Finding Your Fire

YOU'LL LOVE IT, PROMISE!

2014-02-23T21:16:00.000-05:00

If you have still been reading the blog on this site, PLEASE come over to my website and see it there!

ALL my new posts are there and I think you will LOVE the look. Please sign up to never miss a Post on Feedly and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me what you think of the new blog on my site.

While you are there sign up for the FREE NEWSLETTER it's custom made with things my readers tell me they want to hear.

I miss not hearing from you here but all the action is OVER HERE...

So come on by and visit, sit awhile and enjoy and come back often and CHAT. That's what I'm here for.

The Art of The Pitch

2013-12-30T17:21:00.000-05:00

The first pitch of the game, Vargas' first pitch for the Nationals, and... it was socked for a home run. Not a great start to Vargas' first appearence, where he gave up six runs in the top two innings. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yes, it is important to know how to pitch a product or service, but it is just as important to know how to pitch something that has outlived its usefulness in your life.

Sometimes we need to pitch the vast memorablia we collect over the years; the ones we no longer enjoy or even continue to add to. Maybe its an old collection of dolls, stamps, baseball cards, magazines, maps etc. Sometimes you can earn a pretty penny by selling the things which no longer bring you joy to someone else whose goal is to start or add to a collection.

Sometimes we need to pitch the excess stuff we accumulate over the years which seldom gets used and often isn't even remembered until we realize we now have three tents, 70 VCR tapes but no VCR player, more Christmas lights than we will ever be able to use, 11 paint trays or 6 TV's but only 2 which are hooked up and working. Maybe it's time to make a trip and a donation to a second hand store with some of the excess loaded for delivery.

Sometimes we need to pitch the things we are never going to use again; the pressure cooker with the missing top, the 3 folding chairs with broken seats, the old radio that barely gets good static, the flatware set with 4 knives, 1 fork and a ladle but no spoons, the old Atari game console and the hideous orange scarf with grasshoppers Aunt Lois knitted over a decade ago.

Sometimes it's time to pitch the relationships that go nowhere or those that just keep adding more negatives in our lives. Maybe it's time to pitch the friends who take advantage of you but really don't add anything to your growth, character or even purpose. Is it time to rid yourself of the people who keep you from being your best or sabbotage every effort you make to rise above your circumstances and get further than where they want you to be?

Pitching is not potluck. Ask any pitcher who knows how to read signals and recognizes the one pitch which could change the outcome of the game. Pitching is deliberate and done to create an effect and it is in that light that it is also time for me to PITCH THIS BLOG.

OH...Don't panic! It's only getting pitched from its parent host site. I have been meaning to transfer this blog to a site that allows me to connect better with readers, add more useful elements and define clarity and scope with less busyness and flash. I love the blog but I no longer love how it works for me HERE.

Say Good-bye to findingyourfire.blogspot.com and Hello to kathybrunner.com/blog and by the way, ALL the posts of Finding Your Fire have already navigated over there. Come see.

Maybe you won't see all the followers and it won't be as "splashy" but I think you will find it is really the best of me minus the stuff that no longer works.

I LOVE my readers. I APPRECIATE everyone of you who received the blog on your phone or in your email, through your feeds or any other way you enjoyed getting it and I just hope you will believe in me enough to join me at my new PLACE which is not so much new as just expanded.

I hope you will continue to read and comment and feel inspired and most of all I hope you will not be afraid to perfect your ART OF THE PITCH in this New Year.

Come welcome the New Year with me. Say "HI" and tell me:

WHAT WILL YOU BE PITCHING THIS YEAR?

How can I help you make it a HOMERUN year?

HOME PLATE PAPERWEIGHT (Photo credit: Wickerfurnitur

How to Really Know How Much You Weigh

2013-12-13T16:12:00.002-05:00

Hoarding might be the new American past time.

All types of hoarding. While I truly do think everyone has a personal responsibility to take inventory and determine whether what they are holding on to has real value or has become meaningless or even burdensome when it comes to possessions, I feel even more strongly about letting more than a box of old magazines and the program from your 8th grade band recital go.

Most of us are carrying around at least a few pieces of baggage far too heavy and holding nothing but weighed down emotions. You know what I mean; the guilt about missing your child's play or not being a "room mommy", the constant nagging voice about not being as competent or successful as the other people in the room, the regrets for not taking another direction with your life, the persistent notions that if you never were something, you can never be it now and the huge trunk of low self esteem or poor self image we permitted everyone else to add to on our life's journey.

One of the most incapacitating bits of "stuff" we carry around with us is worrying what other people might think if we don't live up to their expectations or worse what they might discover if we actually become transparent. But, living behind a film of cover up and fear is like trying to put make up on in the dark. You might think you have pulled it off well, but in the daylight it's quite flawed and far from appealing. It doesn't work for you because it's really not you.

I remember several years ago, announcing to one of my friends that while her opinion was heard, I was not going to change my plans because she felt less than supportive. In a surprise comment, she retorted, "Well it's about time you finally stopped trying to make everyone else content!"
It was a refreshing wake-up call.

Too many people want everyone to be happy before they move on with their own plans and dreams. Too many people believe their dreams are secondary to other people feeling content.

I don't think we need to step over people to go the direction we want to go, but I do think we need to ask them to get out of our way and sometimes not even tactfully if we have tried to in the past and it doesn't work.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83776439@N00/8463363061/

If you are running out of a burning building, I hardly think it's time to graciously ask someone it they mind moving aside, but many times we have accumulated so much advice from everyone we hardly can save ourselves.

How light would your life be if next year you stopped carrying around any regrets you had and bundled them up for removal? How much less anxiety would you feel if you cared less about what everyone else thought and more about what you know you need to do to get your best life going?

How much less aggravation would you have to deal with if you minimized your contact with those who only add to your frustrations and bring you down? And how much easier would it be to get through all your day if you could just be the real you and not who everyone else expects you to be?

Living up to our own expectations is often quite difficult enough, when you add in the expectations of everyone else it becomes insurmountable.

I am not advocating being callous and cruel or even self-serving; just being better able to take care of you by not having to make sure everyone else is okay with it before you start.

Want to make your life better? Clean out your closets, your drawers, your garage, your office and then clean out the negatives in your emotional baggage. Stuff the regrets, poor self image, years of self doubts, low self esteem and replays of how you don't deserve the best and finally say, "GOOD RIDDANCE".

Whether it takes professional help or a good friend to help you rid your life of the debris that weighs you down and drags you through another year of less than what you really want, get it out of your life once and for all.

With every year of carting around the regrets from the past, the opinions of others, the poor self esteem someone gave you to hang on to, the belief you can make everyone happy and the unfair expectations you permit to weigh on your shoulders, you live life more disabled.

Baggage stuffed with all the wrong things is useless and the price you pay to haul it around becomes prohibitive.

http://www.rtwblog.com/about-the-challenge/

Minimize the emotional clothing you drag on everyday. Your life will move more smoothly, you will have less "stuff" to take care of and you will lose pounds of unhealthy emotions you have been wanting to lose forever.

Is it time to "weigh" in and get rid of the rest of you to finally move on with the best of you?

What type of "baggage" do you want to send on a permanent vacation?
Is it time to take the NO Baggage Challenge?

PURGING YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS

2013-12-09T07:30:00.000-05:00

In the next few posts, I will discuss why getting "rid" of excess will improve your new year. Today, we will look at getting rid of non-essential "stuff"

Mary Chapin Carpenter understands the need to purge. In her song, "Almost Home", she comments, "I saw my life this morning ,lying at the bottom of a drawer
All this stuff I'm saving God knows what this junk is for..."

Well it's certainly the season for excess.

Cluttered shed (Photo credit: UnnarYmir)

Sometimes it's easy to believe the more we do and the more we have, the more successful we will be. That's often a lie we discover too late.

I certainly believed it was critical to capture every memory of my children for posterity by keeping a photo album and a scrapbook for each of them (three children) every year. Everything from classroom awards, essays, drawings, spelling tests and college acceptance letters went into those scrapbooks.

