With my friend, Sharon at the Famil Club function at L'Aqua Darling Harbour. Speaker, Eric Bailey sponsored by Coyote.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
OneCoach has developed the world’s most successful Business Mastery Program for small business owners who want to achieve extraordinary results in their businesses and in their lives.
The Founders of OneCoach are Murray Smith and John Assaraf. Between them, they have built 17 multi-million dollar companies in 17 different industries. In reflecting on their successes and lessons learned, they realized that in building their own companies, they had developed and followed a success “Business Blueprint’ any serious business owner can follow to grow their business. CLICK HERE for more information.
The Founders of OneCoach are Murray Smith and John Assaraf. Between them, they have built 17 multi-million dollar companies in 17 different industries. In reflecting on their successes and lessons learned, they realized that in building their own companies, they had developed and followed a success “Business Blueprint’ any serious business owner can follow to grow their business. CLICK HERE for more information.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Pictured here with one of my favourite men - Eric Bailey. Eric is one of the dynamic speakers that I represent at Coyote. This was taken at the Mission Australia's Gala Dinner at the Shangri La Sydney on 31.8.06. Eric spoke without fee, and even having just lost his father 3 weeks previous.
Why on earth did I create a website selling dog products when I own and operate a professional speakers bureau? Very simple, having one source of income isn't wise. I am asked all the time how did I create the ezine, how did I start affiliate marketing, how did I build all these websites? The answer is - I taught myself. To date I have built www.coyote.com.au www.dinnerdouze.com.au www.poshdogsonline.com www.skmag.com www.feelyounger.com.au I taught myself how to build websites and I invested in a fantastic product to teach myself how to create the ezine A sample of my ezine is here Coyote's Featured Article
So getting back to Poshdogsonline. I was sitting at my desk one night thinking of a good way I could give my mother something to do. She lives in the country and is quite isolated, especially as my 71 year old father is still working as a builder and is out most of the day. Mum loves dogs, so I built a website in less than a day, I then spent a few hours getting my affilate products together, then I advertised in Google adwords. We have ordered some great cards which have a photo of a dog on it and which says "Try sniffing around this site" and when we feel like it, we put some doggy treats in a bag with the card attached and go and hand it out to the local dog owners! They love us - the dogs really love us. My mum now has something to keep her occupied as I certainly don't have time to track sales and correspond with people and we both have an extra income.
Monday, August 07, 2006
International Special Events Society
This month I am the Featured Member CLICK HERE for interview
The International Special Events Society (ISES) is comprised of over 4.000 professionals in 40 countries representing special events producers (from festivals to trade shows), caterers, decorators, florists, destination management companies, rental companies, special effects experts, tent suppliers, audio-visual technicians, party and convention coordinators, balloon artists, educators, journalists, hotel sales managers, specialty entertainers, convention center managers, venues and many more.
This month I am the Featured Member CLICK HERE for interview
The International Special Events Society (ISES) is comprised of over 4.000 professionals in 40 countries representing special events producers (from festivals to trade shows), caterers, decorators, florists, destination management companies, rental companies, special effects experts, tent suppliers, audio-visual technicians, party and convention coordinators, balloon artists, educators, journalists, hotel sales managers, specialty entertainers, convention center managers, venues and many more.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Two trips in an ambulance in 5 days.
Last week saw my very own "Groundhog Day". It all started at a Taekwondo lesson about 3 weeks ago now. I was holding the crashpad for my training partner, who happens to be a male and very much bigger than I am. He did a side kick and I lost balance and remember being jarred rather badly. Two days after that I was exhibiting at a trade show, and woke up that morning with a neck so stiff and sore I could hardly move. Since I had invested a lot of money in the trade show I decided I was still going, despite the pain I was in. One day after the trade show finished, I noticed that my left thumb and part of my hand and wrist was numb, it was rather disturbing but I thought it would just go away if I did my usual thing - ignore it.
I waited a week and the numbness became worse so I finally took myself to the doctor. This is where things really got weird. After numerous tests and an obvious weakness in my left arm, my doctor told me to lay on the bed, whilst she called an ambulance as she suspected I may be walking around with a cervical spine injury. No matter how much I protested how busy I was, that I had actually ran down to the surgery, and I had been training at Taekwondo since the incident, she still made me lay down on the bed and keep perfectly still. I was very annoyed because I just don't have time for this sort of thing.The story gets better, the ambulance arrived and they carried me out on a stretcher with full spinal precautions, that means in a neck brace and strapped down, I wasn't allowed to move. Oh yes plus an injection in my arm to make sure I didn't vomit in the ambulance as can happen with full spinal precautions. Rather terrifying experience to be strapped to a board, head in a brace and being carried out by two women and a man as they couldn't fit the trolley into the doctor's surgery.
At the hospital I became increasingly annoyed at the time I was wasting but it did cross my mind that something serious may really be going on, and as the hours passed I thought to myself, "imagine if I had to stay like this for days, weeks or even months." It was very uncomfortable and disturbing because I couldn't even watch what was going on around me. Finally a doctor arrived and I told him I was going to discharge myself because I'd had enough. Believe it or not, after examining my neck they sent me home without any x-rays.
