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Inspirational Mentor
Written By: Robyn Mills What I want to talk to you about in today’s blog, is the power of having a special person in your life who believes in you and your work, your ideas and your possibilities. Who tells you the truth when you are drifting off track. Who allows you to make mistakes but also asks you to see them for what they are and change them into a learning experience and a positive in life. A true mentor holds your vision for you, long before you can even see it yourself. I have been lucky enough to have several mentors in recent years. Right now my forever BFF is Rosina. A wise woman with insights into me that I can’t see myself. She is not afraid to tell me the truth or to hear the truth. This is an important trait that not everyone is capable of. It is imperative that I explain to you the distinction between an amazing mentor and a person who tells you what you want to hear. For example, if you make a mistake a friend might say to you “that’s not your fault…the other person should have known better”. That might make you feel better about yourself for a short while, but the lesson that comes from the mistake gets lost in translation and the whole things becomes clouded. A trusted mentor on the other hand might ask you to reflect from the beginning and see when the trouble began. Let me give you an example: I was having fun with a creative task with my grandchildren and had to leave the room to grab a sharper pair of scissors. We were making rainbow pom poms. I walked back into the room to a 6 year old (Scott) protesting that his brother had slapped him across the face. My first instinct was to take the craft away and get angry at Harry, the second grandchild. Luckily I have worked with Rosina (WinWin Parenting) long enough that she was whispering in my ear (metaphorically) and after a breath, I gently asked them to sit up at the kitchen bench and to take me back to the beginning of what happened between them. Let me paint the scene for you. Previously, Scott had asked me to teach him how to make pom poms and I had purchased wool and a plastic pom pom maker, that I hadn’t used before. Much further advanced than the cardboard ones we used to make. Still I made a mistake and the pom pom fell apart, leaving me to yet again, read the instructions and change to a stronger wool. While I was out of the room, Harry reminded Scott that he was having a turn next. Scott apparently said “No your not, I’m make lots” and against Harry’s protests got angrier and called him names. Harry reacted with his hands, slapping Scott across the face. They both agreed that this is exactly the way it had played out. I asked them to see where the first mistake happened. Yep…Scott not wanting to share the pom pom maker. Great moment! I got to ask them how could that have been different. Oh so many ways! I didn’t give them the answers, they worked it out for themselves. Firstly, trying to hold onto something that was a shared experience to prevent your brother having a turn. Secondly, saying things that are not nice to your brother. At the end of this part we got to talk about sharing and family and the joy of watching someone else achieve their goal of making a pom pom. Now to Harry…what could you have done differently? Well, not use my hands in anger to get what I want! Brilliant. Could you please look at each other now and apologise from your heart? Yes! Did I put the pom pom machine away? No…I apologised for my mistake in not reading the instructions properly and choosing wool that broke easily. I role modelled that it is Ok to make mistakes and lets work on it together to see where it went wrong. We also asked Grandpa, because he is great at reading instructions. I was able to mentor my grandchildren because Rosina, mentors me. Rosina teaches parents to mentor their children and she can do this because she is an amazing parent mentor and colleague mentor. A friend with benefits (LOL). She allows me the space to make mistakes and helps me nut them out and see if there is a better way. She holds me in high esteem as I do her and that is a powerful combination. Your takeaways from this blog is to see if you have a friend, mentor, teacher, inspirational leader, who helps you grow and develop and nurtures you along the way. Who ‘gets you’, who walks your talk, who holds you to account in loving ways. A mentor who can see where you are now and assists you to become who you are going to be. This is priceless. Find the person or persons who can be this gift for you and be willing to be vulnerable and open with them. The most important thing is not to be afraid of making mistakes, of telling and hearing the truth. In vulnerability comes great strength. Harry said to me “Your a GREAT Grammie”, I laughed and said “Let’s call me GG for short”. ================================================ Other Blogs Written by Robyn Mills 1) Change 2) Who You are Really Matters 3) Grandparenting: The gift the circle of life brings back to you. 4) What Does it Mean to Love? 5) Inspirational Mentor ================================================ 1000 Stories Creating 1000 Ripple Effects Across the World! ► Follow the 1000 Ripple Effects Journey: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ► Subscribe To: 1000 Ripple Effects Youtube Channel Share this Blog. Spread the motivation. ================================================ FOLLOW US: Facebook: www.facebook.com/1000rippleeffects Twitter: www.twitter.com/1000rippleeffec Youtube: Link to Youtube Channel Website: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ================================================
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What does it mean to love?
