Category Archives: Women in Business
Energized by Challenge
Leave a comment“Stop focusing on what could go wrong and focus on what could go right.” I like that adage. I am not sure who said it first. I try to remember it along with having a little faith whenever I find myself looking at things from a negative perspective. With practice, it can change a person’s entire mindset.
Years ago, one of my business mentors said “there are no problems, only solutions.” To this day, this has given me invaluable confidence to press ahead whenever I feel dubious. In fact, I enjoy trying to find that “solution” that gives way to a different approach and perspective because then I am acting positively to solve the challenge, rather than bemoaning a “problem.”
In the New Year I’ll have some interesting projects. I am energized by it! I look forward to seeing what I can do to run with it. As I approach these new tasks, I will keep in mind what Win Borden once said “If you wait to do everything until you’re sure it’s right, you’ll probably never do much of anything.”
I can’t think of a better adage to bring about motivation for positive action and along with it a fulfilling life.
This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.
A Welcome Greeting
Leave a comment“Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” ~ Elbert Hubbard
This summer, when I was in Maryland, on the Eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, I walked into a salon to get a haircut. There wasn’t an attendant in the reception area when I arrived, so I sat down and picked up a magazine. Some time passed, and I looked up at the counter, and there was still no attendant, but I noticed something on the counter that I hadn’t seen when I entered. There was an upright sign that had been posted in a clear glass frame that said, “Good Morning, this is God. I will be handling all your problems today. I will not need your help. So just relax and have a good day.”
Hmmm….I thought, “Wouldn’t life be great if things were that easy? Having faith is a wonderful thing. It does help us feel as if we can relax a little when we’re stressed because “someone’s got our back.” But let’s not be too simplistic and unrealistic – we do have to take an active part in living up to our potential and making our own lives fulfilling.
This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business.
Logo Redesign for CFS
4 CommentsHide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade? ~Benjamin Franklin
Ta da! How do you like our new logo? We’ve had a few trial and errors, as is the case with most artistic projects, but we finally have it right and we love the new look! Persistence pays off.
I’d like to thank my team of two creatives who helped bring the globe out of the box. The logo has been redesigned to keep up with the new generation of publishing. Books are now being instantly delivered to readers all over the world, thanks to digital (electronic) publishing.
My son, Marc, came up with the revised logo concept and designed it. The demands of his main line of business, working in the filmmaking industry http://marcrleonard.com/ drew him away, so Margy Ziegler of MZ Graphics put it all together in a banner that could be used for this website.
A few things about Marge – she is rather modest when she states she designs tee shirts. Her capabilities are much greater than that. She has been in the field of graphic design since she graduated from the prestigious Maryland Institute of Art http://www.mica.edu/ about three decades ago when she began working with LifeLike Products. Since then, she has worked with other companies on many different projects. For instance, if you are looking for a sell sheet for a product or service, Margy can help you with the graphic design of that!
Authors and publishers – Marge has the skills to design and print unique, custom-made tee shirts with your book title and book cover image on them. They will fulfill two purposes – promote your book and keep you artfully dressed on the streets all at the same time! Although MZ Graphics offers a no minimum order policy, remember to order enough custom tee shirts for your family and friends, so they can wear them and help advertise your book, film or music.
Visit the Facebook page of MZ Graphics by following this link.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/MZ-Graphics/526509920722129
See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling. This blog brought to you by http://www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.
Important First Steps to Publishing
2 Comments“It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in happiness of pursuit.” ~ Denis Waitley
The e-Book Extravaganza on Saturday sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) was well-worth attending. During one of the breaks, the President of CIPA, Dr. Patricia Ross came over to me and said “Sue, I’d like you to meet one of our new members.” Of course, the usual niceties followed.
I asked the new member if she was enjoying the morning, and she said “Yes, but I feel so uninformed! There is so little I know about independent publishing.” Dr. Ross told her not to be discouraged, and off the President went doing her job of hob-knobbing about the room.