Each of my children was given several boxes of scrapbooks and photo albums and while they truly enjoyed looking at all I had saved they did not care to keep their first grade hand prints, 6th grade President's Physical Fitness Award or even the pressed flowers from the senior prom. They took a few things that mattered and I am sure pitched the rest.

They were far wiser than I.

While I am not a hoarder, I found it difficult to get rid of "things". You know things like, the cork from champagne bottle popped on the date I closed on my first house or the papers identifying a dog long gone as "pedigreed". Things like an old sorority pledge book, the script to a high school play I had the lead in and the license plate off of my first car.

Things are different from true memorablia. Things are what we hold on to because they mattered at one time. Now they are just taking up space and collecting dust.

Sometimes we hold on to things because they remind us of what once was and somehow by hanging on to it, we believe it will once again be. There is no better example than keeping that pair of jeans I love but haven't worn since three inch heels were part of my regular wardrobe. Never gonna get into those again and have known that for decades.

Last month I pitched the jeans.

Sometimes we hold on to things because we know going through stuff is not going to be an expedient task. We make excuses we need a whole day or week to begin such a time consuming task, even though we know we can just get a box, open a drawer and start with a few minutes daily to clean out the stuff that just continues to accumulate regularly.

Purging time is now part of my weekly schedule.

Sometimes we hold on to things because we feel guilty purging the once "important" items of our life. It might be easier to let someone else find them and let them go or to hope the hot water tank leaks into the box of age old "stuff" giving us no choice but to set it out with the trash on collection day.

A box of countless remotes and chargers which never sold at flea markets or on Craig's list went off to a thrift store a few days ago.

Sometimes we hold onto things because we think we will need them someday. I was never going to need the program from my senior prom, the sign from my first business or the wristband from an amazing BillyJoel/Elton John concert.

Last week they visit the trash collector.

I've started to go through my "stuff" bit by bit, drawer by drawer, closet by closet and discovered I have way too many "things" taking up space. So I am purging box by box, week by week until I can see beyond the past and into the future with more clarity. The more I clean out, the easier I find what I truly need and the better organized I am to reduce my stuff more periodically.

Do you need to start purging your things; your items which have no major significance in your life or anyone's anymore? Is it time to go through your home from top to bottom and really determine what is critical to keep and what is just taking up your space?

If you start removing non-essentials from your life, you will discover your whole life feels lighter. You will hesitate to add more stuff to your life and be wiser about what to really hang on to and you will probably be able to find things far more quickly and be considerably better organized.

Is your space taken up by things that serve little purpose in your life? Then you need to make purging part of your new year's routine as well.

You can't make room for what matters when what doesn't is taking up the space? TWEET THIS

Girl Scout Sashes (Photo credit: keishkakeishka)

Now, anyone have any need for an old girl scout sash with many badges?

Kathy Brunner is an author, speaker and branding specialist who helps people make their passion happen.CLICK HERE to learn how she can help you re-invent your life

What Do Bathrooms Have to Do With Thanksgiving?

2013-11-25T08:15:00.000-05:00

An American bathroom of a freshly renovated house, 2004 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have 2.5. Bathrooms that is. Pretty typical if not a bit on the modest side. How about you? How many bathrooms do you have or how many total rooms, how many clothes in your closet, cars in your garage, flowers in your garden or social events on your calendar?

This week America will celebrate Thanksgiving. A holiday for us to come together and count our blessings. So what do our bathrooms, flowers or even ideas have to do with Thanksgiving?

We truly are very blessed even if we don't feel rich. When almost half the world lives on less than $2.50/daily, it's not hard to admit our wealth. And even though wealth can be justifiably earned through hard work and sacrifice, having more often just complicates things.

If you move to a home with a bigger yard you will most likely have more yardwork to do or pay someone to do for you. Yes, you will have more flowers, just like you will have much more space in a larger home but then you have more rooms to clean; more bathroom, well you get the idea. A lot of our time, energy and money is spent on taking care of the "more" we have.

Sometimes we have little time to enjoy the things that are free: ideas, companionship, nature, silence, smiles, hugs, belly laughs, forgiveness, unexpected surprises, a good cry, acceptance, seasons changing, promises kept and countless other things we take for granted daily because we are too busy tending to our "more".

It's not really about the yard, the social commitments, the clothes or even the bathrooms. It's about the things we accumulate and add to our stash that often just end up taking up more commitment than we want them to because of course the more we have, the more we have to take care of.

I do it and maybe you do it too. I add to my "collection" of things only to discover there is now one more thing I need to give attention. More clothes=more laundry, more cars= more repairs and maintenance and yes, more bathrooms= more places to clean.

Thanksgiving Turkey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bit by bit, I realize I need to begin to minimize things in order to have time and energy to do what really matters, whether in my family, my career or my personal life.

So, when I sit down to Thanksgiving dinner this year, there will be plenty of food and all of my closest family to enjoy but I will set aside the blogging, the writing, the speaking, the coaching, the marketing and even the cleanest of bathrooms to not miss a minute of time to make memories and be grateful for every blessing that ever came my way...many so undeserved.

Do you ever think your "stuff" takes up way more of your time than you want it to?

What's your holiday going to be like and by the way, I AM very grateful for my reader who bless me by giving me their time and thoughts.

Now...Go Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving and we'll talk about what to do with all that "stuff" we added to our lives next week.

Is Your NOW Really Your NO?

2013-11-18T14:13:00.001-05:00

It's amazing to be so inspired and encouraged to find your fire and begin growing your passion but it's just as important to recognize whether it's to be NOW or NO for getting that dream off the ground.

Here are a couple of things to consider when thinking it might be NOW.

1. You have more time available to pursue your passion because of changes in your current career or life circumstances.

2. You have put a "little something" away to get you through the tough times which you anticipate as you begin to start something on your own.

3. You can't stop thinking about things you need to complete to make your passion happen; you make "to-do" lists and go over every detail to make sure you have everything ready to launch your new idea.

4. You are renewed and fulfilled whenever you are working at your passion.

5.Your friends, family and significant loves ones are encouraging and supportive.

But here are some other red flags that might mean what you thought was your "NOW" is actually your "NO".

1. You are frustrated by your career situation and believe you should quit your job to do "something","anything" else.

2. You are anxious about what starting your passion might cost you in terms of time, energy and financial resources.

3. You need to give yourself a constant pep talk that you can make things work out well.

4. You are uncomfortable talking about what you are passionate about to your friends and family and feel isolated and unsure of their support.

5. You are confused about what you really want to do but know you need to change some things.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10361931@N06/4536149424/

Developing a career around your passion can be daunting but if you are truly excited and not extremely stressed about where your resources will come from and if you feel like the circumstances are truly working in your favor, you can overcome a lot of barriers and will still be enthusiastic about the direction you are heading. If you have already learned to handle difficult situations and have a resilient spirit when things get unpredictable, you might be at the perfect time and place to let your dreams fly high.

On the other hand, if you need change but don't have any idea what your passion or purpose is, you may be setting yourself up for failure. Pretending you can be passionate about anything as long as it is not your current situation is a huge mistake. Once you discover you have no interest in whatever you think you might like to pursue, you will hardly be able to get anyone else excited about it. Worrying about how you will live while trying to feed money and time into your passion can easily kill your enthusiasm and if everything does change, including things you were hoping to keep status quo you might find yourself down a road you never wanted to go.

And while many times people only gain approval of family and friends after they have demonstrated a productive aspect when getting their passion off the ground, it does help to have some significant others on board to encourage you when you hit an obstacle.

Although you need not have every one of the points for or against your favor to know if it is your NOW or your NO, one thing is certain.

YOU MUST FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE TIMING TO MAKE THE TIMING WORK FOR YOUR GOOD #finding your fire (Please Tweet this!!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85608594@N00/10799618335/

If you are wanting it to be NOW, but your heart, mind and soul are thinking NO...It's NOT GO TIME.

On the other hand if you are anxious about some things but your mind, heart and soul are saying, "No time like the present." and you are looking for some sign, maybe you just realized your NOW.

What are some other things that helped you decide whether it was NOW or NO ?

Kathy Brunner is an author, speaker and branding specialist who helps people make their passion happen.Contact her if you want her to help you make your moment or more happen.

