From The Contest Queen

Almost two months ago I interviewed Helene Hadsell on my radio show.  After our interview I decided to focus my energy on specific prizes and goals.  The prizes I chose for myself and family were: a new car, a romantic trip, a family trip, a home and backyard makeover, a big screen LCD HDTV, a BlackBerry Curve and a Wii.  I also stated I wanted to be a guest on Ellen.

I decided it would be easier to attract the smallest prize first.  (Why I don’t know, because as per The Secret, it is just as easy to attract a million dollars as it is a cup of coffee.)  At any rate, I found myself getting very impatient, and I’ll even go so far as to say anxious, that the BlackBerry didn’t practically materialize in front of me.

I tried various methods to bring one to me quickly; entered contests, looked at spending loyalty reward points from several different programs, and calling my wireless service provider to inquire about an upgrade price.

Several weeks went by and still no BlackBerry.  I was still entering the contests, I didn’t have enough points in any program to get a BlackBerry, and I tried my wireless provider again.

Last week, as I had yet to win a BlackBerry, I thought I would try my wireless provider one last time.  This time, instead of being quoted full, or even half, price, I was quoted $75.  That sounded reasonable to me.  I upgraded.

During the upgrading process I discovered they were having a data package special; 6GB for $30 per month.  (Until now data rates for smartphones in Canada have been very high and disproportionate to comparable plans around the world.)  Had I waited until after September 30th, the same package would be $100 per month.

Was my impatience a part of my manifesting a BlackBerry because the Universe knew an inexpensive upgrade with an inexpensive monthly plan was better than a free phone with a expensive plan?  Plus, in the box, I had a coupon for a free 2GB memory card and a GelaSkin!

I did not know, or see, this “perfect package” until after it occurred.  I believe in pronoia, that the world in conspiring for me.  Trust that all is well, it will be and is.  That the Universe will not only bring you what you ask for, but if you allow, you can get something even better.

What are you asking the Universe for?  Always be specific when asking for what you want and be open to receive something better!

If you are wondering, “Why did Carolyn so desperately want a BlackBerry in the first place?”  I see myself doing quite a bit of travel in the near future and I felt a BlackBerry would keep me connected, in a much better way, than the cellphone I had.  Now, not only can receive calls and text messages, but I have my entire address book with me, access to email, I can surf the web when required, plus use the BlackBerry as a portable modem.

Have you ever felt like the last person on earth to jump on the bandwagon? Pick-up on the latest trend, fashion or fad?

Well, I finally bought Eckhart Tolle’s book A New Earth.  (It’s been on the New York Times best seller list for 34 weeks and is currently number 1.)

I am halfway though chapter four.  I LOVE this book (I highly recommend it!) as I have had a great number of AHA moments.  So I wondered, why I had not picked it up before now?

A few answers came to me.  Better late than never.  When the student is ready the teacher appears.  There is no time like the present.  (I think the last one is most apropos, as Eckhart teaches about being in the now, now is all there is.)  I was finally ready to hear his message, and to integrate it into my being, my truth.

So it’s OK not to be first.  It’s even OK to be last.  As long as you are learning.

I am also enjoying the chapter-by-chapter archived classes on Oprah’s website hosted by both Oprah and Eckhart.  I am watching each one after I read the chapter.  I have yet to do the workbooks.  For me, this book deserves a second reading.  Like a movie you see more than once, I think I will learn something new with each review.

The more balanced we are as human beings, the more good we can allow into our lives, including prizes!

Usually contests that request some form of CGM (Consumer Generated Media) such as a picture, video or essay, garner a far fewer entries than a contest that asks the entrant to submit a simple form.

We Canadians are passionate about our hockey.  The Canada’s Hockey Anthem Challenge received more than 14,000 entries!  They had to have over 100 judges from Canada’s music industry narrow the selection down to five semi-finalists.

Each night, starting September 29th, The Hour will feature one of the semi-finalists.  Then on October 4th we get to vote on our favourite.  That will narrow the selection down to two finalists.  On October 9th we get to vote for the winner.

After reviewing the rules there is no prize for voting (unless new rules are uploaded October 4th) but knowing how passionate we are about hockey, we Canadians will happily vote anyway.

(I am really interested to see how this one turns out, considering the original fiasco that required the CBC to obtain a new anthem in the first place.)

Have you ever heard of six degrees of seperation?  It’s the small world phenomenon which states we are only, up to, six people away from knowing each person on the planet.  A game was even created in the early ’90s showing how every film actor was only six degrees away from Kevin Bacon.

This is my second post on my Ellen campaign.  What I want to know is, who do you know that can help me become a guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show?  Are you one, two or three degrees away from Ellen?

Also, there are many roads to Rome, or in this case Ellen.  The path to Ellen may be via Leno or Letterman.  So, of you are a full six degrees away from Ellen, who are you only one or two degrees away from? Rachel Ray?  Conan O’Brien?  Regis Philbin?  Jimmy Kimmel?

Please email me directly if you think you can help.

THANK YOU!

What fun I had today! I was a guest on the new EZ Rock morning radio show. That might not sound very exciting to you, but it was an interview two years in the making.

In 1992 when I first began dating Craig, I listened to a soft rock station and he listened to alternative rock. He is a night owl, so he would need to have his clock radio on very loud or he wouldn’t get up for work. (Mom, don’t read this part.) When I would stay over and his alarm would go off, I would jump about 10ft out-of-bed. I would lie there listening to the Humble Howard and Fred morning show. They were really funny. Over the years I followed them around the radio dial as they moved from station-to-station. Welcome to a life in radio.

