Syndicating Your Content Online
Show Notes: October 7, 2011

Carolyn Gross, Creative Life Solutions,  is organizing, Your Health is Your Wealth, an evening devoted to those who choose to make health a priority!

In this episode, Carolyn will share her story and why she put this event together. The event, being held in Escondido at the California Center for the Performing Arts, begins with Networking and a Health Marketplace from 4:00-5:00 pm featuring wellness experts, health services and products.

Education & Talks from 5:00-7:15pm featuring Author/Patient Advocate Carolyn Gross, Geronimo Rubio MD, Dr. Cherilyn Lee and a Health Panel for Q & A. Entertainment with Adrienne Nims Band, Networking and hors d’oeuvres from 7:15-8:30 pm. Fun, Food, Life Changing Information! Reserve your ticket to Your Health is Your Wealth now!

Today I have the great pleasure of being the host on Day 9 of the Virtual Blog Tour of author Tina M Games whose book Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother’s Path to Self-Discovery (and its accompanying deck of 54 journaling prompt cards) is celebrating its 1st birthday on Amazon on Tuesday May 3, 2011.

Tina Games

Author Tina M Games is certified creativity and life purpose coach. She calls herself the “Moonlight Muse” for women who want to tap into the “full moon within” and claim their authentic self, both personally and professionally. Through her signature coaching programs, based on the phases of the moon, Tina gently guides women from darkness to light as they create an authentic vision filled with purpose, passion and creative expression.

Yesterday, Tina visited Paula Tarrant at http://inspiredwomenwork.com/journaling-the-moon-and-you-the-path-to-self-discovery/ , where she answered about her catalyst for writing the book, her discovering one’s true purpose, connection of moon & women, and intuition.

Today, I’d like to share with you a recent interview I had with Tina when I got to ask her some questions on why write this book, journaling process leading to book, discoveries and what she hopes people will take away after reading. I hope you enjoy it.

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Tina M Games: Thank you, Debra, for your interest in my book, Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother’s Path to Self-Discovery and its accompanying deck of 54 journaling prompt cards.

I believe that mothers are a significant part of the “ripple effect” – that will transform the world into a more loving, more nurturing place. Imagine for a moment a “pebble thrown into a pond.” It creates a ripple that goes on and on and on.

When a mother is living life with complete authenticity, she’s subconsciously giving permission for her kids to do the same. She’s truly at her best – creating powerful change for her family, her community, and for the world at large. It’s all part of “the ripple.”

It’s my belief that “a happy mother makes the best mother” – and our kids really do want to see their moms happy!

Debra Simpson: Why did you want to write this book?

Tina M Games: I wanted mothers to realize that every human transition and every new phase of motherhood begins in darkness and gradually moves into light, where we get a glimpse of what is possible. And when we take the time to retreat and go inward, we can ponder the many ways we can manifest these possibilities into reality.

This requires deep work, where we step into our own truth and into our own power – and where we can emerge in the most authentic way possible. This is what I call the Blue Moon phase – when we finally realize that we are here on this Earth to be WHO we are, to put our personal thumbprint on the world in the most truthful, most authentic, most unique way possible. Each one of us are individuals being divinely guided on our own purposeful path.

This is the beauty of journal writing. It’s an invitation to jump into the depth of your heart and soul. It’s a place where truth can be spoken without fear of judgment and without worry of being censored. It creates a very private, very sacred place where one can have an honest conversation with her subconscious (that deep inner knowing that we all have). It also provides the space where one can dialogue with her higher power, asking open-ended questions and waiting for thoughtful answers.

Neale Donald Walsch provides an excellent example of what can happen when one opens up to their higher source and makes a request for answers. In his book, Conversations with God, he engages in a dialogue with his divine power and asks, “Why is this happening to me?” And then he waits for the answers – and they eventually come. They pour through him and onto the pages of his journal. And it’s through his journal writing process that he becomes enlightened and finds a way to get his life back on track.

But it all begins with truth. Before we begin our search for answers, we must first be willing to tell the truth. We must be willing to speak from a place of honesty, which many times come from a place of pain.

Debra Simpson: How did the journaling process lead to the book?

Tina M Games: Shortly after the birth of my first child, and after making some fairly significant life changes at the same time, I fell into depression – a place that felt so foreign to me, a place where I felt like I had fallen into a black hole with no way out. It was during this time, a period that spanned over two years that I had disconnected from everything that made me happy. My son suffered from chronic illnesses related to serious colds and severe ear infections so I made a very difficult choice to give up a successful career in order to care for my son full-time. I hadn’t realized until this experience how much of my identity was tied into my career. I really enjoyed working and without that opportunity in my life, I felt very lost and very unhappy.