Written by: Robyn Mills When I think about loving another person, It is easier to understand what love might look like. When I think about how I treat someone that I know I truly love, my grandchildren come to mind immediately. When I am around them my heart feels softer, I am kind and understanding, I can’t wait to embrace them, and I certainly afford them graces easily and forgive them when they make mistakes. I love them when they are well behaved and I love them equally when they are behaving poorly. I treat my grandchildren, with kindness and patience. I am happy to repeat something many times while they are learning. I accept that they make mistakes and I teach them how I want to be treated and tell them how to respect me. I make sure there is fun and laughter between us and that there is always time to just BE together. Where does “I love you” come into this conversation. Most people can say “I love you”, but just ‘saying’ you love someone isn’t enough. You can say it 20 times a day and still treat someone in aggressive ways or be mean to them. Love in this way is more a repetition of empty words than a feeling in the heart that vibrates love. It is important to back up your words of love with behaviours that show love towards the other person. Be clear, that I am not saying that we all have to be saints and that we don’t react when something irritates you. But shortly after reacting, you take yourself back to a state of love. Let us look at the love we share with our grandchildren. In a state of love, you are surrounding your grandchild with a safe, loving environment where he/she knows and feels that love. Of course when they are giving you a cuddle, you can feel their unconditional love come towards you and you to them. The key here is to embrace that feeling of love and take it into your heart, that is where the patience and the ability to tolerate the disruptions comes from. Love is like a buffer creating resilience to the daily stressors of being in relationship. Imagine for a moment you go down the street and a stranger looks at you in disgust and yells at you or calls you names. Your hackles rise quickly and you either runaway or get angry and retaliate. With no prior relationship, no love, it is going to be very hard to be calm and loving towards this person. But a grandchild gives you an angry look and says I hate you, you are still shocked, but you try to understand whatever in the world is going on with them in that moment. Love acts like a buffer, like a shock absorber, creating a filter that helps you view incidents in a more understanding way. I must say, that it can be easier to love a child because your expectations of them are far less than the adults in your life. We know they are learning and we give them a safe space where learning can take place. I have given a grandchild as an example, because it is this love that we want to be able to cultivate and replicate with the adults in our lives. In my case, the love I have for my grandchildren has softened me in ways I would never have imagined possible and dissolved barriers that I had built around my heart to shelter me from past emotional wounds. The question that this raises is how then do you also love the adults in your life with the same unconditional and pervasive love that you share with your grandchildren. As I have said, our expectations of our grandchildren are far less than that of an adult. Especially when you think of tiny babies that just need feeding, changing and cuddling. Mostly you know what they want and you are happy to give it to them. Even sleep deprived parents are still able to flood their newborn with love. As children get older and their demands get higher, particularly a two to three year old, who answers back and stomps their feet at you, yelling ‘Nooooo”, your expression of love can often be hindered by overwhelming feelings of frustration. I don’t believe you can feel two emotions at once. Especially polar opposites like anger and love. We talk about unconditional love as being something that goes beyond behaviour or demands of another, as always being there, as an infinite resource between parents and their children, and grandparents and their grandchildren and of adults you are in relationship with. That for me is true. But…what I am exploring here is the expression of love, so that you feel it and your child/grandchild feels it. How many of us grew up not knowing if we were loved, yet if we asked our parents they would say “of course I loved you”. This raises the question of whether the expression of love in the everyday interactions with others is the key. I am not talking about saying ‘I love you’, or writing beautiful cards on valentines day, or a bouquet of roses, which of course enhances feelings of love and is a wonderful part of love. I am talking about the caring, sharing, forgiving and the inclusion of someone into your life, love isexpressed in the everyday moments of life. Love requires being present to yourself and the other. It is easy to be distracted in our fast paced world of technology, not just for teenagers, but for people of all ages, from babies to grandparents, technology consumes and diverts us away from focusing on love. Whether it is television, mobile phones, Ipad or computers, we are all guilty of being distracted from being totally present to the people that we love. We can be experts at multitasking getting many different things done at once and maybe achieving great success in them. But love is different, it can’t be slotted into a multitude of other tasks and distractions. It deserves full attention. It only takes a moment to express love and to feel love. My grandchildren are teaching me that love is in the little moments, the times when you have eye contact and smile from your heart. Little Emily, is still an infant, and when she gains eye contact and a smile from someone, her face lights up and she smiles back. It reminds me of a pure love. She is responding to love with love. The older grandchildren give and receive love too, in many different ways. They say “I love you” all the time without being prompted, they just feel it and express it. If I am ever feeling a bit stressed or under the pump and they ask if there is anything they can do to help, I instantly feel their love by by their thoughts and actions. They sense that I’m not on my “A” game and they step in without hesitation. Likewise, when they want to play something and they want me to join them, I say yes as often as I can. We are teaching each other that the love is in the moments that you choose to share with one another. As adults, we can learn