Category: a slice of INSPIRATION

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Cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™

3 powerful tips to fuel your body…and your business

Posted on by Red Slice

What does running your business and nourishing your body have to do with each other? A helluva lot, it turns out.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I embarked on a food transformation. While we both eat fairly healthy, we were still feeling run down in the afternoons, defaulting to poor food choices when tired and generally getting confused by all the conflicting nutrition info that is out there.

Fed up, we called in a big gun: food and body coach Jamie G. Dougherty of Jamie Living. I was introduced to Jamie through not one, but two entrepreneurial women friends as “someone I just had to know.” We met and it was the best blind date ever. With our curly hair and smart mouths, we hit it off like a house on fire.

Fast forward: Jamie is sitting at my dining room table with me and my husband, talking us through our food choices, purging our pantry and giving us the straight talk on what labels really mean and how to incorporate healthy eating without stooping to diet plans with trademarked names. Jamie is about being educated, making intentional choices, finding ways to savor delicious food (she’s a foodie herself) and especially, how to avoid hating yourself. Love your body and fuel it right but if you make a deliberate choice, enjoy the choice and love yourself anyway, is kind of her mantra.

So we started overstocking our fridge with freshness, living without as much processed food as can, cooking meals in bulk to use throughout the week and navigating this whole terrain of “making positive changes: I’ve soaked beans for the first time in my life, rather than popping open a can. We tried kale. I had oatmeal for breakfast. We actually asked if the meat we were buying was hormone-free. I threw away my agave nectar. My husband cut out his daily soy latte….. We’re through the Looking Glass, people!

Now, we have an expanded repertoire of delicious, farm-fresh, some might say gourmet, meals at our disposal. We ate extremely well without counting calories or depriving ourselves.  We instantly felt less tired and run down – able to get through our workouts and busy days and even have fun cooking and planning together as a couple.
I’ve marveled at the lessons that apply to your business as well as your body during this transformation:

  1. Garbage in, Garbage out: Your food really does fuel YOU, the machine. The more crap you put in, the worse you’ll feel and it’s I’m not talking about emotional guilt. It’s about how your body physically performs.  Same thing with your business: you’ve got to surround yourself with cheerleaders, partners and, yes, the right clients and customers so that your business can thrive and your brand can shine the way you want it to. Do you really want people around town saying how that untrustworthy partner you recommended reflect badly on you? Didn’t think so. And side note: when you fuel yourself right, you can think more clearly, perform better and delight customers even more, so it directly impacts your bottom line. You’ve got to bring your best self to work every day because, whether you do or you don’t, it shows up.
  2. A Little Planning Goes a Long Way: The reason processed foods full of chemicals and empty calories are so popular is because they’re easy. It’s why they are called convenience foods, people. But taking some time out to plan your meals and prepare dishes in advance to freeze or have at the ready makes the week a breeze. We’re actually enjoying this as a weekend activity we can do together. One hour of shopping and two hours of cooking sustained us for the entire week (of course, we cooked some things fresh at mealtime but nothing complicated). Your business is like that: if you think through your brand strategy before you start “performing random acts of marketing”, you’ll avoid shiny object syndrome. Plan your brand image intentionally. Flesh out your target customer and craft design and messaging that compels them. Carve out time to write your content and blog posts. Mark 20 minutes of social media time per day on your calendar like a meeting. You’ll spend more wisely, get more impact and put your business into overdrive.
  3. Don’t Believe Everything You Hear/Read/See: We were floored to learn that some of the foods we thought were somewhat healthy really are not. Here we are, trying to make good food choices, and we learned a ton about what food companies will stoop to say and do to make you think you’re making a good choice for your family. It actually made us both disgusted to be marketers, to tell you the truth.  For example, did you know “natural flavors” as an ingredient is not good for you? Did you know manufacturers list sugars and MSG as other names on the ingredients list to fool you? Do you know which cooking oils are “good for you” and which you should use in moderation – or not at all? Did you know that just because it says “whole grain” doesn’t mean it really is? We didn’t either. With your business, the same holds true. You don’t have to be an expert in everything (nor should you spend your time trying to be) but get educated on the basics. Understand the concepts of content marketing and SEO; take a course in how to read financial statements or understand QuickBooks 101; learn how to balance good design and good interactive strategy and usability; learn how your brand look and feel drives sales; understand the difference between branding, marketing, PR and social media. Be clear on what you’re investing in and how it will contribute to moving your business forward.