It was during this time that I fell back on a great passion of mine – journal writing. And as a mom of a baby who did not have a normal sleep schedule, I found myself exhausted and emotional much of the time. So night after night, after I’d get my son settled and after my husband went to bed, I’d grab my journal and retreat to my favorite chair – beside a big bay window where I caught a glimpse of the moon. It was the moon that taught me the meaning of transition. I’d watch this beautiful lunar goddess, night after night, move in and out of her various phases. And before long, I began to connect her phases with my own emotional tides.

I noticed that the moon always began in darkness and gradually, she’d move into full light – and cycle back around again. And I noticed the contrast between dark and light – the darkness of the night sky against the beautiful full moon light. I started connecting to this – as if I was being divinely guided through my own transitions of dark and light. I began to notice the ebbs and flows of my emotions. There were good days and bad days.

All of this was captured in those two years of deep journal writing. All the raw emotions that I was feeling landed on the pages of my journal. And because of this, I had a full documentation of the process that I went through – from darkness to light. And by reading these writings several years later, I knew this was a journey that needed to be shared.

Debra Simpson: What were some of the discoveries you made through your journaling?

Tina M Games: What really changed things for me was the discovery that my life had a bigger meaning, a bigger purpose – and motherhood was only a part of it. By journal writing through my two-year depression, I began to discover the synchronicities in my life. I started exploring my life story – up until that point.

I began having rich conversations with my mother and learned about the depression that she had battled, trying to raise four kids with very little support. We discussed the importance of having a personal identity – a connection to something deeper within ourselves that was expressed fully in the outside world.

This led to other dialogues with other mothers – and I was fascinated by the similarities in our stories. While we all loved being moms, we all desired “that something else” – that something that connected all the dots, that brought all the life experiences together to create a path toward a bigger purpose.

Here in 2011, I can look back on those two years of my life where I fell in complete darkness, floundering, trying to find my way out – and I can say, it was all part of my life’s journey. It’s what led me to my life purpose – to empower mothers to step into their greatness. It’s a ripple effect. A mother touches so many lives – and when she’s down, it affects the flow of the ripple in a significant way. And when she’s up, the ripples go on and on and on.

My experience with depression – that feeling of being totally disconnected to myself and the world around me – led me to the pages of my journal. It led me to asking the question, “I’m a Mom, but who am I really?” And by “being” with the truth of the reality and by listening to my intuitive wisdom, I found my voice. I found my bigger purpose in life.

Debra Simpson: What do you hope the reader will take away from the book?

Tina M Games: I’m a big believer that each and every one of us are living OUR life story – in whatever way that story needs to play out. And for many of us, this story involves lessons.

In order to learn OUR lessons, we must journey through the challenges. This is where we grow – emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

My book, Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother’s Path to Self-Discovery gently guides moms on a path of self-exploration through journal writing. I ask very deep questions that take mothers to a place of “Wow, I never knew this part of me existed.” And when we get to this place, we start “connecting the dots” of life experiences. Why did we travel a particular road just to get to this place of deep questioning?

It’s my belief that everything happens for a reason. We experience something in a particular way – good or bad. We meet certain people in our lives who teach us lessons. We travel to a certain place that offers us clues about our next steps or answers a question that we’ve been pondering for quite some time. These are called synchronicities – and they’re happening all the time. It’s when we pay attention that we are led to our authentic purpose.

Many of us go through life never knowing that things are happening for a reason – until we reach a place of questioning, “What does this all mean – and why am I here?”

It’s all about being open to receiving and trusting that the answers are there – if we are ready for them.

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I hope you enjoyed this interview with Tina M Games and that you’ll check out her book and card deck Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother’s Path to Self-Discovery this month at http://moonlightmomscircle.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.html

Here’s why:

FREE 3-DAY PASS
When you visit the page at the link above and request a “launch reminder”, you will automatically receive a FREE pass to Tina’s 3-day “I’m a Mom… But Who Am I Really? Telesummit” with 11 creative writing moms and grandmothers speaking on how to use intuition, journaling and creativity to explore life purpose. You can listen to the telesummit online in the comfort of your own home, and even ask questions during the broadcast.

This telesummit is a completely free “no purchase necessary” gift from Tina, to celebrate the 1st birthday of her book.

FREE GIFTS
When you buy Tina’s book or the card deck during its birthday celebration on Tuesday May 3, 2011, you can ALSO receive a complete library of beautiful personal development gifts from authors, speakers, coaches and other enlightened professionals from around the globe including one from me…

You Have a Passionate Message, Share It with Audio!

To claim your 3-Day Pass and read about the free gifts, go to: http://moonlightmomscircle.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.html

Thanks for reading! As usual, please feel free to share your comments and thoughts below. I love reading your feedback.

