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You Are Now Free to Fly

July 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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leap-of-faith

You Are Now Free to Fly

by Frederika Angus

Here in the United States, we are celebrating the 4th of July or Independence Day. By this afternoon, backyards and parks will be filled with family and friends gathered together to celebrate the holiday. Fireworks will fill the night sky as we look up with childlike wonder at colorful displays with reverence the freedom we have.

But what does freedom really mean?

Freedom is defined as 1) The right to speak or act without restriction, interference, or fear, or; 2) a country’s right to rule itself, without interference from, or domination by, another country or power, or; 3) the state of being unaffected by, or not subject to, something unpleasant or unwanted.

On today, I believe the 2nd part of that definition is what immediately comes to mind. But the freedom that we have and live daily is more than a corporate freedom by default of living in a free country. I believe freedom is much more personal than that and can be expressed regardless of the location or country in which you live.

Daily, I’m honored to serve brilliant entrepreneur and visionary business owners all over the world. When asked how they started their business, you’ll the hear multiple stories from just looking to add an additional (or primary) income, chasing dreams to turn their passion to profit, being laid off, wanting to bring a bigger change to the problems they see around them or even just sick and tired of being sick and tired of the same thing day after day. While each story is individual in details, you can hear woven together in the telling of their business beginnings one common thread; business gives you freedom to be and do what you love.

And on the surface it means, you get to do what you want, when you want, if you want. But much on a much deeper level your business has the right to speak a message of light to those in darkness, and the ability to share hope and show love to every person you serve. You are free to face your own fears BOLDY and say, “I do not choose to shrink down and accept what is given to me. I am determined to take leaps of faith (often daily) to build and create the business and life that I love!”

Bald Eagle Soaring

You are now free to fly!

Take a look at that definition again! You can speak and act without fear. You can look at limitations and restrictions and choose to go over, around and even through any hinderance to you living your best life right now. You can choose to not be affected by those things that are unpleasant or unwanted. Freedom is your right to live as a creator of your circumstance based on what you say and do! You can soar like an eagle.

So today and everyday remember that you have the right and full on permission to be more and impact many others with your business and your life. See you in the friendly skies. You are free to fly!

Talk to you soon!

Frederika Angus

 

 

Filed Under: Mindset, Motivational Moment Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Using A Blog To Build Your Brand – 5 Tips For Blogging Success

January 6, 2013 by 1 Comment
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Using A Blog To Build Your Brand – 5 Tips For Blogging Success

by Frederika Angus

Blog for profit Blog with social media tips for beginners

Blogging these days is about as popular as smartphones; nearly everyone has one. And if you aren’t currently writing a blog, it’s likely that you’ve started one and quit writing in the past, you read someone else’s blog regularly, or you have an idea to start one.

Using a blog is one of the most effective ways to share your creativity, inspiration, and message quickly with those it will resonate with. It is also a great tool to use to brand yourself, share your expertise and build a business around. If you’re just staring out with blogging or looking for help to blog successfully, here are a few tips that will help.

1- Be You!

Authenticity is a critical point to branding, building a business and life in general. The popular phrase “Fake it til you make it” does not work well in the blogging world. People are naturally more suspicious of things that sound to good to be be true. No wants you to be perfect. Being perfect is a myth. Being the real, genuine, best you on your blog will results in building a brand that doesn’t feel like a production. Your blog will become the natural extension of who you are.

2- Be Positive!

When building a brand, save the drama. People may enjoy and laugh and agree with you for a while, but do you want your internet lasting legacy to be one of negativity? Think about the books, tv shows, and friends you enjoy and like to regularly read, watch and be around. If you’re like me, it’s very likely that negativity is draining and you much prefer the positive inspiration to constant negative news. Create that same culture for your brand through your blog.

3- Be Consistent!

Show up and write regularly. Attention spans tend to be short so if you don’t show up, you will quickly be forgotten. Bring your brand to the top of mind for your followers consistently. Once you determine your routine, this will be easy!

4- Be Focused!