Photo credit: Racerxvt.com

Do any of these tips especially resonate with you – for your body or your business? What do you find fuels you or your business the most? Please share in the Comments below!

 

Cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™

When you shouldn’t give 100%

Posted on by Red Slice

We’re taught that practice makes perfect. Cleanliness is next to godliness. Give 110%.

I was a straight A student in high-school. I remember being devastated when I got my first B ever (Geometry) and I was brought to tears in college when I got the first C of my life (Microeconomics). Even when I got an A minus, I was a bit miffed. I’m not sure what I thought: did I really think anything less than an A-plus was a complete and utter failure on my part? Did I think it meant I hadn’t mastered or learned the content?

Math was especially challenging for me. I was more of a vocabulary and English gal. But I was good at memorization so many of my math classes were about nailing down the formula and replicating it – even if I didn’t understand the theory or reasoning behind it. Not the best way to learn, is it?

Sometimes that goal of perfection – of the A-plus – can hurt us. If we are such perfectionists, we may never get our newsletters out each month, or write that novel, or take a chance on that new business pitch. We may never launch that website. Waiting for perfection is an impossible task, since perfection is never possible. And that means you’ll spend your life and career planning to do things rather than making them happen.

There is a reason software companies release new versions every year. Version 1.0 is never going to be as good as 5.0 or even 10.0. They roll out something that is mostly complete, learn from their mistakes, and gather feedback, tweak and refine. Rinse. Repeat. If companies had not failed when trying to introduce tablets in the past, the iPad may never have been so successful now. If that first brick of a cell phone had never seen the market until it was “perfect”, we’d never have had generations of phones leading up the sleek, small, powerful smart phones of today.

Seth Godin always talks about the importance of shipping. Strategy and planning is vital, don’t get me wrong. But at some point, you have to tell the inner perfectionist to shut the hell up and ship your product, launch your website, open your shop or start your consulting practice.

You’ll learn. You’ll get feedback. And you’ll evolve. Recently, I spoke at the New York Times Small Business Summit on a panel called Evolve Your Brand. We spoke about the fact that, while a brand should stay true to its core values and mission, it can and should evolve. The world changes too fast for you to ever keep up with some mythical perfection standard built on shifting sands. It changes by the second.

So are you going to wait and wait and wait for 100% perfection before you do anything – and be the best-intentioned business or person who never accomplished a thing? Or are you going to put in the strategy work, get to a solid 80% and push those efforts out the door so you can keep on going, keep on improving and keep on innovating?

Doers DO. It really is that simple.

If you want to stop spinning your wheels and make your brand irresistible, ensure your messaging is clear and attract more clients or customers, then stop the excuses of being too busy and get into shape at my next Branding Bootcamp!

Cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™

Five life (and work) lessons I learned from my dog

Posted on by Red Slice

Yes, I’ve become that person: a dog owner. I live for little Eddie, who we adopted from the shelter on a rainy January day in 2008. We had wanted a dog for so long and really wanted a Lab, but but wished those dogs could be a bit smaller. And, lo and behold, that day at the shelter we were shown a shy, skittish Black lab mix, about a year old and only 35 lbs., fully grown. I think we conjured him into being.

Havign a dog has really impacted the way I approach my work. Since I work from home, I walk him every morning after breakfast. I love having this little luxury in my life. And now I can actually relate to women who struggle with going back to work and leaving their baby at home. Yes, I know – he’s a dog. But he’s our baby. Of course, we don’t overspoil him, as we’re huge disciples of The Dog Whisperer so we practice “exercise, discipline, then affection” in that all-important order. Except for one guilty excess: letting him curl up on the couch with the rest of “the pack.” He’s just so damn cute, I can’t resist.

My walks with him have taken on new meaning after my health crisis in 2008. When I first got home after my brain aneurysm, I was weak, frail and had major vision issues. So for me, the goal was “to be able to walk Eddie again on my own.” And I reached that goal. No “I want to visit the Pyramids” or “I have to see the world” near-death comeback goals for me. The whole ordeal actually made me want to get back to the simple pleasures of life…and walking the dog by the lovely little canal near our house was one of them.

