Use Envy To Your Advantage

Jealousy has been around since the beginning of human existence, and it can be measured in nearly every species capable of experiencing emotion. It's a legit thing. In fact, jealousy plays such a central role in the human condition that it was given its very own avatar - Shakespeare first wrote about the green-eyed monster of jealousy in 1596 and ever since it's had an ugly reputation. But it can be an incredible thing to be green with envy, as long as you know how to harness its power.

Negotiating 101: Make Sure The Other Side Wins

My little guy is becoming quite the negotiator these days. He has learned how to use the word in a sentence. He likes to "gotiate" (he leaves off the first syllable, so adorable) a later bed time, candy for dinner, and more time with the iPad.

"My gotiating, mommy," he says. 

This little boy even provides supporting evidence for why he should be granted the thing he is asking to receive, which is usually the fact that he has been good at school that day. He is only three years old! And he's fearless.

 

Editing Content: Everything Looks Worse In The Morning

So tonight, instead of cooking the fabulous meal for my family I had planned, I reheated leftover pizza in a skillet on my gas stove and sat huddled around a candle for dinner. It turned out to be really fun! It felt like a mini-vacation with no devices or toys or electronic noise in the background, and the family and I truly enjoyed each other's company. We were all in the moment and it made my heart happy. An unplanned power outage has its perks.

Now, 3 hours later and still no power, the house is getting cold and I'm bored but not sleepy yet. I've decided to write a short blog about the art of writing. Since the power is out, no wifi, so this will get posted in the morning.

I've been writing since I was five, and wrote my first full length "book" when I was 10. It was about a girl who was 10 and fell in love with a boy who rode a white horse and rescued her from a swamp… loosely sounds like the plot to Shrek?

It's Cool To Not 100% Believe In Yourself

I came across an inspiring quote the other day whose author appears to be unknown: “The bird sitting on the branch is not fearful of the branch breaking, because she believes not in the strength of the branch, but in the strength of her own wings. Believe in yourself.” Read it again, let it sit with you for a bit….  

Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy, and it takes a whole lot of believing in yourself. You already know this I’m sure, but here is something you may not have heard before: most people who decide to start their own business don’t entirely believe in themselves, their ideas, or their business. Ever. They might not believe in any of it even 50% of the time in the beginning. Turns out, lacking confidence in yourself is not a startup deal breaker. Phew!