As the new member and I stood talking, I said to her, “You know, each and every person in this room started where you began today, knowing nothing. That is the reason you have joined this group -to get help, to learn, to network and become informed about your options.” There is a lot to learn and you have taken a very important first step. You have joined this group!”
“Yes,” the new member replied. “There seems to be plenty of knowledge to learn from in this group.”
Before the break was over and we went to sit in our respective seats, across the room from one another, I had one more thing I had to say. “In your free time, read anything you can get your hands on about the industry, and keep coming to this group. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.”
To learn more about the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, please visit this link. http://www.cipacatalog.com/join-cipa/. Please note the organization also offers downloadable webinars if you are too far to travel to their meetings.
http://www.cipacatalog.com/categories/CIPA-College-Downloads/
As I drove home, I began to ponder how many first steps I have taken since 1998, when the independent industry was in its infancy. They’ve all been in a quest to learn all I could about the industry and it led to becoming a business. And the wonders and development of the independent publishing universe never cease to amaze me. I find it fascinating.
This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.
e-Book Extravaganza
Leave a commentKnowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. ~ Kofi Annan
On Saturday I made the very worthwhile three hour trek into Denver from Steamboat Springs, Colorado to attend Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) monthly meeting. The September agenda was an e-Book Extravaganza. Here are just a few things that were discussed throughout the day:
- The e-book industry now represents 33% of book sales. How about that?
- People like having a choice of formats, so offering books in print, as well as an e-book version is wise marketing.
- There is still a viable market for books-in-print but there is a certain part of the reading population who are clamoring for e-books due to their convenience.
- Surprisingly, people who are 55 years of age and over ARE BUYING e-books, contrary to what was expected. It is not just the young generation that are interested in the digital format.
- We discussed pricing of e-books and how you can leverage your intellectual property.
- E-books make it easy to offer samples, providing potential book buyers the opportunity to see if they like an author they’ve never read before.
- A big advantage to e-books – there is no printing involved, thus it removes the need for physical space of inventory.
If you are a writer who wants to get on The Fast Track to Independent Publishing, here is a short webinar that will introduce you to the basics. http://bit.ly/10cCp1Y.
Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, we will be discussing the next best step if you are a person who is considering independent publishing and you are in need of knowledge. I will tell you a quick but valuable story from this weekend.
This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com .
Timely Messages
5 CommentsChallenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine
On September 6th, National Read a Book Day I mentioned that reading one spark of an idea from a book can change us for a lifetime. I recently saw a sentence that motivated me big time! I took seriously the words: “the person whose life is full of faith is on the offense; he or she is taking charge of life, making decisions and making things happen.”
How’s that for a call to action? For weeks I had been indecisive about whether or not to sign up for a public speaking class. I knew it was something that I needed to do for myself if I am to pursue my dreams for my publication. As soon as I read the inspirational thought, I acted immediately and enrolled in the course, before I could “chicken out.”
The course is in the early weeks but it is going well. When it’s time, I will be better prepared to “strut my stuff,” and I will be one more step closer to what I dream of doing.
As I have said before on All Things Fulfilling, I try at all costs to hold myself accountable to any ideas that I broadcast on this website. Otherwise, I am full of phony-baloney. That is not one of my lifetime aspirations I can assure you of that!
The inspiring thought came from THE book I’ve hinted about previously that I will be revealing in due course. Before it appears on this site, I will give you the heads up!
This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Please return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow.
Gatsby Groupies
Leave a comment“Show me a hero, and I’ll write you a tragedy.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
I feel as if I am becoming a Gatsby groupie! Today I walked into the Bud Werner Library, and saw a display case announcing the next One Book Steamboat (a community read). It is The Great Gatsby. “I’m in,” I thought, as I proceeded to the DVDs and took out the 2000 production of The Great Gatsby movie by A & E Television Networks. Then I wandered over the computer and put in a reserve for a copy of the book by the same title.
