Our son is listening to How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. So good! As we were walking tonight, he shared three foundational principles we tried to pass along to our kids that he heard again from Carnegie: Love your neighbor as yourself. Work Hard. Play Hard. Trust, but verify. And then … Continue reading 50 Practical Tips For Life
"A good movie has memorable scenes, and so does a good life." - Donald Miller A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned To Live a Better Story by Donald Miller has been such an enjoyable book to read! I'd highly recommend it, especially for those who are feeling discouraged about life or … Continue reading A Good Life Has Memorable Scenes
Gabe, Isaac, and Jadyn, As you start cooking for yourself, I wanted to make sure you had easy access to some of our favorite family recipes. I hope they remind you of special times together around the kitchen table or kitchen island. I'm so glad you have all discovered for yourselves the importance of healthy … Continue reading Favorite Recipes
I felt a strong urge to write today. Not sure why, but will see what unfolds. It's been a very long season walking this mental illness with Isaac. We can't believe it's been almost a full year since his manic episode in Hawaii during his first months of college at the University of Hawaii at … Continue reading Loving Isaac
Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm going to be writing more about marketing and business over at Breckenridge Marketing, and start using this more as a place for personal reflection. I love capturing the special moments in life with words and pictures, lest I forget. It's the best way for me to process and grow. … Continue reading Still a Freejourner
So, again, whether it's words that identify you, or icons on a coat of arms, think about how you can more intentionally share yourself with others. Then when people hear one of your favorite bands on their playlist, eat at your favorite restaurant, or visit a destination you've raved about, they will be reminded of you and what you do.
It's hard to know what the life or business lesson is here, or even if there is one. Have you ever had to grieve something you only owned for a short time? Or had a major setback or disappointment when something didn't turned out as anticipated? Moving forward is not always easy! (Fresh start?.... 😉
Every business is part of a bigger story. Sure, there is a history to your company and the people who work with you. But you can actually be a part of someone else's story if you are doing business right. A business should exist to bring value for others. Clients and customers find us because … Continue reading Storytelling On Your Website
As business owners, we are always on the lookout for creative marketing ideas to try or share with our clients. There are a vast number of digital marketing opportunities, including newsletters, social media, videos, website content, SEO, but some of the most powerful, memorable marketing opportunities take place in person. How you interact with your … Continue reading Creative Marketing Ideas
Do you remember hearing the tagline, "1,000 songs in your pocket," when the iPod was released? How in the world would have been able to understand the iconic shift in multi-media accessibility from our current frame of reference (CDs, walk-mans...) without a picture like this to help us imagine?
Instead of just going through the motions with business as usual, take some time to set a big vision for yourself and clarify what needs to change in order to move in that direction.
Above all, I wanted to be truthful and exact. For me a landscape hardly exists at all as a landscape, because its appearance is constantly changing...You have to know how to seize just the right moment in a landscape instantaneously, because that particular moment will never come again, and you're always wondering if the impression … Continue reading Truth In Nature
For us to lead and have effective impact, we need to earn that right to be heard. We need to care.
Earlier this year, I had an idea to gather girls and women of all ages in the kitchen so we could spend more time together and learn from each other.
Don and I had the privilege of watching How I Built This Live with Guy Raz as he interviewed Curt Richardson, the founder of Otterbox, at the Paramount Theatre in Denver, CO who says he "grows to give."
How do you "censor" what you read and watch? How do you censor what you share with others? It's a natural, human thing to censor ourselves. We make decisions about what we want to eat, read, watch, and do with our time. We censor what we say depending on who we are hanging out with. … Continue reading On Censorship
"You come home to a note on your door saying, 'You're in danger, leave the city, but don't tell anyone." We were preparing for this moment all our lives. We read our history books and were familiar with stories of families who decided to flee at a moment's notice when they began noticing shifts in … Continue reading Escaping Town
For owners, the path to success in our business is more complex and requires great perseverance and grit. We need to be clear on what we are pursuing and why.
