Are the best things in life really free?

Now that's a title to ponder.  And I only ask it because lately I have bumped into some really great stuff - and all of it was free.  Things in fact that enriched my life. Added value so to speak.  And it made me wonder why I don't tap into these 'free' resources more often.

Case in point is CBC radio.  When I was growing up - you  had to be a fuddy-duddy to listen to CBC radio.  Or live in the north.  I know because at one point I lived in a town called Blue River BC (pop 400) and the only radio station we could get was CBC radio.  And I listened once or twice.  I may have fallen asleep to a CBC talk show occasionally because I was living alone and afraid of my own shadow - that and "Three Paw" - the bear that roamed the property.

Anyway - back to CBC.  Totally free.  Except that in some way our taxes support it. (I think)  I started tuning in about 2 months ago - and was intriques by the intelligent conversation.  And then - the early adapter and explorer that I am - I stumbled across a brand new program.  Terry O'Reilly hosts a show called the "Age of Persuasion".  It's not a call in show - more like a monologue filled with great history, opinion, intelligent thoughts, brilliant observations and the like - all around marketing.

As far as I am concerned the government could simply stop throwing good money after bad into small business programs and simply support Terry's program - and businesses in Canada would be better served! Yes - it is good.

Back to "the best things in life are free".  Is this really true?  Well think about it.  Hand holding.  Hugs.  Someone opening a door for you.  Laughter. Good advice.  But these are more ethereal in nature.  How about more free stuff for your business?

Have you checked out Google lately?  Google offers so much for free that we forget the benefits even exist.  Free document storage.  Free document sharing.  Free email for your web site.  Free calendars.  FREE FREE FREE.  In fact when they actually ask for your credit card for something because it costs money - we seem shocked!  What?  It's not free?

Chris Anderson penned an insightful look at FREE in his book by the same word.  (Unfortunately the book was not free.)  It examined the give-away strategy to get someone to buy a product.  He cited many many examples including the Google business model - and it prompted me to ponder how I could use this same strategy in my business.  We had marginally explored free and offered up sporadic 'freebie' strategies but did not have in place a good product ladder - starting with free.

This is why we came up with the Free Membership level at Roaring Women.  Do you get good stuff for free?  Yes!

The question now is how can you use FREE in your business?  What thing of value can you give away for free?  And let me stress the value part - because all of us have drawers - and might I offer - boxes of free stuff that is literally junk that people have given us for free.  No free is only good when it is of value to you.  So what good things can you give away?

Well let's start with your expertise. And I will go back to Terry O'Reilly.  His radio show or podcast is free.  He gives away his expertise.  I laugh - I think and I am inspired by his knowledge.  So much so - I now am looking for what else I can buy from him.  And if I cannot find anything to buy from him - I will likely tattoo his name on my arm. (really?)  He does have a book - and I am looking to see where I can get it for free (ha ha).

Yes the best things in life are free.  And next in line - are the things that people who give free stuff away - have for sale.  Are you thinking yet?

BTW did you know we offer Free Coaching to members.  And free tips?  

Time to reconnect and ask the "Important" questions

Every once in a while - its important to ask those all important questions truth seeking questions.  As individuals in an ever changing universe, we sometimes find ourselves looking inward when we look in the mirror - instead of critiquing the new wrinkle that appeared from 'God knows where'.  (I think this introspection revs up after 50)

Questions like: "Why am I here?",  "What's it all about?" and the like.  For anyone who has ever done any personal growth or life coaching - there are  these and other probing questions routinely raised by coaches that go beyond the "how are you?" and "whatchya doin?"

Yesterday while rubbing my dog's ears and cradling his furry brown head in my hands - I peered into his eyes and said, "Hey Finnegan - What's going on for you?".  Not surprisingly he looked directly at me as if he understood and leaned into my ear rubbing and gave me his 'ahhh that feels good' dog groan.  He was satisfied.  Warm, walked, well fed and loved, he had answered my question with a knowing look and a groan.

Strangely - I got a much different response from my "on again, off again" partner.  When I asked him - "what's going on for you?" - he cocked his head to the side and looked at me as if I had two heads.  Clearly not understanding the meaning of the question or the intent behind it - he hurried on to do his stuff.  I was reminded by this response that there is a time and place for every question - and this was clearly not either.

Probing questions like "what's going on for you",
(or for me when looking in the mirror),  can be very revealing and can help us to reconnect to who we are and what we stand for.  I ask them of myself regularly; birthdays, when feeling blue or when involved in mindless repetitive tasks that have little purpose.

Many would tell me that I think too much.  But I have always believed that even if we are not always truthful with the world - we must be honest with ourselves.  ( or shall I say I must always be honest with myself)   It is how we stay connected to that life breathing force.  Our source as Wayne Dyer calls it.  Many others call it God - or the God within.

So one day before I reach my 51st birthday, I am awakened at 4 am by a dream where I am having an extremely revealing and honest conversation with someone I barely knew - but sensed a connection with.  And it made me ask myself - "what's going on for me?"

My first response as I swung my legs over the side of the bed was to think, "Oh, I dunno - not too much".  Then I realized the meaning of the question and the intent behind it.  It was time to reconnect to myself.  My source was reaching out to me - to see how I was doing.

Some would say that this question was posed to me from none other than God himself.  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:16, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"  Many other scriptures and holy writings also confirm us that God resides within us.

Realizing I just heard the voice of my creator - asking me how I was doing and what was going on for me, made me recognize -  I am loved and cared for.  It's time to reconnect and answer the question!