First 30 Days Done, and On to the Next 30 – 100 Day Blog Challenge – Day 31

Introduction



Well, I am not one who jumps on the bandwagon.  Sometimes, it even takes me a while to get things.  In any case, I recently found a 31 Day Blog Challenge with specific topics for each day, and I thought, “What a cool idea…wish I had seen these when I started.”

Oh well, no time like the present, right?

So…..here goes.

My name is Dionne Tuplin.  I am married with 3 boys and I live in Canada.  I decided to start this blog challenge to help me get better at blogging as well as improve my writing.  It’s also a way for me to channel some of my thoughts that take residence in my head.  This is a great outlet for me, and I am having lots of fun, even on those days when it seems like I’m writing a whole bunch of nothing.  It’s my hope that after these 100 days, not only has my writing improved, but my blogging becomes second nature.  While I may not blog every day, it is my hope that the content I do put out there makes a difference even in one person’s life.

So, that’s a little introduction about who I am, and I hope you’ve been able to learn about me from my first 30 entries.  This next journey looks to be exciting, challenging and everything in between.

Hello, it’s me!!!

Now, the other piece to today’s task was to share a recent photo of me.  While this is not a recent photo, it is one of my favorites, and I am NOT one to be in front of the camera.  So, here I am.  Nice to meet you.  Take care, and have a great day.

Making Connections, Revisiting My Why and Moving Forward – 100 Day Blog Challenge – Day 30

A Work in Progress

Wow, I’ve hit the 30-day mark with my blogging, and it’s been quite the adventure, so far.  To be honest, I don’t really have a system in place, I would just write what I felt or what was going on for me that day.  I actually found a couple blog challenges that I plan to implement for the next 30 days and it will be exciting to see how that pans out.

But, for now, going back to my title, I’ll discuss a little about what happened today.

This morning, I had the chance to meet with one of the women I met a couple weeks ago at the Women in Business mixer I attended in my area.  That was a great experience, and to sit down with her today was a real eye-opening experience.  The original focus of the meeting was to share with her a little about what I do in hopes that she may offer some referrals and/or guidance to steer me in the right direction.  

I got so much more from that.

In terms of eye-opening, I finally saw what I knew was to be true in the back of my mind…I have NOT been taking my business as seriously as I should.  Sure, I would be  “busy” during the day, but, really looking at my days, I may have been busy, but a lot of that “busy work” was more of a distraction to what I should be doing during the day.  Yes, I still have one more little one at home, and he does take up a lot of my time, but, after leaving that meeting, I took an honest look at myself and realized I am doing more harm than good to my family, my kids, my business, my team and more important, myself.

Sometimes it’s hard to go down that road or even hear it from someone else.  We quickly go on the defensive side and try to justify our actions.  But, what I got from this meeting was a genuine straight talk from someone who is looking out for my best interest, offering some key suggestions to move me forward.  Why get defensive about getting better?  Isn’t that what we all want anyway?

I was given some referrals as to who to contact for better exposure as well as suggestions to brand myself better online, which has been a struggle for me.  I’ll be taking baby steps, but I already know that this requires a change in my THINKING!!!  

The other realization that came to light was what happened after I asked, “How am I REALLY portraying myself?”  Am I REALLY portraying myself as a business woman or a Mom who’s busy trying to build a business?  I could do better, I could improve a lot of things, and while it’s not easy to admit, it’s also quite doable.  So, I’ve realized that I need to get better, brand myself better and be willing to continue the learning and growing process with blind faith.  Keeping my why in my sights is key.  I must NEVER lose that focus, no matter how difficult it gets, who shuts me down or whatever obstacles come my way.  This is too important for my family and me to not take it seriously.

The time is NOW!!!  

It’s a great feeling when you realize what isn’t working and that it can be fixed.  It’s simply a matter of admitting, recognizing, correcting and moving forward.  There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes.  There’s nothing wrong with stumbling and failing.  The time when it becomes an issue is when you aren’t willing to recognize you’re on the road to nowhere, being stubborn, proud and/or pigheaded and continue down that road.  Just get off that bad road, make a couple turns, refuel, recharge, look at the road map (i.e. your goals) once again and get on the right path.

