I’ve been busy behind the scenes with my book: Blessed Chaos! I’m working diligently with a new editor who is making it better than it was before… so that’s been a lengthy project but one that I hope you’ll find beneficial to families who are raising “unique” kids!

Also, I did my first marathon at Disney a few weeks ago! It was excruciatingly painful because it was the coldest day of the year and one of the coldest days on record that Florida has had in about 20 years. It even snowed! There was ice on the ground! People slipped at the water stops that froze over. It was difficult to keep the body from freezing too.. so let me say, it wasn’t something that I’d like to repeat soon. But, after it was all said and done, I got a nice medal, and had an experience with euphoria when I realized.. I RAN A MARATHON!  Still, my time reflected a novice runner, so I’m getting back in the game again and training harder for NEXT TIME!

Professionally, I’ve started a business with two amazing women: Linnette Padron and Cheryl Hardy. Our new business is called Persimmon and our website is www.persimmonventures.com   We’re doing PR/Marketing for a variety of projects and people.. including my book!  If you have any projects that we should take a look at you can write us at info@persimmonventures.com or mary@persimmonventures.com. 

Always nice to correspond with friends around the country and thanks for keeping up with me on Facebook and Twitter. I hope to continue to learn about the world of Autism as well as mental, physical and spiritual health.

Thanks for checking in and I look forward to posting more! Mary

In business, it seems to be less offensive than in one’s personal life. In business, if someone doesn’t return calls it is usually because the person isn’t quite ready to do business. Perhaps they haven’t made a decision or they are working on another project. Perhaps they don’t want or need your services and so they’re saving face by not returning the calls. Casual persistence is the best way to handle these people. And dropping a hand written note with valuable information is always a good tactic. Sometimes, by adding enough value you are able to charm the person into returning or taking your calls. A rule of thumb though is to NEVER, EVER make them feel guilty for not returning the calls. It’s best to pass it off and never mention it again. It’s past history!

In business and in friendships there are usually good excuses why people aren’t returning calls.  Okay, there are times that a relationship will be put on hold due to some of the choices we make. And there are cases that a relationship is over due to the differences in values that people have.  Or, perhaps they’ve found another vender who is more affordable and they don’t have the guts to tell you.   But normally, it doesn’t happen like this. Normally, there is something else going on.

For instance:

The other person had a death in the family and is having to attend a funeral.

They are in the process of moving offices or homes.

They are at a business conference.
They are having some financial issues and getting together for lunch or dinner is not in the budget.

They have many other pressing business matters that need their attention first.

Okay, you now get the picture! People are BUSY. Taking it personal that someone isn’t calling or emailing you back is probably natural, but not practical. We are living in a different day and time now and the old days of everyone returning calls immediately has now changed to, “I’ll call you back when I can.”

Returning calls and emails is the polite thing to do. My dad once told me to always be the last one to write or call and to never leave people hanging. It’s great advice and it’s advice I share with others. But I also have tolerance for others when they are slow to move as quickly as I am at that moment.

My friend Kelly Price of Kelly Price & Company has it all figured out. Her business of real estate is all about relationships and so she makes it a point to be efficient, and organized.  Kelly switched from a paper calendar to electronic through Outlook to book appointments with her friends and clients. In her business, time of the essence so she sends a request for a meeting and once the person accepts, it gets put on both of their personal calendar. Kelly told me there is “no more phone tag” and loves the simplicity.

Blogspot Radio host and author Kerry Heaps of www.kerrysnetwork.com prefers the good old fashioned notebook to manage her phone calls. She agrees with the statistic that it takes 5-6 outgoing calls to get a returned call and by then the person is usually thanking her for her persistence!  Her method of stapling business cards to the notebook to keep a running long of her phone activity, she believes still works well for the “visual” person.

In a day in time where connecting solely by phone is almost in the past, people have to first figure out what system the person is using to communicate with others the most – Email? Texting? Twitter, Linked In, Plaxo or Facebook? Do they Skype? Teleconference?  Or do they use the good ol’ fashioned phone! But then you have to know, do they use their land line or their cell phone? So many choices! 

Most people find, that if you want to talk with someone, do what you can to make it happen by phone. When you finally are on the phone together, it’s time to seal the deal!
Because who has time to go through all of this with every vendor!? 

Phone calls are not out of style, but managing them has evolved.   Take time to create a system that works for you so you can increase the ease and efficiency in your business. And soon with all of the happy clients, people will be calling YOU.

Everyone in our world is dealing with Stress. There is no way to remove the stress from our lives. As a matter of fact, eliminating all stress in itself is stressful. But we have to learn how to recognize the stressors in our lives, and learn to say NO to ourselves and to others so we avoid certain stress.

