Okay — I’ve said it loud I’ve said it proud. I’m a pack rat. So if you know of  a support group holla!! Now..don’t go thinking that if you came to my house I would be an episode of hoarders. I just have a way of holding on to things. I will say the my grandfather was a hoarder to the tune that you there were rooms you couldn’t go into because they were filled to the ceiling with crap. He was the king of filling paper bags worth of stuff. I really think it may be a little genetic.

So.. could I live a minimalist life. I really don’t’ think so. I could start and then slowly build back up my stuff. My husband could he believes your home should like Architect Digest will be coming over to do a photo shoot. Given that my office looks like this, that’s not happening =)

Today is all about when traveling how do you stay up your business.  This past year, I’ve traveled more than I have in several years and it’s become a little bit of a juggling game, but I think I was able to manage it with freaking myself out or having my husband feel like I was working while on vacation. So.. here is how I was able to do and still enjoy 15 days in Europe.

Productivity –– I was 6 hours ahead of the east coast, so in the AM I checked emails and sent out information. I set a timer and limited myself to just 1 hour of work. The agreement with my husband was if I got an email that made me crazy and “not fun” I had to do a shot of tequila. There were no tequila shots =). I also gave my clients 2 months notice that I was traveling and they were aware that this was a special trip. In the past, I’ve done the same where I worked for a few hours in the morning giving myself a deadline and then enjoying the day and coming back and night to finish up or play catch up.

Let me put a different spin on this. If I were staying somewhere for a period of time. The big thing would be to have structure. I need to set up time block so that I know and my clients know when I’m available and when I’ll allow myself some downtime to explore and enjoy where I am.

Staying healthy — This is a non-negotiable. I always make sure that there is a gym either on location or within close proximity. I also make sure that we do a lot of walking to make sure we are maximizing our activity levels.

Keeping up with clients — Here is where I would struggle, a bit. I had a great scheduling tool that I loved and then it was “sunsetted” then I found another tool that was okay, but now that’s having challenges as well. So.. now I really need to find another tool that I will like and can ensure that clients can book my time easily.

Keeping in touch with your network — This is something I will need to write into my schedule. I am a big user of social media, so this will be a general what’s up, but to make folks feel special, I will use Zoho to create my follow up list. This gives me all the information I need in 1 place and I can update what the conversation was about.

Today is all about what I would need in order to live someplace else. Here is my list of must haves. This list is not in any particular order.

1. must be centrally located — I’m a social person and I like to walk. So I want to be able to walk to get something to eat or have a coffee or adult beverage
2. must be able to see the water — I don’t need to be on the water as I’m not a fan of pumping out my basement if there is a storm, but I do enjoy the breezes you get from the water and hearing the seagulls and the tranquility that water brings with it.
3. my husband — I like being around him. Plus he’s fun!!
4. easy access to the airport — I’m not one of those folks who likes to go somewhere and the closest airport is like a 2+ hour drive.
5. 2 bedrooms — if we are staying at a place for at least 1 month. So that we don’t drive each other crazy it’s a must that we have some space between husband and me.
6. technology — must have a high speed internet connection and great cell coverage. Nothing makes me more crazy than slow internet connection. Sorry I just don’t have the  patience any more =) I remember dial up and once we got a high speed cable modem there was no turning back!!
7. kitchen — I need a place to make coffee. My day doesn’t get started without a cup of coffee — it’s my vice and I look forward to it!!
8. cool vibe — I love going places where my husband and I look at each other and say yeah we can stay here!
9. workout — a need a place that has a good gym or a place where I can move

What’s your list look like what would you need if you left home for an extended period of time”

I’m taking another challenge and this one is all about social media. Today is all about how I will stay in touch with you using social media. Right now I have a Facebook page, Twitter feed and Pinterest account. Am I any good at anyone of them I’d like to say no. But moving forward here are the 3 things I will get better.

1. Consistently post — not constantly, but consistently post health and fitness tips.
2. Gather feedback from my followers and fans. With that said, I LOVE feedback, what would you want to hear more about!! — just shoot me an email.
3. Step in front of the camera — I have had the privilege of meeting some of you in person and what I consistently hear and that I should step out from behind the computer and do live videos.

Stay tuned. You are going to start getting more health and fitness tips from me real soon. These past few weeks have been a great growth experience for me learning about me and how I can better service my clients.  Just like health and fitness. Blogging is a process and I’m grateful that you are going along this journey with me.

