Showing posts with label life at gray gables. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life at gray gables. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

One day at a time...

By: Kel Amstutz
March 13, 2017

One day at a time. 

When you stop and think about the statement "One day at a Time" what does that resonate within you?
  • What does that mean in respect to your life, your wants, needs, visions?  
  • What does that mean to you? 


This is a quote that I hear time and time again...especially when discussing Gray Gables.


Gray Gables: 
A project we started way back in 2013.

A year that, today, seems so far away, and yet, here I am, here we are, still working towards our common goal.  Still working towards a dream that at one point or another, on certain days, seems unattainable within our very lifetimes.

That might sounds harsh.  I mean, we took on this project, with a plan, a pretty solid one at that, and here I stand before you, with a house that is still unfinished, a dream still growing daily within my brain, and complete and utter exhaustion.

Beyond what is on the outside though, I promise that you can rest assured is pride.  I think that Hubby and I both feel this way.  Pride for what we have accomplished thus far, pride for what has taken fruition, pride for what we have.

Hard work, perseverance, blood, sweat and on occasion, there were some tears, but we built more than just a home.  We have built a life, and a great one at that.

Daily we make memories within our four walls.  We play, we seek, we find, we explore, that is the beauty of Gray Gables.

Yet, we still hear "One day at a time" and it does not go on silent ears.  We know where we are, we know where we want to be, we know that it is attainable, but maybe not today...maybe one day...in time?

It's funny what you learn about yourself, your spouse, even your family when you tackle a huge project.  It got ugly with some.  Messy with others.  Guilt ridden and hurt feelings with some others.  Then, with some, you find a closeness, a common denominator, and, in our case, thank goodness, it was within one another.  We had visions of how we wanted our home and although we are still miles from completion, with this and that happening, and this crazy thing called LIFE, we have been honest and have not given up those visions of our dream.


It is so funny to look back, to the year 2015, in which I wrote:

I think that through this remodel, I have learned a thing or two about truly taking life One day at a time.
A year and a half ago my husband and I took on this huge project.  My Mom found a listing for a house that I had driven past most of my life, a house that seventeen years prior, my own Mom and Dad were going to buy.  I took Jason to see it and it literally spoke to me.  

It wasn't pretty either and my Husband was not impressed!!  

He is a great guy! He knew something was there and I am a pretty determined girl, so needless to say, here we are, the proud owners of Gray Gables! But the road to move in was nothing short of turmoil, drama and one obstacle after another.  

These trials have just taught me not to read to much into things and to take this good day and hopefully the next in stride!! 


I can't argue with my words above, as they were heart felt and honest.  I have learned a lot along this journey, another step in my life, that much I am certain.  It is amazing to know that since then, we have not lost sight, we have not let the harshness of the situation affect today, and we have put things into a rational perspective.

So, I think that we are taking life literally, One Day At A Time, and guess what, that is OK!


Top 7 Tips For Marketing with a Purpose as a Driven Business Owner

By: Kel Amstutz

Business Support, Content Marketing, Marketing

Related image1) It is important to be an Authentic Business Owner

The best way to scare off customers is to try to push a sale onto them, a fact that every business owner knows all to well.  It is vital, as a business owner, to genuinely share your passions with your potential clients and/or customers.  People want to be seen as individuals not just a statistic or dollar sign.  Instead of selling your products to people, try to personally share your story with each customer, revealing how you got to this place and you would be surprised how the sales begin to follow you. 



2) Do not Mislead or Lie... PERIOD! 

We live among a world where social media and other networks can make it hard to be heard.  This causes pressure to get the attention that  you may feel that you deserve, which could lead you down a deceitful road.  Make sure that you are not misleading or creating offers that you can not follow through with.  This is important because consistency is key to most things in life, especially when you stop and look at all the distrust and misplace promises that surround us in our day to day lives.  Your clients deserve reliability, so deliver the truth, always. 


3) Find your Target Market and Spend Time with them! 

The first thing you should do is find your target market.  Once you establish this, develop a plan on how you are going to reach them.  To do this, effectively, you need to understand what they are investing their hard earned money, time and energy within.  Spend the time, do the homework and show interest in the areas that are showing interest to them to really identify with your work and your people. 


4) Find out who you can HELP most

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Be clear who you can help.  Do not go about vaguely addressing your market, instead use your unique gifts and talents to an audience that is seeking the services that you have an expertise within.  As the expert in your field, you can take your customers from Point A to Point B and beyond. 



5) Use your Creativity to Blend into Every Marketing Effort you Present

Image result for creativityEvery effort that you make to share your products with an audience, use your creativity.  Every business owner should know the importance of standing out among the competition.  As you design your marketing plans, when you use your personal creativity, it will ultimately benefit your business as you begin reaching out to others. 



6) Join Others for Memorable Marketing

There is an old saying, Great Minds think alike, and this is especially true when dealing with the business world.  One of the most important strategies to develop is a collaboration that includes other purpose driven business owners.  This will not only keep you on top of your marketing game, but it will challenge you and continue to challenge you to think and work in ways that may be outside of your own comfort zone. 


7) Create a Content Plan

It sounds crazy, but, no customer wants to hear about a program or a sale that fails to deliver.  If you develop solid content, it is just as vital as marketing  when it comes to reaching others with your business. Plan for success in this area; a business owner that creates a specific content plan is a successful business owner!  Hands Down!


