Internet Marketing Toronto - Ignite!

Sometimes Heroes Come in Small Sizes

I’m going to take a step away from our usual PPC, SEO fodder and share with you, gentle reader, something that is close to my heart.

A few years ago I was given the opportunity to visit Northern Uganda, a part of the world I had never given a second thought to. I was working with Canadian Food for the Hungry International (check out the pic of the smiling man… I took that!) who was in the midst of providing relief and development to this region of Africa. Specifically, they were beginning a center to care for the young girls who were victimized by war and neglect.

For those who aren’t familiar with the story of Northern Uganda, permit me to share it with you. For over 20 years the Acholii tribe of this region has been brutally terrorized by a rebel group called The Lords Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA are led by Joseph Kony, a mystic spiritual leader who fuels the ranks of his brigades by kidnapping children at night while they sleep. His new recruits are forced to obey his commanders and made to kill their brothers, sisters, parents and tribesmen - all in the name of terror and an attempt to “overthrow the government.” In an attempt to bring security to the region, the government has forced the millions of Acholii to live in “refugee” camps within their own land - prisoners of sorts with very little hope. Many children have grown up without ever knowing their ancestral lands and farms.

This evening, I watched an uplifting film called War Dance which chronicles an elementary school from Northern Uganda as they prepare for the National Music Competition where schools from around Uganda compete in traditional dance, choral, instrumental and original composition performances.

I encourage you to watch this film before you read on… and I warn that below… there is a spoiler

What I loved about this film is the way the directors told the story of Northern Uganda while demonstrating the unrelenting hope that is deep within the hearts of all Acholi children. Of particular note was the story of Dominic who shares the horrors he faced in “the bush” under the command of the LRA and how he lost his older brother. His ability to play the xylophone was amazing and will warm even the hardest heart. I was so happy to see him with the individual award for best musician and the entire school win for Best Cultural Dance. The dance they performed in the main auditorium in front of the largest crowd these children have probably ever seen.

To see them hold their trophy with such pride - giving home to their entire tribe reminds me that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

Look for the video at your local rental shop or purchase it online and help support a great cause.

Top 5 Tips for Goal Setting

{{stephanie}} Goal setting is extremely important but only a small number of us actually participate in it. By outlining what we want in the future and how we are going to get there…the difficult part is complete.

Goals are an important part of any segment of one’s life. You can have personal, professional, athletic, leisure, spiritual, familial or relationship goals. All of which can create who you are and who you want to be. I started writing out my goals about 2 years ago. I never thought that it was making a difference until one day I sat down with a friend of mine and looked at my goals from a year ago. Each and every single one had been met. WOW!! Fantastic. It was very exciting because when I thought back to how I achieved each one, I realized that by listing them and looking at them regularly, I did not feel as though the goals were huge unachievable things. Rather, my goals started to feel like logical next steps. Below are my top 5 tips for goal setting:

1. Think before you write…and don’t be afraid to edit

Really go through that head of yours and think about all of the different things that truly make up what others see as you. Think about who you want to be in life and how and what it will take to get you there. Write out each one in a journal or notebook that you will look at regularly. Most importantly, feel free to edit. Feelings change and life throws us surprises that we never expected…so don’t worry, just change them. Your allowed!

2. Be Realistic

The worst thing you can do is write out goals that you will only ever achieve if a miracle happens. Write out goals that offer a challenge but that are also in the realm of possibility.

3. Take Baby Steps

Try writing out goals that are incremental steps to a greater purpose. For example, join a local running group. This goal focused on something attainable and realistic but something you have to work for nonetheless. The fact is that your goal could be that you want to run a marathon but you have never run before in your life. Baby steps!

4. Look at them often

Look at your goals daily if you can.  They will keep you focused and a constant reminder for what you want.  Some people like to use visuals on a goal board and others enjoy journaling.  I have tried both and liked them each for different reasons so try them out and see what works for you.

5. Have both Short and Long Term Goals

Although baby steps is important, you also need to have a bigger picture in mind.  Write out your long term goals and then break it down. What little steps will help you get to the greater goals?

Good Luck!!

~S

Is work making you crazy??

{{stephanie}} Well maybe it won’t make you crazy (although I think we are all a little crazy some days) but what will constant stress and a lack of work-life balance do for us in the long run?

