Soulful Marketing Blog

March 9, 2017April 17, 2017

5 Goals to Achieve This Year

If y0u’re up for it — I am going to push the envelope a little today and actually give you five goals to try to achieve by the end of the year.

Remember you are never going to know if you are capable of something if you don’t take that first step.

1. Go small

This may be a big one to start with but here goes-Downsize. Look at all aspects of your business whether that includes employees, vendors or service providers. If you find that there is a way for ONE provider to handle multiple jobs than cut back. This may sound strange but sometimes less is more when it comes to project management as well as financial costs.

2. Take Time to Invest Fully

Make this the year that you completely focus on not only getting to know your customers but also their specific needs. Once you make this commitment, find the best way to communicate. Whether that is through a blog, social media, QR codes, or even a weekly newsletter; find out which option works for them. There is no use in spending quality time and content on an area your customers do not even use.

3. Refresh your website

Take the time and really go through your website. Analyze and make notes as you look over what you have currently. Then, go on the Internet and find your biggest competitor. Look at their website and make notes on what things stand out the most. Once you do that, write a plan on what to change and a timeline to get it done.

4. Real Life Social Networking

Put some effort into networking by signing up for an industry conference or seeking out a local meet-up group. These are invaluable ways to develop relationships and share advice with fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners.

5. Put time for you on the calendar

It’s up to you to keep yourself motivated and inspired. Be sure to reward yourself for specific milestones like a big client win, meeting a tough deadline, or working “overtime” for multiple nights on end.

Sticking to all of these 5 goals is a lofty for anyone. Follow the tips that ring true for your situation, and adjust as needed. Do you have other goals for your business this year?

January 29, 2017February 21, 2017

The Productivity Secret That Will Change Your Life

One of the things I’m constantly struggling with: my plate is incredibly full. I just have way TOO many things on that proverbial plate and it’s constantly weighing me down.

I’m a Marketing Implementer, I help people get things done, and here I am, revealing to you my own challenges with getting things done. Well, I’ve actually invested good money with experts to help me “organize” my office, my computer, and my life, as well as I got a new desk, bookshelves, and on an on. The interesting thing is after that expert gave me this “system” it wasn’t mine. So I had great difficulty in trying to use it and came across all sorts of obstacles that just reared their ugly heads a few weeks ago.

Before I tell you what happened, I actually would liken it to someone who’s trying to lose weight and just puts the weight back on—it’s because they’re not aligned somewhere with the process, or something just isn’t right.

Well that’s what I felt like, something with my new system just wasn’t jelling with me, it just wasn’t right. And unfortunately I didn’t really see that until the crap hit the fan last week and a few balls I was juggling just crashed—yikes—how did that happen?!

The cool thing is that I did ultimately find a solution, albeit painful to have to do so much learning—As Alex Mandossian has taught me—“You’re either winning or you’re learning!” No such thing as losing or making mistakes—my new lingo is “I’m learning.”

After the balls crashed last week, my wonderful client and mentor Alex Mandossian, pulled me aside and saw that I was obviously having some trouble. He got to the root of it very quickly and explained to me about the benefits of “The Ivy Lee 6.”

In the early 1900’s consultant Ivy Lee approached Charles Schwab, President of Bethlehem Steel (not the investment company) and asked what it’d be worth to him if he could raise the productivity of his managers by at least 20%. Schwab didn’t have an answer but was definitely interested. This is where the “Ivy Lee 6” comes into play. Ivy Lee taught him and his managers this proven technique.

Here’s THE productivity secret that will change your life:

Before you leave your office for the night, write down the 6 most important things to be done the next day and number them in order of importance. Prioritize.

Do the tasks from the most important to least important. I write these on index cards with the date at the top. So have the card on your desk for the next day, and once you’ve finished one, take a highlighter (I like green) and highlight through it so that’s your sign it’s complete. Any unfinished tasks are rolled over to the next day.

