I had the chance to speak at my BNI meeting today in Gambrills, Maryland about three of the green products that Vollara produces -- an air purifier, our water purifier and the laundry pure device.
Our air purifier received a nice testimonial today from a new customer who has some chemicals around his shop that he uses when printing logos on t-shirts. He commented how the chemicals and the smells are being taken care of by the air purifier.

Vollara's air purifier ionizes the air through the use of electricity and UV light which causes the particles in the air to act like magnets and be attracted to each other. The particles quickly become too heavy to remain in the air, then drop to the ground, leaving behind fresh clean air. Scientific studies reveal that the particles drop out of the air 250 times faster than if they settled out of the air because of gravity. People who have asthma or allergies would be good referrals for me. Also, I am hoping to talk to more real estate people. The air purifier can help clean up smelly listings, so the properties can be sold more quickly.

Our water purifier is very effective at removing impurities like lead from the water. It also removes chlorine, but leaves the minerals, which have health benefits. The alkaline, electron-rich water produced by the purifier has a number of health benefits including

• antioxidant properties
• enhances hydration
• neutralizes free radicals
• improves circulation
• enhances colon function
• absorbed quickly at the cellular level

Most people would benefit greatly from the use of this product. Although the studies have been around for some 50 years on the benefits of alkaline water, the U.S. hasn't awakened to its benefits. Japan and Kore have been using alkaline water extensively in homes and health care institutions for decades.

Drink your way to good health with Vollara's Living Water Essentials.

For more information on Vollara's air purifier and water purifier, go to
www.myvollara.com/chuckmacdonald

Chuck's Choice: Crush It!

I just finished "Crush It: Cash in on Your Passion" by Gary Vaynerchuk. He has been enormously successful turning his father's wine business into a multi-million dollar wine business. I'm not into wine, but it's a compelling story on how he used his passion plus the tools of social media to rocket the business to a new level. His video blog is quite humorous and engaging. See it at www. winelibrarytv.com.

His advice for how to remake your business, begins with this guideline: "True success--financial, personal, and professional--lies above all in loving your family, working hard and living your passion."

Vaynerchuk describes how to use your passion for business success in 10 steps (p. 135 of his book)

1. Identify your passion.

2. Make sure you can think of at least 50 awesome blog topics to ensure stickiness.

3. Answer the following questions:

· Am I sure my passion is what I think it is?

· Can I talk about it better than anyone else?

4. Name your personal brand. Have a clear idea of what it is.

5. Buy your user name--.com and .tv

6. Choose your medium: video, audio, written word.

7. Start a Wordpress or Tumblr account.

8. Hire a designer.

9. Include a Facebook Connect link, call-to-action buttons, share functions, and a button that invites people to do business with you on a prominent place on your blog.

10. Create a Facebook fan page.

Chuck MacDonald is the owner of Vollara, a small business in Bowie, Md. For more information about Vollara products, including the air purifier Fresh Air Surround, go to www.myvollara.com/chuckmacdonald. Contact him at 301-343-2078 cmacdonald@ecobusiness.com. Chuck's Vollara business page is located at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Breathing-Free-in-Bowie/140971549287623.

The news around our household is that we are waiting to hear the news any day now about the arrival of our first grandchild. My son and his wife live in St. Louis and we are looking forward to seeing all of them in less than a month.

Other warm thoughts came from a small business owner I met recently at BNI, a business networking group I belong to in the area. He keeps busy running his business and has friends come over from time to time to work on a custom car they are building in his garage. It's cold in that garage and he was not pleased his heating options.

I was able to provide him with a welcome solution, Vollara's SafeHearth. This portable heater warms up to 1,000 square feet of space. it has a timer that enables the user to heat the room for two, four, or six hours. It also has an automatic shut-off in case the machine gets bumped or tips over. If you know of anyone who does projects in his garage or has an office in their basement that needs heat, the SafeHearth would be a good solution. In addition the heater purifies the air using Vollara's ActivePure technology. The SafeHearth produces over 5,000 BTU of heat and uses 1,500 watts of power. This SafeHearth technology is far more advanced than antiquated infrared light systems, which have become obsolete.

For more information about the SafeHearth, go to www.myvollara.com/chuckmacdonald. Contact Chuck MacDonald at 301-343-2078 cmacdonald@ecobusiness.com for more information about Vollara products.

Small business spotlight. CPA firms. Clark & Anderson, 410-766-5400, Glen Burnie, MD contact person: Sharrie Wade, CPA Breneman & Company, 314-469-7007, Chesterfield, MO, contact person: Corey Breneman Remember it's not what you make that counts, it's what you keep!

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe" Proverbs 18:10

Are you concerned about your drinking water?

Maybe you should be. The Washington Post published an article on Dec. 21 that raised concerns about the safety of drinking water in 31 cities across the country. The specific problem was with a chemical that tainted drinking water and was featured in the film "Erin Brockovich."

But don't be nervous. Do something about it. "But I already drink a lot of bottled water," you say. According to the article, that may not help since the water is often drawn from city tap water.

A water purifier from Vollara could help you relax again. This state-of-the-art purifier removes lead and chlorine, but leaves many healthy minerals in the water. In addition to getting rid of toxic chemicals, the water uses direct disk technology to add electrons. This electron-rich, alkaline water is much closer to water's natural state. It also has antioxidant properties making it a healthy every day choice.

You don't have to be nervous about your drinking water any more. Drink your way to health with Vollara's Living Water.

Quote of the day: "Life is a unique combination of "want to" and "how to" and we need to give equal attention to both." -- Jim Rohn

Small business spotlight Coffee News, The best reach for your advertising dollar in the Baltimore-Crofton-Annapolis area.Tom Balsamo, 410-360-0588 www.coffeenewsbowie.com

For more information on Vollara's state-of-the-art water purifier, contact Chuck MacDonald 301-343-2078 cmacdonald@ecobusiness.com

It's Cold Outside; But Inside Can Be a Problem Too

As the temperature has dropped across much of the nation, most people are spending more and more time indoors. But what is the quality of the indoor air?

Many homes have problems with mold, dust, smells and mildew. And the family pet adds to the contamination with pet dander. For people with asthma, allergies and breathing problems, this can be a toxic combination.

A high-quality air purifier can eliminate many of these problems and make breathing easier for all concerned. The Fresh Air Surround by Vollara scrubs the air leaving it clean and fresh. The FreshAir Surround uses technology based on how nature keeps things safe and clean outdoors. The natural processes found in thunderstorms, sunlight, and lightning are re-created indoors. Negatively charged ions remove pollutants from the air. ActivePure Technology duplicates nature to safely reduce contaminants on surfaces.

If you have children who attend school, clean air is even more important. Children frequently bring germs home with them that can be passed to siblings and parents. The Fresh Air Surround eliminates 98 % of many germs within two hours. That figure goes up to 99%+ removal within 24 hours. For more information about the Fresh Air Surround by Vollara, go to www.vollara.com/shop/environmental-purity. Contact Chuck MacDonald at 301-343-2078 with your questions.

Small business spotlight. Is it time to give your house a check-up? I would highly recommend two home inspection services. These are reputable people who can give your house a check-up to let you know of any problems that might be forth-coming. It's kind of like getting a 75,000 mile check up for your car.

Rachel Oslund, Pillar to Post Home Inspection, 410-804-8626 rachel.oslund@pillartopost.com

Phil Graham, AbodesWell, 410-626-7308 Phil@abodeswell.com