a lot from children and the way they love. Moments of connection throughout the day seem to be enough to build a deep relationship with them. Not just when you are trying to get them to bed and to sleep, but throughout their day. They easily ask for what they want when they want it and they bring their joy and love into the adults world without hesitation. I wonder, how many of these moments we can create with the adults we love. In such a task orientated world, how can we build significant moments of love into our primary relationships. Some might say we are time poor and therefore can’t stop what we are doing to think about the other person. Yet, it only takes a smile, a touch, a kind word for love to be built. In the adult world, sometimes love can seem like a finite resource. You start with a cup of love that’s overflowing and then over time when rejection and hurt take their toll, little by little, the glass is emptied and eventually dries up. That feeling of being unloved can certainly feel dried up and empty. I prefer to think about love on a continuum, where unloved is a feeling at one end and totally loved is feeling at the other. For some people, who may not have experienced love as a child or have been wounded in some way that has shut them down, love has to be rebuilt and they need to be helped move along the continuum. Thinking about love on a continuum can give us awareness of what behaviours and thoughts you have that move you along the continuum towards love and what behaviours and thoughts move you away from love. Likewise, the behaviours and thoughts that you have with your loved ones can also take you towards love or away from love. Of course there is a balance here, it is not the other persons responsibility to make you feel loved or push you along the continuum, however, your interpretation of their thoughts and behaviours towards you will take you towards love or away from love ================================================ Other Blogs Written by Robyn Mills 1) Change 2) Who You are Really Matters 3) Grandparenting: The gift the circle of life brings back to you. 4) What Does it Mean to Love? 5) Inspirational Mentor ================================================ 1000 Stories Creating 1000 Ripple Effects Across the World! ► Follow the 1000 Ripple Effects Journey: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ► Subscribe To: 1000 Ripple Effects Youtube Channel Share this Blog. Spread the motivation. ================================================ FOLLOW US: Facebook: www.facebook.com/1000rippleeffects Twitter: www.twitter.com/1000rippleeffec Youtube: Link to Youtube Channel Website: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ================================================ Grandparenting:
The gift the circle of life brings back to you. Written by: Robyn Mills In this blog, I ask you to reflect on your family, in particular your grandparents influence in your life. I came home from hospital a week after the birth of my first child, an excited and proud first mum. As night fell, my daughter began to cry and cried all night long. I realised then, that even though I was a trained nurse with many years experience, I was unprepared for the task of being a parent. My husband who had never been around children was in the same dilemma. Luckily, my motherinlaw was there to help. There is nothing like experience in any area of life to help those who are novices in their field. Parenting too can savour the wisdom of those who have gone before and be bolstered by the hands on experience that our mothers and fathers had. Experiences that have been handed down from the generations before, each tweaking the information to suit the moment at hand. However, in this modern, fast paced society, with multitasking at its fore, how valuable is the experience of the past generation. I know that the world has changed dramatically since I was a young mother and so have I. The current dilemma for parents is one of “expectations vs time” and this seems to be at a greater dissonance now than it has ever been. Often grandparents have more time than parents and less expectations. Grandparents have valuable years of experience whereas the current generation of parents has a wealth of knowledge and advice available to them at a mere click of their fingers. On face value, it would seem that the two positions are miles apart. The most prominent tool that my parents used was to whack us across the backside and send us to bed without our tea. When pushed to his limit, my father would hit us across the face. In his later years, he came to regret this when his son lost his life to a brain tumour, he was riddled with guilt as he thought that the regular whacks to the back of his head may have caused this. My father and brother were heavy smokers and this was much more likely to be the cause, but nevertheless my dad felt he had let Harry down. As a young mother, I never slapped my children across the face, so deleted this parenting reaction from my list of possibilities. I did however hit my children, rarely I might add, across the bottom, in my earlier years of parenting. I stopped doing this overnight when I realised it was a sign of me being totally out of control and that I was repeating a pattern that I did not want to be part of. I certainly wouldn’t send my children to bed hungry either, a threat often made by my parents. It would seem that each generation has had to adapt to the trends of parenting that are resonating in society at the time. My parents adopted the view that children should be seen and not heard. In my time, I decided that my children should have a voice, even if I struggled many a time with the noise of three girls in one household. Everything has changed in parenting for the current. ================================================ Other Blogs Written by Robyn Mills 1) Change 2) Who You are Really Matters 3) Grandparenting: The gift the circle of life brings back to you. 4) What Does it Mean to Love? 5) Inspirational Mentor ================================================ 1000 Stories Creating 1000 Ripple Effects Across the World! ► Follow the 1000 Ripple Effects Journey: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ► Subscribe To: 1000 Ripple Effects Youtube Channel Share this Blog. Spread the motivation. ================================================ FOLLOW US: Facebook: www.facebook.com/1000rippleeffects Twitter: www.twitter.com/1000rippleeffec Youtube: Link to Youtube Channel Website: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ================================================ Who you are really matters!
