Posts Tagged ‘Michelle Ward’

10 Inspiring and Free E-Books

July 30th, 2010 | 11 Comments »

There are so many inspiring individuals online and many of them share lots of great content for free. It is amazing, but can be a bit overwhelming to try to sort through all of the goodies that are available. To help you overcome the overwhelm, I have curated a selection of 10 free e-books (and personal favorites) for you!

(1) A Brief Guide to World Domination: How to Live a Remarkable Life in a Conventional World by Chris Guillebeau

In his e-book, Chris writes, “It’s a lonely road for those of us who choose to be remarkable, and the path of convention can sometimes be appealing.  That path is paved with safe lives, middle of the road monotony, and little chance of failure.  But where’s the fun in being like everyone else out there?”

This 29-page manifesto ultimately boils down to one assertion: “You don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to.” It helps readers plan ways to achieve their goals and be one of the “remarkable few” (rather than one of the “unremarkably average”) by starting with two questions: “What do you really want to get out of life?” and “What do you have to offer the world that no one else can?”

(2) Stone Soup: Minimalist Home Cooking – A Free Cookbook by Jules Clancy

Nearly 100 beautiful pages of healthy recipes often requiring only 5 ingredients, 10 minutes, and minimal equipment. Chapters include:

  • snacks & starters
  • soup
  • salads & vegetables
  • pasta & noodles
  • grain & legumes
  • meat, fish & eggs
  • sweet treats
  • how to setup a minimalist kitchen
  • how to stock a minimalist pantry

(3) Advice on Building Your Confidence Muscles by Ana Ottman

Ana asked some of her favorite female business owners to respond to this question:

What advice would you give to women business owners that want to build their confidence muscles (and generally rock at what they do)?

Danielle LaPorte, Jess Swift, Jennifer Hofmann, Jennifer Lee, Kimberly Wilson, Leah Piken Kolidas, Pace & Kyeli, Ronna Detrick, Christine Mason Miller, and Michelle Ward join in the conversation with nearly 20 inspirational women to talk about building their confidence and rocking their dreams.  Great advice not just for entrepreneurs but for anyone looking to strengthen their self-confidence.

(4) How to Live a Meaningful Life by Barrie Davenport

Forty-six pages of inspirational and actionable strategies for creating a life full of joy, fulfillment and real purpose, including chapters on happiness, balance and moderation, beauty, and personal growth.

It guides readers through an exploration of:

  • What really matters to you most in your life.
  • How to define your real needs for security and comfort.
  • How to achieve balance and moderation to create more time and energy.
  • How and why to make a contribution to the world.
  • Strategies to make your relationships more meaningful and joyful.
  • Practical ways to incorporate and appreciate beauty in your life.
  • Why creativity is available to all of us and how to use it every day.
  • Why personal growth is essential to a meaningful life.

(5) Pounding {Your Head Against} the Pavement: A Super Free, Super Awesome Workbook that Will Make the Swelling Go Down by Michelle Ward

“But how do you know that you’re ready to let go of one (possible life-long) dream and find another? How can you be sure it’s not just a phase? Can the end justify the means?”

Michelle, the When I Grow Up coach, takes readers through 7 simple exercises to help evaluate when it’s time to stop living old dreams and expired passions and how to start transitioning into your long-terms goals and awesomeness.

(6) An Organised Life: Feel the Freedom Organisation Can Bring by Kristina Karisson

This beautifully designed zen e-book is filled with tips and ideas for finding clarity of space and clarity of mind and spirit. Kristina writes:

“At Kikki.K we believe organisation is about more than just finding things quickly. It’s about that incredible sense of wellbeing and productivity that comes form being in control, and having more time for the enjoyable things in life. People often ask me, What’s the secret to being organised? I’m certainly no expert, however over the years I’ve learnt that a few minutes invested here and there can make all the difference. This guidebook has been designed to inspire you to reap the benefits of an organized life. Identify your organization goals; tackle them one at a time; take time to discover what works for you; and be good to yourself along the way. Soon you’ll achieve that wonderful sense of calm and control.”

(7) Overcome Anything: Finding the Light After Darkness by Mary Jaksch

“Let’s face it, dealing with personal or family crises is one of the hardest things we have to do. It’s important to remember that no matter how dark it feels when you’re going through a crisis, it can finally be turned into something positive – something that makes us grow.”

Mary combines her experience as a psychotherapist with Zen guidance and practical counseling to anyone who is going through a significant change in life.  In her e-book, she takes readers through the first steps of overcoming fear, jealously, guilt and stress, finding forgiveness and ending depression to uncover new personal meaning and happiness.

