Thank you Cara, (www.CaraLumen.com) for sharing this lovely tale with me.

“Tell me the weight of a snowflake,” a coal-mouse asked a wild dove.

“Nothing more than nothing,” was the answer.
 

“In that case, I must tell you a marvelous story,” the coal-mouse said.
 

“I sat on the branch of a fir, close to its trunk, when it began to
snow – not heavily, not in a raging blizzard – no, just like in a
dream, without a wound and without any violence. Since I did not have
anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs
and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,741,952. When the
3,741,953rd dropped onto the branch, nothing more than nothing, as you
say – the branch broke off.”
 

“Having said that, the coal mouse flew away.”
 

“The dove, since Noah’s time an authority on the matter, thought about
the story for awhile, and finally said to herself. “Perhaps there is
only one person’s voice lacking for peace to come to the world.”
 

“From the New Fables, Thus Spoke “The Caribou” by Kurt Kauter.”

Happiest of new years everyone and be sure to enjoy the adventure of it all.

Adam & Sharon

My friend Jan Hoistad, relationship coach extraordinaire, has a great blog post today on Six Tips To Make The Holidays A Shared Experience   (Link: http://sharonsayler.com/JanHoistad)

One of her tips is

Hang a new ornament. Create rituals specific to yourselves as a couple such as an evening devoted to preparing a special meal, hanging those new tree ornaments that remind you of  times together, sharing recollections of special moments in your history and future possibilities – anything that enables you to celebrate your union.

Rituals are an important part of relationships and I'd like to share a favorite of mine. it's so easy to get carried away with "hussle and bussle" we forget the true reason for our happiness – our relationships.

I wanted to share one we use here in the Sayler home. I learned it from a friend and mentor, Michael Grinder about 10 years ago and it has really changed the way we enjoy the Holidays. In the decade, I've been sharing the idea I've heard back from others they way they have adapted it – all fun.

The original idea is to create a small treasure box (great if you have kids or are crafty) otherwise find a special place for safekeeping. Throughout the year, add notes of all successes and triumphs. At the Holiday meal, have a small ritual and open the box. Each member reaches in and pulls out a note, reads it to the gathering (rarely is it their personal note) and everyone shares in the joy of remembering the good things that happened throughout the year. (It's all too easy to forget those and remember the not so positive).

And my all time favorite Holiday stress buster and relationship-closeness tip: Anytime is a good time for a good laugh! Besides the obvious, it gets the blood flowing, the heart pumping and brings a rush of thought clearing oxygen to the brain!! All stress-reducers.

Wow, did I have a crazy yesterday – 3, yes 3 radio interviews in one day – and even cooler, at least I was tickled…. on the KKZZ AM 1400 interview I followed Carol Channing as the next guest!!  I have always liked her, well, anyway it tickled me…. and today I'm speaking at an eWomens Network Event on All The Right Moves: How to use your body language to get your message across and of course, promoting my new book.  So how is  all this attention happening – by creating news….

I wanted to share with you the top 7 ways I have found to make news!

Honestly, I've seen companies throw thousands of dollars into advertising and get almost no return. So consider making your own news. Creating your own news is different than advertising. I know I feel it and you might feel it too, the ton of messages thrown at us on a daily basis… so many of us are tired of the hype and downright skeptical of any advertising. Plus advertising can be very expensive!  

Consider the alternative, when the media shares your news, it doesn't cost you anything but a little time and effort, it lends an air of credibility to your information and you get that very valuable item we call social proof.
 
When people read something from a trusted media source, they take your news more seriously than they do our own ads. As a small business owner, do-it-yourself public relations might seem daunting, yet, hiring someone to do your PR for you might just be out of your budget right now.

Here are 7 great ideas for making your own news

1. Comment from your expertise on a current news item or do you have an opinion that others might find helpful? What can you add to the community dialogue? Like today, can you comment on what the miners might need to do to adjust to their new freedom, or possible health issues, or reestablishing relationships after trauma, or mine safety….

