Round 2: Doubt to Confidence #2, Test Prep Company

 I was blown away by the increase in ACT scores students were reporting. Going from a 29 to 33 - or a 32 to the perfect 36! Were these a few outliers? Or was it common practice for all students enrolled in this test prep to have such a big point increase? I'd heard of other companies promising a 2+ gain, but this one had outcomes that seemed too good to be true.

For this company, a 4+ point increase is the norm - NOT the exception. In fact, it's the baseline they guarantee for all students who enroll in their programs. The individualized tutoring targets the areas a student can get the BIGGEST gains in. It's a fact that not all subjects are tested equally - so focusing study time on knowing the most tested categories can increase scores the most. It requires more work for the company to know which subjects to prepare students in. They take the extra time and study the percentages of questions asked in categories so you don't have to. And that's where you can be confident that their test prep will grant you a 4+ increase on the ACT.  To experience these sort of gains, sign up now for a first appointment. Let Method Learning become Your Method for Test Prep. 

Round 2: Doubt to Confidence #1, Gap Year Company

 I was so concerned that my son's idea of taking a "gap year" would become a "forever gap". How would he ever get back to school?  Wouldn't his year off be seen as slacking by his eventual employers.  

It turns out my fears were groundless. In fact, a gap year wouldn't be a strike against his resume...it was actually a strength!  A gap year - well spent - can offer the experience needed for landing an internship in college or getting the right first job after college. My son's gap year helped him stand-out during the application and interview process, landing his dream job 3 months before he graduated college.

A Gap Year is exactly what is needed in this new economy where experience is just as important as a degree. Maybe more. The Gap Year can be an asset on a resume, when planned right. Gap Year Solutions is the company to plan an individualized gap year that will be enjoyable and pay off in the long-run. Start talking about what a Gap Year can look for you by signing up for a 15-minute consultation with one of our Counselors. 

Round 2: Empathy through Shared Misery Practice #2, In College Advising Company

Are you in your freshman year, and wondering why your Professor keeps mentioning office hours during class?  What is he talking about, and why does it even matter? Don't feel embarrassed that you don't know - it's not explained to any students during freshman orientation.  Sure, they tell you where to pay your tuition and when finals week will be - but what about how to prepare for the final?  

The problem is - most of high school focuses on getting INTO college.  You hear a lot about keeping up a GPA, extra-curriculars, and test scores.  The goal for years was to begin college. Once there, there are limited, if any, instructions. You arrive at class and study and work hard, but you're falling behind, and you aren't sure what you're missing.

This is 100% not your fault. 

All the Professors and Financial Aid Advisors and General Advisors think someone else is giving you the 'unwritten rules of college success'. 

The reality is no one is.

It's time to have a personal mentor for college. Someone that is taking time to teach how to:

• navigate the system. 
• understanding and using office hours.
• network for summer internshipss.
• learning to maximize your study time.  

You didn't know this before, but you know it now.

Let's get started.

Round 2: Empathy through Shared Misery Practice #1, Soccer Coach Program

Have you ever been frozen during the half-time speech to your team? The only phrase you can string together is find the back of the net. You're in way over your head, and it's showing at games. It's mid-season, and your team haven't won a game.  They were great at recreation level, but jumping to competition level was more than you bargained for.  And while you JV in high school, you suddenly realize you're in way over your head.

Don't feel bad.  This happens to a lot of coaches.  The problem is, you start coaching to be with your son or daughter and the first year it's fun. You're playing sharks and minnows at practice, and lightning rounds on goal. Your team plays games and wins and it feels amazing. You feel like you can move up with the team to the competitive level, and you do. But the games get harder, and your team is losing. And it's not fun anymore. You're still holding practices and running drills, but it isn't enough. Sharks and minnows simply isn't enough at this level, but you don't know what to do.

You're not alone in this experience.

The problem is - they sign you up to be a coach because you're desperately needed - but don't offer training or support. And you keep moving up to the next level of play, but without the guidance you desperately need. 

The answer is simpler than you think. And it doesn't involve scrolling through youtube every night trying to piece together some drills that will *hopefully* help your players. 

