Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, the “World’s Most Photographed Hotel”

Today found me in snowy Montreal, Quebec, chatting with Cristina Favreau who helps professionals in the service industry run their small business, one step at a time. She thought my marketing strategy of promoting my self-published autobiography virtually was an ingenious idea, and jumped on the opportunity to interview me.

In my chat with Cristina, we discuss specific challenges that I face as an entrepreneur, wife and author. It all comes down to priorities, decreasing distractions and focusing on what I am most passionate about. Living life with passion and purpose!

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Wow, what a day! I attended two online sessions: one on social networking and one on podcasting. New contacts, new ideas and new opportunities! I also dropped off copies of my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself at the Celebration Christian Store in Surrey. If you are local, please go pick up a copy. Let them know the book is in demand!

And, I managed to pop down to Lincoln, Nebraska, to chat with my virtual twin Glenda Hinz. It was great; I felt like I was talking to myself! Glenda is a virtual assistant, providing exceptional secretarial and organizational skills, with relentless attention to detail, accuracy and confident efficiency. I need to get me a VA soon! I’ve come to the conclusion (already!) that one should not attempt a 40-blogs-in-40-days virtual book tour without some kind of assistance!

Enjoy the interview; I’m going to bed before I’m off to Quebec tomorrow!

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I am pumped as I head back to Chicago to chat with Andy Wibbels, author of Blogwild! A Guide for Small Business Blogging. His story is amazing; one that motivated me to keep writing my book because who knows where it would lead. Anyway, a publisher stumbled across his blog about blogging for small business, liked what she read and offered him a book deal! Just like that – a writer’s fantasy! Since releasing Blogwild!, he has received mega media attention. The Wall Street Journal called last week! This guy is hot!

Needless to say, I’m thrilled and honoured that Andy took time to chat with me about my book, living with cerebral palsy and my blogging experience. Isn’t the blogoshpere amazing! Once you finish reading Andy’s interview, come on back and share your most amazing blogging experience.

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Late breaking news: the Celebration Christian Store in Surrey, British Columbia, has offered to take a few copies of my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself on consignment! (Thank you, Lindsay!) This is the first bookstore to take my book! Definitely a “fall on my knees” moment; one I have been dreaming about for thirty years!

Picking myself up off of the floor and drying my happy tears, I am now off to East Fallowfield, 45 minutes west of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to chat with Jenn Givler. Jenn empowers women to express themselves authentically through their business and take their business into the world in a big way. She teaches women entrepreneurs to effectively start and market their businesses.

In my interview with Jenn, I share what inspired me to start my own business Soaring Eagle Communications and my original mission statement. However, the Eagle is undergoing a transformation. Read where the Eagle is headed now….

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Paradise, CA Santa Ynez River Valley
Copyright 2002, 2003 Photo by Rick Raphael.com, Copyright 2002

Following the exciting news this morning about Do It Myself Blog being named AOL Ability’s Site of the Day, I am now off to Paradise, California, to speak with Gillian Hood-Gabrielson, the founder and President of Healthier Outcomes. Gillian is a popular and in-demand fitness and intuitive eating coach who understands the unique needs of busy women in different ages and stages of life. She is widely known for her ability to create a high degree of motivation among her clients to make exercise and intuitive eating an enjoyable and integral part of their lives.

Today’s interview on fitness and people with disabilities was refreshing because it is a topic often overlooked. Health professionals typically medicalize the subject by referring to it as therapy and rehab for people with disabilities, rather than as fitness, exercise and well-being as it is framed for able-bodies. In addition to this systemic obstacle, there are many other obstacles people with disabilities face when attempting to access fitness activities and facilities. However, new technology, like the Wii computer virtual gaming system, present may possibilities that could be utilized to provide people with disabilities and the sedentary population with fun ways to exercise.

Once you have read my interview with Gillian, please come on back and leave your comments, thoughts and questions. I’d love to hear from you! (If someone asks, I will reveal my initial title for this post. In fact, the first person to post a comment asking what was the initial title will receive a free copy of I’ll Do It Myself – excluding shipping. How is that as way to wrap up the second week of my virtual book tour “40 Blogs in 40 (Business) Days”!)

Have a great weekend!

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Exciting news! This blog has been named AOL Ability’s Site of the Day. Woohoo! The first recognition by the media – this virtual book tour is working after all.

Today’s appearance of my virtual book tour “40 Blogs in 40 (Business) Days” will be announced shortly. I wanted to share this bit of good news first!

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Chicago, Winter at
the Water Tower
© Thomas Kincaide, 2001

My virtual book tour “40 Blogs in 40 (Business) Days” today finds me in Chicago, chatting with 21-year-old David, who also has cerebral palsy. David has taken a year off college to pursue his interview project in which he is “recording the stories of people living with disabilities. Personal, real stories – be they humorous, sad, angry, fun, or … whatever!”

My chat with David was particularly meaningful for me as I shared my experiences living with cerebral palsy with young people who are now facing similar situations as I did (and still do). Mentors and positive role models are so needed for youth with disabilities; there were very few when I was growing up. And that is my main reason for writing my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself – to share my experiences and lessons learned in hopes of helping, motivating and inspiring others.

Reading David’s blog, I know he is a determined young man with enormous potential. He will continue to accomplish much. I wish him every success in his future!

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I decided to take today off from my virtual book tour “40 Blogs in 40 (Business) Days”. Mundane tasks like bookkeeping and quarterly tax reports are calling, unfortunately. Please join me tomorrow as I’m off to Chicago.

In the meantime, enjoy the previous stops on my book tour. Copies of I’ll Do It Myself can be ordered from this site. Although PayPal is being used to take online orders, you do not need a PayPal account – simply have your credit card ready. I also gladfully accept cheques and money orders.

If you have already read I’ll Do It Myself, thank you! I would love to hear your thoughts, comments and questions. Feel free to post a comment below.

Make it an awesome day!

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After a late night and some fast typing, I caught up with Des Walsh in the Gold Coast region of eastern Australia! As a business coach and blogging evangelist, Des sees blogging with its powerful, accessible and low cost tools, as an ideal tool for small and micro businesses to get known globally and make more rapid progress — the main reason for undertaking my virtual book tour “40 Blogs in 40 (Business) Days”!

Taking time out of promoting his new audiobook Big Biller,
Des and I chat about how communicating online can lead to deeper connected relationships, about how my left thumb can’t keep up with my brain’s racing thoughts and ideas, and other such topics. Please join me down under where they are having a heat wave!

Thanks Des, it was great!

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Welcome to the second week of my virtual book tour “40 Blogs in 40 (Business) Days”, promoting my newly released autobiography I’ll Do It Myself.

Today, I am off to Carlsbad in Southern California to speak with Judi Finneran, a health and fitness coach. I felt good doing this interview with Judi because we touched upon a couple of meaningful topics: how to deal with obstacles and keys to success when living with cerebral palsy (or with any challenge, which includes nearly everyone in one way or another). The bottom line is I problem solve until I find a way around, over or under the obstacle, or I hold on tight and barrel on straight through and carry on my way.

Judi, who is blogging about her journey to a healthier self, beautifully sums it up:

Whether it is a physical disability or being overweight, each of us deserve to hold our head high and be proud of all we do which is meaningful and wonderful.

Please come back tomorrow to see where my virtual book tour takes me next. At this moment, the destination is unknown! The adventure of my life continues…

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