When I first heard of blogging, I said to myself –that looks silly and time consuming and how the heck could it help my business?  And I buried my head in the sand for a couple of years.  And then, one of my coaches started nudging me and showed me some practical reasons to blog.  And now I’m hooked.  Today I ‘m going to share with you the top reasons to blog and how to get started.

1.  Internet interaction is here in a big way and is here to stay.  With the advent of social media (linked in, facebook, twitter) and smart phones, people now expect to be able to interact with you online.  Your website is a one way street.  You give out content. Your readers receive it.  With a blog, people can comment on what you post and a dialogue occurs.

This is great because it builds relationships AND it’s great for driving traffic.  Search engines and blog directories are notified of your updates and they love that!

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What the heck do I mean by “repurpose?”  Well it’s when you do one thing and then spin that one thing into many.  Let’s take a look at how this might work.

1.  Write a top ten tip sheet.  My first one was called “Top Ten Ways to Live Authentically.”  I wrote it 10 years ago and put it online and I still get feedback from it!

2.  Flesh out each of your top ten tips into a few paragraphs and now you have an article.  Write a 400-600 word article expanding on your top ten tips.  You put a “call to action” resource box at the end of the article.  A resource box is the jargon term that online article databases use…kind of like a byline, only it’s much more.

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Yes, Facebook is a fun way to keep in touch with your buddies and family and to reconnect with people you’ve lost contact with.  AND, it’s also a powerful marketing tool if you use it right.

Some people choose to set up a private page for just family and friends while creating a separate page for business.  I’ve chosen to blend the two on my “wall” so that potential clients/customers can get a feel for who I authentically am.

I’m in the process of creating a “fan page” specifically for my business (watch for a contest announcement in March!).  I thought I’d share some of what I’ve learned with you.

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If you’re just starting out with your business, you may not have a clue as to where your money will come from.  Or maybe you’ve given it a go and are not bringing in the income you need and deserve.  The topic of how to have multiple income streams is a murky one for most people.

I find that there are five huge mistakes entrepreneurs make when thinking about their upcoming income.  Are you making any of these?  (Don’t worry –I did too –until I was coached by the best to expand my thinking and to translate my big visions into doable steps!)

1.  You don’t set income goals.  You just toil away at this and at that maybe bringing in dribs and drabs of money but not enough to be confident that you can make a living.  You’ve got to create a clear blueprint of where the money will come from.

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I’ve been self employed for 10 years and coach others over 40 to enjoy the life first/work second lifestyle. My top 5 reasons:

1. FREEDOM! I enjoy and choose to work 30-35 hours a week AND I get to choose when I write, teach teleseminiars and coach.

2. FREEDOM Part II: I get to choose WHERE I work. My home office, the local funky coffee shop or at the harbor overlooking the Pacific ocean.

3. Working alone most of the time. This is perfect for me! I love several hours a day in complete silence. But do know, you can get out to coffee shops and networking meetings and have as much interaction as you like…your choice!

4. Choosing projects and clients I love. I get to say no.

5. More vacation time. No more 2-4 weeks of vacation time. I take 4-6 weeks a year in addition to 3-4 weeks of professional development conferences.

Today I’m feeling extra grateful!

The French call Gratitude “the memory of the heart.” And gratitude is now even being studied scientifically! Robert Emmons, a professor in the new field of positive psychology at University of California Davis, is conducting research on gratitude. He found gratitude contributes to emotional equanimity and pleasure, richer personal relationships and greater health. He says ‘Gratitude is more than a tool for self-improvement. Gratitude is a way of life.”

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“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”  Mary Oliver

James Hillman, in the Soul’s Code says that “just as the giant and majestic oak is embedded in the acorn, so a person carries inside them an active kernel of truth, or an image, waiting to be lived. The idea is not a new one – the Greeks had the word ‘daimon’ to describe the invisible guiding force in our lives, the Romans the ‘genius’.”

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I was working today with someone who wants to be self employed but can’t decide what business to choose.  I have several strategies I use when someone is stuck in this boat -but my favorite, particularly when someone is between 2 choices, is to tell them to flip a coin.  Yup, flip a coin.  It’s not that the coin will make your decision.  Here’s how it works.

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Tap into the Secret behind "The Secret"

Have you heard of the movie called "The Secret"? It’s about the Law of Attraction – a principle that states -what you focus on, you attract.

All the spiritual traditions, along with philosophers and scientists, recognize the power of thinking. "Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life", Ernest Holmes said. Or, "It is done unto you as you believe" as the Christian bible tells us. Or, "With our thoughts, we make our world" as Buddha said. There are many more examples.

Now, this principle, this "law" works just like other laws you are familiar with. It is impersonal. Take electricity for instance. The laws behind electricity always say yes – if you turn on our light switch – you get electricity that lights up your room. If you choose to cross wires incorrectly, you get electrocuted. There is no judgment by the law whether the purpose you are using electricity for is "good" or "bad." It is the same with the Law of Attraction.

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