I’m honored to be guest-posting on Michael Hyatt’s blog today. I’m sharing a really recent major business setback we experienced and what I’m learning through the process. I hope that my story and struggles can encourage you in your journey — whether in your business or personal life.
Here’s a snippet from the post:
A friend emailed me recently asking for counsel. He's been working really hard growing his online business—putting in lots of time and effort—and he's discouraged.
While he had seen some really significant growth for a few months, it now feels like it's at a standstill or even dropping off. He's frustrated because he's put in so much effort and it feels like he's just not seeing the results he'd like to see.
I could relate to him in many ways, because I've had a similar major setback in my business in the last few months. For months, my Facebook Page had been growing like crazy—to the tune of thousands of new followers every single week!
I'd experimented with a lot of different things and found a system for how and when to post that was working incredibly well to keep engagement and click-throughs really high.
For months, this system produced amazing results: our Facebook followers grew by over 200K in 2013, our traffic numbers doubled, and our unique visitors almost doubled. The growth was phenomenal and it was all organic, without us spending any money out of pocket to advertise on Facebook.
And then, in February of this year, we had a Facebook post go viral unlike anything we'd ever experienced before. It was insane—and I was so excited!
But about five days later, something weird happened and it was as if Facebook decided to no longer show any of my posts to anyone. I'm not kidding…”
Read the full post here.
Also, at the bottom of the guest post linked above, I put in a plug for the Platform Conference. You know that I am very careful about what I wholeheartedly endorse — because I know your time and money is limited — but I asked Michael if I could include this plug on the post because I believe in this conference so very much.
You see, I went to the Platform Conference last year and it completely shook up my entire business plan from the ground up. I came home not just re-energized and re-inspired as a business owner and blogger, but most of all, I realized that I needed to make some major business changes if I wanted to be in this for the long haul.
Without a doubt, I can say that the money I spent to attend the Platform Conference was truly the best money I've ever spent on any conference in my life. Yes, it's that good!
Do yourself a favor and go sign up for the Platform Conference. I’d LOVE to meet you there!
How did your morning routine go this morning? I had a much better morning this morning than yesterday.
It’s still not right in line with my Planned Morning Routine, but little bit by little bit I’m making headway. And I’m hoping to continue slowly moving in the right direction.
Here's how my morning went:
6:15 a.m. — Wake up, read Bible, read Pursue the Intentional Life, write in my Blessings journal.
6:35 a.m. — Silas wakes up. I snuggle with him and invite him to be apart of my morning prayer time (I’ve really been working on not viewing my children as “interruptions” to my quiet time, but instead, encouraging them to participate in it with me if they get up early!)
6:42 a.m. — I bring Silas out to the garage with me and have him play with the basketball while I run on the treadmill. I listened to my Scripture memory work on my Bible app on my phone while running.
7:00 a.m. — Start a load of laundry. Open the box of toilet paper from Amazon and organize it in the hall closet.
7:10 a.m. — Hop on and check something online really quickly (I know, I know… I’m still working on not doing this until after 8:30 a.m.!)
7:25 a.m. — Jesse gets home from the gym and helps Silas get his breakfast while I hop in the shower.
7:45 a.m. — I get Silas ready for soccer camp and pack a snack for him.
7:52 a.m. — Jesse takes Silas to soccer camp, the girls get up and around, while I finish getting my hair fixed and makeup on.
8:00 a.m. — I make our bed, clean up our room, and do a quick clean of our bathroom.
8:15 a.m. — Then, I head downstairs and make some breakfast (fried eggs — leftover from yesterday’s breakfast, blueberries, and Flaky Biscuits — made last night — with Apple Butter that my sister-in-law made and canned for us).
8:30 a.m. — While the girls are finishing getting their morning chores done, I clean up the kitchen, load the dishwasher, do a few dishes that don’t fit into the dishwasher, and switch the load of laundry to the dryer.
And then it’s time to start my Morning Computer Time. It feels so good to have gotten so much done before I turned on the computer!
How did you do on your morning routine today? Let us know in the comments!
Note from Crystal: My oldest sister, Brigette, lives in South Carolina with her husband and four young children. I asked her recently if she'd start sharing her shopping trips here since she's an amazing bargain-shopper and has some different stores in her area than Gretchen and I do. Enjoy!
(Note from Brigette: I generally try to stay around $50/week for groceries, but this week my brother and his family of 4 will be staying with us for 3 days, so I gave myself a little extra in the budget!)
