Ho'oponopono

I haven't been doing as well on the blogging as I ought to be... I get so sucked into Facebook that I forget about my blog for weeks at a time.

This morning, I was reminded of this very powerful video that I saw about a year ago. I've watched it several times, and each time it grabs me anew. I'd like to share it with you, and hope that you'll approach it with an open mind and an open heart. Let me know what you think of the ideas shared herein - I'd love to get a dialogue going about it.

http://yogaofalignment.com/2009/05/20/hooponopono-i-love-you-im-sorry-please-forgive-me-thank-you/

Wow, I had no idea it had been so long since the last time I posted a Blog entry. I guess I kind of got sucked into the Corporate World more deeply than I thought I would...

I will work to be better at this.

Today was an Information Overload, as I took a class from NGH Vice President Don Mottin on Rewiring the Brain for Stroke Survivors. So much wonderful, valuable information, I'm having a difficult time wrapping my mind around it! I had no idea that there were 4 different kinds of strokes (which, of course, range in severity), or that there was such a wide variety of issues that stroke survivors (and their caretakers!) have to deal with. Hypnosis can't help with all of the issues, but it's certainly a very powerful tool to help dramatically improve the quality of life for these people.

I also had no idea that, since 2/3 of strokes happen to people 65 and over, that obviously leaves a whopping 1/3 of strokes that happen to people *under* 65! Incredible! Imagine all the good ways in which I can help people diminish the possibility of ever having a stroke, by reducing their risk factors such as smoking and being overweight...

I have a shiny new certificate to frame and display, and more training materials coming my way for a wide variety of other topics. And I've been brainstorming all day on new ways to market myself, my knowledge and skills, as well as creating an Intention that I am putting out into the Universe, knowing and believing that it is manifesting even now.

2011 is going to be my most exciting year yet, and it starts NOW!!!

Happy 2010!

So it's a New Year... My resolution this year is to get the word out about Hypnosis in as many ways as I can! I've got postcards to post around town, I've been advertising on the Back Page of the Austin Chronicle for the past 7 weeks (one more week to go!). I've gotten a few phone calls from those ads, and (so far) one paying client. It's been a good experience, and is certainly something I will consider doing again.

My next major advertisement is a listing in the Austin Woman Magazine's annual Pink Pages, coming out in the February issue. I splurged on the 80-word listing, and I think it looks pretty good! I've also been invited to the Pink Pages Launch Party with all the other advertisers, which should be a good networking opportunity.

It's my hope that I can do at least one 7th Path Self-Hypnosis class each month this coming year. I think I've found a suitable space for that, I just need to negotiate terms with the occupants. And, of course, I will be continuing to ask all my clients for referrals to their friends and family members and for testimonials that I can add to my website.

I'm also planning to start writing articles, with the intention of getting published in some of the local health-oriented magazines (Austin All-Natural, Whole Health, etc.), and I need to start looking ahead to the summer for my Continuing Education credits. Last summer I wanted to take a Stage Hypnosis class, as 1) I think it would be a very enjoyable experience, 2), I think it would be a lot of FUN to be a Stage Hypnotist and 3) it would be an *excellent* marketing tool for me! I'd like to attend the NGH National Convention, and spend time being around other professional hypnotists. So I need to get a LOT more clients so I can afford both of these trips! I picked up a copy of the latest Austin All-Natural yesterday evening, and the first article I turned to was written by Joe Vitale (who I actually got to meet, albeit briefly, in December). I've got a lot to learn from him!

Informal poll of my Central Texas friends...

I'm trying to figure out where to spend my advertising money (which is VERY limited). Would you, as a consumer, be more apt to respond to an ad for services in the Austin Chronicle or The Onion?

Last time I got an ad in the Chronicle, it was a 1/32 display ad in the Services Directory (which amounts to slightly smaller than a business card), which also got me a free line ad. I ran the ad for 2 weeks. I got 2 phone calls. One amounted to nothing, but the other turned into a private client, who referred a friend to me, who has also become a client, and who has also referred a friend to me who is also becoming a client! A very lucrative Return on Investment, that! The Chronicle distributes 90,000 copies each week to more than 1700 locations around town. I'm strongly considering running a Back Page ad for 8 weeks (starting the week of Thanksgiving), which starts at $27 per week, and I get 8 weeks for the price of 6. One client who signs up for 2 sessions will *almost* pay for that, so I think I'm going to do it.

On the other hand, I spoke with a rep from The Onion a few weeks ago, and they have a more attractive package for a bit less money. It's a larger ad, it's in color, and I get free design / layout help. The Onion has a distribution of 40,000 copies each week to 1100 locations, and the demographics of their readership as shown online is quite impressive to me (72% make $50K per year and up, 83% have at least some college education, 50% are between the ages of 35 and 55). I have not advertised with them before.

I'm trying to figure out if I can actually do both, but for the sake of this poll, I'm curious - if I have to choose which one, which should it be?

I'm making a commitment to myself (and my business, of course!) to post at least one online ad a day. Sis has given me a list of free ad sites, and I'm going to start with those.

With my sister's help, my blog is now linked to Facebook! Pretty cool.

Some other good things happening to Inner Pathways Hypnosis include: an interview with Cal Banyan (my teacher), which is going to be published on his website very soon. And my boss at Maki has agreed to post an ad on the Maki Fans page promising a free sushi roll to any Maki customer that registers for my upcoming 7th Path class!

I'm posting ads just about everywhere that I can think of, and I'm in the process of writing a letter to the principal of Reagan High School, who has been given one academic year to bring the school up to an Academically Acceptable standard. I think 7th Path Self-Hypnosis would be very beneficial for the students, as well as for the faculty, staff and parents. I'm hoping she thinks so, too.

My first class is in TWO WEEKS, and I'm very eagerly looking forward to it. I need to make sure I order all my books on Monday so they'll arrive in plenty of time.

I've decided to take the plunge and have the good folks at Banyan Hypnosis design my website for me. They made an offer I couldn't refuse, and they've been doing it well for a long time. They've got the whole SEO (Search Engine Optimization) thing down pat, and I'll have a link on their website. I'm looking forward to it!