December 14, 2006, Vol. IV Issue 24

It was three years ago last week that I decided it was time to dive in and publish this e-news. I had bought a manual, studied it and played around with the prospects. And suddenly something timely came up that I felt impelled to share. It was time to take the plunge. We started with text only and I think that was important – to concentrate on the words so that the message was worth reading. That probably comes from my love of writing, and background as an advertising copywriter.

As of our March 30 issue this year, we took another plunge into graphics and I’ve been thrilled with it. With the help of Paul, our web guy, it’s actually easier for me than doing it the other way. Thank you, Paul. You’re the best!

And thank YOU, readers for sticking with us, and to our new subscribers, for joining us. I trust you’re enjoying the pictures and easy reading format. Since so many of you will get to be away from your offices between Christmas and New Year’s, we’re going to make this the last issue of the year — one less thing to read when you get back.

Meantime, the best thing I can think of to offer you this holiday season is the gift of life and our ability to give it when unexpected.

CPR Comes Home

When I attended my local Go Red for Women luncheon last month, I learned about an idea that makes such perfect sense, it immediately caught my attention. And what a great gift – at $29.95! Priceless.

Do you know CPR? Do you feel guilty because you don’t? We’ve all seen it on TV. Maybe you know someone whose life was saved by someone knowing CPR.

Each year, cardiovascular disease and sudden cardiac arrest claim the lives of 335,000 Americans before they reach a hospital. Almost 80 percent of cardiac arrests occur at home and are witnessed by a family member. Believe it or not, currently the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims is less than 5 percent. CPR can double a victim’s chance of survival by maintaining vital blood flow to the heart and brain until more advanced care can be given.

But it’s something you have to attend a class to learn, right? I learned CPR many years ago, in a Nia training. CPR certification was a necessary part of being an instructor. I didn’t end up teaching Nia and I have forgotten the procedures by now. I suspect that I am probably not the only person on the planet who could benefit from a CPR refresher course. Can you identify with this?

That’s why I think this is such a stellar idea. You don’t need to be certified to know what to do. You just need to know what to do and how to do it. It’s not hard. Yet, performing life-saving CPR can double a victim’s chance of survival – someone we happen to meet or more likely … someone we know and love intimately.

The Family & Friends™ CPR Anytime™ Personal Learning Program can bring CPR training into the homes of families everywhere. It is a self-directed, personal CPR kit that makes learning the core skills of CPR easy, convenient, affordable and fun for the whole family. It takes just 22 minutes to learn and can be done anywhere. Although this kit does not provide certification in CPR, it does teach you the skills. You can share it with friends and family. Take it to a family reunion, on your annual family camping gathering, anyplace where two or more are gathered. I think this is absolutely revolutionary. It’s efficacy is even backed up by research. You can learn more about that and how to order the kit.

I may not be able to stuff this in my husband’s stocking (We agreed to stocking only presents this year). Nonetheless, there will definitely be one under my Christmas tree this year.

A Glimpse of Things to Come…

I am so appreciative of those of you who come back to us year after year. Learning about what works for you, what fits you and your community and audience, I keep my ears and eyes open for speakers who will be just the ticket for your event and your budget. If you haven’t visited our website recently, you might want to check it out. For those of you looking for heart health programs, look up Dr. Nieca Goldberg, author of the book, Women Are Not Small Men. I’ll be reporting on her program when she speaks for a client here in the Northwest in February.

Notably, the biggest demand has been for speakers who will “make our audiences belly laugh.” In that category, we’re bringing you Bobbie Staten, Peggy Kline and Sally Baskey – all have been highly recommended.

And in a category that I’ve embraced from the beginning of my business, I’m excited to welcome LaDonna Gatlin, a musical performer and speaker, to The Speak Well Being Group. LaDonna (Yes, she’s a sister to the Gatlin Brothers) got rave, rave, rave reviews on every level from one of our very best clients.

And, yes, you our clients are a resource, as well as our speakers and friends who give us tips. I’m always happy to check someone out for you. In fact, through a recent synchronistic connection, I tapped into a virtual gold vein of talent I’ll be adding to our roster in the coming months. Stay tuned.

A Grateful Heart

With all that’s going in the world, I feel more fortunate than ever to live in a place I love with a man I love, to have an abundance of family and friends, good health and the freedom to do work that I love. I not only feel fortunate, I appreciate it more than ever before in my lifetime. I’m grateful for so many of you who are long-time clients and all of the new ones who have joined us this year. And I’m grateful for so many speaker friends, old and new, who schlep through airports and get on airplanes to go out and share their passions. They write books, mortgage their houses to follow their dreams and, like me, deal with all of the ups and downs of being entrepreneurs. They spend time listening to our clients and they go the extra mile in designing their programs for your event because they know it’s about you, not them.

It’s all actually pretty simple, when people know their values. For example, when asked to share her beauty tips, Audrey Hepburn responded:

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

Until next time, take care of yourself, do what feels right to be a world citizen and enjoy this season with your family and friends for your well being and those you love. You deserve it and so do they.

Yours truly in good health and good intentions,
Barbara