Noticed it this morning as I was walking the dog; there’s always that one day every year when I stop and realize that it’s not summer anymore. Today was that day. Truth be known, this might just be my favorite time of year. I saw the constellation, Orion, in the sky last night. As you may be aware, Orion only appears in the fall and winter sky. I’ve always thought of Orion as my ‘lucky’ sign. It seems good fortune always happens when I can see Orion.

Got a lot happening in life and business. One of the annual events I always look forward to is right around the corner. Debbie and I never miss the Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off at Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. It’s just a fun Saturday in September thing to do. Maybe 300 booths and they’re all competing to win the best chili title…so thousands of people walk from booth-to-booth sampling the Chili and the Brunswick Stew while drinking Miller Lite. Bands playing and people sitting on blankets in the meadow. I’ll put up a video after the event, stay tuned. Here’s the link if you’re interested… http://www.theatlantachilicookoff.com/about.htm

And Debbie and I are going to London in October where I’ll be performing a Prosperity Seminar on October 15th at Regents College, Tuke Hall Theatre. We’re anticipating 300 in attendance. We will also be meeting with Ecademy Management since I have just become Ecademy City leader for Atlanta. We also plan to attend the Ecademy networking event on the evening of October 14th.

As soon as we return we’ll be planning our first big Ecademy-Atlanta networking event. October 24th, 7-10 PM at Dave and Busters Gwinnett. If you live in the Atlanta metro area, you’re invited. RSVP at (800) 726-0510. The first two drinks are on me, plenty of food. It is our plan to make Ecademy ‘HUGE’ in Georgia-Atlanta. it is absolutely the most superior social-business networking web presense in the world.

Then, you gotta do this with us! Every year we have Thanksgiving at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Lake Oconee, Reynolds Plantation, in Greensborough, Georgia. It is an incredible tradition….and every year it seems more of our friends and auto dealers and families show up and join us. It is the ultimate holiday family experience.

My friend, the General Manager, Steven Freund, always personally welcomes the guests. http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantation/Default.htm

When you arrive, the doormen and bell staff are all dressed in “Bagger Vance” period attire. The hotel staff is dressed as elves and there is the world’s largest gingerbread house. The outside festivities the night before include roasted chestnuts, candied pecans, hot cider, hot chocolate, available cocktails-beverages, hot dogs and other treats. At sunset they light hundreds of thousands of white lights in the trees and on the buildings…beautiful. Local choirs and kids group sing and perform, and finally Santa arrives in an unconventional way. Debbie and I usually make reservations at “Linger Longer” the four-star restaurant on property for the night before Thanksgiving.

And, if you’re a golfer, there’s a world-class beautiful course right there. remember, we’re only a couple of miles away from Augusta where the Masters is played. This is golf country.

The Thanksgiving Dinner is incredible. It’s something I look forward to all year. The chefs work tirelessly to put out the most wonderful gourmet Thanksgiving buffet I’ve ever experienced. All the traditional Thanksgiving fare as well as exotic preparations and exquisite foods. The desserts are to die for.

If you decide you want to be there, you need to hurry and make your reservations. I don’t get anything special out of recommending this BUT, if you mention my name to Steven Freund, the general manager, I get the feeling you’ll receive VIP treatment. Hope you can make it and be with us, it’s a family experience you’ll remember always…JIM