Where in the world...

Whooohooo! I'm so keen for Day 22 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge!  Act 3, the third part of this journey is focused on how to live the travel dreams you love to imagine while living the business dreams you aspire toward!

If you chose to live anywhere in the world, where would that be and why?

As excited as I am by the question... I can't answer it!!!  I can't say just ONE place I'd settle down and live my entire life if I had all my wishes come true!  There are so many beautiful places in the world that call me for so many beautiful reasons.

At the risk of being cliche, I think I know that no matter how far, or how wide I roam, I'll still call Australia home.

But that doesn't mean I'll LIVE here! Is that bad?

My family and all my childhood friends live here.  My memories of growing up, growing into myself, growing into a parent, are all rooted firmly in the Australian soil.

I remember the day before I first travelled overseas, I went for a long walk and as I passed beneath the rustelling laves of the gum trees down my street, I wondered if there would be any such backdrop sound where I was headed to.  Or if that greyish green foliage would be matched by any other plants I might find over the oceans...

The answer was no...  Nothing I've found so far makes up for the special place a row of gum trees has in my heart.  But oh how did I LOVE the new exciting discoveries I made.  I have so many new places in my heart for the things I saw, learned, experienced, for the people I met.  And there are so many places in my heart that have yet to be filled.  But they will when I spread my wings and fly again.

So... now I've made my heart's enduring tie known, acknowledged my belonging - no matter what.  Where would I live?

My dream come true image from
http://footage.shutterstock.com/clip-3256708-stock-footage-central-turkey-colonial-mansion-or-estate-in-ottoman-style.html

I definitely want to live where the leaves change colour in the autumn.  Where snow comes on the winter winds.  I want white christmases, to ice-skate on a natural lake, to wear a real winter coat and make snowmen with my kids.  I want to crave the first blades of grass in spring, the first flower, the first  new baby deer, or rabbit to be seen for the year.  I want to sit and soak in the warmth of the sun while the children run under he sprinkler, and I sip on cool lemonade.

I want community where I live.  Where people talk in the streets with one another, whether they are long lost friends or never laid eyes upon each other before.  I want the local cafe to know how I like my coffee and the librarian to set aside books they think I might love.  I want my kids to attend a school that feels like a second home filled with one giant family.  I need a fresh green grocer, a butcher a baker, not a over-priced carbon cut out supermarket selling me year old frozen produce from the storage bins.  I want to know the name of my postman!  I want to talk to the other parents in the park, know that they are keeping an eye out for my children and have them feel confident that I will do the same.  My neighbours are welcome to borrow a cup of sugar, stay for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat.  My friends can just drop in, and I can do the same to them.  I want my kids to have that wonderful extended  group of Aunts and Uncles that are not any blood relatives at all!

Where I live, I want freedom!  Green grass to roll in, hills to slide down on cardboard boxes, woods to ride horses through or take a walk in.  I want a place to sit and enjoy nature, watch the sun come up and go down and maybe even take a swim beneath a beautiful old tree.

I also desire adventure!  Easy access to arts, culture, fairs, concerts, historical tours, sightseeing, things to see and do!

I don't want much...

And when I'm not HOME in Australia, or HOME, wherever the above criteria lies, I will be everywhere else in between!

Anticipation

Day 21 has no topic for the 30 Day Blog Challenge assigned to it.

I'm both excited by this and a little bereft.

I have been enjoying the challenge of addressing a topic each day.  Even when those topics sometimes did not light my creative fire or even spark my interest.  The fun of a challenge I guess!  But to have no topic at all, is just free and a little bit empty.

But I shall fill the space with words of review and anticipation.

In Act 1 of The Suitcase Entrepreneur's 30 Day Blog Challenge I was given permission to dream.  I was encouraged to spread my wings and imagine myself living my future.  It was a beautiful and enlightening experience.  Not only did I learn that my aspirations are far more humble than I anticipated that they would be, I was also blessed to realise just how close I actually am to getting there.  The divide between where I am, and where I aim to be, really is not that wide.  Now, I have a clearer view of where I am headed, why and indeed, how to get there sooner.

Act 2 was admittedly much much harder to explore.  It felt less creative and more intangible.  This is mostly due to the fact, I think, that I do not actually have a business or a clear idea for a business, and this Act was all about determining and refining how to make a business happen.  Despite the obvious challenges however, I learned a great deal about myself.  I have definite ways of doing business that I gravitate toward and some that I absolutely do not.  I feel that in the future, when I become more clear about ''what" I want to do as an online business, it would be EXTREMELY beneficial to revisit these questions again.  To delve into them with an actual concept, a baby you want to birth, in mind, could change so many of the answers, or reaffirm some.  That could make all the difference to an outcome.

And Act 3... I'm looking forward to Act 3... It is all about taking off and flying on those Sparkling Wings to far off places and experiencing freedom in all its forms.  It is about being ABLE to live a nomadic lifestyle anywhere in the world and still be anchored to the real world requirement to make money to support that lifestyle.  But even better, it is encouraging that anchor not just to be a source of fuel for the hip pocket and feet, but also to be gratifying and satisfying to the heart and soul!  Plus, I suspect, there will be many expert tips to make the nomadic lifestyle much simpler to implement.