Austin Kleon reminded me recently of the importance of walking in the morning - every single day - in his awesome book, Keep Going. I've been trying to keep it up, even during these quickly changing seasons in Breckenridge, CO. I LOVE to walk. As an introvert, it's a time for me to process all … Continue reading The Morning Walk
Don't be afraid to claim your market niche. The more specific you are, the easier it will be for people to remember what you do and share it with others.
Who do you invite into your inbox regularly? There are a handful of newsletters that I truly look forward to reading each and every week. They are the ones that I deliberately set aside time for, grab a cup of tea and let myself slow down to read the whole thing. There are several others … Continue reading Newsletters to Love
For a local business, much of the most influential impacts of marketing will not be online - they will be from tangible factors: Do you have a great product? Do you deliver an amazing experience that people want to tell others about? Do you have a location that is easily accessible and pleasant to frequent? … Continue reading Marketing Your Local Business
Winter, you may say - isn't that obvious? 😉 Well, while it is, in fact, still winter - and our family sure does love long winters here in Colorado - I think personally and professionally, it's valuable to step back and assess which season of life we are experiencing. That way, we don't expect it … Continue reading Which Season Are You In?
Is there something or someone you are thankful for today? I heard a beautiful quote this weekend in a talk - that "giving" always follows thanks. When we are truly grateful, we look for ways to give back. To take action. To actually do something. It's a natural reflex. If we are really thankful, we … Continue reading Thanks…giving
Journaling is something I have done periodically throughout my life. It started with a diary that my dad bought me when I was 5, and my mom would transcribe for me as I dictated. I recorded events and feelings as I grew - the big family moves, those momentous high school milestones and the emotional … Continue reading Journaling for Life – Professionally and Personally
The average attention span today is 9 seconds! Try counting to 9 right now just to see how long/short that feels. That's how long you have, whether in person or online to capture someone's attention. Within that short window, you have the opportunity to create fascination in them - a feeling of intrigue and positive … Continue reading 9 Seconds to Fascinate
When someone visits your website for the first time through search, a referral link or from your own invitation, it's almost as if you are meeting them for coffee. You begin a conversation. You "tell" them about yourself or your company. They get to know you and your business and products. How can you … Continue reading What Makes For an Engaging Website?
I am a hopeless romantic. I love movies like Serendipity where two people meet and "re-meet" each other because of a series of chance encounters or click moments. I personally keep my eyes wide open for these moments and have a secret delight when I'm in the middle of the experience. To me, they seem like … Continue reading Chance Meetings
Ever notice that in some friendships, when you really get to know someone, you tend to stop paying attention to or caring about those minor outward traits like what they are wearing or how they styled their hair? When you might have seen someone who was "sloppy" or "nerdy" or "loose," or even "polished" or … Continue reading First Impressions and the Long Haul
The human story is powerful. It's a gift to be able to step into someone's life and hear someone's story. We can learn so much. I've become addicted to listening to amazing stories of people shared on podcasts like How I Built This, Live Inspired with John O'Leary and sites like Poppy Lifestyle, and books … Continue reading Share Your Story
I remember many years ago, probably at least over a decade, my great friend Heather and I had an inside joke about being "inspired" by other women doing great things. You know those women who seemed to just seemed to breeze right through the early days of motherhood and still manage to rock their career … Continue reading Jealous or Inspired – You Pick!
We were playing a version of the $20,000 Pyramid's Winner's Circle recently with some tween-aged girls at the After School Writing Club I lead with BreckCreate. The category was, "Things Parents Say." The first thing the clue-giver said was, "No!" Is that what parents are known for? The nay-sayer, the joy-kill, the hammer. We all laughed, but … Continue reading Say, “Yes”!
