Category Archives: leadership

Switching Gears

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“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things  in  a different way.” ~ Edward de Bono

I am amazed at the versatility of  some artists! Last week, a few members of the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra came to our weekly Kiwanis International meeting to give us all a short presentation on their programs, upcoming events and to showcase the talents of a few of their professional violinists. There before me stood two women, who produced a magnificent range of harmonious sounds that were representative of the classical music they play in concert with their other symphony members.

Later that week, my husband and I went out to dinner, and performing at the restaurant was one of the very same artists playing her violin. This time, of all things, it was lively, foot stompin’, fun lovin’ blue grass music. Could she ever play! The joy and intensity with which she played was evident on her face, while she played the music of both genres. During one performance, very serious yet beautifully engaged as she gently stroked the violin strings and during the other, broadly and brightly smiling as she plucked and strummed . Two separate manifestations of expression.

Musicians are not the only multi-faceted artists. Writers too, do not always adhere to the same genre of writing. Writers often have the ability to switch from adult to children’s literature, from fiction to non-fiction to poetry or other structure of prose.

Artists by definition are practioners of creativity, ever expanding their repertoire of skills. Switching gears makes life interesting for all of us, artist or non-artist!

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Following Tradition

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“Grandfathers are for loving and fixing things.” ~ Author Unknown

Oh, how sweet it is! Isn’t that the truth? Pop was the best! He loved us all so unconditionally that he even loved us when he shouldn’t have. The four of us grandchildren were the apple of his eye, the light in his day, and we knew it!

I recently joined Kiwanis International. This service organization was established in 1915, when my Grandfather was a young man in his early twenties. Several months ago, I mentioned to my Dad that I was contemplating joining this fine service organization.  He reminded me of a few things – that my Grandfather, who was a fine custom homebuilder and my uncle, who was a medical reseach doctor, both were Kiwanians. Once I was reminded of this fact, I did vaguely recall that my Grandfather had a Kiwanis plaque hanging in his office.

Many might wonder why a person would join a service organization. It is simple! I was given so much as a child, in ways that have nothing to do with material goods, that if there is some way I can give back by being involved with this great organization, it will be my pleasure!

Kiwanians are involved in all sorts of service projects which benefit children. They aid in providing for homeless children, building playgrounds, raising funds for pediatric research, mentoring disadvantaged children, and much more. Great things come out of stepping out and giving a child a chance in life! I am going to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps, because being a Kiwanian is a tradition worth following!

This short trailer will give a little insight into what Kiwanis is all about! Take just a few minutes to watch fellowship, caring and community happen!  For more information on Kiwanis International, please visit http://www.kiwanis.org.

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Books from Basement to Marketplace

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“You have all the reason in the world to acheive your grandest dreams. Imagination plus innovation equals realization.”~ Dennis Waitley

A mistake that some independent publishers make is putting all efforts into writing and publishing their book and forgetting about marketing campaigns. This leads to poorly or under-marketed  books. Over printing can also leave an independent publisher with a pile of unsold books.

Does your independently published book or film still have as much relevance today as when it was published, yet you have cartons sitting in your basement rather than on the shelves of your audience?

Enter E-Marketing! Through the use of social media marketing and e-commerce (internet selling), why not explore the possibility of ridding yourself of books that are still current in subject matter. Breathe new life  into  your attempts at marketing and selling them. Social media marketing can be the perfect tool for reaching potential readers and to getting those books sold. Many independent publishers have never used these tactics of book selling,  but there are professionals who can assist with every step along the way.

Give it a go! Opportunity may be just a search engine away! Start with e-commerce for independent publishers.

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It’s All Good!

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“We immediately become more effective when we decide to change ourselves rather than asking things to change for us.” ~ Stephen Covey

You all must think that this blogsite only focuses on independent publishing. Not so! I will read any book or watch any film so long as it adds value to my life, independently published or not!