As I walk Eddie, I realize how much he has taught me on these little 30 minute soul-satisfying getaways. Lessons I apparently needed to learn after my high-stress, high blood pressure, non-stop, overcommitted, active lifestyle put me in the hospital in the first place:

  1. Live in the moment: Dogs are all about this. They can’t remember one minute from the next. When I’m walking and a thousand to-do items are swirling through my head as I charge onward, Eddie will stop short and pull me back to the present to stop and sniff a flower or a shrub. Doesn’t matter if we’ve passed it a million times; he finds something new in it. It’s a good reminder to just be in the moment and enjoy the precious 30 minutes outside with him, look around, get out of my head, breathe, and relax.
  2. There can be beauty in crap – just depends on your perspective: As we trot through the college campus right by my house, cherry blossoms blooming, the spring air thawing winter’s chill, I’m assaulted with the smells of newly laid manure in the plantbeds and lawns. It’s nasty. Eddie, however, acts like a tween girl at a Miley Cyrus concert. He leaps up and down, tries to romp through the grass as far as his leash will go and pretty much goes nuts. To him, it’s like catnip (dognip?). So I realize one man’s trash is another dog’s treasure, so to speak. And it reminds me that from this foul stench, bright green grass, gorgeous tulips, azaleas, and daffodils are blooming nicely for us to enjoy.
  3. Forgive and forget: When we come home and Eddie does not come bounding down the stairs to greet us, we know he’s been up to something. So we trudge upstairs to see what horror awaits. Usually it’s that he’s dug something from the recycling bag and torn it to shreds. He cowers before we’ve even said anything (which my husband recently said kind of made him respect the little guy). So we do the “Bad Dog!” routine and Time Out. And after 15 minutes, he’s back licking our hands or sitting in front of us expectantly, tail wagging. All is forgotten. So we must forget as well. I’ve never been good at quickly overcoming things when someone hurts or disappoints me, but he makes me realize that you have to move on if you love each other.
  4. Find joy in the simple things: Taking Eddie to the dog park and letting him run free, chasing the ball, as he greets other dogs gives me more pleasure than I ever would have thought possible. I love that he can run around, off leash, and get his exercise. He’s so joyful, it’s unreal. Doesn’t matter how many times we throw that ball: his ears perk up, his tail wags excessively, you hear the “pant, pant” of his tongue, and he eagerly awaits the ball throw. I can’t remember the last time I felt as much joy about something so simple. And then I think: in this moment, my joy comes from watching his joy. Even when he is just laying on the coach, you can look at him. He’ll stare back in complete stillness – but his tail will start wagging like crazy. All because he is basking in your attention. Or while on the coach, he flips over on his back, splaying his legs and nether regions to the world and just lays there, paws in mid-air. And he’ll just look at you, upside down, with an expression of, “What?” on his face. This makes me laugh each and every time. Never gets old. Talk about a recession-proof pleasure.
  5. Put someone else first: I’ve never really had to take care of anyone else in my life. I’m the youngest in my family. Yes, I babysat as a kid and have nieces and nephews, but it’s not the same. We don’t know if we will have kids someday, so for us, Eddie is new territory. Now, we’re forced to plan ahead. That word was never really in our vocab before. We have to make sure he gets walked and fed, and we have to make arrangements when we go out of town. Sometimes, we’ll be out in the evening, and we actually feel bad about leaving him alone . I may even sacrifice some little pleasures for myself to make sure Eddie’s still gets his high quality food, treats or a new toy. Where I used to spend that pointless money on myself, now I spend it on him – all because I see how much joy he gets from things (see #4). Maybe it’s all in my head, but I don’t care. It feels good to do something that makes your dog happy – even if he won’t remember it in 5 minutes.

Having a dog is wonderful. Not only did he help during my health recovery but having him teaches me so much about appreciating the present – and even about healthier ways to approach my work and my business. I don’t really much mind becoming “that” person, after all.

What has inspired you to approach your life or your business differently? Do you have a pet who adds to your life? Please share in the Comments.

Cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™

4 ways to jumpstart your business after a break

Posted on by Red Slice

New baby. Extended sabbatical. Major health crisis. Six months abroad…heck, years abroad.

People ebb and flow out of big businesses without a peep. But when you’re a business of one – or even five – who’s left steering the brand awareness ship while you go island hopping?

I had my major health crisis just 6 months after launching my own consulting business. You know what happened? Well, for one thing, time did not implode upon itself – everything that seemed urgent faded away, as it should. While I did miss a conference call the day after my brain aneurysm ruptured (I bet the client never thought they’d hear that excuse from my husband), the world did not end. But practically speaking, the blog went cold, the networking ceased and the cacophony of market noise enveloped my absence like a black hole. In the blink of an eye, my business profile faded.