Want to discover if it's really your NOW or your NO? register for CALLED WOMAN

WANT TO GET ENGAGED?

2013-11-12T07:30:00.000-05:00

Do you know someone who is ecstatic about the work they do?

If you do, ask them exactly WHY they are so excited to go out and earn a living everyday.

In a 2013 Gallup Poll, nearly 52% of Americans reported they were not particularly excited about their job. They are present. They are earning a living, but they have a perpetual case of the "Mondays".

How would you feel knowing the surgeon who is scheduled to operate on you is less than enthusiastic about his career, or the lawyer who is handling your case often takes mental vacations instead of focusing on your needs? Could your dinner be served by a chef with little interest in his presentation anymore or maybe you are sitting in a classroom taught by a teacher who really wishes (s)he were anywhere else.

It's pathetic. But what's more pathetic is the choice to stay in that position because it is all you know or even because the money is good. Face it, many people begin a profession with enthusiasm and a sense of purpose, but over time, everything from feeling undervalued, overworked and expendable while tackling more paperwork and red tape just to do what you know is best erodes the spirit and the same joy you may have once felt is now just another day in a JOB.

Sometimes it does not even take much time to realize the field that you chose, perhaps because the money looked enticing or the challenges looked inviting was anything but that once you began to work in it.

The grass is always greener syndrome is often the component of many careers.

So, if you stay because this is all you know, you are shortchanging the amazing opportunities we have as human beings to re-invent, re-create and re-imagine ourselves. A dog is a dog is a dog, but a human being can be many things in his or her lifetime.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blumpy/

Staying in a job because it is all you know is an excuse for not wanting to be responsible for your own future CLICK HERE TO TWEET THIS

Staying in a job that has lost it's ability to help you thrive or inspire you is just an excuse for not wanting to work harder for something you really love.

So what do you do if you are one of those people who counts the hours to the weekend as soon as you shut of your alarm on Monday morning?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ljv/with/3613612069/

GET ENGAGED...Yes, ENGAGED. No, not the diamond ring kind of engagment, but definitely the "I DO" kind of engagement.

"I do want to enjoy how I earn my living."

"I do want to feel appreciated and valued."

"I do want to change to direction I am headed."

"I do want to make this year the one where everything changes."

It's not going to happen overnight, BUT, It's not going to happen at all if all you are doing is complaining, commiserating and retreating back into your box to start all over again the next week.

In a few short weeks, people will begin making resolutions for the new year. Were you one of those people who promised themselves by this time last year you would be doing something different but then LIFE got in the way and well, here you are...still digging yourself out of what seems like a big career hole that is sucking you down more each day.

STOP

Decide today to make some plans about what you want for the future.

Move toward picking up the phone or emailing someone who can mentor you or help you get your ducks in line to make some changes. This might be a support group, a coach, a teacher, a mentor but start to connect with those people who can help you move ahead.

Change direction. Get a 2014 Calendar and on it mark the date when YOU will send that letter that says you are no longer going to work at something that you have stopped loving long ago. Maybe that date will be later than sooner, but if you don't know when you want that date to be, you are hardly going to start working to plan your big event.

So let's start planning your next move. Got a date in mind and some ideas you are courting that you might want to commit to which will change your life?

I'd love to help you plan your ENGAGEMENT party, the party where you will make a commitment to changing your life by the choices and actions you take to get you to the BIG DAY.

and What's your BIG DAY...the day when you tell others why YOU love to do the work you do everyday.

You can, you know. You can leave that JOB behind for a LIFE and a CAREER with PURPOSE. I can show you how, but YOU have to make the commitment and

you have to get engaged.

Kathy is a speaker and coach who is dedicated to helping burned out individuals find their "encore" preneur spirit and get fired up doing what they love to do.

CONTACT KATHY if you want her to help you GET ENGAGED.

UNSTUCK BUT NOT UNGLUED

2013-11-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

Ever been in a position where you simply can't determine what to do next?

Maybe you have done a great job getting to where you want to go but somewhere along the way, you meet an obstacle or get to a place where you either can't or won't move forward.

Everyone experiences moments where things seem to be at a standstill but when that standstill prevents progress you can become frustrated and disillusioned which often leads to a resignation that you will never be able to change things. That resignation is all it takes to maintain the statusquo and have you telling yourself you are going nowhere.

Sometimes in trying to get "unstuck" you convince yourself you are going to become undone or unglued and that makes you even more anxious in trying to move on.

There are strategies to becoming 'unstuck' and if you want to learn how to develop a safety net so you can take a leap of faith join me and the Creative Team of CALLED WOMAN, this Sunday November 10 at 8:00 PM EST for a very special FREE conference about overcoming your personal or career obstacles and taking the necessary steps to move forward.

You will get many tips and ideas on how to move beyond the obstacles and go from Ordinary to Extraordinary. SIGN UP HERE. and get the detail for Sunday's call.

Hope I get to "meet" you on Sunday.

Kathy Brunner is an author, speaker and branding specialist who helps people make their passion happen.Contact her if you want her to help you make your moment or more happen.
Want to work with Kathy? Contact her HERE.
Sign up for the Monthly Newsletter.

ARE YOU A CHIEF WITHOUT A TRIBE?

2013-11-04T14:41:00.000-05:00

I am not an endorser. I seldom go out of my way to "talk shop" about any product but when I do, you can be sure it's one I have tried out and think is truly exceptional. That's why I want to tell you about TRIBE WRITERS.

I chose to participate in this community awhile back and think it is one amazing gift you should ask for or give yourself. It's the gift that keeps on giving because you get lifetime access and your take-away will be truly worth every dime.

Later this week, Jeff Goins is launching his FINAL TRIBE WRITERS course this year.
It is a self paced exceptional opportunity to receive instruction and feedback about your writing, your product and developing your platform.

Sprittibee-Bliss13-Breakout4-Goins3 (Photo credit: BlissDom)

There is so much value in this course, I promise you if you ever want to write anything or develop a platform for your products or services, THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU! There is even a 60 day money back guarantee but I can't imagine you wouldn't think it was worth every cent and even wonder why Jeff isn't charging more for it. ( I think he realizes that.The price is probably going up in the near future, so jump on this chance now!)

I participate every time it is offered as the content is always evolving with new and innovating ideas and wonderful opportunities to learn from people who did just what you want to do. You have access to web interviews and Jeff often spontaneously has several conference calls during the course just to be involved even more closely with his participants.

It was one of the best gifts I ever gave myself. If you want to draw a following for your ideas and services, you will be well on your way by the end of the year.

Hey, Trailblazers, Click on the icon below. I rarely will affiliate with products but this one was a no brainer for me. Join the tribe and shoot me an email and let me know you did because I hope to get to know you better whenever I see you there!

LET'S REALLY DO LUNCH

2013-10-22T07:30:00.000-04:00

Let's do lunch is the familiar comment made regularly to set a get together date. It may be with a relative or close friend or business associate.

But let's imagine for just a moment that just THIS ONCE you could have lunch with absolutely anyone. Who would you choose? Would it be a famous athlete or musician?

Would you want to have some time to pick the brains of someone who has a fabulous business? Is there a celebrity you wish you could spend some time with?

Many times we wish we could just rub shoulders with people who seem to have it all together. Maybe it would be great to have the papparazzi follow us to lunch and be on national TV but maybe it would be just as sensational to learn the business secrets of some of the most enterprising individuals on the planet.

I remember a story told by Brendon Burchard when I had the opportunity to hear him speak at a conference I was attending. He said, " I once wondered what it would be like to share the stage with some of the greatest influencers on the planet, but I don't wonder anymore, because I made that moment happen."

“At the end of our lives… we all ask, ‘Did I live? Did I love? Did I matter?’” -Brendon Burchard (Photo credit: deeplifequotes)

Isn't it time to make your moment happen? (TWEET THIS)

Are you wondering what it would be like to be up there with the people who inspire you?

What would it take to make that moment happen? Oh, and...

Who will you be having lunch with?

Kathy Brunner is an author, speaker and branding specialist who helps people make their passion happen.Contact her if you want her to help you make your moment or more happen.