Although we all stop growing physically at a certain age in life, that does not mean our intellect and self improvement skills need to stop growing, too. Growth from that perspective should be never ending.  Our evolution as human beings should be ongoing, especially if we are to live the kind of life we want for ourselves.

Last week, I stopped by the library and picked up a book that I never expected to be as useful to my own life and business as it is. It is called “Daily Reflections for Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, published by Franklin Covey Company. What a treasure chest of writings this book contains for a values based business. If every business operated with the same synergy suggested in this book, we would all be living in a diamond mine.  Every company and organization would shine so brightly, we would all need blinders on! There is no “preachiness” in each short daily reflection in this book, only empowering principles for living life effectively and with great integrity.

We are all diamonds in the rough. This helpful book may add polish to your life, and contain the very things you have been searching for along your path to an enriched life. Check it out!

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Being on Target

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“All great men are gifted with intuition. They know without reasoning or analysis what they need to know.” ~Alexis Carrel

Hah! I knew I should listen to my intuition or the big guy in the sky who has been telling me to press on, not to listen to all the doubters, to carry-on with what feels right and just! I am talking about social media marketing!

One of the most high of all feels the same way I do! The Pope just advised his people that they need to spread the word by responding to “today’s cultural shifts” and if that means messing about with electronic technology and the virtual world, so be it! The Pope is an advocate for the use of electronic images, blogs, websites and videos to communicate with the masses of people throughout the world.

I concur! This is also what I have prescribed for opening up doorways of opportunity for all of our independent publishing clients! See that, sometimes it really pays to listen to your intuition or whatever elevated “being” you listen to!

Are you paying attention?

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Trim, Clip and Snip!

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“In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I can stand it no longer! I feel like I am sitting amid chaos. It is time for me to switch gears over the next few days. I must become an editor and clean up my act.

Being all surrounded by mail, papers, files, e-mails and other extraneous things leads to the feelings of exhaustion and confusion. I can no longer think succinctly. This is not typical of the way I operate, clearly something must be done.

Organization experts say 80% of your desk should be empty. I have  a long way to go! Ridding myself of what is no longer needed will clarify and simplify my life once again. After all, the tax man will be coming to call pretty soon. I need to organize records that have accummulated all year long and be ready.

Now, where do I start? I think I will start with my hair. A new style! It will be like my desk – even if I don’t like the clean new look, it is bound to grow back .  But, at least for now, I will be able to see clearly once again.

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Beyond Ourselves

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“Compassion is the basis of all morality” ~ Arthur Schopenhauer

Yesterday, we had a very timely speaker at our Kiwanis International weekly meeting. Dr. Dawn Obrecht and her husband Erik Landvik were there to speak with our group about the disaster relief work they have done all over the world. They set up a medical clinic to assist the victims of the Indonesian tsunami, Dr. Obrecht doctored the injured after Hurricane Katrina and has in fact, volunteered her time to five other calamitious events resulting in great loss of life and widespread destruction.

As we watch all that has happened in Haiti over the past week, it gives me pause to think, what this world would be like if Doc Dawn and her husband Erik and thousands of other extraordinarily compassionate individuals did not exist in this world.

Dr. Dawn Obrecht has chronicled her experiences through the writing of her independently published book, Mission Impossible: A Missionary Doctor’s Journey of Healing. http://www.docdawn.com/book1.php.  The perils that she has been up against in her work as a missionary doctor will leave you with an increased understanding of the compassion, kindness and unique human qualities that exist in individuals that are so willing to put themselves, at their own expense, on the line for others.

Dr. Obrecht’s work is not done, she has gotten calls to help in Haiti, however, until there is more order and structure with the relief efforts, she has been advised to wait. Hopefully, Erik will be at her side as this extraordinarily gifted couple work together to fulfill the work that is so important in their lives and to the survival of others.

It has been an honor to begin to know Dr. Obrecht, who like me, was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland! We will  be working together with the Macedonian Mission for Humanity, to help raise funds through an international dinner,  to ship a container of much needed medical supplies to children’s hospitals in Macedonia.

