and Live Your Best Legacy

 

A. Director, Legacy at Toronto Foundation https://torontofoundation.ca/

B.  Everyday Legacy: Lessons For Living With Purpose, Right Now.

 https://www.everydaylegacy.com/livingyoureverydaylegacy:findingpurposeevenintimesofuncertainty

 

Your Tool For Clear And Intentional Generosity   https://thesignatry.com/

DON’T LET FAMILY STORIES BE LOST AND FORGOTTEN  https://paragonroad.com/   

This is a great download   https://paragonroad.com/5stories/

 


November 25, 2020 - Business Legacy: Creating A Responsible Legacy
 
 December 2, 2020 – Your Evolving Legacy: Honoring and Protecting the Wisdom of Your Legacy
 
December 9, 2020 – Boomer to Zoomer Legacy: Legacy Excellence for All of Life’s Stages
 
 December 16, 2020 – Barrier Free Legacy: Legacy Planning for People with a Disabilit

 

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Bark Dot Com Profile

Bark Professional

Brock Shores Financial

3557385905?profile=RESIZE_710x Bark review Brock Shores Financial3557386760?profile=RESIZE_710x Please leave a review, we appreciate your business. The Bark.com site is a convenient way to do so. Thank you in advance! Tim Timothy Ross, Family Advisor, CEO & Founder, Brock Shores Financial Mutual Fund Representative through PEAK Investment Services Inc. This transmission is intended solely for the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and is confidential in nature. Please be advised that any distribution, reproduction or other use of this document by anyone other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately. Thank you for your assistance Brock Shores Financial / Timothy Ross & Associates , Family Office Providing Omega Stewardship 4502 Airport Road – Tincap, GTA Professional Center, Elizabethtown, Ontario K6T 1A2 613-345-0016 Office 613-213-4625 Cell/Text 613-345-5231 Fax advisor@timothyross.com Executive Assistant: Heather Kiley assistant@timothyross.com Office Manager: Megan Ross megan@timothyross.com Mission - Vision – Core Values - Tax Smart “Serving our clients and community since 1988” OMEGA STEWARDSHIP * One Stop Process Driven Approach for Retirement & Income Planning * Personalized Tax Management Solutions for Individuals & Business Owners * Confidential Wealth Management Solutions www.BrockShoresFinancial.ca www.TimothyRoss.com #ImprovingFutures www.ImprovingFutures.ca Helping Families Achieve ... Life's Major Goals 1. Tax Smart Planning & Investing 2. Worry Free Retirement 3. Education of Our Children & Grandchildren 4. Quality Care for Our Parents 5. Meaningful Financial Help for Our Loved Ones 6. Meaningful Legacy Member of Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada Member of IFB, Independent Financial Brokers of Canada Member of RIA, Responsible Investment Association Member of the Rotary Club of 1000 Islands, Paul Harris Fellow We value your business, please leave a review on our Bark profile https://www.bark.com/en/company/brock-shores-financial/q2aev/?show_reviews=true Have a Blessed Day! "People influence People”
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A Little Entertainment

I have been reading a few posts from various investment  managers about how Disney has been ramping up for a distribution model for their movies on line and how that will improve their value. Came across this article this morning and felt it is worth sharing, gives us some perspective about the new service. As a Netflix subscriber, I can see this playing out, check it out.

Tim

 

Why Families Will Ditch Netflix By 2020

Having too many streaming services just won't be practical anymore.

 

www.fatherly.com/play/why-families-will-ditch-netflix-by-2020

 

On Tuesday, the highly-anticipated streaming service Disney+ revealed a new streaming bundle consisting of  Disney+, Hulu and ESPN. This will cost $12.99 a month, which is the exact same price as the standard HD two-screen plan for Netflix right now. Right there, families who are planning on getting Disney+ can do the math. With Disney+ you get the entire vault of Disney animated movies streaming, plus a smattering of Marvel movies, Star Wars movies, and yeah, that new Star Wars TV show — The Mandalorian — that starts streaming on November 12. (This show is being run by Jon Favreau by the way, you know the guy who directed the first Iron Man? Anyway, I digress. You get it. This streaming service is big.)

 

 

Photo throw back from Oct 2016, delivery of potatoes to the Brockville Food Bank, one of our annual efforts to #ImprovingFutures , gleaning the fields at Tincap Berry Farm near end of season, 10,000 plus produce donated to various food banks in the area

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ESG - SRI August Reflections

https://advisoranalyst.com/2019/08/12/does-sustainable-investing-constrain-a-portfolio.html/

 

Came across this article in my email box this morning

 

"Sustainable investing is often misunderstood. Many investors think a sustainable agenda limits a portfolio to a narrow piece of the market. In fact, plenty of stocks can help investors create social benefits while generating strong returns—if you know how to find them."