Before you start, decide what exactly you will be blogging about. Try not to shift and jump around. For instance, if I talking about branding then jump into discussing makeup and fashion, that will create a disconnect between the topics and with my followers. Decide your focus and the topics you will discuss on your blog. When people arrive at your blog it should be clear what you are about and the type of information they will receive.

5- Be Diverse!

Everyone doesn’t like to read blogs in the same fashion. Some may like to go directly to your website, while others prefer to read them directly from their email. Other’s may happen upon your blog from the many social media outlets you post on. Be sure to provide your blog content in diverse ways. Being able to stay connected with your followers in the method they prefer most, will be beneficial in growing your following and spreading your message through blogging!

I hope you enjoy these tips!

Post below if you have any questions or to just let me know how these tips help you out!

Talk to you soon!

Frederika Angus

 

Filed Under: Branding, Wordpress Website Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Power of Belief For Your Brand Growth and Profitable Business Success

February 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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The Power of Belief For Your Brand Growth and Profitable Business Success

by Frederika Angus

What do you believe?

“If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won’t, you most assuredly won’t. Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad.” Denis Waitley

Businesses are built and grow based on your belief. Oftentimes people tell me that they would love to be a business owner. Being able to do work that you love and have a passion for, determining your schedule for greater freedom and flexibility, and having the ability to create a legacy and wealth for your future is appealing. Unfortunately, the next thing they say starts with a big BUT.

“But I just don’t think I am cut out to be an entrepreneur.” “But I don’t have the time.” “But I don’t think that this idea will work.”

Today I want to encourage you to Change Your BUT! I am not just talking about reciting some affirmations over and over again. I am talking about changing your mindset about what you believe is possible for you and your business.

Credible personal and expert branding is supported with your belief. If you know that you are an expert in your industry as a fashion stylist, chef, makeup artist, software developer, business strategist, whatever you have skill in, you will be treated and compensated as such.

As William James said “Belief creates the actual fact.” What facts are you creating in the marketplace for your brand based on your belief?

You see branding is more than design element or a necessary part of your overall marketing strategy. The power of branding lies in the mind. It is rooted in the perception that people have about you and your business. As the face of your company, you have the opportunity to shape that belief for your clients and customers by what it is you believe for yourself and the value your business has.

Start this process by asking and answering these 3 questions.

    1. What does your ideal client currently believe about you and your business? All brand strategies should begin with a clear idea of how you are being seen in the marketplace. Your client’s perception of you produces their reality and it is important in the development of a brand message.
    2. What do you believe about you/your business? If what you believe and what your customers believe to be true about you are not in agreement, your branding efforts have a huge disconnect. This is usually the point a brand strategy experts should be brought in to create or transform the brand message.
    3. What do you want people to believe about you and your company? Brainstorm the ideas that you want to leave people with. Every word that people read about you, every visual element they see, the voice and tone of every message, should reflect who you are and what you stand for.

How you and your clients perceive your business will make an impact in the expansion, growth and overall success of your branding efforts. “Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy.” Tony Robbins. Be mindful of your thoughts and the power they have on your brand.

Talk to you soon!

Filed Under: Branding Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Keeping Up With the Joneses – Free Tools That Will Help Your Business Hear the Marketplace

January 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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Keeping Up With the Joneses – Free Tools That Will Help Your Business Hear the Marketplace

by Frederika Angus

How much time do you spend researching your target market? Your industry? What about your competition? How consistently are you obtaining feedback from your clients?

If your answer is not enough or not at all, don’t feel badly. Most solopreneurs and many small business owners don’t have dedicated research and marketing departments. Unfortunately, not knowing what the marketplace desires or needs could really be hindering your profits and your branding.

If your small business is just starting up or hasn’t been involved in the marketplace for many years, you may not have much insight into target market research or industry trends. You may only recognize the terms because you know they are included in formal business plans. The benefits of being able to “see” what is upcoming and having your ears to the ground are numerous.

What would it be worth for you to know the needs of your customer, provide them and be the sought out industry expert?