And...she would love to have lunch with you and meet you at the CALLED WOMAN CONFERENCE

The Most Important Things In Life

2013-10-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

I blog to share my thoughts and insights. I blog to provide information and a platform to encourage, inspire and get my readers to find their fire and start the steps towards living their passions. I blog to help a community of great firestarters.

But I also blog because I care about the unbelievable, unseen and uncomfortable issue of Human Trafficking. When I first began to hear about Human Trafficking several years ago, I guessed it must be just occurring in the poorest areas of some of third world countries. In little time, I learned the horrible truth about what was happening in my own country, my own state and my own city. Nearly 15,000 of new trafficking victims are identifed in the United States every year.(Click here to tweet this) While our economy is experiencing limited if any growth, the trafficking of victims for sex trade in the United States is booming business. The Sex Slave next door is a real eye opener about where trafficking is taking place.

The Polaris Project estimates that most pimps in the United States have a $500 quota each girl must meet a day. If a pimp has only 4 girls and they meet that quota, the pimp can make up to $632,000 a year. That's a huge income at the expense of someone else's exploitation.

We might say it's horrific and wrong but then go back to our ordinary routine and hope somebody is working on doing something about it.

Somebody is: Exodus Road and YOU CAN and SHOULD at least look at their website and truly decide how you can get involved. Maybe you can share the information with your circles. Maybe you can volunteer in other ways, maybe you can offer a small donation to send investigators into the fields to rescue victims. The cost is so minimal yet the effect so dramatic.

There are a lot of important things in life. Blogging is NOT one of them unless through some words, someone's life is changed, saved, rescued, reclaimed.

I'm just one voice but one of my most important things in life is to use what voice I have to make a difference.

Visit Exodus Road and see the amazing things they are doing there, and maybe you will add this cause as one of the most important things in your life as well.

There but for the grace of God...someone you know could be the life you save.

This is why I blog for Exodus Road.

Please share this post on your Facebook page and to your other circles.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can help victims of human trafficking contact Kathy

5 REASONS WHY YOUR SHIP HAS NOT COME IN

2013-10-11T11:35:00.000-04:00

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There's an old joke about hoping the ship comes in before the dock rots but it's not usually the dock we have to worry about.

If ideas and dreams are the "ships" here are some honest reasons a ship never arrives:

1. IT NEVER LEFT

You can't expect your ship to bring back your treasures if you haven't bothered to launch it to begin with. As long as it is still tethered to the dock, it has no chance of going out on an adventure and returning with whatever. If you want a ship to return...YOU HAVE TO SEND IT OFF.

2. IT'S OFF COURSE

If you don't have a plan about where you are headed, how long you will be there, what you want to see/do and when and how you will get back to shore, you will be floundering out in dangerous waters going in circles but never heading home to shore. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN TO GET TO YOUR DESTINATION AND BACK.

3. THE WRONG PEOPLE ARE STEERING IT

Ever have a great idea and by the time you entrust it to others, it doesn't even look like the plan you started with? Maybe you are stuck because your crew is not effective at bringing the ship in. Sometimes the only way you get things headed in the right direction are when...YOU LET GO OF WHAT(OR WHO) ISN'T WORKING.

4. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO RETURN

Even wonderful trips must come to an end. If you believe you have saturated your efforts perhaps it's time to bring the ship in. Maybe the goods are not as spectacular as you hoped. You can always ship out again. But you are only wasting valuable resources if there's little value in continuing to stay out at sea. If the suntan lotion has worn off, your're tired of looking at water on all sides and you have had your fill of days at sea...TURN AROUND AND HEAD BACK FOR A CHANGE

5.YOU HAVE SHIP MALFUNCTIONS

Sometimes the ship is stuck somewhere literally between a rock and a hard place. Maybe the accounts receivables need reigned in, maybe it's top heavy with too many irons in the fire, maybe there's a mutiny among the working crew, maybe there's a non functioning aspect that keeps it from moving, like poor engagement, inappropriate niche marketing, lack of exposure, inability to compete against competition or even poor delivery of product. Any of those will cause even the best ship to become dysfunctional. If you need your ship to get going...FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT BOG IT DOWN.

Want your ship to arrive? Try some of the above suggestions and see if maybe more smooth sailing is just ahead and remember, even if your ship comes in without the the treasure you hoped for, you still have a vehicle you can service and send off again. Don't lose your "ship" to the elements or to lack of a good compass and excellent crew. BECAUSE

A DOCKED SHIP OR ONE STUCK AT SEA ISN'T REALLY GOING ANYWHERE

Do you feel like your "ship' is doomed? What do you need to do about it?

Would you like to learn about how to eliminate what seem to be obstacles to making your passion, happen? Join me with my guest, JOEL BOGGESS for a great Free webinar this SUNDAY OCTOBER 13 at 8 P.M. EST. SIGN UP HERE

WE HAVE NOW WON THE LOTTERY

2013-10-07T12:44:00.000-04:00

The front of a used Mark Six ticket (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A few colleagues of mine take turns purchasing a lottery ticket weekly. Yes, just one ticket. We figure if we are meant to win, one ticket will do it. We have a lot of fun speculating on what we will do with our milions but last week I received a text that read;

"Unfortunately we have now won the lottery"

I didn't get the "unfortunately" but you can be sure the other colleagues and myself hurriedly texted back to get the details on our windfall. Then we got the text from the one who bought the ticket,"Darn auto-text, it was suppossed to read "not" instead of "now" and with that, we went from planning our retirements on our private islands to planning our schedules for the next work week.

No, we weren't really expecting to win millions (only hoping) but here was a case where ONE letter made a huge difference.

Surely you have experienced the same in your life...maybe not with ONE letter, but maybe ONE decision, ONE reaction, ONE thing you tolerated or another ONE you did not. Maybe there was ONE circumstance that changed everything, ONE activity that confirmed something, ONE event that made all the difference.

Sometimes that's all it takes; just ONE thing and everything changes; sometimes for the good and sometimes it's a downward spiral.

Just like we believed if we were meant to win, ONE ticket would do it, ONE letter changed the outcome. And maybe it IS that ONE thing that redirects our life, our relationships, our careers, our hopes and dreams.

We can work hard and plan and do all the right things to make our plans happen but in the long run I believe we are still at the mercy of the ONE who holds our destiny in His hands. Sometimes the ONE thing that changes everything is meant to change our direction, refocus our energy and rewire our ideas. Sometimes it's meant to simply make us pay attention.

I believe ONE thing can make a huge difference when it occurs unexpectedly, unprovoked and unannounced.

Have you had your ONE thing that changed everything? What happened then?

Would you like to learn about how to surrender what seems to be obstacles to making your passion, happen. Join me with my guest, JOEL BOGGESS for a great Free webinar this SUNDAY OCTOBER 13 at 8 P.M. EST. SIGN UP HERE

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

2013-10-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

Halloween is in the air, the perfect time to see if there are some masks which are serving little more purpose than disguising the obvious in your life.

In ancient Latin, persona meant "mask." Today it does not usually refer to a literal mask but to the "social masks" all humans supposedly wear. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We've all worn some or all of these masks and I think it is time to call a moratorium on selecting them for another season of our lives.Maybe we wear a mask because it is easier than dealing with a truth or it makes us appear more confident if we camouflage our real self. A mask can help us escape from a life we don't really want to acknowledge or distract us and others from issues we might feel incompetent to handle.

When you are first beginning a new venture everything may feel "foreign" to you and you may initially put on the CONFIDENCE mask because you want to appear to be knowledgeable and capable and yet sometimes the best way to develop trusting relationships is to be honest and share what you DON'T know but always assuring another you will do your best to find out the answer. We need to give an impression of competency but need not fear our lack of knowledge is a breaking point.

People don't want a "know-it-all". They want a sincere and honest individual to trust with their issues. They want someone who might have even experienced what they are now dealing with.

Another mask easily donned is the IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT mask. This mask changes what we really are into what we believe others want us to be.
While you may truly be an introverted leader, this mask has you appearing to be the life of the party or the consummate extrovert. The problem with attempting to function with this mask on is that what we do is not natural or even enjoyable. We attempt to deliver a different persona because we think that is what is expected. Wearing this mask is not only uncomfortable but causes constant stress.