In yesterday’s blog challenge I was asked about where I wanted to live and today as about do I have it in me’ So.. let me follow up with where I’d want to live. Here are a few places that I wouldn’t mind having long term stays — ie. 1-3 months.

• Hawaii — the big island (January is whale season and they always put on a free show around sunset)
• Australia
• Bora/Bora
• Italy — just saw the Amalfi coast and fell in love – I could spend some serious time there.
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Spain
• Greece — would love to cruise the Greek isles and explore the culture it seems like it would be SUCH fun.

So.. yes, I love to travel, but not sure if I’d want to stay for extended periods of time. I really would miss my husband as he likes to travel as well. This would probably be something that he and I would have to do in retirement. But I do love to dream. This process has really opened my eyes to just how easy it would be to run my business remotely. I do have the stamina. I’m not someone who sticks to the tourist route. In fact, my husband and I enjoy doing off the beaten path stuff.

This could be my lifestyle in about 10 years, at this point I’m going to get my business set up so that this will be a matter of WHEN and not IF.

What about you do you have the stamina to live a nomadic life”

It’s a funny question to ask now. My husband and I have been talking for years about where would we live. We both enjoy warm weather and sitting outside. I also love the change of seasons. My good friend Leeanne talks about living in a place 3 months at a time. So.. I’m a little confused. What would home look like, would I be able to move from place to place to place without having any roots’ One that that would have to change is I’m a paper JUNKIE! As I’d transition my life — I’m going to have to do 2 things. 1. be less messy so that I have what I need and can travel lightly and 2. learn to go paperless. Those are HUGE hurdles for me, but once I make that transition the question still is where will I live”

I would love to spend my summers locally here in New England. Summer at times is slow to arrive but when it does boy is it glorious. During the winter the month of February can get a little rough. I know it’s only 28 days, but those 28 days can be LONG and did I mention COLD. In February I’ve had my fill of coats, hats and gloves.  I’d like to find a nice warm place to work for that month. One of my husband’s friends feels the same way and over the past few years, she’s gone to Argentina, Miami and the Bahamas. Her only requirement is that where she lives is in the same time zone as the East Coast. That seems like a good idea as I’d love to go with my husband and need to do that for his job.

So.. I don’t have a answer for that question. As look into my heart I have to ask am I’m looking to be a “suitcase entrepreneur” or just looking to be a entrepreneur that can travel with her business as needed. My gut is telling me it’s the later.

As we head into day 20 of the blog challenge I’m asked to find the tools that I will need to help me with make my vision of what Fab Fit Squad will become. Here are 3 tools that I will use:

1. Leadpages — this will be a simple way to explain on one page what I’m offering clients.
2. e-junkie — as I talked about in an earlier blog post, I told you I’d plan to offer information products. I’ve been wondering how to do it, so that once folks purchased the products I could easily let folks download it. This  product allows me to do just that.
3. Virtual staff  — UNCLE!! Since 2010 I’ve been saying I was going to learn SEO for years and it’s just not something that comes easy for me. I’m putting out some really good stuff and I want folks to find me. So. I will need to find a resource that can help me with this project.

What are you working on’ What 3 tools will you need to put in your toolbox to make it work. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, we all need a helping hand from time to time.

Today’s blog challenge is all about how will I build and grow influence. It will be a three step approach.

1. Reach out to bloggers and other social media folks.  In the past Ive been really active within the blogshere and social media. I need to get back into the habit of connecting with other bloggers and folks on social media. I will research 10 bloggers that I can partner with to do joint ventures as well as work together to guest blog on each others blogs and social profiles. Be consistent with my social media presence. Make sure that I’m active on social media daily for at least 15 min so it doesn’t become a time suck.
2. Build a PR database. Last week, I meet with a local business icon and she told me the way she built her business was by doing PR. In the late 90s I knew how to do this, but this is a whole new era. I will now  need to figure out who the local fitness PR players are as well as the influential fitness/health blogs.
3. Be visible. I’ve been told to make videos for YEARS!! Now is the time to step up and do it!!
4. Find a good writer. I talked about this in building my team, but I need to do this ASAP. To help me build my growing audience and to reach out to the press.

Last but not least is take action. This blog challenge has been AWESOME. I was told that I have many ideas, but I never follow through for the past almost 19 days that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve been making this challenge a must day. Even if I get behind by a few days I make up for.  Thank you Suitcase Entrepreneur for showing me what taking action looks like and feels like.

I know that I can’t do everything alone. I will work with my friends and current clients to help expand and shout my message from the roof tops Okay maybe not rooftops. But you get what I’m trying to say.

