THIS AIRLINE DOES IT RIGHT

The Human Resource Department of WestJet Airlines must be reading my book VERRY BERRY EXTRA-ORDINARY. How else did they find out about "my secrets"?
Secret No.1 It doesn't matter WHAT you sell, it matters HOW you sell it!
Secret No. 2: It doesn't need to cost money to become extra-ordinary.
Secret No.3: Just be creative!
Secret N.4: You only need to concentrate on one item only to make you special!
http://www.amazon.com/VERRY-BERRY-EXTRA-ORDINARY-Recipies/dp/1460203690/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360543398&sr=1-3-fkmr2&keywords=very+berry+extra-ordinary

When I flew home this morning, the ground crew plus flight attendants of WestJet had us passengers all smiling; from the first boarding call to their final farewell on the plane.

What did they do to make us all laugh? They didn't wear silly uniforms, they didn't dance, they didn't hand out little presents, all they did was...changed their tone of voice during their announcements and added some sparkly bits and pieces to their presentations!

Would you like to read an example?

Instead of the usual, monotone boarding announcement, "Ladies and gentlemen, please come to get ...bla,bla,bla.
This lady dressed up her announcement like this (you need to read the following with attitude and FUN in your voice):

"Ladies and Gentlemen, flight No 234 to Abbotsford has a new check - in gate. Please come to gate B. B for Bruno, Beatrix, Bernice. Do you see the lady in her bright yellow vest, - the one waving at you- yes that me. If you want to get to Abbotsford you need to come and see me!"
"Do we have any little WestJetters whose parents want to get on board first? Kids, grab your parents and come on up!'


Inside the cabin it went something like this:
"Hello Ladies and gentlemen, we are flying to Abbotsford and we are taking you with us. This is flight No....

"We would be very surprised if you actually paid attention to our safety demonstration, but if you do, we would very much appreciate that."
'This comfortable Boing 737 has fashionable floor stripes which will illuminate in case of an emergency."
When the flight attendant demonstrated the oxygen mask we heard this :'" You too can look this beautiful if you pull the straps to tighten the mask""Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! By slightly changing their tone of voice, by adding a few silly words, the whole plane was listening!


It doesn't cost anything to stand out from the crowd! Good job West Jet Airline.
(I wonder how many books they bought...)

Home Sweet Home, It is great to be back on top of our rock.
See ya tomorrow!

I Have a NEW PARTNER,

she is a woman!

[caption id="attachment_729" align="alignnone" width="225"] The Dream Team! C.Waschko[/caption]

She is my joint venture partner! Teaming up with somebody else? Me? No way, I like to be in control! Now I changed my mind; what happened?  Do I get older and wiser?  Do girls have more fun together?The answers will be two times yes, and the second answer needs to be seen!.

On post six of my 22 day challenge I want to update you on one of the various book promotion plans I put into action: I talk -  and created a fun, inspirational presentation "Dream & Dare to make it Happen!". ..

Writing about talking, this is where Gails gets into the picture! She likes to talk too, but in a different manner and vastly about different topics! Gail is a Quantum Leap Strategist, a Life Coach with over 20 years of experience! Gail knows how to change a mindset- I know how to get you off your arse and do what needs to be done! I know how to help you find your USP (Unique Selling Point) and how to take advantage of this something!  With our two very different skill sets we put a workshop together.

Gail already offers LIVE LIFE NOW through her company; with me as partner we gave it a totally different spin!  Are you curious? Please read about it here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/571093552915499/

This worshop is the first in a line of events we have planned throughout the Vancouver and Regina area!

I like the idea of talking myself onto a Bestsellers List. What do you think? Noble, dumb, old fashioned, too time consuming, exciting, hard work ... I would love to hear about your approach on making the list (bestsellers- that is)

See ya tomorrow!

 

Christina Waschko VS Sheryl Sandberg

These days it is pretty hard for me to stay focused on the task at hand - to keep you updated on our new life here in B.C! There is so much going on in media land which diverts my attention. It started off with 70 year old granddads  (Rolling Stones)  who are out to fill stadiums,- now there is a lady who gets serious press coverage for her book "Lean In".

Who is she? Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer at Facebook.

Her message: For "women to lean in to the opportunities and challenges of becoming a boss"  (Times, March 18, 2013, page 36). In other words,: Ueber ambitious ladies, don't get side tracked by family commitments or other nonsense, focus on reaching the top of a corporation!