(8)  Amazing Coloring eBook #1 by Frank de Kleine

Remember coloring books? The sense of possibility with a blank page and a new box of crayons? This simple e-book contains line drawings of lions, muscle cars, ballerinas, zebras and more. It’s perfect for a quick mid-afternoon creativity break. It’ll take you back to your glory days of coloring inside – or outside – the lines.

(9) Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How money, marketing and sales can deepen your heart, heal the world, and still add to your bottom line.

This 3-chapter excerpt is from Mark Silver’s book “Unveiling the Heart of Your Business.” For several years it has helped turn thousands of entrepreneurs’ understanding of business completely around.

The e-book is not only a must-read for business owners who “want to make a difference, but need to make a profit,” but also offers thoughtful advice that’s relevant for anyone wishing to bring more soul into their day-to-day work. If you’re a 9-5er, a DIY-er, or somewhere in between, this excerpt helps you connect authentically in each of the relationships that comprise your working life.

(10) Emergency Calming Techniques & the Art of Meeting Yourself Where You Are by Havi Brooks

Havi’s free sampler begins with a transcript of the Emergency Calming Techniques teleclass in which she offers bits of useful information for overcoming “stuckification.”

“And by stuckification I basically mean all the things that come together to result in our feeling like everything is just terrible. That familiar, “here I am again” stuck place. So ‘stuckification’ might mean feeling stressed, frustrated, annoyed, sad, helpless, furious, irritated or cranky.”

It also includes 2 articles on smart, useful ways to stop a freak-out moment in its tracks: “Expert Advice You Can Feel Free to Ignore” (and the five puzzle pieces that actually can create more calm) and “The Step Everyone Skips on the Way To Calm (Including Me).”

. . . . .

Do you have any favorite freebies online to share? Or, do you know of a great e-book available for less than $50 (working on a new post that will feature a few fabulous not so free e-books available!)? Love your comments :)!

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Do You Believe in the Law of Attraction?

June 9th, 2010 | 2 Comments »

The Law of Attraction has become a sizzling topic. What do you think… do you believe in the Law of Attraction? Check out my video tackling this question with Michelle Ward, Jess Swift, and Tiffany Moore. Click here to watch the video!

. . . . .

-> If you receive these posts by email, please watch for an email from me with the subject line “Please confirm your subscription.” There will be a link inside that email you’ll need to click. Once you click that, your subscription will be updated so you can get the new—and much improved!—version of these posts via email.

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For Your Inspiration: A Gift from Kind Over Matter and Spring

March 19th, 2010 | 5 Comments »

Spring is here! Inspiration is blooming!

I’m excited to share an incredibly inspiring project with you today.  The amazing women behind Kind Over Matter, Jenn Gibson and Amanda Oaks, invited the Spring girls (yup, that includes me!) to collaborate on a free printable affirmation gift set - just for you!

There are a total of 36 affirmations and instructions to create a gorgeous box to hold the affirmations year round. The patterns were designed by Spring’s Jess Gonacha Swift!

Create a beautiful gift for yourself and those you cherish.

The Printable Affirmation Gift Set

Wishing you a beautiful spring filled with bright days!

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Announcing Spring: Inspiration in Bloom!

November 10th, 2009 | 5 Comments »

Spring

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Spring! Spring in November — that’s right! Since June, I’ve been working on this new video project with three incredible (and super talented) ladies – Jess Constable, Jess Gonacha Swift, and Michelle Ward!

Learn all about the inspiration behind the project, the project details, and the people behind Spring on our website: SpringInspiration.com. And of course, please share your thoughts in the comments section! I’m so excited to hear your response to this new project!

SpringFlyer

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When I Grow Up

February 19th, 2009 | 23 Comments »

hopenote

image from ordinarycourage.com

Michelle (When I Grow Up Coach) created five questions for me. Michelle is one of the sweetest individuals I’ve “virtually” met. I found her through her blog (I think) — left a comment — and have been so inspired by Michelle’s perspective on life and her always cheerful disposition. She really reached out to me and supported my little blog journey. I am so grateful to her and look forward to supporting all of her new adventures. You must check out her blog. It’s addicting, but in a good way :).

• • •

… Q & A …

1) What keeps you up at night?

I wish this were a rhetorical question!

Currently…
- Writing (much more creative at night — probably due to the fact that I’m tired and have less energy to worry about  structure, judgment, etc.)
- “Aha!” Moments ALWAYS occur late at night for me.
- Lots of emails to respond to (tend to respond at night so I can craft more thoughtful responses)
- So much to explore and so little time
- Browsing Etsy (night time ritual — always the last thing I do before leaving my desk)
- Reading my favorite blogs

Hmmm…… I suppose a great question would be: what doesn’t keep me up at night!