Fortunately, there are tools available for free that can work for you while you continue to get the work of the business done. In this article, I’ll discuss my two of my favorites. They will help you keep up with the Joneses, whether your Jones is Customer Jones, Industry Jones or Competition Jones, and enable you to make informed business decisions.

Google Alerts

Google has a very innovative group of tools that has changed how we use and even refer to web searching and the internet. Google Alerts are emails sent when Google finds new relevant information that match your specific search terms. The results provide you with a listing of newspaper articles, web pages and blogs allowing you to monitor anything on the web.

You can set up alerts for your business name, your name, keywords, your website address, even on your competition’s company name to “hear” what the world has to say. You can even decide how often you want the alerts delivered to you. For more critical terms, like your name (if it isn’t a common name) or the name of your company, it may be best to have at a minimum a daily delivery. For industry terms, you may only want to receive information once a week.

Twitter

I am a social media enthusiast (read: I am a social butterfly that loves spreading her wings via social media). As a researcher, consultant and strategist, I absolutely love the power of being able find out anything, immediately, with social media. As a marketer, coach and encourager, the ease of being able to share valuable information with people I may not otherwise have met is one of the highlights of my day. As much as I enjoy Facebook, I have to confess Twitter is my favorite when it comes to hearing what people are saying.

The biggest bonus to Twitter is the search functionality. Pop in your company name or industry keyword and you are instantly connected to real-time updates. Depending on which Twitter app you have installed on your smart device, you can even save those searches for future use and see what new information is available in the palm of your hand.

Hearing the marketplace has just gotten easier!

Do you have any favorite tools to listen to what marketplace is saying? I’d love to hear them!

Talk to you soon!

Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , ,

8 Essential Qualities of Exceptional Entrepreneurs

December 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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8 Essential Qualities of Exceptional Entrepreneurs
by Frederika Angus

 

Success in business is the goal of every small business owner. While there is no magic formula that will guarantee your success, there are essential qualities that exceptional entrepreneurs possess.

1. Integrity – In the simplest of definitions, integrity is about doing the right thing. As an entrepreneur, your customers and clients want you to do what you said you would do, when you said you would do it. Never lie, exaggerate or pretend to be what you are not to get new business. Even if you have to lose money in the short-term, do the right thing everytime and you will build a brand with loyal customers.

2. Generosity – One of my mentors in business truly has one of the most generous hearts. She is leading by example how to share and go above and beyond in giving great value and wisdom to others. Your ability to be generous is directly associated with your mindset. If you fear sharing ideas with others because you don’t want them to “steal” or use them, you are operating in lack mentality. Remember that there is enough business to go around and collaborating with those who may even be competitors can still generate wealth for you.

3. Humility – Have you ever been around someone who is constantly talking about all they have acquired and achieved? Do you enjoy being around those that act that way? Being humble in business, contrary to the belief of some, is not a sign of weakness. It is actually a sign of strength. Only those secure in themselves can lift other’s up without feeling as though they are being diminished. Enjoy and be confident in your accomplishments. Just remember to leave arrogance and ego behind as you grow as an exceptional entrepreneur.

4. Discipline – Successful entrepreneurs are not those that get lucky or have better fortune than others. They are defined by their consistent commitment to do the things that need to be done. When you work for yourself, it can become easy to push off the least fun tasks until the very last minute. It is impossible to live the dream if you refuse to do the work it takes to make it a reality. Discipline will dictate whether you create effective results.

 

5. Persistence – The most difficult situations and undesirable events I have been through have always been conquered with this motto : “Never, never, never give up!” I use it during a difficult workout and in the midst of naysayers telling me my ideas will never work. Statistics will tell you most small businesses will likely fail within 5 years. The businesses that do succeed all have one thing in common, in spite of downtimes, they never gave up! Learn to be persistent.

6. Focused – To be exceptional in your business pursuits, being able to stay focused is critical. The mind of an entrepreneur is like a playground to a child. There are so many directions that you can steer your business in, sometimes it is hard to decide and stick with that direction. There are two or three things that are more important than everything else that you must take ownership of and focus on. Doing so will take your small business from good to great.