So many others have been there.  It’s nothing new to any of us.  But, I am thankful for that conversation this morning.  It was a true eye-opening, A-HA moment for me that made me realize what needs to happen and that all is not lost.

Take care, and thanks to all who have been reading and following me throughout this challenge.  It’s been fun so far, and a great lesson for me.  Enjoy.

Some Things are Better Left Unsaid – 100 Day Blog Challenge – Day 29

It’s Happened Again…

Yep, this about sums it up!!!

I just thought this was funny.

While I wouldn’t call this a case of writer’s block, I just don’t know what I would like to share today.  It was a fairly productive day, for a rainy Sunday, but I’m just not sure what or if there is anything worthy to share.  There are quite a few topics running through my head right now, and believe me, if you were to see what’s running through this noggin of mine, you’d go running for the hills.

That’s a lot of running, huh?

Anyhow, I do have somewhat of a big day tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it.  And that’s all I’m gonna say about that.  Just keep your fingers crossed, prayers and wish me luck for a successful outcome.

So, I think this is all I have that’s fit to print, and it’s done before the clock turns 12, and I turn back into a pumpkin.  Take care, thanks for reading, and make each day count.

The Grass is Always Greener When it’s Watered – 100 Day Blog Challenge – Day 28

Water Your Own Damn Grass

The title for today’s blog comes from one of my business partners who’s very successful in our company.  She was featured on one of our training CDs and was asked to share her thoughts on her journey to success.  I love hearing her train because she keeps it real – heck all the trainers keep it real, but with her in particular, this piece of her training always sticks with me.

“The grass is always greener when it’s watered.”  This is a paraphrase from Neil Barringham’s quote, but, it’s very true.  You can’t escape hard work.  Heck, you can’t escape WORK for that matter.  So many people look at successful people and think one of two (or three) things:

a)  Man, they’re so lucky… or
b)  Man, I could NEVER do what they do… or
c)  Yeah, they got it real easy ’cause they were one of the firsts…

I started thinking of more “excuses” but decided to stop there.

The point is this…it doesn’t matter WHAT it is in life, be it work, parenting, fitness, financial freedom, whatever.  What may look “easy” for other people is the result of HARD WORK.  You have to be willing to do the work.  It sometimes irks me when I hear people say things like, “Oh, they have it so easy because they’re with so and so…” or, “Man, I wish I had a so and so to work with…” or the 3 quotes I listed above.  It’s endless all the “Yeah but’s” that come out of people’s mouths when they say they WANT one thing, but aren’t willing to do the WORK required to achieve that thing.

When it comes to success, there are no shortcuts.  Heck, there really aren’t any secrets, either.  It comes down to doing the work.  You’ve got to be willing to put in the time, effort, blood, sweat, tears, hardships, struggles, etc.  You’ve got to be willing to sacrifice something NOW so that LATER you can live the life you’ve always wanted.

Do the work; water the grass; and once it’s green, tend to it.  Take out the weeds, turn

the soil, take care of your grass.  Follow up with your customers, set the appointments, make the approaches, continue the dialogue.  Start the fitness program, follow the meal plan, calendar your workouts.  No matter what it is, it takes time, effort and HARD work.  No one has it easy.  No one got lucky.  All the successful people, the TRUE success stories, did the work that was necessary to achieve their goals.  And once they reached that goal, they didn’t stop.  They continued moving forward.

No one ever said it would be easy; but it most certainly is worth it.

Don’t you think?  

Or would you rather be like the majority who sits back whining and complaining?  Or, better still, peeking over the fence at your neighbor’s grass instead of tending to your own?

Financial expert, Dave Ramsey, says it best, “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.”  Do the work, don’t worry about what other people say or think. Water your grass and get the job done.

Work works!!!

What to Share…What to Share – 100 Day Blog Challenge – Day 27

So Much to Discuss…So Much Time…

Today, I’m at a diverged road trying to decide which path to take.  There’s a couple thoughts running through my head as to what I should share tonight, and I’m not sure which one to go with.  Do I go with my thoughts on children and discipline or discuss my trip to the dentist…

OK, the dentist wins.  So simple.