The answer is a program with games designed for youth soccer teams, specific to skills.  Need help with finishing on goal? Then use the section of shooting drills - there are 29 options!  If you notice that your Goalkeeper is letting easy shots go through, then the 15 Keeper Games is your plan for the next several practice.  Altogether, the Smart Coaching Program is all the SMART skills and game-sense you need to change into a winning team.

Round 2: Anger to Envy to Offer Practice #2, soccer e-learning course

For most soccer parents, the only thing worse than bad referees at the soccer game is watching the entire game without seeing your daughter play. And - to make matters worse - you notice the new player on the team is suddenly a starter.  How did she get to that point?

The new player suddenly has great first-touch, great footwork, and is winning 1-on-1s.  

She's a completely different player than she was a few months ago.

She's the sort of player that should be a starter, you suddenly realize. 

Through some sideline conversations, you learn that the parents bought an at-home soccer coaching program. They don't know soccer any better than you, they just knew that their daughter needed more time on the ball. It's hard to swallow, but you suddenly realize that while your daughter has stayed at the same level, the 'new kid' has drastically improved. And because you want your daughter to not only be on the team, but to play for the team, you're probably going to be interested in that same soccer program:  DribbleUp.  DribbleUp is the program every player needs to be on the starting lineup.  

Round 2: Anger to Envy to Offer Practice #1, Violin Teacher

For most people, the most dreaded 30 minutes of the day is when you try to get your child to practice. It's painful. Not very productive. It's a little bit of music and a lot of complaining. But it's not this way for the Krim girls.

For the Krim Girls, practicing is not a big deal, because they've been doing it for years and they now have a pattern. Even though they are 12 and 13 years old and might have attitude about other things their mom asks them to do, they never put up a fight about practicing their violin. 

They usually practice 45 minutes a day on their own. 

They practice without any supervision. 

They practice scales and vibrato and all the boring stuff.  

Do the Krim girls know something your child doesn't? 

They probably do, and that's why I thought you'd be interested in checking out their Violin Teacher: Rachelle Harper.  

Rachelle Harper is a Suzuki Teacher that exemplifies all the positive aspects of the Suzuki Method. She is patient and  consistent, and her students develop these same traits. You can schedule a trial lesson with her and discover why Rachelle Harper is in demand for parents that want to have their children practice and play with enjoyment.  

Click Here to Schedule Your Trial Lesson.  

My Morning Routine Is a Work in Progress (as am I)

I have two goals everyday:  practice copywriting and work on getting clients. That's it.  I'm taking the counsel of Ryan and Chelli and working to apply them everyday.  I've started over with the emotional techniques, and going to work through them daily (hopefully 2 techniques a day).  I'll be writing them for potential clients so I can share them.

I'm feeling pretty good this morning--of course it took me a few hours to get here (it's now 10:45 a.m.), but I'm not in a good spot for writing.  I seriously am not allowed to pick up my phone in the mornings.  I completely wasted the 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. hour, then again from 8:15 - 8:55 a.m. My phone is now in time-out, because I can't handle it.  I listened to a coaching call to get in the right mindset while sorting and starting laundry, and have ben at the laptop since 10 a.m.--actually making headway.  I think I'm "slow to start"--and it's okay to work on some housekeeping stuff while listening to a coaching call, so when I sit down, my mind is focused.  I used to be good at getting up and within 5 minutes I was working out or journaling or reading my scriptures.  Now, I'm like, "I'm awake physically, but this mind is slowly processing...proceed with caution and kindness."  

I've got to start fitting my morning routine to what it "should" be, or what it "used to be".  I've got to figure out what works. Let's be honest--the starting laundry and cleaning a bit in the morning IS a good fit for our home and family needs.  Lean into it, do it, and then start work once a couple areas are clean.  It'll help with feeling like we're on the right foot.

So...now that I'm started (I've already outlined a couple examples of the emotional technique #1), I'm going to write that now and post it.  Work in Progress.  let's go!

Drop the Overwhelm and Enjoy the College Application Season. For Real.

Help Your Teen Move COLLEGE APPS from the "List to Avoid"  TO 'THE HAPPY AND DONE LIST!'

Is your teen...

...avoiding computers?

...avoiding your school counselor?

...avoiding anyone that asks "how are those apps coming along?"