Nope! I can't wait to be done with school in two weeks and then off to my dream job! Haters approval not needed! I have found something I love to do! It makes me happy to see I'm such an inspiration to all my haters :):
If you found this post interesting, I bet you’ll love checking out my other most popular posts:

 


 Here is my most popular eBook! 


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I strongly recommend my eBook, The Social Media Manager Kit by Kel (w/ bonus) in order to get you started. It will include templates for emailing potential clients or those you landed a completed job with, it will allow you to focus and challenge you to keep moving forward. 

This life, working at home, being financial free and with my family, is something that I used to dream about

Today...
  • I am living it. 
  • I am loving it. 
  • I am making it my life! 

Need More Help?  

Check out my eBook, Make your Dream a Reality in 30 Days or Less! - a jump start guide with templates to get you ready, set and ROCKING this Social Media Manager gig! 



 


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Monday, March 13, 2017

Back to Bloggin' - This is my story (2017)


By: Kel Amstutz
March 13, 2017


Image result for guess whos back clip art
Guess who's back.... Back again... (Sorry, showing my old age with Eminem)

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I can honestly say that looking at the calendar today, I can not believe that it is already March.  Sometimes, (yea, maybe the older I get but hush) it seems like I blink, literally, and the year is half over already!  I used to blame it on the birthday mash at the beginning of the year, I mean, we have Dad's birthday in January, our oldest in February, my Uncle, my Brother and my Grandma in March, my Youngest in April, my Hubby in May - yikes... then it is calm for a bit. 

But, seriously, I can not get over that it is already March.  
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Life is good. 

I know that you all could see the struggle #itwasrealyall that I have been dealing with for the past year or so, trying to find my way in this life, trying to find my purpose.  I learned a great deal through the journey, which is amazing because honestly, it has made me that much more grateful #truestory. I honestly said, like to myself, but still...God, it is in you hands. 


Then I stopped. 

  • I stopped trying to find a job 
  • I stopped looking 
  • I just stopped and I trusted

Image result for crazyCrazy, right! 

It's OK if you think so, because at the time, I thought so myself, but what else could I do.  I knew that my purpose was more.  I knew that whatever I was suppose to be doing, I just was not.  And please, do not get me wrong, I was subbing, on a very part time basis, which was incredible.  I will never discredit that, because I had the time of my life, honestly.  


  • But, I wanted more.  
  • And I was not getting that part.  
  • And truth be told, going back to school to finish for my teaching cert was just not an option. 

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So I threw my hands up to the heavens and declared trust. 

Then...something fricken amazing happened.  I kid you not, here.  

I received a call, a call that I won't get into detail about, but one that put me back in a place that I had been once before.  A dream foreshadowed this call, in which my Grandpa was hinting towards this career move. I was ready (or so I thought) to go back into that life.  A life that works holidays, weekends, odd shifts and the whole mess. A life that did not work out to nice before, but one that I enjoyed the actual work and the placement was a place that I longed to be a part of. 

OK, cool.

But, then, I got another call...about a place that is literally 3 minutes from my house. A place that when I looked at the places I wanted to work, this would rank high.  A place that was offering part time hours with some adjustment with my kids placement, but still required weekends, holidays and odd hours. 

Ugh.  


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If you don't know me, personally, here goes... I suck (like big time) at decisions.  I mean it is not just with life decisions either... My Hubby asks, "Where do you want to eat?" I will literally, every time say "I don't care" because I can not lock down one solid option. 

Annoying, right! 


Then... I get another call.  A position that I applied to a long while ago.  A position that when I read it, I could have sworn they wrote it for ME.  I position that I really did not feel confident that I would get picked for. That is saying something, right. 
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So, I got to said interview.  I nailed it.  I mean, honestly, it was not hard because the chemistry with everyone was spot on. The position at hand was something that I knew what right in my zone and the office felt like home. 

OK, now we are cooking with Crisco, right. But, I have two (2) other offers on the table. #decisionsdecisions

I am not guaranteed a job, even with the one I really want at this point. I have hoops to travel through.  I go for a physical for one of the other two positions, get home and then the position that I just interviewed for calls and wants to set up a second interview. Awesome, right.  Only, it is after I am suppose to start the 2nd position. Ut Oh. 

Image result for roll the dice clip art
I rolled the dice, literally.  (or asked the Magic 8 Ball) I regretfully declined position number one, whom I had heard nothing from in regards to a start date or formal offer, just verbal at this point.  I regretfully declined position number two.  And the biggest thing is that I did not think, really, about declining, where as I would have felt bad at any other time.  I felt that I was trusting in God. I was following his plan. That is the key. 

Needless to say, I nailed my Dream Job, literally.  I was offered the position on the spot, started right away and today is my one-month anniversary.  The best part is, no weekends, no holidays, I get to go home for my hour lunch EVERYDAY, it's super close to home and I wear jeans on Fridays! Seriously, I could not be happier.  And the people are amazing. It's unbelievable that I found my purpose and what God had put within my path that I just needed to trust and believe in. 


So, for me, life is good.  My kids, husband and family are all healthy.  Things are taking shape and I have a few goals to knock off the list by next year, that I think we will accomplish.  I am excited for this new journey that I am on and that is something sweet. 





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Of course, I have not forgotten about my Thrive business, I mean, who is not about looking and feeling great?  






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And Pink Zebra plays a huge role in who I am , as it litters my office, pleasant smells wafting through the halls! 


#thisismystory



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