2) What piece of advice would your present self give your future self, circa 2029? [note: responses are in no specific order and all advice would of course come with links!)

  • Remain Authentic
  • Write in a Journal
  • Nurture Yourself
  • Don’t put off goals and dreams for “Someday”
  • Don’t leave anything unsaid. Tell those you love — why you love them — don’t wait for your calendar to tell you when to send a thoughtful card.
  • Never stop dreaming.
  • Do all things with passion.
  • Remember, “Now is Everything”
  • Slow Down
  • Begin and end each day with a smile.
  • Express gratitude daily.
  • Trust Yourself.

3) If you could have dinner with anyone — who would it be and why?

Maya Angelou.

I have been inspired by Maya Angelou’s work for as long as I can remember. During my first week as a freshman at Duke, Maya Angelou spoke to my entire class, Class of 2007. I was very close to the stage and could literally feel every single word she spoke. Every word had intention. I remember thinking to myself, one day… I want to have that impact on others. Her words — at that moment in my life — left a mark that set me on a path… a path that I wouldn’t even understand until years later. She was living and breathing each moment in and paying attention to the smallest details, such as eye contact and speech. She filled Duke’s Chapel with more energy than I ever experienced on other occasions. Just Maya Angelou alone on stage. She lit the spark inside of me — the little whisper that said… Wake Up! I heard her speak to each incoming freshman class until I graduated in 2007.

Today, when I listen to Maya Angelou speak, my eyes fill with tears. The tears are filled with many emotions and memories. More than anything, I feel hopeful that I will “sing.”

… a few of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou …

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

“Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.”

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.”

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”

“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”

“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”

“The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.”

“Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: ‘I’m with you kid. Let’s go.’”

… about Maya Angelou …

Oprah.Com: Dr. Angelou On the Road at Duke University
Oprah.Com: About Dr. Maya Angelou

… final thoughts …
How incredible for one person to have such an impact on so many lives. It’s an impact that goes too often unrecognized because it becomes so deeply rooted within each individual touched. I had to untangle the details to reveal the big picture and realize the etching that Dr. Angelou created in my soul. It feels as if it’s always been there. But it hasn’t.   Maya Angelou’s words remain with me — and often whisper in my thoughts to do that thing called “living” — even when the skies are filled with clouds and my heart feels heavy. I hear the powerful voice and remember that now — this moment (not the next moment) — is absolutely everything.

4) What is your best character trait?

Authentic Passion.

When I become passionate about something, I am able to utilize that passion to harness the energy to overcome tremendous hurdles and obstacles. I move forward — very focused on what I want to accomplish. While it is my “best” trait, it also comes at a cost. I don’t pick and choose my passions. They have just fallen into my life and at times (such as now), I am doing many things that I am passionate about — which means I do far too much. Even though I *know* this, I can’t seem to balance it out. I suppose it has to do with my realization that -today- is my focus — not tomorrow or the next day. I fear putting things off because I know too well the reality of life. I want to know that I did everything I could to plant a powerful, positive seed that can grow beyond my time.

5) What’s your favorite TV show of all time?

Gilmore Girls!

• • •

…. Final Note ….

Again, I am inspired by the incredible Brené Brown. You must read her post: have hope, then spread it around. The post has a video at the bottom of it. It may be my favorite video of all time :). Be sure to watch the video at the end and listen to the song that accompanies it!!

…. Thank You ….
Michelle, thank you for these wonderful thought-provoking questions. And thank you to everyone who reads this little blog. I am so grateful for the tremendous support :). I always look forward to writing a new post and reading your comments.

• • • LETS HAVE SOME FUN • • •

Lets continue the blog Q & A!! Read the “Interview Rules” below!!

THE INTERVIEW RULES
* leave me a comment saying: “interview me”
* all comments will be published
* I will e-mail you five questions of my choice
* you can then answer the questions on your blog {with a link back to my blog}
* you should also post these rules, along with an offer to interview anyone else who e-mails you wanting to be interviewed
* anyone who asks to be interviewed should be sent 5 questions to answer on their blog
* it would be nice if the questions were individualized for each blogger

* Note (Carolyn’s Addition to Interview Rules): If you don’t have a blog or would rather keep your responses more private, feel free to respond to your questions directly on my blog or keep them to yourselves :).

“Beautiful Ripple Effect” of this fun blog project:

Danielle LaPorte of White Hot Truth & Carrie + Danielle sent questions to:

Michelle of When I Grow Up sent questions to:

Carolyn of A Beautiful Ripple Effect

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