Then moving into 2012, consider the ultimate new years resolution. Try to do each activity with [...]]]> Before you go out tonight, spend a little time reflecting on 2011. Celebrate a year of your life! What did you accomplish? What did you not get done? What lessons did you learn? What special people did you meet?

Then moving into 2012, consider the ultimate new years resolution. Try to do each activity with full awareness, regardless of how menial or how much your like or dislike it. Take on life as a drama that you are watching and participating. No judgements, just observing – fully aware of each movement, each thought, each intention.

Want more? OK! Consider that your life is a canvas and you are the painter. And this canvas is just a self-expression. It’s just you, painting on a board. An art project, a glimpse of your true self.

First, what do you want to paint? Perhaps a new job? A new city to live in? Adopting a little companion? Or maybe learning a new language. And of course taking on a committed yoga practice!

Once you have an idea of what you want to create, then it’s time to start painting! The vision will change as you go along, and that’s ok. But just start painting! And who cares what the painting eventually looks like, because it’s just so much fun to paint!

So paint…and paint…and paint!

We don’t all like the same art, so who cares. Paint just as you like! And mixed-media – maybe throw in some real drama! And some of your favorite dance moves! And a splash of fashion! Maybe even add in a southern accent – isn’t this fun?

I hope you enjoy creating your beautiful life in 2012. Be absurd! Be unique! Be creative! Happy new year – wishing you a magnificent 2012!

Plan
You want to make sure your company profile (identity) is communicating the same message across all media. Spend some time defining what your business’s purpose is…it’s mission statement. It’s important to know [...]]]> When building the foundation of your business’s identity, it’s important to keep it strong and sturdy. What exactly does that mean?

Plan
You want to make sure your company profile (identity) is communicating the same message across all media. Spend some time defining what your business’s purpose is…it’s mission statement. It’s important to know what your business is trying to achieve.

What are some key factors about your business’s personality – friendly? fun? creative? trendy? cutting edge? As human beings, our sole purpose is to discover who we really are. But with a business, we get to create who it really is – we get to choose every little detail about its personality!

Organize
There are so many opportunities to express your company’s vision, and as owners, we like to take as many of those as possible. In order to keep your messages consistent, focused and accurate, it’s best to create them beforehand, rather than just wingin’ it with each new opportunity.

Create a file that includes all of your standard information.

• screen name or nickname – needs to be unique enough that you can use it everywhere and it’s not already taken
• company mission – something that is underlying all your business decisions (hint, one of service is most rewarding!)
• short description – one-two sentences about the company
• long description – two-three paragraphs about the company, it’s mission, it’s services and it’s personality
• avatar – what represents your company best – your photo or logo? make a square version of this image at 200×200 and 100×100 and use it for all of your logo uploads

As you beginning marketing, you’ll be adding things that you write and submit to this document. Be sure the messaging is always consistent. Make sure all of the words are truthful, authoritative and inspiring, as they will be what people become to know your company (and possibly even you) as.

Email
I see many people using aol accounts, gmail accounts and ISP-inspired accounts. Have belief in the longevity of your business, not your account with somebody else’s. Register a domain for your company (based on the work you have done above!) and use it for your email addresses. You don’t even have to pay for email! Just set up a free Google Apps account and run it through there. You’ll love their suite of services and, most importantly,their spam blockers.

You can use an email signature with your new email. Create a signature that represents your business fully. Include your web address and tagline. It’s like sending out a bunch of little flyers for your company every day!

Strategize
After you have all the pieces put together, next step is to use them! Now you can start promoting. Evaluate how much time you have for marketing, blogging and social media. Which methods and sites will best work for your business? I don’t think Twitter and Facebook are the best use of time for everyone. If you’re a retail business, consider sites like Yelp. For travel, there’s Trip Advisor. Take a little time considering all the options before stretching your time to thin. Budget a weekly amount of time to dedicate…and don’t go over.

Using these tools will create a nice foundation for your company profile. You can never over-plan, over-organize, or over-strategize. These will keep you true to your mission, and your messages true to you.

I think a lot of us are seeking answers outside of ourselves, such as in books, on websites, in workshops. [...]]]> The further we delve into the information age, our own growth and aging, and our curiosity of the world, the more we seem to get distracted from what’s really important – our own true self.

I think a lot of us are seeking answers outside of ourselves, such as in books, on websites, in workshops. Think of all the time that you spend reading news updates on Facebook, researching things online, reading how-to books. Information is so easily accessible…and the world is very very competitive, so it’s easy to get trapped in the inforamation-seeking saga.

This summer (July and August), I am taking some time off from my normal activities and really taking some time for myself. I have canceled my yoga teaching, taken classes off the calendar, and reduced commitments to as little as possible. With my very special time, I plan on really trying to work with my true self, the one who holds all the answers, if only I can take the time to tap into it.

Instead of taking workshops, I will practice what I have already learned, letting my practice be the teacher. That means doing my daily ashtanga practice. Working on chants that I have already learned, and just getting lost in them. Doing some simple pranayamas. Reading Sanskrit in devanagari to practice making the sounds and recognizing the letters. And perhaps even some gardening.

I just feel that I have been so overwhelmed with information and trainings, that I just need to enjoy what I already have. What good is it to continuous learn, if not to ever get to practice or enjoy any of it?

My point is that the greatest teacher lives within each of us. So my request is that everybody take some time to tap into that. To connect with your true self. To learn the secrets of life for the one who knows best. And to enjoy and practice what you already know!

Homework:

Create a daily schedule for yourself. Include a waking time of 6am or earlier and a bedtime of 10pm or earlier, if possible. Also include your three meals, preferably around 8a, 12n and 5pm (try not to eat at least 2 hours before bed). Include a practice of some sort – meditation, yoga, focused attention, studying an existing topic that you already currently study, playing music, singing or chanting, painting, gardening. This will be your “yoga”. And also include fun time and exercise. Try to master this daily schedule!

Why attend this retreat?