It has been a long time since I last travelled.  I have taken a trip or two and glimpsed that sense of freedom that comes from REALLY travelling.  But it was only the tiniest hint of sensation, the essence of it.  I ache to feel it again.  The freedom, excitement, anticipation, mystery, discovery, learning, confusion and relief, drama, peace...  I want to roam.  I want that heart-racing feeling that begins with the smell of an aircraft and the force of being propelled into the sky!

I realise there is nothing stopping me from having all of this right at this moment.  I just need to seize it and make it mine.  I can travel and feel so much of this even without going anywhere or having any money. But I anticipate that the next 9 days will really bring this idea into full focus for me and get me one more step closer to that magical life I envisioned in Act 1.

Bring it on!

Tools For Future Time and Money Saving

Day 20!  Happy Dance time!  Two-thirds of the way through the 30 Day Blog Challenge 

I'm beginning to wonder just what it is that I'll write when this challenge is over! I'm sure I'll find something because I actually look forward to writing now, and miss it when I don't find time.  I shall update my list of topic ideas and get busy on it soon! :-)

But for now...

State your top 3 tools that you already use, or will use, to save time and money in your online world more seamless.

So far, I don't really have any experience with online tools to make life simpler or aid in handling money but what I do know is, PAYPAL rocks!  I've used it many many times purchasing books and cd's from international sellers, items from ebay and transferring money to friends overseas.  It is secure, convenient and easy to use.  I love it.  If I were going to take on any kind of business dealings online, Paypal would definitely be part of my equation!

I have played with HootSuite before and can see that, as a business grows, using this tool to manage multiple social media avenues would be ideal for reducing time consumption.  I am sure it has far more features than I delved into, but as my blog/business grows, I can imagine and see the potential HootSuite has to help smooth the way and keep people up to date with what's going on in my sphere!

The third tool I'd have to say that I lean towards is InfusionSoft for email marketing, e-commerce etc.  I honestly know NOTHING about it except that several other small businesses that I know use it and I tend to feel that if its something they trust enough to use, then it may be a service I could too.  Naturally I'd do my research if and when the time came.  But what I have seen to date leaves a good impression.

There you have it!  Short and simple.

br />

Hot, Workmen Free Zone... Sigh...

Oh oh... Again Day 19 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge from The Suitcase Entrepreneur is a doozy that does not sit well on first glance  It is too businessy and out of my league.

But I'll answer it anyhow!

Which methods do you want to use to build your platform and increase your influence?

The sarcastic comedienne in me wants to procrastinate here by saying "by hollering at the hot workmen brandishing electric screwdrivers, of course!"  But anyway...

For this exercise, I am choosing to focus on the platform I have here and now, my blog.  Nothing too dreamy and future focused.  Just the "what I got".

If I am to grow what I have in this little corner of pixellated freedom, I simply need to keep on doing what I have been doing so far - regularly write and share my thoughts.  I simply need to layer post upon post upon post and see where it takes me, and what kind of readership it brings!

All of the questions to date have been making me think about what it is I have to offer, who I want to offer it to, what terms I want to offer it under and so on.  I have more direction and thought out detail than I have ever had.  But even so, I have a deep desire to just grow in whatever direction the light comes from and just see how far or wide (or weed-like) I can become.

If I let my writing here be free as well as follow the directions I do have planned, I hope to have enough structure, content and mystery to draw in those who have wings of their own and want to glide on my breeze.  I don't want to push, pull or "influence" but rather put out a little magic magnetism and enticement.

A beautiful image from
https://www.facebook.com/RainbowFarmPhotography

My Week in Review!

My Weekend

• Cleaning the house
• Preparing party food
• Entertaining my birthday boy's friends and family.
• Cleaning up
• Napping

My Week

• Wrote a post for Day 11, Day 12, and Day 13 for the 30 Day Blog Challenge
• Posted My Week In Review for last week.
• Cleaned my cutlery and utensil drawers in my kitchen after my daughter spilled juice into them!
• Took my Bunny to the vet and learned to give oral medicines to her via syringe.  I hope it helps!
• Went to belly dancing class and played with hot pink fan veils!  So pretty and very energetic!
• Posted for Day 14 for the 30 Day Blog Challenge after listening to Natalie Sisson's Podcast twice!
• Completed my e-learning for Lifeline on Domestic and Family Violence and Sexual Assault (because it didn't record my result last week!  Grrr) AND Child Protection
• Chilled out with a jigsaw puzzle while listening to said podcast
• Helped two friends with some very different copy writing needs
• Listened to The Desire Map AGAIN!
• Wrote my Day 15 and Day 16 posts for the 30 Day Blog Challenge
• Took the kids out to dinner
• Did some art journalling - first time in ages
• Made a call I was not looking forward to making
• Sent some emails I have been meaning to send
• Started fundraising for the 2014 Step Up For MS Challenge! 
• Created new reward charts for my kids
• Wrote Day 17 post for 30 Day Blog Challenge

Dreams for my weekend

• Sleep
• Smiles with my children
• Study
• Writing
• Editing
• A new bunny! (No, before you wonder, not to repace my sick bunny.  Another new furry bundle of love!)