Aldi
1 bag frozen boneless Chicken Breasts – $5.99
2 packages Butter ($2.49 each) – $4.98
3 dozen Eggs ($1.35 each) – $4.05
1 jar Salsa – $1.69
1 5-lb bag Flour – $1.55
2 42-oz containers Old Fashioned Oats ($2.29 each) – $4.58
2 24-oz cartons Cottage Cheese ($2.29 each) – $4.58
1 jar Olive Oil – $2.99
2 Avocados ($0.79 each) – $1.58
1 Cucumber – $0.39
1 package Baby Carrots – $0.99
2 3-pk Colored Peppers ($1.99 each) – $3.98
1 3-ct package Romaine Hearts -$1.99
1 8-oz package Baby Mushrooms – $0.99
2 packages Grape Tomatoes $0.99 each) – $1.98
1 bunch Bananas (2.84lb @ $0.44/lb) – $1.25
1 10-lb bag Potatoes – $3.49
1 12-oz package Chocolate Chips – $1.59
1 box Honey Wheat Puffs – $1.79
1 box Corn Flakes – $1.49
1 box Frosted Flakes – $1.49
1 can Black Olives – $0.99
Total: $54.40
BI-LO
5 8-oz packages Oscar Meyer Oven Roasted Turkey (B1G1 free) – $7.45, plus receive a $4 catalina wyb 5 – $0.69 each (I realize these aren’t the healthiest choice ever, but with out-of-town company here, I thought these would be great for quick, easy lunches! :))
2 64-oz cartons So Delicious Coconut Milk ($2 each) – used $0.55/1 So Delicious Dairy Free Product (doubled) – $0.90 each (I am dairy-free right now since dairy doesn’t agree with my nursing baby!)
1 box (30-ct) gallon Freezer Bags – $1.59 (not a good deal – we just needed these!)
1 package Foam Plates – $1.21, used $1 off any paper plate purchase (BI-LO catalina coupon) – $0.21 after coupon :
Total after Sales and Coupons: $11.05, plus receive $4 catalina back
Harris Teeter
3 boxes Annie’s Mac and Cheese (B1G1 ) – $3.28, used 3 $0.35/1 Annie’s printable - $0.39 each after coupon
1 8-oz Daisy Sour Cream – $1.00
2 bags Utz Multigrain Tortilla Chips (B1G1) – used 2 $0.75/1 Utz Chips (doubled) – $0.24 each after coupons
1 Eggplant – reduced to $.60
1 family size bag Pictsweet Green Beans – $1.84, used $0.50/1 Pictsweet Product from Red Plum insert 03/02/14 (doubled) – $0.84 after coupon
Used $4 catalina received from previous BI-LO purchase (Yes, Harris Teeter is AWESOME about taking OYNO catalina coupons from other stores – even Walgreens register rewards!)
Total after Sales and Coupons $0.09 (!)
Sunbeam Bakery
(I love stopping at this factory outlet store – it’s right on the way to other grocery stores, and they almost always have reduced-price bread! Several of these loaves will go straight to the freezer.)
3 loaves Sara Lee 100% Whole Wheat Bread ($0.50 each) – $1.50
1 loaf Sara Lee Honey Wheat Bread – $0.50
1 package Sara Lee 16-ct Hot Dog Buns – $1.00
Total: $3.00
Local Farmer’s Market
(I’m SO happy it’s fresh peach season here in SC! Yum!!)
1 box Green Beans (11 lbs) – $5.00
Tomatoes ($0.99/lb) – $1.50
Peaches ($0.99/lb) – $2.42
Total: $8.92
Total for all Groceries for the Week: $77.46
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Scrambled Eggs, Toast, Fruit, Homemade Granola, Cereal, Banana Muffins, Freezer-Friendly Baked Oatmeal, Smoothies
Lunches
Turkey Sandwiches, PB and J Sandwiches, Macaroni and Cheese, Baked Potato Bar, Fresh Raw Veggies, Fruit
Dinners
Homemade Pizza, Tossed Salad, Pineapple
Grilled Chicken, Steamed Broccoli, Homemade Freezer Biscuits, Fruit Salad
Haystacks, Green Beans
Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Baked Potatoes (I always use olive oil and sprinkle with additional spices such as rosemary), Steamed Carrots, Pull Apart Oat Rolls
Three Cheese Baked Spaghetti, Homemade French Bread, Green Beans, Tossed Salad
Cheesy Hamburger Potato Soup, Banana Muffins, Fresh Veggie Plate
Leftovers
Snacks
Chewy No Bake Granola Bars, Fruit and Veggies, Smoothies