 

and I was reminded why I like them ESG and SRI in our client portfolio's .

 

ESG = Envirnomental , Social,  Goverence

SRI = Socially Responsible Investments

https://www.riacanada.ca/responsible-investment/

What is Responsible Investment?

Responsible investment (RI) refers to the incorporation of environmental, social and governance factors (ESG) into the selection and management of investments.

RI has boomed in recent years as investors have recognized the opportunity for better risk-adjusted returns, while at the same time, contributing to important social and environmental issues.

 

 

https://www.riacanada.ca/company-profile/timothy-ross/

 

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Time of your life

https://www.fastcompany.com/90264324/13-hidden-pockets-of-daily-free-time-you-didnt-know-you-had-and-how-to-make-the-most-of-them

some great tips on a day time line

I use some of these myself 

This morning was our weekly Rotary meeting. It starts at 7. I was honoured along with Dave Paul with a Paul Harris award for our community service. It’s a great honour. 

Tim

Bob Castle spoke about my background and community service. It was good to hear. I very much enjoyed Dave Pauls story as well. Bonnie Burke introduced him and our club President Susan Brister and fellow Dream Mountains Foundation climber made Dave’s presentation. 

Time management tip, write a little review while having your lunch break while the idea and content is fresh in your mind. 

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It was once said

Came across this article this morning in LinkedIn, I think it is worth a little study. What would be said? Good question. - TLR 

 

 

Need career help? Start writing your own eulogy. When we imagine our own deaths, and even write drafts of the way we’d like to be remembered, we can examine our priorities and goals from a broader perspective. Executive coach Daniel Harkavy encouragesthe CEOs he works with to draft two eulogies: the one that would be read today, and another that encompasses all of their future achievements. Comparing the two can help you reevaluate how you are spending your time and the decisions you are making. • Here’s what people are saying.

 

here is the article 

 https://www.fastcompany.com/90266043/how-vividly-imagining-your-own-death-can-help-your-next-career-move

 

”In that 2005 Stanford commencement address where Jobs talked about the importance of realizing you are going to die, he also stated that, upon reflecting on his success, he realized “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”

Yet with the eulogy technique, now maybe you don’t have to wait until the end of your life to connect the dots. By changing your point of view and shifting your perspective from your present to your future, you’ll be able to see where you want to end up, and then know what steps you’ll next to take–what dots you’ll need to connect–to get there.”

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5SMyfbWYyE&list=PLhhVyaUmOQupT95UiO_74c0-wATcRxceV

 

Music with a warrior’s beat 

https://youtu.be/IRyMoHJu-i8

 

there is a place for us

 

One Step At A Time!

”Be The Adventure”

 

Tim Ross, Family Advisor ®
Family Office providing Omega Stewardship ®
613-345-0016 Office 
613-213-4625 Cell/Text  advisor@timothyross.com
 
Helping Families Achieve ...Life’s Major Goals ®
 
OMEGA STEWARDSHIP  ®
* One Stop Process Driven Approach for Retirement & Income Planning
* Personalized Tax Management Solutions for Individuals & Business Owners
* Confidential Wealth Management Solutions
 
Mutual Funds through Professional Investments 
 
Brock Shores Financial  #ImprovingFutures
 
Enjoy, Learn, Engage, Join our new online community at www.ImprovingFutures.ca

 

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Sharper Image Story

I got this really interesting story this morning from the purveyors at Hustle, it is long, interesting, cool and worth sharing. Enjoy. 

Timothy Ross

 

 

How one man built The Sharper Image into the world's wackiest gadget store

It took a marketing genius to build the kingdom of flashy gadgets — and a $229 air purifier to take it all down.

BY ZACHARY CROCKETT

The Sharper Image was a kingdom.

It was a kingdom where you could, in an afternoon trip to the mall, purchase an electric nose trimmer ($39), a motorized surfboard ($2,450), and a bulletproof raincoat ($400), then take a ride in a $1,500 massage chair while being serenaded by a bird-calling robot.

It was a kingdom once described as the “breast implant” of retail, a place where man and child alike could bask in the artificial glow of flagrant consumerism.

This is the story of the man who founded this great kingdom — and how one flashy gadget ultimately led to its downfall.

King Richard I

Richard Thalheimer had all the trappings of a world-class salesman.

Born in 1948 in Little Rock, Arkansas, he spent his youth working odd-jobs in the toy section of his father’s department store. He went on to study psychology and sociology at Yale University, where — during his freshman year — he sold enough encyclopædias to buy a brand new Porsche.