It may sound incredibly simple, yet for me it was amazingly effective. After my first week was done—oh my gosh, I had a stack of cards on my desks with lots of green on them. Just being able to visibly “see” what I’d done that week was psychologically empowering. I left my office Friday on a huge high.

The key is picking the 6 things that will give you the most results for the day, and write them down very clearly. For example— Don’t say— “Call several people to connect with them about our product launch.” This is better— “Call Susie to tell her about our product launch” or “Call 3 key people who will promote our product launch…”

Using the “Ivy Lee 6” also utilizes the power of prioritization and requires you to number your tasks in order of importance with your most important tasks done first.

Don’t wait, try this now— I know you will be amazed at how this works and leave me a comment and let me know how I can support you to be more productive.

And if you’ve made it all the way down here to the bottom, thanks for reading, and here’s a gift for you. I want to give you 60 minutes of my time for free, with my compliments. Maybe you’re:

Stuck in your business and not being able to increase your profits fast enough
Frustrated your launch didn’t go as well as you planned
In need of some help and guidance with your launch
Finally ready to create your online marketing funnel and don’t know where to turn
Searching simply for some strategic online marketing help, and hand-holding from an expert who’s got proven experience and helped thousands already….

Well, here’s the deal, you’re in the right place. I can help you! Just click here and check out how I can help you and schedule a free 60 minute call with me. I’d love to see how I can help you create the business you so deserve and helping you help thousands more people.

January 17, 2017April 12, 2017

Here’s How to Get a HUGE Jump on Creating an Amazing Year in Your Business…

At any time of the year, it’s important for one to stop and take a look and access your year: where you are or aren’t in your business? Do you like what you see? What issues are raising your anxiety level? How is your bottom line? Have you achieved all the goals you set in January? If not, then why?

Now these questions can cause a lot of emotional pain and angst but they don’t have to. Why not see them as opportunities instead? And as an opportunity these exact issues could bring you more money in the bank. And who doesn’t need this?

So how can you turn these issues into opportunities and get a huge jump on the year? By one simple thing: Send out a Survey to your list. Don’t wait for another year to get back on the right track. Do it now, create a survey and send it out to your clients and prospects. It’s actually THE best way to find out what your clients think about products, services, newsletter, website, membership, etc. Also it’s a terrific way to see what they like, what they don’t and what they’d like to see more of from you.

I gave up trying to guess what my clients and prospects needs were years ago. And in my business and in the clients I’ve worked with, we’ve found whenever we had challenges and were not sure in what direction to go in I suggested, “Let’s do a survey.” And believe it or not every time we would do one we got amazing results which were just the answers we needed.

It’s really simple to do a survey. The quick and easy method is to:

Be clear on your goals for the survey – what’s the info you absolutely need to find out.
Figure out who you want to send it to – is it best to send out to your whole list, or maybe just your customers? Or maybe it’s customers of a certain product (or service) that they purchased from you.
Create your 4 – 5 simple questions. Check out this last post to get my BEST questions to ask-
Get a Survey Monkey or Survey Gizmo online survey account and put your questions in there.
Create a few emails and send out your survey to your list.
Close the survey within 7 days or when you’ve had enough responses
Analyze your results and use them in your business. This is the HUGE part that will help create your 2011. Your results will help shape your business, your products, services, etc., depending upon what you’ve asked in your survey.

Don’t downplay doing a survey in your business. It really is THE most simple and easy way to ensure you’re creating products, services and really meeting the needs of your clients and prospects on your list.

If you want to know more about creating and implementing surveys in your business, get instant free access to this video: “17 Clever Ways That You Will Never Have To Guess Again What Your Prospects & Customers Want”. I promise, this will be REALLY helpful for you. Hope to see you soon!

January 5, 2017April 17, 2017

How to Take Bigger Risks This Year

Something fascinating happened to me a few years ago that was worth repeating. I had this experience that totally changed my perspective on how I would think and do things in my business and my personal life.