Transparency builds trusting relationships. Don't work hard trying to be something you don't even want to be.

Most of us have slipped the I CAN HANDLE THIS mask on and sometimes much more often than we should. You might recognize this mask as the one that attempts to cover up any overwhelming issues that are nagging at your progress. Instead of seeking out help, asking for someone's assistance or even admitting we can't take on anymore, the mask says, "Everything is fine and there's no problem, just carry-on."

The best thing you can do for your business, your career or your life is to learn to delegate what you can't handle alone and to ask for help when you need it.

HELP is not a dirty 4 letter word.

And finally there is the EXCUSE mask which we wear to conceal our real fear of change or moving out of our box. When we have this mask on, we can more easily blame our circumstances, our resources, even our friends and family for being the reasons we are stuck in a rut. This mask is the one we turn to when we need an excuse for not simply pointing the finger back at ourselves, after all, it is easier to let others take responsibility for our condition, then we don't have to expect more from ourselves.

Nothing will change until you take the excuse mask off and see what you need to do to turn things around. As long as you are wearing the excuse mask, everything remains status quo.

The problem with masks is that not only do they cover up ourselves to others, but they also limit our own clarity and perception.

Maybe we can fool some people sometime with our mask, but we can never fool ourselves and that is a critical point to remember, especially when we fear ever taking our mask off. In the long run, we can't wear our mask forever and the only truly genuine moments we know will occur after removing the mask.

Initially, who is under the mask may come as a surprise but to those who really know and love us, it will be a relief to know the true person under the veil so to speak. We have little to fear from others when we realize the mask did little more than disguise what most people already knew.

What are you afraid of showing or telling someone? Pretending that you are someone else or that you really are what the mask personifies is great for a few hours but becomes an obstacle to getting on with your life if it turns into a permanent facade.

What mask is your favorite to wear on any given day?

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HOW WILL YOU MEET YOUR GOLIATH?

2013-09-23T07:30:00.000-04:00

Goliath was a legendary Philistine warrior defeated by young David according to the Bible.The story of Goliath represents a picture of life often minimized; that our perspecitve changes everything.

According to the story, David who would later become King of Israel was the only one who was not fearful of what had his comrades "shaking in their boots." Goliath was said to be over nine feet tall and terrified the Israelite army. When David's father sent him to the army to see how the fight was going, David was the only one willing to fight Goliath. The story says, Goliath fell when David hit him in the head with a stone and then killed him with his own sword and finally beheaded him.

David believed God would help him defeat Goliath and this perspective drove him to be fearless.

No matter how well things might go in your life, you WILL meet your Goliath at some point. It might be in a relationship, in your career, in your health or in any other aspect of your life. How you deal with your Goliath will make all the difference in what happens.

Some people take every obstacle and pessimistically see the end of their dreams or plans. They see their Goliath as being too big to fight and too powerful to overcome. They are defeated before they begin the fight because they have already lost the battle in their mind.

Others see their Goliath as being an obvious obstacle and plan how to arm themselves to either take him down or get around him. They believe in something bigger than themselves and work to remove the barriers others already have identified as too impossible to overcome.

Perspective is absolutely critical when you are trying to be successful at anything.
Perspective makes all the difference in whether you give up or give in easily or hang on and take your chops but come out a winner in the end.
Perspective is not just how you look at something but is also how you really interpret what you see.

Your perspective about anything can change every outcome.

How do you react to your Goliath?

Do you see your Goliath as being:
SO BIG you can't possibly defeat him or
SO BIG you can't possibly miss hitting him?

In the end, your perspective about Goliath will determine whether you or "He' wins.

What's Your Goliath and How Are You Preparing To Deal With Him?

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GREAT ADVICE.GET LOST and PLAY HARD

2013-09-17T11:36:00.000-04:00

I had an amazing week last week. I completed an activity I wanted to do on my bucket list, I spent a week with several people I loved and I saw some of the most wonderful scenery our country has to offer.

What I really did was I GOT LOST. Not exactly lost without knowing where I was, but lost without the distractions, overstimulation and constant activity of everyday life.

We are often encouraged to get up early, work as hard as we can and achieve as many goals as possible in a given time. I don't disagree with any hard work ethic, but I DO agree that we should:
PLAY AS HARD AS WE WORK.

Business owners and other entrepreneurs tend to feel guilty when we are not working. We are used to having to "make a living" by being involved in our businesses and thereby constantly want to use all our available time for creating more business and completing more goals and yet I believe I actually got more done PLAYING HARD.

I played by going on long bike rides, by having lazy down time without access to the digital world, by sharing many laughs with good friends, by sitting in awe of the inspiring scenery. I played hard by having long lunches and great shopping, visiting places I have never been to, trying some activities I have never done, experiencing breathtaking moments, playing cards and games long into the night and yet waking up early and enjoying beautiful sunrises and unexpected moments of pure joy.

All of it inspired me more than anything when I was Knee Deep in work.

I know business owners who would gasp in disbelief that I chose not to check emails at times and for that matter, not to even fire up the computer or visit the mobile web. But, I did just that and I am forever glad.

It's back to work now. Back to countless "to-do" lists and goals and dealing with all types of people and issues. Lunches will be a lot shorter, nights will end much earlier and instead of shopping or biking to the next little town, there will be traffic and meetings and endless responsibilities...UNTIL...the next time I PLAY HARD and GET LOST.

I show a lot of people how to get their dreams started but I always tell them their dreams are more do-able if they can LOSE themselves in the vision of what they want. The rest of your life is much like that. If you can't get away sometime and LOSE yourself to the world in a way far different than your daily life, you are missing the circumstances that will make you well rounded and more successful and creative.

Zac Brown had it so right in his song, Knee Deep, when he says he's gonna, "...Put the world away for a minute."(click to listen to Buffet sing.)

Maybe the reason we sometimes feel stale is because we need some fresh air, some distance away from what we are stuck on and some clarity about what blessings we already have.

"you'll never know until you try,when you lose yourself you find a key to paradise" Zac Brown Band

HOW DO YOU PUT YOUR WORLD AWAY FOR A MINUTE (or longer)?

Know anyone who needs to put their world away for a minute because of health issues, business stress, parenting, relationships or just life overload. Please share this post and let them HEAR the way to put their world away.

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WHAT TYPE OF HORSE ARE YOU?

2013-09-06T12:45:00.000-04:00

Do you know what a draft horse is? They are horses with a calm and patient manner primarily used for plowing fields, logging and performing other types of labor such as pulling loads. Sometimes because of their nature they are crossbred to produce a type of riding horse. They are often known as "work horses."

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Contrary to this type of horse, the show horse is a special animal groomed to win prizes both for performance and looks. Show horses get very special treatment including having their owners use special products for their coats and even their hooves. Before a show their trailers are sprayed to minimize flies and they are fed a diet far superior to that of the draft horse.

Humans domesticated horses to do what they wanted them to do. If you have ever seen a wild horse, they spook easily when humans approach. They have a suspicious nature and while obviously free from restrictions, are left to fend pretty much for themselves regardless of the circumstances. The price they pay for freedom is at the risk of hoping their breed survive

Horses in my Dreams #4 (Photo credit: nicodeux)

So if you want to be a successful horse, which would you prefer? Oh, I know what you are thinking, "I'll go for that show horse treatment anytime!" but whether you own a business or work for someone, you might want to think again.

Draft horses may be less beautiful to behold and yet they are loyal and often their duties are the ones critical for the farm or ranch to survive. Show horses have an elegant awesomeness about them but only do so after years of practice and training and wild horses demonstrate the aspect of true survival of the fitness and genuine spirit of this animal.

Firestarters are not comfortable only being ONE type of horse. They realize that anything exceptional will take effort, energy, ideas, class and steady diet of good resources.

We are often called on to be the "glue" which holds our organization together. We might need to work harder than we imagine just to get the job done. Sometimes we feel unappreciated and overlooked as we handle the day's needs with a "whatever it takes" attitude but hard work and diligence pay off and while a draft horse will most always be a draft horse, we can know that show horse feeling when our determination and persistence afford us opportunities to enjoy the good life and to have the finer things we hope for.