7. Innovative – Creativity is important but being innovative is essential in business. What’s the difference? Being creative speaks to your ability to think or imagine something original. Innovation is implementing or bringing new ideas to the market in the form of services and products. Innovation could be thought of as harnessing the creative energy and moving those great new ideas through a defined set of processes to an ultimately valuable conclusion. Long-term profitability for small businesses will depend on your ability to continuously innovate.

8. Passionate – When you are doing what you love to do and have been made to do, it feels less like work and more like living. Your enthusiasm about your business as an entrepreneur will show up to your clientele and attract customers. Passion will be your fuel on those days where you may reconsider if you’ve made the right choice.

Anything else you think should be included? Feel free to share in the comments.

Talk to you soon!

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship Tagged With: , , ,

Start Your Small Business Brand Strategy By Bringing You to the Table

December 8, 2011 by 2 Comments
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Start Your Small Business Brand Strategy By Bringing You to the Table

by Frederika Angus

I bet you can recognize all of the above businesses without seeing the company name. Talk about brand recognition!

But what is branding anyway?

Depending on who you talk to, branding is often thought of as a name or logo. The visual identifier that everyone will see, remember and relate to. Maybe you’ve already been through the logo design process. You researched different colors and the emotion that they invoke. You spent hours determining what the perfect tag line or even company name should be.

While that is all good, people do not do business with logos and tag lines. Yes, those items can help attract clients to look at your company. Having eyes on your business is great! The goal is to also make a profit while you have people looking.

Have you ever been at the grocery store and selected a shiny red, apple that looked flawless? No blemishes. No bruises. Leonardo da Vinci could not have painted a better work of art. But when you get home and take bite, it is not at all what you thought it would be. The skin is tough and the flesh lacks flavor. The outer appearance was deceiving and as you got below the surface you were disappointed.

Does your business brand leave your customers and clients that way? The image and logo look great, but just under the surface, what they identified with on the outside isn’t there?

Small business branding IS the owner. It is about what the owner says, does and how you as the owner and your personality meets your client in every aspect of the business. Branding is how you build and maintain relationships, the manner by which you do business and serve other people. It is how at an individual level, rapport is established because your clients trust your character, not from theme music, logos or slogans.

People are attracted to you! The best way to begin your business brand strategy is with you. Every business has a personality and as a solopreneur, you must make sure that it is your personality (not the person you pretend to be in the shower when no one is looking) that is showing up everywhere.

Faking it until you make it no longer works in the marketplace.

Consumers are craving authenticity and real connection with the people they do business with. Your ideal client has to believe that you are credible and will deliver exactly what you say that you are able to do.

Bringing all of who you are to the table means that your brand is instantly as unique as you are. The one thing your competition cannot copy is YOU. They can make a similiar logo, or advertising campaign. They will never be able to replicate you. Save the money you would have spent on all the shiny objects and flash and utilize it for more effective and strategic advertising.

Perhaps you’ve heard the quote, “Be the change you want to see.”

When it comes to branding, be the brand your customer wants to see.

Talk to you soon!

Filed Under: Branding Tagged With: , , , ,

You Must Remain Focused On Your Journey to Greatness

November 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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You Must Remain Focused On Your Journey to Greatness

by Frederika Angus

As one with a spirit of an entrepreneur, great ideas and creativity flow from you easily. In any given day, you can think of 3 new product ideas, 2 service offerings, and business expansion opportunity. Being able think of and become the solution for your ideal clients’ problems is a gift!

But you’re feeling overwhelmed and all of the ideas swirling in your head do not at all feel like a gift. It’s more like a hinderance to getting anything done.

Never fear. It isn’t your ability to create, follow-through or mental capacity that is the problem. It’s your focus!

I am a recovering super multi-tasker. I use to believe if I could just get as many things started as possible, I’d be more efficient, and by the end I would have accomplished more. My faulty way of thinking, left me with half done documents, emails, organization projects and even laundry! My inability to focus left me more overwhelmed and stressed at the end of the day. I couldn’t clearly see what I had accomplished when it came to check things off the to-do list. I had started 5 things and finished none!