The human body is designed to handle fear or danger. Any time it senses fear, it reacts defensively. For instance if your child is running out in the road, your body will kick into action and take whatever steps necessary to go into action. It will automatically take defensive measures, such as secreting adrenaline, in preparation to handle the crisis or to avoid it.  This is called Fight or flight. Your body is preparing to stand up and face the situation. This is how we’re able to do super human tasks when in danger.

Also, you don’t have to be in a life or death situation for your body to react. Just thinking or dreaming aobut something can cause your body to produce the same physical, mental or emotional responses. Lets try it out.

You were brought here to do a workshop on avoiding stress. But, in reality, you are all about to do a public speaking course. Each one of you is going to give a speech today about your favorite hobby.

JUST joking! The power of the mind or thought is just as real as the physical realm. So, we should make every effort to ward off stress and worry every day.

Effects of Stress:

What happens when you have something stressful is that it sends impulses to the brain.  The brain combines, integrates, emotions with reasoning.  With this process, the person reacting to the stressor analyzes the situation and if it’s scary then the body continues in the flight or fight response.

The nervous system responds in 3 ways. It directly stimulates certain organs- the heart, muscles, and respiratory system, with electrical impulses to cause a quick increase in heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension and respiration.  It signals the adrenal medulla, a part of the adrenal gland, to release the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, which alert and prepare the body to take action.  This reaction begins a half-minute after the first but lasts 10x as long.

The nervous system also stimulates the hypothalamus in the brain to release a chemical that stimulates the pituitary gland.  The pituitary gland releases a hormone releasing adrenaline and noradrenaline and to begin releasing cortisol and corticosterone which affect metabolism, including the increase of glucose production.  This third, and prolonged reaction helps maintain the energy needed to respond in a threatening situation.  Nearly every system of the body is involved, some more intently than others, in response to the stressor.

Therefore, every time we get upset or excited, or stimulated, even tho we don’t realize it, our entire system is gearing up either for fight or flight to defend itself from the perceived threatening or dangerous situation.

Then, when we calm down we get out of that emergency state and start to function normally again, in the way that we’re supposed to normally.  Then, if we get stressed again, the whole process starts over again and then we calm down and it goes back to normal.  The effects of that excessive stressing and unstressing has long lasting consequences.

Challenges and difficulties affect everyone differently. Often times we carry around the stress in our moods. We’re moody and don’t know why. Often times we’re rushing through life so fast we haven’t taken time to slow down to even process events that happen. Sometimes, as caretakers of kids and families, we are just physically drained.

Other times, unresolved issues from childhood and beliefs we developed, conduct how we live our lives. If we had an overly dominant parent, we may view people in authority with distrust. This simple attitude may cloud relationships that otherwise could have been productive in our lives.

Studies show that our own health is affected by our emotional baggage. Blood pressure can be elevated, physical symptoms of disease manifest, and our immune systems break down.

The grace and gratitude workshop can be the breakthrough in people’s lives that they need! It’s the chance to evaluate their life in a positive way and to take past hurts, turn them around to see them in a new and different, more positive way.

In this workshop:

This workshop can be the start of the participants living a new life of freedom and joy. And while this workshop can address serious issues and relationships in life, the participants coach each other through. Conversation abounds and is fun and full of energy.
Here is a recent comment:
”We feel especially grateful to have found you and heard your story. It effected me personally and has me considering why I eat the way I do…..I feel a big change coming on.” Carolyn – Orlando Fl

 I just read a stat that 80% of HR directors are now using Social Networking – LINKED IN, to hire their recruits.

 WOW… things sure have changed!

 I can see, through my own usage, that I’m getting opportunities right and left on FACEBOOK and meeting lots of national players on TWITTER. It seems that TWITTER is a marketing tool and FACEBOOK is more social, and yet, there is personal business done on FB.

 So, I’ll be better about updating the blog. My column is back in the Orlando Business Journal so I AM writing… and check out my  NEW PODCAST: marygardner.mypodcast.com. Most of these are directed at parents who are raising children on the AUTISM spectrum or who have ADHD, but they’re all about HEALTH and WELLNESS, so any of them are fine for ANY of us!

 Thanks for being back in touch!!!

 Perhaps they’ve found out how to do local internet marketing. I spoke with good friends Bruce and Ellen Fagan of Deltona who seem to have captured the attention of most of the local business in their industry and I drilled Bruce on how he took Ellen’s business, www.SteamCleanMyCarpets.com from “Ground Zero to Hero” in one month!  Bruce studied internet marketing techniques and doing searches in multiple ways on Google, Yahoo, Bing and others. He was able to increase her ratings and local presence to being a top listing in her city and now other cities (and customers!)- like Orlando, are noticing! 

Here is his strategy:

1)      Learn to use words on your website in terms of keywords or words people tend to use in searching the internet for your business.  There are several free keyword tools on the internet from which to choose.

2)      Make sure you are listed with the major search engines.