When the Canadian Edition of You Can’t Win If You Don’t Enter was first released, I was in the process of becoming a guest on the Humble Howard morning show. (Fred had been released from his contract by that point.) Humble Howard went on holidays only to find out the entire morning show had been replaced while he was away. The opportunity to meet a radio host I listen to for 15 years also disappeared.

For two years I floated from morning show to morning show. Basically whoever had the best contest going at the time was who I tuned into. Until one day mid-August when I tuned in to EZ Rock and heard Humble’s voice. I was ecstatic!

After listening a for a few weeks, I thought, “Hey, maybe I can still be interviewed by Humble!”. I mailed him a letter and a copy of my book. Last week I received an email from the morning show producer. Humble wanted to interview me!

Sometimes when we set a desire or request in motion, it doesn’t immediately appear we assume it wasn’t meant to be. Be patient. Maybe it’s your timing, not the Universe’s that’s “off”.

What have you been waiting for in your life? Don’t give up. You never know when it will appear.

I will definitely hold another blog contest. This was so much fun!

I began having my own contests when I added a draw from all the subscribers to The Winning EDGE e-newsletter. Recently, I added draws for prizes donated to my Contest Queen radio show, but both of these drawings are very simple, either finding the winner within a spreadsheet or counting the number of emailed entries.

The reason I liked the blog contest so much is, I felt a real participation with the entrants as not only did they want to win my book, but also revealed wonderful little winning tidbits about themselves.

So CONGRATULATIONS go out to Deborah of Wilmington, NC! She was the winner of an autographed copy of You Can’t Win If You Don’t Enter – American Edition. Read the Introduction chapter here.

Some people were asking in their comments where they could buy my book. You can buy it from me, Chapters Indigo, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, or download the sell sheet – Canadian or American – and take it into your independent book store so they can order it in for you.

I have been asked what is the difference between the Canadian and American Editions of my book. Well, I didn’t intend to write two books. It just worked out that way.

When I first had the idea for my book I had no idea where to start. A colleague who had written a marketing book told me, “Create the Table of Contents and keep writing.” So I did.

While I was doing research, I discovered the Annual National Sweepstakes Convention held every summer in the United States. In 2005, I contacted the committee that was running the convention, bought passes for my husband and I along with wrangling myself a speaking spot.

I was not prepared for what I found. What I found was 600 kindred spirits. For the first time in my life I felt as if I belonged. What a great feeling! (As good as a win!) I also discovered many differences between Canadian “contestors” and American “sweepers”, the first being the lingo. The second is; Americans must pay income tax on all their winnings. Plus all the online resources are different. From that point forward It became obvious to me I had to write two separate editions of my book.

Being Canadian I finished the Canadian Edition first, published in March of 2006. Then I began on the American Edition. I thought I could write it in six months. I finished it in 18 months. (Adding in a six month hiatus to run a convention. What was I thinking?!). The American Edition was published in April 2008.

Technology moves so quickly I would like to update the Canadian Edition before I begin writing my third book (working title) How To Create A Promotion From The Outside In. It will be for marketers and how they can avoid the errors we entrants see in promotions, over and over again.

I would also like to write a fourth book on LUCK.

Now I only need to clear my desk, the big pile of filing, the backlog of emails in my inbox, and catch up on my contesting….

I announced my first blog contest yesterday. WOW, what a great response! I think I am having as much fun running the contest as I do entering them! (Maybe I’ll do this once a month?!)

I am LOVING all the great comments. (I read each one to ensure nothing offensive has been written before approving it.) Such fun stories about prizes, adventures or various perspectives on the hobby.

I did want to post some replies to a few of the comments. If you are new to my blog, I do offer many free contesting and sweepstaking resources on my Contest Queen website. I also write a free bi-weekly e-newsletter and host a free bi-weekly online radio show (which is now also podcast on iTunes).

Many people are stating that they rarely win, never win or only win small prizes. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” If you think you rarely win, or you won’t win, you won’t. I say, “Half the hobby is in your head.” You have to think you are lucky and you have to think you are a winner (and believe it) before you are lucky and a winner. I expect to win and therefore I do. I recommend reading, (besides my book of course) The Law of Attraction by Michael Losier. His book is a simple step-by-step how-to book vs. The Secret which many people find overwhelming or sometimes confusing if they are new to the concept of you attract into one’s life what you think about most.

GOOD LUCK to all!

At first glance the headline may not seem to be true. I ran a contest last week and Kay won tickets to see $5 a Day from the TIFF. I feel the headline is true because this is, what I believe, to be what a real blog contest is; post a prize, ask for comments, draw a winner. I am keeping my first one very simple. Simple is good.

Who can enter? Anyone.

How does one enter? By submitting a comment to this blog post. No comment will be judged, so essays are not required. Have fun as that is what this hobby is all about! One entry per person please.

When does it end? The contest closes at 11:59pm Eastern Time on Friday September 19th.

The prize? An autographed copy of my book, You Can’t Win If You Don’t Enter. The winner will have their choice of either the American or Canadian edition.

I will choose the winner the same way I do for all my prize draws. I will use random number generating software to select an entrant.

GOOD LUCK!!

Journalist Natalie Pompilio wrote a great article about sweepstaking that appeared in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer.

Read full article here.