Back to the Drawing Board
Published October 20, 2010 | 
In recent days I’ve gone back to the drawing board on this whole excellent adventure thing.
Y’know how it is – there’s something you want to do different in your life – and you want it right this moment. And the more your life is entrenched in being a certain way – the more of a struggle it is to unwind years of building and do something different. It’s like turning an ocean liner around. It takes a Herculean effort to make it happen.
It took me four years to write my book, “Testosterone-Free Marketing.” I thought I wanted to build a seminar empire like I worked for with Robert Allen. I watched and learned. I invested a lot in them – and in myself. And I enjoy speaking. It’s a blast. But the job of filling seats with attendees is 90% and speaking is the other 10% of the business. I finally came to the conclusion even though I’ve sold out the workshops I’ve done – I have no interest in spending 90 percent of my time worrying about how to fill seats.
I want to focus on writing. That’s what I’ve known God put me on the planet for since I was a girl of eight years old.
Assessing the Adventure so Far
Published October 18, 2010 | The notion of “Denise’s Excellent Adventure” was “launched” about five months 
ago. How are things going so far?
I can best sum it up by saying it takes a lot to make big life changes – especially when you already have a lot invested in who and what you are. Yes, I’d love to jet off to Italy or Patagonia for a month but it’ll be awhile yet before that happens. I’m looking for ways to live an excellent adventure right where I’m at until I’m ready to go to exciting places. Of course many people think I live in one of the most exciting places on earth – Las Vegas.
The original notion of the excellent adventure was to seek out and immerse myself in new cultures and to write. Writing has always been my passion – since I was a girl and all the way through Journalism and Advertising school in college to ad copywriting, articles, media releases, business proposals and website copy.
Living an Adventure Takes Courage
Published October 3, 2010 | 
Last night Ernie and I went to Planet Hollywood and saw Jermaine Jackson in concert. A friend of mine offered us two free tickets – so why not?
I’d give the show mixed reviews. It started an hour late because many of the seats towards the front (the most expensive ones) weren’t filled, so some guy took the stage and asked people sitting in back to come up front to fill in the empty seats because it was being filmed for pay per view TV. We stayed put. We already had great seats. That created confusion and made it take longer to get started. Finally, the show began.
I don’t know if it was the acoustics, the sound system or just Jermaine – but a many of his legendary brother’s songs were seriously out of tune. He murdered “Beat It.” It’s not his thang, you can tell. He’s more laid back.
Posted in Empower U, Excellent Adventure, Living on Purpose | 
adventure, Jermaine Jackson, niche, Planet Hollywood, purpose | 
1 CommentAdventures in Getting Healthy and Fit
Published October 1, 2010 | I’m on a diet right now. 
Weight has always been my challenge. However, I’m not one of those people who can honestly say, “I’ve tried every diet under the sun.” Oh sure, I’ve had many days when I get up and say, “I’m starting a diet.” By 2:30 in the afternoon my resolve slips away and the Pumpkin Scones at Starbucks sing their spicy siren song. And I cave.
I must be ready to go on a real diet, make the commitment and take it seriously. It takes a couple weeks to work myself into that emotional state. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away. I rid my house of sugar. Cheating isn’t an option. Usually I do well. Maintenance is the challenge. Getting on the scale and seeing the number inch downward is more exhilerating than seeing the number unchanged. The Iced Lemon Pound Cake calls my name.
Sickening Feeling in the Pit of My Stomach
Published September 29, 2010 | 
What happens when the people you love most love the idea of an excellent adventure on the surface? Love to travel. But have absolutely no sense or urgency about helping to make it happen?
What happens for me? I eat totally unnecessary quantities of mint chocolate chip ice cream, that’s what.
My husband is the most kind, sweet man ever. But he’s throwing obstacles in the way of my (our) excellent adventure. This probably sound like I’m venting – because I am. But he’s making it difficult to do this thing.
Okay, at the moment we don’t have all the funds. But that’s not the only thing.
A few weeks ago we sat down and figured out what it would take to pay our mortgage and other bills if we weren’t here. We could turn off a lot of utilities. Put the cars on blocks and you can just keep liability insurance on them. Just lock down everything and go for six months and fire everything up again when we get back.
