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Remembering Chyna

March 7, 2010 By Linda Dessau

Just one month shy of her 12th birthday, my beautiful greyhound Chyna crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Friday, March 5th, 2010. Some of you know about the health challenges she's been having recently, and while this was sooner than I'd hoped, it wasn't unexpected. I'm grateful she was home with me and did not suffer very long.

Making a memory page for Chyna was very therapeutic, and it has been so heartening to read people's beautiful, loving messages (details and link are below). It has also been healing to compile my thoughts about some of the many things Chyna taught me in our 17 short months together.

5 things I learned from Chyna

  1. Don't forget to get outside for a walk once in awhile. As my VP of Joy, Chyna was great for reminding me to take a break and stretch my legs – something that's easy to forget when the creative juices are flowing, or when I'm under the thumb of some self-imposed "emergency" that feels like it has to be done immediately.
  2. A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet. While I'd heard this phrase before, Chyna epitomized it. She rarely met someone who didn't fall instantly under her spell, whether that was a neighbour, a cousin at a family gathering (even if she thought Chyna was a bit scary) or just someone on the street.
  3. This is the only moment that counts. Chyna was incapable of holding a grudge. If we had a little disagreement about which way to walk or when it was time to come home, she was always quick to be friends again (especially when it was time to eat ;)  "Don't be silly," she seemed to say, "I may not like everything you do, but I never stop loving you!"
  4. Love is never an interruption. This ties back to #1. When I'd be in the middle of working on something and Chyna would come over to snuggle, the thought would flash through my mind that I didn't have time for that! Luckily, through her quiet wisdom, Chyna reminded me what's really important.
  5. Personal space is sacred and must be honoured. Chyna liked her own space, especially when other dogs were around (as her doggie cousin Tali will remember!), and she'd protect it – that was practically the only time she made a sound. But she was equally protective of the loving space we shared together, finding ways to be near me during the day while I worked.

In lieu of submitting comments below, please visit Chyna's memory page to see photos and sign the guest book: Remembering Chyna

Filed Under: Personal Updates

The real value of support (a very personal note)

February 25, 2010 By Linda Dessau

A heartfelt thanks to my coach, Charlie Gilkey, who has walked with me through this process of launching the Content Creation Capsule.

What did that support do for me?

I did more than I would have done otherwise – I've never written five new blog posts in one week before, but I did it! I never made a slideshow video before, but now I've made three!

I did things that scared me – I reached out and asked my colleagues to help me spread the word about my program, and I launched it long before it was perfect (or even completely designed!).

I went for MORE – I've raised my prices and changed my service packages since I've been working with Charlie, and am much closer to charging what I deserve. (By the way, this makes the Content Creation Capsule even more valuable for YOU.)

I would love to support you this way with your writing goals, which is why the Content Creation Capsule program includes a premium support option.

What could an intensive level of writing support do for you over the next six months?

How much more writing could you do? Are you struggling right now to publish one new article in a month for your newsletter? Imagine breezing through that and adding a mid-month mailing on top of it! Or maybe you're blogging once or twice a month now, if you're lucky. What if that turned into once or twice a week?

What have you been scared to try while marketing your business? Do you find it difficult to start conversations on social media because you have nothing to share? Do you neglect to follow up with prospective clients or referral sources because you don't have any resources that demonstrate your expertise? Are technical difficulties plaguing you?

How could you go for more in your business? With more clarity, resources, ideas and confidence, what will you be poised to accomplish in your business by the time we're through?

Wow, I am excited about these possibilities for you!

Lastly, I was reminded by Michael Bungay Stanier this morning how important is it to celebrate. Here are three things that I'm celebrating today:

  1. I'm attending the Wealthy Thought Leader in Vancouver next month, where I'll be spending time with three of the coaches who have supported me in my business, both past and present.
  2. People are enrolling in the Content Creation Capsule and I'm getting lots of questions and positive feedback.
  3. My dog Chyna pulled through a very scary health ordeal last weekend.