Have you read this book - Mindset, by Carol Dweck - before? I've heard of it for years but decided to plunge in and read it this month. I gained many insights from it and have really tried to think about my own mindsets - especially around money, growth, and success. I am someone that … Continue reading Grow Your Mindset
For those of you who know me well, you know what I love: family, the outdoors, music, friends, adventure. For this holiday season, I thought I'd share a "few of my favorite things" that are a part of my every day world that could also offer unique gift ideas for others. National Parks National Parks … Continue reading A Few of My Favorite Things
Has something ever taken you out of life for a season - perhaps an injury, a loss, or even a bad decision? I can only imagine as shock starts to slowly bleed into reality. "This is real. This is happening." It's probably like watching a movie and wishing you could push rewind to rewrite the … Continue reading Broken
Do you feel "stuck" in any way? In your career? Emotionally? Health-wise? Relationally? Last week I had the surprise "honor" of getting my car stuck in the snow. I had just dropped off my kids at the bus stop and decided to try to make my way up the bank as I had done many … Continue reading Stuck?
Don't stop dreaming! I have some pretty incredible friends who have gone after some big dreams in life. (One of them just launched a new brand of amazing shoes for young women this week!) And I personally feel like our own life is one big dream. We would all say that every bit of courage … Continue reading Dream Big
I think at its core, business is human. It's about adding value in life - to the individual, family, or community - whether through a product, service, or employment. At a simple level, products or services should make life either easier or more enjoyable, productive, meaningful or memorable. Sometimes that need is sought out. But … Continue reading A Series of Conversations
I was running along a trail in Breck today and spotted a beautiful flower, so I stopped to snap a photo of it (and take a breather since I had just come back to life at 10,000 ft!!). It was a simple act, pretty mundane actually, but when I let myself really pause and admire … Continue reading Running to Smell the Roses
Don and I have worked with business owners around the country for years, helping them to grow their business through strategy and sales and marketing systems. Creating and executing systems around prospecting, nurturing, follow-up, closing and servicing is most important but can be challenging. However, a few simple habits along with a commitment to a … Continue reading Managing a Digital Business
Last month, I had the privilege of listening to an amazing speaker Cecilia Stoll at Arbonne's Global Training Conference. She said many things that impacted my heart and mind, but one of the most memorable to me was, "How you do one thing is how you do everything." It was a call to be excellent … Continue reading How You Do One Thing…
Our family has always enjoyed hiking. Since the kids were toddlers, we took them exploring on trails and jumping in rivers, lakes, and streams all over Texas. As they've grown, the distances of our hikes have also grown. Over the last four years, we've chased popular trails all around the Western US, hiking through most of the National … Continue reading Take Them Hiking
Not everyone who chooses to commit to the 30 Days to Healthy Living Program with Arbonne jumps in all at once. Our friend, Json Marruffo was approaching 40 and wanted to cross that milestone with great health and energy, but was feeling pretty crappy when we connected with him last year about this time. He … Continue reading Change Breakfast
As we near the end of our active winter season, I gave myself a treat and holed up in our snowglobe of a home to put together our family fall slideshow. It evoked so many different emotions I wasn't anticipating. This was the first year our boys went full-time to public school, and their absence … Continue reading Seasons Change
Doesn't life often feel like the movie Groundhog Day? For most people, we fall asleep and wake up in the same bed, go through the same rhythms, and hit the reset button each day. While our own family has certainly tried to shake up the mundaneness of this routine by long-term traveling, there is still … Continue reading Start Your Day Off Well
If you asked me on Monday morning what I was doing on Wednesday, I would not have known. By mid-afternoon, I had plans to play tennis with my friend, Amy. By Tuesday morning, our plans had changed, and we were going to snowboard/ski together instead at Keystone! And then Tuesday afternoon, I got a text … Continue reading Staying Flexible