Her connections: She is most likely the best connected woman in the whole world and probably the most powerful woman in America (Times, March 18).

Her education: Two (!) Harvard degrees

Married: To a very wealthy man.

Her target audience: The selected few, women who are on a serious power trip already or who are planning of doing so.

Her industry: Something we didn't have 20 years ago!

On dreams: I have no idea if she ever had any!

Why it sucks: She is preaching to the converted. A woman who really wants, does!

Who am I?

Christina Waschko: CEO of household operastions in the Waschko family.



My message: To ignite the spark in every woman's heart! "Stop making excuses and pursue your dream- let it be personal or business related!"

My connections: 138 Facebook friends, 124 LinkedIn connections plus my parents; They can't be found on any IT hook-up , but I hope they still count- or not?

My education: University of Life and a degree in Common Sense.  The only way I will ever see an Ivy League School, or Harvard for this matter, is while sitting on top of the double-decker tour bus.

Married: To a very - nice - man.

My industry: Something we had forever, a good ol'fashioned, personal contact business: Running a coffee lounge!

On dreams: I have plenty!  So far, many of them came true!

On why the book bothers me: It is written for a few - but will be read by the masses.

Whereas my book is written for the masses and have been read by few - so far!

My thoughts on female High Flyers: I will bet, most women don't really care about the whole corporate, power game. Given a choice, most of us would rather live the happy, fun life with a loving husband, kids  and working a job of our choice (which makes us enough money) than running a billion Dollar company. Please correct me if you feel I am stuck in Yesterdayworld.

The few who prefer careers over happy family life don't need a whole book devoted to their course. They will suppress the urges of their biological clock to do what it takes to get them to the top of anything (oops, don't read anything into that one).

If they can't suppress their desire to become a mother, they will manage to squeeze in a baby or two in between negotiating and signing contracts. All that in turn relates to a few more neglected, spoilt, emotionally unstable children who see more of their nanny than their mother. Each to their own!

Appeal: The world needs to read about "VERRY BERRY EXTRA-ORDINARY", written by an ordinary woman who made one of her dreams come true.

And less about jobs in higher places, written by an extra-ordinary woman who doesn't need to dream!

Life as a -still - unknown author can be challenging at times, especially in the beginning phase. I know I can't beat her, therefore I will join her! With this, I will lean in and get connected to people who I really should connect with: Sheryl, I will call you later...

FACETIOUS BUGGERS

My fellow participants at the party only shrugged and laughed at me when I enquired about their new years resolutions. Oh you facetious "know-it-alls"!

But it rings true, at our age ( 35 and up)  we all have walked the path of broken promises too many times before. By now we know to keep our mouth shut! The trend among our party crowd is to be the best parent, employer, employee, neighbour, daughter, son, friend or aquaintant we can be on a daily basis..

New years eve is now an excuse for a fun filled get-together and for the children a great reason to stay up late; not the big divide between the old and new anymore.

During our traditional new years run Dominic put it more eloquently: "We are still young enough to hope ( for mankind, our planet and ourselves) and old enough to know better."

This is a short, sweet, simple and extra-ordinary message, wouldn't you agree?

On a personal level I decided to experience 52 new 'ideas' during the 12 months ahead. My book will be launched in mid January and I made a firm commitment to myself to do as many public speaking engagements, book signings and presentations as I can to get this book on the bestsellers list on Amazon ( Any tips and strategies from you are welcome and much appreciated)! This alone will take care of most of these 52 new experiences.



Nevertheless, there are a few, very different and oh so personal challenges on the list. Here are two of them:

To sing karaoke in a pub and to do a

back flip off a diving board or in the grass, which ever strikes me the easiest.

(Any tips and strategies from you are welcome and much appreciated)!

My inability to sing karaoke bothers me for years. I have no problem to talk in front of a crowd or teach aerobics classes, but when it comes to singing in public my neurotransmitters refuse to connect with their appropriate connectors accordingly.

And the back flip? Ever since I've seen circus artists perform their magic I wanted to do the same- but so far I never did!

I made a promise to myself to look after these two 'shortcomings' in my life.             2013 will be the year to make it happen!

