Funeral Home Websites – Revolutionized!
August 31, 2009
Our brilliant, young strategic partner, Joe Joachim, founder of funeralOne, will be unveiling their new approach to funeral home Web sites tomorrow on a Webinar, tomorrow (September 1st) at NOON Pacific Time/3:00 pm Eastern. I’m urging everyone to sign up, and …
Expansion and Risk-Taking
August 28, 2009
I receive emails from Kristin and David Morelli, the founders of Everything is Energy. Their most recent email included great information on expansion, the topic of our launch event…and I thought it appropriate to share: “In our lives we continually expand ourselves by taking risks. The biggest risks often feel like jumping off the cliff without a guarantee you will land alive. But these are the moments in which we grow into our greatest expressions of ourselves. In fact, getting comfortable outside your comfort zone is why most people and companies in our world are successful. If you are like the two of us, it is about incorporating risk into everything you do to continually expand in every area of life. Just last weekend we chose the steepest possible route to bike our way down some thrilling yet fear inducing Colorado backcountry terrain. Not only did this scare the [bleep] out of us – it expanded us in surprising ways. And because of this we are so happy we set aside our fears and took the risk. Expansion and growth is our mantra, and
Ashes to Glass – a Wonderful Woman-Owned Business
August 27, 2009
I received a wonderful gift yesterday, from Heidi Brown, of Ashes to Glass. This is a family-owned firm, which grew out of their own desire to create something beautiful, that could be held in a hand, from the ashes of their father. She sent me two of the most beautiful pendants I’ve seen: 
I invite you to visit their Web site to read more, but be sure that I’ll have additional information for you here – I’m going to have coffee with Heidi next week, to explore ways to promote their very affordable, very beautiful art glass commemorative pieces. 
I invite you to read some of the heart-warming comments on
Rob Heppell Presents: Embalming 2009 on 9/2/09
August 27, 2009
Our Strategic Partner, Rob Heppell, is offering an online course of interest to many of our members. It’s a 3-hour Embalming CEU Program (via live webinar) called: From the Smallest to the Biggest Challenges . . . The Smallest Challenges refers to Dr. Fred Roberts’ presentation about the H1N1 virus and other newly
I know, I know…but I just HAD to share this…
August 27, 2009
Ok; this came to me as an email forward. I usually regret opening such messages, but there was no way I could resist the subject line: God/Dog. Of course, I was immediately reminded the beat poet Alan Ginsberg, and his exploration of the palindrome of …
Funeria’s New Web site – and a stunning collection of urns!
August 26, 2009
From their press release, delivered into my Inbox this morning: 
Northern California-based FUNERIA LLC, a distinguished arts agency and pioneer in the emerging international …
10,000 hours…am I kidding? Nope!
August 25, 2009
Malcolm Gladwell, in his newish book, Outliers, shares his discoveries about what really contributes to exceptional accomplishment in your professional or personal life. 
Gladwell’s research discovered a remarkable thing – most folks reach a level of mastery after 10,000 hours of practice. H. Jackson Brown said, “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly
Monday Morning Productivity Tips
August 24, 2009
One of the brilliant Internet entrepreneurs I’ve had the pleasure of working with, Rich Schefren, of Strategic Profits, has built a team of equally-bright, innovative ‘go-getters,’ including the author of this article, Todd Brown. I think these tips are some of the best around; great reminders of how to get more done, in less time. 1. Use self-imposed discipline. In other words, put yourself in a position where you have to get XYZ done. Making the project “public” in some way holds you accountable. 2. Every project, task, milestone you work on should have a deadline.
Death Certificates – are they an issue for your firm?
August 21, 2009
There was an article published just yesterday, August 20th, 2009; which can be viewed here. The authors of “Accurate Death Certificates Challenged by Poor Training,” contend that our health care system makes it difficult to get this document prepared on behalf of client families. Completing the document
The AWFD Launch Event – a Success
August 20, 2009
And, of course, ‘success’ is a relative term, isn’t it? We had a very small turnout – a select group of women, I like to think; but nonetheless, I consider the 56 minutes to be time well-spent. Our guest was Karen Cappello, PCC, CLC, who shared her perspectives on the concept of ‘expansion’ – how reaching for those things in life that excite and delight you brings greater enjoyment to life. This may seem to be a no-brainer – but how many times do we find ourselves ‘locked’ into a pattern of daily life than is not energizing, but rather emotionally, spiritually, and physically draining? Expansion in our personal – and professional –lives means a willingness to step outside our comfort zones; to take a risk. But, the rewards can be enormous: trying new things in your business can bring in new client families, increase customer satisfaction, and build client retention. And trying new things in your private life – new hobbies, new habits – can bring a great deal of joy, which ripples out into the wider world. The Association of Women Funeral Directors came into being