3.3.14 You Want Your Healthy Body to BE That Well Moving Stream

     Over the years, clients sometimes 'Come Down With' a condition...less, or more serious and challenging. "coming down with' meaning they heard something happening and found a practitioner who could detect it, they saw their doctor and got tests done, or it was subclinical (not showing up on tests) and then worsened and became detectable on tests. And when they do, sometimes in their contemplations it 'makes sense' to them, in terms of their present or past lifestyle, things they were exposed to, genetics, etc. Sometimes it makes no sense to them whatsoever.
     They say " I eat like this and sleep well and don't use pesticides or Febreeze or Tylenol or regular cleansers. It's been years since i used birth control pills or etc. Why and HOW could I develop this condition?
     And I say "Yes. Yes to all of that." Because that's how life is, sometimes.
     Often there are factors we are unaware of - genetic predispositions are not certainty, merely tipping points. My grandmother developed ALS, so I really take care of my nervous system and peripheral nerves and circulation and stress as well as I can, it being a genetic possibility. Especially from a BAM event.
     And yes, we do develop conditions. Sometimes serious ones. Sometimes life threatening ones. And when we do, we do the very best we can to problem solve
     - who to tell,and when.
     -what type of approach makes the most sense to us to cover the bases of our health needs as well as we can to attend specifically to what is happening, and respond in kind with known changes that are known to support what we need in order to detox safely and nourish the organs and systems that are challenged.
     -we think carefully about testing- because who we are as an individual determines what our compromises will be. Some tests provide information while injuring the very areas that are challenges.      Other times, something like a Mammogram, in lieu of other supports that are accurate and make sense to us, will give us vital information while really harming vulnerable tissue, and we take it. We take the tool for the information. Sometimes in order to survive.
But not all tests have the same cost/benefit ratio, and one of the biggest problems is the elephant in the room. May I introduce LIABILITY.
     Liability impacts us by ensuring that a doctor suggests or urges testing or treatment that, if they did not, would endanger their license and/or hospital privileges. Tough call, right? Because there are commonly 'accepted' protocols for doctors, set by the AMA.
I once sat across from an Endocrinologist of great renown, after an operation and having medications suggested to me that were off the market a year later, due to dangers. He was suggesting the same. I leaned forward and said "Would you suggest your wife or daughter take this medication?" and he leaned forward and said "No."
     Once I was seeing a series of neurologist with my 6 year old, who'd had a brain injury, had resulting seizure disorder, violence, pain, severe ADHD, and more. The doctor said "BEcause there was no period of unconsciousness, I cannot diagnose this as a Brain Injury."
     Then he leaned forward....and said "Of course, you and I both know all these problems occurred after this injury..." leaned back (what is it with this leaning stuff?) and said "But in the field of neurology, no unconsciousness...no brain injury." Took me three doctors to find one who knew what they all know now, and work with me while I resolved the seizure disorder with sedating herbs and a Psychiatrist Homeopath who specialized in brain injury.
     I know a very well respected and consulted with Radiologist who, when asked, thought that one X-ray was the limit of safety for each person per lifetime. Right? Wow.
     So the path is murky, in terms of liability, and its important to try to be aware of the elephant in the room. Of what can be said and not said.
     Thus, the number of complementary medicine or integrative medicine doctors who don't bother with hospital privileges, and explain that they are not your primary care physician, but your consulting physician. This gives them the freedom to practice in the way they know is best. In their experience.
Some doctors practice without accepting any insurance, to further free them from hours of wrangling, paying someone or a few someones full time to do the wrangling, and practice in the way they know is best. They regret the absolute accessibility of their practice to so many, but that is the cost of being able to practice that way that, I hope, all doctors will be allowed to practice, in 20 years.
Often, people go for western medicine treatment and fall into the illusion that testing and information is actually healing.
     IT IS NOT.
     it may result in important information, and possibly life saving medications or surgical procedures you choose that may be vitally protective and helpful. But it may not.
     So stay awake and aware. Don't hassle your doctors, but take the responsibility to research well the things you may want to do....to carefully and safely regain your health.
     What path really covers the bases of your condition responsibly and effectively.
     Many people come up with plans, and then see an integrative medicine doctor to check in, and see what they think of both the opinions of their PCP, specialists, any testing they have had, and their plan.
     Many people have HAD procedures or treatment that benefits some things and harms others. It is of vital important to not stop there. It is of vital importance to realize that many toxic things have been put in your body, with your choice and embrace, supported important processed, and now really truly need to be cleaned out on an ongoing basis for the rest of your life. Really. The well moving stream.
     Many people end up with so many conditions. And the first consideration is: Will they consider CHOOSING a cleansing diet? Not pretending 'Oh, I can't have that' or 'I have to do this', but rather, being an adult and making a choice. For their health and life. It is vital, if you have a serious health condition, or one that could become serious, to find the way to face that this is happening.
     And then find the way to choose to significantly alter your diet. To at least ditch all the stream-clogging things. Sugar and flour of any kind and eggs and any dairy and meat. And begin figuring out what style of healing diet fits for you. Because there are many.
T     hey all involve lots of steamed or sautéed fresh vegetables. They all involve certain fruits and not others. They all involve certain proteins. Good quality water.
     And then, the bases MUST be covered.
     I have seen so many clients who either felt that just believing they would get well, or spiritually connecting and get well, or wanting to get well....will do it. I have never seen this happen.    

