Aspire to Inspire

Ugh - Getting Ready to Get Ready!

I wanted to be able to post my article and tell you how easy it was. 

Yes, it was easy!

But, apparantly it takes time to review them and make sure you have not said unsavory and illicit things. 

OK, I am frustrated by the time, but I have to admit it is a wise move on their part!  So, I will not make any more wise marks about their review process.  Instead, I will count this as part of learning. 

I should have put all three articles in at once so they could be reviewed and processed at the same time, instead of waiting for the first one to be posted.

So, I have put off updating thinking, "maybe tomorrow.....maybe tomorrow....maybe tomorrow"

Ah, when it comes back, I will share!

Until then - Have an Inspired Day!

Ugh - Getting Ready to Get Ready!

I wanted to be able to post my article and tell you how easy it was. 

Yes, it was easy!

But, apparantly it takes time to review them and make sure you have not said unsavory and illicit things. 

OK, I am frustrated by the time, but I have to admit it is a wise move on their part!  So, I will not make any more wise marks about their review process.  Instead, I will count this as part of learning. 

I should have put all three articles in at once so they could be reviewed and processed at the same time, instead of waiting for the first one to be posted.

So, I have put off updating thinking, "maybe tomorrow.....maybe tomorrow....maybe tomorrow"

Ah, when it comes back, I will share!

Articles Today, New York Times Bestseller List Tomorrow

Ha - well, maybe not tomorrow!

But, I did it, I actually posted my article!  It took me longer to do than I intended, because the computer glitch caused me to loose a few things. 

Yeah, for me!  It is still in editorial review, so I will give the link tomorrow, but for today, one article down and I have learned a few things.

1.  Keywords.  I just started writing and didn't think about key words that would be searched.  And actually, this probably worked for me, because if I was trying to fit certain words in, I would not have been able to think of a thing to write.  BUT, you should target key words and keyword phrases that the audience you are writing to will use to search for your information.  See my Resources page for a couple of websites to use.

I did it backwards, however, and wrote the article first.  I then searched for keywords and phrases and went through my article and made changes with these suggestions in mind.

2.  Why would they read it?  I was asked to type a 2-5 sentence summary that entices people to click and read.  This also entices e-zine publishers to click and read!  If it is flat and dull, no one will believe that my article will be lively and entertaining.   So it helps to think through these questions before you even start to write:  What benefit to the reader is there in reading what I have to say?  What will they know or what skill will they have at the end that they do not have right now?

3.  About ME?  Then at the end, you write a little clip about yourself.  Now, I did not have to do this, but I noticed that the authors that I would go and search out more articles from, would have these little synopsis at the end.  So, I thought about why I am writing and what would make someone look for more of my articles.  I think this is uncomfortable, because it feels a little like tooting my own horn.

Hmmmm, Toot - Toot.  I might get used to it!

Having trouble with time management?  Look back here for the link to my article tomorrow!

Take 2 Aspirin

I am interrupting this usual broadcast to bring you news of my nightmare!

Well, maybe I don't have a usual broadcast (except that I need to update you on my article submission) and I don't know that I should qualify this as a nightmare. BUT, what an extreme inconvenience!

If this is a good warning for those of you who work at home on your computers or otherwise depend on your computers - it will serve its purpose.

I spent last week and a good amount of money ridding my computer of a nasty virus.

Oh, wouldn't it be nice just to be able to take 2 aspirin and slide them into the disc drive and call it an evening. Not a chance!

Call it naivete, call it ignorance, or just plain stupidity. Whatever you want - I feel all of those! I was ignoring the signs and had this nice, false sense of security from my to-be-unnamed-"large-name"- antivirus/spyware-suite.

It began as a problem with streaming video. Then I couldn't get on the internet intermittently. My computer became slow and then started doing some strange things. I couldn't pull up certain sites (thought it was their server), Internet Explorer started requiring a password (but mine wouldn't work!), and that darn video would start and stop (I was doing training that required it!). Then, it began locking up and finally, wouldn't allow me on the internet at all.

It got my attention!

Here's what I learned. You can get virus' anywhere! They are created to go around the big-named suites first. Because these companies are required to give their code as public knowledge!! This is like giving the blueprint of the bank to George Clooney. Are you kidding me!?!

So, these very smart, but relationally challenged virus creators go after them and their viruses are designed to disable them and sneak into your inner workings. Ugh!

If you have a big-name antivirus program, and you spend a lot of time on the internet, please consider looking into something else. Look on my Resource page for a start. But then contact a computer company you trust in your area and ask them what combination of resources they use and recommend to protect themselves.

Here's to an Inspired Day!

Who Needs a Stinky Sponge?

I have to admit, the idea of blogging, twitting, oops, I meet twittering. tweeting, digging, stumbling...... etc., all seemed so, well, useless.

I read Liz Strauss' post about "What Possible Benefit Could Anyone Possibly Get From a Blog?" (see my blog link at the right) and really identified with the audience she is describing! Mention the word blogging and my eyes began glassing over. I saw the internet as a tool to gather information FOR ME! I never looked at it as a tool to give information. I was just busy getting, soaking, gathering and gleaning!

