Category Archives: Women in Business

A Literary Teabox

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Change your thoughts, change your life. ~ Unknown

A Literary Teabox! I like that idea – something to dig into when creativity is low and a pick-me up is needed.

The box is stuffed with things that help stir and brew up inspiration – combination treasure trove and fortune cookie, less the calories and carbohydrates.

Don’t get it? See the box – what’s in it? Words of wisdom – “quotable quotes” from all kinds of people.

Make your own literary teaboxes as gifts.  Keep it creative and loose so it will be meaningful to friends with different passions. A thoughtful,  inspirational gift for writers or other artists, self-improvement junkies, sports enthusiasts. Want to learn more about using affirmations for positive change, please visit this website http://bit.ly/XkUS9l.

Add instructions for how to use with best results: When you awake, open the box and read a quote. Let it brew and steep as you think about the hours ahead. Then let the words invigorate you and infuse you with energy. Go about your day in a fulfilling kind of way, perhaps by reading a book that has a lot of heart and soul. My suggestion:Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected

Happy Monday!

literary teabox 21

Photo composition/design and Photo credit: ©Sue Batton Leonard

Return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Speaking the Same Language

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“Finding out what a community will enjoy, support and get behind takes expertise.” ~Larry Smith

world book night 2013It’s April and you know what that means. World Book Night is just around the corner. This year, our independent publishing meet-up group, We Write Steamboat, will be distributing  The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbach. We have selected a group of people to give these books to who speak the same language and who will really appreciate the publication. More about that later , as World Book Night approaches.

Part of the business of being an independent publisher is to sell books and locate communities of people, all over the world, who have a common interest in the genre of writing or the subject that you write about. Non-fiction is generally easier to market, but fiction writers who approach their writing with goals of appealing to certain demographic groups, find the marketing part easier and even pleasurable. If you are selling your publication over the internet, through e-commerce, e-marketing (on-line promotion) using social media, is a critical part of it. It is very important to learn how to use social media effectively because without some knowledge of what you are trying to accomplish, your efforts could be for naught.

If you are a person who is new to independent publishing through e-commerce and e-marketing, its wise to put a little investment into hiring a professional to help you identify your markets and learn how to reach out to effectively to find people on-line with common interests. Look for a company that specializes in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers.

Return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Life Affirming Elements

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Dreams of the westI love this image by photographer David Stoecklein. http://bit.ly/XpxQiW.  It reminds me of the “no holds barred” attitude of Western living.

Fear of failure is the top reason why people are afraid to take risks in life. Understandable. It does feel better to succeed and fulfill our dreams, than to fail at something. However, getting out of our comfort zones, teaches us valuable life lessons and if failure happens, we learn how to find alternatives or solutions. For entrepreneurs, business people and innovators these are very important life skills to acquire.

There’s an interesting article about careers and job recruitment that states one of the top qualities that employers look for in this day and age is flexibility. If you are not quite sure how adaptable you are compared to others who are in the job  marketplace, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator will give you some insight into whether you have skills suited for various kinds of employment. If you wish to learn more, please follow this link  http://bit.ly/16mN4Xk .

Creative people love to discover and explore. It’s taken me a while to fully understand that more options come with being flexible in life – I’ve had some exciting opportunities! It has been said “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t force them to drink.” Thankfully, I have been thirsty and have taken-in a good dose of life affirming elements.

Return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Visions and Memories of Easter

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Easter tells us that life is to be interpreted not simply in terms of things, but in terms of ideals.~ Charles M Crowe

It’s Friday,  the beginning of Easter weekend. Today on All Things Fulfilling rather than communicate through text, I have posted a visual extravaganza of all things Easter, as seen through the eyes of a child. I have tried to capture images of my favorite things that represent the coming of spring, and my childhood memories. Dressing in our Easter finest, and going to church, was part of what made the day so special. Sadly, for many families this is a tradition that has gone by the wayside. http://bit.ly/YHBXpF.

Listen in to one chapter of my memoir about Easter Traditions. You will get a feel for my publication, Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, and for the voice in it.