2. Media loves a winner – do you or your clients have a before and after story to share?

3. Plan or take part in a local event. What is a local event of interest, how can you contribute to the event? How can you encourage others to support the cause?

4. Contact local community groups, social agencies, schools, libraries and clubs, what can you teach or present to help others learn or see a new idea or new way to do something?

5. Create a checklist or top ten list to share. Media often looks for items like this when they need to fill a little space.

6. What has been your most commented on blog posts or articles? Create a story on the post and the insights learned and share those as part of your press release.

7. Be a trend-spotter.  Provide information for trade magazines in your industry of new trends or information that can solve problems.

Before you send information to the media, consider these 3 tips for getting the media to use your news.

1. Ask yourself, and others, if the information you’re about to send is really newsworthy.

2. Provide valuable information without asking for anything in return.

3. Make it easy for the media to contact you for further information. Be sure and provide an email address, phone number, and mail address.

Make sure your news story steps outside yourself and answers the larger question of “Why someone else should care?”

It might take a little extra effort to answer the “So what?” question that each media outlet will ask, but it can mean the difference between getting your story used in the media and a huge waste of time and energy. It's important to take the time — Remember when the media takes up your cause, it lends your message credibility and social proof, plus news stories don't cost you money like advertising does.

If you would like to know more on getting media attention, I'm offering a no-cost webinar —— Quick Ideas for Creating Your Own News, this Thursday, October 14th, 11am pacific / 2pm eastern

Register at http://whatyourbodysays.com/fmm

Get going quick on creating your own media attention. You will learn how to do your own PR and create media attention.  This isn't one of those "in-a-box" info products that gets you all excited and then leaves you alone to struggle your way through finding the time, the focus to get going and to do it right.

Join me this Thursday October 14th at 11am pacific / 2pm eastern for this fact-filled, no-cost training, you'll learn…

   * How to CRAFT THE MESSAGES the MEDIA WANTS TO HEAR.

   * My STEP-BY-STEP formula for crafting YOUR MEDIA MESSAGE

   * Proven strategies for keeping YOU IN THE MEDIA!

…All without being phoney, forced or sales-y.

Plus, I will share just a bit on my upcoming 6-week course on Getting Media Attention with my signature F*R*E*E Media Magic course starting October 26th. Whether you're an expert who's just getting started or an experienced marketer, I'll show you exactly how to create a media message that gets noticed. All you need to do is follow my step-by-step system to see great results in YOUR business.   Learn more at http://www.freemediamagic.com

If you already know you need media attention too, join in the fun and Save BIG with the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL. http://www.freemediamagic.com

As a special bonus, I'm offering those that register for the 6-week F*R*E*E Media Magic course by October 15th AND YOU WILL RECEIVE at NO-COST a 20-minute Media Mastery Coaching Call Personally with ME to laser-focus on your special media needs. http://www.freemediamagic.com

Have a great day whatever your adventure – I'm off to the eWomens Network Event
To Success! To Life!
Sharon
 

One of the best ways to get the word out about your small business and what you do is through speaking and demonstrating. Yet, the very idea of speaking in public strikes fear into the heart of many people.  Some literally are afraid they will show up and throw up. I know I use to be one of those people who felt moments from fainting each time I had to speak in public. A 30-second introduction at a networking event got my heart racing, my mind to go blank and 30-seconds felt like hours.

Many people are surprised to learn that I used to be terrified to speak even to a small group. Until I learned, one surprisingly quick and easy cure for the physical responses my mind and body was creating. I’m kicking myself now, because honestly I didn’t believe that this one thing would make such a profound difference not only to my responses, but with the audience response to me as well.  It is all because I finally trusted these two words of advice.

Remember – BREATHE.

Before you begin to speak, concentrate on your breathing by taking several deep breaths and focus the inhale with the word “confidence” in your mind then exhale all the tension.

As you begin your speech, remind yourself to continue to breathe low and completely.