I guess I haven’t had enough of the Fitzgeralds, the Jazz Age and the Long Island social elite even though last summer on my vacation, I took in the movie The Great Gatsby with my sister and I also hawked my mother’s copy of Zelda and read it.
Truthfully, I was disappointed in the latest rendition of the movie, with Leonardo DiCaprio. The visual effects, I felt, were so over the top and frantic that it distracted me from being able to absorb the tragic tale of wealth and entitlement. The telling essence of Jay Gatsby’s character weaknesses were lost in the visual chaos of the movie, rather being told by the dialogue of the story.
The book Zelda, for me, provided much better insight into the psyche of an artist who “never wanted to give in or give up” despite failure and rejection. The narrative told an up-close and personal story of the relationship between wife and husband, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald and it gave historical perspective into their friendships with other contemporaries (filmmakers, writers and artists) from the era.
As a lead-up to the community discussion of the novel, on October 10th, the latest Leo Dicaprio version of “Gatsby” will be aired at the Bud Werner Library. I’ll probably skip it. But then again, perhaps with a second look I might have a different opinion. But I hope not to miss what will probably be a very fulfilling discussion on Monday, October 21st. It will be led by the English teachers of SteamboatHigh School. I hope students are required to join in and read this classic novel. For more information, please follow this link. http://www.steamboatlibrary.org/events/one-book-steamboat
Come on back tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.
Author Spotlight: Lindsay Eland
Leave a comment“You must write for children in the same way
as you do for adults, only better.” Maxim Gorky
A year ago I participated in an authors workshop at the Bookworm in Edwards, Colorado with the delightful author Lindsay Eland. She writes books for middle grade students.
Eland’s first book “Scones and Sensibility” has done very well. Even reading the book as an adult, I enjoyed it and the storyline kept me completely engaged. I was charmed by the voice used for the main character Polly Madassa. Click for info & order on Lindsay Elands publications
On September 24th, The Bookworm in Edwards, Colorado (an Indie Bound Bookstore) http://www.bookwormofedwards.com/ will be having a book signing for Eland’s second and newly released publication “A Summer of Sundays.”
The premise of the story is about a little girl, Sunday Fowler, who feels she is always looked over since she’s a member of a large family of six children. When she discovers a treasure in the basement of a library that her parents are renovating, the limelight suddenly turns in her direction. That is when things become a little different. With the discovery comes some decisions about whether fame is more important than other values.
Lindsay’s book has gotten an excellent review from the Teen Librarian’s Toolbox, to read more about it, please follow this link. http://bit.ly/1aoGEJp
Congratulations, Lindsay! I so enjoyed meeting you a year ago. Best Wishes for your second publication.
Left to right: Sue Leonard, founder of Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC, author Lindsay Eland, The Bookworm of Edwards store co-owner, Nicole Magistro
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Treasuring Art
Leave a comment“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” ~ Chinese proverb
At a thrift store recently I came across an art print of Thomas Moran – imagine my delight! It seemed like a God thing – the image was just sitting there waiting for someone who’d appreciate it to pick it up . I gave in to my desires and purchased it – a real deal. I am very grateful to have the Moran art print hanging on my wall. He was one of the greatest illustrator and colorists of all times.
Every evening the week before last, I had been watching Ken Burns’ documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. http://bit.ly/182xh1N. Moran’s name was mentioned as one of the top landscape painters of the 19th century who ventured west. I learned he traveled to YellowstoneNational Park from the Hudson RiverSchool in New York, in the summer of 1871, to document on canvas what others described as a place where “hell bubbled up.”
Many artists traveled westward in the early days of the founding of the U.S. National Parks and they continue to be favorite places for artists who are seeking inspiration. Artists still go to paint, photograph and write about the dramatic landscapes in these protected government lands which are far more unique than many other places across the United States. Ralph Waldo Emerson described the National Parks as places where “God is more easily found in nature than in the works of man.”
Lots of people find personal fulfillment in poking around in thrift shops. You never know what treasures you might find. I scored!
This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.
Do return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow!
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