So how is it that 4+ years later, my business is thriving more than it ever has? How is it that I had the best business year financially not long after I fell into the void?

If you have to take a voluntary – or unexpected – break from your business, here are four tips that served me well in cranking up the brand awareness engine again. These are also useful if you simply need to revive your personal brand after a long absence:

  1. Rev up your blogging: When you emerge from your cocoon, one of the few things you have in your control is the ability to add useful content to the world again. And besides, perhaps your client work is dried up for now so what else have you got to do? Build out a new editorial calendar and maybe amp up your blogging for the time being. Maybe you normally blog once a week, so increase that to twice. Make your content super useful, super sexy and super keyword-rich so you can back on the web radar again. Combine this with sending out a few Tweets and Facebook updates about your latest post and you can boost your exposure efforts.
  2. Jump into the online conversation: Again, you can control your content output, so leverage all those great new blog posts in online forums or communities like Biznik, Bzzhive or Focus – or whatever industry-specific places reign supreme for you. Start commenting on relevant blogs or articles on a consistent basis to raise your profile again. Just target 3 per day at about 30 minutes each day.  Or maybe pitch a few contributed articles to media outlets like American Express Open Forum or Entrepreneur.com for even more exposure and street cred.
  3. Invite key people to your welcome back party: When I returned from my hiatus, I reached out to several colleagues with phone calls or personalized emails letting them know where I’d been and that I was up to my old tricks again and ready for action. You may think people know what’s going on with you but really, they don’t. They are too busy. Reach out individually to trusted contacts via email or Linked In and take them out for coffee to let them know what business or clients you are looking for and kindly ask if they can spread the word for you. Don’t be afraid to ask “competitors” as well – they might be so busy that they are turning folks away so you can help them out, and maybe give them a referral fee in exchange. And always ask how you can help them in return. People are kinder than you think – and it’s a great way to reconnect.
  4. Get out there live and in person: Pick 2-3 key networking groups or clubs and start amping up your face time again. Attend lunches, happy hours, book signings. When I was returning to work after my health issues, this was quite a challenge for me as I was still recovering and suffering from massive fatigue – plus I could drive at the time. But I forced myself to try to go to one live event per week. And I asked gracious friends to drive me. They were only too happy to help, since they didn’t want to go alone either!

There are some people on the periphery of my professional circle who did not even realize I had been out of commission for six months – not sure if that’s good or bad! But it tells me I did a good job of trying to stay connected and present as much as I could.

When it is time to get back into things, have a plan, take action and you’ll rev things up in no time!

Cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™

Why I kicked my Bucket List

Posted on by Red Slice

This is an excerpt from my new book, Rebooting My Brain: How a Freak Aneurysm Reframed My Life (2012, Avail in Kindle and Paperback). I invite you to apply this to your life…and your business. Enjoy!

It seems “bucket lists” are all the rage these days, and the trend cropped up even more in the year following my aneurysm. Coincidence?

I’m not sure if this term had been around for a while or debuted with the Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman film of the same title. Regardless, it kind of irks me that it is swirling around everywhere, like shallow buzz about the latest hot handbag or must-have designer. While I love self-help and motivational goal-setting as much as the next gal (yes, I read Eckhart Tolle, so back off), I’m always leery when it takes the form of a blind fad. Shouldn’t those themes be much more consistent and ongoing throughout our lives?

As the one-year anniversary of my brain hemorrhage passed, I was still trying to figure out what it all meant―and if it really meant anything anyway. Successfully distancing myself from the immediate recovery of the event―which was all about getting back to daily living―I entered this second phase of more thoughtful contemplation around the whole thing. Why did I survive? Why is my recovery going so much more miraculously than someone who has three children relying on her? If it was not “my time” yet, than what the heck is it I was meant to do here? What am I not finished with?

Small questions these are not.

Answers abound. Paul, who truly understands how lucky we are but is not a spiritual guy, will tell you, “This happened due to the genetics of a combination of weak vessels and high blood pressure that runs in the family. You are okay now because we got you to the hospital in time and the doctors were amazingly skilled. End of story.”

Or maybe it’s just as simple as what a sassy old friend of mine said when we met up for dinner after not seeing each other in person for over ten years. She had followed my story and progress through our online journal and social media updates and was dying to catch up with me. Her playful theory?  “Maybe you are still here so that on this night, in this city, we could catch up over dinner and you can entertain and inspire me.” I kind of like that answer.