3)      Consider writing and updating a blog regularly.  These are rich in content and often include keywords that search engines love!

4)      Consider adding your company name & profile to the various free listing services.

5)      Ask your clients to provide testimonials that you can use on your site and see if they can include it on your internet listings.

6)      Google has a cool free tool based on keyword searches called Google Trends.  It                                                                       can be real useful when planning future products or forecasting sales.

If you add a valuable service, you’ve got to let the world know! And according to John D. Rockefeller who said it best:  “Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing!”

Does your life suffer from Brain Fog? Do you ever slip up and forget something really silly? Have you had stress so bad that you feel like your head or chest might pop? Have you ever been so rushed in life trying to get it all done that your overwhelm takes over and completely immobilizes you and makes you ineffective? Have you ever just “crashed” emotionally or mentally and thought.. “what the heck is the point anyway.. I’m not ever going to be able to do XYZ”…

I, like you, have suffered from all of the above at different times, and sometimes all on the same day! I’m guessing that if you’re a parent, a business person, running a house hold, managing kids, paying the bills, working, working out, managing friends and family, and trying to balance it all, then you’ve suffered too. But what I want to share with you now, is that you DON’T have to suffer any longer!!!

Last May, I met a gal on my TV tour that was also appearing on the local TV station in Cleveland. She heard me say on TV that my child suffered from ADHD and so she approached me with a huge smile and told me about a product that she was showing on the air. She insisted, that in all of her 40 years of growing up and living organic, and being in the business of owning an organic store, that she had NEVER come across a product that worked as miraculously as this one. Then she gave me a sample. It tasted like grass in liquid form, but within about 10 minutes, I felt a mental lift. Still, I thought that perhaps it was because I was on TV and having a blast that I all of a sudden felt a mental lift. But, with her encouragement of 100 % money back guarantee that I should DEFINITELY try it, I took the information and left.

When I got home, I listened to the DVD she gave me. It was interviews with many top health experts in the world, medical doctors etc, who use this product E3live –Brain On with their patients. I was intrigued, so I went on line and ordered. Within a few days, I started feeling better. At two weeks, my husband and I started calling each other saying, “wow… I think I feel good”. Within about 3 weeks, I started being more and more productive in my house. I started landscaping, sewing, and doing projects that had been sitting there for months and even years!

Within a few weeks, my son seemed to calm down. No one in our family had anger outbursts anymore that were purely chemical imbalances from food, or sugar or whatever. For the first time in a long, long time, our house, and all of us in it, were at peace and calm and “OH MY GOSH”.. we were enjoying each other!!!

As a coach and self development junkie, I’ve always been a seeker of new ways to improve myself and others. I’ve always been relatively healthy and have always been an athlete. But I can honestly say, that there has NEVER been another product, that I’ve ever used or taken that has absolutely changed the course of my life, until I discovered e3live. I am overjoyed that now my family is doing so well and my son who has had severe inattention issues, seems to continue to get better and better every day.

Now that I have signed up as a distributor on line and as the rep in the state of Florida, my friends are starting to take it. We’ve had long conversations about how life USED to be… struggling with memory, energy, anxiety and focus.. and now?? It’s joyful, and the energy seems to be abundant. We’re productive, making more money, happier and the best part about it, is that now, I’m giving this gift to any and all of my friends. In my mind, I truly believe that since our culture has gotten away from living off the land, and the food now causes us to have chemical imbalances that we wouldn’t get if we all ate 100% clean. But in 1 tablespoon of e3live, you’re getting 2 pounds of leafy green veggies, with all of the B vitamins, the Omegas, and everything your body needs for brain health and for health at a cellular level. It’s 100% organic, raw and it’s right out of the lake. It’s Blue Green algae – and if you know Dr. Oz, you know he’s all about Blue Green Algae!!! (Scientifically proven in double blind studies, medically endorsed, etc.. )

Please give yourself and your family the biggest gift that you could ever imagine – HEALTH! It’s not hard! It’s so easy and it’s 100% guaranteed or the company will send you back every single cent!!! You have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain! Stable moods, clear digestive health, healthy hair, skin and nails, Clear and FOCUSED brain, energy that abounds, being put in a good mood 10 minutes after you consume it and so many other benefits!!!

I can’t even begin to express my gratitude for this product. We’ve timed how long it takes for us to go from cranky to HAPPY and for my son it’s 3 minutes, and for me it’s 10 minutes! I’ve learned that BRAIN CHEMISTRY is just like brushing your teeth, you have to create a positive environment for your brain and body to thrive EVERY single day.

E3live will do that for you. Daily.

All it takes is a Tablespoon or two a day.. to change your life.

You have nothing to lose.. but EVERYTHING to gain!!!

I can’t wait to hear from YOU.. how YOUR life has changed. Write me SOON!!!