Here’s what happened—

I had decided to go to the DMV, yes everyone’s favorite place to make jokes about. I had been putting it off for almost a year and I had to finally deal with getting a new title. I actually wanted to cross if off my to-do list! (I had paid off my car loan—yeah, and needed to get the lien holder name off my car title.)

I had a phone meeting that day with a colleague and as we were wrapping up I said that I had to head out to the DMV. It was 11am on December 30 and she thought I was crazy and said good luck; it will probably take a few hours.

Well, I had positive thoughts running through my head as I was driving over there that I’d be in and out in 30 minutes. As I got into the parking lot it was NOT looking good. I found one of the last parking spots. And at this lot, there are no meters you have to go to a central machine to pay for your parking. Now this was a HUGE lot and there was a doubly huge line just WAITING to pay for parking.

Here’s the part of the story to take note of—something just switched on in my brain when I saw that long line. My brain went into high gear calculating how best leverage this situation. And at that split second, I decided to count the number of people in line to pay the machine for parking—there were over 15 people. AND the kicker is as I waited in this line to pay for parking— I thought ALL of these people WILL be ahead of me in the DMV. So I made a mental note of the person in front of me—a young guy with a red hat (this will be important later.) And that’s when I made the rash, big risk decision to leave the line and make a run for the DMV.

When I got into the DMV, there were only 2 people in front of me at the desk—double yeah! The bigger risk I took was I bet big that I would NOT get a ticket because I’d be in and out of the DMV before I would have even reached the head of the line at the parking machine to pay for parking.

Guess what—my taking a bigger risk PAID OFF! I WAS in and OUT of the DMV in 10 minutes, and it was FREE to change my title! I had two options—pay $60 and wait to get a new one issued, or for FREE, they’d make a copy of my title, cross off the lien holder and put it in my file. So of course, I chose the FREE one. No need to get a new title until I sell my car, which won’t be for a long time! The important thing for the DMW was that there was no lien on the title and that I owned the car.

As I walked by the parking machine line, the young guy with the red hat who was in front of me was now #4 in line to pay. So the important lesson is I would have STILL been in line if I had stayed and now I was done and was able to hop in my car and go home! The only thing it cost was gas to get there and 30 minutes of my time! Seriously I was home by 11:30 am. So by me taking a bigger risk, risking getting a parking ticket because I bet I could be in and out of there before I’d even get the chance to pay for parking. AND—looking at that line thinking how would a policeman even be able to tell or bother giving a ticket with SO MANY PEOPLE still in line.

The lesson I’d love for you to take away— is —To Take Bigger Risk’s, think BIGGER for yourself, your life, your business. Don’t be stuck in your old ways. Look for ways to save time, money, and leverage yourself, your time and your people who work with you.

What I want for you is to have an amazing year every year. I keep doubling my business — And I am even more thrilled and I will take even bigger risks moving forward, and the goal is to triple it. And I know I will do it by thinking bigger and taking bigger risks.

Here’s to monetizing yourself and your business and making your business outstanding!

January 4, 2017March 7, 2017

Never Ever Cold Call Again to Get New Clients!

Something I learned over 6 years ago from “the Millionaire Maker” Dan Kennedy is that in order for you not to do cold calls, and to not be stressing out where your money will come from each month— you need to create a “lead generation funnel.”

I not only learned it from him, I shared the stage with him where he asked me to share the strategies I used to help grow my business and here are a few if them below,,,

What you need to pay real attention to is that After I did that, created and implemented those strategies… I never had to worry about getting any new clients or cold calling again. I basically created a system of how to get new leads… Here’s a sample of what I did—

Create a 1 page printed newsletter– I sent it out for free once a month to anyone who signed up for it online. I also gave it to folks I met in my travels to events.
Wrote a weekly blog and sent an email to my list
Sent at least one email a week to my list in addition to my blog email
Attended the same 3 conferences every year for 6 years (GKIC Info Summit, Superconference and Yanik Silver’s Underground)
Joined 2 mastermind where we met 3 – 4 times a year- got a bunch of business from there J

This is only 5 things, and there are so many more things you can do to keep your pipeline of new clients filled. I actually create a free report which you can download here-“The 7 Ways You Can Get New Clients in ANY Economy” no optin/email address needed- you get it here compliments of me.

