Category Archives: Self Help

The Song of Hope

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twitter-bird-winkingThe other day when I was participating in World Book Night, I read the full list of books that were being distributed as part the event. Most were previous years best sellers. Some I had read, but not too many. My nose is usually between the covers of one my clients independently published books, where there’s plenty of fulfilling reading. There are not enough hours in the day to hit all the NY Times best sellers.

Reading the list led me to wonder how many books do you have to sell to be considered a best selling author? Research tells me 5,000 copies or more.  Clearly, most authors write because they love the process of creating a satisfying story.

But, for every writer out there, there is an element of hope among us. Hope that our books will do much better than we ever anticipated. Some of us allow ourselves to dream beyond our wildest imaginations.

dickinson on hope

Don’t we all dream of better tomorrows? That’s what inspires writers to get up every morning.

I hope you’ll return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling. A  LIVELY Friday is planned. We will be sharing independent thoughts, words and views that are all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Second Annual World Book Night

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Book GiverWe shouldn’t teach great books, we should teach a love of reading. ~ B.F. Skinner

World Book Night was yesterday. As a representative of our local independent publishers networking group, We Write Steamboat, I was a Book Giver. Our group received a box of free books from the organizers of WBN titled The Language of Flowers.

I visited a senior citizen’s housing complex that offers a small collection of books for it’s residents. I also stopped by the Doak Walker Care Center, an “Eden Alternative Home” for senior living. It has the distinction of having national recognition, and it also houses a small library for its residents. I added to each of  their acquisitions. http://bit.ly/XUp3EG. My next stop was the Steamboat Community Center where seniors go for a noontime meal, and passed out some free books there.

A  group of people who will be volunteering their time to ready a community garden for planting as soon as the weather is conducive, will also be the recipients of the book.Right now, the ground is still frozen and there is still snow in northwest Colorado.  The title will be appealing to their interests.

The mission of World Book Night is to promote literacy. There were 6,000 towns and cities and 25,000 volunteers who participated in yesterday’s event which began in the United Kingdom two years ago. To read more about this growing organization, please visit http://www.us.worldbooknight.org .

I enjoy being involved with this event because it feels good to give to others in the community. If you live in an area where accessibility to good books is a problem, sign up to be a Book Giver next year and help distribute donated titles to your own town or city.

The objective is that when the recipients are finished with the book, if they do not want to keep the book for their home library, they will pass it along to someone else who find personal fulfillment from reading it. Happy Reading!

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.

Hazy Language becomes Clear

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“Sometimes in our confusion, we see not the world as it is, but the world though eyes blurred by the mind.” ~ Unknown

This morning, I’ve been thinking about all the blogs I have written over the past few years. Some mornings, I’ve had a very clear vision for what I want to write about and other days, it’s a hazy start.

For me, the key is not to aim for perfection on the first draft. Eventually something usually takes hold inside of me, the words begin to flow. Soon a clear vision comes through and I find direction in my writing.

Occasionally, however, I have to scrap everything and start all over. On those days, I vow I must put in an order, over the internet, for Joseph M. Williams and Gregory G. Colomb’s publication Style: Toward Clarity and Grace.

Style Toward Clarity and GraceAccording to Williams, a professor of English at University of Chicago, until 2008, “it is good to write clearly, and anyone can.” This book is a good resource for all writers to put on their bookshelf because there isn’t a writer who doesn’t face the challenge of not being able to write succinctly from time to time.

There’s a new generation of students, however, who we will feature tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, who are being taught to understand cryptic and obscure language at a very young age. Not all folks can interpret the symbols behind the writing they are studying.

Return on Monday 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.

Celebrating the Publishing Process

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Today, I awake with very mixed feelings. Thrilled that the beginning of May is soon to arrive, it means, for me, escape from still snowy Colorado. In about two weeks I’ll be on my way out of here for some business dealings. The change of scenery and new things to blog about, from another perspective, will be refreshing. I’ll find plenty of inspiration along the way. I look forward to also visiting art galleries, museums, independent bookstores and other things that bring me fulfillment.

Yet, there is regret and sadness that duty calls me away at this time of year. For the first time since I arrived in Colorado four years ago, I will miss the EVVY book award night. Authors from We Write Steamboat who have submitted to the contest are hoping to be award-winners! It has been such a pleasure to connect, network and share information about the industry with We Write Steamboat members and with other people who share connections with me through the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. CIPA is a very resourceful group of professionals  who support, educate and provide services to help authors who have chosen to publish their books in a non-traditional way – on The Fast Track! http://bit.ly/10cCp1Y.

It ‘s hard to describe the pleasure that comes with writing a book. The process is a quite a learning experience.  To become an award-winning author, with an award-winning book, is very satisfying and you can see the JOY on the authors faces as they claim their prizes. Today, I’d like to say “Good Luck to all independent publishers who have submitted to the various book contests this spring.”  Tis the Season and I hope it’s jolly! Even if you don’t come home with an award, look for the rewards that you found in the process.