Which brings me back to bucket lists. I feel in today’s renaissance of enlightenment, we are just putting too much darn pressure on ourselves to “live our best life.” I am all about going after what you want, not waiting, and experiencing all you can experience. But in my life, the adventures have happened pretty organically.

Sure, goals are great things. But when they start to consume you, to make you feel like you are less of a person if you don’t accomplish them, that’s where I have a problem. Tweet this!

My recovery was all about being gentle with myself, setting realistic goals, and not overwhelming myself with too much. I think this is a good way to live, brain injury or not. So rather than some of the more lofty bucket lists out there that seem to taunt and stress many of us―and make us feel like we are not doing, being, or seeing enough―mine became a simple bucket list:

  1. Ensure you have at least one person in your life who understands you, accepts you for who you are and who makes you laugh. Just one will do. It could be a lover, parent, sibling or friend. If you don’t have someone like this in your life, make it your mission to find him or her.
  2. Spend at least one night of your life falling asleep to, and waking up to, the ocean. Wherever that might be.
  3. Next time you are on a plane, bus or train with a rambunctious toddler or fussy baby, try to make the child smile. Just once. See how it makes you feel.
  4. Call one long-distance friend a week. Not email. Phone. If you can’t call, write a handwritten note.
  5. Adopt a pet once in your life and give it a happy, loving home.
  6. Say thank you to every bus driver or cabbie when you get off the bus or out of the cab. You never know how much that might turn around a bad day for them.
  7. Once a day, ask one clerk, be it barista or cashier, “How are you doing today?”
  8. Have one dinner outside on a warm summer night with friends, wine, candles and great conversation.
  9. Each time you talk to a family member or a close friend, say “I love you” at the end of the conversation. You never know if it might be the last time.
  10. Every year, make one trip to a place you’ve never been or somewhere out of your comfort zone. This could be another city in your own country, a foreign country, or it could be based on accommodations: if you are a hotel person, go camping. Try it for perspective.

My injury forced me to slow down and focus on the moment. It was not just a Hallmark card platitude, but a necessity. My goals became much less lofty but much sweeter.

What’s on your Bucket List, for your life or your work? Please share in the Comments!

Cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™

Innovation Recipe: Think Less + Bitch Less = Create More

Posted on by Maria Ross

Innovation Recipe: Think Less + Bitch Less = Create More

You won’t get to marketing innovation with rules, mandates, 25 must-do exercises or management rah-rah sessions. We need to innovate on an individual level before we can contribute to the team before we can contribute to the company before we can contribute to our customers and the world. A culture of innovation can be encouraged top-down but it needs to also build from the individual-up.

Today’s guest post is from Danielle Dowling, a Los Angeles life coach who is an author, relationship expert and spiritual ass-kicker (love that). She is eloquent. She is poetic. And most importantly, she’s right. Read on…

Think less.
Bitch less.
Push less.
+ create more. (TWEET THIS!)

The universe responds to your diligence
but it also responds to your joy.

Consider when it’s time to pull back.
Not, by the way, to be confused with letting go.

“Easing up” is taking your foot off the gas.  Just a tad.
It’s 45 miles an hour, not 60.  A 5K run instead of a 10K.

Recognize when it’s time to loosen up and when it’s time to go harder.
Notice that voice that says:  “I don’t want to work so much today.”
“I need simplicity + quiet.”  “I need to hit the snooze button.”

At some point the relentless pushing will need to stop
or at least be put on pause.
Because there will always, always be more work to do.
And that won’t stop.

Consider slowing down and letting progress + contentment come to you.
We think the world spins on its axis because of our own aggressive participation.
But what if we ceased participating so fiercely?

We think if we slow down, progress will come to a stop.
But have you tried?

Observe what happens.
Contrary to popular belief, pulling back does not mean you will have to go without.
Slowing down the machine that is you does not mean you have to expect less in return.

Traffic doesn’t screech to a halt.
Planes do not fall from the sky.
You don’t gain seven pounds.
Your business pulses vigorously along.
And friends and family are happy to wait an extra 24 hours to speak to you.

In fact, easing up may usher in the next wave of
genius,
spark,
ah-ha’s
+ deep breaths that preempt innovation.

And it just feels ‘effing good to take a break once in awhile.
Ease up on yourself, but don’t minimize your dreams.
The cosmos will help you make your magic happen.

So take a break.
Make space for the seed of your efforts to bloom.
Know that the universe has your back on this one.