The real key here is that whatever you decide to do you need to do it consistently, and don’t stop doing it, be committed to growing your list and putting your marketing on auto pilot by using an email auto responder, getting a VA to do a printed monthly newsletter for you and on an on… Stop making excuses and go get on the stick and create some systems to communicate with your list , grow it and never have to make another cold call again!

AND– Here’s a BONUS for you– Dan Kennedy just launched some great free training– check it out here– he shows you EXACTLY how to create your OWN “lead generation machine” funnel.

PLUS– FREE 60 Minute One On One Call with ME!

If you’ve made it all the way down here to the bottom, thanks for reading, and here’s a gift for you. I want to give you 60 minutes of my time for free, with my compliments. Maybe you’re:

Stuck in your business and not being able to increase your profits fast enough
Frustrated your launch didn’t go as well as you planned
In need of some help and guidance with your launch
Finally ready to create your online marketing funnel and don’t know where to turn
Searching simply for some strategic online marketing help, and hand-holding from an expert who’s got proven experience and helped thousands already….
problem or issue isn’t listed here… I know I can help….

Well, here’s the deal, you’re in the right place. I can help you! Just click here. I want to give you a FREE 60 minute call with me. I’d love to see how I can help you create the business you so deserve and helping you help thousands more people.

November 10, 2016November 11, 2016

We Got This! Inspiring Resources to Help With After the Election & Beyond

Wow, wow, wow, who knew the election of 2016 would go down as an infamous one in our nations’ history?! This won’t be a bashing of either side of the aisle, as I believe there’s much finger pointing going on already and it truly is not helping.

I’m writing this to share a how we totally got this and we need to use this to come together. Because I think this election serves something even bigger and greater. It’s a huge wake-up call that we can’t keep doing “business as usual” as a nation any longer. When you look back at our history, great change happened because of huge adversity and tragedy. We’re strong, and we’ve overcome so much. This may be more than a huge speed bump in the road, but I’m choosing to look at it as a terrific opportunity for all of us to come together.

Reality is, not much will change in the coming days and I have a feeling a certain business man will get an eye-opener realizing running a country is nothing like running a business. The change I think he’s anticipating will happen more like trying to turn around a 747, it will happen VERY slowly. And that’s why we have a ton of checks and balances in our democratic system.

But I digress, I don’t want this to be about politics, I want this to be about healing and how we can come together and create amazing, inspiring movements, be more compassionate, give back, pay it forward. We all have a choice because my belief is life is all about just 2 simple choices (Taking from my inspiration- Marianne Williamson’s Return to Love and The Course of Miracles.) Love or Fear. What do you choose?

I choose love and will choose it every time.

In keeping with choosing love, I have found several inspiring and enlightening articles and posts on Facebook about the election. I thought it’d be helpful to create a mini resources page where I’ve collected a lot of great stuff from FB and put it all on one page. And what we need to remember, is we have a long history in America of overcoming many adversities, so in true form– “We TOTALLY Got This!”

And thanks to Ellen & Instagram for some taco election humor–Some of us just don’t want to “taco bout it yet.” 😉 which is totally fine too.

Big love and hugs! I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts, or if you have some more inspiring articles or resources to link.

We Got This! Resources To Help With After the Election & Beyond:

Why we are grieving – This was a poignantly written open letter to why so many of us are grieving as a nation. It has nothing to do with politics or who won or loss, it just boils down to this: Check out John Pavlovitz’s blog on why we grieve.

LOVED Michael Moore’s “Morning After List” which has gone viral, you can check it out here: https://www.good.is/articles/moore-five-point-plan or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mmflint/posts/10153913074756857

Healing with Marianne Williamson – Awesome video she posted on Facebook the day after the election, a must watch for inspiration!