Wishbone DogReturn 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.

Film Friday: Funny Retirement Movies

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“If one has no sense of humor, one is in trouble.”  ~ actress Betty White & author of  If You Ask Me

One of the secrets to a long life is humor. Being able to laugh at ourselves as we age takes the sting out of the loss of our capacities. Everyone ages at different rates, and thankfully, there are things we can do to forestall the aging process.

Watching funny films is good for people’s spirits at any age. On this Film Friday, here are a few suggestions for comedy movies about retirement.

• Gran Torino Click for Info & Ordering

• The Bucket List Click for Info & Ordering

• Up Click for Info & Ordering

• The ArtistClick for Info & Ordering

• About Schmidt Click for Info & Ordering

• The Notebook Click for Info & Ordering

• Something’s Got to Give Click for Info & Ordering

Betty White

Actress Betty White at 91, still actively working

A Grande Dame of Living with Humor and a Fulfilling Life

Have a fun weekend everyone. Return on Monday 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. and Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.Click for Info about Sue’s memoir

Beyond a Working Life

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“Pick your passion and pursue it.” Psychologists say it’s good for emotional and mental health to have hobbies. Some people love to travel, others like stamp collecting, knitting, quilting, hunting, cooking, drawing, writing, baseball card collecting. It doesn’t much matter how you like to use your spare time, hobbies contribute to a sense of personal fulfillment .

Finding and making time for our interests is sometimes a challenge. Balance is the solution and this can be tricky for people who work long hours, are raising families and growing careers. If you can incorporate what you love to do into a business, more power to you! It is the best way to feel personally satisfied and work never feels like, well, work.

living-with-passion-and-purpose-quote-maya-angelouPeople are living longer. Nowadays people retire from one career, and then start up a small business which involves their passions. They become more personally satisfied than ever because they love what they are doing, even though they are continuing to work much later in life.

If you are at a crossroads, where you’re near retirement age, but not ready to sit in a recliner and put your feet up, here is an article from Entrepreneur Magazine that gives six tips about Turning your Passion into Profit. http://bit.ly/1496EZG .

If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you do for a new career in your “golden years?”

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.

Four Fulfilling Words

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“I am who I am because of the choices I made yesterday.” ~ Unknown

Four words with powerful meaning –

• I AM
• I CAN
• I WILL
• I DO

help define and fulfill our sense of self. These words took on even greater meaning when I began working in the independent publishing industry.

positiveThose simple words that have kept me on track. Every time I’ve faced a challenge, and thought  “I’m going to try to,” I’ve substituted it with one the four important self-fulfilling statements, and then taken the necessary action that is required to complete the task or challenge.

Used to be independent publishers had to go it alone, but things have changed in the publishing industry.  According to an article dated 11-11-12 in the Miami Herald, http://hrld.us/17bIrAH, Bowker (the storehouse of publishing statistics) says independent publishing “has nearly tripled, growing 287% since 2006 and 236,625 print and e-titles” were non-traditionally published in 2011 alone. Since then, the e-book industry has prospered further and print-on-demand publishing has grown also.

The stigma behind independent publishing of books, films and movies has nearly disappeared, as standards and technology for desktop publishing have improved. In this day and age, it is often difficult to distinguish between an independent and traditionally published book.

If you are considering an independent publishing project,  now there is help and support available. I am, I can, I will and I do help people understand the newest generation of publishing through the webinar On the Fast Track: The Independent Publishing  Industry http://bit.ly/10cCp1Y and through the  information provided on All Things Fulfilling. Join us regularly on this on-line site.

 This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

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.

Hiking the PCT with Strayed

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“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
~ Dr. Seuss Oh the Places You’’ll Go

This week I’ve hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s a place I never thought I’d visit. I hiked it with author Cheryl Strayed
and saw bears, rattlesnakes, a Texas longhorn bull and more.  At times throughout the journey I felt desperation set in, unimaginable fright, gratitude, inspiration, relief and grief.  Strayed’s thoughts of accomplishing what she set out to do, were familiar.

crossroads in the woods

No, Strayed was not alone  in her story, good authors always find the company of readers who appreciate what their characters have gone through and can often relate. I decided to travel along with Strayed by reading her book, so that when she shows up in Steamboat, at the Bud Werner Memorial Library http://bit.ly/16nUuYj  on April 11th, I’ll able to envision exactly what the Pacific Crest Trail looked like.

Wild is exactly the kind of book that reminds us why even when things are scary and uncertain, it is best to push through it, and accomplish the goal. Then we can look back and find the lessons within, and how challenges help us to rebuild our life.

Seuss’ words of advice are well-meaning. We need to do better job of teaching children there are so many fulfilling places to see and things to do in this world, and not to let obstacles stop them.  Books teach children and adults that we  never travel alone, there’s always a path thats been traveled and beaten before us.

“And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance

You’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

There are some, down the road between hither and yon,

that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.”

~ Dr. Seuss Oh the Places You’ll Go

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.