And you know...the "apps" aren't the yummy appetizers for the Homecoming Party. The "apps" are the college apps your teen keeps avoiding. The series of blanks for personal information, then lists of accomplishments and honors, documents to submit, and essays to write. Even the list sends them into overwhelm.  

But...did you know...it's actually possible to ENJOY THE PROCESS?!  

For Your Teen. And For You. 

(take a moment and enjoy this new possibility)

It's possible to DROP THE OVERWHELM.  

Senior Year is the culmination of all the good of high school, and shouldn't be buried under fear and feeling lost. You've watched your teen accomplish all the hard work--you just need some guidance to package it for the colleges.  

So, instead of running from college apps, they'll be running TO the apps with the help of weekly guidance and insights from a personal college counselor.  

A personal college counselor can work with your teen on the application, step-by-step.  Instead of feeling lost and alone, they can feel connected with someone by their side to answer questions in the moment.  Your teen will check off portions of the application with every appointment, and submit the best application to fantastic colleges!  And this positive experience can begin today, by signing up HERE for private and helpful college consulting.  

Most students are able to complete the application in 3-5 hour-long sessions.  So, help your teen ditch the overwhelm and grab some senior year enjoyment by signing up now.   

Am I a "Fixer" or a "Builder"?

 I went to the doctor today for my knee.  It's not horrible, it's just not great, after a weird fall while running last week. Not to bore with details, but here they are:  about 30 minutes into my jog/walk--my left ankle rolled to the left, and while going down, my body tried to catch itself.  My right leg was somewhat closer to the ground, and all the muscles in my right thigh jammed into my knee.  Compressed is the closest word I can think of for the pressurized pain that happened.  I fell and tumbled and wondered what had happened.  I sat there for 5 minutes, praying and pleading...begging God to just heal me.  How could I function with an injury to BOTH legs? I prayed internally, petitioning Bowie to come next to me (the dog I'd borrowed for this run to be 'safe').  While I sat there, 4 cyclists went by and said hi.  I was obviously hurt--covered in dirt and literally SITTING on one track of the double-track trail.  A walker also passed by me.  I'm still processing that no one stopped.  I am, gratefully, quite aware that God noticed my fall.  And my need for healing.  I somehow got up, and when I stood, my left ankle didn't throb.  And I could put weight on my right leg.  I walked back to the car, talking to God the entire way--completely aware that I had been healed.  I knew it.  I know it still today.  I felt my left ankle turn badly.  I could tell something was off with my right leg, but also grateful that I could walk.

That night, my knee started to tighten, and it's been a week of taking all the care I can with it:  icing, heat baths, heat pads, advil, massages with essential oils, using crutches, wrapping it, not bending it, not doing stairs.  Yesterday, I hit the week mark, and felt like it should be better.  I called the doctor's office, and they had an appointment for today (how often does that happen?!).  I went in this morning, and the short story is (not sure why I'm now going to the short story...except the long story, the one that matters is still in the wings)...there is no permanent damage to my knee.  Another week of heat pads (no ice), no crutches or bandages (to strengthen it) and I should be okay.  Two weeks max.  I'm thrilled.  It's as good as I could've hoped for.  

While I was in, we also talked about chest pain I've had the past two months.  It specifically started at Lilly's wedding, and happens 2-3 times a week.  I was actually supposed to call to get that checked a month ago, but kept putting it off.  My knee pain was the catalyst to get me to call, because it's limited so many of the daily things I need to do (hello laundry piles...yes, I see you growing).  So, we talked about the chest pain.  And--no heart attack coming.  Because it never happens during physical exertion, and I don't have any other symptoms, the Doc thinks it could be treated through counseling.  And instead of just sending me to a Counselor, he sort of practiced a first session with me.  Right there.  As part of my medical examination.  Totally tying the physical and the mental/emotional altogether.  Which completely makes sense to me, just amazing to experience a doctor that does it.