Fun to think about our family's health journey before and after Arbonne! Before One of the things I've always cared about throughout my adult years was eating healthy foods, especially as we started raising our own family. When I was pregnant with my first child, my mom sent me some cassette tapes on healthy eating … Continue reading Before and After
Today we got a little treat. It felt like a reward for 13 hard-earned years of parenting a very passionate child. I had planned to take this middle son of ours out to dinner for his monumental 13th birthday, some special time with just Don and me. We had gifts to shower on him. But I … Continue reading A Reward
A friend recently asked me about any resources to help her daughter with spelling. I was eager to share all about Copywork with her! I feel like Copywork has been the biggest secret withheld from the traditional school system today. It's really like gold. I must admit, that as a high school English teacher in … Continue reading The Mystery and Magic of Copywork
Several years ago, I thought of a mantra to share with my middle child: Work Is Hard. Work Is Good. Work Takes Time He would repeatedly get frustrated when his schoolwork or chores were more challenging or time-consuming. I felt like it was because he had wrong expectations and beliefs. Most of our frustrations in … Continue reading Work is Good
We have thoroughly enjoyed homeschooling our children for NINE years! I originally intended to just do Kindergarten to Gabe, but it went so well, and our family was grooving with it, so we kept going just one year at a time. I loved the richness of our content, the time in nature, the learning we could … Continue reading Entering Public School
...is to just jump in and do it. There are many people (myself included sometimes!) who are more comfortable taking their time, thinking about things, planning, and preparing for a situation. And that is great. But honestly, the best way to learn how to do something is to just do it. I've seen this personally … Continue reading Best Way to Learn
I am privileged to engage with such a variety of reading and experiences each day as we creatively walk through this blended life of businesses, school, and life. Today was one of those days - Podcast Recording, doctor's appointment, running outside in 20 degree temps, newsletter publications, sent off some Arbonne samples to friends, tennis … Continue reading Loving the Variety
How do you start your day? As for myself, I had been pretty unpredictable over the last several years of life, and would just jump into a work/homeschool/life juggling act each day. Often times, before mid-morning, I'd feel like the day had "gotten away from me." Over the last month or so, I've returned to a … Continue reading Morning Routines
I'm enjoying a new book, You Are a Bada** by Jen Sincero, with a group of other Arbonne Consultants this month. It's both hilarious and inspiring. Basically it's a wonderful kick in the pants to step into the meaningful, amazing life we have an opportunity to live. This book is for those who want more out of … Continue reading Belief
I'm not naturally a risk-taker, I've learned. I need a certain dose of adventure and variety, but often I stick to the tried-and-true, and actually seek out certain measures of social validation before jumping in to something. Sometimes that is wise. Sometimes it's just fear, likely. Don and I spoke today about the importance of the … Continue reading Risk
It has been months since I've put fingers to keypad and poured out my thoughts and reflections. It's a part of the way I process life, and so I've really missed it. As we teach and lead our kids, we've been encouraging them to think about everything they read and experience. We expect them to … Continue reading Writing Every Day
Our family loves to hike. We have hit hundreds of trails, throughout multiple cities and National Parks. Each is unique and memorable in its own way. Sometimes there is gorgeous scenery along the entire path. Sometimes, we invest the steps and hours to arrive at a particular destination such as a huge waterfall or rocky cliff. … Continue reading Perspective
As opposite as we are, Don and I are very similar when it comes to starting something new. We "test" the water before we jump all in. Now, we are definitely not the type of people that test, test, test, test, and never really get wet because honestly, they never totally intended to in the … Continue reading Testing a Concept
We have all likely heard the truism, "Without vision, the people will perish." I agree with this mantra. But the more I observe about people, the more I see how different we are and how uniquely we see the world. We all have our own lens from which we see "reality." Our emotions and past … Continue reading What Kind of Vision Do You Have?