If you find yourself forgetting words, adding filler words such as “uhs” and “ahs” or spacing out on parts of your message, you are breathing too quickly. Slow down. Pause and breathe. The new oxygen to the brain will clear the mind and allow you to start fresh.

HELPFUL HINT:  I often carry a maker in my left hand and have the left forearm parallel to the ground resting across my abdomen just below my navel. This arm placement is a conscious reminder for me to monitor my breathing. If I am breathing low and completely, the forearm will move in and out as I breathe.  (I carry the marker to have something to do with my hand; it’s not necessary to carry it.)  I’ve made a pdf of a poster I have on my wall to remind me to breathe, you can download the pdf poster to remind you too if you like.

——-

Speaking of reminders, today at 11am pacific / 2pm eastern is our Monday Morning Momentum Call (no-cost). Today we are going to talk about the Power of What We Say. Last week, we had a lively discussion about survey responses to how we ask the question. There was so much interest, it will be fun to go deeper. TODAY, How The Words We Choose Affect The Clients We Get. 

If you have registered before you will be getting a reminder email with the call log-in info. If you haven’t registered use this link: http://whatyourbodysays.com/MMM  

Monday Morning Momentum recordings and slide pdfs are published at WYBS  http://whatyourbodysays.com/monday-morning-momentum-calls/

——-

Learn How To Get MEDIA Attention — Quick Ideas for Creating Your Own News

This Thursday, October 14th, I’m giving a no-cost webinar —— Quick Ideas for Creating Your Own News.  Register at http://whatyourbodysays.com/fmm to get you going quick on creating your own media attention and to preview my newest training to go much deeper into how to do your own PR and YOUR OWN create media attention.  This isn't one of those "in-a-box" info products that gets you all excited and then leaves you alone to struggle your way through finding the time, the focus to get going and to do it right.

I'm going to hold your hand all the way through this one. Join me this Thursday October 14th at 11am pacific / 2pm eastern for this fact-filled, no-cost training, you'll learn…

    * How to CRAFT THE MESSAGES the MEDIA WANTS TO HEAR.

    * My STEP-BY-STEP formula for crafting YOUR MEDIA MESSAGE

    * Proven strategies for keeping YOU IN THE MEDIA!

…All without being phoney, forced or sales-y.

Plus, learn about the upcoming 6-week course on Getting Media Attention with my signature F*R*E*E Media Magic course starting October 26th. Whether you're an expert who's just getting started or an experienced marketer, I'll show you exactly how to create a media message that gets noticed. All you need to do is follow my step-by-step system to see great results in YOUR business.   Learn more at http://www.freemediamagic.com

Save BIG with the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL.

As a special bonus, register for the 6-week F*R*E*E Media Magic course by October 15th AND YOU WILL RECEIVE at NO-COST a 20-minute Media Mastery Coaching Call With Me so we can laser-focus on your special media needs.

Have a great day whatever your adventure

To Success! To Life!

Sharon

p.s. Today was World Take a Breath Day.  Who knew a day was dedicated to breathing. It’s good to do it everyday…..  even when we aren’t speaking in public.

RainToday.com's Podcast with Sharon Sayler: Marketing & Selling Professional Services

You know body language can affect personal relationships, but have you stopped to consider how it and other non-verbal communication can affect your sales results and your relationships with clients? People respond on a primal level to how you say and do things, says Sharon Sayler, author of the new book What Your Body Says,(and how to master the message) so it's important you do things that draw people to you, not push them away.

"I think the number one thing people don't think about in conversations is their breathing. If we're breathing high and very nervous in a situation, people will wonder why. They'll think, 'Are we in danger and nobody has told me? Should I be cautious?' So if we're breathing anxiously or nervously when we first meet someone, they're set up to be on guard."

Listen as Sharon talks about the other big non-verbal mistake people make, gives examples in which negative body language affected business interactions, and outlines how to use non-verbal communication to make people feel good about you and want to do business with you.

Click here to listen to this 20 minute podcast:  Rain Today's Interview with Sharon Sayler