So, last week, I touched on the fact that I had an appointment to see the dentist because I had a tooth in pain and it just wouldn’t go away.  I was hoping they would take care of it last week, but, no such luck.  It was infected and had to take some antibiotics to prepare me for today.

With yesterday’s late April snowstorm and my white-knuckle drive home, and the conditions not any better this morning, my nerves were a little up there with this upcoming visit.  I knew what was going to happen, but I wasn’t sure how my experience was going to be.  I haven’t had too many bad experiences with the dentist, but, they don’t get much love sometimes.

Took this selfie literally minutes before the procedure.  It was all done before I could even blink.

So, the procedure went rather quickly…literally.  I was given a numbing agent, freezing of the area and sat for 10 minutes to let it kick in.  I tell you, I’m not sure exactly what he did in there, but, it was like 1-2-3, you’re done.  Start to finish, I’d say that took 15 minutes, and no pain.  Seriously, 15 minutes to get rid of pain that could have lasted longer.

My tooth was quite a sight (no, you can’t see it.  I didn’t take a picture, but I’ve got the image in my head.)  After, the right side of my face felt so numb, I may have gone one round with Mike Tyson.  That’s always the part that would get me going – the soft, numb face and lack of feeling and movement on one side of the face.

Comical.

Seriously, it wasn’t bad at all.

This experience got me to thinking…and I’ve posted about this already, but, what fears hold you back from the things you want to do (or should be doing?)  Are you one of those people who creates a major scene in your head on how a situation may turn out, only to find it wasn’t so bad after all?  What have you been putting off?  Avoiding?  Not taking seriously?  Yes, I put off going to the dentist for quite a while (a REALLY long time) because of a couple unforgettable moments that I generalized into something that wasn’t a big deal.

Confusing enough for you?



So, let’s each make it our goal to tackle those fears head on…face those demons…make that appointment you’ve been putting off…whatever it may be for you.  Take the first step and make things happen for you.

Just get that sucker out – get it done…you’ll feel so much better in the end.  Oh, and be sure to take care of your teeth.  Re-read Dr. Seuss’s “The Tooth Book” next time you feel like indulging on some unnecessary junk.  Lots of great lessons in that book done in true Dr. Seuss form.

It Just Won’t End – 100 Day Blog Challenge – Day 26

New Meaning to Being Scared to Death

I had to pull over to take this. Your eyes are NOT deceiving you…it’s SNOW!!!

Snow…I really didn’t think this word would be in my vocabulary this week, but, it’s reared its ugly head this evening.  When we left for Small Ball, it was lightly snowing.  By the time we left an hour later, the van was COVERED!!!  

Are you kidding me?!?!!?

Yeah, this was the drive home.

The drive home was HORRIBLE!!!  Slipping and sliding everywhere.  I never white-knuckled more than I did tonight.  I was horrified.  My heart was racing a mile a minute and every little skid got me more nervous.  I’m not talking just a little dusting, I’m talking full on STORM!!!  Blowing snow, poor visibility…I’d expect this type of weather in January, February, heck, even March!!!  But, April 24th?!?!?!?!  This is the winter that just won’t stop.

Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!

Thankfully the boys weren’t too rowdy on the ride home, but man was that scary!!!

So, I’m going to say it…ENOUGH WITH THE SNOW ALREADY!!!

NOOOOOOO!!!

This has to end SOON!!!

Feeling Whole Again – 100 Day Blog Challenge – Day 25

A Sigh of Relief

I’ve got my laptop back again!!!  I actually got it back yesterday, but since it was my little man’s day, I kept quiet about it.  Oh man, when you don’t have something for a while, you really come to appreciate it.  This is my other baby, and I almost cried when I got her back.  

Oh, happy day!!!

I wouldn’t say I’m “addicted,” but I have certainly realized how important my laptop really is.  This is used for business, personal and everything in between.  Communicating, getting certain tasks done were very limited and a bit of a challenge, but, thankfully, I was able to survive.  The song, ‘Reunited” by Peaches and Herb, kept running through my head yesterday…it feels so good to have my laptop back, you have no idea.