So a few days go by and the numbness is worse than ever. Off back to the doctor, who was not very impressed with the hospital and again, I was ordered to lay down on the bed and the ambulance was called with the full spinal precautions. I protested and told her that I drove to the surgery and couldn't leave my car in the council carpark and that I was busy and pleaded with her to let me drive myself to the hospital. No! Was the answer. So once again off I went but this time I decided to listen to the messages that I was given. This time I was much calmer, this time I just accepted this is what is happening today and work could wait. It made assess my life and realise how naughty I am that I don't have a very good work life balance. The hospital did x-rays this time and as it turns out I have damaged nerves on the end of what they call a 'cervical rib'. The numbness is still here at time of writing and it appears I will need some physiotherapy and further investigations.
I think the lessons learnt here is that I am not as invincible as I think, that I do need to respect my own time, and that I need to work smarter not harder with long hours. The wake up call has made me make some very well needed adjustments to my lifestyle. I have been asked by numerous family members and friends to consider stopping Taekwondo, but I'm a person who sets goals and I won't stop until I'm a Black Belt, however long it takes.Take some time to view the
Conscious 1 Media Player Click Here
Last week saw my very own "Groundhog Day". It all started at a Taekwondo lesson about 3 weeks ago now. I was holding the crashpad for my training partner, who happens to be a male and very much bigger than I am. He did a side kick and I lost balance and remember being jarred rather badly. Two days after that I was exhibiting at a trade show, and woke up that morning with a neck so stiff and sore I could hardly move. Since I had invested a lot of money in the trade show I decided I was still going, despite the pain I was in. One day after the trade show finished, I noticed that my left thumb and part of my hand and wrist was numb, it was rather disturbing but I thought it would just go away if I did my usual thing - ignore it.
I waited a week and the numbness became worse so I finally took myself to the doctor. This is where things really got weird. After numerous tests and an obvious weakness in my left arm, my doctor told me to lay on the bed, whilst she called an ambulance as she suspected I may be walking around with a cervical spine injury. No matter how much I protested how busy I was, that I had actually ran down to the surgery, and I had been training at Taekwondo since the incident, she still made me lay down on the bed and keep perfectly still. I was very annoyed because I just don't have time for this sort of thing.The story gets better, the ambulance arrived and they carried me out on a stretcher with full spinal precautions, that means in a neck brace and strapped down, I wasn't allowed to move. Oh yes plus an injection in my arm to make sure I didn't vomit in the ambulance as can happen with full spinal precautions. Rather terrifying experience to be strapped to a board, head in a brace and being carried out by two women and a man as they couldn't fit the trolley into the doctor's surgery.
At the hospital I became increasingly annoyed at the time I was wasting but it did cross my mind that something serious may really be going on, and as the hours passed I thought to myself, "imagine if I had to stay like this for days, weeks or even months." It was very uncomfortable and disturbing because I couldn't even watch what was going on around me. Finally a doctor arrived and I told him I was going to discharge myself because I'd had enough. Believe it or not, after examining my neck they sent me home without any x-rays.
So a few days go by and the numbness is worse than ever. Off back to the doctor, who was not very impressed with the hospital and again, I was ordered to lay down on the bed and the ambulance was called with the full spinal precautions. I protested and told her that I drove to the surgery and couldn't leave my car in the council carpark and that I was busy and pleaded with her to let me drive myself to the hospital. No! Was the answer. So once again off I went but this time I decided to listen to the messages that I was given. This time I was much calmer, this time I just accepted this is what is happening today and work could wait. It made assess my life and realise how naughty I am that I don't have a very good work life balance. The hospital did x-rays this time and as it turns out I have damaged nerves on the end of what they call a 'cervical rib'. The numbness is still here at time of writing and it appears I will need some physiotherapy and further investigations.
I think the lessons learnt here is that I am not as invincible as I think, that I do need to respect my own time, and that I need to work smarter not harder with long hours. The wake up call has made me make some very well needed adjustments to my lifestyle. I have been asked by numerous family members and friends to consider stopping Taekwondo, but I'm a person who sets goals and I won't stop until I'm a Black Belt, however long it takes.Take some time to view the
Conscious 1 Media Player Click Here
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Saturday, July 08, 2006
The Effects of Suicide
"Don't put your brother behind you, put him beside you and walk on".
These words changed my life. They were said to me about 5 months after the suicide of my beautiful brother Gary. They were spoken to me when I looked 10 years older than I was due to the stress of his death, I weighed 46kgs and quite frankly, looked and felt like death myself. My neighbour, Patrick, took me aside one day and spoke those words to me and I made a decision there and then, to do just that. I hope I have made Gary proud. The full story is in my upcoming book.
My heart bleeds when I hear of other people who have lost someone to suicide. It bleeds even more when I hear of people that are so desperate that they don't want to be part of this journey we call life anymore. For those of us left behind our lives are never the same again. For me, it's been a long hard journey and I wonder if he hadn't died, where would I be now? Certainly not here I'm sure.
I urge anyone that is unhappy to seek help, don't take your life because you may think that the people you leave behind will cope. I can tell you - we don't! We don't ever recover from it! It leaves a permanent scar on us - don't do it!
The two drawings above are part of a collection of 6 that Gary drew. He was a brilliant artist and these are just a portion of two of them. Gary and I were writing a book for children, and when he died it was halfway finished. I haven't published it yet because he never finished all the drawings.
In memory of Gary (Gaz) Steven Doran alias Mars Solar
- To be your sister is an honour!
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