     Faith and meditation and spirituality and prayer are vital. But from my experience, we need much more.
     I have seen so many people with serious health conditions continue to work hard and run around and not be selective with what they spend their energy on, so that the extra energy can be used by the body to get well. 

     Our bodies NEED all the energy they can get; cooled out relaxed as possible (in the face of great difficulty) energy, so it can steal that stuff and HEAL your organs and systems.
If we want to approach health, and we want to get rid of the leftovers of treatments that were, at times, lifesaving, we really truly need to look at our kidneys and livers and lymphatic systems and so on, and learn from careful research or with experienced practitioner help, how to utilize a protocol that responsibly and effectively detects and covers those bases, so that we can BE that strong, nourished, well moving stream.

3.12.14 Even As The Murmurs of Coming Spring

Even as the murmurs of coming 

Spring breeze through the land, 

so the masses of Beech, 

aged and infant both, 

sprout their glistening silver buds-

 the conical essence 

of bright green tender leaf 

curled brilliantly within,

 to come forth , 

in their own time.

 While last year's leaves 

are a golden staccato 

throughout the forest, 

wherever you look- 

and now do slowly detach,

 blown or stormed or 

rained to the ground-

 an iridescent, detailed,

 exquisite story 

of the year just past.

3.12.14 Thoughts On Aging and Retaining Our Powerful Selves

     As a way of exerting dominance over those perceived to have diminished power, we trivialize others- and when it comes to older people , we trivialize their sexuality, and the ways they express themselves. 
     We ridicule them , to their face or behind their backs, for BEING older, for experiencing the inevitable aspects of aging.
     We disregard their wisdom , are impatient with their stories , the pace at which they eventually speak and walk and think.
     When we as a culture do this, we create a culture of disrespect , of undermining the irreplaceable wisdom of experience - no matter race, class , or gender.
     We misunderstand value, and in so doing, come to fear our own aging.

     So it seems really important as we age to learn the mannerisms of the Alpha-so that others don't dare behave or assume things. I know many older people who are so kindhearted, and very powerful alphas. Francis Crowe is one. Lessons to be learned. 

     So often I watch my clients loose the energy to BE in themselves with their power , in relation to others.
     Cats by instinct begin to keep the older more frail cat from the food. For them, it's really not personal.
     I think we need to decide to locate and exercise our sense of SELF, of POWER , as we age. Our connection to who we KNOW we are, especially as we grow more frail, should we be lucky enough to be here long enough.
     And train our loved ones about this ahead of time.
     So that they promise to remember that if we cannot eventually hear well, speak well, think fast, remember well , or move independently, still within, we will be the very same .
     I'm going to ask my children to promise to try to remember this.
     And do search and rescue to remind me,should I lose track of my self and my rootedness and value and power through challenges , as I age.
     It will be a loving request and reminder posted on my kitchen cabinet, not because I don't think they will honor it, but because it's so hard to remember it, in this culture. Us, AND them.

I think our own fear is the origin of devaluing others. I think we project it upon others with lack of insight, empathy, education and awareness, as a distancing mechanism. That leaves the 'other' , no matter the 'difference', isolated and without reasonable support and caring , at the expense of other's fears.which simply increase everyone's fear and isolation as a culture.

