Tuesday, July 14, 2015
6 Epiphanies I've Had Writing Explosive Content
A Entrepreneur columnist reflects on the takeaways he's learned so far after seeing some of his articles go viral.
5 Innovative Ideas for Engaging Your Fickle Audience
People are deluged with marketing but you can still earn their attention.
Health Tip: Controlling Diabetes During Hot Weather
Drink lots of water, and check blood sugar often
Thursday, July 9, 2015
5 Marketing Lessons From UFC Legend Conor McGregor
To UFC fans, Conor McGregor is a recognizable name synonymous with fighting success but he also happens to be a very savvy businessman.
Cost a Barrier to Healthier Diets for Diabetic Kids, Study Shows
Why many parents of children with type 1 diabetes struggle to provide better food choices
A Running Vacation Rebooted My Spirit
"These runs just aren't doing it for me anymore," I griped to my husband after finishing my usual four-mile trail. For months, I hadn't felt the exhilaration I once did. Worse, my weight had begun to creep up, along with anxiety and insomnia.
"Maybe you should start cycling again," Gordon said.
"But I like to run," I responded. "It's my thing, like triathlons are yours."
"Then sign up for a half marathon," he suggested, "to push your mileage."
RELATED: 15 Running Tips You Need to Know
"Ugh." I'd given up competition years before, when I realized it sucked the joy out of running. Still, I felt an uncomfortable pang at my resistance to trying a new activity. There was a time when I had been up for anything: backpacking through the Austrian Alps, canoeing in the remote Canadian wilderness. Where had that fearless woman gone?
A few days later, Gordon came home with a grin on his face and announced, "I have just the thing to get you out of your exercise rut—a four-day running vacation in Spain!" Excited, I visited the website of the tour company, Running and Trekking Costa Brava, and stopped cold. Each day would include 11 to 15 miles of running, with hundreds of feet of climbing and steep descents. I'd never even finished more than eight miles at once. I could feel a knee-jerk no forming in my mind, along with the reasons: too difficult, too scary. "Sign us up," I blurted, before I could talk myself out of it.
RELATED: 4 Exercises to Beat a Fitness Plateau
I trained for 12 weeks, pushing my mileage with each outing. By the time we arrived in Girona, Spain, and met up with the tour group—five avid runners, most of whom were younger than me by at least a decade—my legs were significantly stronger, and there was less squishy flesh around my waist. My mind, however, was in worry overdrive: What if my slower pace drags the group down? What if I embarrass myself? What if I fail?
The first morning, we set off on a narrow single track that traversed upward through a forest of cork trees. Within minutes, Gordon and I fell behind, and it wasn't his fault. Distracted by distress over feeling slow, old and unfit, I tripped on a tree root and fell hard, scraping flesh off my left elbow and bloodying my knee.
Dabbing at the wounds, I felt tears of self-doubt and discouragement pooling. Back home, I had created a life structured around things I was good at: writing, raising our sons, being part of our community. For the first time in a long while, I was out of my comfort zone. My ego felt as raw and exposed as my oozing elbow.
RELATED: 24 Motivational Quotes
I pushed on, though, and we arrived at a breathtaking promontory, the gem-bright sea in front of us. "Can you believe we're here?" asked a crazy-fit woman, throwing her arms around me. I couldn't. Relief flooded through me. No one cares if I'm slow! Look where I am!
For too long, I had carefully avoided activities that challenged my competence, from a hip-hop class to a speaking engagement. I'd thought my fitness routine was in a rut. In reality, it was my mind-set that was stuck.
Over the next three days, we covered miles of difficult terrain; I went at a comfortable pace at the rear of the pack. The running never felt easy, but it never felt impossible, either—and that made me proud.
Standing atop a 2,200-foot mountain on the last day, I gazed down at the miles of trail we'd climbed. I felt strong, confident—almost invincible. I pulled out my phone to take a photo and saw a text from a bookstore owner back home, inviting me to read an essay at an event. Public speaking is my biggest fear, period. Ordinarily, I'd say no as fast as my fingers could type. Instead I replied, "Sure, happy to do it." And I meant it.
"Maybe you should start cycling again," Gordon said.
"But I like to run," I responded. "It's my thing, like triathlons are yours."
"Then sign up for a half marathon," he suggested, "to push your mileage."
RELATED: 15 Running Tips You Need to Know
"Ugh." I'd given up competition years before, when I realized it sucked the joy out of running. Still, I felt an uncomfortable pang at my resistance to trying a new activity. There was a time when I had been up for anything: backpacking through the Austrian Alps, canoeing in the remote Canadian wilderness. Where had that fearless woman gone?
