I quit swimming

I quit swimming

journal
I quit swimming. Three words that once marked a pivotal moment in my life. I carried this lingering memory with fatherhood on the horizon and a seemingly ordinary life filled with adventure and success. It was a decision made years ago, a mere blip in my past, yet it had managed to go unresolved. I was the picture of success to the outside world, but beneath that facade lay a memory, a choice from my university days that had left a mark—an untold story, a journey of rediscovery that started with those fateful words. The decision to quit swimming had been tough, but it didn't define me. I had always been involved in competitive sports, and university was no exception. During those years, I took a university swim class, seeking…
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The Importance of Personal Development

The Importance of Personal Development

motivational, Personal Branding
Ever had an AMAZING business idea, opportunity or goal, but weren't sure how to turn your idea into actionable steps? This happens to EVERYONE. It’s not because you don’t have the passion or drive to make it happen, it's because you don't have the TOOLS. Ultimately, how can you drive across the USA without a car, the tool that'll get you there? If you want to go from where you are today and get to the success of tomorrow, you need the right tools and direction. (more…)
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7 differences between a Professional vs an Amateur

7 differences between a Professional vs an Amateur

Business
When I was in my early 20s, just starting out, I showed tremendous interest in taking my amateur skills to the next level. I was addicted to learning. I was drawn to the information available online, in textbooks, and other published articles. Basically, I felt, and still feel today, that there is a void in my knowledge and I knew that I had to work endlessly to catch up. (more…)
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How To Sabotage Your Business Blog

How To Sabotage Your Business Blog

Business
Frustrated with your business blog? This is an indicator that you might not be getting the right digital marketing advice, measuring impactful results, or taking a serious approach to your digital marketing efforts. Businesses need to consider digital marketing as a serious marketing tool. An example of this lack of focus is shown by too many businesses taking a blogging approach like: “we blog for the sake of blogging and to show off what the company is doing.” This showroom tactic doesn't work very well in the real world. When you look behind the curtain of this system we find inexperienced staff trying their best to learn and apply lessons taught from blogs and other internet resources. This simply isn't enough. It takes a savvy group or individual to execute digital marketing…
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A Simple, Down-to-Earth SEO Strategy

A Simple, Down-to-Earth SEO Strategy

Blogging
Today we'll discuss a sensible, down-to-earth search engine optimization (SEO) strategy for your site by optimizing your content for organic search results. SEO for Pages and Blog Posts When we use the term "optimize" we mean refine and target the content around a focused message and make sure that the page a whole aligns with the one or two keywords that you're using to be discovered through organic search. For any given page or post we will assume you've already optimized your meta title, keywords, and description for the one to two keywords. If you haven't, make sure to do that first. Let me give you some specific steps to optimize your on page content: Keep your content relatively short and a consistent length, keep it over 250 words and…
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Everybody wants muscle, but nobody wants to train

Everybody wants muscle, but nobody wants to train

Social Media
The most common thing people talk about is wanting to make a change or develop a huge project with lasting results that stick around. Let's take a look at this idea through the lens of blogging. With the obvious perks that come along with becoming a well-known blogger; business opportunities, income, fame, and positive revenue generating activities, it's easy to see why you may desire this for yourself. You may want to create a blog that gets the perks of success: an active community, sales, sponsors, engagement, and becoming a thought leader. Whether you have been blogging for a few years or are just starting out, nearly every blogger shares universal desires of making their blog "famous"! The reality is: Everyone wants the distinction, but nobody wants to do the…
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Ernest Hemingway “Learn to Write”

Ernest Hemingway “Learn to Write”

Social Media
  “It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.” – Ernest Hemingway   Learning to Write We don't have to start knowing how to write, we start out not knowing anything and then learn how to write. Although many still think that people who write well, or do anything well, are capable by some special talent. That they were born to do it. This isn't limited to just writing and authors. The idea that talent is necessary for success is ridiculous. I'm not saying talent isn't helpful, sure it is. But the best, most successful people all study, practice, and learn. To sum it up: they work hard. The common term is: overnight success. It's easy to look…
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5 Ways to Craft Your Online Persona

5 Ways to Craft Your Online Persona

Business, Marketing, Social Media
Your online persona is the digital version of yourself and is accessible to the greater public via online distribution channels. It’s not the full picture of who you are, but it represents how you’re perceived by others and how you wish to represent yourself. So I thought I'd tell you what I believe your online persona can do for your potential and a few things that you should have a base. I will also give you the best piece of advice for I received when crafting your online persona. Your Online Potential Your potential is limitless, yet you set limits on your own potential by what you believe. If you believe you are a crummy artist than you are a crummy artist. If you have difficulties with this in real…
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