This is another short blog post, but, things are moving in the right direction, and I’m so excited for what the future holds.  Now, to make sure I keep my laptop on the up and up, because I don’t think I want to be apart from it for so long again.

Celebration and Love – 100 Day Blog Challenge – Day 24

Birthday Celebration for My Little Man

Today was a day of celebration.  My son, Justus, turned 6 today, and I am simply amazed at how big he’s getting.  Justus is my middle child, a little reserved, but, quite a spitfire!!!  He was looking forward to this day for a long time.  He was celebrated at school in his class, and I even put out a birthday shout-out on the radio, but it didn’t go through (Grrrr…..)  It didn’t seem to phase him in the slightest.

The cake…was YUM!!!

We had a small family celebration dinner, and everyone had lots of fun.  Cake was involved and loved by all.  He got some great presents – his favorite things (art-related.)  That smile sums up his day today.


Every day, my boys amaze me and I have to pinch myself sometimes because sometimes it just doesn’t seem real.  I’ve got 3 boys…3 BOYS!!!  In all honesty, I am truly blessed.  Yes, they are a handful, this goes without saying – they’re boys.  But, they keep me going, always on my toes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

To all who sent birthday wishes, thank you so much.  He’s already got the countdown started to 7….Heaven help me.

Inspiration – 100 Day Blog Challenge – Day 23

Inspiration is Everywhere

What inspires you?  What keeps you going?  Do you seek a higher power or are there people in your immediate circle of influence who you inspire you?

I’m inspired by many different things, people and everything in between.  I love quotes – they keep me going. Many motivational speakers, authors and historic figures give me the added push I need.  Some include Brian Tracy, John Maxwell, Mark Victor Hansen, Jim Rohn, just to name a few.  Most important, my family, especially my children, inspire me to always strive for my best, even on those days when I don’t feel inspirational.

Fairly recently, I’ve been on the receiving end of inspiration, and I’m speechless.  Never did I think I influence others.  Seriously, it may sound ridiculous, crazy, naive…but, in all honesty, for a long time, I didn’t see myself as someone who inspires others.  I just see myself as a woman doing her best every day and creating an amazing life for my family.  I’m very modest, humble, and someone who does NOT like the spotlight.  I’m a behind-the-scenes type of gal…willing to let others shine.  So, I’m always amazed when I get notes from others or hear that I have made a difference in someone’s life.  

It’s the truth.

For me, I look at myself as someone who’s plotting along, doing what I need to do to succeed.  I think the best way for me to explain is I don’t think I’m anyone special. I have a belief that we all possess a common sense trait that we should use.  I believe we all have the ability to succeed at whatever we desire, if we are willing to put in the work.  

Work Works

I’m no stranger to hard work. I do my best to put my best foot forward at all times.  I’m a work in progress; willing to learn.  I love learning…learning from others who can help me be a better person.  Others who are willing to show me the way, without doing it for me.  I am willing to put in the time, the effort, the sacrifice, the ridicule.  I don’t or rather, I won’t take the easy way out.  I want to know that everything I’ve accomplished was because I put my all into it.  Done by my hard work.

I love to work with and be around others who aren’t strangers to hard work.  Those who are willing to get into the trenches with me, get a little dirty, and come out clean on the other end.  Those who are willing to delay the instant gratification for the long-term gratification.  I love to surround myself with positive, people.  The people who inspire ME to be a better person.


Make a Difference

It really doesn’t take much to inspire others.  Eye contact is so key.  Say hello to someone; hold the door open; let someone go ahead of you; pay for someone’s coffee…the possibilities are endless.  Yes, pay it forward.  Make a difference; inspire.

Happy Easter – 100 Day Blog Challenge – Day 22

Happy Easter

Today was filled with lots of cooking, kids playing outside all day, eating, board games, exhausted kiddos and an even more exhausted Mom.  I had a great blog planned documenting my day with some inspiring words of wisdom, but, my body and brain had other plans in mind.  My brain cells are so jumbled right now, I’m surprised I’m able to form complete sentences, let alone write a complete paragraph.

I hope you all had a great holiday, spent time with loved ones and got the true meaning of what this day means.  Enjoy the rest of your day, take care, thanks for reading, and tomorrow is another day.