Changes to The Quality Corner

There are many views of change.  Some think change is good.  Others are afraid of change.  I have had very mixed views of change.  The Quality Corner has gone through a lot of changes recently and I'd like to share them with you.

In February, I made the decision to close my eBay store.  It was not an easy decision.  I thought long and hard before I made the final decision.  You can read all about that decision here.  Looking back, I know it was the right thing to do. 

After closing the eBay store, I was faced with a decision about the direction of my business.  In the book industry, a massive shift has been made toward ebooks.  I have grown to love ebooks, so I could understand why they were growing in popularity.  I chose to keep up with the trends.  I was determined to be a forward-thinker.  I did not want to get stuck with one way to do things.  So, I tried to sell ebooks.  I made links available on my blog to purchase ebooks from popular retailers like Barnes & Noble and iTunes.  I was very excited about this opportunity.  However, my excitement quickly waned.  Ebook sales for me paled in comparison to the sales I made on eBay with books in print.  I became discouraged.

Although I have loved the experience of owning an online business and working from home, there have been some downsides.  One of the biggest issues for me was that I missed working around people.  Although I craved human interaction, I was very skeptical about going back to work in an office.  I absolutely loved the freedom that working from home gave me and I just was not willing to give that up.  So, again I was at a crossroad.

At this time, I met a Notary Signing Agent.  I had never heard of that profession before.  She told me that she loved her job.  I began to do research about this field.  It sounded like something that I would enjoy.  I found out that I would first have to become a Notary Public and then become certified to be a Notary Signing Agent.  I decided to give it a try.  I took a couple of classes and passed the required tests and I became a Notary Signing Agent.  I started a new business - Quality Notary Services.  I began working my new job this summer and I love it!  To find out more about my new profession, visit my website at www.qualitynotaryservices.com. 

So, what does that mean for The Quality Corner?  Well, I'm still passionate about books and I always will be.  I will continue to blog about books and direct my readers to the best places to purchase my favorite books.  I still have my connection with the large book distributor that I have worked with for years.  So, I will maintian my relationship with local clients, including Columbus City Schools.  However, I will discontinue my bi-weekly newsletter as of August 15, 2012.

BlackBookReview.com has been operating as a division of The Quality Corner.  BlackBookReview.com will remain in operation.  I have made a few changes to the products that I offer.  You can find out more about those changes by visiting www.BlackBookReview.com. 

I would like to thank all of my clients, business associates, friends and family for all of your support over the years.  Since The Quality Corner opened in 2008, it has been a roller coaster ride.  Thank you for taking the ride with me.  It has been my great pleasure serving you and I look forward to continuing that relationship!

Book Review - "I Can Do Anything, Too" by Carolyn Mattocks

“I believe the children are our future,” sang the late Whitney Houston.  How true those words are!  We look to the next generation to be our future leaders.  Young people need direction today in order to be good leaders tomorrow.  Carolyn Mattocks has done an excellent job providing that direction with her latest book, I Can Do Anything, Too.

This book was written specifically for Latino students in grades 8-12.  It is a guidebook that examines several careers and it helps students determine their interests.  The careers discussed throughout the book demonstrate that Latinos are successful in many fields.  Some of the fields that are discussed include: Math, Science, Medicine, Politics and Writing.  Specific examples are given of famous Latinos in each career field.  Students are helped to see that they are not limited, but they truly can do anything.

The book contains activities that help the student to explore the skills needed for each career.  The student is encouraged to assess their skills to determine if they would excel in a certain field.  Resources are listed so that students can do additional research on careers that interest them.

One section is devoted to recognizing the leadership of Hispanics and contributions they’ve made to American history.  The book states, “The Hispanic immigrants and individuals born in the United States continue to add richness to all aspects of the culture of the United States through their language, customs, ideas and vision for a better world for all.”  After reading this book, Latino students will have more reason to take pride in their heritage.

Carolyn Mattocks has a love and passion for History.  She has worked in diverse settings such as federal agencies and academic institutions.  She has received various honors and attained many achievements.  Her knowledge and experience is evident in her writing.  Mattocks states, “The I Can Do Anything, Too book promotes an understanding of the past by demonstrating that when children better know their history, they gain a positive self-image which leads to self-confidence and self-esteem.”  I couldn’t agree more!  This book is an excellent tool to promote students’ self-confidence and to help them see that they can achieve anything.  I enjoyed this book very much and I know that every reader will appreciate it as much as I do.