Today I realized that I've been blogging quite steadily for five years now (since August 2005). It was a colleague of mine who urged me to explore what blogging is all about. As I saw what others had done, it seemed like a Herculean task. Where to find ideas to blog about?

Luckily for me I started one post at a time. Now, two blogs (this one in English and one in French) and a combined 558 posts later, I think I'm getting the hang of it.

I believe that every solopreneur needs to blog. The currency of the self-employed professional is ideas. Blogging is a powerful way to get ideas out of your head and into the world. Many of my thoughts are half-baked, sometimes the grammar is twisted or the post is not quite logical, that's okay. A blog is a workshop to prototype your ideas, to test them and see what sticks, both with you and with your readers. By demonstrating how you think and what you are thinking about, you help your prospects to build their trust in you.

My original intention with this post was to come up with my "Top Ten" favorites but as I went through my archives, there were just too many. Instead, here are ten posts (in no particular order) that I think represent my personality and my beliefs:   [Read more →]

I'm participating in EzineArticles.com Hundred Articles In Hundred Days (HAHD) challenge. My goal is to produce 101 articles between May 1 and August 8 2010, and post them on the article marketing site.

I will be updating older blog posts and articles to submit in this challenge, as well as produce lots of new material based on my coaching as well as personal experience.

You can follow my progress on my wiki at https://visinst-hahd4.pbworks.com or directly on the site at http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Davender_Gupta

It's still a good time to join me on this challenge. Whether you produce 2, 20 or 120 articles, you will be ahead of everyone else. After all, your certifications don't mean much to your prospects. It's only when you become an author that you become an authority!

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You have probably received an email that starts:  "I came across your website and I would like to propose my services..." or "Please pardon the interruption, but I would like to propose our services..."

What is your first gut reaction when you see this? If you're like me, probably to hit the "delete" button. And if you're feeling particularly peeved, you might hit the "Identify as Spam" while you're at it.

But the temptation to send out these kinds of e-mail is huge. You need to let people know that you exist. And everyone is doing it, right?  So why are you still doing it, even if the return on these kinds of campaigns, whether by e-mail, postal mail, telephone, social media update or ad, or other means, is pitiful?

I agree that it's important to reach out and let people know what you offer. How you do it, though, is the difference between generating indifference or interest. So what is the difference between a message that captures a prospect's interest and one that turns them off?  When is spam, spam?   [Read more →]

I'm fortunate to be part of an amazing circle of people led by Elizabeth Marshall, with a mission to plug you into the hottest ideas in marketing, business and leadership. AuthorTeleseminars.com is a series of teleconference interviews by high-profile authors and thought leaders to bring to your attention important books that are shaping today and tomorrow. Membership in AT is free and you get access to the calls and also the recordings.

The 2010 season starts off particularly strong with two great sessions: [Read more →]

"Brown" Santa (the UPS Guy) arrived today with my present to myself, a Flip Ultra HD Pocket Camcorder. I plan to use this to make quick, high-quality videos for my blogs, Facebook and YouTube.

I thought it would be fun to do an "unboxing" video (using my old camera of course), so here goes!

(Video from my Facebook profile http://www.facebook.com/CoachDavender)

For more information

Flip Video: http://www.theflip.com

Lou Bortone is the Online Video Guy. He first showed me the power of the Flip, and continuously inspires me on the subject of Online Video. Check out his resources:
http://www.OnlineVideoBranding.com - Lou's blog about Online Video
http://www.OnlineVideoMadeEasy.com - Great intro course Lou offers
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lou-Bortones-Flip-Tips-Free-Guide-to-the-Flip-Video-Camera/37030454941 - Lou's Facebook Fan Page

I started blogging waaaay back in August 2005 after a client nagged me about why I didn't have a blog. So I started on Blogger, and after 345 posts, that blog is starting to show its age.

So I'm continuing my blogging now using WordPress.

Past blog entries are still available here at http://frompassiontoprofit.blogspot.com I plan to move and update the more important entries to this new blog over the next few weeks.

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