Written by: Robyn Mills To my dearest daughters, Who you are really matters. When my mother (your grandmother) carried me in her belly, through the miracle of life, as I developed into a baby, every egg that I would ever have, was produced before I was even born. These eggs would later have the chance of producing life as they continued to develop during my adolescence. What that means is that the egg that became you, was carried by my grandmother and within it the DNA of my grandfather. In this way, my grandmother and grandfather together as a team, ensured that life had to chance to go on through their combined DNA. It means that the eggs that became my grandchildren, my daughters children, were carried by me and within it the DNA of my husband. This is the miracle of life. The gift you have as a daughter is the potential to give life to the generations that go before you. You are already precious and irreplaceable. You also carry part of us with you where ever you go. The love, the potential for new life is in your hands. Further to this, you were carried by your grandmother in a different generation, with the potential to share her experiences of life. Scientists are continuing to make amazing discoveries about what the DNA carries from the past, memories and experiences, we clearly know that it has the ability to form whole human beings in perfect synchronicity. You carry life for us, long after we have gone. You are important to us, just because you exist. We entrust you with our eternal life. ================================================ Other Blogs Written by Robyn Mills 1) Change 2) Who You are Really Matters 3) Grandparenting: The gift the circle of life brings back to you. 4) What Does it Mean to Love? 5) Inspirational Mentor ================================================ 1000 Stories Creating 1000 Ripple Effects Across the World! ► Follow the 1000 Ripple Effects Journey: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ► Subscribe To: 1000 Ripple Effects Youtube Channel Share this Blog. Spread the motivation. ================================================ FOLLOW US: Facebook: www.facebook.com/1000rippleeffects Twitter: www.twitter.com/1000rippleeffec Youtube: Link to Youtube Channel Website: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ================================================ How to Try—A Six Part Blog about Pushing Past Fears to Live a Bigger Life By Kerri Davidson (1,000 Ripples Video Link: https://youtu.be/_PIMkiEWCzs) (www.kerridavidson.com) Part 2: Turn Your World Upside Down I did my first headstand away from the wall in the middle of Times Square in New York City. Every summer solstice, thousands of people gather on brightly colored mats in the middle of Times Square in New York City to practice yoga together—a mass of quiet focus in the midst of chaos. I had been practicing yoga for almost a year when I decided to attend the event with a friend. We practiced on mats shadowed by skyscrapers and learned to find our center of peace in the noisiest of atmospheres. After the class, feeling calm and poised, we checked out the event vendors. We noticed a photographer taking pictures of people doing inversions in front of the building where the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. It was such an Instagram-worthy moment that I couldn’t pass it up; it would be the culmination of a year’s worth of time spent fighting my fear of inversions. I’d been afraid of going upside down ever since I was a kid and my friends had tried to help me into a handstand and my arms couldn’t keep me up. It was mortifying! I hadn’t tried it again until I started taking yoga in New York City. After about a month of classes, my yoga teacher told the class we were going to practice headstands. Completely freaked out at the suggestion, I started making scared faces at my friend across the room. The teacher saw me and asked me to demonstrate a headstand. I quickly protested, explaining that I’d never done a headstand before and couldn’t possibly try it. He saw through my fear and persisted, setting up my mat by the wall. I crouched next to him and whispered, “My arms are not strong enough to hold me up.” Undaunted, he gathered six purple blocks at my mat. He knew the only thing holding me back was fear. He told me that I could do it, that I was strong. For some reason I believed him. I rested my shoulders on the blocks and he guided my legs to the wall until all of a sudden I was doing it, I was in a headstand! Though I wanted to cheer I couldn’t, I was focused on not falling. My arms were tiring quickly and I tried to keep the building panic out of my voice when I asked, “How do I get down?” The teacher raced over and helped me down. I was elated and couldn’t thank him enough. I had done what I’d previously thought was impossible—I went upside down. The impossible was possible. I couldn’t wait to try it again. At the beginning of each class I’d lug six blocks into the studio so that I could do a headstand. I got tired of the annoyed looks of my fellow classmates who would have also appreciated the use of blocks and so I gradually tapered off until I could do a headstand at the wall unassisted. I was still doing them against the wall at the time of the summer solstice. Clouds were forming, rain was coming, and my friend cautioned against it. Still, I knew I could do it and I wanted to prove that to myself. I stood in line, nervously fidgeting until it was my turn. I went up the stairs to the platform. Crowds flowed by, skyscrapers glowed around me, but I was focused, I was ready. I set my arms in the triangle formation I’d done so many times in class, placed my head on the floor, and gradually lifted my legs to the sky. I didn’t quite make it to a perfect vertical line, but it was close enough for me, and if you tilt the picture, it looks just fine. I did the impossible that day and redefined what I was capable of. You can too! Three Things I Learned:
