Birth - Day!

Thousands upon thousands of words later, I finally saw my writer’s dream become a reality.  Duncan got my website theme installed and there it was …. beautiful!  And there were even some of my written words.  Wow!  I can’t believe what can happen in a week’s time if you just believe. 

I revealed in the “Who is Alie?” post that I’m “spiritual”.  This is evidence.  I know that one way we are made stronger is to be given enough stress to nearly break us, but not enough to completely do so.  (Think - weight lifters, pruning rose bushes.)  And I came so close a few weeks ago to giving up.  All of my thoughts and written words were not a blessing to me, but a burden because they had no where to go.

But now they will.  If not to anyone but a few close friends and family, they will now have a home and will be released into “the sphere” … 

Childbirth is a glorious thing … afterwards.

Melt-Down Prevented!

You probably read the last post and realized I was near melt-down.  Then I found relief (well, actually 4 - my sister who told me about Wordpress, her assistant who got me set up, Roy from Cyprus, who wrote me an encouraging email detailing exactly what to do next and lastly, Duncan in England, who knows Wordpress and will get me completely set up. 

I’m giving you Roy’s and Duncan’s links because they deserve my support and they are the ones to go to if you want to get into Internet Marketing or Blogging.  Whereas Roy has been like a mentor to me for my ebooks, Duncan has saved the day so that I can get them out to the public.  He was responsive, professional, encouraging, thorough, and on top of that, patient to teach me the technical side of website making (site development) so that I can actually go forward with this big dream of mine.

As you know, my full time work-a-day world is Furniture sales, and boy has the economy hit it hard.  But I’ve studied cycles for years so I know that this is not a linear thing.  At the point when all of us salespeople grow weary and begin to pack our bags, I expect the “money tree” will ripen again.  Sales is not a fun profession really.  Usually you’re in someone’s space (they think) and they don’t like it.  But the reason I do it is because it’s like when I went on Easter Egg hunts when I was a little girl, I desperately wanted the Golden Egg.  (Can you Boomers remember Mother Goose shoes?  If you bought them, you got a Golden Egg!  My mother always took us there because of those eggs and somehow my neighbor found them in her backyard on Easter morning (smart marketing even 50 years ago).  For a few years, my neighbor was getting golden eggs and I just couldn’t understand why our yard was not.)

Oh, the point - sales is like that - 1 in 10 times of saying hello to folks and showing them around the Showroom, and I’ll finally find a ”Golden Egg”, and it’s so much FUN when I do!

The crickets, the frogs are singing out of my window.  Now I’m going to watch one of my favorite shows (with Naomi Judd) “Can you Duet?”  I just love the married couple - Joey & Rory - her voice is rich and mellow.   UPDATE - Joey & Rory placed 3rd, Will & Caitlin placed 1st.  Both were fantastic!!  Of course, the 2nd place guys, Brownell & Richey were great too.  Be watching for them in the next few months because they’ll be on our country radio stations.

Wanting a “Champaigne” Website on a “Beer Budget”

Getting this website together with little money is ALMOST impossible.  I am looking forward to the day when I have the money for technical assistance.  Let me just show you the back end of things, and what I have to put in my head. 

First I had to figure out what simple program I could use to make my own website.  So my sister at (Quicksilver Interactive Group) suggested several.  So I picked:  Wordpress.

 But it ain’t easy … not one little bit.  Here’s what I’m working on now.

 Wordpress:

            How to make it Web Compliant & Search Engine Friendly

Did I pick the right Theme, which has to look just right look and have the right navigation so that people will stick around - I have to make it STICKY.  (First impressions make you or break you.)

Write the static pages with enough key words vs content and make the content interesting enough information so that folks will want to meet me (thus promoting my new biz).  [i.e. Sales 101 - Give them enough product info so that they can make a wise buying decision - don't try to "sell" them stuff]

Figure out how to a write sales and affiliate page for The Ugly Duck Makeover©, how to use an autorepsonder, and how to take credit cards.

Enough.  There’s way more to do and this is just a part time venture.  Tomorrow I go back to work and hope that the girl I met on Sunday is interested in our furniture.  The cool thing about her is that her mom and dad are from Lebanon and were so happy to meet me.  They have a new Middle Eastern restaurant that I’ll check out soon. 

Today is hair day.  I make a point in The Ugly Duck, Step # 3   to pay for quality hair care.  That’s what I do, even though it’s painful to fork over.  I figured out how to get the most weeks between dye jobs so that I only pay for hair 10 months a year.  (Gotta save someway …)  Anyway, I always look forward to visiting with Lisa (she’s fantastic - Headquarters Hair Salon in Raleigh). 