3.9.14 Spring Is Quietly Approaching

Spring is quietly approaching

3.7.14 A Remarkable Surprise

A healing diet. 

Trying without trying. 

Focused without obsessing. 

Pecans delight the way the mere idea of ice cream once pretended to. 

Simple dairy free celery soup with tofu satisfies instead of a glass of wine. 

When it's decided what you truly want, 

and  aside from all of the games, 

the whole path is a remarkable surprise.

3.7.14 It Gets Better

Surprises simply upend us
The unanticipated; the tragic
The death of one, close or far from our hearts
The news afar of for the better, or the worse
for the land, for the humans, for the creatures
and the earth
So many things , I'm afraid to say to you,
are normal

It gets better: that which is within
That which is of our own self
That which is of our growing awareness
It gets better: that which we begin to
slowly learn to accept with the
potent universal "Yes".
The Yes to a beautiful day and the
Yes to aging and its cumulative consequence and choices
The Yes to car accidents and the
Yes to suddenly lost jobs
The Yes to discovered illness; the Yes to a challenged child
The Yes to the seeming unfair
The Yes to harrowing fear
The Yes to making it through and the
divinity within us that fosters the
miraculous growth of a deeper capacity
to navigate ,with realism ,all of this life.

Better we take this in, whole willing heart
eyes wide; full sight
Better we are grown up seeped in the
real of beginnings and endings, the
nature of how they unwind
fast, or spuriously slow
so the illusion of surprise, of
shock that this could ever happen
is slowly, gently, realistically, a small
thing of your past
as the happening of these events and reality
grows its roots within our present

3.3.14 Spring Is Singing Quietly

Spring is singing quietly 
beneath every sleeping pond 
streaking through the vessels of the
towering Oak
muttering amongst the
Maple's buds, just
straining to hold back the
fray; the exuberance
horses at the gate
shifting restless
In place

From the looks of it , we still have
bitter cold of winter ravenous
birds come feeding working to
stay alive while we
remark how pretty but
this is
serious stuff

One errant chipmunk races past the
window yesterday somehow a
wakened from their
deep winters sleep
stirred by the call of
spring

Out in the field I begin to say goodbye
Goodbye to walking along the
hills so aged good
bye to the grand expansiveness in
side of me with the
wild winter storms whipping
by

Goodbye to the
tracks of creatures
Wind upon the sand the
only way we know we are all
together, here

As the forest chorus and
returning Robins and
fleet flirting Eagles and
courting California Wrens all
take me aside, say
'Is it not precious,
here?'

3.2.14 A Beautiful Winter's Tromp

This afternoon I set out with a very itchy one-year-old Dante pup into the snow covered fields for a beautiful winters tromp.

The air was clear and brisk, the snow a little softened by the warm day, as we put one foot in front of the other,often falling down a foot or so through the crust

But often, he danced about on the surface of the crust, bringing his toy and having it tossed a far, only to twirl and spin and glide in delight as he ran after it.

Noticing a flickering of sorts in the clouds, I looked above and saw streams of lines emanating from the sunset, and stretching from one end of the sky to the other. And as I watched, they glimmered, these long lines. 

Oh, I tried to capture them with photographs, and then a video, but it would not work.
So we continued down the field, enjoying the rapidly changing sunset, the cloud formations that would sweep into the neighborhood and leave just as quickly.

Overhead,a large bird leisurely and powerfully passed by. I have seen t

hree Eagles this week flying by here in my yard, and last week a pair of them in the tree next to my office. But this was no eagle, yet it was a large bird, and moved quickly through the air. As soon as it was out of sight, it's mate followed. That's been happening a lot around here. A lot of racing about in the air, courting; mating. I watched through the silhouette of the trees; off they went.

As the sky darkened, we slowly turned in our path, and made our way clump clump clump up through the thick snow back to the house, Dante bringing me his toys and to throw

 and faster, knowing that the walk was soon over and faster, knowing that the walk was soon over.

Sometimes I feel like when we were five, and mourned the loss of everything that changed. Shoes or clothes you grow out of. Not wanting to finish one age. Getting to the next age, , and loving it so much, not wanting to leave that age. I'm that way with the seasons, always.

