Starting a Online Business

Some of you may know I have a website: www.internetyogaclass.com but I'm sure the majority of you don't! I wouldn't say it failed, but I didn't do things the correct way. I learned a lot from it, and thought I'd share. I think the raw food movement is so exciting because it opens up a new industry! There is SO much room for new raw food businesses, websites, products, and restaurants. Just go to the grocery store and look at the variety of products that are NON-raw! Look at the restaurants that are NON-raw!One of the things that makes this country great (United States) is all of the variety and options of choices we have to buy things. So, there is no room for jealousy or not helping each other out! I would love it if there were too many raw food restaurants or products to choose from! While getting the film industry to Michigan has been a step in the right direction (let's stop depending on the auto industry or the government and start fixing our economy ourselves!) for this state, we still need MORE businesses and industries. I know, I know, it's the government that gives companies tax breaks...but really, do you think the politicians and the government will give tax breaks or salary cuts to the politicans....unless we as the citizens demand it? There are a lot of powerful and wealthy people in Michigan-we can make a change if we wanted! So, back to the topic of an online business. Here are some tips and things I've learned:

1. Don't spend too much time worrying about copyright or people copying your idea! Just get the product and the idea out there and running. If anyone actually wants to buy it, than you can worry about the legal issues. Getting traffic to your site doesn't happen overnight! So, in other words, JUST DO SOMETHING! The rest will fall in to place!

2. If you don't know how to build traffic to your site, or you don't want to spend the time learning-make sure you devote the majority of your money to getting traffic and search engines. I know I said to just start your site and not worry about the details, and that is true-EXCEPT on this topic. You MUST know how to do this part! I don't want to say you shouldn't make an online business if you don't know how to do this as anything can happen and I don't want to discourage people's dreams-BUT, just be aware it's not likely and/or it would be extremely hard! Ideally it's better to do this yourself, but if you can't, you need to find someone you can trust who will do it. Don't just think your site will take off by word of mouth-this can happen, but it takes a long time and it's a full-time job! There are all kinds of tips and techniques to make your website noticed, and as you can tell...I am still learning!

3. If you are going to have employees, make sure you have a written contract. I can't tell you how many times my employees tried to go back on something we agreed on, but I had it in writing! Not to mention it will separate the ones who are serious about your agreement. Anyone can agree verbally to do something, but if it's in writing-it makes it more difficult to agree to do something you have no intention of really doing! Writing it down makes people think about what they are agreeing to!

4. If you expect things to happen overnight, than don't do it! Be prepared and embrace your mistakes! Let them motivate you, not discourage you (I need to remind myself of this one often!)

5. Don't waste time asking people what they think about your idea, unless maybe it's anonymous! Most people may genuinely like your idea, but that doesn't mean they'd actually use it. Or, they may be too nice to admit they wouldn't. If you think it's a good idea and it's been done before, than by all means go for it. If it's something completely new and you have nothing to compare it with, than it's a bit of a gamble and you can do all the research in the world...but again, the best way to learn is by doing! (which takes us back to tip #1 and 4)


That's all I can think of for now, but if anybody else has any ideas or advice, please feel free to share it with me!

Eliminating Negativity

I don't know where you are today, but man, it's been cloudy and depressing out all day! I've noticed a lot of people in a very bad mood today, but I'm not going to let it bring me down! I think that yeah, it's cloudy, but it's also warmer! NO reason to be so cranky people :) Vitamin D3 is excellent for getting that "sunshine" effect. When I take it, it's like it's a sunny day for me EVERY day! I love the stuff-it makes me so happy I feel giggly! Yes, I said giggly!

I spoke to someone today (hi Mike, hope you get to check out my blog!) about changing your mindset and not allowing other people's negativity get you down. I think this is SO important. You NEED to learn how to block out other people's negativity when you are trying to change your eating habits, or if you are trying to accomplish anything really!!

Some great ways to change your thinking:

1. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) A very easy, fast way to take away the EMOTIONAL hurt in your life. It doesn't make you forget the emotions, it just makes them less intense. I don't know about you, but I definitely eat unhealthy foods when I'm upset! So, this has been a huge lifesaver for me! http://www.tapping.com/ is a great site to get started on learning this easy technique.

2. Surround yourself with positive people only! I don't care if this means staying away from family or even your best friends! You can only do so much for them! If they are negative, they are PHYSICALLY and EMOTIONALLY HURTING you. Even if they are friends or family!! I wish more people understood that you are not obligated to put up with someone's negative behavior, just because you love or care about them! You are doing them a favor in the long run by setting your boundaries. Some great ways to meet some positive people? Meetup.com!!! I also want to add, that you shouldn't just push people out of your life right away-I only meant people that you continually try to tell how you feel, and that continue to not listen to you or respect your feelings! I believe in giving people a chance and discussing things first-BUT there is only so much you can do with certain people!