I guess I’m coming off pretty cheap.  Yes - I’m extremely frugal.  Got to make the money I set aside for Alie James LLC last so that I can make the foundation strong.  As far as hair bills???  Well, I don’t like to shop for anything because I don’t like to spend money.  Whether I have plenty or not enough, that’s my personality.  Once I post my own Dream Home Profile^™, you’ll notice that one of my most important Design Elements has to do with minimal décor.  Somehow it all goes together with being frugal, and not liking to shop.

Jewel’s Song

This post is to introduce you to the song, STRONGER WOMAN, by Jewel, as well as to formally introduce myself to you.  

Strength & Authenticity.  That’s what I get from Jewel’s song, “Stronger Woman”, and it’s a message that will hopefully encourage you as much as it does me.  I love the subtle message from her “official” video about “real women” underneath all the glitz and glitter.  If you want to see that video, click here to go to my UTube Channel and you’ll find it featured under “For the Girls”.  Anyway, I just love the words of the chorus:

“I’m gonna love myself more than anyone else
Believe in me, even if someone can’t see
A stronger woman in me

I’m going to be my own best friend
Stick with me till the end
Won’t lose myself again, never, no,
‘Cause there’s a stronger woman,
A stronger woman in me”

I hope through my talks, books, and website that I can bring something new (and of value) to your life.  Something that might help you realize your inner strength, as well as help you remember how important it is to love yourself.  If there’s one thing I do well, it’s that I really live the words of this song.  For as many years as I can remember, I have said to myself - “I love me - just the way I am” - even when people didn’t seem to understand me. 

I realize that there has to be a reason for You to want to read my books, invite me to speak at your gatherings, or visit my Website.  In the “Making New Friends” post, I mentioned ”resonance”.  But resonance only happens when you’re able to relate to the messenger, and to the message they bring.  Since I know this is true - I know that before you can even consider my message, you must be able to ”relate to” me, as the messenger.  That’s what I hope to accomplish by writing this blog.

I noticed while watching the season premiere of Nashville Star with Jewel, John Rich and Jeffrey Steele that they said over and over in as many different ways as they could say it to the hopeful contestants - ”Who are you?  Where are you coming from?  Why are you here?  Don’t fake it - let me see You.”    They were saying - ”Be Real, otherwise, don’t waste our time!”

I’m a MAJOR fan of American Idol, So You Think You can Dance, Can You Duet, Nashville Star, America’s Got Talent and The Apprentice - those reality shows that remind us of the American Dream - that everyday people can (and deserve to) realize their biggest dreams.  What I have seen EVERY TIME in these reality shows is that those who win are those with Authenticity, and who Resonate with the audience. 

I really do want to WIN your vote (and your family’s and friend’s), and I know there’s only one way to do it - that’s to be Authentic!  I promise, I will be real, and be me.  So right up front, I want you to know that every thing I’ve written, and will write in the future is, and will be, straight from my heart. 

Also I want you to know that in all my writings, I use a pen name - Alie James.  Alie is the name I chose to represent myself in my public life, and in my business.  My real name is Diane.  You might just say that “Alie” represents all that I am (or at least, think I am).  

A few years ago I did a little exercise about myself, using adjectives and nouns to describe who and what I felt myself to be.  A few days ago I decided to post this list under the title, ”Who is Alie?”  I thought that having this list would give you a good start to get to know me - both as Alie and Diane.  Diane is just my everyday name, but the name, Alie, is like my ambassador.  I guess in today’s terms, “Alie” is kind of like an “Avatar”.  She speaks on my behalf and represents all the things I feel in my heart - for myself and towards you.  So bottom line - pen name or not, you’ll get the real me in whatever I write.

Getting back to Jewel’s song, now.    

I believe we women must be strong - we must be able to look someone in the eye and speak with confidence from a pure, self-loving heart.  When we do, I believe we find that little bit of ”Extra”, which we can then add to our “Ordinary”. 

My purpose in this public arena is to make a positive difference through my writings and speaking engagements.  That’s why we’re in this together - it might just  happen that what I write and speak about will relate to you.  I think that most of us share a common journey … we want to live a beautiful life - we want to be strong, we want to love well, to feel well, and to be the “stars of all our tomorrows”.   Those are the things that are on my mind, and the things that I’ll write about.     