 

easter forsythia

Easter chicks in cupeaster-egg

Easter Maryland Presbyterian Church

Easter dress from 1950sEaster glovesEaster bonnet

Easterpeeps

easter sugar eggs

Easter_Tea-Cakes

Easter pictureeaster lily

Easter Chickseaster-bunny

easter-birds-nest-graphicsfairy
Have a wonderful weekend, and return on Monday to All Things Fulfilling. Click on this link for info and ordering my memoir.  Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected

Growing from the Inside Out

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“And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anaïs Nin.

living your best lifeWhen I  look at the geranium blooming in my office, there is no doubt the days have gotten longer, and the light stronger. No longer starved of what it needs to thrive, the plant looks enriched with more energy. Now the geranium is beginning to stand at attention, rather look wilted and stilted. Even humans, in springtime, have a renewed sense of spirit. We’re ready to spend more time being rejuvenated, creating, celebrating and growing from the inside out.

I’ve been reflecting that a little more than a year ago, I started writing my first full length piece. The writing has gone through about six revisions, and with it, so have I. Each time I have changed the text, there has been a thought process to evaluate whether the words match the message I had in mind. Alone, the exercise in writing has been valuable. But, it has also been an investment in learning more about my own self and what I have to say.

Like the geranium that sits inside in my office, waiting to be put outdoors when the conditions are right, there will come a time when I will need to release the book. Then a whole new dimension will be added to the self-discovery process. If I I have adequately blossomed and grown,  I’ll be able to spread my message through the spoken word also, about all the things I’ve been writing about. I am looking forward to the next step in independent publishing.

Living Your Best Life, by Laura Berman Fortgang, is a wonderful book that can help you to begin your journey toward feeding and nurturing yourself with what it takes to live a healthy, happy life. It is a good springtime read for those who want to invest in changing or rebuild their lives during this season of new life.

Return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of  Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected

Faith in the Path Less Traveled

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Weave in faith and God will find the thread. ~Author Unknown

I was without my computer for awhile yesterday; it was in the “shop.” I took advantage of the freedom away from digital technology. Since so much of what I do is on-line based, a close relationship with all things paper has nearly been trashed. I often read the news and magazines, and sometimes books, via the computer these days, subscribing to fewer print publications.

Yesterday, for a few blissful hours, I sat in the Bud Memorial Library and read the April 2013 edition of Southwest Magazine from cover to cover. How I enjoyed myself!

The first great article I encountered was about artist Michelle Dunaway. It was superbly written by Gussie Fauntleroy. Dunaway, an artist who lives and studied at the MastersAcademy in Albuquerque, NM mentioned the importance of finding the joy in unexpected things by getting off the beaten path. She told of her childhood hikes with her father, and whenever there was a choice to make about what direction to travel, he taught her to take the path least followed which, more times than not, led to discovering things she didn’t anticipate.

art faithAs a painter, each time Dunaway faces a blank canvas it presents her with opportunities to make choices of color, lines, shape and other design elements that make a good painting. She has been taught to make right choices in art through workshops with the most influential and impressive painters of our time, such asRichard Schmid  and Jeremy Lipking http://www.lipking.com. And by studying the book Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting.

Dunaway says she “has always had an  interest in capturing  human expressions in paintings.” Her image “Faithfulness,” shown in the 2013 issue of Southwest Art, is an exquisite example of her portrait painting talents. It can also been seen on Dunaway’s website. http://www.dunawayfineart.com.

Next time I am in Santa Fe, NM, I look forward to visiting Sage Creek Gallery where Dunaway’s work is represented. Legacy Gallery, M Gallery of Fine Art and Insight Gallery also exhibits and sells her work.

Return  tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Stimulating the Palette with Food Art

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Good food is wise medicine. ~Alison Levitt M.D., Doctor in the Kitchen®

flower kidsSpring has arrived in southern parts of the country. Gardens are sprouting new crops of fruits and veggies. Today on All Things Fulfilling, we will share images of food art that have been circulating over the internet. Mouth-watering ideas and all elements of art – color, shape, form, texture and values have been used to create these food compositions, as well as use of line and space. The visual effects are enough to make even the pickiest child want to eat the daily recommended servings of produce.

Some food art is basic, and any Mom or Dad can make it to impress their families, and stimulate palettes. While other compositions are very time consuming and are best left to highly skilled caterers. With practice and the help of proper kitchen utensils, books and DVDs anyone can now become a culinary artist in their own kitchen, and promote better nutrition.

John Gargone, a chef from Pennsylvania, teaches others his craft of food carving and sculpting in his popular book Food Art: Garnishing Made Easy and through his independently published DVD series.

