I woke up this morning feeling ill. I struggled to make my way into work, but it was quickly apparent that fighting through it was not going to work. So I came home to rest.

I spent the rest of the day alternating between sleeping and daydreaming. I didn’t quite feel up to typing or reading – nothing that took too much concentration that’s for sure.

About mid-way through the morning, I got a phone call that cheered me up considerably for a short while. I won the grand prize of a $250 gift certificate towards a tattoo at Laser Ink, right here in Whitecourt. Steve and Tina moved out here from Ontario and started the business up here nearly right away. They recently moved to their new location in the old Exit building next to Whitecourt Stationery.

I really did just enter the contest on a whim, and while I’ve toyed with the idea of a tattoo before – I’ve never really given it serious consideration. Now that money is not the issue, is this something that I really want to do? I didn’t enter expecting to win. I feel almost guilty because maybe there’s someone out there who really wants a tattoo that could really put the gift certificate to good use. I’m going to have to talk with Tina about this some more…

Other than that the highlight of the day was finding an interesting little book on marketing from the library. For a small library, I’ve found the business section to be fairly broad and nearly up to date. For what they don’t have, inter-library loan is usually able to cover.

In my opinion, the library is one treasure that not enough entrepreneurs take advantage of – whether they base their business online or off-line.

Which reminds me, I have to return the book on sales that I borrowed from Dennis at Eagle River Chrysler.

So other than resting, going to the library and winning a tattoo…there were some other highlights.

I started Facebook ads for my upcoming local seminar. Actually I started it yesterday, but it really started getting impressions today. Unfortunately, short ads are not my forte and there’s been no click through’s so far. I’m considering spending the rest of the evening (after I finish posting this blog) looking up short ad techniques. I’ve never really needed them this far. I was terrified of trying Pay Per Click advertising the last time around! Even this time I’m starting small and not expecting much. Such is the way of learning something new to add to the marketing mix.

My radio ads – well those were scheduled to start today, and I’m assuming they did. Being sick, I didn’t listen to the radio today. It’s really entirely too early to tell whether that will yield results, but I (like most advertisers) am impatient. It’s bloody hard being compelling in 8 seconds, but it’s the best I can do budget wise at the moment and I believe radio is a solid investment. I know from experience that it takes time for repetition to do it’s magic.

Meanwhile, I started putting up flyers today. Okay, I put up one, at the library, because I was there. I’ll continue to post fliers throughout the week as it suits the schedule.

Tomorrow, I begin my personalized invitation packages for the second event.

Oh and I also started the process for getting my real business cards done. I hate self-printed ones with a passion, but needed something to tide me over between ordering and delivery. I’m just hoping my “meanwhile” packets are classy enough to make a good first impression, despite being frugal…

I also contacted my partner for the Northern Alberta Super Sales Seminar. She has to look over the copy I’ve written for it, since I’ve just been adding a dash of this and a smidgen of that as I go along as far as putting the site together. As soon as everything is approved, I’ll get the online registration system all set up as well as announce my rewards program for referrals.

I hope you’ll stay tuned for that announcement coming soon!

Oh but first, coming tomorrow I’d love if you could check out my post on publicity at The Passion Project Blog.I’m looking forward to participating there each month.

Until then…I hope you take the time to appreciate the moment you are in…