People Archives - Page 79 of 107 - Sonia Marsh

My Gutsy local TV interview without preparation

June 13, 2011 by Sonia Marsh

Sonia Marsh on The Write Now Show

Back in April, I wrote a post about my first local TV interview. Several of you asked me if I was going to post it, and after a slight delay, and some editing, here it is if you’d like to see it. Now I realize I need media training and preparation. (I had no idea of the questions I would be asked ahead of time.)

Sonia Marsh on “The Write Now” show, Laguna Woods, California, April 2011

Now talking about videos, Marla Miller, (author, blogger at Marketing the Muse, RN, Query letter expert and coach) started a wonderful concept for women over 45 called, “Women over 45 speak.” She is asking women over 45 to submit a video and a bio to her about “anything you want for 3 minutes. You can promote:

yourself
your business
your cause
even your grandkids if you want.

What I love about Marla, is her Gutsy attitude about women and aging. She says society expects women as they age to disappear, to go quietly, or to chase the anti-aging cream. You can listen to her video on this topic and learn more about submitting your own three-minute video.

Remember the post about: “Are you stuck in a rut, make a life list?” where I suggested you make a life list? Well Rob-bear, and others thought it would be a good idea if we shared for example, ten items on our life list, and I think that’s a brilliant idea.
I hope you share 10 items on your Life List on Thursday June 16th, so we can compare. I shall share mine.

Are you ready to make a 3-minute video? What would you like to talk about?

Answer These 5 Questions to Have a Satisfying Retirement

May 19, 2011 by Sonia Marsh

Although many of us may be far from retirement, we need to start asking ourselves these 5 questions before we retire. Bob Lowry from Satisfying Retirement, kindly agreed to share his expertise on this subject. You may recall his previous post on my blog entitled: “4 Important Keys to Prepare for a Happy Marriage After Retirement.”

Answer These 5 Questions to Have a Satisfying Retirement

Guest Post by Bob Lowry

from

Satisfying Retirement

There is nothing simple about retirement. Everyone has a different path and a unique set of circumstances to face. But, there are some basic decisions that must be made. If you can answer these questions you are well on your way to a successful retirement.

1). When do I want to stop working? A goal without a timetable is simply a wish list. You don’t need to pick the exact day at some point in the future. But, you do need to commit to something: late spring of 2013 is fine. Now you can visualize the finish line and do what must be done to get ready.

2). Is my financial house in order? If nothing else the last few years have made many of the “rules” obsolete. Even the wisdom of owning your own home is up for review. Take a fresh look at all parts of your financial plan. Is the 6% annual rate of growth you were counting on realistic anymore? Is there a chance Social Security payments will be means-tested in the future? Once you retire, it is a little late to ask these questions.

3). How are my health and health coverage? Both will have an important impact on your life. Do you have health challenges now that might limit you in some significant way? Does your spouse have a disease that is chronic? How about your insurance? Do you keep full coverage after you stop working? Can you afford Medicare Part D or supplemental coverage? If you need to buy a new policy will anyone sell you one at a rate you can afford? I believe the costs and direction of our health care system will have a bigger impact on retirees than anything else on the horizon.

4). Where do I want to live? This is a biggie. I strongly urge you to not make a move soon after you retire. There is too much upheaval in your life as it is. A move away from friends, family, and the familiarity of the area should not be undertaken lightly. You may be sick of winter and snow. Your grown children and grandchildren may live quite a distance from you. Throwing away your winter coat sounds heavenly. Being closer to the kids would be wonderful. You may be absolutely right. But, being far from everything that gives you roots has its own costs. Don’t rush this decision. It will have a major impact on your happiness and health.

5). What will I do to stay busy and motivated? It is the rare person who can answer this question with much assuredness before retiring. You will have ideas and wishes. But, until actually living the life you won’t really know what might unfold. My suggestion is to make plans. Get excited about doing the things you have not done during your working years. Then, remain flexible. Be prepared to make corrections in your direction. Be OK with deciding one thing you thought you’d love isn’t the answer, but something new you just discovered might be.

From Building Your Satisfying Retirement-How To Make The Most of This New Phase of Your Life

You can download Bob’s free e-book, on Satisfying Retirement.

I find Bob’s questions 4 and 5 easier to answer, what about you?

(I could see myself living 3-4 months out of the year with a view like this. A pier on Ambergris Caye, Belize. A great place to inspire writers.)

Please leave your comments below for Bob to answer.

Why book promotion is like being a Viagra Salesman.

May 9, 2011 by Sonia Marsh

Sonia visiting local Indie Book Stores for future book signings.

Who can blame authors for feeling queasy about self-promotion.

That dirty word, “self-promotion” makes some of us feel we’re peddling our work like a Viagra salesman, however, this may not be a new thing. In fact, while researching how a writer should build his/her brand, I came across a great article by Tony Perrottet in the Sunday Times, Book Review. Tony points out the easy part is writing the book, but what comes after, can be horrific.

It might help to take a look back in time. Realizing that Herodotus, a first-time Greek author paid for his own book tour around the Aegean in 440 B.C. or so, makes me far more willing to shell out my own money for a book tour. Since Herodotus’ big break came during the Olympic Games, when he stood up in the temple of Zeus and declaimed his “Histories” to the wealthy, influential crowd, I now understand the necessity of hiring a PR expert to book new authors on radio and television. If Herodotus promoted his writing in front of thousands, shouldn’t we?