AND… be sure to follow Tina tomorrow when the next stop on the Virtual Blog Tour is Dawn Espelage who will be interviewing Tina on how this idea took shape, astrology’s role, tapping into intuition and thoughts on living an authentic life. To visit that “stop” on the tour, go to http://lifelinesjournaling.blogspot.com/

Red River Writers
Show Notes: December 2, 2010

In this episode of Red River Writers I interviewed Donna Washington, author of Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa and Ed Strnad, What I Hate About Christmas.

Both authors shared wonderful information about their books and the book publishing process. Ed shared several tips he felt up and coming authors would want to know.

I hope you enjoy this interview. Let me know what you think by commenting below.

Maria Gamb

Today I have the great pleasure of being the host on Day 12 of the Virtual Blog Tour for Healing the Corporate World by author Maria Gamb.

Written by former Fortune 500 executive, Maria Gamb, who spent more than 20 years trailblazing businesses valued at upwards of $100 million, Healing the Corporate World is a cutting-edge book examining the deep, and usually unspoken, ailment of the modern corporate world, offering solutions for healing at a personal, financial and even spiritual level. By showing the reader “the four cycles of transformational leadership”, Maria provides business leaders, from solo entrepreneurs to corporate senior executives, practical answers on how to transform their organizations from the inside out, and become “Change Agents”, consciously creating their own reality.

Yesterday, Maria visited Yvonne Perry at http://weareoneinspirit.com. For today’s stop on the tour, I decided to ask Maria some questions about the art of building relationships in business and why they are the currency of business. Think about it, how often do you turn to a trusted advisor, or business owner for answers, ideas, referrals and more? Why? It’s because you’ve come to know them through time and trust them. It’s relationships that build business.

Debra: I’ve often heard you speak about the importance of relationships and the real currency when it comes to business and creating success. Can you share a bit more about what that really means?

Maria: Sure! Your ability to build relationships is paramount to your success. We’ve all heard that networking is so important but there is so much more to it than that. You can network within your current business and outside of it with potential new partners, clients or prospective talent. Most of the time what I see are people who want something. They are hunting and seeking what they desire. Now there’s nothing wrong with looking for what you want. However, many times they are usually just asking other people for things – leads, contacts, help on a project, something for free. Many times this can escalate into what I call a debt collection system, which means that if I give something to you, you owe me.
When in fact the way to build real currency and bolster your influence and affluence comes from GIVING to others. It’s a concept called being a “go-giver” rather than a “go-getter”. A go-giver extends themselves to those around them by asking how they can help, be of assistance or to even offer introductions and opportunities to another person. This sounds so simple. And it actually is, but societal we spend more time trying to get what we want and never ask how we can assist others.

Debra: These sound like things your mother taught you when you were younger. But in fact, this is a universal principle isn’t it?

Maria: Yes, it’s the law of receiving in motion. You see, the substance of things in the world is that as you give you will receive in a minimum of the same measure you provide. On some level we all know this. However, this universal law has an important nuance to it; which is that you are to give to others and you will receive back…..but usually not from the person you gave that plum lead, great resource or introduction for a wonderful new opportunity. This is where most people get hung up. They will help others but then they go into debt collection mode. Which defeats the purpose and rather than building trust, people avoid them.

Debra: How does this contribute to building trusted relationships in business?

Maria: One of the founding principles upon which trust is build is the ability to be transparent and vulnerable. In a giving situation, the person receiving may feel vulnerable. In that state, you have a choice – do I trust that this person will be compassionate and understanding or will they be exploitive and want something from me later. When you operate, knowing the law of receiving and the gentle nuance I mentioned, then you are able to give without falling into exploitation. This is one way to start to build trust in business relationships. We all need to remember that this is an important practice because opportunities come through other people. They don’t just drop on your front lawn. Usually someone is standing in front of you giving you something you truly want, need and desire. The person or individual IS the vehicle through which it flows.

Debra: How does this play out in the real world?

Maria: I’ll use a personal experience rather than business because I think it’s even clearer there. You say to your husband “honey I would love for you to have the car washed tomorrow. It’s so dirty at the moment and I have a meeting run late today, the kids need to be picked up and I’ll never have time to do this.” He would probably say yes, most likely anyway. Then he comes home with a freshly washed and detailed car and says “well I just had the car washed and detailed. Now, will you make me a pot roast dinner with all the trimmings? After all, I did just do this for you.”

He’s done the task requested but now he wants to collect on the debt. While she may not have really been put out to make the dinner he wanted, she feels resentful because he’s asking her for repayment for a time she was feeling vulnerable and needing some help. I am sure you know how this plays out; a cycle of resentment, fear of asking for help and debt collection that erodes any relationship. So it is the same in business.

