Blog from the Basement

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I recently joined the millions of people who read Elizabeth Gilbert’s book “Eat, Pray, Love.”. It tells the story of Gilbert’s life-changing journey across the world- to Italy (eat), India (pray), & Indonesia (love).

Beyond the powerful story of Gilbert’s emotional breakdown, divorce, & subsequent route to self-discovery, the voice Gilbert presents the story in stirs quite the emotional reaction from readers. Just over the last few weeks, I’ve received a number of passionate responses when I brought up the book- from “It changed my life” to “I can’t stand her!”

I admit that reading it myself had brought on similar emotions. One minute I found myself resenting Gilbert for her amazing opportunity to devote a year to finding inner peace and the next I felt inspired to take up meditation.

Gilbert’s words in “Eat, Pray, Love” can at times read as entitled or even cocky. Upon trying to uncover the reason for her emotional destruction she asks, “Is it because as an artist I’m special?” She even proclaims that Italian men as a whole have begun to respect women simply because they aren’t hitting on her (which from my time studying abroad in Rome I would have to disagree). These statements get under some people’s skin & distract them from the core of the story.

Now, Gilbert’s book is all about digging deep & looking for the truth within oneself. Therefore, as annoying as her statements can sometimes be, I find myself only admiring her more for putting them out there. She’s being honest.

I doubt there are any among us who don’t occasionally have a self-indulgent thought. It’s human nature. Yes- Gilbert got a paid trip to three places many of us only dream of visiting, but she earned it. She put her entire story- the good, the bad, & the ugly- on paper for the world to see. Those faults (if you can call them that) only make Gilbert’s story more realistic and accessible for all of us imperfect humans.

Well, I’ve already come clean about my obsession for cheesy Karaoke bars. It’s one of the first articles that pops up when my name is Google-d (fan-tast-tic).  My next revelation may seem like an obvious one if you’ve read anything about my life or ever met me, but it’s something that I personally embrace more and more each day. I am a dreamer…big time.

I love coming up with new ideas and then letting those ideas carry me away.  I start them. I share them. I stop them. Then start again. Sounds wishy-washy, I know, but I am okay with that.  Just a couple weeks ago, I decided to share the presentation I created about my Biz2Blog Marketing idea. I know that its incredibly unlikely that I’ll be able to turn that vision into a reality, but I still felt the need to explore it, to put it out there.

I think that’s also why I love writing- to think of a perspective, go with it, & then share my ideas is exhilarating for me.   Most people find enough satisfaction in escaping for a few hours into a great movie or book, but I always need to take it a step further. The book doesn’t just end.  Where is the fun in that?

http://www.ehow.com/list_6744559_advertising-ideas-attorneys.html

HelpAReporter.com has revolutionized PR- allowing “normal” people to access a wealth of media outlets by simply signing up for their services.  In turn, the media outlets can simply & effectively find the perfect source for their stories.  It’s a simple concept with a profound impact.

In a similar way, big businesses and bloggers can be connected to mutually benefit each other. Check out my short presentation on how & why it can work. (Click through the presentation by using the forward arrow icon or using your keypad. Zoom in and out by using the up and down arrows on your keypad.)

Recently, we did an article for Bucks Happening about a flying trapeze school in Upper Bucks County.  I absolutely love that my career is leading me to such amazing adventures & can’t wait to see what’s next.

Just when everything seemed to be going horribly wrong this week (conflicts of schedule, a flat tire, & a minor blog crisis all before Tuesday morning!), I saw that the article I wrote for Under30CEO.com was picked up by Reuters.  Suddenly, Tuesday is looking much better .

Check it out HERE.

Angela & I were featured in this month’s entrepreneur-themed issue of Bucks Life Magazine. (YAY!)  Check out the article.

The past few weeks have been consumed with thoughts of SELL SELL SELL.  Unfortunately, those words are often followed by thoughts of HOW HOW HOW.  As much as I wish I was, I’m  just not one of those people who has a natural knack for sales (damn you people!).  I have some skills to work with- an outgoing, generally positive attitude & the guts to strike up conversations with complete strangers- but that wasn’t quite enough.

I love my start-ups, BeMe & Bucks Happening. I love to work on the designs, articles, & business strategies, but let’s face it, without sales, the businesses won’t last very long.  Building a valuable product is just half the battle.

Now, Bucks Happening started as a hobby for my sister, Angela. She wrote an article here and there but didn’t generally go out of her way.  That changed about six months back when we decided to pursue the website more actively, now spending large portions of our time on it.  When Bucks Happening began to present opportunities to us, we didn’t turn them away.  With growth being such a challenge for BeMe, we knew not to take any opportunities lightly. We appreciate every single person who reaches out to us & try our best to give them all our full attention.

While we’re experiencing huge growth rates for the website, there is a ton of work going into supporting that trend.  I work on the website more hours than I did my full-time job in finance, and that’s on top of BeMe  & my part-time job at the winery.   We realize that we can’t continue to dedicate so much time to the site, no matter how much we love it, if it doesn’t generate substantial revenue.  Of course, our growth is leading to great exposure, but we also need to put food on the table. I don’t plan on living in the basement forever!  Someday, I’d like to Blog from the Above Ground Apartment and maybe even eventually Blog from A Variety of Rooms in My House.

Angela & I know that the potential for success exists, and we firmly believe in what we’re offering to the community- rich, content-driven exposure that engages the community. Now we just have to make the leap from a free service to a valuable business. While sales doesn’t come naturally to either of us, we’re putting ourselves out there every single day.  I’m learning that sales can present themselves when least expected, often as the result of some random connection.   It’s a long, tough road but it feels good to have made some big strides.

One thing that I had to get past in order to sell is my instinct to feel guilty about accepting things from people.  Raised in an environment in which accepting gifts or favors from acquaintances was always thought of as imposing, I often find it very difficult to value my services appropriately because I feel guilty. While something may take me hours and hours of time, I still feel badly about asking for anything in return, which leads to a lot of being taken advantage of.  I know that my businesses have no chance of surviving if I refuse to ask to be paid, and I’m doing my best to adapt.  I am supporting myself largely on the savings I put away while at my previous job, but that won’t last forever.

What is great is that getting out there to sell has really cleared up the vision we have for Bucks Happening. With each business we talk to, we are getting a firmer idea of what we need to do in order to survive & flourish.  With a proven valuable product in hands, we also are beginning to explore getting some help.  After all, why not get someone who loves to sell to head up sales?  We know what our strengths are and hope to soon structure the business in a way to best utilize all of them.  Until then, the two of us will keep developing our sales skills in the only way we can, by holding our heads high & putting ourselves out there.

Sorry for my lack of posts lately- Bucks Happening & BeMe have been keeping me super busy. Check out a little of what’s been keeping me so tied up by watching the videos below. I’ll be posting soon!