howtobethebestparent.com

Archive for the ‘My journey’ Category

Hi there,

I sometimes feel that my life is so hectic, that I miss those 'tiny moments'. However, this morning was definitely one of those and I relished every second. My 12 year old daughter, Cerys was stood beside me in the kitchen and said she'd like Lemon Curd on her bagels for breakfast. She then promptly set about making fresh Lemon Curd.

The result 20 minutes later was simply stunning and was done without so much as a word from me.

This was indeed a massive pat on the back. Good parenting is understanding that teaching them just takes time. You show them the way, and hope that the lesson are being taken on board. This morning was payback time ...in bucket fulls.

Added to that, all the kids made and decorated chocolate cup cakes for their mother (also made beautiful posters and cards) without any help from me, as part of mothering Sunday.

Finally, Mari (aged 6) jumped 2 classes in her swimming lessons and Ffion (aged 10) moved up 1 class too. They were given achievement certificates and badges, which suitably reflected their new found pride! It was fully deserved.

So, this is one day that I actually am going to say...you reap what you sow ...and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it! Thanks kids... I love you! x

Love

Dad
xxx

That's right folks, you read it right.

Proof is on its way. Once signed off, my book will be for sale on Amazon.....yahoooo!!!! Dream come true or what!

If you'd like to register your interest for a copy, let me know by completing the form in the column over there and I'll be in touch soon...     <<------------

To our success!

Joe

Hi there!

I am bursting with excitement! After spending sometime in the Warrior Forum last Thusday night, I joined a thread on 'What's stopping you from writing a book'.

I joined adding that I had written one but was frustrated with the set up on getting it published. Up stepped a gentleman from Canada who suggested that I use createspace.com (part of Amazon) who could self-publish it in a matter of  hours. I looked further down the thread for evidence and several authors later I was convinced that it should be the way forward.

So, after doing little bits here and there this weekend, the result is that I have designed the front cover and uploaded the PDF book into their publishing section for review. I decided to pay $39 for the Pro version, which will essentially give me more commission per book ...and will make it available to more sales outlets.



So, my problem is solved. I highly recommend this route to market.

Watch this space for launch. So excited!! Kids are too...

To our success!

Joe

Hi there,

Where do the days go? Since last writing I have been flat out on researching:

1. Membership site conversion plug ins.

2. Content and software for the new site.

I have also established a framework for the launch, which will essentially consist of:

1. Offer an outstanding low ticket intro (in terms of price) but full of great content e.g. eBook of 'How to raise children successfully', along with audio and bonus.

2. Small upsell with a 50% gain to include physical version of my new book, suggested menus and VIP consulations.

3. All info captured for ongoing email marketing for sales of products and services... and Big Ticket event offer in 2011.

4. Finally, all sales and leads to be offered entry into howtobethebestparent.com membership site priced at $97 per month, where the content is going to be electric.

The Membership site will be content rich and will offer extremely good value. Subscribers will have access to:

• Monthly newsletters
• Educational reports on key topics, such as 'How to...'
• Webinars/videos
• Timely fun activities.
• Quick recipes to include suggested healthy menus, planners and shopping lists.
• Thinking skills challenges.
• Tips for the month
• Lots of other good stuff.

The site essentially, will build up to a 'one stop shop' for that busy adult who wants to be the best parent they can be.

So, I have my work cut out... still. I need to push the book in the direction of publishers asap because that will be a cornerstone of my initial offer. Unfortunately, this priority has fallen behind of late because of everything else going in my world at the moment.

However, I remain very focussed & excited about the future and the following picture captures the challenges that I feel I am conquering at the moment.

This is me and my girls on top of Pen y Fan, South Wales' highest mountain at just under 4,000 feet high last but one weekend.

We made it!

If you have any thoughts on anything you'd like to see in my membership pages, then please let me know.

To our success!

Joe

Hey there y'all,

Well the time has flown...again. Can't believe that 3 weeks has past since I last blogged!

Ok, plenty to share...

1. Book

I've got a bit dynamic on the book publishing front. Am not submitting to one publisher and waiting for feedback anymore....it takes too long to be told that they are not taking on any new titles... 4 weeks later!!!! So, have submitted synopsis to 4 new publishers.

Bought (on the internet of course) 'The Writers and Artists Yearbook' from Waterstones, which apparently is essential if you want to publish a book. It contains all the publishers names and more importantly the specialisms they cover. It also holds details of literary agents, whom will work on your behalf to get you published for a 15% cut (bargain).

So, am just waiting for some spare time to go through this mammoth book and scratch out a new strategy.

The final point here is that I found a very useful service from the The Writers Workshop who will do a publishing consultation for £230. That means that the book will be read by an experienced writer and full frank feedback provided. Just need to find the £230 somewhere...got any ideas?

In addition, they gave me the names of 3 self publishing companies that they rate, whom are Matador, Lifelines, and finally Lulu. However, this is a last resort apparently, so let's wait and see.

2. Membership site

This is gathering tremendous momentum now. Have gone through a consultation period whereby I have asked various forums on whether it's better to add a plugin into WordPress, which will then convert your site to a membership one or build a brand new one.

The result is overwhelming. Convert your exisiting site. It's cheaper, quicker & easier. There are several good companies out there that can handle this change and as a result I have chosen www.infusionwp.com (part of Infusionsoft).