In his early 20s, Thalheimer ventured to San Francisco and started a wholesale business that catered to the then-burgeoning photocopier industry.

“I named it The Sharper Image,” he says, “because I thought that my paper and toner would help people make good copies.”

Left: A young Richard Thalheimer poses for a yearbook photo; Right: In the early days of The Sharper Image (via SF Examiner)

While running The Sharper Image, Thalheimer enrolled at Hastings Law School — but making physical deliveries to businesses in the Financial District every afternoon between classes began to take its toll.

“I was completely taxed,” he says. “So I thought, ‘Why don’t I try mail-order?”

The million-dollar running watch

The mail-order catalogue — a publication that lists products and allows customers to order them remotely via mail or telephone — had been around for a century. As early as the 1880s, Tiffany’s and Sears were hawking their wares in 300-page booklets. 

But in the 1970s, the mail-order industry was having a renaissance moment: Roger Horchow had just launched the first luxury color catalogue without a physical retail location, and Joe Sugarman was running the first-ever mail-order magazine ads — beautiful, full-page photos with poetic product descriptions.

Thalheimer wanted to try his hand at it. But first, he needed a product.

At the time, Seiko had just rolled out a first-of-its-kind fully digital watch — but at $300, most runners couldn’t afford it. Coincidentally, Thalheimer came across a small booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where a man was selling a “very similar” product for $35 wholesale.

He struck a deal with the vendor and bought out a full-page ad in Runner’s World Magazine, offering the watch for $69. For the copy, he chose to feature his friend, Walt Stack — a “legendary, fully-tattooed 70-year-old” who was known around San Francisco for his crazy daily routine, which included a 17-mile run across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Left: Walt Stack on his daily 17-mile-run in the ‘80s (Eric Risberg/AP); Right: Thalheimer’s first Sharper Image ad, for the Realtime watch, starring Stack (Courtesy of Richard Thalheimer)

At a cost of $1k, the ad netted Thalheimer $10k in sales (about $5k of which was profit). He repeated this process — each time, with better results — and by the age of 27, he’d made his first million dollars. 

By 1979, Thalheimer’s system of advertising was so successful that he decided to launch his own catalogue high-tech gadgets nobody knew they needed.

The Sharper Image catalogue

Thalheimer embarked on a quest to find the most unique products on the market — things that “other people didn’t sell.”

“At the Consumer Electronics Show, everyone would gravitate toward the big guys, Sony, Panasonic,” he says. “I’d go straight for the little booths, the people selling things nobody had ever heard of.”

The first catalogue contained 25 items, including the first cordless phone, answering machine, and car radar detector. He avoided superfluous adjectives in his copy, and focused on the features that made the products exceptional.

Very quickly, his experiment began minting money: The first year, sales topped $500k; the second year, they reached $3m; by 1980, $12m. Soon, the catalogue was being sent to 3m people around the world, at a cost of $1.4m per mailing.

He catered specifically to the 20% of Americans who had credit cards, and offered them a 1-800 number to place orders over the phone. In a small San Francisco office, with a staff of 5 or 6 people, a dozen orders were processed every 60 seconds.

The Sharper Image catalogue featured products like the Snore-No-More ($59) — a device that shocked snorers with an electric pulse (via Flickr user Mike Mozart)

The Sharper Image struck at the right time.

In the 1980s stock boom, flashy gadgets and conspicuous consumption were in. “He who dies with the most toys wins” was the ethos of the decade.

Thalheimer expanded into physical retail, opening stores in well-to-do enclaves across America. In New York, bankers dipped in to peruse $1500 massage chairs; in Hawaii, tourists fawned over electric nose hair trimmers and talking scales. By 1985, The Sharper Image was grossing $100m in sales — with no outside capital or debt.

At the company’s helm, Thalheimer was what the New Yorker described as the “very model of a major entrepreneur:” Tanned and muscular, deliberate and tenacious, and infallibly gifted at curating ridiculously niche gadgets, like a mini electric fan on a necklace (priced at $49, it sold 10k units a month).

“I can see the future,” he toldan LA Times reporter in 1984, “I know when a trend is coming and when it’s leaving.” In an AP interview, he hailed himself as a “marketing genius.” Nobody could disagree.

When The Sharper Image IPO’d at $10 per share in 1987, the chain, and its outspoken CEO, seemed incapable of failure. That is, until the ‘80s ended.

Do I really need that gadget?

In the early ‘90s, the economy weakened and sparked a recession: Suddenly, conspicuous consumption was out and frugal environmentalism was in. 

The Sharper Image tried to switch gears by selling more “socially responsible” products (like Birkenstocks, vitamin energizers, and benches made of recycled plastic), but the strategy had a limited effect.

