Upbeat and energized, she told me what’s hot this season, how she finds her inspiration and how she balances a busy family life with the work she loves so much.  Click on the picture to read the story.

I was thinking I didn’t really have resolutions this year – last year had its share of big changes for me and this year I just want to settle in and continue the things I’ve started. But, as a person who loves learning and knows there is so much in the world to discover, understand, see and do….I find my list of “what ifs” growing daily.

I’m thankful for the clients I’ve had the pleasure of working with in this last year, and all of the amazing individuals I’ve met and have had the chance to write about. If you’re still contemplating your New Year’s resolutions, here are two stories of women who changed their lives, one step at a time. Two very different stories, two very different lives, but both Chris and Moll turned difficult circumstances around and have learned how important it is to celebrate life every day.

Click the photos to read the stories, and I hope you will find inspiration or at least food for thought in the experiences of these two strong women (who are both, by the way, in their fifties!)  Happy New Year!

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Kurt and Brenda Warner settle down in Scottsdale post- NFL retirement, and Brenda talks about her new memoir – “One Call Away”.  You just never know what someone’s been through until you hear their story.

One of the easiest ways to tackle your blog is by outsourcing the blog writing to a pro. Starting with the title of your blog posting, using keywords feeds search engines, adding new pages to boost your ranking. Google likes blogs. New blog posts add muscle to your online presence, attracting new customers through search engines. An experienced blog writer will use effective keyword phrases in your blog titles and throughout the blog posts.

You may say, “But how can someone else write about my business?”  I can tell you that I love to research.  A typical month for me includes researching and writing about tax and energy strategies, home maintenance tips, nutrition and food trends, pet care, real estate, education, coffee, sports and fitness, and sustainability, among other things, for clients.  As the expert in your field, you may want to add your own personal viewpoint or fine-tune an outsourced blog post, but being provided with an idea that is well laid out and just in need of a little tweaking is a huge time-saver. A good writer will also make you and your business look good!

Sometimes finding out what an outsider finds interesting about your business can be eye-opening and give you a fresh perspective on what customers are looking for. If you are willing to provide a blog writer with a brief interview and opportunity to get to know you and your business, the writer can use that information to craft numerous blog posts.

The purpose of your blog is to engage your prospects and customers. Whether you give them an insider view of company happenings, develop a presence as an expert in your field, talk about what makes your product or services unique, or use the blog as a forum to ask what customers are thinking, the blog is a relationship-building tool. It makes the company products and services more understandable and the company and brand more accessible.

There’s nothing more disappointing to someone seeking information than an abandoned blog. Many business owners jump on the blog bandwagon, write a post or two and then find they just don’t have the time or ideas to sustain it. Prospective customers want to see current postings and know that your business is going strong. This is where outsourcing your blog writing can help immensely. The writer will work with you to come up with relevant content and keep your blog fresh and interactive. Keep your blog writer in the loop and they will help you to build successful relationships and maintain the online presence that’s required for success.

I’ve since discovered that there are a growing number of athletes out there who take these events much more seriously than we did, putting themselves through races more grueling than the Warrior Dash.
I interviewed Chris Rutz and found out just how extreme the sport can be, especially when you consider he doesn’t even reward himself with a beer at the end of a race. Click on his picture to read about how real tough guys approach the most punishing obstacle races, and the ultimate test of toughness he faces in December.

I hope you find their stories inspirational and informative. And, if you are due (or overdue) for a mammogram, just get it done!  Click on the photos to read the full stories.