A few days later, Gordon came home with a grin on his face and announced, "I have just the thing to get you out of your exercise rut—a four-day running vacation in Spain!" Excited, I visited the website of the tour company, Running and Trekking Costa Brava, and stopped cold. Each day would include 11 to 15 miles of running, with hundreds of feet of climbing and steep descents. I'd never even finished more than eight miles at once. I could feel a knee-jerk no forming in my mind, along with the reasons: too difficult, too scary. "Sign us up," I blurted, before I could talk myself out of it.
RELATED: 4 Exercises to Beat a Fitness Plateau
I trained for 12 weeks, pushing my mileage with each outing. By the time we arrived in Girona, Spain, and met up with the tour group—five avid runners, most of whom were younger than me by at least a decade—my legs were significantly stronger, and there was less squishy flesh around my waist. My mind, however, was in worry overdrive: What if my slower pace drags the group down? What if I embarrass myself? What if I fail?
The first morning, we set off on a narrow single track that traversed upward through a forest of cork trees. Within minutes, Gordon and I fell behind, and it wasn't his fault. Distracted by distress over feeling slow, old and unfit, I tripped on a tree root and fell hard, scraping flesh off my left elbow and bloodying my knee.
Dabbing at the wounds, I felt tears of self-doubt and discouragement pooling. Back home, I had created a life structured around things I was good at: writing, raising our sons, being part of our community. For the first time in a long while, I was out of my comfort zone. My ego felt as raw and exposed as my oozing elbow.
RELATED: 24 Motivational Quotes
I pushed on, though, and we arrived at a breathtaking promontory, the gem-bright sea in front of us. "Can you believe we're here?" asked a crazy-fit woman, throwing her arms around me. I couldn't. Relief flooded through me. No one cares if I'm slow! Look where I am!
For too long, I had carefully avoided activities that challenged my competence, from a hip-hop class to a speaking engagement. I'd thought my fitness routine was in a rut. In reality, it was my mind-set that was stuck.
Over the next three days, we covered miles of difficult terrain; I went at a comfortable pace at the rear of the pack. The running never felt easy, but it never felt impossible, either—and that made me proud.
Standing atop a 2,200-foot mountain on the last day, I gazed down at the miles of trail we'd climbed. I felt strong, confident—almost invincible. I pulled out my phone to take a photo and saw a text from a bookstore owner back home, inviting me to read an essay at an event. Public speaking is my biggest fear, period. Ordinarily, I'd say no as fast as my fingers could type. Instead I replied, "Sure, happy to do it." And I meant it.
7 Things You Should Learn From the Customer Who Doesn't Convert
Everyone hates shopping cart abandonment.
The No. 1 Marketing Strategy Businesses Need to Be Using
Really good marketing begins and ends with your customer.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Mediterranean Rockin’ Roasted Vegetables in Cool Cucumber Boats
Posted by:
Anna Ganser
“I love to go sailing with my grandpa in Sturgeon Bay, WI, and thought of him with this recipe,” says Anna. “I am using the cucumber as an edible boat filled with flavorful ingredients, such as roasted vegetables, beans, herbs, and spices. My family also cares a lot about eating healthy to prevent heart disease and cancer. This Mediterranean-inspired recipe does just that. We serve my recipe with healthy homemade whole-grain pita chips and a side of berries. Yummy!” - Anna Ganser, Age 10, Wisconsin
Makes 8 Servings
Ingredients:
- ½ pound fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup red bell pepper, cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 cup yellow bell pepper, cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 small red onion, peeled and diced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 8 ounces whole-wheat orzo
- ½ cup grape tomatoes, quartered
- ¼ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and quartered
- 1 (15-ounce) can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cooked, shelled edamame
- 3 canned artichoke hearts, diced
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh key lime juice or regular lime juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste
- 4 cucumbers, halved lengthwise and seeded
- ½ cup crumbled garlic and herb feta cheese
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 425° F. On a large baking sheet, combine the asparagus, red and yellow bell peppers, and red onion and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil to coat. Spread the vegetables in a single layer. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 20 minutes, or until softened. Let the vegetables cool for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium stockpot, cook the orzo in boiling water for 7 minutes, or until tender. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add the roasted vegetables to the orzo. Add the grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, great northern beans, edamame, and artichoke hearts.
- In small bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon juice, lime juice, Dijon mustard, rosemary, garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Drizzle over the roasted vegetable-orzo mixture. Spoon into the seeded cucumbers and sprinkle with feta cheese. Serve with homemade whole-wheat garlic pita chips. Enjoy!
294 calories; 8g fat; 44g carbohydrates; 14g protein
Learn more about the Kids' "State Dinner"
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