My Birthday Every Year!

Every year I get together with a bunch of my friends who have Birthdays in December.  We always do breakfast at some kind of diner.  This year I hosted it.  It was a blast.  This is such a fun event in my life.  I have some friends that weren't born in December crash this year.  One thing we also did different this year is shared a favorite Birthday moment.  I shared about my best birthday moment ever when I was 7 years old with all my moms family in Pennsylvania.  Others shared some pretty cool stuff too.  We also talked about favorite Christmas moments, too.  One of my friends who is actually born on the same day as myself last minutely got sick and could not make it.  But for sure some of my favorite moments have been with her. 

Some of my friends are suggesting we not do something in December anymore but pick random day.   I pose this to all of you who are born in December, no one else is ever asked to celebrate their birthday in a different month that were born in other months.  So why should we.  December is perfect, we matter. I keeping my Birthday in December.  I think some days should be untouchable!

So Many Things To Be Thankful For!

There are so many things in life to be thankful for but I'm most thankful when I'm with my family.  When they are not around I miss them terribly.  Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays.  The main reason is because I'm with family.  This year we went down to South Carolina over my brother-in-laws to all meet up as many of as we could.  It was nice to see Robert and Kristine again.  One of the neatest thing when we are all together is the laughter.  And watching my kids and seeing how much they love each other.  Knowing this gives me so much comfort.  What are you most thankful for in November?

In Jesus!

Sometimes you have to spend time thinking who you are in Jesus.  I did this exercise today at lunch event that reminded me of who I am in Jesus.  I am enough.

Thank

You

Jesus!

Social Media And Sunsets

Lately, I’ve been sharing a lot on implementing the right strategy for your business with social media.  One of the biggest things you want to do with your social media strategy is make a lasting impression.  This is why I have named this blogpost “Social Media Strategy and Sunsets”!  Now I know this is stretching it but there have been many sunsets that will be forever remembered in my memories, mostly on beaches, some in Arizona and my latest in South Carolina.  So my question to you is how are you doing with making a lasting impression with Social Media?  Here are three strategic ways to “wow”  your people that you’re trying to reach with social media.

1. Give them information that they don’t already know that will help them!  Talk about making a lasting impression.  If you help solve their problem.  They will love you forever.  Also they will keep coming back to see what else you are saying.
2. Always post quality pictures with great quotes!  Post pictures that are pleasing to the eyes that will encourage your fans to read the quote too.  There is nothing like a picture perfect sunset and there is nothing like a picture with with words!
3. Listen to what your customers and connections are saying and get them to talk more!  The engagement that happens on your social media platforms will get you known in a big way.  That perfect sunset that we have all seen and we continue to talk about is the  way we should encourage people to talk about our products or services.

It’s funny but you know that perfect old western movie where they ride off into the sunset, the ending to your social media strategy should always be about serving your audience more!  No doubt about it you want your fans to be totally impressed with everything you do!  Drop me a line below and let me know what you do to make lasting impressions!

My Mom On Her 87 Birthday!

My mom is the coolest lady ever. She still does so many things to make me smile.  

My only prayer is that she would have more energy and be as vibrant as she used to be.  

Not everyday is a happy moment!

Yesterday we set up for a memorial for my friend Joey's wife Wendy.  Joey asked us to set up these batteries on a railing.  When I asked him what they were used for it was to keep Wendy alive for the last several months.  With each battery that I placed, there were many silent tears falling from my eyes.

Today we will celebrate the life of Wendy with Joseph Cardamone and family.  We lost her to Cancer, she will be remembered by those who knew her. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends! My thoughts at this time are that I'm very grateful for her life and how much she loved Joey and her children! She was a great mom & wife & sister & sister in - law and friend!

Nothing can beat that smile on Joey's face when he was with her.

Keeping It Real On Social Media!

Every time I go on to Facebook the friends I’m connected with are doing amazing things. I always am fascinated by the image that we portray on social media! Then last week a good friend of mine posted this post on facebook. “I promised a friend that I would tell the truth more on facebook. That I would work harder at “keeping it real.” Here’s chapter one in that storybook. http://silvermine.blogspot.com/2014/05/keeping-it-real.html “ My friend Gail always keeps it real, but she really puts it out there by making a promise. This is what I love about my friends they really challenge me.
Then a good family friend of mine posted this, “We have officially transferred to Hospice care. No more chemo. Wendy will be able to continue her nutrition bag, for which we are very grateful. There is no time frame, other than “one day at a time sweet Jesus…”  Talk about being real.
Then a colleague of mine lost a family pet earlier last week and took time in the beginning part of her membership call to be candid about keeping it real.
Those three messages were a challenge on keeping it more real in my life and on social media.  You see it’s easy to post the happy stuff. Graduations, proms, family events and great milestones and occasions should be shared with our friends and family. In fact I was at a family gathering this weekend where a cousin told me she only posts happy things. I thought that was great! Now, I am not advocating that we should post all the bad things that happen to us.   That would not be good, but every once in a while we should get more vulnerable.  Share something you are going through so others can support you and identify with you.
I post so much content on facebook, and to the best of my ability I keep it real. I don’t try to give the appearance of a fairytale life. I share with my friends and my family and my colleagues a life of laughter, love and growth. I share the fun I have and the struggles in my life.   I laugh and I cry and I bleed like everyone else. I’m not perfect and I make mistakes. And in the midst of this journey, we face some circumstances we would not wish on anyone, like friends having cancer, accidents that happen, things like hurt and pain caused by others. When this stuff happens to us, love is so much stronger, Gods love is stronger.   When we share and when we are real we can help others in life.   Oh, how we all need each other to keep it real! I would love to hear how you keep it real on social media. Drop me a line.