There is a Sucker Born every Second

My book has arrived for its first proof read- slowly but surely I am moving towards publication date! It is exciting and very scary indeed. For the previous five months I have been bombarded (I really MEAN bombarded) by US based marketers with their free telesiminars, video calls, and free subscriptions, free listen –ins etc. All in the name of book promotion to the masses! Three hundred million people across the border are reasons enough to listen to the tips and tricks of these master marketers.  I have to know what makes American tick!                                                                                   This is what I learned: By far the most important, single item on the list is to have a good sob-story to share.                                                                                                                              Oh these Americans, they still LOVE the old fashioned “From Rags to Riches” tale.  If you want to connect, to really connect and gain credibility in the American market you should have risen like a phoenix from the ashes – e.g..

Escaped a destructive husband and marriage.

Survived a near fatal car crash.

One should have been broke, bankrupt or nearly broke with maxed out credit cards.

One should have experienced the death of a loved one.

Other good topics are being evicted from the house, become unemployed, lived on the street, being a single parent...

Now I begin to panic:  What happens if you Don’t have a story to tell? What about if your story is about ‘the deep desire to follow your heart', and your only life motto is “to JUST DO IT” (Nike, I love you for this slogan).

Very soon I will find out if  "Only a sad story is a good story” Or if I will stand a chance in the US market with my "happily married, three children, fun life story".  One thing is still for sure, none of these ‘suckers’ will get my money!

My husband is deeply concerned that I will eventually break down and will part with my money to get the help they promised. As I said in blog " Ïmpulsive Decisions, write a book & shrink my waist, I don’t believe in short cuts. In order to reach the No.1 spot on Amazon .com I actually want people around the world to read my book and recommended it to their friends- i.e. the old fashioned way. It may take much longer than any tried and tested road map from Mr. Marketer, but at least it is honest and much cheaper.

On this note I will raise my glass to every wonderful, unique individual out there who prefers to explore the path of the unknown without the help of an expensive guru! The road ahead may be more bumpy, but at least it is your own!

Prost to being extra-ordinary!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUTS & GLORY

Play hard, Write even harder! It is done! I just pushed the “enter” button. Which means, Mission accomplished!

My seven months long writing journey has come to an end! At one point I thought it will never end - But it did!

Writing this book has been the most intense, time consuming, detailed thing I have accomplished up to this point in my life! Giving birth to three children? To me that was easy-peasy in comparison. From now on there is no turning back! Very soon readers around the world will be able to read about “A VERY BERRY EXTRA-ORDINARY TALE of ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP” (still tentative title) and I will have to face the music i.e. reviews!

I crammed my writing in during very early mornings, and ridiculously long nights!  Nothing else mattered, but to fill the pages in front of me!  It was actually quite rejuvenating to get the story out of my system while it was still fresh. It was not only “mission accomplished”, I also became quite proficient in the use of this little device in front of me (PC). Dominic  laughed when he read this. He thinks I have slightly exaggerated here...

In approx. three months baby no.5 will be born. Book Baby is in its final trimester. Unlike six and a half years ago when I set up my first commercial business venture, I didn’t have to leave the house to get things done. I did what I never thought possible: I sat on my butt for hours on end! And, I loved every minute of this creative progress! I poured my heart into this project. I bared my soul on every page!  Not in a cheesy kind of way, more in the fun, entertaining kind of way. It’s off my chest and now I can move on to the equally important part: Collecting testimonials and doing the pre-publication promotion! Now it is up to me to show the world and myself what I am made of. I know I can set up and successfully run a coffee lounge against all odds. But can I sell my book? This remains to be seen. All I know, I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to reach the No.1 spot on Amazon! It took a while to get the pages out there, but now, it is a product I am proud of. It is a fun, inspiring, uplifting read with lots of ideas of how to stand out from the crowd.



It was another step into extraordinary territory. Just like the pole dancer I happened to watch at the local strip club (Mothers on a wild night out means we are the first to arrive at the night club and the first to leave when the real partiers come flocking in. In our case we were way too early for the boogie floor and therefore killed some time at the afore mentioned establishment)! –It was a first for me and I couldn’t help but wondering: ’’How long did it take the dancer to make the pole an extension of herself? How many hours of practise did it take to look at ease with every step, every twirl and every suggestive move she made in front of her audience? I am sure it took the lady in question lots of practise, more practise and long hours of rehearsals. She was baring it all, boobs and the rest!  But unlike her, you won’t see my frontal, but you will get a glimpse inside my heart instead.

Oops, did I just compare myself to a pole dancer? If you know me, then you know this is a ridiculous comparison.

No, I actually compared our actions: If you want to deliver a good product, either a book or a smooth pole dancing routine, you need time to produce and to rehearse!

Good things need to be created, nurtured and looked after.

