Don't forget to pop by and see what Elizabeth has to say - her book is great!

Quoted from http://thechicentrepreneur.typepad.com/the_chic_entrepreneur/2008/07/the-chic-book-tour.html:

The Chic Entrepreneur: The Chic Book Tour

July 01, 2008

The Chic Book Tour

Follow the Chic Book Tour August 4 – 10, 2008. There will be book reviews, interviews and more.
It'll be just like going on tour with The Chic Entrepreneur yourself without leaving the comfort of your own couch!

August 4 – Home Biz Notes and The Wealth Spa Radio Show

August 5 – The Success Blog

August 6 – Shotgun Marketing Blog

August 7 – Entrepreneur Goddess

August 8 – Women Entrepreneurs' Blog of the Mohawk Valley and Running with Quills

August 9 – Young Entrepreneur Blog

August 10 – Blog Business World and Empower Women Now

Hope to "see" you on the web!

Elizabeth

        

Trying out Contribute again..... this could be an amazing tool!

I "stumbled upon" this article about getting up early that may help some of you that are like me... I love my bed! Is 7 or 8am early? I guess most people think 5 or 6am is... that's almost impossible for me - but at least I can work in jammies at home - McQuade & Bannigan would have frowned on that!

Quoted from http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/05/how-to-become-an-early-riser/:

How to Become an Early Riser

May 23rd, 2005 by Steve Pavlina

It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom.
- Aristotle

Are morning people born or made? In my case it was definitely made. In my early 20s, I rarely went to bed before midnight, and I’d almost always sleep in late. I usually didn’t start hitting my stride each day until late afternoon.

But after a while I couldn’t ignore the high correlation between success and rising early, even in my own life. On those rare occasions where I did get up early, I noticed that my productivity was almost always higher, not just in the morning but all throughout the day. And I also noticed a significant feeling of well-being. So being the proactive goal-achiever I was, I set out to become a habitual early riser. I promptly set my alarm clock for 5AM…

… and the next morning, I got up just before noon.              

Want to find out how he did it? Click here.                   Email this article to a friend

        

I'm test driving Adobe Contribute as a new way to add content to this blog - I love trying new things! V-

        

Sometimes you need to just ask for the answers! Try polling your customers to see what they think of your products and services.  
This is a software mentioned on Duct Tape Marketing. It's free and easy to use! Check it out... and answer my poll today at www.StressFreeDesign.com (bottom right corner of home page).
V-

        

Sometimes I wished I wrote a journal... I wish I could remember every link in the chain line in the story character in the play that brought me to this point... I love how people show up in my life!
Somehow I stumbled upon The Chic Entrepreneur and Elizabeth Gordon's blog. I read and commented on an article I found interesting... well, they then checked out this blog and asked me to host Elizabeth during her virtual book tour! I'm very honored... but of course, wanted to read the book before recommending it to my audience. I'm 85% through Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels" and I think it's a must read for ANY woman in business. There are some great tips about strategies and procedures that I need to re-read; the book has helped me to see what is missing in my current plan of action. By comparing two types of businesses Elizabeth shows us how to define who we are and what our company brings to the marketplace. And by using two women's stories, we can get a clear picture of some of the major missteps women can take without guidance, and how they can florish when they seek advice, research and prepare for success before it happens.
If you want a fun AND inspiring read this summer, pick up a copy of The Chic Entrepreneur - I'd loan you mine but it's going to be my "business bible" this year! V-

        

I'm not a QVC junky!

I feel I need to say that right up front as these two products are both from QVC... I was flipping channels - AFTER business hours - and decided I HAD to purchase these two items.

I'm in front of my computer 4-14 hours a day (10's about average); I don't always sit in the most perfect, ergnomically-correct position (especially around hours 3 and 9) so I finally decided to do something to help me feel better and keep my body aligned.

Sit-N-Stroll Portable Leg & Foot Exerciser with Timer - I kept tucking my legs under my chair or putting me feet on the base of the chair over the wheels - gee - then I'd wonder why my leg muscles were tight and my ankles were poofy!! With this I focus on keeping my legs in alignment with my body; I have proper posture more often than not - even if I don't move my feet! But it's pretty easy to get 2,000 steps in during an hour or so at the computer - so you can get part of the recommended 10,000 steps while you're on your butt! Whatta product! And I carry it into the living room at night and "walk-n-watch" tv; it even comes with a travel case for use in the car (as a passenger obviously!) or hotel room.

