Are you focused and fully present with what's right in front of you?

Whatever you do, do it with your full, focused attention.
~Charlon Bobo

We live in busy times and yet precious moments are slipping past with us engaged in most activities with our half-attention, or less. Here are only a few recent examples:

1. I see children with their parents completely distracted by technology (cell phone, iPhone, etc.) instead of engaging in conversation, and yet we have the audacity to demand that those same children snap to attention when we want it!
   
2. In restaurants I see couples sharing a meal with both people obviously distracted by private thoughts instead of enjoying the moment of now fully engaged with each other.
   
3. I responded to a request from a prospect and in those 10 minutes of trying to connect and give her something of value, she took two other calls. (Needless to say, this is all the information I needed to decide she is not my next new client. When we cannot give our full attention to someone who genuinely wants to help us, our priorities need a major adjustment.)

I see the inefficiency of fragmentation. Checking and responding to emails as they come in; acting on every mental impulse to do something other than what you're currently doing; telling others you can focus on them while you're doing two or three other tasks (and believing the lie, because if you called a bullshit on yourself, you'd have to actually take responsibility and change your behavior).

I'm not exempt. Believe me, I get distracted by the next shiny object as much or more than anyone else on the planet. And I pride myself on efficiency and my ability to manage many tasks at one time. BTW, when did that become an admirable trait?! (It's the perfect recipe for fragmentation at its best and insanity at its worst.)

However, when it comes to engaging with others in a meaningful way--whether in person, via telephone or via email--I am committed to consistently being fully present; giving those in front of me my very best... now that's a present!

You can never give your kid another childhood. You can never re-do an evening out with your beloved. You never get another chance to make a first impression on someone who can help you thrive in business.

Whatever you do, do it with your full, focused attention.

A Manifesto for Conscious Men

Blessed by knowing--and having intimate relationships with--extraordinary, conscious men over the past 20 years, there is NOTHING like being the object of their affection and focus.

However, women must understand that serving humanity in this capacity (modeling the empowered feminine) is a great responsibility, not a one-way love-fest in which the worshiper is treated as "less-than." Quite the contrary; in this process men are elevated as never before, but in completely different ways than they are now.

We are their teachers of those characteristics labeled "feminine" by societal standards: compassion, collaboration, community-building, communication, etc.

As awakened women we must do our part in nourishing the finest of both masculine and feminine traits in our men (and in ourselves). For when we do, the finest in them is revealed. They will step up to be our companions on this journey in brand new ways. We were never intended to do this alone. We genuinely need conscious men to celebrate and assist us as we rise up to collectively shift this planet.

What’s The Basis for Professional Copyediting Fees?

There are many approaches to pricing copyediting client projects. Options include per-project, per-page, per-word, etc. as well as flexible payment options, but essentially it comes down to one thing: the actual time and expertise involved to become familiar with your business and copyedit your content through this lens.

Let me explain:

When prospective clients contact me, it is the perfect opportunity to teach them about the inner-workings of a professional copyediting business so they have the most positive experience. Often they make understandable assumptions about the cost, process and turnaround times; they simply don’t know, and why would they? 98% of them have never worked with a skilled copyeditor in any capacity.

For the purpose of this article, I will focus on the process.

As a consumer and prospective client, it might surprise you to learn that the process of editing includes much more than reading your content and manipulating—or adding to—existing content. Pricing reflects the time involved to familiarize myself with your business mission, goals, marketing plan and ideal customer characteristics. Without that level of involvement, you will not experience results because the specific language I embed (and activate) in your marketing materials is derived from this background, investigative component. Obviously, this takes time and it is essential to ensure I effectively capture the vital essence of your business.

For me to do my best copyediting for clients, I have a proven approach that delivers results. Period. I would do you a disservice to say I can edit your content without knowing your business.  

Let’s look at other professions for which this same approach (familiarizing themselves with your unique background and personal objective) is crucial to a beneficial outcome. Based on specific training and experience:

• An attorney advises you to the best of her ability when you provide a detailed “back story.”
• A medical professional ascertains a probable diagnosis by listening to your symptoms (supported by an exam and/or testing).
• A web designer has an established and proven process (usually a customized list of detailed questions) to determine how he can marry his talents with your end goals.
• An accountant requests a history of tax returns and uses this information to maximize the tax law to your greatest advantage.
• A financial planner carefully reviews your existing portfolio and develops a smart, strategic long-term plan for financial success and freedom.

Any professional who is consulted to enhance your business--or personal aspects of life--must go through a discovery process to do their very best for you. Although that may take many forms, it is a necessary part of the process. And so it is with copyediting.

Based on my combination of skills including copywriting, copyediting and online marketing, I bring all of this to every project. I cannot compromise quality or integrity by offering a sub-standard service to make the cost affordable to an entrepreneur who doesn't understand the fundamental importance of the behind-the-scenes process (which is what allows me to provide them the greatest value). 

The discovery process takes time and as the old adage goes Time Equals Money.

My business skill set is at a premium. My services are delivered at a premium standard. And my pricing reflects that. No apologies; no compromises; no desire on my part to give away value as if it had none. I know the value of my services. What about you?