I've always been that hopeless romantic that gets giddy when I show up at the right place at the right time - to meet a famous person or just connect with a new friend. I have a huge list of these types of experiences, and movies like Serendipity or Sleepless in Seattle are two of … Continue reading Perfect Timing
I spend a lot of time working with professionals around writing and sharing their ideas online. We help companies grow their revenue through building trust with prospects and keeping that trust with customers. One big part of that trust is grown through writing and sharing valuable content on their sites. Sometimes it is easy for them … Continue reading Writer’s Block
It is common knowledge that defining goals sets successful people apart from the masses. There is a desire and clarity which allows them to focus and work towards something very concrete. I remember a mentor in college who would always say, "If you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time." It's so easy to … Continue reading Setting Goals
Don and I spend a lot of time talking together about our clients and business in general. We've learned that we often are looking at two different sides of the same picture, and so there is much value from sharing our own perspective. It gives us a more complete understanding. I didn't used to value … Continue reading Thinking Out Loud
We live a very blended life of work, school, family, and adventure. It's been this way since before our first son started Kindergarten. Even so, it's easy to lose focus on the big picture sometimes. What is the goal of it all? As most parents, we are trying to prepare our kids as best we … Continue reading Plan. Do. Share.
Meeting new people seems like a basic daily opportunity - practically speaking we could strike up a conversation with every stranger in the check-out line or restaurant. However, for some reason, there is an invisible barrier that creates an obstacle for many. You pretty much need a reason to cross it. How can you do it? … Continue reading Growing An Audience
If you are in the professional services business, you know how vital it is to build relationships successfully. Often, your product is something that is intangible - advice, coaching, training, etc. Even if it is coupled with a concrete deliverable like a website or investment deal, it is not something they can hold in their … Continue reading Build Trust – Start Small
We've long since passed the days when flocks of people felt like they should publish their personal journals online. We're moving past the days when everyone assumes you have a LinkedIn Profile or a Facebook Page. But we are still in the days of search where we feel like we should be able to find out everything … Continue reading Personal Branding
"I've been learning that life is too short. In the blink of an eye, the snap of our fingers, time vanishes. If we are not intentional about pursuing something, building something, life just quietly slips on by. I want to keep growing, and I love watching others come to life as they discover tangible ways that … Continue reading Blink of an Eye
Isn't it funny how we don't always realize when we repeat something. I was hanging out for a week with a couple tween girls, and they were kind enough to point out to me how often I said, "I love it!" Every day, there are just so many reasons for me to repeat this simple … Continue reading Scripted vs. Custom
It is always a thrill for me to work with women who decide to start their own business. For many, it had been a long-term goal or dream, and they were just waiting for the right time to jump in and move forward. Alecia Baptiste had years of experience under her belt in the field … Continue reading Monetize Your Knowledge and Expertise: Alecia Baptiste’s Story
I really don't know when it happened, but at some point in my life, I became a person who "over-shared." I know the "over" is relative, depending on who you are, but I knew it was "over" for me when it bit me in the butt! 🙂 Otherwise, before that, I would just call it … Continue reading Public vs. Private – Life Online
Walking around the neighborhood has become one of my favorite things to do. I've always loved hiking nature trails, and I try to get out for a run several times a week, but this walking is different. Walking - not necessarily for exercise - but for "pleasure" - with my husband has provided a richness … Continue reading Walking
There's been an AWESOME video going around social media from a TED talk on an 11-year old boy, sharing about his life experiences, namely around his schooling. He shares impressive insight for a young man his age. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" he's often asked. "I want to BE happy," … Continue reading Hack-Schooling
One of the things I repeat to myself and customers regularly is, "You can't steer a parked car." As a mom, homeschool teacher, and consultant I have seen this idea played out so often that the weight of its truth just grows stronger in my mind each day. It's very, very difficult to accurately imagine … Continue reading You Can’t Steer a Parked Car
