Category: education

Posted in authors, books, education, happiness, writers

What’s Stopping Me From Being Happy by Lisa Ellis

Posted on by jtailele

• Are you feeling like you are stuck on a treadmill and not

going anywhere?

• Are you tired of repeating your same old story?

• Needing clarity with relationships, finances or work?

• Lacking the confidence, you need to move forward?

• Are you feeling the need to let go of your old baggage?

• Is it time to find new direction in your life?

If you’ve answered “YES” to any one of these questions, this

book is for you!   this book has various tools to assist you in

clarity and releasing what is no longer serving you.

~Happy Reading~ ox

Let’s give a big welcome to Lisa Ellis, Owner Operator of Boost Your Health Wellness Center and author of What’s Stopping Me From Being Happy.

You come to us with quite the resume.

Certified Life Skills Coach ~ Reiki Master/Teacher ~ NGH Certified Hypnotherapist ~ Energy Facilitator~ Ancient Black Pearl Technique ~ CCMBA (Complete Cellular Mind Body Alignment) and so much more.

JT: I believe everyone at one point in their lives have needed so boosting; whether that is because they are going through a slump, juggling too many life issues at once or suffering from true depression. You are a life safer to so many people.

Let’s talk a little about what people can expect from reading your book. What do you feel is the number one thing people need to learn about themselves to find true happiness?

Lisa: Clarity is the key to unlocking potential and recognition of personal drivers. Understanding and leveraging personal drivers can have a substantial positive impact on motivation and collaborative energy in our lives. I’ve assisted individuals with self-esteem challenges, overcome employment barriers and demonstrate the value of building bridges toward a healthier community through life skills coaching. I apply interaction and thought-provoking messages to guide an individual toward self-discovery and self-awareness. Each step increases confidence through a personalized program enabling participants to explore new opportunities with clarity. I share positive information/tools on how to declutter your mind, body and soul

JT: How did you get started in this field of work?

Lisa: I first started doing women’s shelters in Canada as a volunteer as soon as I left my abusive marriage 1988.  They had helped me so much to get my strength and courage up at that time and I thought this is my time to now pay it forward as a volunteer- I use to help them with the children when they first arrived as they were so lost and scared as most of them ended in the shelters at night.  I was also on the crisis line. I would sit with the moms and listen to their stories, Afterall we all have one, some worsts then others. I then realized this was my calling to help women, as I too knew where they came from and how difficult it could be when you are alone or think you are. I am happy to say I have kept my calling to this day, by assisting others with workshops and now my new book. Most of my clients/students have been women, but I just got a contract to now help Men in AA (alcoholics anonymous). I will be doing retreats and workshops for them in Canada, starting this June. I truly hope when I return to Fort Myers at the end of November, I will also be doing the same here for women and men. I have spent more than two decades assisting not-for-profit organization and developing programs for personal and professional enhancement. 

JT: Fascinating. My daughter also teaches life lessons with her non-profit, Connection Coalition in Miami. Perhaps someday you can work together.

Let’s talk about your book. What did you like best about writing this book?

Lisa: Since the book is a culmination of many of my workshops, it was the perfect vehicle to provide these tools to more people in the comfort of their own home without the need to come to my own personal workshop/center. 

JT: What about the cover? How much input did you have in the design?

Lisa: I designed my own, I painted my first cover 3 years ago- it was exactly what I had seen on my cover. They then put it in more professional look. Here is a copy of my original design.

JT:  How do you market your book?

Lisa: People like you who are kind and take the time. I also offer my book at my workshops.   It can also be found on my website, wwww.boostyourhealth.ca on my Facebook, Newspapers, press release, also sold online at most major retailers. I must say “finding the time to market is always my challenge. I truly appreciate this.

JT: If you were to give advice to a new author, what would it be?

Lisa: Find the right publisher, do the research, don’t rush on your first offer.  A book with no regrets is how I feel mine is. I made changes right to last minute. I have no regrets.

JT: Thank you Lisa, for sharing your time with us. It has been a pleasure.

Readers: Below are all the links that you can find her book.

https://books.apple.com/us/book/whats-stopping-me-from-being-happy/id1588308083

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781039105331&c=books

https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000181127008

Posted in addiction, children, coming of age, education, education, environment, family

I raised an addict – what could I have done differently?

Posted on by jtailele

I don’t usually re=post things of this nature. I prefer to talk about what I love, writing, But this is worth sharing with anyone who will listen, Who knows, maybe it will save a life.

via I raised an addict – what could I have done differently?.

Posted in academic, business, children, college, college debt, education, family, money, non-fiction

An Entrepreneurial Approach to Getting Out of College Debt

Posted on by jtailele

Today we have a very different author to interview.  Abigail Widynski is the author of Making Money the Millennial Way

Abigail  Front Cover Thumbnail

Do you have a background in writing or take any special writing courses that helped you along the way?