Between 1989 and 1991, sales fell by 28%. Staff was was cut by 20%. Stock tumbled to $2. And for the first time in company history, The Sharper Image posted a loss.

The Sharper Image saw a dramatic decline in the early ‘90s (The Hustle)

“The Sharper Image has become a cliche for the worst excesses of the last decade — the Donald Trump of specialty retailing,” wrote the SF Examiner. “Nobody needs what they sell.”

For a CEO of a publicly-traded company, Thalheimer was unusually involved in minute decisions: His penchant for controlling what color clothes employees could wear, how they decorated their desks, and what type of coffee mugs they used earned him a citation in California Magazine’s 1988 Worst Bosses in America list.

So, he decided to step back from day-to-day operations and go back to his roots: Finding wacky, one-of-a-kind products. It didn’t take long.

At a “hippie street fair” in San Francisco, Thalheimer stumbled across a blue gel shoe insert — the first of its kind. “I stood up in front of all my deflated employees, pulled this thing out of my suit pocket, and said, ‘This is going to turn us around,’” he recalls. “Everyone thought I was nuts.”

At $19.99 a pair, the inserts went on to become the company’s best-selling product, selling hundreds of units a day and adding 50% to their sales figures.

Several years later, in 2000, Thalheimer came across another game-changing product at a toy fair in Hong Kong: The Razor scooter. He negotiated an exclusive 24-month deal and sold a million of them in the first year. It was, he says, “a second lease on life” for the company.

Razor scooters revitalized The Sharper Image, but raised new concerns (via the AP)

Bolstered by the rise of the internet and online sales, the Razor led The Sharper Image to the best performance in its 23-year history. It was no longer just a place for “tech-loving snobs” to buy elitist gadgets.

But this success came with a looming concern: The Sharper Image was turning into what analysts described as “a one-product company.”

The air purifier that killed the company

Thalheimer had long operated by finding intriguing products elsewhere, signing exclusive distribution deals, and selling them under The Sharper Image brand name. But he knew that if it designed and patented his own products, margins could be higher.

In a secret location north of San Francisco, Thalheimer assembled a team of engineers and designers and formed Sharper Image Design to make gadgets in-house. 

“[It was a place] where where the inner child could come out in every man, with gizmos blinking and whirling,” later recalled an employee. “The only thing missing were white coats and propeller hats.”

The team churned out some 300 patents and 100 products, ranging from fogless mirrors to anti-snoring wristbands that jolted the offender with an electric shock.

But the crown jewel of the operation was a noiseless air purifier called the Ionic Breeze.

Ads for the the Ionic Breeze (via The Hartford Courant, 1999)

The Sharper Image put all of its resources behind the machine, taking out hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of magazine, newspaper and TV ads. Despite its $229 price tag, it became a smash hit.

By the turn of the millenium, the Ionic Breeze was so popular that it made up 45% of all of the chain’s sales. And as it turned out, this was a huge problem.

In 2002, Consumer Reports(a nonprofit product review publication) ranked the Ionic Breeze dead last in a feature on air purifiers, deeming it “ineffective.” Thalheimer was furious, and filed a lawsuit against the magazine, claiming it had “negligently disparag[ed] the product.” It was tossed out, and cost Thalheimer $525k in legal fees.

“We did a very stupid thing by making a big stink out of it,” cedes Thalheimer. “It was like suing Jesus Christ...it infuriated them, and just led to more trouble.”

Three years later, Consumer Reports struck again — this time alleging that the Ionic Breeze didn’t just suck at purifying air, but actually emitted harmful amounts of ozone. Once again, Thalheimer took them to court and lost.

The blowback cost The Sharper Image millions of dollars in store credits and refunds — and soon, stockholders began to question Thalheimer’s magic touch.

Held at Knightspoint

In the Spring of 2006, a group of outside shareholders by the name of Knightspoint Partners snapped up 13% of the company.

Led by famed corporate raider Jerry Levin, the group demanded a shakeup of the board. At first, it seemed they genuinely wanted to help Thalheimer guide The Sharper Image back on track, but it soon became clear that they were gunning to oust him and remodel the company in their own image.

The Sharper Image’s “new image” included some poor decisions, like featuring Trump Steaks on the cover of a catalogue; meat packages started at $1k (The Hustle)

In September, Thalheimer was fired and forced to sell all of his remaining shares for a sum of $26m — a fraction of what his holdings were once worth. When he came into work the next day to gather his belongings, the door was locked. His desk, still covered with the wacky emblems of his career, his now occupied by Jerry Levin.

Knightspoint set to work recrafting The Sharper Image into a general electronic retailer, like Circuit City or Best Buy. Or, in Thalheimer’s estimation, “stripping away the imagination.”