We all do.

A good question to ask:

What makes you your “most innovative” in business and life? What do you do to tap into creativity?

About Danielle: Danielle Dowling, M.A., who is an author, relationship expert and spiritual ass-kicker (love that). She is an intuitive strategist who works with women leaders who are ready to stop comprising on the things that matter most — soulful companionship, meaningful sex, sisterhood and above all, self-love. An expert all things love-related, Danielle is also available for speaking engagements, radio/telephone/skype interviews and other media appearances. So if you’re seeking fully-realized potential, legendary love or effortless communication befriend her on Instagram or Facebook and pop by her site for regular doses of rapid fire wisdom.

Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

Cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™

Using your book to do good

Posted on by Red Slice

Today marks the official print launch of my most recent book, Rebooting My Brain: How a Freak Aneurysm Reframed My Life.

(cue crowd roar)

In celebration, I’m offering some fabulous launch goodies for those who purchase between now and May 8. You’ll get bonus content plus some fabulous goodies, including free book previews, discounts on books, a communication course and a self-assessment on how you think + life-saving information from The Brain Aneurysm Foundation. Thanks to Ingrid Ricks, Wendy Hinman, Melody Biringer, Michelle Tillis Lederman, Jen Mueller and BAF for their generosity. Check out this link for more details on how to claim your booty.

The book’s gotten great raves on Amazon as well as the most recent review in The San Francisco Book Review. I’m so honored by the outpouring.

I talk a lot about stories here on this blog and in my work. But some may wonder why I chose to share this personal story with the world. Truth is, there’s a deeper calling to this book than just accolades and sales.

We all have stories to tell – with our business, with causes we love, and with our own experiences. But instead of looking at your story as “all about you” it’s time to think of how it can contribute to the world.

I admire companies like Starbucks, who is using their clout to change the role of for-profit companies in how it gives back to the world and changes the social agenda. See their recent initiative to create jobs. Or Tom’s Shoes, who gives one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair they sell.

From the minute I started Red Slice, I thought about how I could use my work to do good in the world. And I’ve helped non-profits I believe in with both money and pro-bono time, which feels wonderful.

And so, with Rebooting My Brain, I’m trying to do even more.

My mission with this humorous and heartfelt story was to educate others about the effects of brain injury and inspire anyone who is yanked out of their life by crisis. I’ve gotten emails and stories from many people touched by brain injury who thanked me for writing the book.

During the month of May, 10% of all net sales will go The Brain Aneurysm Foundation, the world’s only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing critical awareness, education, support and research funding to reduce the incidence of brain aneurysm ruptures. So now people can enjoy the book and help a worthy cause.

And, I’m donating eBook copies to Worldreader, an organization that improves literacy in the developing world by providing access to e-books.

Many of you who read this blog have books as well. I encourage you to find ways to use your book to help worthy causes. Donate a percentage of sales, get involved with Worldreader, put on a book event for charity. Yes, it’s expensive to publish a book – in time, sweat, energy and money – but I truly believe that the more you tie in a giving element to your for-profit ventures from the beginning, the richer and more successful you can be.

Please spread the word about the launch! (Click to Tweet) There’s goodies in it for those who buy between May 1 and May 8. And goodies for a larger cause throughout all of May.

Thanks for your support!

Cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™

Prove the power of the tribe: Please help inspire and educate

Posted on by Red Slice

Many of you count on me for strategic branding advice, juicy stories and tough love practicality.

Now I’m hoping I can count on you!

We’ve all seen the shift in book publishing these days with more power than ever in the hands of authors – and their loyal fans. Social media rules. Referrals spur action.

In my role as storyteller, I recently wrote a book called Rebooting My Brain:  How a Freak Aneurysm Reframed My Life. It’s the story of my near-fatal brain hemorrhage a few years ago, my recovery journey and what it took to reboot my life in better, more inspirational ways. With humor and heart, my goal is to educate others about the surprising effects of brain injury and inspire anyone to learn and grow from crisis.

You can help me with this mission. And get some fabulous goodies in the process!

On May 1, the print softcover launches for purchase. I’ve already received emails from people who were inspired, moved, educated and even enjoyed my cheeky humor. Brain injury survivors have reached out, thanking me for sharing this experience so they feel less alone.

Just this week, the San Francisco Book Review sent me their draft review: “Her experiences strike me as authentic, compared to many other memoirs. She truly writes with unabashed candor… She’s humorous and honest…Her reflections on the tenuous, and even frivolous, nature of health are touching.”