Though was one year long ago when my children were small, and somebody was sick continuously for the entire winter. Entire winter, you couldn't bring everybody to the store or anywhere. Somebody always had to stay home with whoever was sick at the moment. No sleep. It became a necessity to grow an endless well of empathy and patience. By the time everyone was better, we had to rush to celebrate one child's November birthday, before the next one's May birthday had arrived. That year, I was both sick of pesticide exposures, the ensuing chaos and danger to my kids health, as I figured out and learned how to treat it naturopathically, and I got really sick of winter.

But here I am, at 61, breathing in the beginning of March. I even saw a chipmunk this morning; waking early from their torpid winters rest?
In the meantime, both dogs have fur coming out in clumps. Dante is almost a chrysalis, discarding some layer for a brand new self. 

The buds on the aged Maples that tower over our home are growing larger, and the stand of young Witch Hazel trees today had their beautiful catkins grown and shining in the sunset.
We watched a not-cautious-enough Vole off in the trees wander about, possibly tired of their winter 'a stores and hungry for fresh seeds,
as the sun set and the pup raced and bounced, tigger style, and I thought that maybe I shall enjoy spring after all.

2.14.14 Cathedrals Everywhere

3.1.14 Risky Fasting Versus Intelligent, Informed Detoxing Learning The Difference

In 26 years of my practice, Essential Healthcare, I have unfortunately seen too many individuals decide to 'fast ' without first becoming very well informed. Some manage okay with a FAST cleansing. Many don't. It has been very dangerous and even life threatening for some.
And if people simply learned a little bit about detoxing, and the important considerations,
toxin storage in fat,
ways that many 'fasts' shove impossible to manage toxins from storage in to the organs
that were unable to break it down the first time round... so stored it...
they really would look more toward less dramatic, exciting, on-and-off forms of cleansing.
If you research, consider how our bodies function-and how complex human made toxins ARE,
and then listen carefully to your body , you can tell the difference between the risky fasts and the intelligent cover-the-bases-to-support-safe-cleansing .
Which is incremental and wise and most of all, safe.
Here is the inestimable Dr. Michael Schmidt, Naturopath ,of 'Beyond Antibiotics' and 'Tired of Being Tired' fame: 

"I am personally concerned about people who advocate strict fasting as a form of detoxification.
Detoxification has many benefits. However, for the purposes of detoxifying, lack of nutrients may be problematic.
As the body begins to detoxify, it releases toxins that have been stored in fat cells for many years.
As these toxins are released they must be processed by the liver and kidneys.
This requires a host of antioxidant nutrients and a very active liver detoxification system (which is heavily nutrient dependent).
Purging your fat stores of toxins can result in reexposure and toxic damage if your nutrient status is not optimum. Average levels will not suffice in a detoxification program. The levels must be higher than normal.".