3. Shielding. What does this mean? It is very simple-putting up a mental boundary around your body. We are energy and we are surrounded by energy! You don't have to understand how this works, just know that it is true. With Quantum physics progressing so rapidly, we are beginning to even understand this. How to shield? I love to either just imagine (after doing deep breathing for a few minutes to get relaxed-it helps if you SMILE also while you do this. A smile changes your mindset automatically) and imagining I have a shield around me, and I also have been adding lately mirrors. Why mirrors? If someone is trying to harm you, their negativity will reflect off of you and onto them! That is how the universe works-whatever you put out there, comes back to you. By visualizing these images in your mind, you are simply reminding yourself that no one's negativity can harm you, unless you LET it! You are reminding yourself that whatever someone tries to do you, ultimately comes back to them!


That's all I can think of for now, but I guarantee if you start doing these things you will notice a difference in your willpower and your mood.

The key, and this a HUGE thing that I learned the hard way-if you see positive results, you must do this on a continuous basis. I would get good results, but not continue to do the work. It doesn't work that way though-you have to make this a regular and DAILY habit, or it is all too easy to allow negativity back in your life! One little bit of negativity can spiral out of control. This must be a constant effort-but believe me, after awhile it does not feel like work at all, but rather a joy!!!!

7 day detox challenge!

Let me first apologize to my male readers that this post is a bit girly, but it seems fun!

If anyone wants to join me in doing this, let me know:

It's NOT the economy...

...it's US.


Yeah, I said it!

It's not the banks.

It's not the auto industry.

It's not the credit card companies.

It's not the mortgage companies either!

It's US.


US=USA.

Our citizens.

If I hear another person say,"Well, with the way the ECONOMY is...,"I may just scream!

I know it's hard to take responsibility, but we allowed this to happen. Whether conciously or unconciously, we did. We allow it to happen by doing nothing but saying, "the economy sucks."

What are you doing to fix it? We are responsible for the government we allow!!!!

I know it's overwhelming to think about what you can do since you are just one person-but you know how the saying goes...it only takes ONE person to change things!

How about just by starting with changing your attitude from one of a victim to one who has the power and the ability to have an effect. You may not know how yet, but I guarantee changing that victim attitude will bring ways you didn't see possible!

The same goes for eating healthier! When we say we are too busy, too broke, etc. to eat healthy, is that REALLY true? Is it really your career, your slowing metabolism, or your lack of time? Or is it something else that keeps you from really changing your diet habits???


I'm going to be posting more info. here about a 7 day detox program I'm going to try, and I'll post more info. up here for anyone who wants to participate in it with me(it's free) So check back for that-it always helps to have support when you are trying to change your diet/habits! :)

Blog Explosion!

I've been exploring a lot of the different blogger communities and blog directories lately, and one has really stood out. I REALLY like blog explosion! It's so much fun! It kind of reminds me of those paid to click advertising programs where you get paid around .01 to click on ad's for 30 seconds. Only with Blog Explosion you get "paid" in readers to your blog, and you get to read other people's blogs. If the blog isn't interesting you only have to wait 30 seconds, and then there is a new one to replace it! It's hours of time wasting fun :)

3 Column Blogger Template

So, I should have known better than to click on a link in a blog comment, but I did it anyways! I have been working on my blog for 8 hours and was tired, so I don't think I was thinking clearly! That and I haven't had as many people reading my blog until recently (been marketing it a lot more) and have only had nice people, no spam so far (well, mostly nice! ha)

Anyways, I almost lost everything but thankfully I remembered I did back up my blog! and I found this site which actually helped me to do the three column blog (took me a few tries, but don't give up, you'll figure it out if you really try!)
http://www.threecolumnblogger.com/2008/09/three-column-minima-layout-version.html

When in doubt, I usually find solutions quicker on my own than asking for help!

Hope this helps someone though! Be careful about downloading a non-blogger template, I think a lot of sites can give you a virus.

Free Juicer Giveaway!

FREE Juicer Giveaway



www.michiganrawfood.com will be holding a contest for a FREE Healthy Juicer from Lexen Products. The Lexen Healthy Juicer is an amazing easy and effective wheatgrass and leafy green juicer, making it the most popular on the market.

877MyJuicer.com will be supplying the juicer at no cost to the lucky winner. More detailed information about the juicer can be found here - Healthy Juicer.

Here are the guidelines for the contest:
1. Simply leave a comment about why you like the juicer.
1. You must live in the US
2. Submission Deadline is December 12th(Just in time for Christmas!)
3. 1 winner will be selected by a random drawing. When the winner is announced, email me at: michiganrawfood@yahoo.com with your name and shipping address and your juicer will be shipped out immediately!

Good luck, and pass the word out to your friends!