If you Turn this picture of me around, you will see I am in a perfect headstand  ================================================
Other Blogs Written by Kerri Davidson 1) Part I: Scuba Diving in a Volcano 2) Part 2: Turn Your World Upside Down 3) 4) 5) ================================================ 1000 Stories Creating 1000 Ripple Effects Across the World! ► Follow the 1000 Ripple Effects Journey: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ► Subscribe To: 1000 Ripple Effects Youtube Channel Share this Blog. Spread the motivation. ================================================ FOLLOW US: Facebook: www.facebook.com/1000rippleeffects Twitter: www.twitter.com/1000rippleeffec Youtube: Link to Youtube Channel Website: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ================================================ What Should We Ask Ourselves When Considering Our Career Path?
Written By: Simone Glassom-Pick Obviously the first question to ask someone is: ‘What is your passion?” right? No! Most people find this question very difficult to answer and it causes a great deal of stress. Contrary to popular belief, trying to figure out what our passion is, in order to figure out our career direction, is not the answer. The concept of doing what you are passionate about for a job is well researched and the results are unable to prove that people are more successful doing jobs that they are interested in or like doing in their free time. If you know someone is creative and loves working on computers, ‘knowing’ that the most ‘obvious’ job for them to do is graphic design could well be completely inaccurate. Perhaps spending all day staring at a screen for a job with deadlines and pressure would destroy the creativity and love of working on computers forever. Perhaps working in this manner is the furthest thing from what is really right for them. Career direction must be considered in a holistically, with a big picture approach. One’s personality, values and preferred way of working need to be considered; as well as personal circumstances and priorities. Knowing what doesn’t work for you is just as important as knowing what does work for you. Consider the lives of the people in the jobs you are considering as opposed to only the success of, salary of or work of a person in a career. Consider the after-hours requirements, the study or internships required to be successful in a career path, working hours and so forth. A career must work for who you are, be aligned with your values, personality and lifestyle. For example: being a famous novel writer sounds very attractive, working from home, writing, being creative and earning a good income when books are published. On the down side, writers are dependent on being inspired and creative to produce good content and sometimes remaining inspired and avoiding writer’s block is tough especially when they first start out and receive countless negative responses from publishers. Writers have a solitary work environment which does not work for everyone. It is an extremely long road to becoming a successful writer. Again, consider the lives of the people in the jobs. Gaining work experience, doing volunteer work, an internship or similar is key to knowing what does and does not work for you. When young people who have never had a job before, suddenly have to move into the workforce it is a huge mindset shift for them. This is the reason why part-time or holiday jobs is so important for young adults, as it assists them to gain a working mindset which is invaluable both as an entrepreneur and employee. Be mindful of signing up for a four-year degree and a huge student loan when unsure of what it is you really want to do. Spend time gaining experience, skills and researching jobs before making such a commitment. It is time well spent and will likely avoid spending time and money on the wrong career path. In conclusion, gain experience, learn skills and do your research. Consider your career path with a big picture approach and if you are struggling to think things through get help as determining a career path that is right for you is a skill you will revisit many times in your life. The world is changing continuously and throughout your life, so will you. Get good at determining the career path that is right for you. ================================================ Other Blogs Written by Simone Glassom-Pick 1) Liventure 2) What Should We Ask Ourselves When Considering Our Career Path? 3) 4) 5) ================================================ 1000 Stories Creating 1000 Ripple Effects Across the World! ► Follow the 1000 Ripple Effects Journey: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ► Subscribe To: 1000 Ripple Effects Youtube Channel Share this Blog. Spread the motivation. ================================================ FOLLOW US: Facebook: www.facebook.com/1000rippleeffects Twitter: www.twitter.com/1000rippleeffec Youtube: Link to Youtube Channel Website: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ================================================ Change