By 2008, stock had plummeted to 28 cents per share. Within a year, The Sharper Declared bankruptcy, closed down all 183 stores, and laid of 4k employees.

The company, now run by an investor group, continues to exist online — but it’s a shadow of its former self. The weird gadgets have been usurped by USB drives and motion-activated light bulbs — and Thalheimer’s oddball charm is nowhere to be seen.

Richard Solo

Looking back, Thalheimer doesn’t harbor much ill-will. He runs his own gadget site, aptly named RichardSolo.com, and has taken up investing.

“My days are a lot more enjoyable,” he says. “It’s not as egocentric as being the head of my own company. But at this point, I’d rather be alone.”

He tells The Hustle that his net worth is “3-4x higher” than when he got pushed out, and that his studies of the stock market have earned him beefy returns of between 50% and 100% per year.

Thalheimer poses with a favorite from The Sharper Image catalogue (via Richard Thalheimer)

But Thalheimer hasn’t completely abandoned the kingdom.

At his Marin County mansion stands a lavishly-adorned suit of armor — a $2,450 relic from The Sharper Image catalogue. An old cordless telephone dangles from its ear.

It is a sight that can only be described as perfectly Thalheimerian: A blend of the old and the new, the eclectic and the cutting-edge, the blunt and the sharp.

 
 
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Weekend Recap

Miss an email this week? Here’s a rundown of our top headlines from the past 7 days:

1. WORDPLAY OF THE WEEK: You smoke, bud?

Canadians once again prove they’re chill after the country officially made weed legal for all uses on Wednesday, but some industry experts believe the share prices have gotten too highhhhhhhhhhhhhh, man. What a buzzkill.

2. OUR FAVORITE: The Palm Pilot is back -- but more useless than ever

All was a buzz as the Palm Pilot brand announced its new “ultra-mobile” Palm phone that is smaller than a regular cell phone and aims to eliminate digital distractions -- only problem is it has pretty much all of the same features as normal cell phones.

3. ‘TODAY I LEARNED’: That if a concert sells out, it usually means ticket prices were too cheap

As ticket scalpers and resell sites continue to run rampant on the industry-wide ticket inflation problem, Taylor Swift and her team concocted a strategy to help combat the issue… and so far, it’s working.

4. OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS: The ‘Real World’ returns... on Facebook?

The world’s first hit reality show announced it is coming back to a cell phone screen near you. The old format will come with some new interactive surprises, and air on Facebook’s new premium content platform, Facebook Watch.

5. TECH TROUBLES: Lime tried to sue San Francisco for getting snubbed on scooter permits

After being denied the highly anticipated San Francisco scooter permit, Lime filed for a temporary restraining against the city, in hopes that it would delay scooter releases for the 2 companies that did receive permits.

 
Now Playing Now Playing:
The Masterplan, Oasis. Everybody’s got one.
0 SHARE THE HUSTLE
REFERRALS
http://ambassadors.thehustle.co/?ref=b7d8bb140b
YOUR UNIQUE URL

 

 

Now, back to the corn field

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Marriage thoughts at Rotary Joke time

Got a copy of these tonight in my meeting notes from last weeks meeting. During our Rotary meeting, we have a joke master and Don DeGroot provided these for our enjoyment. 

The love of my life made me puff ball bread sticks tonight and a smoothie, that’s pretty good for a 9 pm snack on a Sunday night!

 

Answers to questions about Love and Marriage from six to ten year olds 

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?   
 
"You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming."
- Alan, age 10 ....... {Smart Guy}
 
"No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with."
- Kirsten, age 10
 
WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

"Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then."
- Camille, age 10
 
"No age is good to get married at.  You got to be a fool to get married."
 Freddie, age 6 ......... {Even Smarter Guy}
 
HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

"Married people usually look happy to talk to other people."
- Eddie, age 6
 
"You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids."
- Derrick, age 8
 
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

"Both don't want no more kids."
- Lori, age 8
 
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

"Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other.  Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough."
- Lynnette, age 8
 
"On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date."
- Martin, age 10
  
WHEN IS IT OK TO KISS SOMEONE?

"When they're rich."
- Pam, age 7 ............ {Girls Sure Start Early}
 
"The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with  that."
- Curt, age 7
  
 IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? 

"It's better for girls to be single, but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them."
- Anita, age 9 .................. { A Lot Of Truth Here}
 
"Single is better, for the simple reason that I wouldn't want to change no diapers.  Of course, if I did get married, I'd just phone my mother and have her come over for some coffee and diaper-changing."
- Kirsten, age 10
 
HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

"There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?"
 - Kelvin, age 8
  
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK? 