What do you have when you take away an office cube, weekly staff meetings, and break rooms - a new brand of professional that has become a growing trend, almost a new normal. This educated and talented individual can connect with colleagues and customers all around the world, with just a cell-phone, laptop and wireless connection. … Continue reading Professional Freedom
As we've traveled through this consulting journey through the years, I've noticed seasonal trends. There are certain months when people are generally considering new opportunities. January is definitely one of them (September is a close second). Instead of fighting the natural inclination to jump on board and create New Year's Resolutions, use it as an … Continue reading New Year Ventures
When we were married, we asked a special mentor couple of ours to share some words of wisdom and encouragement to us during our wedding ceremony. Brenda shared many wise words with me, but what I remember most was her saying to "Be a Memory Maker." To me, that meant setting up the scene for … Continue reading Be a Memory Maker
Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign. . . to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is … Continue reading Love Leaves Its Mark
I am blessed to have so many Women Leader friends in my life. You know who you are. You are full of energy, passion, ideas, and conviction. People feel your presence when you just walk into a room, before you even speak. But then, when you do open your mouth, you easily command attention. People … Continue reading Women as Leaders
There are many women I know who are natural helpers. They intuitively see a need and take the brave, kind step to meet it. I see it in the smallest ways when my daughter helps her brothers find their shoes or wallet. And I see it in beautiful friendships and marriages - a woman giving … Continue reading Women as Helpers
If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: Your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I … Continue reading “Little Women”
I think the English Teacher part of me will never die. I remember digging my way out of stacks of essays and term papers when I taught high school English. I remember having the honor of reading students' journals when they mustered up enough courage to let me peek in. I naturally believe something very … Continue reading On Writing
There have been many times in life when I would like to have had all the answers to a big question laid out in detail for me: What should I be "when I grow up"? (as a freshman in college) How exactly should I parent this child? (when I delivered my first child) Should I … Continue reading The Next Step
Our family completely enjoyed listening to the book Wonder by R. J. Palacio during our road trips recently. It is real. It touched our hearts, made us laugh, and gave us so many things to talk about as a family: How to treat people who are different. How to deal with your own need to fit in. How … Continue reading Precepts
"We're going to learn your song." "Why? - Because that's what bands do. We play each other's songs." --Mr. Schneebly, a.k.a. Dewey Finn, a.k.a. Jack Black - School of Rock Our whole family loved watching the movie, School of Rock this week. We still can't believe we've never seen it before. My husband was a … Continue reading That’s What Bands Do
As parents, we want to be the main voice of influence in our children's lives. We can pass on the values and mindsets we hold dear when we choose to spend time getting to know them well - their interests, passions, and heart. We earn the right to lead and inspire when we have won … Continue reading Boyhood and Beyond
Do you remember learning pattern sequences like AABB or ABCABC as a young child? To me, those activities were fun exercises. Finding patterns was like figuring out a puzzle. If you could figure out the pattern, you could predict the next sequence. As an adult, I still enjoy recognizing patterns and have come to realize … Continue reading Recognizing Patterns
I was recently reminded that I am an INFJ. One of my sweet friends and old neighbors mentioned on her blog that she was, and those letters hit me, Whammo!, and sent me back to my college days when I took the Myers-Briggs test and "figured out who I was." It was also pretty neat … Continue reading Personalities and Strengths
If you'd told me as an 11th grade High School English teacher that I'd have a 2nd Grade daughter reading aloud the same play we were reading in that Junior Class, I don't think I would have believed you! But what a sweet dream come true for this English lit educator. Today, my daughter Jadyn … Continue reading Shakespeare in Second Grade
My husband and I watched the movie Moneyball this weekend, and I loved it. I was surprised that I enjoyed it so much, but I did. This movie is based on the book with same title that details how Billy Beane and his assistant changed the game of baseball by only focusing on basic, concrete … Continue reading Lessons from Moneyball