AND...even though we may be at the wild horse stage seemingly with no destination or direction, it may be the best time to spark true creativity and imagination that can become stiffled at other stages.

If you constantly feel left without direction and wild you may become frustrated and lose perspective. If you are the one who is required to pull the load, staying extra hours, making up for a lack of effort on someone else's part, performing in less than ideal situations or often without the necessary support or supplies, you become disillussioned and lose loyalty. And even if you are treated royally, there is sometimes a diminished confidence in one's ability to handle a tought situation if you have never really had to roll up your sleeves and get the job done yourself.

Your career should never make you the draft, wild or show horse indefinitely...If it does, you need to move on and find another Stable; one that allows you to WIN, PLACE and SHOW.

What kind of horse are you feeling like right now?

Kathy is ready to help you find your passion and make it happen. She offers a free 1/2hr consult to help you get ready to live your dreams or brand your business as a household name.
Connect with her here or visit her at http://kathybrunner.com

WHY YOU NEED TO GET GAS

2013-08-31T10:27:00.000-04:00

It's easy to become overwhelmed when you are trying to launch your dream. Someone is always suggesting you join this or follow that, get a Facebook page or connect on another social network. You are told to comment here, post there, make a YouTube video, write an ebook, connect with groups, start a group and then of course there is:

Marketing, Branding, Communicating, Facilitating, Presenting, Revising, Developing, and on and on and on.

Business is never static but recently I listened to a great interview with Rita Davenport. Rita knows what it is like to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and she gets it. She gets the Number 1 thing it takes to make your dream happen.

She says, "You need to get Good At Something!

While this may seem like a no-brainer, it's the ONLY thing that is really critical. All the activity you pursue to get your dream off the ground is useless if you are not really good at what you are doing.

All the connections, blogposts, comments, Facebook friends, videos, tweets and advertising will hardly make a dent in your business if you are not really Good at it.
People will discover rather quickly that you don't really know what it's all about and that behind the great web design or thousands of friends, you really don't know your stuff.

It's great to be known but it's more important to be sure what you are known for you really KNOW. (yes, I think you SHOULD tweet that!)Tweet

You can have it all but not really unless people trust that you ARE the go-to person for the product or service they need because you DO really know what you offer.

Don't worry about how to reach your market, get more followers, how to write your first blog post, or even what to name your business until you have made sure that you've got G.A.S.

Concentrate on your skill development until you are comforable offering your expertise to someone else.

WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE TO GET G.A.S?

THE TIME BANK

2013-08-23T12:10:00.000-04:00

In the last post, I mentioned that some people seem to just be able to squeeze more out of a 24 hour day than others. I do think people who are passionate about something are far better at making sure they make time for their passions.

There are strategies to take an already filled day and expand it to getting more time to work on your passions so I thought I would share several and see if any work for you, if you are trying to find more time to do what you love.

http://techforworld.com

Start With Five....If you want to "find" more time to do something you love, set your clock to get up five minutes earlier every day for two weeks. You'll have more than an extra hour at the end of two weeks to work on your passion and you will have gradually helped your body adjust to the change. (Of course if you are more of a night owl you can do this exercise in reverse, adding 5 minutes to your bedtime nightly.)

Map out a time budget for one month. Like a monetary one, it helps you look at where you are spending all your time. Maybe you need to cut out some "extras". If you have favorite TV shows, record them and watch them without commercials during a block of time you set to relax. Most hour shows are barely 40 minutes long watching this way. If you don't seem to be able to identify what you did with your time, then learn to "chunk" your activities for more productivity.

Do all your shopping in one block of time, all your appointments within another if possible. If you spend a significant amount of your time, driving, consider books on tape to help you complete reading goals or Dragonfire software to help you dictate while you drive. Also consider swapping out a day or two of driving for public transportation where you can get some of this done without still focusing on driving.

"Exchange" time with a friend in a similar circumstance. When my children were younger finding time to just go shopping alone or even take in a class was difficult and paying sitters was sometimes prohibitive. I had a friend in a similar situation who really wanted some extra time to spend with a loved one who was quite ill. I "gave" her one afternoon weekly to be with her loved one and she returned the favor in another block of time for me to take some classes I wanted to get in. Make sure you have an understanding of just what will be required when you are exchanging that time and everyone is in agreement.

Another couple we knew got "date night" time away from their three children by exchanging it with a couple who wanted the same on another night. I also know friends who make extra dinner for each other one day weekly and then each couple has a meal without having to cook for one night (and more time to do other things.)

Learn to say, "No" without feeling guilty. Your time is precious. You would not necessarily let everyone borrow money from you all the time if you knew you could not afford it. Do the same with your time. If you need time to work on a project or pursue a passion, don't feel guilty telling people you are committed to another task OR you simply "can't afford" the time to do it right now. They have their priorities and you should have yours.

Let go of the notion that you can do it all and determine where TIME really is MONEY and MONEY really is time. If it takes you a great deal of time to do some tasks like housework, errands, taking care of animals, yardwork etc. sometimes it is well worth the money spent to "buy" those hours for other things you want to do. Gaining an afternoon to pursue a passion, while someone else is cleaning your house or taking care of your gardening could be well worth your money. Again, it's just a matter of what you want your money to buy.

Stay focused on the end goal. Many people fell overwhelmed with the time and energy it takes to launch an idea and can't see the light beyond the obstacles. When you feel you can't put as much time into something as you need to or that it will take what seems like forever to launch your idea, decide the small step you can take daily to accomplish something in that direction. Sometimes this means just making one phone call, engaging in one interaction, talking with one professional about your needs, making one decision about a small aspect. It takes longer with baby steps but hey, if you don't take any steps you WON'T GET ANYWHERE!

Multi-task with Rock Star sense. Sometimes we tend to multi-task so poorly that everything gets done halfway but "good" multi-tasking can be powerful. Think of something you need to complete that requires you to SIT DOWN or BE STILL. One woman I know uses her children's homework time to work on her business plan. She announces it's time for everyone to do homework and she gets to supervise her children while she is completing her goals. One of my best friends still refers to her nail appointments as her "enlightenment time". She let her technician know she was crunched to get things done and needed to listen to specific webinars, activities etc. when she came to the salon." She sits and listens and still gets a great manicure. (The tech is actually starting to do something similar when she goes to her child's orthodontist appointment).

We all get 24 hours in a day. We can spend it, save it or waste it, but we cannot get it back. Think of your time in terms of "cash" and decide how much you want to have, give away or bank. Time is even more precious than money because:

WE CAN ALWAYS MAKE MORE MONEY BUT WE CAN'T MAKE MORE TIME.

All we can do is learn to use the time we have to get the most out of it.

What strategies do you have to help people get the most out of their 24 hours?

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24

2013-08-19T11:07:00.002-04:00

That's it...24. We all get the same number of hours in a day. Isn't it always amazing how some people seem to get so much more done with their "24" than others?

I realized what the difference was between those who really maximized their 24 hours and those that simply shelved their activities into another box of "tomorrows" and hoped for better luck the next day.

You can say it is time management or personal responsibility or devotion or even work ethic, but I say it's PASSION. When a person is passionate about something, they do not let it sit in the background or wait around for a good time to address what interests them. Passionate people are led by their passions to "do something" and in that process they develop strategies for maximizing their "24".

There are many people passionate about a cause or a service or product who are still doing many of the countless things people must do daily just to survive. Many are working at a job, or two, they are not really excited about. Many have the responsibilities of raising a family and taking care of all their needs as well as trying to make room for their own. And many already have a fully loaded platter of "To-Do" activities which barely makes squeezing in what they are passionate about easy and yet they do.

So why do I think passion is a driving force behind getting the most out of your "24"? Because passion makes you WANT to get up earlier to tackle some issues relating to your passion or keeps you up later because you cherish the quiet time when everyone else is asleep as your special time to address the passion you want to fulfill.

Passion helps you prioritize any free time you have. You make wiser choices from whether to spend an afternoon at the local pool or go shopping or head out golfing to choosing to devote that time to developing your product or service.

Passion dictates your needs. It is easier to pass up an item you want but don't really need when you know that the money you save can be put towards launching and growing your passion.