2.28.14 Our Goal - Of Nourishing Within Ourselves That Which We've Been Yearning For Elsewhere

Our Goal - Of Nourishing Within Ourselves That Which We've Been Yearning For Elsewhere 
Often it's so hard, in life, not to find ourselves looking elsewhere for what we feel we are lacking. Love, appreciation, intimacy, comfort, being really known.
     And there is the common sense of creating a life, where we are regularly in contact with others who fit us as well as possible, who care about us as we do them, and can exchange that love and caring and laughing and knowing. So we have, for us as individuals, the right fit of connecting with others, vs isolation.
     But sometimes we become so caught up in yearning for some ONE or some THING that can complete us. That can fix things.
     And our culture doesn't help. I mean, how many times do we want want want something, oh, really so much! And then get it, and ...wait for it....right? The next day ? Or a few days later? Whoa. That wicked cool thing or experience simply does nothing for us. How confusing. Which sometimes we begin to realize means that the whole yearning and getting and then being surprised at the outcome...reveals what is really happening inside of us. That it's all a decoy for ways we are not feeling connected or enough or well fertilized or enough a part of others lives or have not been taking good care of nourishing our own selves.
     So looking for SOMEONE to care for us. Or take care of us. Or love us, comfort us, understand us, know us. Can be so similar. And confusing. And obsessing.
     We humans do that not true stuff. "Oh, Oh, If I ____ fill in the blank, everything would be great. " Had a partner. Lost weight. Had a better job. My kid wasn't such a pain. Had a really cool car. Had better hair. OH!!!
     Our culture is possibly a bit better than 100 years ago on the castigating individuals who are not partnered score, but think about this: Individual people are thought of as (secretly) pathetic if they are alone at home. Whereas, if you have a partner, hanging out at home with nothing doing is fine. Respectable. Worthwhile. If you don't have a partner, everyone assumes they can ask you to do whatever, just simply because...you don't have a partner.So strange and odd.
     And then there are other kinds of 'yearning' for a piece of someone else, of contact with them to 'get' something. Of pretending they are some idea that gets you through your day, that is actually not true.      AS IF WHAT WE NEED IS OUTSIDE OF OURSELF. Projecting upon others our perceived needs, so we can avoid settling down and learning to BE with that deep sense of hopelessness and helplessness, and let it get digested, so we can become clear, and luminous , and rise up all full and remarkable.
The other day, I was having a conversation with a very gifted friend - concerning a recent taping she'd done describing her work, and the flood and range of inundators contacting/ yearning for access to her , and her work.
     I described to her how Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen used to portray to me the experience of being projected upon. Her perceptions of being the project-ee, and what is necessary to learn, so that this does not adversely impact oneself.
     Which helped me develop some depth into my own understanding of how, without awareness, we can do this to others-make believe they are an 'answer' or solution, or a greatness we want access to ; a perceived scarcity that drives the whole deal, as a dog pack after a bone.
     All that pretending and yearning and hoisting up of another so we can get distracted from what is more true- that greatness and solutions and a divine path are ours, always, when we quiet yearning outside of ourselves,
and, as Voltaire wrote, settle down and cultivate our very own garden.
     Which is why Kristen Kirk's BE THE BELOVED is so brilliant. Because instead of pretending we 'need' someone to fill our needs, to 'complete us', and then go around looking needy, like we are searching for someone to make things okay, we begin to discover and grow the awareness...that we are...what we have been yearning for.
     But if its going to feel all good and full and lovely, we need to settle down with it and nourish it and let it grow from a little dried up garden we stomped past on our way to a great sale or trussed up at a party, hoping to meet someone....to a rich, well cared for garden.
     When I was younger, I was single. I'd been with partners since I was 15, and it was a big shock. I felt so alone, and lonely. I began to question my self worth. I wondered if I smelled badly. Or something.
Then, for some strange reason, I realized I needed to find a deep satisfaction in my own day to day life. So I studied this. I went about exchanging connection with the crabby postmaster next door; with the family that ran the grocery, with my roomates, with the dawn, with falling asleep between my two black cats.
     And over months, I began to forget to want. To yearn. To hope. To search crowds just just just in case.
I began to feel strong. Just fine. More powerful. Confident. And what I didn't understand was that I was beginning to walk about the world like an Alpha. Gaze forward, take it or leave it, not needing, satisfied.
     And then, that strange thing that sometimes happens (moreso if you are culturally 'acceptable', granted) happened. To my surprise, people began to ask me out. Wanted to do stuff. And when I didn't act as if this might be the start of something big, but rather was sooo laissez faire, understanding human dynamics more now, even more people wanted to connect more. Whatta shock.
     I listen to so many clients really wanting wanting 'to be with someone'. Well yeah, what a nice thing to experience. Only, it's really also very messy and difficult and at times, downright lousy. The number of friends who've considered dumping a new partner for things that happen in long term relationships every day...makes me laugh. 

     Once an old friend called me, very successful Architect, and talked about really wanting to 'find someone'. Which is great. But she told me how it was going to be. And I said, "Uh, I'm really sorry, but I truly have never met a relationship like that. Ever. Because being close to someone, even living with someone, is ridiculously complex. Easier if you don't have shared offspring. That's the frosting on the cake. But , wow. So much work. Of course, right? And complexity. Ups and downs. But then, often, if you not disappointed that they aren't into your artwork or your writing or your best friend's story or your FRIENDS but love you....then you can probably manage okay. Oh, btw, I never heard from that poor yearning friend again.
     I also listen to clients who do the pretty cool speed dating stuff that is available. And we talk about how maybe, just maybe, if their goal is not to 1. Mutually lay out every horrible relationship thing they've experienced and 2. Have a goal of 'not wasting any more time,and FINDING someone right', and instead 3. Are interested in hanging out and having tea for two and tiny interactions just to just to see if this person, as you get to know them, and maybe care for them, reveals themself as someone you would really enjoy in your life. Easy peasy on the heaping expectation on the brandy new conversation with the unknown person. And, the bonus is, people happen to be really attracted to happy, satisfied, not needy, relaxed individuals.
     All of which is why Kristen Kirk's BEING THE BELOVED is so true, and important.
     Because what we truly need is not to go yearning and hoping and missing and yearning for someone else to complete us.
     But to find the resources in our self and our own lives, and grow them. Love them. Nourish them. Get all up into it. Grow that rich gorgeous garden. Exult in the flowers and bees and hummingbirds and health and vegetables. Truly.
     Not so you can 'find' someone. But so you can be complete and fulfilled and needs filled and exchanged and loved and be your beloved. Brilliant.
     (Which, funny thing, often leads to bumping into very nice interesting lovely people to know and maybe get to know better).