I love meeting new people. While growing up, I was often the "new girl" in school, so I had much practice at it. When I got older, people used to tease me about always being able to find out someone's life story in a couple minutes, even the cashier at a grocery store. I enjoy … Continue reading The Race That Knows Joseph
After the hard work of writing engaging content that your readers will find helpful or interesting, there are a few things to consider and check-off before you hit that brave button, "Publish." 1. Choose Title Well It should be intriguing, easy to remember. Not terribly long. If you look carefully, you will see that your … Continue reading Publishing A New Article
If you ever were a saleswoman, now is your time to shine. 🙂 The Landing Page is for the person who needs your services, yet just needs that last final push to make the jump. Before visiting your landing page, they have likely read some of your content to be convinced of your credibility, but … Continue reading Landing Pages
Here are some of the books our boys have enjoyed most during their early elementary years. Some have been reread multiple times. Others have lines or characters that have weaved themselves into our family culture. My recommendation is to take this list and reserve about 5-7 on hold at the library. Then let your son … Continue reading Books for Boys
I don't know exactly why this topic fascinates me so much. I think I love watching it in action and seeing - does "ownership" really matter or make a difference in the way kids behave? Parenting is such a tricky job, and we really want our children to grow up to be independent adults who … Continue reading Ownership
I'm reading aloud this book, King of the Golden River by John Ruskin,* for the third time as a homeschool teacher. We have chosen to use AmblesideOnline, a Charlotte Mason curriculum, as our main spine for homeschooling. It is scheduled as an "additional read" for a 1st grader. Having gone through this year now three … Continue reading King of the Golden River
I spent one of the most memorable weeks as a family at a Homeschool Family Camp outside of Kerrville, TX this April. I took the kids to this HEB camp and got to spend time swimming, relaxing, reading, hiking, and getting to know several other amazing homeschool families. When the week was over, our kids … Continue reading Time at Camp
As long as I've been in business, I've heard the mantra, "Work on your business and not in your business." In other words, it's so easy to fall into the trap of doing the tedious "grunt work" that we stop focusing on really investing time and work on the things that will grow our business … Continue reading Work On Your Business
"Great marketers don't make stuff. They make meaning." -- Seth Godin If we have any product or service to sell, hopefully it is because we have something that is important enough to us that we'd like to share it with others. The product, the "stuff" is just a by-product of what really matters, what really … Continue reading Marketing and Meaning
How do you leave your mark best with others? Do you ever leave a conversation with a colleague or friend and replay it over and over in your mind? They might have said something that left you inspired or even challenged your thinking in a positive way, forcing you to chew on their words long … Continue reading Leaving Your Mark
I remember when I first considered homeschooling our oldest son, I thought, "I can teach Kindergarten!" So, I decided to just try it one year at a time. We'd already been learning a lot together. I taught him to read (or really just helped him teach himself!), and we were enjoying lots of books from … Continue reading Kindergarten
Event vs. Tribe When putting on an event, there is usually a large amount of planning and detail to manage beforehand in making it happen. But once the event happens, in many ways, it's all over. Building a tribe, however, is not one event. It's a series of small exchanges, mini-events, and generous offerings. It … Continue reading Perseverance
So, Don and I have been inspired to really simplify our lives. We already lean strongly towards a more minimalist mindset, but with kids over the year "stuff" and "clutter" has snuck in and taken over! How did we end up with more plastic things than we ever thought we'd need in a lifetime! Some … Continue reading Preparing for Christmas
So, my husband has started a new habit each night before he goes to bed to reflect on the day and capture something that he is thankful for. He's started a running stream on Twitter under "#gratitude." I think it's a fabulous idea. This year, one of my favorite books was One Thousand Gifts by … Continue reading #Gratitude
I love working with women who dream big. They have a natural positive energy and passion about them. Ideas are always scrolling through their mind. When approached with a challenge, they can immediately think of many possible opportunities instead. They have a standard of quality and excellence because they believe what they are doing is … Continue reading Thinking Big
Sonya Dalrymple 