"Tell your wife that she looks pretty even if she looks like a dump truck."
- Ricky, age 10 ............... {Huh?}
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Harvest for Food Banks

Yesterday was a full day. I was in the field shortly after 8 getting setup. Robert Dentz and Bill lifted some more rows, they had done a number the afternoon before. People started driving in after 9. We were out of the field by 5. I headed to Prescott Food For All Food Bank with Megan with our final load, came back, cleared the field of pails and hauled the second trailer back for unloading of the pails tomorrow wrapped up just after 7, will get them back into storage and be ready for the next adventure tomorrow. We gathered over 18,000 pounds of potatoes and squash for local food banks and feeding organizations in our community of Brockville and Prescott. There had to be over 50 volunters assist throughout the day, maybe more.

Greg Houldcroft , Executive Director of Cross Town Impact stepped up another year to help get the word out and inspire youth and families to journey to the fields. This event started over 9 years ago when I coordinated with Highway Pentecostal Church to help glean the fields, that would put it around 2010.

Looking back at some old notes , we often stretched this into the colder months

 From: advisor@timothyross.com
Sent: Monday, December 2, 2013 3:08 PM
To: Leigh Bursey  Cc: Rodger McCabe  Subject: Re: ummmm.
​​
Hi Rodger and Leigh, I did a site inspection this afternoon and met with the Dents, there is not enough left to make it viable to do anymore harvesting, what is left will remain for personal consumption and perhaps some secret weapon chips :) Interesting the Kale that is still left is in good shape considering the recent weather, very impressive cole crop.
Thanks for your help and interest, Together We Did Some Great Good, thanks again . Over 4 Thousand Tons of food. Tim
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
From: advisor@timothyross.com
Sent: Monday, December 2, 2013 4:41 AM
To: Leigh Bursey  Cc: Rodger McCabe Subject: Re: ummmm. 

That year Leigh had a car accident on the Sunday before this email. I missed seeing Leigh this year, however he was out for a bit in the morning and picked a few pails that added to the effort.

We had a beautiful day and were blessed with a great day and effort. The passing of the rain clouds was huge answer to prayer, early that morning it did rain a bit, fortunately not enough to stop the process. It had been wet leading up to the harvest, Thursday morning it ws hopeful that things would turn around as we would not be able to get on the fields on Saturday if it did not. Fortunatly Thursday and Friday the wind picked up and the sun came out to help allow the fields to get dryed out enough so Robert could dig the potatoes and then the volunteers pick and bag them .

There is lots of pictures on facebook, this link should take you there.

https://www.facebook.com/omegastewardship/media_set?set=a.10155511473375563&type=3

Greg has album at

https://www.facebook.com/pg/CrossTownImpact/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1967092233371333&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDtObyWVXOjfdP30bSAK5IMyZzpo1udXwEkDIFvQHge3gtKUnpTypeK3anCpEq9Q5ratXNl9Zi_-Rmlu5ZlhJhnLNryvXbc-LwiG4XrYCjBBFHsosKv0PnlUTTH5144_EWWCYxFqb-C_jE907X04pukCfsSSrjiJ2zibaE9bIFkMZxdb1k0_3-PEI2bixPMkLgB2xav5Sy1cRWMzQYu3Ze4lf--4r2mXQ&__tn__=-UCH-R

There is also some video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ8Ci_E95Ns&index=2&list=PLhhVyaUmOQur0rWarodS7R-IZ83neSIGv&t=0s

 

Event Page yr 2018

https://www.facebook.com/events/252158168820736/

Event Page Year 2017

 https://www.facebook.com/events/136567547086454/

Event Year 2016

https://www.facebook.com/events/546632402194822/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/CrossTownImpact/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1169036719843559&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCazWgQ4SdKeLuU6JG6HLwReyBALnuVOYCwpBx_C6WDGgY58PKrKiOuaMD0nwPqIMvQaeDQPrqK8Ok0lhk4RYun3UFB5O8Wsq1pvKF6PB-yt37OBc5j-BIQxnTczhxHhj6ydidL04yIz3nHse6ylKh6OhJAWK8WwSMmp5DS50NbSfNyP5HqX8PU_Cs0stifUPwrgdz7Ap3OACiQwoDfYUcmDn4scB7qKg&__tn__=-UK-R

https://www.facebook.com/omegastewardship/media_set?set=a.10153781321420563.1073741895.727085562&type=3&pnref=story

Event Year 2015

https://www.facebook.com/greg.houldcroft/media_set?set=a.10154776959060282&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/omegastewardship/media_set?set=a.10153026923140563&type=3&hc_location=ufi

https://www.instagram.com/p/8aF0sTR60w/

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156091696175282&set=a.10151301171315282&type=3&fref=mentions

https://www.facebook.com/greg.houldcroft/media_set?set=a.10154776891170282.1073741933.510830281&type=3

