I'm on deadline. I am now published two books: The Power of the Zip and The Power of the Zip in a Heavenly Light. I have to finish reviewing the edits that my publisher, Create Space, has suggested. Then we go into final production mode.

The first version is secular, good for businesses, schools, non-profits, politicians and any other group or individual who wants to be a more effective communicator.

The second version is for people who have put God first in their lives and want to follow the manual for effective speaking that He wrote. Churches, non-profits, Young Life, any ministry would benefit.

I have reviews so far from Cal Thomas, Mark Betterson, Heather Puffet and I am waiting for one from Jamie Martin this weekend. Several others may be coming in.

So I'm on deadline, excited and focused. I have little spare time. And I'm glad.

Reserve a Copy of Zip It!

   My new website: www.orderzipitnow.com is open for viewing, reading and registering. Wow!

   Please give me some feedback as we are still tweaking each page for clarity and                                   ease of navigation.

   After you click on the "reserve" tab, there is a space to put in your name, email address and to leave me a message. You need to put something in that space for the "send" button to activate. Just say "hi."

   I 'd like to get 10,00 names and email addresses by late fall, when I expect the book to be ready for purchase. Can you help me by forwarding the link to your friends, co-workers, bosses and anyone else that might need help with The Zip!

How to Find The Groove

Rereading my Bible this morning, Mark 1:9-13 I am struck by the dramatically tortured beginning Jesus endured. He was baptized by John, a spiritual high. Then he was "driven out into the wilderness" by the Spirit to be tortured and tested and tempted by the Adversary (Satan). This was like being trapped in a manic depressive cycle for 40 days, the wilderness being the torture of depression only worse. We don't know what the Adversary tempted him with, but if I think of my worst temptations, I am sure he was beset by images, appetites, greed, and narcissism for 40 days.


He emerged victorious, confirmed as to what he had to do for the rest of his life, and began without a pause. He ran into some fishermen and said, "Come follow me."


I admire that single-mindedness. I want to be like Jesus.


I feel like I have come out of a more than 40 year wilderness of being a slave to my appetites, greed and narcissism. I have snapped out of the groove I chose to willingly go into His groove for me. I have stopped shopping. I am giving all the money I make to my husband for wise stewardship. I rarely spend the money he keeps  putting in my wallet.


My purpose in life is not to spend money. My purpose is to do what the Lord calls me to do: love Him, love and respect my husband, go to work to serve others, spend time with my grandchildren, and write as part of His succession planning "plan" for me.


Period. That's it.

A Roller Coaster of Progress

   I am proud to announce that "Zip It! and 41 Other Powers of Communication" will be published this year by Amazon. I will be taking pre-orders on:www.orderzipitnow.com  That site is being built now and should be up in about a week. I will also have a phone app! How cool is that?


   The roller coaster feeling that I am experiencing is like one I've experienced before when I was setting up the theatre company, American Showcast Theatre in Alexandria, VA in 1983. So many details had to coincide to make that effort happen and that's the case now.


   Just yesterday I realized I needed the website to pre-order because today I am being interviewed for an online article for Woman's Day magazine. They are willing to tell people about my website and that will help me build a customer base for the book.


   Then I needed someone to build the website. Found, in less than 2 hours.


   A dear friend and skilled editor is working on the manuscript to fix punctuation errors, alert me to missing transitions and generally check for inconsistencies and other problems. We will re-edit once more and then  I'm ready to send it to Amazon for the cover and back design and inside formatting.


   I'm also looking for the famous authors I know to write endorsements for the back cover:)


   I have lists of things to do and each time I accomplish one more thing, it's as though I have climbed a mountain, only to see a bigger mountain in front of me. My husband is encouraging me and I need it.


   Another friend and former mentee has a blog: www.steadymom.com and today she has a wonderful entry on not losing focus regardless of what happens. I encourage you to check it out. 

Update

I haven't posted on this blog for awhile but I have been busy.


Here are the highlights:

• The book Zip It! is 98% finished.
• An editor is working on cleaning up what I've written and removing redundancies. She told me that she is learning so much that she is slowed down, thinking about how to apply what I have written.
• I'm looking for a publisher and/or literary agent.
• I have seeds for a few follow up books.
• I have envisioned book tours, workshops, retreats, an ebook, an audio book, hardcover and softcover versions.
• Several published authors have read what I have sent them and have been extremely encouraging.

Now is the time!


If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Why Should Anyone Change the Way They Speak and the Way They Listen?

Duh! This morning I had a profound revelation and jumped out of bed to share the "surge" with 4 blogs and hopefully you.


It's not about us. It's about the rest of the world.


What would change if I spoke and listened better? Would conflicts be resolved? Would people be more tolerant? Would people be able to love more and hate less?


I am sure that if I change the way I communicate, the ripple affect would be so much greater than I could ever intend. So here is the new re-tooled slogan:

"Transform speaking and listening one conversation at a time and ehlp others do it too."

It's not about me or you; it's about the effect of what we do and how it helps others.

Reckless Language

"We will always recognize an artist's freedom to express him or herself, but not when reckless things are said no matter what the context."


This is a quote from Tina Fey about a comic's use of bad language, hate language, on a recent show. The comic also used "violent imagery" which was disturbing to the TV station not to mention the viewers.


No one gets a free pass on the use of reckless language and violent imagery that could incite others to violent thoughts and actions. There should be a zero tolerance for this and I am glad it is being addressed.


Here's the puzzlement. If you know that a liberal said these things, the above quoted things, and you are a conservative, does that make them less true? No.


Language rules, civility rules, the way to behave knows no boundaries. In fact, agreement on these things could bring people together who think they have nothing in common.


We need to examine our own use of language. If the reckless and violent creeps in, how can we develop sensors to detect the "creep" and stop it before it takes hold?


First, when you have strong feelings about anything, pause before speaking. Pause a long time, maybe even a day.


Second, when you have strong feelings about something, examine your feelings. If you are angry, remember that anger is a secondary emotion. You feel angry because you may feel anxious, scared, vulnerable or threatened in some way. Work to identify those primary feeling first before speaking. Get help identifying those feelings, if necessary. A good place to start is: www.marianneclyde.com


Marianne has lots of help for identifying strong feelings. Click around the website, look into the archives, breathing all the while, and see if you don't feel the primary urges to be reckless and violent fade and more rational possibilities occur to you.


Third, when you think you are ready to speak, and if you MUST speak, speak carefully, slowly and sensitively, pausing, weighing your words and the thoughts beneath your words carefully.


"The power of life and death is in the tongue." Speak to heal and to help and to love.