Living life fully depends upon our ability to observe carefully, give attention where it’s needed, and concentrate on ONE task at a time.

Here are some strategies I find helpful to upgrade your ability to focus.

1. Procrastinate first – Give yourself 5-10 minutes of distraction before you begin a task. Our minds like to wander. Set a timer and check your social media accounts, text a friend, doodle in a notebook. When you clear your mind first, it becomes easier to focus later.

2. Live by a to-do list – Every time you think of something new you need to read, research, or invent, WRITE IT DOWN instead of switching gears from your current focus. Make a list every day of what you must complete by the end of the day. All the new to-dos that are not urgent can wait.

3. Take care of your mind and body – Burning the candle at both ends does not help you get more done. Sufficient sleep can positively impact your attitude toward the tasks that you have to complete. In addition to that, your brain needs time to reboot and recharge. It will help your memory and your ability to concentrate. Exercise and a well-balanced diet also increase healthy brain activity and your focus.

4. Remove the distractions –  When you have something important or difficult that must be completed, close down the email, turn off the cell phone, shut off the social media notifications or instant messaging tool, put a sign on the door and get to work. I have a system where I check my email only 2-3 times a day in order to increase my productivity.

Implementing even just one of these strategies can improve your ability to get more done and feel less overwhelmed.

Talk to you soon!

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Project Management, Time Management Tagged With: , , , , ,

Going from Angst to Action And Why You Must Develop Habits NOW That Will Allievate Your Anxiousness

November 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Going from Angst to Action And Why You Must Develop Habits NOW That Will Allievate Your Anxiousness

by Frederika Angus

The phone is ringing, three new emails have come in, there is a pile of mail that you have yet to go through, it’s already 6PM and you haven’t even gone to the grocery store to begin preparing dinner. The list of things that must be done never gets shorter and somehow the time you have to accomplish everything never gets any longer. You find yourself behind the eight ball again with deadlines looming over you and the desire to just go to bed or veg out on the couch and watch movies as if that will make all the work go away.

Frantically you look around and ask, “Where is the easy button that makes getting things done simple on TV?”

Then you think to yourself, perhaps if you had a different day planner system, or used your email calendar to schedule everything, this wouldn’t keep happening. Maybe if you read another book on effective time management.

You don’t need another book on how to stop procrastinating. You need to change your mind about the tasks you must complete. Somewhere along the way you have picked up the habits of everyone else. While waiting to the last minute may not be so bad for them, you are a business owner. Those habits have created an anxious atmosphere in your life and in your business. You are losing sleep, customers, and credibility in the marketplace because of it.

“The successful person is the average person with laser-like focus.” ~Bruce Lee

It is easy to be overwhelmed from managing a business, especially from home, and household activities IF you have not developed the habits of a focused successful business owner.

Many people allow a lot of time to pass without taking any useful steps because they cannot imagine what to do next. When looking at the vision for your business, there are always many smaller pieces that have to be put in place to bring it all together. Unfortunately, because you are overwhelmed the mere thought of doing the smaller tasks, it keeps you from doing anything.

All business owners are busy. The ones that breakthrough and become very successful are those who are committed to being focused and understand the value of their time. You see time management is not about HOW you manage time. There are any number of tools, both paper and electronic that can help you keep a schedule of things to do. Time management is about how you manage yourself so that you use your time more effectively.

I have had the honor to led millions of dollars in project initiatives for companies. During this time I’ve learned that the key difference between the best program and project managers was their ability to manage their time and manage the time of those on their team. They are skilled at not only knowing what to do, but when to do it and who should do it. By understanding time management, their projects always came in on time and usually under budget leaving all the business partners happy and excited to move them to the next bundle of work.

The techniques are the same for entrepreneurs. Getting in the habit of knowing what to do, when it should be done and who the best person is to complete the task will yield great results for your business. Doing so will alleviate your anxiousness every time a task comes through your inbox or client needs you. You will be able to rest easy at night knowing that you are equipped with habits that will lead to your success. Being successful is after all why you went into business!

