1. Twas night before office holiday party

And you are getting a good night’s sleep after having chosen an appropriate outfit, and gone over your EQ (social skills) because you, Smart Elf that you are, understand “office party” is an oxymoron. You’re going to work and you’re going rested and prepared, just like any other work day.

2. Rudolph Red-Nosed Reindeer?

Remember, he didn't get to play reindeer games. Drink little or none at all. You’re being watched and you need your wits about you.

3. Frosty Snowman was a jolly, happy soul.

Fine line again. It’s that old “business” and “party” combined. Don’t be cold and “businesslike,” it’s time to be warm and congenial. Act like you’re glad to be there! Make it a point to talk with as many folks as you can. But it isn't time to ask for a promotion or raise by trying to do a "snow job" on your boss.

4. Mama in her kerchief and you in your WHAT??

Spare us, spare your job. Dress appropriately. We don’t want to see your hairy chest, new tattoo, naval, cleavage, or top 12” of your thigh. And neither does CFO. You should aim for a festive-but-professional look.

5. HO HO HO

Be full of merry seasonal conversation-starters, like “Did you know that ‘mistletoe’ means ‘dung-on-a-stick’?” j.k. I mean that’s what it does mean, but you might want to save that one. Well, it's "twig," but I ask you, does it matter what your dung is skewered on?

Okay, how about this? Mistletoe etiquette dictates that after you kiss under it, you remove a berry. When all berries are gone, kissing is over. However, don’t eat berry or your kissing days will be permanently over. Holly berries and every part of mistletoe are poisonous. Now isn’t that interesting? No?

There is no such thing as failure. You have to take action to do what people call "failing." If you take action you'll learn something. If you apply what you learn then you didn't fail and you learned a way to not get where you want to go. You learned something you know to not do again.

What have your actions taught you? What's moving you forward and what's holding you back?

There are different ways to build a profitable online business, but a few rules apply to everyone. No matter how you're working on your business always remember basics:

1. The bigger your own personal opt-in e-mail list is, more money you'll make. The guru's say magic number is 10,000 subscribers. I began seeing results after I passed 3,000. Nothing is more important than building your list. All of your efforts should be directed towards building your list.

2. If you sell your own product you'll make a lot more money a lot faster.

3. The more you believe in what you're selling and how it will help others, more money you'll make.

4. If you're in it just for money, you'll have a hard time. It's no different than someone who works a commission sales job trying to sell a product they don't care about.

5. A business is not a get rich overnight proposition. The longer you stay in game more successful you'll become. Business online or offline is business. It's a marathon race, not a sprint.