So, in the interim time the hard work begins. I need to gather, collate and input the following:

1. Food page, to include suggested weekly menus, receipes, cooking with kids, foods in season etc

2. Fun activities with kids page, to include indoor and outdoor suggestions. Seasonal activities and suggested new stuff to do.

3. Tips for the month.

4. Thinking skill page - challenges for the month.

5. Behaviour page - how to...

6. School page to highlight what they should be doing at school at different year groups.

So, I have plenty to do!

I am committed to making the site as helpful and as useful as possible with absolutely GREAT CONTENT.

So, I need a favour please. I need to know that if I charged $97 per month for exclusive access to this inner circle, would you be willing to pay that sum? Please let me have your comments for consideration.

Finally, if of course you have other ideas you like to see on the web page, then again please let me know.

That's it for now.

To our success!

Joe

Hi there ya'll,

Looking at my journal just indicates one thing...complete immersion in internet marketing, which I am doing simultaneously. I can clearly see that I have worked more hours than a junior Doctor...again!

However, I am pleased to say that I have earned my first dollar on line, which I am delighted about, so the huge effort is definitely worth it.

With regards to this site, things are beginning to move. On April 13th, I had generated 24 views to the web site....how? I just don't know.

Social marketing has certainly helped with new participation in Delicious & Reddit, but the main interest is with Facebook. Forgive me, I used to think it was mainly used by bored teenagers who couldn't be bothered to put a full days work in. However, I stand corrected. I listened to a guy called Robert Grant who had made millions through using the power of Facebook to create substantial sales. So, without delay I set up a new FAN Page and if you are reading this please become a fan of 'How to Raise Children Successfully' , which is linked to me. Thanks.

Interstingly, the blog site is growing. We have 2 additional pages:

1. Fun activities for children

2. Recipes

These will be updated on a monthly basis going forward and are meant to help parents with ideas for things to do and easy and nutricious recipes.

The whole point though is to start building this site into a membership or a micro community, where people will pay to subscribe so that they can they can take advantage of monthly menus and monthly activity planners for children. I firmly believe that is where the future lies.

So looking back again to my journal, I can see that last Friday, I submitted an article to Ezine, Go Articles and Squidoo.com entitled 'How to love your child'. It is an excellent article. If you don't cuddle your child enough or tell them you love them all the time, I would enourage you to read it.

Finally, how bizarre is this. I checked my Google analytics today (Monday night). The last 30 days has evidenced 113 views to this my blog site. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my updates. I hope you enjoy them.

To our success.

Joe.

Bonjour!

Well, we all got back in one piece and the holiday was fantastic!

I have 3 beauties who are now excellent skiers. Pretty impressive noting that they have never even held ski before.What was memorable? Well in this order:

1. Seeing the kids confidence build over the week, which resulted in us going on some pretty steep blue runs.
2. Absolutely no TV for a week so plenty of chat, swimming and games. Oh and cuddles!
3. Excellent scenery (and the kids actually being impressed by mountains, stars and sunsets etc - actually I knew they would, they always do.)
4. French croissants & French bread with apricot jam.....oh!
5. Picnic lunch of French bread and ham.

The levels of snow we had was signifcant, we only had 2 sunny days. The rest of the time was snowing, as evidenced by this picture:

Coming back has been tough. It is an absolute delight to spend every second in 24 hours with the children, who at different times were excited, exasperated, grateful and tired. I love dealing with these emotions because it is my job to steer the outcome. We always choose patience & positivity!

This week has been about catching up at work....which was a nighmare for all types of reasons. I limped to the weekend but the good news is that I've started the 100 day Challenge again (see below for details), so I have set up some new goals and an action plan.

The outcome of this planning is that I am going to be really pushing for the book to be published and have given it a deadline of the end of June! After that, we'll self publish, create a sales page on the web and begin a membership site for all type of excellent things for parents. If you have any particular requests, please log them in your comments.

That's it for today. Sun is shining, so its time to get out.

To our success.

Joe

Hey there!

The title kind of gives it away eh? Seren, Wales' largest publisher said "dim diolch" to my new book because it is not within their current remit, which kind of winds me up because their web site was overwhelming with advice on how to present stuff in the correct way to them, but lacking in what their current flavour is!

Some might suggest that the book must be s**t then, but as a hands on Dad, the advice in there would have been invaluable to me in my early days. So I'll stay the course...

I tried to keep the business in Wales to support the economy but unfortunately I have to now approach bespoke English or even American publishers. Children are the same the whole world around, arent they? So here goes.

I am holiday tomorrow for a week with my babies. It will be very welcome time with the girls because:

1. We are going skiing for the very 1st time together, which is very special to us all.

2. I abolsutely adore France and its mountains.

3. I am worn out with the amount of time and effort I am putting into life at the moment. So a break is very welcome.

For the next week, it will be coffee and croissant, hot chocolate and crepes, and beef with red wine. Oh, and a beer on the balcony with lots of fresh air, cuddles and games.

It will also give me the time to pin point my future strategy with  the book and this web site.

Well, watch this space. I'll report back in a week or so on how everyone got on with their ski lessons. I have already packed the ski helmets!

Salut!

Joe