With a view like that, why wouldn't you?

It is now Day 2 of the Commando Kick Butt Challenge and my day has begun with some stunning weather. As I look out the window the sun is shining and we are headed for a very warm 33 degrees. It seems like in just a very short time the weather has sprung up from the early 20's to mid 30's.

So what did we do on Day 1 of the Commando Kick Butt Challenge?

On the first day of the challenge we met at my home. There were about 13 of us gathered together to hear Geoff Quinsee, the physical trainer, give us our preparation advice for the challenge, as well as, Anne Charlotte Patrilla, Psychotherapist, our mental preparation session.

I followed this up by presenting a clear picture of what the purpose of the challenge was - to go through a process of change that is more than just a physical change. To connect with others and work together as a team, to bring about the kind of change that will last a lifetime.

Standing in the loungeroom I asked each woman what she felt she needed from me to help her achieve her goals. I explained that the first two weeks are all about mental and physical preparation, then on 1 November, when the Personal Challenge Quest officially begins, so too does the full-on physical component of the challenge.

Having completed all the introductions and having laid the stage for the day, everyone went their separate ways, after having arranged how we were going to connect and support each other. There were offers to go kayaking, swimming, walking, family outings that involved phsyical activity and the gym. I even encouraged them to have a girl's night out dancing!

My first session was with Val, pictured below walking with Sarah, my daughter, and we took our children down to Burns Beach for a play with Dad supervising while we went for our first brisk stroll.

With a view like this, why wouldn't you want to get out and enjoy the sun and the wind and the beauty of the sea?

We were delighted to be able to witness a wedding down on the beach. The bridesmaids were in the most beautiful pink through to orange dresses. Sounds disgusting but they looked like hibiscus lillies.

What I took away from the day was that once again connections between women are powerful. In fact, connections between two human beings, when the goal is for the mutual benefit and enhancement of life, are the most amazing and powerful tools in the world!

I'm really looking forward to getting to know Val and the other girls better as we traverse this adventure together.

You don't have to be in Perth to join us in the Personal Challenge Quest. All you have to do is decide on a project, complete the action planner on our website and forward it to info@womencaninternational.com. The decision you make to "have a go" at life will bring with it a wave of freshness and energy.

Why not pop over to our website and find out more now?

So what is my next challenge? Meeting Anita on Tuesday at Quinns Beach for a walk with the dog, Val on Wednesday morning for a walk by the lake in Landsdale, phoning Linda during the week to see how she's going with her exercise plan and organising the masses for Helen Frost's nutrition session next week.

A process that works with children...

Someone told me that they used to have family meetings with their children, so I thought I'd give it a try. Well, we just had our sixth family meeting, which I run like a business meeting. Each of us has a book and pen and we write down our issues and some praise points. We then discuss the issues and come up with some possible solutions, which they suggest, as well as some punishments for doing the wrong thing. They are way harder than I would be!

We then draw a job out of the hat and everyone gets their task for the week. It's kind of fun, unless you get the kitchen for the third week in a row, which is what happened to my 9 year old who cried real tears of frustration! Suffice to say, she negotiated her way out of the kitchen and into floors. I felt a whole load of satisfaction as she complained about how hard mopping the floors is - she is the worst offender when it comes to messing up the floors! She has pledged to never eat anywhere but at the table again and I am going to hold her to it.

The beauty of these times together is that it is bringing a cohesion within our family unit which was missing before. Also, a cooperative movement forward as a family.

I don't know if you have the same issues as I do in getting everyone motivated, but this business process works. It works in the workplace and it works in the home. Communication is vital to the success of any business and a family is just another form of business run on goodwill!

Pop me a comment and share your family secrets for gaining and maintaining order and cooperation.

Thirty Day Challenge - a Real Challenge!

I'm doing the Thirty Day Challenge, but got a little challenged the first week. Have decided to re-start the challenge once the kids are back at school and I am no longer sick.

Here is what I had to say when I got stuck...

Woman of Spirit Personal Challenge Quest

I am so excited about the Woman of Spirit Personal Challenge Quest that is about to launch on 1 November 2008.

This is an opportunity for women of all ages from all nations of the world to get involved in this international women's event.

Please, watch the video and respond! It is a simple process. Choose a challenge, register it with us by downloading our action plan and filling it in and emailing it back to us and then complete your challenge. This is going to be one of the most exciting events Women Can has ever hosted.

I look forward to seeing what you ladies get up to over the month of November. If you have a video camera, please make a video journal. Most mobile phones have a camera in them, so make the most of the technology around you!

Watch the video, leave a comment on You Tube and help the ratings go up so that this video gets featured and women get to see it. Don't leave it buried in You Tube. Help me out!

Thanks,
Hayley

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The Thirty Day Challenge

I recently signed up to do the Thirty Day Challenge. After all, I have nothing better to do, ha ha. Seriously, I thought it looked great and offered a quick road into understanding all the technology out there and how it works. It covered blogging, SEO's, Adwords, Market Sumarai, Keywords, and everything a newbie could want to know about internet marketing.

How I came to find out about it was that I was on You Tube looking for some interesting videos I could use on the new ning.com site, Twitter Go Getters and I came across this interesting guy called Ed Dale, who seemed to have copious amounts of videos on all the basics.

So being the research freak that I was, I decided to check him out.

Then, quite by chance, I was following up on researching the competition and thought I'd check out another women's network from NSW. I was surprised to find that this group was a syndicate that were doing the Thirty Day Challenge. I did wonder why they only had a one-page squeeze page up and no other website. It wasn't until I saw Ed Dale there on their home page that I realised what was going on! They were only part way through the challenge. :)

So I have started this mini-adventure.

Day 1 I sped through the DVD's like there was no tomorrow. I just wanted more, so I hopped over to Day 2 and got started. This is where I came unstuck. Either I'm a slowby, which is quite possible, or keyword research is really tough! Finding a niche - yikkkkeeesss! If I stay with Women Can and networking, then there appears to be a small niche there but how do I drill it down? Do I go completely local and find the mini niche of Perth or Australia?

Then there is analysing the competition. I need a partner! I need someone who actually enjoys doing the headbend analysis stuff. Bring on June Kelly, the whizz! Can't wait for her to get up to speed and help me out here.

So, I'm now up to Day 4 . I guess it doesn't help that I had the flu for the first three days of the challenge. Perhaps if I go back and start at the beginning with a non-flu-ridden body, things may be okay.

Wish me luck as I adventure!!!