     Lastly, here's Kristen Kirk:
"Everything we seek, whether enlightenment or love through another, we already are.
The seeking is the pointer to truth. It is the wholeness and the emptiness within that truly satisfies the longing.
Many try to fill the emptiness with love through
partnership.
Other people sustain the seeking,missing the truth that is infinitely present.
Come rest in the truth of your being and meet love
and longing in a new way."

2.28.14 How to we make a success and a living from doing the work we love and do well? The Beauty of a Business Plan

How to we make a success and a living from doing the work we love and do well? How do we take the work we love, and do well, be it writing, bodywork, art work, furniture making, car repair, editing, etc., and decode the path to making it accessible in the right way in the right places ...for people who want to purchase it?
I know so many gifted individuals. With one thing in common. They forget, they really DO, that what they do is a business.
And business skills pay off. Its simply hard work that many choose NOT to do, which is fine.
BUT..if you want what you do to succeed, it pays to figure out how to present it, where, and when. It no longer is simply a matter of sharing the information here and there.
Times have changed. Consumers require more. There are two resources I have used that have been helpful, though the amount of work I was willing to do to take advantage had its limits, which I take responsibility for. But if what I figured out didn't pay off, I would have gone ahead and studied and done the leg work to see what was possible.
For myself, after the war began, I realized I had to somehow communicate the ESSENTIAL nature of my work, so that people had a very concrete idea of what they would get out of it, and WHY they should part with their hard earned money. Exactly what it did. How long it took. What things they could take that would make them need to see me less. And I moved, at the time, to half hours, really tough deal to do, but very accessible to people.
My practice exploded with the new name "Essential Healthcare", half hours, and a new brochure that put prices front and center, and gave exact information about what I was offering.
Now, people know exactly what I offer. Their friends tell them. They call and we talk and they ask.
The funny human thing is, the less accessible I am, the more demand there is. Funny humans: as if that's the measure of excellence!
Possibly, like yourself, I had over the years bought perfectly good, all exciting books that promised they would help me accomplish this goal. Nope, I didn't follow through. But instead of feeling badly about myself, I realized I was a 'herd animal' and needed someone present, an appointment at a specific time and place I had to show up to. And....it really would help if it was free. SO,

The Free Resources I Utilized Were:

1. Here in our fair city, and possibly yours too, The Chamber of Commerce has a person who comes out every other week and sees people by appointment for an hour, to problem solve what work you do, what your goals are, and ways they know that usually consist of the legwork necessary to treat your business.....like a (surprise) business. You do your homework, make another appointment, fine tune things, and proceed. You get all cranky, nervous, wail to yourself (why why is this stuff necessary???) And then, instead of waiting for something magic to come knocking at your door, you fine tune your approach and take the responsibility for treating your business....like a business. No charge. You get to be polite and thankful, and figure out what steps really are not to the point (me creating gatherings to try out my Magic Oil? Not necessary.) And which steps you might want to pretend you don't need, but in actuality, you need to find the support to step UP and do them. If you want this goal, of course. Yup.
2. The second cool and also free, initially, resource is the Franklin County Community Development Corporation, in Greenfield, which often has FREE three hour workshops on the initial aspects of looking into what your business is, and how you go about breaking down treating it like a business. No stroll on the beach. But the whole point, all you talented people, is that you DO have a business. And if it's having a tough time getting where you want it to go, you now get to CHOOSE whether you want to be a grownup and get all down and dirty doing stuff that is not fun or easy...to see what you can do to turn it into a success.
They also offer series of classes to really hold your hand and support you and give you that 'I paid for it and they're expecting me day after tomorrow, so , wow, crap, I'd better get my homework done." thing.
One of the things you do when you want to build your business, is you think about who you know who does something similar (or not) and is successful in a manner you would like to be successful. Go online, or check out how local people do things.
I keep watching how many people don't really purchase things in person, when it comes to art and other products, unless they're in a store! Why? I'm not sure. But go talk to people you run into, who are doing well, and they've often learned exactly how to post things regularly in a way that makes people enjoy checking in...and sell their things on etsy and pintrest and other places. There's an art to figuring out how to position what you do so people are drawn to it and want to pay for it.
I've watched my own herbal products really not sell if I'm on a leave of absence, despite the clients being my clients for years. I don't push anything, ever. But I am very well informed, articulate at conveying how things work to clients, and I guess when I'm there, they remember why they want to buy that Lymphatic Formula for their gluggy lymph that keeps helping them get sick over and over. So just putting things places really does not seem to work anymore.
So many times, artists have put things in my waiting room or hallway, done the correct artist thing of having the proper list on the wall of numbered items and prices. At my office. At other places. I'm not sure if anything ever sells that way. You DO get name recognition....So the question is, how does YOUR product sell? And how can you position it so there is more than appreciation for it, but people making that final step forward to purchase it.
When I was training Apprentices a few years back, I would offer very very affordable sessions, and supervise three trainees in three rooms with clients, hour after hour. It was a great deal. So much was attended to. In the beginning, people streamed to the sessions. But after a few months, no so much. So many bodyworkers will give 'deal's, or think that if they have a website and brochure, suddenly the phone will be ringing off the hook. NO. Yeah, those things are nice and helpful. But, NO, that doesn't do the trick.
Leading people to your blog or FB page or putting up flyers that provide information that is vital and they can use right NOW that gives them an idea of what else you may have to offer...does. Word of mouth does for sure. Name recognition combined with a friend who had the same problem and you were amazing for it does.
But so many of us kind of get things set up, like the Lemonade stand, really amazing lemonade and all, and then we stand there. And wonder why noone is really pulling over and stopping. If we really want to get somewhere, we need to get a handle on what we are selling, and how, these days, people are buying things like that. And then go out and , as a hobby, begin to track down like minded people who have done the leg work and whose gig is now working, and well. And analyze what it is they are doing, as a great model, to adapt to yourself.
And then not copy it, but use it to create the model that both attends to how people are spending money, and what you in particular have to offer.
For myself, I've learned over the years that, for some reason, people are drawn to the package I am.
They ask me why there are no new photo montages of my latest adventures on the office walls (trying to find the time!), or why there's no new photo of mine with some adventure written up in the bathroom. They don't seem to care that on this page, I'm all over the place. In fact, they seem to like it more.
One day blahdeblah about a walk with the sun and wind. Next, day, 25,000 posts about a certain vitamin. The next, some writer I like.
On these pages, you get to secretly see how many people come open the post and read it. Fancy, huh?
So maybe there are one or two likes, but 50 or 150 or 550 people have come by for some mysterious reason to check things out. The article I decided to write about Marijuana, because not only do bunches of people use it , but many are waiting with some great hopes and desperation to use it medically. I know something about offsetting medications with important supplements and how bodies work. So I thought I'd write about the top 5 things I'd really like to suggest people consider taking/doing if they are going to use Marijuana in any form. 500 people opened it up and read it.
And whether we adore the pros and cons of FB or not, having a tool like this, that enables us to see that 789 read the story about visiting the farm in the snow storm, but only 54 read about how artificial sweeteners really seem to do a good job putting people at risk for cancers...is helpful information. Because what you really want to learn is....how things work these days. What people want to look at , read, and then....buy.
Does having hundreds of people quietly looking at what you share translate into income? Who knows. But it does provide name recognition. And they kind of get to know you. And sometimes call to see if you'll ever have a cancellation so they can have one session to set up a plan of supplements to cover bases, and how will they tell it's working?
They message you on FB and ask you to explain something you wrote, or ask you to do a post about a certain subject, showing that they have come to trust your perspective and references.
Just one example. But I did do all that studying and reformulated my work and my approach and tonified it. And I continue to study people who have created very effective attractive models, not that I always choose to do that, versus have a nice time, posting things I think are either beautiful or interesting or important for our health.
There are so many gifted people out there, and there IS a path to making your work accessible to people. It just takes more than setting up your Lemonade STand, and waiting for something to happen.