Abraham-Hicks thinks its the best election ever– totally knows how to talk us off the ledge in times of trouble and with some humor as well- check it it out here

What This Means, How This Happened, What to do Now – this was a very insightful article from current affairs on the whole democratic and election process. I think it’s worth a read.

Thanking Hillary with a card – What a great idea – to send Hillary an old fashioned thank you card in the mail for all she’s done for this country. Let her know how she’s impacted you and how what she’s done truly does matter regardless of the outcome. Send cards to:

Hillary Clinton
Post Office Box 5256
New York, NY 10185-5256

And while you are at it, you could also send one to the Obamas too:

President & First Lady Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

For the lighter side of things- check out my friend John’s new map of the US, for those that want to secede 😉

And then there’s Samantha Bee’s Full Frontal – The morning after and how she broke the election.

And for those who just need a hug and a kiss– this is for you: (Me and my dog Emma)

September 18, 2015

What My Chestnut Chasing Dog Taught Me About Implementation & Getting More Done!

It’s fall here in Virginia and I know that not only because there’s a little chill in the air, and … I know because now when I got to hiking with my rescue dog Lily, she chases after all the chestnuts falling from the trees. The whole scene is actually quite comical, albeit sometimes a little frustrating. We get a pretty good pace going, then all of sudden we come across this huge patch of several hundred chestnuts on the ground and more falling. (In fact, I have to be careful and often dodge those falling from the trees or they get me right on the old noggin.) As soon as Lily sees them, she chases after them and dive bombs the chestnut, picks one right up and starts to eat it. Ok, she doesn’t swallow them anymore because let’s just say she and chestnuts don’t get along. Yet, she still loves to chase and pick them up and there are a lot of them now, and chew them and then lets them drop.

For those who are visual, like me, I actually took my camera with me to take some snap shots of her. The only bummer was she was too quick to get this on video, maybe tomorrow! So I only have some choice shots of my chestnut chasing dog…

So what does her chestnut chasing antics have to do with teaching me how to be a better implementer and get more done. Simply put, watching Lily chase after EVERY chestnut on the ground, reminded me of myself over a year ago, where I would basically chase after that next “shiny” object. Some of you entrepreneurs out there who work at home, know EXACTLY what I mean. Being at home, there’s always something that will get my attention and it usually isn’t the something that will bring me in lots of money or help improve my business.

So I got down to brass tacks when I started noticing how my days were not as productive as I’d like. The real crux was reading a few good books on time management (there are many!), getting Eben Pagan’s course on Wake-Up Productive, and having a mastermind group, belonging to two of them really helps keep me on track. The real trick to not going after EVERY “shiny” object that comes across my path is having a big detailed plan of what I want to accomplish. I mean really details, like what I will outsource, what skills I need for certain tasks, date it will be completed, etc. The more detailed the merrier. Plus at the start of each day and as I go through my day I’m always asking myself “Is this task going to get me closer to reaching my goal?” “Is this task going to help me create more income?” If the answer is no, then guess what, I’m not doing that task.

One more tip I can leave you with is the object isn’t to “do more.” The object is to be more productive with “what” you are doing and ensure you’re doing the tasks that will create greater income and help you reach the goals you so deserve!

So when you get the urge to go after that next “shiny” object, as yourself the telling questions, will this help me get and reach my goals? Then have the courage to change your course, if need be and stick to the things that will help you reach and accomplish your goals.

August 26, 2015March 7, 2017

The Secret Mysteries of Entrepreneurship

This journey of entrepreneurship has been a fascinating 9 years. One with many amazing rides, bumps in the road, flies on the windshield, savory and also loving adventuress moments. I wouldn’t trade it for anything…

What I have discovered from this journey of the past 3 years, are some amazing entrepreneurial secrets that I wanted to share with you. It all started after my father passed away and the spiral upward and downward consumed me. From ending a 12 year relationship and being single again. To Finally realizing I was no longer being served by living in the northeast any longer. I was not and never will be a Jersey Girl. I’m from the south, New Orleans to be exact. After 26 years of living as a northerner, it was time to get back to my roots.