For several years, my writing was purely academic. I am grateful for a very honest and tough 11th and 12th grade English teacher who had a Ph.D. in English. He was very critical of my writing and set the bar extremely high. At the time, it was completely demoralizing that he didn’t recommend me a place in the AP English course I had my heart set on. But looking back, this was a sort of fuel later on in my education as I disciplined myself to communicate with precision.

While going to business school abroad, I was often the one tasked in our group assignments to do the speaking, proofing and writing due to the fact I was a native English speaker! Later, the communication niche continued to pop up in my work, both in non-profit and M&A (finance). I just kept writing, trying to communicate the best I knew how. So, while I didn’t take any courses, I feel my life’s experiences have been a never-ending course!
On a side note, I also do sales and corporate communications writing for business owners seeking to increase sales or communicate newsworthy or delicate information to clients. Their feedback has helped me refine a different type of writing and earn while learning! Now, I subcontract some of these contracts and now, in turn, teach my writers how to write for sales and marketing.

What other work have you done, and how has it impacted your writing career?

About two years ago, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek article for my friend and Techli.com’s founder, Ed Domain. Even as I type the title of it, I can’t help but laugh. The name said it all, ‘Dear Recession, Thanks! A Letter From a Millennial MBA.‘ Little did I realize my reality check of a recession would propel me into this dialogue on solutions. As my partner can attest to my saying (especially when he’s refusing to go to the doctor), I’m willing to offer sympathy when you’re willing to look for a solution! Now, before you brand me as cold-hearted, would you agree with me that merely talking about college debt doesn’t solve a graduate’s monthly repayment problem?

So, there it is, why I wrote this book. Students and graduates need a solution to their debt sooner, rather than later. And who doesn’t benefit from encouragement and motivation? That’s what I want to give to my readers who are the very generation of Millennial Money Makers.
Do you always write in the same genre?

Certainly not! I write on business and entrepreneurship, faith, as well as do marketing and sales writing. For my own business, I’ve written a great deal on finance. I believe that learning to write and communicate in your client’s voice stretches you as a writer and refines your own voice.
What advice would you give to new writers just getting started with their first manuscript?
Your writing style is a mirror of your personality. Are you goal-oriented or process-oriented? If you’re goal oriented, consider a writing timeline complete with mile markers and a completion date. If you’re process oriented, setting aside two hours a day/one day per week/etc may make the process both sustainable and enjoyable. Trying to fit yourself into the tips you read on ‘writing best practices’ may strain the process for you. Know yourself, own your style and carry on.
Personally, I’m highly goal-oriented and naturally an organizer. It was no headache for me to develop my title, full outline, etc. I also knew that my peak time is early morning and I need to stay active while writing. So, I took one month and completed my manuscript! I structured my day to be at the coffee shop by 6:15am, work until 8:30am, go to yoga or another fitness class, go to the library for another 2 hours, take a walk, and finish up writing at 4:30pm. At the end of every writing session, I determined which section I would address in the next writing session. This kept my mind flowing with thought and allowed me to get to work immediately when I sat down at my laptop. It worked so well for me because my writing style is a mirror of my personality!
Please complete this sentence….. My first ever published piece of writing was a travel tip that was published in the magazine Budget Travel. I was thrilled and received a years’ subscription. 😉
What is your advice to college students when it comes to college debt and how to handle it?

I think it’s critical to remember that entrepreneurship is a tool, a tool that can be wielded against debt. And as that tool sharpens and debt is eliminated, well then who knows what’s next for that student or graduate!

 

How did you conduct your research? With whom did you speak? Did you go to college campuses?

In researching this book, I wanted to get input from students making ends meet right now. I wanted to hear exactly what students are doing right now to earn money while studying. I needed to listen not just for the facts, but the struggle and resilience behind their pursuits. Also, I wanted to here their own ideas for creative money-making and things their friends had tried out! As a writer and researcher, I made the decision to compensate my survey participants and go to the place where many are trying to make money: online. Advertising for participants, I received dozens of bids and inquiries for two separate sets of surveys: experience in trying to make money (qualitative) and ideas for making money (qualitative). Sifting through a few hundred business ideas, I conducted further research against this criteria: Is it a low-capital venture? Is it quick-start? It was critical to me that I offer practical solutions; the book includes twenty-five low-capital, quick start business ideas broken into the following sections: the idea, getting started, and the nitty-gritty of pricing and overhead.
In addition to the research, I included personal stories from my education experience at Charles University in Prague and Imperial College London as well as a story or two of inspiration from my post education career working with entrepreneurs. Also included are oftentimes humorous testimonials from my college student survey participants.

Thank you, Abigail,  for being on “Writing Under Fire.” Where can readers learn more about your book or purchase it?

Press Release (Local to Marco Island): http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/01/prweb12439299.htm
Press Release (National post-State of the Union): http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/01/prweb12460853.htm
Book Website: http://getoutofcollegedebtnow.com/