Like the definition on my tummy. My 6-packs won’t re-appear by magic. They need to be shaped. A pole remains a simple pole if nobody makes an effort to practise a routine with it... And a page remains blank if we don’t add our unique expression.

Whatever your next project will be, make it shine, let it become extra-ordinary!

MONEY doesn't buy you HAPPINESS...

but it does buy you bacon!

I saw this on the back of a - you guessed it - bacon truck!

It made me chuckle. I thought it was so witty, funny and innovative!

When I shared my new found nirvana for advertisements ( delivery trucks) with my husband, he felt sorry for me!                                                                                    Okay,to like this slogan says more about my simple taste and the mondane than anything else. It obviously doesn't take much to impress me...

Dominic left his home, the USA, over twenty years ago. He escaped this 'clever play on words' just to be bombarded by it again on his return to North America.                Imagine his surprise when he discovered  NOTHING HAS CHANGED in all the years.  The 'dumbing down of the masses'continued. If that isn't bad enough, his own wife seems to actually be enjoying every single, stupid ad ("Beauty is in the eye of the Beerholder" ) out there.

But come to think of it: If Every business does its own clever, funny and witty advertisment - how can they stand out from the crowd?                                           If every business offers the same e.g. convenient opening hours (even 24/7), easy accessibility and parking, and same kick-ass service- what makes this business so special?                                                                                                                                               WHAT does it take for you and / or a business to become and stay extra-ordinary?

When everything and everybody wants to fit in it comes down to only one item which is truley unique:

You, yourself & you!     Amazing individuals help to make a business stand out from the rest.

On a personal level it amazes me to discover that people are dumb smacked, overjoyed or even surprised whenever I return the promissed phone call or deliver on the promise I made! It is so simple:

Know who you are and be true to yourself! Always do what you say and be true to your word!

Quick change of subject and a follow up on my current mission in life:

My much loved and pride of the stomach, the 6-pack is back in sight! The layer of contentment (fat) is shrinking!  Hurrah!

The weights are doing their trick and difinition of the upper arms is back in sight!

And finally, I am only two days away from pushing the SEND button on the computer to deliver the manuscript to my publisher!

As the final days approach, I am reminded of the universal  rule,                                      if you want to make changes in your life you have to make it happen!

Because they won't happen on its own!                                                                           And on a final note, one thing is for sure:

Money may not buy you happiness, but it does help you to bring home the bacon!

SELL YOUR HEART OUT

First things first:

To kick-start my fight against middle-age weight gain, wiggly upper arms and excess handles on my tummy I started using weights and went "Cold Turkey" to lose at least some weight. It seems to take forever to get any changes done in the body!                                                                                          Puh, getting older is a bitch! ! But, defeat and acceptance are not in the cards - yet!

My book should be at the publisher by now but instead I got stage freight and added more bits, deleted and replaced some. Embarrassment is a big motivator at this stage in my life!  Being embarrassed because I haven't done my best!                                                                                          I have gone through this stage when I was way younger, not any more.                                              Now It needs to be as good as it gets or even better.Therefore I want to have a polished and finished product before I will hit the route to promotion!

I am still in the industry I love best: Selling!                                                                                        For years I was selling aerobic moves across fitness centers around the world and its benefits to health.                                                                                                                                                       Then it was coffee and cakes at Strawberry Lounge, my debut into entrepreneurship and  now I am back to selling cakes again!                                                                                                                         This time as an employee for a wonderful, sweet cake company in Vancouver!     Having sold lots of things around the world, I noticed one  universal law that can be applied all over:   Apart from being appreciated and wanting to feel special ( being extra-ordinary!),  WE ALL LOVE A GOOD DEAL!                                                                                                                                                          This makes for a very straight forward equation:                                                                             selling is a piece of cake - if you sell a product people want, appreciate and love! Selling at a good price makes it even easier, fun and more worth your while. In my current 'job 'the product speaks for itself:           You don't need a hard-core persuasion technique. You don't need to go into a long drawn conversation about the pros and cons and necessity of the cake.           You either want it or you don't. You like the taste of it or not!  You have an allergy or not!  All you need is to give an encouraging word at times, some information from the ingredients list,  or to simply stand back to let your customer make up their own mind!    It is that simple! I have been very fortunate so far to gravitate toward selling what I really, really like.  But  be warned, it is only easy-peasy if you love the product and the initial selling process.

If you are able to do what you love doing, then life can be your "piece of cake!"