For all those who are overwhelmed with too many things to do, too little time to do them, and a general sense of unease that something important is being missed, I am offering a FREE class on keys to move you further in your business with time management.

It’s time to get serious. Register here NOW!

Talk to you soon

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Time Management Tagged With: , , , ,

Start Planning Your 2012 Business Goals Now

October 19, 2011 by 1 Comment
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Start Planning Your 2012 Business Goals Now

by Frederika Angus

Doesn’t it seem like time is flying? The end of 2011 is quickly approaching. In less than 3 months, it will be 2012! Will you be ready?

Just last week I was casually chatting to a colleague about the direction we were taking our respective businesses. The more we talked about the bigger vision we had for the companies and ourselves, we both discovered that we were already focused on planning for 2012.

It use to be that you could start thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions as you were on your way to be with friends and loved ones for the stroke of 12 midnight on the last day of the year. Do you still have the resolutions that you made for 2011? Are you three-quarters of the way complete with your list? Did you even bother?

If you’re like most, the answer is I’m not even close to acheiving those goals. Or I didn’t know how to start! While you might think it is ok to push that weight loss goal off until 2012 (you know you have one!), when it comes to your business, you should be getting started now. Your success in 2012 has to start with the planning you do now.

No procrastination on this one guys. Here are some things to think about and take action on that will make it quick and easy to plan your goals so that they will guide you next year.

Take a look back. One of the best ways to know where to go is to look to see where you’ve been. What did your 2011 look like? Where did your business excel, and where did you struggle? What experiences did you have that you enjoyed, and which do you want to make sure you never repeat? Knowing what went poorly can guide you to make goals that can prevent that from happening. Seeing where you were wildly successful can alert you to make sure you continue to incorporate those activities in the future. Remember this is not the time to cry over spilled milk or overly celebrate your successes. Look back to learn and let’s move forward.

Write them down. Part of the problem with planning for the future is failing to brainstorm on paper. (Or writing them on some random piece of paper and then losing it.) Pull out a notebook or journal and start thinking of anything you want to accomplish. WRITE IT DOWN. Remember to dream big. Thinking too small is like trying to squeeze into your jeans that must have shrunken in the dryer *wink*. They don’t fit you and they really aren’t comfortable.  Have a vision large enough for you to grow into. I don’t advise you do the same with those jeans.

Make SMART goals.  Your goals should be specific, easy to understand and clear. Saying you want to grow your business can mean different things at different stages. A more specific goal would be to add new customers to the business.

What you can measure, you can manage. Having measurable goals allows you to see if you’re actually on track to accomplish it. Adding 5 new customers to your business is a more measurable goal.

Your goals should stretch you beyond where you currently are. At the same time, they must also be attainable. Goals that are too far are from your reach are less likely to be accomplished. Create a goal that isn’t too easy that you’re aren’t challenged but not so difficult that you never start on it. Adding 5 customers to your business is much more attainable than adding 100 new customers when you’re first starting out.

Why do you want to accomplish this goal? Your goal needs to be relevant to your bigger vision. When a goal connects with your purpose it causes more excitement and increases the likelihood of your success.

Put a time limit around each of your goals. Goals that are time-bound create a sense of urgency to get started now. Remove the procrastination barrier and put a time frame on that goal. Adding 5 new customers to your business in 6 months will cause you to plan how to bring in each of those customers to reach your goal.

I suggest as you begin your planning for 2012, set no more than 10 goals with a good mix of short and long term goals. You must have long-range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short-range failures. Once you complete a goal, add a new one to the list. The point in creating the goals is to continute to pull yourself into the next level.

Having clear business goals is the way to consistently move your business toward the vision you have for it.

Share a comment below with your thoughts. If you are looking for more support in building the business of your dreams and living the life you envisioned, be sure to join me on Facebook now and follow me on Twitter.

Talk to you soon!

   Frederika

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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