And here's some of the takeaways (that I really want to remember, and continue to workthrough:

• there are times when I try to "fix" things.  I try to "fix" my mom making possible comments to the girls about weigh and size.  I try to "fix" problems.  I may try to "fix" the sorry mental state I often find myself in.  Instead.
• I can "build".  I can work on "building" a relationship. I can "build" a life that I want.  I can "build" myself.
• He emphasized time and again, that I don't need fixing, because I'm not broken inside.  And so fixing doesn't need to happen.  I can build up myself, build up my life, and talk to myself about that, and work on that daily.  To BUILD. (I wish I could explain it better--hopefully with time I can).
• I can't "fix" getting my business going, because it's in the correct state it is in.  I can "build" it each day, and work on that.  But I don't need to "fix" it (or me).
• We talked about how the first time the chest pain happened, it happened at Lilly's wedding, with lots of family.  I love being around family, but I do feel stressed about it.  Again...am I trying to "fix" things that just...are.  Instead, can I just enjoy the present state, and build?  
• this is seriously a huge thing
• I can see that my default state is to "fix".  I can see my mom is a "fixer", and that my Grandpa was, too.  
• Coming home...realizing that I can't be a "fixer" type of mom.  My kids don't need me to fix them, they simply need me as a mom.  I feel like my mom was a fantastic business owner, piano teacher, and is totally a leader.  Sometimes though, I don't need her to fix everything, I just need her to be a mom, and listen.  My whole family is full of fixers.  Grandpa Miller was classic "fixer".  But with fixing--it's implied something is broken.  I don't see my kids that way, but sometimes, I still "fix", because--maybe I know better?  see further?  can help?  The answer is...NO.  I can be their mom--which leads to
• when I got home, was listening to work training re:  The Hero's Journey.  She said this "the client sees themselves as the hero, and the company / copywriter are the guide."  Suddenly, it clicked:
• my children are the "hero" of their own life:  discovering, learning, on their own journey (and news flash:  I'm still on my OWN journey of learning and trying to figure it out).  I can be their guide, but not their fixer.
• If I'm not a "fixer", then what is my role as a parent?  How do I guide and build, without fixing?  This is the question that slapped me across my face and feels important.
• The thing is, being a "fixer" is giving me anxiety.  It's causing me chest pain.  It feeds into the stress that causes my Achilles Tendon to flare up in stressful times. ...because I subconsciously need to "fix it".  

All this means is that I'm acutely aware today of how much I need counseling.  I almost had a full meltdown in the doctor's office because of all the emotions our talk was bringing up.  He was incredibly patient with me, helping me to become aware that I don't need to take all of it on myself, but instead to start looking at myself as "building" rather than "fixing". 

Whew!  That's it.  It's the start of long-term counseling that I really need.  I know it.  So, apparently my knee got me in to the office to talk to the Doc about my heart and my mental health.  God's Hand is totally directing my life.  

Hot Chocolate and Company Titles

 It's the beginning of another week!  I'm trying to get in 4 hours of focused work each day--I'm to a bit of a late start today, but I'm gonna get in the time and objectives anyway! I have to--if I don't get it done when they're at school, I've got to work in the evenings and at night.  I can't just keep saying, "I'll do better tomorrow..." I need to put in a certain amount of work each day.  That's where I am today.  It's 11:55 a.m., and I'm just now typing.  I haven't just been sleeping the last few hours (I've iced / heated my knee for healing / called Rachelle to figure out violin lessons / ate late breakfast that'll double as lunch / synced the big family wall-calendar to digital calendar).  Again--all important--but none of them require a lot of deep work or focus.  So, I've now had my hot chocolate and I'm ready to get into the deep work of copywriting.

I've got some ideas for my company name, but not sure which to decide on.  I've narrowed it down to 3 options:

Krim de la Creme Copywriting

The Final Draft Copywriting

Byline by Brooke Copywriting

---an hour later (12:50), and I just barely sent out a google form asking for responses.  Just wondering what people think. (now that I've sent it, I'm questioning myself...AHHH!!)

I think I like The Final Draft and Byline by Brooke the best.

And I still think my blog "to and through college" would be a great name for a college consulting company, which I'm thinking about more and more.  

And then, a part of me thinks, "why am I going in so many different directions?!  when what I really love is History?"  Because--someone's gotta make money and pay the bills.  And that someone is ME.  I've got to make money, and it seems like copywriting is the quickest way.  I wish I could do the History Master's Degree, and then work in History...maybe if I make enough w/ copywriting, I can enroll!  That would be amazing.

Okay--now that my thoughts have circled and just all gotten out--I'm going to work this next hour on copywriting for Carolyn.

Then--draft a cold email to start sending to e-learning companies.  Today.  Get started on that today.