I’m honored and amazed. And I’d love your help in getting this book into the hands of even more people who need to hear the message.

On May 1, online retailers like Amazon will ship out the first Rebooting My Brain print  pre-orders.  The first week of sales is especially crucial to boosting rankings, increasing visibility – and in my wildest dreams, getting listed on the New York Times Bestseller List.

This is where I need your help to educate, inspire others – and support a good cause at the same time. For all May sales, I’ll be donating 10% of net to The Brain Aneurysm Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to awareness, education, support and research funding to help prevent the incidence of brain aneurysm ruptures.

Together, we can do this. How? Glad you asked…

1. BUY THE BOOK! From now until May 8, I’m offering a digital swag bag of goodies, including free book chapters; discounts for books, communication course and assessment tests; and a VIP invite to a private author conference call. Find out more about who’s offering what here. Remember, the more sales we can drive in the first few days, the better. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, please take advantage of this digital swag bag – and tell others about it.
2. ALREADY BOUGHT THE BOOK?: Thank you so much for your support! Posting an online review would really light my fire (and help with rankings) You could write a few sentences and have it ready to post to Amazon or wherever you bought the book online, anytime after 12:01am May 1.
3. SPREAD THE WORD: You can help in any way that feels good: online, offline, text, skywriting…seriously, if you can score a free billboard, we need to talk. Below are some options, so please choose whichever works best for you – and hear my “Thank You!’ echoing back to you through the universe.

WAYS TO SHARE

Got a blog?

  • You can post free sample chapters for download or point them to the official website.
  • You can review the book: Email me to request a free advance review copy.
  • You can interview me: I can offer your readers fresh content via a written, audio or video interview (or guest post) on book topics including inspiration, facing fear, living with brain injury, how I rebooted my business after a hiatus, or even just the writing and publishing process. Download the media sheet for more ideas or ping me with suggestions.

Got social media? 

Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn posts rock. Or pin the book cover to Pinterest. Here are some post ideas for your convenience, but feel free to get creative:

Get inspired & educated about #braininjury with powerful new memoir #rebootbook @redslice: http://amzn.to/IZwQoI

How to face the fear and turn crisis into opportunity #rebootbook @redslice: http://amzn.to/IZwQoI

Looking for a humorous and heartfelt memoir? Grab #rebootbook by @redslice http://amzn.to/IZwQoI

I’m loving #rebootbook by @redslice. Get inspired! http://amzn.to/IZwQoI

Get inspired and grab some cool goodies from @redslice #rebootbook http://bit.ly/HvQRnb (this one links to the Promotion Page with launch incentives)

Got a voice?
Please call your favorite local bookstore and ask if they’ll be carrying REBOOTING MY BRAIN. Since I’m not with a big fancy publisher, they probably won’t stock it unless asked, so this may be the push they need to find it through the distribution catalog.

Got friendships with any magazine writers or are you related to Matt Lauer? Again, we seriously need to talk….

Again, check out the Launch Goodies and order now…if you want to order in bulk, please email Janica@red-slice.com and we’ll make it happen for a discount.

On a personal note, thank you so much for your continued support of Red Slice. Many of you encouraged me to write this book and get it out into the world,  and I hope it indeed inspires you to reboot and reframe your life in ways you never thought possible.

AMPLIFICATION ARSENAL:

MEDIA KIT PAGE with bio, book images, excerpts and interview questions: CLICK HERE.

PAGE TO SEND PEOPLE FOR LAUNCH GOODIE DETAILS: http://bit.ly/HvQRnb

PAGE TO SEND PEOPLE TO PURCHASE PRINT COPY: http://amzn.to/IZwQoI

PAGE TO SEND PEOPLE FOR GENERAL BOOK INFO, FREE CHAPTERS, PURCHASE OPTIONS: http://bit.ly/rebootbrain

Hashtag for Twitter: #RebootBook

Contact for digital REVIEW COPY or BULK ORDERS: janica@red-slice.com

Cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™

How to spring clean your brand, business (& life)

Posted on by Red Slice

It’s that time of year again, when the trees bud, the air warms (at least if you’re not in Seattle) and we start to shed our winter cloaks in lieu of open-toed shoes and lighter fabrics. Freeing ourselves from the unwanted weight of heavy parkas and wool mittens feels pretty darn good.
And with that, we also crave shedding some of the crap in our lives with a healthy dose of spring cleaning.