Written by: Robyn Mills Do you move away from change or towards it. Are you afraid of change and hold on to ‘the way things are’ for grim death. Do you fear change? Does change feel like you are going to lose something that you like? Or, does change feel exciting and you want to reach out and embrace it! Let me, let you into secret! Change occurs throughout life in every nanosecond of your life, within you and around you. Let’s look within you. When you were conceived, which by the way was a miracle, you began as a single cell and out of the millions of sperm looking for you, one beat all the others to find you and began your life. With in seconds one cell became two and two became four and four became eight and so on. At this point, change was imperative for life, not just any little change, but monumental changes. At one point in this massive growth cycle, a cell divided and started to vibrate. This cell is different to the other cells and knows it. When it has multiplied many times, they will vibrate in unison and eventually, will become the heart beat. Without these changes you would not exist. Changes don’t stop when we are born, our bodies continuously change until our last breath. Our minds continue to grow and change as we gather knowledge and wisdom, as we learn new things we become capable of doing more in our world. Our opinions change, our circumstances change, our friendships change, our jobs change, our dreams and visions change and our understanding of who we are changes. Have you ever held on tight to a friendship that is destructive in your life? Probably because you thought without that friend you would be alone? Perhaps holding onto that friend, created a block preventing the right kind of friend to step into your life? Sometimes you need to create a space for the new to enter. In that space, you get to feel who you are and what you want, in the silence of the space between things and people. Perhaps you have held onto a relationship that holds you back rather than supports you as you move forward. Afraid that if you let that relationship go, you will never find another one. Believing that the one you have is the best you can have because you don’t deserve any better. Moving away from change is like holding onto ‘what is’ so tightly that ‘what is to come’ has not room to enter. I love change! This doesn’t mean that I throw things away without thought or contemplation. It means that I look for ways to grow and develop and to be the best I can be. I see life as dynamic not static. That means that I embrace change, I honour it and I welcome it as I would welcome an old friend. I see change as opportunity. Like everything else in life I see that we can move towards something or away from it. Strengthen our growth or weaken it by being afraid. Of course, there are times when change should be avoided because it would be detrimental to our survival. But the change I am talking about is the change where you see an opportunity and you embrace it. Where you leave self-doubt at the door and reflect about the new possibilities that change can bring. Even when that heart beat stops, change occurs, whether you embrace it or not. Affirmation I embrace change. I value it, I honour it and I welcome change as an old friend. Change is everywhere. I am the embodiment of change. Bring it on! ================================================ Other Blogs Written by Robyn Mills 1) Change 2) Who You are Really Matters 3) Grandparenting: The gift the circle of life brings back to you. 4) What Does it Mean to Love? 5) Inspirational Mentor ================================================ 1000 Stories Creating 1000 Ripple Effects Across the World! ► Follow the 1000 Ripple Effects Journey: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ► Subscribe To: 1000 Ripple Effects Youtube Channel Share this Blog. Spread the motivation. ================================================ FOLLOW US: Facebook: www.facebook.com/1000rippleeffects Twitter: www.twitter.com/1000rippleeffec Youtube: Link to Youtube Channel Website: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ================================================ How to Try—A Six Part Blog about Pushing Past Fears to Live a Bigger Life By Kerri Davidson (1,000 Ripples Video Link: https://youtu.be/_PIMkiEWCzs) (www.kerridavidson.com) Part I: Scuba Diving in a Volcano I learned how to scuba dive because I didn’t want to throw up on a boat. I was on a five day yoga retreat in Santorini, Greece, staying in a crisp white villa perched on the edge of the caldera, overlooking water an impossibly bright blue. It was idyllic and peaceful…that is, until the final excursion. The whole group was scheduled to go on a dinner cruise. Great idea, right? Everyone was excited, except for me, after reenacting The Exorcist on a boat tour on a previous yoga retreat, I decided to stay behind. No amount of Dramamine could reverse the power the ocean’s current had on my stomach and I didn’t want to sully that blue water (or my fellow yogis) with my “reimagined” dinner. I felt a little left out and didn’t want them to return with great stories of their aquatic adventure and my only event to report was even tan lines, so I asked the concierge for ideas. She outlined a few options and, because I get snorkeling and scuba diving confused, I ended up loading into a van of strangers and riding down a cliff to the mouth of a dormant volcano ready to scuba dive. I love to swim and was even on a swim team growing up, but somehow being underwater for more than a breath seemed like a ridiculously rash thing to do. Still, I wanted an adventure, so I sucked it up (literally) and squeezed into the loaner