… So, here’s to Us! … and let’s thank Jewel for such an encouraging song, one that we’ll rally around and hopefully remind us how good it is to be ourselves!  

Making New Friends

I know that I’m NOT the life of the party.  My fun at a party or in any social setting is more from observation than interaction.  However; it’s time for me to learn how to become more sociable, especially as I grow Alie James LLC.  So I’m willing to make a small compromise.  I’ve decided to make some new friends by blogging.  However, I think it’ll only work if I write about things that mean something to me.  The reason I think this way is because of my two favorite shows:  American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.

One thing I’ve learned from watching IDOL and DANCE is understanding “it”.  One thing “it” isn’t is trying to be everything to everyone just for the votes.  Those who try that are eventually eliminated.  Those that stay on the shows, and eventually win are folks that are:

 Skillful

Likeable

Resonating

Authentic

So how does that apply to my blog???  (Oh but first let me say that the reason I’m trying to compare these shows to my Blog is to prove that the only way to “win votes” is to write about things that matter to me, not by writing about topics just to pull in an audience.)

Skill:  Well, I have the writing skill - I’ve been writing all my life.  In fact, in High School, I used to say I loved writing research papers.  I was a nerd before nerds were identified and named.  Bottom line:  I’m passionate about writing and researching things.

Likeability:  I can’t say that I’d win your votes right up front in the real world because I’m not that outgoing or talkative, but after you got to know me, I’m sure you’d find that I’m a very nice and kind person.  But this is where Authenticity comes in. I like who I am - a lot.  I’m a loyal friend and a great listener.  So, there are definitely a few folks who “like” me (and would vote for me)  - but they’re the ones who don’t care if I talk a lot or not.  But don’t you see?  That’s exactly who wins on Idol - those that stay true to themselves.

Resonance:  This is the key to “market share”.  It’s all mixed in with Likeability & Authenticity, of course, but this is the win or don’t win ingredient.  If you’re delivering a song/ a blog/ a painting /a speech … it has to have a message that relates to people, that’s called resonance.  And if enough folks relate to the message, then you get lots of votes.  Whether I resonate or not in the Web 2.0/Cyberworld/Virtual World is yet to be determined, but I’ll write about the things I like/love about my life or find interesting, and eventually, we’ll find out  if “America Votes me their next Idol” (i.e. reads my blog).     

… Let’s see … here’s some other words for “resonance”.  Electromagnetic vibrations …. frequencies … harmonics ….  that’s a start.  Yeah that’s me - my head’s elsewhere …

The Rainbow Connection

Dreams we dream, Hopes we hope, Homes we make …
These are the things that help us live a happy, healthy, beautiful life.
Could it be we found the Rainbow Connection? 

  

♥

Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows
And what’s on the other side
Rainbows are visions
But only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we’ve been told and some choose to
Believe it
I know they’re wrong, wait and see

Someday we’ll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it’s done so far
What’s so amazing
That keeps us star gazing
And what do we think we might see

Someday we’ll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

All of us under its spell
We know that it’s probably magic.

Have you been half asleep
And have you heard voices
I’ve heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound
That calls the young sailors
The voice might be one and the same
I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it
♥ It’s something that I’m supposed to be ♥

Someday we’ll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

la da da de la da da dooo
la da da de la da oooo

Thank you, Dixie Chicks, for the best version of this song I’ve ever heard!

 

Who is Alie?

What follows is an exercise I did a few years ago, under the question, "Who is Diane?" (my real name).  This gives you a great snapshot of who I think I am.  When we look back on this after a few years of you getting to know me through my blog, books and website, we’ll see if I’m really who I think I am.  This is a really cool little exercise you might want to do for yourself.  Here’s my list:

Country Music Enthusiast
Reader
Writer
Storyteller
Motivator

Cowgirl
Spirit Dancer
Ponderer
Meditator
Understander
Watcher
Listener
Whisperer
Naturalist
Nature Lover
Self-Believer
Dreamer
Schemer
Visionary
Risk Taker
Minimalist
Futurist
Multi-Dimensional Thinker
Cyclical Theorist
Conspiracy Theorist
Alternative Medicine Advocate
Preacher
Teacher
Non-Conformist
Survivor
Individualist
Friend
Fly Baby

Strong
Loyal
Sweet
Fun
Spiritual
Sassy
Cute
Sexy
Confident
Youthful
Healthy
Happy
Hopeful

Aquarian
Baby Boomer
Texas A & M Aggie
Animal Science Major
Former Dairy Farmer
Home Furnishings Sales Associate

Woman