Secret #1 – Find “your spot!” The place that you live that totally inspires, gives you energy and that you just love. And either move their or rent/buy a vacation home there.

Along my journey, I made that decision to find my spot. So I picked up everything (including my business), and moved to Richmond, VA. That was back in October, 2014. It’s a much simpler, slower and richer life here. So much culture, terrific food, lots of parking and the people are just so open, honest and happy. They’re not on some fast past craziness that is the northeast, in my experience. Even the driving is nicer and more civil. I can actually drive and not have someone cutting me off, cursing me or being a crazy aggressive driver. (Oh and car insurance is even cheaper! Can you imagine? I’m saving over $800 living here.)

Secret #2 – What’s holding you back from making that big move? Is it all just in your head?

Mine was, there was totally nothing standing in my way from moving. All my clients were all over the world. I could essentially live anywhere.

It was the best move I’ve ever made. My business is flourishing because I want it to, not because I have to make a certain amount of money to feed the fast-paced keep up with the Jone’s model.

Secret #3- Your business can evolve and just as you do. You don’t have to keep doing what you’re doing unless of course you love. Try growing and expanding with your experiences.

I’m happy to say, after working as Marketing Implementer, for the past several years, things are shifting in my business. These are still my 4 areas of how I help entrepreneurs:

Creating online marketing funnels
Managing Product launches
Creating new products
Marketing Coach

The big difference, is I’m now focused specifically on working with folks in the health, wellness and healing areas. This is my passion, and what’s kept me sane these past years with all the changes of my life, losing a parent, ending a long term relationship, and being injured. (Sprained both ankles last year, thank goodness not at the same time! And I dislocated my wrist and was in a cast for 2 months.) All took it’s healthy toll on my psyche and on my performance.

By immersing myself in the health and wellness arena, by doing yoga, working with an amazing energy medicine practitioner- Lara Riggio, and an energy healer – Stephanie Dalfonzo, and having a body worker who does Jin Shin Jytsu, I’ve totally been able to transform this next stage of my life. I don’t just get to experience this, I get to help THE Folks who can help thousands more experience it too!

My mission is to help folks in the health, wellness and healing areas reach hundreds and even thousands more people who need their services.

Here’s my new website- go check it out! SoulfulVisionMarketing I’d love to be able to help and support you in your business. Even if you’re not in the health, wellness, or healing areas, I’m happy to connect and help you however I can. I’ve been in business long enough to know that a rising tide floats all boats. We’re all on this journey together. Let’s make a fun and adventuress ride – TOGETHER!

PLUS– FREE 60 Minute One On One Call with ME!

If you’ve made it all the way down here to the bottom, thanks for reading, and here’s a gift for you. I want to give you 60 minutes of my time for free, with my compliments. Maybe you’re:

Stuck in your business and not being able to increase your profits fast enough
Frustrated your launch didn’t go as well as you planned
In need of some help and guidance with your launch
Finally ready to create your online marketing funnel and don’t know where to turn
Searching simply for some strategic online marketing help, and hand-holding from an expert who’s got proven experience and helped thousands already….
problem or issue isn’t listed here… I know I can help….

October 17, 2013

The Simplest Secret to Getting More Clients/Customers (AKA More conversions :-)

Being in marketing for what feels like a lifetime, the ONE things all my clients struggle with is how do they get more new clients/customers? And– how do they get more people to convert on their websites and get into their marketing funnel? I’d like to tell you that the REAL answer is incredibly sophisticated and complicated. But, it’s really not, it really IS simple, what I’m about to reveal to you. And you have to understand that this is not rocket science and it’s something you probably already know. ..