Work-life balance. This is a concept we all hear, some try to strive for it, and others believe they have already achieved. We all want it…can we achieve it? I am still trying.. Wikipedia says that, “‘Work-life balance’ was coined to address the unhealthy life choices that many people were making; they were choosing to neglect other important area of their lives such as family, friends, and hobbies in favor of work-related chores and goals.” There are a lot of elements to each of our lives. How are we dealing with them?

You are either an employee, employer, or sole proprietor; all come with unique challenges. Regardless, some stats that I read recently did not shock me…and that is the startling part. According to a study conducted recently by the Canadian Mental Health organization, 83% of Canadians reported having shown up for work while sick or exhausted. This doesn’t strike me as shocking. I expected it.

Typically, most people don’t take time off work for a cold or because we stayed up a bit late the night before but people should take time to recoup when they are very ill or under extreme exhaustion. Do we take that time to heal? As an employer or sole proprietor, there is less likelihood that you even take weekends off to relax. Take time and allow your team to take time. Whether it would be to recover or relax; you and your team will come back rejuvenated, motivated, and more productive.

So how is this lack of work-life balance affecting us over time?

We are in a time where we are getting fatter, eating bad quality foods, overworking ourselves…and for what? To die younger, live with disease, destroy relationships and suffer physically? Life expectancy is starting to drop in different areas in the United States, according to a recent study done. David Brown of the Washington Post reported that, “For the first time since the Spanish influenza of 1918, life expectancy is falling for a significant number of American women”. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO OURSELVES? Since 1918? Really? Are you kidding me? Currently, we are the most intelligent and resourceful we have ever been in history and neglecting the number one commodity…us.

Today’s blog is definitely a mish mash of thoughts but it is something I hope you all think about. We are useless to our families, friends, companies, bosses and employees if we can’t take care of ourselves. As I am writing this I am reminded of the airplane warnings when you board…they tell you to place the oxygen mask on yourself BEFORE helping your loved ones. The first time I saw that I said to myself, “Why wouldn’t I help my kid first?” I get it now: if I am starting to pass out…I will be useless to my child.

Please feel free to share how you feel about this topic and what your experiences are.

Take care of yourself!

~S

What will make your business succeed?

{{stephanie}} There is only one thing in this world that I believe can truly help you grow and thrive in any business: YOU! How can you stay effective and productive at work? Get healthy!

Traditionally, this blog has been about internet marketing, business development, news and other related matters. Something that is equally important is the individuals who run and fuel the ideas that shape our world. It is important to all of us that our businesses and relationships are doing well. Nothing in our lives or careers will succeed if we are not healthy. Part of the Spark Internet Marketing mantra is to help our clients and others through valuable information. Therefore, we are going to do a series on Health and Wellness in our blog.

Our first topic of choice is food…we all eat, we all love it, and most of us don’t eat the right things. Granted, I am not an expert in the food industry; so to help us along this journey, we are going to take a little advice from those who do know about this industry. A book was recently published by Michael Pollan called In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto. The book is simple to read and offers straight forward tips that a five year old can remember. His message is about the types of food we are eating and how unhealthy it has all become. With all of the fad diets and the radical recommendations on food, this is a refreshing change. Pollan is not asking for something radical that no one has ever heard of. He is asking you to look at what your eating and question whether it makes sense or not. Below is a list of some points from the book. If you have a chance, grab it and read it. You can also watch Pollan’s interview on The Hour podcast.

1. Avoid food products containing

a) Ingredients that are unfamiliar unpronounceable
b) More than five in number
c) That include high fructose corn syrup

2. Avoid food products that make health claims
3. Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle
4. Get our of the supermarket whenever possible and check out farmer’s markets
5. Eat mostly plants, especially leaves
6. You are what you eat
7. If you have the space, buy a freezer
8. Eat like an omnivore
9. Eat well-grown food from healthy soils
10. Eat wild foods if you can
11.Be the kind of person who takes supplements (don’t actually take them)
12.Eat more like the French or the Italians, or the Japanese, or the Indians, or the Greeks
13.Regard non traditional foods with skepticism
14.Don’t look for the magic bullet in the traditional diet
15.Have a glass of wine with dinner
16.Pay more, eat less
17.Eat meals
18.Do all your eating at a table (a desk, or car seat are not tables)
19.Don’t get your fuel from the same place your car does
20.Try not to eat alone
21.Consult your gut (to know when your full - not when your plate is empty or you’re out of time)
22.Eat slowly
23.Cook and if you can plant a garden

Take care of your best asset…you!

~S