AND...Passion minimizes your complaining. You might have once thought rolling up your sleeves and working hard for someone else was wasting time or crimping your freedom, but do it for something YOU are passionate about and you hardly think of it as such.

In the next few posts, I will be looking at specific ways to carve out more time in your "24" to work on and grow your passion.

People with a real desire stop saying, "I don't have time" and start saying, "I don't want to miss the opportunity." They stop telling themselves, "Someday I am going to..." and start saying, "This might be the best time I ever get to...." and they let go of the belief that they are not in a position to make changes and embrace the knowledge that sometimes the best time is NOW.

Stick around and learn how to make your "24" seem like more.

What do you really WANT to do with your "24" and is it working for you?

Kathy Brunner is an Author, Speaker and Branding Specialist. If you would like to have her speak at one of your events, contact her HERE.Interested in a FREE 1/2 hr. consult to have Kathy help you uniquely brand a service or product? Contact Kathy HERE

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ONLY A FOOL DOESN'T REFUEL

2013-08-13T11:10:00.000-04:00

Over a week ago, I shared that I was taking 3 days off for a digital sabbath. It actually turned out to be quite a bit longer as I was out of the country and the info I had thought I had scheduled to share did not actually post, on any social media site.

Turns out, it was just as well. In the absence of social media, I learned many things. Here are just a few.

1) Life can and will go on whether you are part of a social community or not. Those who love you will continue to remain faithful even if you are digitally silent for days or a week.

2) Sometimes I spend too much time in faceless contact and too little face to face. I thoroughly enjoyed the perspectives of people whose faces I could see and whose emotions were not disguised.

3) What's really important becomes known despite limited access to media.

4) More, Better and Faster are overrated.

But, I also learned many other things as well. I learned that viewing a sunrise or sunset over a beautiful tropical island is far more hypnotic than looking at a picture of it, that smiles are understood even when the language is not, that simple living is sometimes simply living and that I am mesmerized by so much beauty easily overlooked when days are spent in the pursuit of something more in the name of "happiness".

Sometimes our lives get in the way of living.

Taking a "breather" is one of the best exercises you will ever do to make progress in your life.
I became more adventurous and tried ziplining and oxtails.
I improved my concentration watching a small iguana eat its lunch.
I worked on time management skills making sure I could take in a half day tour of a new city without sacrificing a sunset catamaran sailing.
I fueled my creativity by imagining what my own life would be like minus the car, the yardwork, the traffic, the hectic pace of everyday life.

I discovered my peace of mind just listening to the waves crashing into nature.
I added to my store of blessings, heartfelt gratitude in being able to enjoy this break

AND

I found my fire in the realization that there constantly are Amazing and Wonderful Opportunities Just Waiting For Us to Experience Them. If we just slow down and notice what is around us.

Maybe a break is just what you need to find the fuel to jump start your dreams.

It need not be on some exotic island or cost half a year's wages. Find your break in the million of little things we all take for granted.

Sit outside after dark some evening and wait for shooting stars. Wake up before anyone else and watch the sunrise. Grab a good book and a favorite drink and treat yourself to some "me time". Take a drive with no real destination or visit an animal shelter and take a pet for a walk. Maybe a break means window shopping with a good friend or packing a lunch and going to a park to eat it and people watch. Maybe it's just a nap or a trip to the attic to find that old easel and spend an afternoon painting whatever inspires you.

If you're feeling like you can't get the fuel you need to get your "passion" started maybe it's waiting for you in the time you take to just "be', just "relax" and just "take a break".

Fuel has many different components. Sometimes the right mix is found when you are not looking for it.

What does your "pause that refreshes" look like?

ryangassonline.com

I'd love to hear your comments and hope you will share with others how you "refuel"

Kathy is refueled and ready to help you find your passion and make it happen. She offers a free 1/2hr consult to get you ready to live your dreams or to help you brand your business to be a household name. Connect with her here or visit her at http://kathybrunner.com

REMOVING LIFE SUPPORT

2013-08-02T07:30:00.000-04:00

In any given day do you receive 446 tweets, 216 Facebook updates, 183 emails from your Linked-in or other social groups? Maybe you are feeling connected or maybe you are just feeling overwhelmed! Do you dread your inbox or hit delete before you open your email?

That's not connecting; that's avoiding.

Do you have 13,410 twitter followers, 717 followers on your blog, 2,691 Facebook Friends and connect with 37 groups? Even an introvert can become a social media mogul although at times it feels like it's virtual stalking. Even if your numbers pale in comparison, your presence on various media channels can be like trying to juggle a half dozen plates while riding a unicycle.

Genuine interaction happens between two people or a small group of individuals. While social media helps us connect, it often sabotages true efforts to really communicate on a deeper level. It's easy to become overwhelmed trying to keep up with the news let alone truly respond.

Strategists suggest setting aside time to respond to various social media circles and limiting contact to just during that time. There are several ways to "schedule" your comments for when you are too busy to be physically present but still want to virtually connect. I am just as guilty as I use HootSuite to share information when I know I will be involved in activities that will prevent me from sharing in real time.

I've met very interesting people who I truly call my "friends" via social media groups. I enjoy opportunities to connect with many of them, but it has become clearer each day, that to remain transparent and sincere, I need to take regular disconnects from social media.

Some might call this social suicide but realistically if people call themselves friends or even followers, they should remain loyal and understand the need for all of us to remove ourselves from the grasp of social media on a regular basis to recharge, re-adjust and renew our perspective.

In this digital age, we are constantly bombarded with updates, newsflashes, and a steady stream of information. Our senses can barely sleep as our smart phones indicate the latest news, weather alerts or latest tweet. We have 24 hour access to constant interaction but sometimes I think at least I function better when I have moments of quiet reflection and minimal involvement with all the content. I certainly gain more clarity when I remove myself from the constant media barrage.

Like a mommy who needs some 'mommy time' away from her precious darlings, I feel much the same.

In other words; I still love you, but I need some alone time for just me!

So, I have decided to begin to honor a Three Day Event EVERY MONTH where I will PULL THE PLUG from any media connection. I might be tempted to want to post a great photo or comment on a hot topic, but I will instead remember, not only is silence golden, but I will be adding riches to my life by realizing, before Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, RSS feeds, email, Klout, Instagram and Pinterest, there were and still are many great ways to connect with all the wonders of life, just minus the speed and clamor.

http://torontolife.com

I'd love for you to see what a THREE DAY PULL THE PLUG might do for you. I hope you will join me on the journey and share what you learned about the world without instant access. I'll still have my phone, just without the email and other media access.

Shortly after my good friend Lynne Watt's has her FREE presentation on achieving goals. REGISTER HERE, I will begin my THREE DAY DIGITAL SABBATH from Monday August 5 at midnight through Thursday August 7 at midnight, because that is one of MY goals!

When's Yours?

Believing you will damage some part of your life by being inaccessible to media outlets for THREE DAYS is just silly. I am delighted to have made your acquaintance on social media and I hope we get to know each other better and in the process share our real addresses or phone numbers or maybe even someday meet in person and probably both be better at doing that after we PULL THE PLUG.

I will return online late next week from somewhere in paradise, where Pulling the Plug is not only encouraged but is essential to taking in the amazing wonders and beauty around us we sometimes overlook because we spend so much time looking at the computer screen.

www.shapingyouth.org

Gonna join me in a Digital Sabbath? I hope so.

Now...It's time to get packing!

WANTED: TEAM MEMBERS

2013-07-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

How many times do you hear or read something that pulls at your heartstrings. It may be a family facing a medical crisis who needs assistance to meet their daily needs. Maybe it is a person facing long term unemployment, a terminal illness, mental or physical challenges and you wonder, "How can I help? What can one person do?"

I felt this way about human trafficking. The horrors of having a child deceived into selling his or her body to fuel another person's wallet was unfathomable and yet I know it happens every day and much more close to home than any of us think.

My Passion Project has been to support a group who rehabilitates the victims that have been rescued.

I also write regular blogs for Exodus Road. This organization provides investigative teams throughout the world and has already saved hundreds of trafficked victims from those who sold their innocence away and forced them into a life of fear and unbelievable circumstances.