wetsuit. After our short scuba lesson, I grilled everyone on the beach who had ever gone scuba diving. Each assured me it was a completely survivable activity. I was skeptical, but you know, once you’re in a wetsuit there’s no getting out (seriously, it’s impossible to get out of those things!). The instructor heaved an air tank on my back and I’m not even kidding I almost fell over backwards from its weight. He told me to lean forward a bit so I pitched myself until I was horizontal with the sand and trudged into the water. We did some practice drills with the breathing apparatus to prove to ourselves that the instructor was not full of crap—we would, in fact, be delivered air, and we could retrain our minds to believe we could breathe underwater. Then we were off, gliding through clear water with the power of our flippers, losing the immediacy breathing normally gives. I stuck to the instructor the entire time, it was disorienting underwater and easy to lose your bearings, but after awhile I was able to look around. He wanted us to see everything—he pointed out fish, little silvery schools slipping along beside us. We peeked at coral alive and waving, touched seaweed—there existed this whole underwater world I’d never experienced before. We explored our new landscape, laughing and amazed at what we’d been missing all our lives—what lay beneath the surface. When we emerged a half hour later I was elated. Not only was I happy to survive the adventure, but I also discovered I was much braver than I ever imagined. Three Things I Learned:
 Me and My Scuba Dive Instructor on the Caldera after our dive ================================================
Other Blogs Written by Kerri Davidson 1) Part I: Scuba Diving in a Volcano 2) Part 2: Turn Your World Upside Down 3) 4) 5) ================================================ 1000 Stories Creating 1000 Ripple Effects Across the World! ► Follow the 1000 Ripple Effects Journey: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ► Subscribe To: 1000 Ripple Effects Youtube Channel Share this Blog. Spread the motivation. ================================================ FOLLOW US: Facebook: www.facebook.com/1000rippleeffects Twitter: www.twitter.com/1000rippleeffec Youtube: Link to Youtube Channel Website: https://www.1000rippleeffects.com ================================================ 5 Ways to Create A Ripple Effect
By Stacey Huish 3rd August 2018 Creating a Ripple Effect starts with understanding what you do or say is going to have an unintentional effect or influence on those around you. So I ask you the question: What do you want people to know? What message do you have for them? Once you have decided on what you want others to know, then the exciting part starts... How you get your message out there. This is the single most important part of creating a ripple effect: How do you communicate your message? Here are five ways to Create A Ripple Effect. Step 1: Generate Good Content. It always starts with good content. Providing advice and sharing valuable content in your field is one of the fastest ways to build a reputation as an expert among your niche, and there is a variety of ways to get your message out there: Newsletter: Publish a regular newsletter and invite customers to subscribe from your website. The newsletter content itself can range from helpful checklists, to a “Tip of the Week,” to a full-fledged monthly ezine. Whatever you create, be sure that it’s something of value (as far as your readers are concerned) and not just a promotional piece asking people to buy your product or service. If your newsletter content is honest, conversational, and helpful, it will allow your readers to get to know, like, and trust you — which is the key to building your reputation and your success. Once you’ve earned your readers’ trust, you won’t have to ask for a sale; they’ll want to buy from you. Blog: For those who are full of knowledge and just itching to share it.... then start a blog — it doesn’t have to be its own entity; rather, it can live within a dedicated section on your website. If that seems daunting, periodically offer up your services as a guest blogger to companies and websites relevant to your field. The fact that someone else is willing to share your content adds to your credibility. Start by researching blogs (like The Huffington Post, Business Insider, and Forbes Women) in your field of expertise and find out if they accept guest submissions. LinkedIn: LinkedIn, the professionally oriented social networking site, gives all members the opportunity to publish their own content, whether it’s original or repurposed. If your target market is active on LinkedIn, take advantage of this free resource. Step 2: Build a Presence on Social Media. 