The flip side is when he comes home with the car washed. She thanks him and she thinks “You know, he was so helpful and sweet. I really appreciate that he took this off my to-do list. What can I do to thank him?” The recipient gives freely back to the giver without feeling a debt. Now I know, some of you are reading this and saying “um not really!” Ok, so here’s the 2nd scenario. This man may need some assistance in another area of his life. As he gives his very best to those around him, they give back to him. Potentially in a lead for a new job, a phone call that comes out of the blue hiring him for a project he long forgot about or seats to a Knicks game!

The point is, sometimes it comes back directly; sometimes indirectly. But both help build trust in those who help us, and in the universe to provide the things we need/want/desire no matter how it comes to us.

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I hope you enjoyed this interview with Maria Gamb and that you’ll check out her new book Healing the Corporate World, which is coming to Amazon on Tuesday October 12, 2010.

You can receive a complete library of beautiful personal development gifts when you buy the book on the day of its launch, including one from me: Social Media Marketing for Small Business, a six part how to video series. Remember it’s available the day of the launch.

In addition, Maria is hosting an exciting FREE 4-day telesummit entitled “Transforming Business from the Inside Out” on October 4th – 7th with a distinguished panel of 9 of today’s most innovative authors and speakers on becoming the ‘Change Agent‘ in your business, in your life and in the world!
If you’d like to attend, all you have to do is request a “launch reminder” about the book, and you’ll receive all the information to attend. If you cannot make the live event, you can download the audio at your convenience.

To find out how to buy Maria’s BOOK and receive these gifts,
including the FREE pass to the 4-day online telesummit, go to
http://www.healingthecorporateworld.com

AND you can read all about the TELESUMMIT and the guests at
http://www.healingthecorporateworld.com/telesummit.html

Be sure to follow Maria tomorrow when the next stop on his Virtual Blog Tour is Don Giberson’s blog at http://dream-crafters.blogspot.com/.

As usual, please do feel free to share your comments and thoughts below. I love reading your feedback.

Red River Writer Savvy Designs
Show Notes: August 5, 2010

I’ll be interviewing Australian author Tim Levy, The Life Summit. Tim will be traveling from Sydney to the United States in September 2010 on a national book tour for his fifth book: The Life Summit.

The Life Summit

Tim Levy is an experienced writer/producer/director with deep roots extending into the diverse worlds of business, environmentalism, comedy, spirituality, television, and the world of children….areas that he finds can overlap in unexpected ways. The Life Summit is a culmination of his experience and his enlightenment, linking soaring spirit with grounded business strategies.

My second guest is Michele Nash-Hoff, Can American Manufacturing Be Saved.

Michele Nash-Hoff has been in and out of San Diego’s high-tech manufacturing industry since starting as an engineering secretary at age 18. Her career includes being part of the founding team of an electronic component manufacturer and working in the Marketing Department of Cubic Corporation’s Military Systems Division.

Can American Manufacturing Be Saved?

Can American Manufacturing Be Saved? shows how the development and growth of American manufacturing was integral to the expansion of the United States from colonial times to the present day. It describes how the Industrial Revolution began in the United States with the start of the textile industry in New England and how the American System of Manufacturing developed. It outlines how key technologies accelerated the westward expansion of the United States during the 19th Century. It describes how breakthrough inventions enabled the development of modern manufacturing and mass production.

My third guest will be Lynn Serafinn. Lynn is a Transformation Coach, teacher, talk radio show host and author of the bestselling book The Garden of the Soul: lessons from four flowers that unearth the Self. Owing to her long and diverse professional history in the music industry, as well as extensive study of music and spirituality in India.

Lynn’s writing is lyrical, rhythmic, colorful, highly visual and undeniably metaphoric. She taught music technology for many years, and her creative use of technology in education led her to win the Microsoft UK Innovative Teacher of the Year Award in 2005.

Garden Of Soul

Her coaching company Create-a-Life won the Best of Bedford Business Awards, and was voted one of the “Top 10 Most Loved Businesses” in Bedford in 2010. In 2009, she received the Bedfordshire Businesswomen Award for her work within the community to help build a sustainable future.

Known as a marketing guru, Lynn is also a for mind-body-spirit successes being her campaigns for Number-1 bestselling self-help book Blast Off! by Allison Maslan, Number-1 bestselling spirituality book Awakened Wisdom by Patrick Ryan and Number-2 bestselling anxiety disorder book Check Mates by her daughter Vrinda Pendred. Her long-term project is an online coaching and learning programme for mind-body-spirit authors called Spirit Authors.