The SECRET to getting more Clients/Customers- is you HAVE to BUILD a RELATIONSHIP with them FIRST– BEFORE you ask them to buy from you- that’s it. And the age old example that always hits home is you wouldn’t ask someone to marry you on the first date, so why are you doing that with your marketing? When you get them into your funnel, don not immediately ask them for money. Date them, send them emails filled with value, build their trust, give them interesting tips, strategies and information that they can use right away in their business, their lives. And honestly after you’ve sent them 7 to 10 emails THEN ask them to buy something from you- and not anything really big either. And often times I will tell my clients to start by putting the sale in the P.S.– not even in the body of the email. (Actually this is a terrific strategy missed by many people- not using their P.S.- many people read that first BEFORE even reading the body of the email!)

Once you get this concept, then we can plus it up– look into your so-called “war chest” and find some cool things you can give away to them to build their trust and a relationship with them. Next, be a REAL person to them– don’t just give them valuable information, tell them about yourself, give them an entertaining story about your kids, your partner, your dog, the trip you just took– CONNECT with them on another level– again it’s about building a relationship with them. And also encourage them to connect with you on social media where you can then connect with them and build your relationship even further.

Some specific takeaways for building a relationship with your prospects to turn them into clients:

1) Core- Build a relationship with them

2) Entertain them with good stories, antidotes, inspiring quotes, funny pictures, etc.

3) Reveal things about yourself- really connect with them- be personal- talk to them one on one like you’re having coffee with them

4) Give them valuable content they can take and use right away

5) Don’t try to sell them anything until you’ve done the first 3 well- so after about 7 to 10 emails or so

6) Treat your prospects, clients/Customers as you would like to be treated

7) Communicate with them on a regular basis- at least ONCE a week, if not more

8) Covet thefolks on your list and keep doing the above and you will have them investing in your business AND you will have clients/customers for life

As I said, it REALLY is that simple to get new clients/customers- just focus on BUILDING a relationship with them. Trust me, it really does work, and let me know how you do– I’m here to help! 🙂

May 30, 2013

It all Boils Down to Courage- Do You Have What it Takes?

One of my favorite quotes is “Fall down 7 times, get up 8” by Buddha. It’s such a subtle quote and so much where I’ve been these past 8 months. I can’t believe I haven’t written since October of last year! Or maybe I can after I tell you all I’ve been going through—and it really does “all boil down to courage…”

Have you ever had the rug pulled out from under you? Like really pulled hard and you land smack on your rear end in shock of what just happened. Well that’s what happened to me… My relationship of 12 years ended back in September of 2012, and that was the beginning of the rug pulling. Then we sold the house in February, and I had to move out and find a place to live, and then I was just simply exhausted from it all. I had no energy left to work, so I decided to leave the job I was in… I so just needed to take some time off to get my energy back and just simply take care of me—so that’s what I did. March 8 I quit the job and took some time just for me. It had been SOOO long that I took any time for myself, I had no idea what to do. The good news is it didn’t take me long to figure it out. I traveled to Big Sur and did an amazing workshop at the Esalen Institute on Callings- How to figure out what you really want to do with your life, lead by the inspiring Gregg Levoy. It was life changing, and I traveled to be my family and hiked a ton with my dog and read, and read and read- the library was my “go to” place. (Some of the books I read- Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser, When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd, Wishes Fulfilled by Wayne Dyer, Soul Money by Lynn Twist and Sacred Contracts by Carolyn Myss.)

So why am I tell you all of this— there are a few reasons— one, I wanted to share with you why I was absent from my blog, and two, the real reason is I want to inspire you to check in with yourself- to inject you with some courage to look and I mean really look hard at your life, your work, your relationships, your spirituality- Are you fulfilled? Are you happy? Is something missing? Does something need to change?

Do you have what it takes to really give a hard look at your life and have the courage to make the changes you need to live a more fulfilled life?

I know it’s not easy, take it from me, it’s REALLY hard. However, I had a really amazing support system I put into place to help me with all of these changes that happened in my life. I had an inspiring and gifted therapist, a wonderful coach, and so many supportive friends. There’s no way I could have made it these past 9 months without them and I’m forever grateful.

So don’t wait until it’s too late, take a good look at your life and make some changes for the better. We all deserve to live a wonderfully, supportive, happy and inspiring life, filled with people who love, care and support us.