The Exodus Road teams are growing and I want to support their efforts. My goal is to become a regularly contributing team member for TEAM CHARLIE which will be ready to launch in the Fall of 2013. This team will focus on rescuing human trafficked victims in the United States.

While you may be shocked to learn of this type of slavery happening in your own backyard, you would be even more surprised to learn it is increasing in epidemic proportions with over 14,500 new victims every year!

But now, you CAN do more than simply wish it away. For $35/month we can field a team of experts who provide SEARCH AND RESCUE efforts to locate victims and remove them from their hidden lives behind the walls of local brothels, prostitution rings and street trade.

I'm looking for more team members. What about your women's groups, bookclubs, sororities,work colleagues or neighborhood groups?

Although you can't go into the areas and personally rescue the victims, you can provide resources to teams who can. $35 that's all it takes! It costs 10 people $3.50/month (less than a cup of that designer coffee!) It takes only $5.00 from 7 people!

Can you spare a small monthly contribution and get "your people" to help someone who has no future unless they are rescued?

Everyone is facing tough economic times and yet a small contribution like this may make a bigger difference than anything you have every contributed to before.
Please join me in saving a life...one rescue at a time.

Contact me HERE if you want on my team, or start a team of your own. EXODUS ROAD...the only way home for those caught in the spiral of human trafficking.

50 SHADES OF DELAY

2013-07-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

Earlier this summer I decided to really work on my goal of getting things I was saving organized into respectable files, folders, boxes etc. Initially I got little done because I would be distracted looking over the articles, pictures, mementos and recalling the memories, then time seemed to slip through my fingers and what I started at 8:00 a.m. was hardly 10% finished at 5:00 p.m.

I realized I needed a better plan so I began to tackle one specific aspect such as "family vacation photos" and gave myself a specific amount of time to complete the task. Yes, I did get distracted once in awhile but more often I never really started. I would say, "after I write the blog article," or "clean the house", "start the laundry", "drive to the grocery store" etc. I might have had my "organizational plan" on my calendar but I also had many excuses up my sleeve.

I knew I was just procrastinating a job that needed done and my life would be easier when I put all the things in the place I truly wanted them. That's when I got down to business and put little else on my calendar until I addressed the project at hand...and now the photos are sorted, dated, organized into files, the articles are filed under topic, the folders of interview notes, suggestions and observations also are colored coded and filed and I am a far happier lady.

You see, we all do it. We all have 50 Shades of Delay when it comes to doing a task. It's not even about learning to eat the elephant one bite at a time as much as it's about finding a fork to start our repast.

Here are 50 reasons we often put off doing something. See if you can find your excuse in the mix.

Maybe you have even used one of these reasons for why you haven't yet started to make your PASSION HAPPEN.

50 SHADES OF DELAY
"I'll get to it (when)...."

1. I have more time
2. I am less stressed
3. I am out of school
4. I get married
5. I figure out the rest of my life,
6. I pay off the debts
7. I have children
8. the children are all in school
9. the children have graduated
10. I have more energy
11. I am retired
12. I am in better shape
13. I get a sign from God
14. the house is paid off
15. it feels like the right time
16. I have more money
17. I know myself better
18. the product is perfect
19. the right guy/girl comes along
20. I leave my job
21. I settle down
22. I am more mature.
23. the kids leave home
24. I have more free time
25. the economy improves
26. I have more options
27. I'm 30, 40, 50 etc.
28. I get my bucket list written
29. I get my degree
30. I have more resources
31. someday
32. next year
33. my life is not so crazy
34. all the stars align
35. I finish the _____
36. I'm not tied down
37. my health improves
38. my job is not so demanding
39. the divorce is final
40. I have all the plans in place
41. I have no choice
42. the circumstances are different
43. if someone else goes first
44. after this other project is complete
45. in my golden years
46. before I die
47. I finally get all the things I need together
48. if I am fired
49. next week, month, year
50. tomorrow

We can make up a million reasons to delay things; even things we want.
There is something about simply getting started whether packing for an exciting trip, beginning an exercise program or organizing our "unorganized stuff' that often starts with one of the 50 SHADES OF DELAY.

What about you? Do you have another SHADE OF DELAY you have been guilty of using?

What are you putting off doing that you know you should have started YESTERDAY?

Have trouble reaching your goals? Join my good friend Lynne Watts for a FREE teleconference on goal setting. REGISTER HERE

Kathy Brunner is an Author, Speaker and Branding Specialist. If you would like to have her speak at one of your events, contact her HERE.Interested in a FREE 1/2 hr. consult to have Kathy help you uniquely brand a service or product? Contact Kathy HERE

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Risky Business

2013-07-15T10:25:00.000-04:00

Dangerous Risk Adrenaline Suicide by Fear of Falling (Photo credit: epSos.de)

Are you a person who takes risks?
You might never have thought of yourself as a person who takes risks but I have and I am sure you have to.

Taking risks means different things to different people. I am not the "stand on the railroad tracks" and jump off when the train is less than 20 feet away type person and not the "Walk through the fire and believe I won't get burned" individual.

I am not even the "Sure, I'll eat it and find out later what's in it," person, or the 'I'll just stop paying my taxes and wait for them to find me" girl, but yes, I take risks; enough to be able to try something new and foreign and live to tell!

If you are afraid you may not be made of the type of material entrepreneurs need to be woven, ask yourself the following questions:

1) Have you ever accepted a marriage proposal and followed through gettin married?

2) Did you make a decision to have family?

3) Have you ever changed jobs because you were unhappy or unfulfilled at your current job?

4) Have you ever stood up for somethiing that went against the majority?

5) Have you separated from a difficult or stressful circumstance because you realized you had little other choice?

6) Do you drive a car?

7) Have you stood beside and supported someone when few others did?

8) Have you ever run for any type of leadership position?

9) Have you composed a song, drawn a picture, written a book, started a business or sold something you made?

10) Have you told the truth when a lie would've been easier and more beneficial to you?

Then, you have indeed taken a risk!

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

I am sure there are even more situations that require us to take a risk daily. If you are thinking of going out on your own and turning your passion into a viable business DO NOT believe you need to be a person who takes dangerous risks to survive.

Taking risks is part of every day living. You are probably a bigger "risk taker" than you imagine.

What other responses are risks?

Finding Your Fire

YOU'LL LOVE IT, PROMISE!

The Art of The Pitch

How to Really Know How Much You Weigh

PURGING YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS

What Do Bathrooms Have to Do With Thanksgiving?

Is Your NOW Really Your NO?

WANT TO GET ENGAGED?

UNSTUCK BUT NOT UNGLUED

ARE YOU A CHIEF WITHOUT A TRIBE?

LET'S REALLY DO LUNCH

The Most Important Things In Life

5 REASONS WHY YOUR SHIP HAS NOT COME IN

WE HAVE NOW WON THE LOTTERY

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

HOW WILL YOU MEET YOUR GOLIATH?

GREAT ADVICE.GET LOST and PLAY HARD

WHAT TYPE OF HORSE ARE YOU?

WHY YOU NEED TO GET GAS

THE TIME BANK

24

***Sign up for her* FREE *newsletter***

ONLY A FOOL DOESN'T REFUEL

REMOVING LIFE SUPPORT

WANTED: TEAM MEMBERS

50 SHADES OF DELAY

***Sign up for her* FREE *newsletter***

Risky Business

Kathy Brunner is an Author, Speaker and Branding Specialist.

If you would like to have her speak at one of your events, contact her HERE.

Interested in a FREE 1/2 hr. consult to have Kathy help you uniquely brand a service or product? Contact Kathy HERE Sign up for her FREE newsletter

Finding Your Fire

YOU'LL LOVE IT, PROMISE!

The Art of The Pitch

How to Really Know How Much You Weigh

PURGING YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS

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Kathy Brunner is an Author, Speaker and Branding Specialist.

If you would like to have her speak at one of your events, contact her HERE.

Interested in a FREE 1/2 hr. consult to have Kathy help you uniquely brand a service or product? Contact Kathy HERE Sign up for her FREE newsletter

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***Sign up for her* FREE *newsletter***