72 percent of all Internet users are active on social media; that likely includes your target demographic. But does it include you? Social media can be overwhelming, so start simple: Research or poll your customers to determine which social media outlet (think: Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, Pintrest) they are most active on and most frequently consult for product and service recommendations; then turn your attention there. Don’t try and tackle all social media platforms at one time. Just pick one and focus on it until you’ve built a following, then invite your followers to the next platform you explore. Once you’ve picked the initial social media outlet you’re going to focus on, begin to build out your page and your brand identity, and post regularly. Facebook now allows you to schedule your posts six months in advance, and social media tools like Hootsuite allow you to schedule in advance as well. To begin, feature customer testimonials and any press mentions you have received. Customers also love to see behind-the-scenes activity, so don’t be afraid to pull back the curtain a bit and share what a day in the life of your business is like. People want to know there’s an actual person behind that website of yours! If you’re not camera-shy, record a video on YouTube showing off your talents or, better yet, turn on your smartphone, and sign onto to live-broadcasting app Periscope, and share your expertise with the world in real time. YouTube and Periscope have both created overnight celebrities out of everyday people — Just look at Michelle Phan, the first woman to reach one billion views on YouTube (she recreates celebrity makeup looks), or YouTube’s Bethany Mota, who has more subscribers than Beyonce. And then there’s Periscope’s breakout star Amanda Oleander, a 25-year-old artist who became the medium’s “most-loved” user based on the number of “hearts” she’s earned from viewers. Step 3: Be a Source. Meet your new best friend: Source Bottle. Professional journalists to connect with the public to obtain expert advice and quotes for stories they cover. Sign up with Source Bottle to become an expert and get your name out: It’s free to subscribe, and each day you’ll receive story pitches from journalists looking for sources. There are a couple keys to maximizing your use of Source Bottle: When you see a post that you want to respond to, send the reporter everything he or she requested in the initial email. By the time you send the standard, “I’m interested and I fit the bill for your article” note, someone else will have already sent the journalist an email filled with print-worthy quotes ready for publishing. Once you provide the requested information, set up a Google Alert for your own name and company to track any press mentions. These journalists are focused on their stories and deadlines. In my own personal experience, there have been times when the reporters haven’t had time to circle back to let me know they used my content, and I simply came across it on my own. Step 4: Utilise the Stage. One of the best ways to Creating A Ripple Effect and getting your message out there is through speaking opportunities. To get started, volunteer to speak and share your message wherever you can, whether it’s at your local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary or Lions Club or any professional club you are affiliated with. Ask to be a speaker at industry events. Once you’re comfortable in front of a crowd, you might even consider applying for a local TEDx Talks . Step 5: Interviews We still have more ways for you to get your message out there. Being interviewed on podcasts, radio shows and even TV shows. Utilise everything that is available to you. Or better yet, you can start your own show in a few easy steps and launch it. Whether you share your expertise through the written word, on stage, or behind a microphone, creating a Ripple Effect gives you the added cache you need to spread your message in no time. Planning for marketing success
Written for 1000 Ripple Effects by Rachel Allan, marketer, coach, author and mum. 27 March 2018 You can’t build a house without a plan, so why would you operate a business without one? Many people will jump into a business and just start, these people form the majority of the 70% of businesses who fail in their first 5 years. Imagine if you just started to build a house without a plan. What a mess – nothing would join, rooms would be odd sizes, windows wouldn’t fit. If you don’t have a plan for your business what is it making your business, look like? Failing to plan is planning to fail. This is true for your business and the marketing within your business. If you just start placing facebook ads and writing content all over the place – you are taking a scatter approach and probably reacting opposed to be proactive with your marketing. Where do you start. You start at the basics – your customer, your products or services and what makes you unique. Basically, who is your customer, what will they buy and why buy from you. Then you consider your strategy. Business & marketing goals, branding and resources are your consideration here. Simply, what do you want to achieve, how will it look, who will do it and how will you pay for it. Next is campaigns. Communication and promotion of your business and what content will you use. So, where will you be seen and what will you say. If you are creating campaigns, backed by strong strategy and supported by strong research – the result is your ideal client will find themselves in your sales funnel. Once in your funnel you can move them closer to making a sale with you. Using personalisation, customer service all while using automations. Regularly reviewing each step is important. Are you making enough sales, do you have enough people in your funnel at any one time? Are your campaigns reaching your audience? Is your strategy hitting the mark or do you need to teak it? Are your products or services desirable? Is the customer who buys of you your ideal client? For many people planning is a time consuming, arduous task. It doesn’t have to be. Find support, learn, outsource to others. Go for growth in your business. Achieve success. You deserve it. I |
Stacey Huish
I am going to blog and document the journey of creating 1000 Ripple Effects across the world. Archives
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