Well, all that information going IN is like a sponge that just sits in water. It soaks it up and eventually begins to mildew.

Whew, I was beginning to be a stinky sponge.

Now, I don't have aspirations of becoming a world-wide known blogger, or an in demand speaker for sold-out conventions. But, the information needed to come out and I just wanted a way to share what I have learned.

Bingo, self! What a brilliant idea - use the internet. Document what you are doing. Forge a path. And, of course leave giant chocolate cookie crumbs for others to follow along the way, should they so choose.

My first goal: I set the goal of writing and submitting at least one article. So, what did I do?

First Step was to I research some free sights to submit articles (take a look at my Resource page for sites).
- I looked at the articles under the topics I would be interested in and read the most frequently read
articles. I read several of the same authors articles.
- I made note of what titles interested me and made me click on them.
- I read the guidelines for submitting articles to each of the sites.

Second Step was to determine what I am going to write. I have the goal of inspiring others to take action, so I want to write articles along that line.
- I brainstormed on the reasons (or more appropriately excuses) we have for not taking action
- I came up with 3 ideas for article topics
- I wrote bullet points the first one
- I wrote for 20 min straight without editing, rereading or changing anything.
- I then edited and looked at the word count
- I repeated the above 3 steps for the remaining 2 topics.

Doing this, I was able to get 3 articles written in less than 2 hours (well, research took a little longer, but I still have ideas for even more articles). These were not dissertations for my master's degree. Just little, content-rich, blurbs really! So fun. I really can do this.

Now, I am going to submit them. Stay tuned. Hopefully it will be a totally undisastrous, un-"story-worthy" event. But with great results!!

You know, to get water out of that sponge, you have to squeeze. And a lot of us are scared of pain.

But, I am here to report - the squeeze really felt more like a massage. And I felt excellent when it was over with!

Let me Inspire YOU! Tell me how I can in my 3 question survey: Inspire Me, Please!

What Crumbs Are You Leaving On Your Trail?

QUOTE to think about:
I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail.
(Muriel Strode)

What kind of trail are you leaving? What kind of trail am I leaving?

I have been watching the trails other people leave.

Some are inspiring. Some are fun. Some give you a swift kick in the behind (great when it is much needed). Some give you ah-ha moments (Oh, I love those). Others teach you a much needed skill.

All of these are the ones that make you want to follow and see where they will lead. They leave breadcrumbs behind to make that possible (or even better giant cookie pieces!). They teach, inspire and challenge. They give of themselves without expecting in return. You want to follow because they make you feel as if it will be worth your while and they are glad to have you along!

This is the kind of trail I want to leave - let me know if my crumbs are just dust particles or if you are finding great chocolate cookie pieces as I go.

Now, go have an inspired evening!

How can I Inspire YOU?

I love working from home, but it is that - WORK!  If you are working from home or wanting to start the right home-based opportunity, what is holding you back from reaching your goals?

How can I help?

Would you help me by taking a few minutes to answer my 3 question survey?

Click here to take part.

This will help me to help you.

Now, go have an inspired day!

What I like to call Bear Central

My son is a scream.  Yes, he does make me want to scream, but that is another issue (think two strong-willed individuals in a face off, but I digress).

He makes me laugh on a daily basis and for this I am so thankful.  He doesn't always like it that I laugh, but sometimes I can't help myself.  And yesterday was one of those days. I had tears!

Now, my husband warned me that this might not be funny to anyone else, especially since you cannot see the expression on his face.  But I also wanted to tell it because it made me think about my life!  And the story is funny!  But I won't be bothered if you don't think so.

He is 7 and has an amazingly vivid imagination and if you are egging him on, his stories get bigger and bigger and bigger.

Yesterday we were 2 kids out in the wilderness having to fend for ourselves - think Boxcar Children meet Grizzly Adams.  And he starts killing the bears for me and telling me about the wild animals that are surrounding us.  After killing the umpteenth wild animal, I told him that I was ready to go find me a hotel!

"Not so easy" he says in all seriousness.  "Because you have to go through a raging river with big dangerous rocks, cross a very long log that is slippery and then go through.....(serious pause, with his hand on my arm) what I like to call Bear Central."

I couldn't help it.  I tried, I swear, to be serious.  But it just got the best of me!  I laughed until I hurt.

Thankfully, he found it funny too.  And then we had to go through snake central, desert central, coyote central...............  All that to get to a hotel!

How did this relate to my life?  I have been paralyzed by what I thought was in front of me, by what other people told me would be the obstacles in my way!  I saw those obstacles as scary as I would if you told me bears were in my path.

Are you stuck somewhere because someone told you that you "really don't want to do that because.......... (it doesn't work, it takes too much work, people don't want to hear what you have to say, there are already too many of those, it takes too much money, it takes forever to make a profit etc., etc., etc.)"?  Or have you told yourself that the obstacle are much to scary?