Event Year 2014

https://www.facebook.com/greg.houldcroft/media_set?set=a.10154754538255282&type=3&hc_location=ufi

https://www.facebook.com/greg.houldcroft/media_set?set=a.10154754538255282.1073741928.510830281&type=3

Event Year 2013

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=630250570350187&set=a.609011945807383&type=3&theater

 

 

 

 

We don't always get potatoes, in 2011 there was none. 

reviewed with Iris next weekend, for church harvest , Sat Oct 29
​- need shovel's, pitch forks, knives for processing
​carrot's, beets, cabbage, squash

Hotlist Task Created: Phone Call, no potatoes this yr. but other stuff
With: Dentz, Robert & Iris
Scheduled by: Tim Ross  Assigned to: Tim Ross  October 17, 2011

I believe I started this back in  2009 so we have about 10 years of harvesting under our belt at this point. I say about as over time our memories float around the beginning , going to search my archieves and confirm at some point :) 

In the year 2013 I wrote 

Year2014 - Tentative Date Set , Year 5 , it will be an all day event, come and go as you please. Rodger and I have worked the full day almost every time in the past , so it really needs a full day's effort and depending on the produce availability a few extra visits may be required to get it all gleaned.
There was about 5000 pounds of potatoes that we were unable to glean, plus beets , kale, squash , tons of stuff that we just didn't have the people power to glean. Hopefully next year with a greater outreach of volunteers, and expanded time line, that can all change, many hands make for light work.

 

so that is looking like year 2010 start harvest, the planning seed began in 2009 from a conversation I had with the Dents's that fall. 

So, looking like year Year 10 will be 2019, and for fun, lt's set a tenative date  Sturday October 12, 2019 with a rain date oct 19

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleaning

 

 

 

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Starting Right Financial Advice

Basics We All Can Achieve

 

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ray-dalio-3-financial-recommendations-millennials-153540994.html?soc_src=community&soc_trk=ma

 

Ray Dalio has some great tips on what one should do, the title says Millennials, however this is a message many should aspire to. 

So no matter where you are in life, reset, restart, contact our team and get a review and clarity for your financial plans. Let’s put some action into #ImprovingFutures 

Enjoy

Timothy Ross

Founder, Brock Shores Financial

advisor@timothyross.com

613-345-0016

 

Read more…

FSCO update Insurance Regulations

http://trk.mmail.lst.fin.gov.on.ca/list/euidlxqe/180928E/dxqy8f.vib?a0=875

 

 

Reviewed the guidebook today. Fairly good common sense, communication. Take care of clients needs. Due diligence and go the second mile to ensure clients understand what they have and what their options are. 

 

Click on the link above for the full guidance report. 

 

A couple things I would like our firm to get better at is letting clients know the broad range of products we have available. Travel insurance, health benefits and hospitalization insurance come to mind. 

Tim Ross, Founder Brock Shores Financial

#ImprovingFutures

 http://ouradvisor.ca/TimothyRoss

 My license link

Licence Confirm

Check others 

Confirm other agents

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Use That Breath

Take a breath and Use That Breath 

 

A simple first step to become a better listener? Breathing. Many of us can’t help ourselves but jump into a conversation, offering our pearls of wisdom to anyone willing to listen. Psychologist Kenneth Miller says we should take a breather instead. When we breathe before speaking, we give others room to reflect on what they have been saying. It’s an act of generosity. That extra breath also gives us time to think of insightful questions that might truly help the people we are speaking with. •”

 

 

Proper breathing is an obvious next step. I have been working this the last month with my ARP Practionair as we work through my shoulder pain. Remapping years of miss use and bad posture. The pain is leaving and I can do more movements and feel almost normal and stronger and healthier now. Every exercise requires the proper breathing technique otherwise it is simply more difficult and not as effective, without the breathing done right I can often not complete the activity or make progress.  Mike has taught us big belly breathing. Expanding our belly to create capacity for inhaling and exhaling through our nose. Four in with belly expanding, pause, Eight count out with belly contracting, pause, repeat. This simple yet sometimes difficult to achieve method helps to oxygenate and expand our breathing capicty.  It helps work through the pain and exhaustion and helps the mind think better. Litany of other benefits I am sure. 

 

I am up to two sets of our regime and had a person best of a 60 second hang yesterday. Small steps make a profound difference. Remember to breath properly. Stand properly, feet straight ahead , turn those toes so you are properly aligned , keep your head up , eyes forward, arms by your side and of course smile. 