Click here to find out more and purchase E3Live BrainOn

I recently connected with a former swimmer from WPHS on FaceBook– Dr. George Stanley who is a Radiologist.  I’ve known him and his darling wife Suzanne for many years but have been out of touch, so I decided to drop by their offices.

Walking into the offices of Dr. Stanley at University Diagnostic Institute in Winter Park, you’d think that the economy was in full swing and never better. His energy is contagious and he’s excited with what he’s doing in his practice after all of these years.  (He also shared with me that he just received his MBA from UCF; and graduated with a 4.0 GPA!) He shared how he’s concerned about the many health facilities that have come across bad times and are closing.  Then we talked about his desire to jump start the businesses around him, which in turn would help his own.

He shared with me that he’s facilitating meetings like crazy. For instance, he’s having a celebration in honor of his graduation and will be bringing many professionals together on a Sunday afternoon to network.  He’s also set on his schedule a few lunches and dinners every week to bring potential customers together so they can meet. He’s showing up at all sorts of events and spending more time getting to know how he can help THEIR businesses, and always makes sure to get their card and he follows up by email or a note in the mail.  Of course even though he’s gotten into the online social networking kicking and screaming, it is a part of his plan, as it was how we reconnected. Even old dogs can learn new tricks, and he’s living proof!

Another cool act of generosity I’ve witnessed is Dr. Andrew Hull, a chiropractor in Winter Park.  I brought him some art work to sell from a friend which he is now displaying, among other artists from the Central Florida area.  He feels that he has the space and wants to help as many other entrepreneurs that are out there, and so his waiting area is now splattered with different artist’s paintings.  He’s got the space, and has the ability to help others, so why not? I love that mentality!

Another new associate is Linda Raines who owns a cool little all natural shop called “The Nature’s Garden” in Maitland.  I dropped by her shop recently and found her so charming, I suggested that perhaps we hold some networking events there and she was completely open and excited about the idea.  It’s a different atmosphere from a restaurant and coffee, because you’re surrounded by health food products.  As we all know, health is becoming more and more of a trend, so places like this are natural to use as a gathering place on off hours.

Even entrepreneurs who have been settled and haven’t had to reach out to any new customers are getting back in the action and are generating ideas one after another! After spending some time chatting with David Rimback, of Insurance Benefits Solutions, he’s got plans to launch a local business/finance column that will help business owners with their personal and corporate insurance.  He keeps close tabs on what’s happening in the daily news in order to inform his customers and wants to be a good resource to them.

I have found in many of these cases, that each of them had events to invite me to, people for me to network with, as I did with them.  I’ve learned that by keeping my Blackberry up to date of all of the business contacts that I have accumulated is wonderful to be able to whip out a few numbers so people can contact friends or associates quickly, and I don’t have to wait to get back to my office.  Definitely trade cards and insert the information and a date to follow up immediately!  Additionally, having my day timer (I still use the paper kind since I’m visual) with me, always ensures that I know my calendar and can RSVP when I’m given an invitation. 

It just seems there is so much energy “out there” among entrepreneurs, but it really does feel like right after 9/11 in NYC. People came together and helped one another and supported one another and there was a sense of “we’re all in this together and we WILL get through it! ”.  I get this sense about Central Florida entrepreneurs now, and it’s an exciting time to be an entrepreneur here. People are reaching out, collaborating with others, facilitating meetings for their customers and doing what they can to help.

I’m proud to be a part of this exciting and amazing community of entrepreneurs.  We’re pretty darn awesome!

I’ve been absent for a few months but I’m back! 

I have been transforming.. in nearly EVERY area of my life. As my good friend Giovanni Livera says in his speeches, that we have to RESET our life and goals and expectations occasionally.  That is what I’ve been doing.

I’ve also been READING and STUDYING about health. We’ve adapted the GLUTEN FREE lifestyle as a family and have been studying about nutrition, cooking vegetarian and organic and learning about COOKING and FOOD.

I’m also training for a MARATHON – which is scheduled in January 2010- the Disney Marathon. I’m running with Track Shack in Orlando, and enjoying it a lot. I’m up to 7 miles so far, which is what I did today.

I’ve been landscaping my yard, decorating my home and deciding what to do with my next step professionally. Since I’m a coach and trainer, I’m adding some products to my arsenal and will continue to go down the path of WELLNESS in my career. Coaching is great, but to have products and other associates who can serve my clients… that’s an added bonus. 

Sway, my husband, redid my website as you can see, and I have been working on that and learning how to use it. I’ve written several articles but didn’t post them.. yet. 

I hope to be launching my book soon.. and will share about that later. In the meantime, I hope you’ll come back and read my blogs and updates.. and let me know what’s on your mind!  My clients are re-launching too..and I’m excited to be back in the seat with them as well.

More to come! Mary