Friendly Teams!

Image from
http://www.123rf.com/photo_13411677_summer-landscape-with-daisy-field-and-blue-sky.html

Day 18's question is uninspiring!  This 30 Day Blog Challenge has had it' challenges but this is one of the bigger ones because I just don't 'feel' the question at all.

But that hasn't stopped me for the previous 17 days, so here goes...

What does your dream sales team look like and how will you ensure they help you buld your business?

See what I mean... VERY BUSINESS ORIENTED.  It is hard to think about what a 'dream team' of any kind would look like if you aren't quite sure what was in the dream!

But I'm just making excuses. I'm whining and not taking action that will inch me into forward momentum.

SEE I AM LEARNING!!!  :-p

My dream team would look like a thousand friendly faces that love what I do, say and who I am, in my sparkling glory and my cruddy blueness.  We all have the cruddy blueness and the best growth, I find, comes from the fertiliser that surrounds those days.  And I want those that follow me to not just be excited by the wonderful sparkling days but also by that growth that occurs in the warm sordid scrambling moments that feel like decay but are perfect conditions for flourishing.  I want to help people see the beautiful parts that make up the bulk of life, and the beautiful parts that hide in the shadows too.

So... I guess I envision an affiliate program of my own, promoting whatever it is that I end up producing.

I am very much people centred.  Big corporations don't excite my senses.  They actually turn me off most times.  I'm not into hoopla and catch phrases and marketing strategies (I don't think anyways... I don't have a lot of experience here to base anything on!)  I don't buy into brand names, don't know who celebrities are or what or who they are doing for the most part.   I don't pay any heed to mass media 9 times out of 10.  But I do love people, variety and natural progression.  I don't want to push and cram and bustle people along.  I just want a natural, beautiful flow of life, and marketing, if that is in my future.

I feel that it would be an honour to be recommended to others.  It would be a blessing if those others purchased anything I might produce, as a result of that recommendation.  I think it is only fair, just and respectful to acknowledge that wonderful support.  Sharing the love by spreading the word for exchange for a few dollars is a win for everyone involved.  It is quite beautiful really. Not only does it ensure the growth of a business, it creates financial flow to everyone involved, circulates information, that I create, more widely than I could ever possibly achieve alone, but most importantly it creates community and TRUST.  Who can't love that idea.

And it would all happen in an organic flowing natural way rather than a contrived, glossy package with a mind-achingly catchy jingle to keep you awake at night!

The only other part of a dream Sales Team that I can envision would be the involvement of friends and family to support me through the process of creating something to actually market.  Encouragement on "good" and "great" ideas, or "perhaps you should rework that!" suggestions would be crucial.  But choosing the right people to support me is essential too.  Picking only the real "supportive" members among my circle and leaving the ones who could shrink my shine to fulfil other roles in my life that they are more suited for!  It's all about delegating! :-)

So... for a topic that didn't inspire me, I think I did ok! Don't you?

I Want Community. Who Wants To Play Along?

Day 17!  I am loving these high teen numbers!  It's so amazing to me that I, or all people, have stuck to this 30 Day Blog Challenge this long!  I usually give up on things like this much sooner, particularly if I'm not all that 'into' the theme.  In this instance, I'm not all that into business building, but its been an educational ride nonetheless and my interest is beginning to be piqued!  Just what could I do here?

So today's topic...

What three steps can you take to build trust and credibility online for you, your brand and your business?

My first answer to this is keep active and in the spotlight!  Keeping on blogging like I have done, with regularity and something of interest to say. This will keep whoever is already looking, coming back, and will encourage new people to join!

Keeping active will mean following up on my ideas for taking this blog in a new direction and cultivating others.  I am absolutely up for that challenge!

My second response would be to keep up with my Facebook page for this blog and perhaps expand into other social media avenues. This certainly won't deter people from coming here to visit and spend a few minutes (or dare I dream - a few hours?) reading.  If I make people aware that this little blog exists, and keep people reading after their first visit, not only will my blog readership grow, but my own credibility will grow as a natural consequence!  My gut says that social media activity is very important here.  The blog is where the action is, but there is a strong possibility that the socail media networks is where the INTERACTIVITY and TRUST will grow best of all.

My final thought on what I can do is to take any and every opportunity that comes to my attention to promote my blog.  Even taking up this challenge has increased my reader stats and thus, the knowledge that I'm here, in my little corner of the world wide web.  I think keeping active and getting the word out as much as possible, in any way, can only be beneficial.

I'm looking forward to interaction the most.  I want to know what readers think and feel and if they want more or less from me.  I want comments...

Comments people, please?

I started this blog for me.  But its slowly morphing into something new.  It would be nice to know who is on the journey with me and if they want something in particular from the ride too.  Perhaps I can make us both grow!  No harm in asking, right?

Image borrowed from http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/178389i1307B19E9F1AF045/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1