 

The note above reminds us of the of the importance of breathing. It’s free and has huge benefits.  

Cheers!

Tim

#ImprovingFutures

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.
Praise ye the Lord.” Psalm 150:6

 

Just Breathe and just be

https://youtu.be/hnjeMwxFuBA

 

Breathe by Johnny Diaz

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Through Back Thursday - Circa 2007

Through Back Thursday - Circa 2007

Going through my archives I came across some great memories. Some building blocks of Timothy Ross & Associates.  This is one of the foundation documents that I produced in March 2007 where I summarized the concept of the process that I was building call Omega Stewardship.

This document is in it's raw form, the inside view, the bricks that built the business.  ~ TLR

 

Omega Stewardship ® "Providing the Multi - Family Office Solution"

The Reason

1. Compliance & Disclosure

2. Maintain & Enhance Existing Client Relationships

3. Convert Prospects to Clients

 

Who, What, When, Why, Where

 

Omega Stewardship is a brand developed by Timothy L. Ross, a Financial & Tax

Advisor, who has been practicing and serving clients since 1988. Mr. Ross,

created his own designation, Family Advisor, to distinguish himself in a

crowded financial services market.

 

He has developed several brands, and slogans to enhance and differentiate

his business from others in the industry.

 

"Where Client Goals Become Our Goals"

 

"Merchant of Hope & Prosperity"

 

"Family Advisor"

 

"Steward of Faith, Hope & Prosperity"

 

"Helping Families Acheive ... Life's Major Goals"

 

"Gaurdians of Your Families Wealth"

 

"Omega Stewardship"

 

Tim's creative and imaginative mind has been able to take some of the best

of the best ideas and integrate them into a practice standard that allows a

very comprehensive and holistic approach to financial planning. His process

is geared around complete personalization of all key communications with

clients.

 

Mr. Ross and others in the industry believe that this system will be a boom

for any advisor that has a desire to streamline their client management and

acquisition process. The tools combined with professional competancy will

ensure a successful, profitable, meaningful , well run practice.

 

Compliance Dream

 

The system integrates all compliance matters to help reduce litigation and

misunderstanding between advisor and client. The full disclosure engagement

letters, risk profile, numerous disclosure documents required today,

investment policy statements and ongoing educational matters helps to

control and reduce risk. The practice standards that drive the client

contact process ensure proper notes, documents, meeting guides and activity

reports that allow an advisor to maintain an active log of all

communications.

 

Your compliance officer will sleep well knowing you are providing Omega

Stewardship.

 

Maintain & Enhance Existing Client Relationships

 

Omega Stewardship helps to consolidate all parts of a clients financial

plan, current and future. Integrating these matters in a tangible way,

involving the client and advisor in what we call a work in process, the

process is never finished, as life is always evolving and so the financial

plan must as well. Clients become advocates of Omega Stewardship and the

advisor providing this level of quality care and service. The system will

uncover hidden opportunities and the client will see were they need help as

well, it is a work in progress. You will have deeper more satisfying

relationships and you will make a real true impact and difference in your

clients and their families life. You automatically become more referral and

they will become advocates for Omega Stewardship and you as the advisor.

 

Converting Prospects to Clients

 

"We have a process, and it makes all the difference" When a prospect sits

down with you and they see you have prepared for the meeting, they know they

are working with a professional who knows her business. When they see what

you have already prepared for them, even before you have done business, they

will know you are serious and they will want to work with you. No one else

will be able to provide what you just offered, it is tangible, they can see

it, touch it, with coaching they will feel it. That will give you an edge

and help convert all the business to your management. It will simply be hard

for them not to give you their business.

 

We practice Continuous Improvement.  Creating efficiencies, documenting processes, procedures and this helps to reduce potential confusion that can occur in a busy family office practice.  This helps to raise the bar for the client experience.

--

Timothy Ross

Family Advisor ® , since 1988

Branch Manager Professional Investments

"Steward Of Faith, Hope & Prosperity" ®

"Where Client Goals Become Our Goals" ®

www.timothyross.com www.youradvisorcares.com

"Helping Families Achieve ... Life's Major Goals" ®

 

"Life's Major Goals"

 

1. Tax Smart Planning & Investing

2. Worry Free Retirement

3. Education of Our Children & Grandchildren

4. Quality Care for Our Parents

5. Meaningful Financial Help for Our Loved Ones

6. Meaningful Legacy

 

Sincerely,

 

Timothy L. Ross,

Family Advisor ®, since 1988

"Where Client Goals Become Our Goals" ®

"Helping Families Achieve... Life's Major Goals" ®

 OMEGA STEWARDSHIP  ®

Guardians Of Your Family's Wealth"

 

 

 

 

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