Removing the clutter and streamlining our lives applies equally to our businesses and brands. When we’re lighter and unencumbered, we can better focus and stop clogging our time, brains and business with the things that don’t matter. So here’s a handy guide to how to perform such much needed spring cleaning on your business – but these can equally apply to your life:

Conduct an Audit
What really needs to stay or go? Has your menu of offerings turned into an endless buffet that only serves to confuse customers and distract your focus? Review your current business offerings and keep the ones making you money, while removing the deadwood of those that don’t. Why waste your time and your prospects’ attention on products or offerings that just take up space?

This audit can also apply to your brand. Which messages no longer serve your or your customer’s purpose? Does your website look stale and dated? Has your brand evolved beyond what your materials are currently saying about it? Set aside time and review everything your customers see with a keen eye, and get objective advice on how to clarify, update or tighten up your brand look, feel, message and differentiation.

Review your Partnerships
Sometimes we form business partnerships when it makes perfect sense but things change. Review your best referral sources, from where website traffic comes and perhaps even your affiliate partners. Run the numbers and the time spent and see if you’re getting the most out of these relationships. If there are relationships worth keeping, spend more attention making them really work for you. If they are not fruitful, release the deadwood and clear your mind, budget and schedule. You want to focus on fewer, more meaningful and higher quality partnerships that build you up, instead of sap your strength. PS: This exercise applies to networking groups and social media networks as well.

Clear the Clutter
Is your file system a disaster? Does your inbox overflow? Do you still have digital files from years ago that serve no purpose but to eat up storage space? Take a day to streamline and organize your systems to help make you more efficient in running your business. Consult with a personal organizer if you have trouble letting go. And speaking of systems, take a look at your business procedures and see where you can increase efficiency. Does billing clients take way too long? Do you spend too much time creating that monthly newsletter or managing your calendar? Document the tasks that are not a good use of your time and hire a virtual assistant or consult with an operations expert on how to manage your business better so you can spend more time being brilliant.

What “deadwood” is your business carrying around? What one thing will you do this spring to make your brand clearer, your load lighter and your business more efficient? Please share in the Comments.

Cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™

What does inspiration mean to you? A stroll around Pinterest

Posted on by Red Slice

What inspires you? And not just what, but in which form? Is it words, photos, paintings, people, acts of human kindness? Do you look for different types of inspiration for your work versus for your life?

I decided to do a search of “Inspiration” on Pinterest, the newest social media phenomenon sweeping the world. It’s essentially where people or brands create giant online moodboards for themselves, organized under various categories – and you can pin pictures or images you find on the web to your boards, share them or re-pin those of others. Categories run the gamut. I made some of mine “Quirky and Cute”, “Inspiration”, “Books I Love” and “Yum” (to cover all food porn and wine).

In writing today’s post, I decided to see what “Inspiration” meant to others. I found photographs of people, animals and nature. I found motivational sayings. I found adorable captured moments – like a young girl playing dress up and asessing a rack of designer clothes.

Some folks pinned book jackets to show books that have inspired them.  Others pinned animated characters, quirky designs or home decor ideas.

The point is, inspiration is personal. While something might inspire many different people, it doesn’t mean there is some sort of formula for inspiration. You can’t bottle it.

So I thought about what inspires me, both in business and life. And here’s what I came up with:

  • Beautiful, raw photographs of moments that are authentically real and unstaged
  • Eloquent sayings that concisely capture something profound
  • Beautiful or haunting imagery, be it photographs or paintings
  • Heroic tales of courage, rescue or adversity
  • People who’ve been dealt a raw deal and still do something extraordinary
  • Tiny acts of love and kindness
  • People who dreamed big and changed the world
  • Poignant, powerful and well-articulated speeches  – delivered flawlessly
  • Businesses who practice doing the right thing while also being profitable
  • Real people who share real stories and show their true selves
  • Courageous people or those who take action for a cause
  • Epic songs (Eminem’s Lose Yourself gets me pumped every time)

Inspiration is personal. Think about what you need to be inspired about, how you are best inspired and then go out there and find it. I thing that’s why Pinterest is so popular – you can go find the images that resonate with you and add them to your own board. Don’t count on others to tell you what’s inspirational. While it’s fine for them to recommend things for you to investigate, ultimately you have to find your own key to what will actually work for you.

Photo credit: www.sylvain-ollier.com via Pinterest

What inspires you the most? Words, music, poetry, art, photography? Please share in the Comments.