Out Of Africa (PT 2)

When I got to the conference center in Nairobi, Kenya in East Africa to teach, I never know what to expect. Will we have our usual translator? Will there be someone there to translate for us? Will we connect? Will I like her? Immediately I saw some familiar faces and I saw Patricia who translated for us last year. I love Patricia. She is like my twin in Nairobi. We have the same amount of children and we get along and she makes me laugh. She was so touched that Lisa who co taught with me and I returned. She was sad that she would not be able to translate all week for us. Who would do it?
It was mid afternoon on Monday and I was starting to get a bit concerned that some of the other translators were not at the conference and the other leaders did not want to do it. You could tell. And then this women stepped up out of nowhere. I had never met her before. She spoke great English. Her name was Elizabeth. I loved her spunk and her genuineness. And she was also very wise. She shared too, always asking us permission but it was so good.
She shared that she was a teacher in school. She shared that she never married and never had children. Then she shared that she was Emanuel’s mom. Emanuel is shy, talented man at Lifeway who does all the IT and communications. He also is a great worship leader. That is when I put two and two together. When Emanuel was a little boy he lost his parents and family when he was small and he ended up in Nairobi. And Elizabeth took him and many other children and invested in their lives.  In fact, there was women that were at the conference that she helped and nurtured and mentored when they were smaller.  What a legacy!
As we worked closely throughout the week, I got to know Elizabeth and I could see how God gave her an incredible ministry. So many have been under her care as students and she made a difference in the circumstances she was in and became a mother to the motherless.   I was touched.
There is this commercial that used to be on TV that said "Reach Out And Touch Someone".  I don't know most of your circumstances, but I do know that when you put your heart into reaching out to some who needs it, you make all the difference in the world and in their individual lives.  Here is to making a difference one person at a time!

Out of Africa (PT 1)

This week I took the road less traveled on. Once again I stepped out into the unknown. I went to Nairobi and did some training to women in leadership and I was wrecked. I learned how thankful I am that I had the opportunity to give back in such and extraordinarily way. If you would of have asked me 5 years ago would I ever even thought of traveling to Africa. I would have said you are crazy! All I did is say, “yes” and I did it. It has changed me in every way. In fact there has been many roads I have been traveling on. Very contrary to the popular paths I did once before.The bottom line is spending a week helping others is the greatest road I have ever taken. The highlight of that week was being able to mentor a girl named Penenina. She was so eager to learn. In sharing with her and teaching her, I learned things about myself.
She was leader working with her husband who is a pastor in the Geomungo slum in Nairobi, Kenya in East Africa. This is where the poorest of poor live.  This is not a popular thing to do among African women but she decided to take the road less traveled on.
Robert Frost talked about taking the road less traveled and about how we can make “all the difference” in life. We all come to crossroads throughout our lives and eventually we have to make a choice to travel down one. My question to you is will you dare to take that road into the unknown, where the trail isn’t clear and the risks may be great?
That question is question that I have been asking myself everyday because I started down a path that many times I find my self alone and there is no one to ask directions. Here’s the thing, I would never turn back from the path I’m on now. I love it.
Successful entrepreneurs know that the scariest part of taking action is the very first step. When one comes to a fork in the road, it’s the choice to step away from the familiar path, well worn by the footsteps of others that can require the most courage. You have got to have some courage.
 Okay gotta run. Jot me a note below and tell me about your road that you are taking.

MAKING THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITY!

A week and a half ago I had the opportunity to take advantage of a VIP day with my Business/Life Coach, Michelle Weimer  in Colorado Springs. It was amazing.  I learned so much about me and what was important to me.  I also got really clear on whom I was serving and my ideal clients with my social media business.  We also worked on a launch I’m going to be working on for this year in business.  Pretty cool! Huh!
I really believe because I stepped out of my comfort zone in many ways for that one day it paved the way for some wonderful opportunities.  Since that day, I have closed business, a speaking gig and I’m running smoothly with a Virtual Event I’m hosting with over 20 speakers that will air at the end of the month.
There is a great quote by Milton Berle that says  “If opportunity does not knock, then build a door” I love this quote because it is basically saying that don’t wait around and wait for opportunity, go out and work and build a door so when it does come you are prepared to open it.  At least this is what it means to me.  You have to get out there and make your own opportunities.  You have to build that door!
So my question is this are you making your own opportunities?
I believe one of the biggest opportunities out there for the small business is Social Media.  The problem is most of us are missing it.
I would like to share with you 3 opportunities for you create when using social media.
The first opportunity that is right in front of you is listen first and then engage! I believe if you will listen you find an opportunity somewhere to connect and engage with potential clients.  Start going into various groups that are your target market and listen to what is going on in that group and then start commenting on the posts or answer some questions.  Some will see you and want to know more about you and then the many possibilities are out there.
The 2^nd way to create opportunity is to share good content that solves your target markets problem.  This opportunity to share this across all the social media boards gets you major visibility.  I shared some of my content on some groups last week and I got person who wanted to know more about what I did with social media and ask me some questions.  And I got a client , I was hired.
The 3^rd way to create opportunity is my #1 strategy for getting a client and it’s on the linkedin platform.  What I do is when someone asks to connect with me I write a personal note to every one I accept saying, "Just saying a hello and great connecting with you.  If I can help you in any way just reach out."  The cool thing is I end up with several reach outs asking me if they can set up a call with me to learn more about social media.  I have gotten many clients using this strategy.  So don’t miss out on Creating your opportunities because you never know who is watching.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD IN 2014

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