The Perils of “Cupcake Marketing”
Published September 7, 2010 | Let’s be honest. 
Many women who own businesses say they’re dedicated to creating success but they really have an expensive hobby. They take mincing steps questioning spending ten bucks on flyers or twenty bucks for a new book. But they effort spend hundreds on a new outfit or purse. Will this help you get closer to living an excellent adventure?
I call it Cupcake Marketing.
Back in the day women were always asked to bake cupcakes for bake sales. So they did. Some women still do. Many women always comply – and never ask for anything in return. They give it all away. Their hard work and ingredients are sold.
Eventually, many get peeved they’re always asked to bake cupcakes. But they wouldn’t dare say “no.” After all, they want to “be nice.” Nice is more important than time or money.
Another Day of Your Life. How did You Spend it?
Published September 2, 2010 | 
When I work with my marketing mentoring clients one of the first things I do is help them really understand at a deep level who their ideal clients are for their home-based business. In doing this I ask them a series of questions to help ‘em gain more clarity. The second bunch of questions fall under the category of, “What makes your ideal customer tick?”
Under that category I ask five specific questions including:
- * Why does your customer get out of bed in the morning?
- * Who is the most important person to him/her in the world?
- * What is most important to him/her in the world?
- * What do they want to accomplish before leaving this world?
- * What does he/she really love about their life?
As a result of that – I keep asking these questions of myself over and over again.
Are You Kickin’ it? Or Winding Down?
Published August 31, 2010 | This weekend I read a blog post by a woman who said she’s 
enjoyed wonderful travels over her lifetime to amazing, exotic places. However age has taken it’s toll. She wrote chances are her travels are pretty much over. She described creaky joints and how walking up curbs is like climbing mountains. Money’s tight, too. She said she’s 54.
I was stunned. Only 54? Are you kidding me?
As I’m typing this I got a hip joint that’s achy. I need to lose weight. (My weight’s always fluctuated – more ups than downs.) I have a slow metabolism that’s getting slower. My health is reasonably good – but I’m not likely to climb Katmandu any time soon.
Why Change Feels so Damn Challenging
Published August 29, 2010 | 
Friends are fascinating. We see in them who we are – and sometimes we see who we don’t want to be. It’s natural to want to help people who are struggling but very often what’s most screwed up is their mindset. For whatever reason each person must experience their own journey just like a butterfly must release itself from it’s cocoon or a baby chick must break free of the egg on it’s own.
This post is about three people I know and care about. All have fallen on tough times economically. All have been pushed into massive mid-life change and are doing their best to deal with the adjustments. Each has handled it differently.
Getting Simple isn’t Easy in a World of Excess
Published August 25, 2010 | I want to make positive changes to simplify my life. So, when the time is right, Ernie and I can take off for the great beyond around the world. It’s about paring back on the amount of stuff I live with daily so when it’s time to live for a month or two out of a carry on bag I can do it without getting out of my comfort zone, struggling or freaking out.
Okay, maybe not just a carry-on. A carry-on and one checked bag. I think I can do that.
Recently, I’ve pitched four pairs of shoes. Still have dozens more to go. I have four pairs of pink shoes. I have a pair of sandals with kitten heels in lime green. Yes, Ernie calls me, “Imelda.” And, so many clothes I can’t neatly fit ‘em in my walk-in closet and massive, antique bird’s eye maple bureau.
Posted in Adjusting to Change, Empower U, Excellent Adventure, Spaces | adventure, change, real simple, simple, simplify | 6 CommentsGet Real and Save Money for Your Excellent Adventure
Published August 22, 2010 | 
It takes money to go on an Excellent Adventure. Even if you’re budgeting by couch-surfing, you’ll need money for planes, trains, meals and other things so you’re never caught short of cash. If you’re going to make money online as you travel it’s still a good idea to have a reserve to fall back on as you travel.
For decades Americans have been awful when it comes to saving. We were the largest debtor nation ever and our savings rate was in the negative numbers. Most Americans had an average of six credit cards with $10,000 to $20,000 in debt.
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Dedicated to every 40+ person still kickin' it. If you have dreams and adventures you refuse to abandon - follow me on the journey. Life is one big adventure! Make yours excellent.
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