BackMagic Adjustable Stretching Device- wow - this really stretches your back - even in position #1! It feels great (I might recommend a small towel at base as plastic is hard on hips) and so lightweight you can take it traveling with you and stretch after a long day of walking or sitting/driving. It helps put your shoulders back where they're supposed to be! If you want to get started on stretching without equipment click here for some great, simple exercises for back health.

Sometimes I call Claire and we tele-walk - walk with on our cellphones on - so that we get a chance to move; it helps to have someone to be accountable to or to walk with, and with cell phones you can walk with a friend that's 100 miles away!

Hope some of these ideas keep you "aligned" and focused on working in a more body-friendly manner!

V-

        

There is a surge of breakthroughs that have happened over the past couple months...

Luckily I have my friends/life coaches Claire, from Inspired Focus, and Teresa to help me pause and reflect on the successes, releases the things that didn't serve me, and decide upon the next course of action. I recommend that everyone find at least one person that can help them slow down and regroup.

Teresa's book about "Pausing...Long Enough to Notice", is due to be released next month; and she's obviously the inspiration for this post. 

Recently I have had a number of entrepreneurial friends and business associates lose family members, deal with a personal health scare, or suffer a loss of business due to a natural disaster. I have been moved by their stories, amazed by their resiliency, and inspired by the love that continues to flow from them despite it all...

I want to encourage you today to reach out to someone you know who's been dealing with a loss and let them know what you admire something about them. By you making time to notice and speak it, you can open a space for them to pause to receive it - and in that pause they may find joy, or peace, or stillness... they may find what they need to move forward to the next minute, the next hour, the next day...

V-

        

Letting your worries go... Got this in an email from Craig at Learn Web Development; I thought it was interesting as Kevin Stilwell, member of my mastermind group, is from Northwestern Insurance!
Fire away, and send those worries flying!
V-

        

Wow! Jack Canfield held two seminars in Verona on Tuesday and most of the women I spoke with (many of whom are in my "network") are still on a high! We just can't wrap ourselves around all the info we learned and all the inspiration we have received for ourselves and seen other experience!

It is just incredible how the electric the room was; so many people got tuned in to exactly what their passion and mission was... I hope you take the opportunity to check out the blog for the event and read some of the stories for yourself!

The afternoon session focused on The Success Principles, a book I personally own and would recommend to anyone for professional and personal development. I own the CDs too - get for driving to or listening to while working - I get something new from them upon each listen (good thing they're not vinyl or they'd be worn through!). Here are some great videos of Jack describing some of the principles - if you've never heard him speak this is a good place to get a feel for his style. There were about 350 people at the afternoon event - 300 was the goal - and was amazing to see that many professionals in one room who are interested in self development and professional growth.

The evening session focused on The Law of Attraction, and Jack's new book, "Jack Canfield’s KEY to Living the Law of Attraction" - a simple guide to creating the life of your dreams. "This book is your guide for using the Law of Attraction to create the life you desire. Within these pages, Jack clearly explains not only what you need to know, but what you need to do in order to attract what you want in your life. The Key to Living the Law of Attraction addresses the important issues of clarity, purpose and action. This thought provoking book will take you step-by-step through the processes of defining your dreams, goals, and desires. Along the way, you will also gain a greater understanding of yourself, a sense of who you really are and why you are here."

I challenge you to pick one area that you'd like to make a change in and find a mentor - whether it be Jack, through one of his books or coaching programs or attending an event - or a person in your life that has the skills you need to develop in yourself, and get started TODAY on making a change that will affect your whole life!

V-

        

8hands is a cool software that helps keep you socializing at the speed of light while clearing your e-mail box of flurry of updates from your friends. So... you can focus on work at work... but still keep track of all your friends!

From their site:

8hands is a small and friendly desktop application that will simplify your social networking experience. Forget all those logins and refreshing of a million tabs – let 8hands do the dirty work for you! With 8hands, you can organize and optimize your different online profiles from one place, while receiving real time notifications of your events.

It currently works with:

	Facebook			Flickr			MySpace
	YouTube			WordPress			Twitter
	LiveJournal			Blogger			FeedBurner

and will soon support      

I'm hoping that they hook up with LinkedIn - my new absolute favorite professional networking site.

Check it out and let me know what you think!
V-