It’s taken me a few years to realize that while YES I can do it all by myself. It’s really not the FUN!!!. As stated in an earlier blog,  one of my main goals is to have FUN! To do this I will work with others who can help support me and my clients.  The first company I have partnered with is Isagenix.

They are based in Aroniza and thier products and company culture embody what I want my company to be about. They have a no compromise policy — this is taken directly from their website. The company strives to meet and exceed the very GMPs that the Food and Drug Administration requires under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. These guidelines cover authenticity, quarantine/release procedures, potency and purity testing of raw materials and finished products, cleanliness of the facility, employee training, documentation, and other areas. We also adhere to detailed written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and safety in each phase of our manufacturing process. To read more about it click here.

As I move forward and further flesh out my brand, I will be looking to work with companies that I can truly stand behind and with confidence tell my clients that they will help them to achieve their goals. My business is about sharing my passion and if it’s not a product I have taken or have used, it’s not something I would promote or recommend to my clients. I have integrity and want to earn and keep your trust.

I’ve had this blog since 2008 and since then it’s been a little wishy washy.  I’ve written about many health topics and they have been all over the map. Now I need to put a stake in the  ground and get real about what this blog is about and how you and I can interact and help each other. It’s about to get real up in here!

Today’s blog challenge is what 3 ways will I work with you to build credibility and trust.

1. Being myself and speaking my truth. For the past 6 months I have been bloated. As ladies we all know that we go through the time of the month that you are bloated. Well.. for me it was a gradual process as a health person, I focused on my diet and exercise. I increased the intensity of my workouts, cleaned up my diet as well as eliminated certainly food groups that are known to cause inflammation. Well.. little did I know I had a fibroid. It’s roughly the size of an orange. That is why I was so bloated. When I went to see my gyn she told me that my uterus was the size of someone who was four months regnant. So.. I guess that explains why I’ve looked like I’ve had a big lunch for the past few months. I’m working with my gyn on  a treatment protocol. Because of my bloating I had hid behind words until I could get my physique to the way I wanted it before I stepped in front of the camera again. Now, no more hiding!!
2. Find folks who resonate with me. I am driven, I enjoy helping folks achieve their goals, I can be a little hard core, I something don’t have social foreplay, I believe that my clients have the answer and that by asking the right questions, I can help them find their truth to what’s hold them back. I do misspell words, my grammar sucks when I get excited about what I’m writing about. I was a corporate marketing professional who traveled 100,000 miles so I know what it’s like to be crazy busy and have someone else determine your schedule. I get it.
3. Be social regularly. When I do it I’m great and consistent. Then I fall off the wagon completely. When I am regular folks comment and like pics of what I’m doing. I don’t post those selfish (no offense to those that do) that’s not me style. I use social media as a running commentary. I post pics of what I find humorous, what’s going on around me and occasionally forcing a couple selfie with my husband.

One last thing I plan to do is reach out to my blog community. I was really good about talking to other bloggers when I started, but since I’ve become a bad friend. So.. I want reach out to other fitness and health bloggers who can compliment my message.

When you start your business you thing you are going to do everything yourself. Mainly because that’s all you can afford. Then one day you find that you are doing more work in your business than on your business and your are drowning. You are doing more administrative tasks and less business building tasks and worst not spending time with your clients.

So.. over the next 90 days I will work to develop someone who can help me with writing. Not because I’m not a good writer, but writing takes me awhile and I’d rather have more frequent blog updates by someone with whom writing comes really easily.
The other place I plan to outsource is having someone help me with videos. I’ve been saying for YEARS that I’m going to do videos and I have never done them. I need some help.  Someone who’s good a shoot them and helping me with the editing. I know they don’t need to be oscar worthy, but don’t choppy and shaky. I’m a bit of a control freak so I’m going to go out of my way to ensure that I empower the folks who will be part of my team.

Each month I send out a newsletter to everyone on my list. I share with you recipes, workouts, an interesting healthy article that you take action on and a new product that I’m using. I would like to increase my communication to you to every other week.

If there is anything else you’d like to hear about, please let me know.

I’ve been doing a newsletter for over 3 years. I started doing it weekly and then found that when I changed to monthly readership increase. So.. I’m hoping that when I start to do it bi monthly you will like it as well.

For those of you who , get my emails I ‘m sure you see the value in it, but I would love to have other receive it as well. I need to develop an offer on my website and on my social media channels to recruit new member for the squad.