You are invited to take this tour with me, through the fulfilling world of food and art. Perhaps we will both be inspired to include a little more creativity in our food preparation and diets.

apple with fruit

gold fish

goldfish adult

owl adult

motorcyle adul1imagesCA0MLBNUrose advancedbrocolli poodle kidsjpg

bird advancedface kids

Return on tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Summer: Only a Dream Away

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“In life’s winter, find your invincible summer.” ~ Unknown

Summer Only a Dream AwayI awoke to the cacophony of birdsong this morning, heard it through the open window. One deep inhalation of the chilly air brought scents of freshly mown grass mixed with the crisp, clean fragrance of blooming lavender wafting up my nostrils. As I lay there, trying to become alert after a long, restorative sleep I heard the thwack…thwack of the tennis ball landing on the hard courts across the street, and the players called out “Love Thirty.”  “Thank goodness summer has finally arrived.” I thought.

I turned over, slowly opening my eyes to a bright reflection streaming in the window and saw my husband standing by the bed. “Did you hear me?” He asked.

“What?”

“You’ve gotta love it,” he said smiling. “Its warm, thirty this morning. I am headed out, for another day of skiing on the mountain in Steamboat, Colorado.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “It’s summer. A minute ago I  heard the “thwack” of the tennis balls on the court across the way.”

“Nice try. Go back to sleep, silly. That was the guys up on the roof chopping and clearing away the ice jams.” My husband replied, looking amused.

“What about the green grass and lavender I smell in the air this morning?” I asked, inhaling deeply again.

“You were just dreaming. Thats the lingering scent of the new bubble bath you used last night before bedtime.”

I jumped up and looked out the window, confused. It was unlike my husband to rise before me in the morning. The snow was softly falling, inch by inch, just like the other 321 inches that came before it this winter.

“Its got to end sometime.” I said, referring to the heaped up snowpiles. “Easter is only a week away. I’m going back to the place in my dreams where I know I can find fulfilling scenes of summer.”  I hopped back in bed and pulled the covers over my head.

“Sweet dreams! Shall I put the fan on incase you need it?”

Return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Blogging and the Noggin’

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social-media-takes-over “Regardless of the changes in technology, the market for well-crafted messages will always have an audience.” ~ Steve Burnett

Blogging seems to have an effect on my perception of daily living. Staying alert to what is going on around me, forces me pay closer attention to the idiosyncrasies of life. As a blogger I’ve begun to think there is a story in everything, even when there isn’t.

I share this affliction with many  journalists. People, places, events, conversations – they are all of great interest to me. It has gotten to the point that I need to pause, and think, whether something is really newsworthy. Everything, it seems, that passes by the radar screen of my brain gets paid attention to with heightened awareness. 

What’s a blogger to do? I’ve never been known to be a drama queen, so I don’t quite know how to handle the symptoms of this “thing” that is occurring in my brain as a result of being a participant in e-marketing. Social media, has changed the landscape of how news is shared dramatically.

Only “fix” I know, is to create a story, this morning, about this very issue . I feel better already, now I can go about my business of finding contentment in an ordinary day. Where will my observances lead me tomorrow?

Return on tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Family Dynamics in Stories

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“Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk.” ~ Susan Scarf Merrill 

Brother-for-saleOh, brother! How I can relate- there were many times when I was growing up that I felt just like the little girl in this image. 

Did you ever consider that sibling relationships are the longest bonds we will have in our lives with other people? There is a lot of research about how birth order affects our family ties. 

 There is an interesting interview on NPR about the sibling effect. Tune in and listen. http://n.pr/WZnKPG. 

My siblings have been on my mind a lot recently since I have been writing a book which involves many universal issues, including human relationships. The manuscript has been in the hands of select advance readers, including a child psychologist  and the feedback has been invaluable.  I am most grateful for it and I’m wrapping up final revisions before the book is published. My very realistic goal is to have it complete this year.

My family has not read my manuscript. I didn’t want the dynamics of the book to be changed by the  opinions of family members. I’ve dropped only a few clues about the storyline, and they are chomping at the bit to read it. By now, they might  be questioning whether there is really a book in the making or whether I am  just  taunting them and  making teasing promises like when we were children.

Only kidding! I can hardly wait for my family to read it. They don’t know to what what extent they play roles in the storyline.

Visit us tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.