Filed Under: News & Special Offers, Personal Updates

Why I’m cheerfully withdrawing from the #HAHD challenge

August 31, 2009 By Linda Dessau

The #HAHD challenge is an event put on by EzineArticles, my favourite article bank website.  As a way of encouraging their members to put the incredible power of article marketing to use in a BIG way, they challenged us to post 100 articles in 100 days.

Though this is their second challenge, the first I heard of it was when I noticed my friend Kimberley Simon's tweet at the end of July.

I got a bit caught up in the excitement and pledged to post my own 100 articles in 100 days.

Fast forward to today, when I am officially (and cheerfully) withdrawing my commitment. And here are the reasons why:

  1. It wasn't a SMART goal for me right now. While it was a very specific and measurable goal, it wasn't achievable within the time I was willing to put towards it (see #4). It wasn't a relevant goal specific to my business and marketing plan for 2009, and it didn't fit into the time line of activities that WOULD help me carry out that plan. (Don't get me wrong, my plan is flexible, and I've already adjusted it several time since the beginning of the year.)
  2. I would much rather join my Pink Spoon Telecamp campers in our own challenge – create a new pink spoon for my own business during our 6-week class. 
  3. I don't respond particularly well to competition.  It is healthier and more self-caring for me to set my own SMART goals and work towards them within collaborative, supportive and loving relationships.
  4. My project list is full. Burning the midnight oil to add something to it would kind of defeat the purpose of having one. And I am simply not willing to sacrifice my self-care or personal time with friends and family to do this.

Good luck to all of the #HAHD participants! I know that whether you reach the goal of 100 articles in 100 days or not, you will likely publish more articles than you would have otherwise, and even just one of those articles could land in front of your next great client or customer and bring you miraculous results. Especially with the power of EzineArticles behind you!

Filed Under: Personal Updates, Productivity

Baby steps to mobile living

July 26, 2009 By Linda Dessau

Just when I decided that a Blackberry was the way to go, a little voice asked me to slow down and reconsider. Something about taking the plunge at this time just didn't seem right.

So I've decided to wait until I have less months left on my current contract. Maybe I'll even make the switch to Rogers and the iPhone at that point.

In the meantime, I did get myself a wireless router so I can surf the web, check email and keep my calendar updated via my iPod Touch in other areas of the apartment (like the couch 🙂

I can check for Twitter DMs and mentions via TweetDeck, but I haven't been able to successful sync my columns from my desktop version of TweetDeck, which is a real shame. If anyone has any suggestions about that, please let me know!

I'm also getting faster with the little touch-screen keyboard, but I still can't imagine writing anything lengthy that way.

The adventure continues…

Filed Under: Personal Updates, Productivity

Downtown jamming

July 26, 2009 By Linda Dessau

It's hard to believe it's been almost a year since I joined Downtown Jam,  a unique music club in downtown Toronto. I've had a blast getting together with other musicians and singers to play through a songbook of all my favourite rock 'n' roll tunes.

Thursday night was the annual BBQ and open mic night. Unlike the regular sessions, this time we were playing for an audience. Luckily it was a very warm and receptive audience, made up of mostly other jammers.

I played keyboards on two tunes, but didn't get a chance to sing – I actually really like taking a supportive, accompanying role in the band. I still get to sing quite a bit at the regular jams.

I was surprised how nervous I was, though! I don't think I've performed on the piano since my early days of piano recitals! And the first song the singer chose was a Carole King tune ("It's too late") that featured a four-bar piano introduction. Eeek – just when I thought I was out of the spotlight.

Well, the four bars passed quickly and I managed to get us started. The next song was a rockin' Beatles number,  "Come together," which was a groovin' good time.

The evening reminded me just how much fun I've been having at these jam sessions and I've pledged to make sure to include them as a regular part of my life.

Filed Under: Personal Updates

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