Are you afraid you will have to go through Bear Central and you will be vulnerable?

Me too!  But what if you can get through Bear Central with the help of guide and you find on the other side it wasn't so bad?  My guide gave me all the weapons I needed - I guess ray guns would work on bears??!!??

The guides I needed for my business were people who had done what I wanted to do.  I went to these people to ask what I needed to do and I follow them closely.  And my weapons?  Not so complicated.  Education.  When you learn how to get through the bears, they are not so scary!

See you on the other side!

So Did I Do It?

I said I wanted accountability - and then disappear for a week - yeesh!

The first 2 weeks of Sept are always crazy, but this year have been even more so!  I spent all summer trying to get schools to commit to a program I help direct and they chose last week (the deadline was Wed) to tell me that "yes, they would love to participate!".  So, of course, I am thrilled, just less than thrilled at the last minute work!

That is the fun of working from home, though.  Wait, I wasn't actually at home, so can you actually call it that?  A very good friend of mine (a woman always full of sage advice - I recommend you have one or two of those around at all times!) reminded me that the reason that work-at-home, stay-at-home moms are not ever really at home is because everyone knows they have the "time" to help with this or that and their calendar is filled by other people.  So true!

I am going to have to be on guard for my calendar. 

But this week - did I get my goals done?  Yes, and no. 

Yes, I did get the article written - but no, not on the computer yet (I still write them out longhand - a time waster habit I need to break). 

I did do the 15 minutes a night - wow, that is helpful.  I would spend longer than that in the morning trying to remember where I had left off, and then determining what I needed to do, so having it thought out has been great.

Off to do my 15 minutes-------------- which will include more of this tomorrow!

7 Simple Steps To Action

Action.  That is really what business is about - doing something.  Now, if doing something costs you a ton of money, then you really, really want to make sure you have dotted your i's and crossed your t's because it is a big risk.

But, with internet marketing, you can do things all sorts of ways - high cost, medium cost, low cost or even free.  And free and low cost can be just as effective as the other two.  So there really is no excuse for not acting!

When the words 'business plan' are uttered, even the most enthusiastic are likely to roll their eyes and groan.  These conjure up images of 3-piece suited men lingering over old coffee, arguing about complicated economic terms and business strategies.  Ugh!

But, a business needs a plan - and I do have a business!

I needed to have a goal for where I am going and a specific map for getting there.  But I didn't want it so involved that it would take me 6 months to learn the system and in the meantime, I would forget what I started it for.

So I developed my own system, my own action plan - probably what everyone really does.

Here are the 7 basic steps to ACTION:

1.  Choose the avenues that interest you - the options are endless and this can be overwhelming!  So, I chose a few on which to focus; articles, blogging, mini-websites, and a couple of social networking sites.

Key goal:  I will have one article written each week for the next 10 weeks.

2.  Read, Research and Learn - I have been doing this and this is where I nearly fell facedown in my wheaties!  I have been on information overload!  So, I have resolved to focus (there's that word again!) on a couple of areas and read those physical books and e-books and participate in seminars.  And, I set a rule for myself "I may not read, listen or participate if it is not about those chosen avenues". 

3.  Choose A Path and Go - take what you learn and put it into action!

4.  Use A System for Goal Setting - I have seen goal setting systems galore and all of them have some fabulous uses or points, I just never found one that I was willing to use long term.  I have a love-hate relationship with goals!  If I write something down and don't reach it, does that mean I failed????  But, I am a chronic list maker and had to realize that if I don't write it down, I won't do it.  So, the goal sheets won out.

I took the tools I did use and made goal sheets, self-inventory sheets and an action plan that worked for me.  I have put them in a file that you are welcome to save, and use yourself.  Take a look in the link in Money Making Articles for the Goal Inventory Worksheets.

5.  Set up A Calendar - this is the long term map.  I need monthly calendars and weekly calendars (there is a template for the weekly one I use in the Goal Inventory Worksheets).  After setting my primary business goals for the 3-year and 1-year mark, I ask myself these questions:

"What do I need to do in the next 30 days to get closer to my yearly goals?"

"What do I need to do in the next week?"

KEY goal:  I will take 15 minutes a night to make action steps for the next day based on these answers.

6.  Set Up Accountability - this is my accountability.  I don't know if anyone is reading it, but I can pretend!  So I have my KEY Goals put in here.  I am accountable to you.  Oh, yes, and I have a few friends that are holding me accountable too!

7.  Monitor and Adjust - At the end of the day, at the end of the week, at the end of the month, adjust.  See what works and what doesn't.  See what you like and what you don't.  See what fits into your plan and what you need to throw out.  See what is more work than it is worth.  And refocus your efforts. 

It did not work for me to keep looking at different ways to do what I knew I wanted to do.  I did not like not making progress (definately did not fit into my plan).  So I have refocused my efforts!

I want this to be simple because that is what I will ultimately follow.  Simple keeps me focused on the plan I have set before me!