What small thing can you do to help your community or another community of people who are in dire need of help?

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Is This Just for Me?

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“All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.”~ Albert Einstein

Isn’t it funny how chance and timing lead to opportunity? We all have situations from time to  time that work out perfectly in our favor, in very unexpected ways.

This Saturday (tomorrow) is a perfect example of what I am referring to! My plans were to drive to Denver to drop my son and his college roommate off at the airport so they can  return back to school. My plans got even better when I received a telephone call this morning from a Colorado Independent Publisher Association member asking me if I would like to attend their Saturday meeting. www.cipabooks.com.

Perfect! I will be driving right by the site of the meeting just in time! Any opportunity to network with this group of publishing professionals is a great one! And to make it even more worthwhile, the speaker of the morning will be Brian Jud. The program will be The Buck Starts Here – How You Can Sell More Books in Special Markets!  He is also author of Beyond the Bookstore. Is this not just what I blogged about yesterday???

Turn down the chance to learn all I possibly can about this subject matter? No way!! Not when the timing is this perfect!!

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Opportunities Lead to Choices

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“You just don’t luck into things as much as you’d like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it is friendships or opportunities.” ~ Barbara Bush

Over the past years, I have made a concerted effort to stop living in the “what if” frame of mind, at least from a negative point of view. I have decided we are all better off if we look at “what if” from a perspective of opportunity and possibility, instead.

Have you ever stopped to think how e-commerce (on-line, internet selling) has opened up a whole new world of possibilities?  Orders can be placed from all reaches of the globe. Such are the advantages of e-commerce.

Independent publishing lends itself quite naturally to  niche publishing and social media marketing provides great opportunities for reaching those niche markets. A war historian in the U.S. can publish a book on WWI or WWII and a history buff in Europe seeking out the lastest book to add to his collection, will order with little regard of where it is being shipped from.

You will need to figure out how to get the order to your customer, in far off reaches of the world, the most reliable and economical way possible. Global shipping means a conundrum of options with customs forms to match! Each country has it’s own regulations to deal with, too.

Don’t be caught unprepared! Knowing how to get the order across the globe so that it does not go astray, can be part of the battle, too. When contracting with an order fulfillment company, of all questions, ask whether they ship worldwide. It matters!

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Cure All

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“All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within” ~ Horace Friess

I have a personal and business Facebook page now, as so many of you do. My Facebook friends include many artists, writers and others that work in all kinds of creative industry. Hardly a day goes  by that someone does not post on Facebook that they are stuck in a rut and are looking for ideas as to how they can set their minds free. Sympathetic friends post things to do to sir up creativity. Suggestions range from go get a massage, do some Tai Chi, go down to the local bar and “tie one on”, take a trip to an exotic, culturally rich city like Ohrid, Macedonia and the ideas go on and on.

This weekend, I hardly went out my backdoor and I saw the most beautiful source of inspiration one could ever find – nature. My husband, son and I spent the afternoon in the Routt County National Forest, showshoeing in Rabbit Ears Pass. For a day that started out at -20 below zero, we picked a winner of a day! By afternoon the sun was radiant and warm on our backs. The deep, powdery snow and the icicles hanging from the trees were glistening in the sunlight. We were surrounded by vistas that become subjects of the most beautiful landscape paintings of all.

Much to my dismay, I had forgotten to bring pen and paper. As I witnessed the beauty, the adjectives that came to my mind were free flowing. I wished I could have written them all down in the heat of the moment. Writers, like plein air painters, get the best results when they interpret what they are seeing right then and there – not afterwards.

The afternoon was nothing but a tease to our wounded warrior son. Spectacular back country skiing abounds for any one who dares go there. Yet our son was restricted to tame snowshoes due to a soccer injury that required surgery late this fall.

I returned from our trek into the forest feeling refreshed, renewed and ready for the week that lies ahead. Inspiration comes to all of us in so many different ways. Whatever floats your boat – “just do it!” It is bound to be a cure all.

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