Then in 1887, French author, Guy de Maupassant, sent up a hot-air balloon over the Seine with the name of his latest short story, “Le Horla,” painted on its side. Now that’s Gutsy, don’t you think? I read in Guerilla Marketing for Writers: 100 Weapons for Selling Your Work, about having your book cover painted on your car, and thought, Why not?

One publisher, Behler Publications, offers a unique idea for book promotion: a book purse, or a book cover on a purse or handbag, (if you’re British.) Take a look at the concept. Imagine shopping with your book cover on your purse. (I used to sell Cookie Lee jewelry and remember my purse had small, see-through compartments, displaying the necklaces and earrings. It was a great way to get a conversation going and I sold necklaces, even while shopping at the grocery store.) So why not your own book?

Finally, I have to bring up the 12th century, clergyman Gerald of Wales. He organized his own book party in Oxford, hoping to appeal to college audiences. “The Oxford Book of Oxford,” edited by Jan Morris states that Gerald invited scholars and offered them good food and ale for three days. This did not take place without long recitations of his golden prose. So I ask you, how is that different from a cheese and wine book salon signing today?

When my friend Penelope James from Don’t Hang Up, mentioned, “My blog was originally intended to support my soon-to-be-published book, “Don’t Hang Up!”Some newbie bloggers, like me, in search of a wider audience, find ourselves caught up in the blogging world. .. At first, it was like taking an intensive course in blogging, learning about blogging from the pros, about content, traffic, message, communication, etc. Only after six months of this have I realized that I still have a lot more to learn, which will require much more involvement before I can even aspire to improve my disappointing Google stats. However, in this time, I have not written a word – not a single word – of my book. I haven’t even made corrections or done any editing.”

I told Penelope, “Please Don’t Hang Up. You have to keep going especially after all the work you’ve put into your social networking.”

And one last piece of advice from an article entitled, 5 Crippling Beliefs That Keep Writers Penniless and Mired in Mediocrity” from Copyblogger.com, “If you want to be successful, you can’t be a writer and nothing more.You also have to be a constant caretaker, a shameless promoter, a fearless champion. You have to fight for your ideas the way a mother fights for her children.”

So what do you think? Have times really changed? Hasn’t it always been about self-promotion? Do you think it’s far worse today, or are we offered more opportunities than we had in the past?

Why it’s important to feel important

May 5, 2011 by Sonia Marsh

The French are a nation of proud people who believe in projecting an image of self-confidence and “importance.” They demonstrate this clearly in the way they dress, and the food they prepare, and yes, I believe my fourteen years of living in Paris have influenced my way of thinking..

Paris from L’Arc de Triomphe

In her book, Almost French, Sarah Turnbull, an Australian author who married a French man and now lives in Paris, offers hilarious examples of the differences between Anglo Saxons and the French. She talks about the fight she had with her French boyfriend, Frédéric, over what to wear to the bakery. Apparently, “le jogging” or “tracksuit pants” were not appropriate for “le boulanger.” After several years, Sarah admits she’s becoming more Parisienne. “The fight was more than four years ago,” she says, “And I haven’t worn tracksuit pants since.” She claims to have chucked out her shapeless T-shirts and baggy woolly jumpers, which she donated to a local homeless couple, but even they refused to wear them.

So why am I bringing this up? Because I’m a firm believer that making an effort in life, pays off. Just like being disciplined about writing, exercising, teaching, or whatever else you choose, deciding on your image is also important. I’m talking about looking and feeling your best for you, so that you treat yourself as “an important person.” Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about being arrogant; I’m talking about treating yourself with the respect you deserve.

A while ago, I wrote a post on “What French Women Know; Can We Learn From Them?” which also brought up some interesting cultural differences between French and American women. The author, Debra Ollivier, an American living in Paris said, “Most French women know who they are.”

I discovered that dressing professionally boosts my confidence and helps me treat my writing as a full-time job, even though I write in my kitchen, or at the library. I do it for me.

Now when I stop at my local Peet’s coffee, I often bump into a group of friends and we joke about who’s feeling important today.

What makes you feel important? It can be anything, no matter how big or small.

Dying is not scary. Don’t postpone your life

April 25, 2011 by Sonia Marsh

Photo Link

Ric Elias almost died. He was sitting in row 1D when he heard an explosion. The plane filled with smoke and after two minutes, three things happened:

The pilot lined the plane with the Hudson river.
The pilot turned off the engines, and everything turned eerily quiet.
The pilot uttered three words: “Brace for impact.”

This was Flight 1549, the plane that crash-landed in the Hudson River in New York in January 2009.
Ric tells us what went through his mind when the doomed plane went down.

“I learned that it all changes in an instant,” he says, and because of that, “I no longer want to postpone anything in life. And that urgency, that purpose, has really changed my life.”

“I regretted the time I wasted on things that did not matter with people that matter.” Ric realized that it’s not important to be right, but just to be happy. “I’ve not had a fight with my wife in two years. It feels great.”

“The only thing that matters in my life is being a great dad. Above all, the only goal I have in life is to be a good dad.”

One thing Ric said which surprised me is, “Dying is not scary. It’s almost like we’ve been preparing for it our whole lives.” But he admitted he felt very sad.” I didn’t want to go; I love my life.” He continued to say, “I only wish for one thing. I only wish I could see my kids grow up.”

Ric’s 3 important life lessons: