Ever wonder how people get an idea for a book, website, app or gizmo?  Because something happened.  They had a problem, they noticed something missing, they had a stimulating conversation.  Simple stuff that bothered them or captured their attention.  Their mind couldn’t let go.

In today’s changing times, being creative is even more important than ever – creative about how you’re going to use your skills for a career change, how you’re going to keep you business viable, and where to go on vacation without breaking the bank.  Being around creative people is a great way to stimulate your own creativity.

This Monday, March 15, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm I’ll be hanging out with some pretty creative gals and invite you to join me.  Kate Hall, Casey Quinlan, Lillian Lambert and myself are all authors and entrepreneurs.  We’ll be sharing how we came up with the idea for our books, what happened along the way to make it happen, and why we’re so passionate about our topic.

And, since we want the session to be really interactive, there’s built-in time for questions and dialogue.  With a limit of only 40 people I anticipate the atmosphere will be stimulating and fun!

Want to join us?  Want to put yourself in an environment to creatively stimulate your next thing?

Sign up for River City Writes!  Cost is nominal and benefits the professional development and educational opportunities offered by River City Express Network.

Let’s get creative!

Cheers,

Do you like to be surprised (in a good way)?

OMG, the numbers of birthday wishes I received last week were amazing, and totally unexpected!  I still have a big, wide smile on my face.  It’s the only time I can say “big” and “wide” in the same sentence and it’s a good thing!

People have been asking me what nail color I decided to live like for my b’day.  (Funny, how did they guess that I’d treat myself to a manicure and pedicure that day?)

“Happy Birthday” is ok, but didn’t have the zing I wanted.  Accurate but didn’t make me smile.  The number I turned is a bit of a milestone so I wanted to come up with something unique.  I kept thinking and thinking…and thinking some more.

Then it hit me!  When I started saying the name some gals laughed, some were surprised, and some rolled their eyes.

To celebrate my birthday I’m living like the nail color Halfway to 90! 

Yep, I just turned 45 years old - or young since I intend to live to at least 90.  Which to me is the GOOD NEWS!  The only reason to get depressed about getting older is because you’re not happy with how you’ve spent the years you’ve racked up.

And I went rad, baby!   I tried a totally different color for me, a deep purple by Essie (that has a sticker on it that says Sexy Divide which I promptly ignored!).

Have I made mistakes in my journey to Halfway to 90? (For sure, got married to the wrong person.  Taught me a ton.)  Been disappointed? (Definitely, can you say glass ceiling?) Felt frustrated? (Just like every entrepreneur, parent, and human being.)

Had any major regrets? Uhhhhh…no, actually.  Notice I said “major.”  I made a promise to myself in college to live without regrets.  At 90 years old I wanted to look back and not have any regrets that I tried something or went in a direction that beckoned me, regardless of the outcome.  Oh, it’s been scary at times, really scary.  Ditching an engineering degree without a Plan B, being the first one in my family to get divorced, and leaving a successful AOL career to venture into the unknown.

But, here’s the thing that just makes me laugh as I live like Halfway to 90:  I NEVER in my WILDEST DREAMS would have guessed that just before turning 45 this Tom Boy with an engineering degree would have a written an Amazon bestselling book in Beauty & Fashion!  I mean seriously, the joke is on me that I went from math to manicures!

To celebrate Halfway to 90 I’ve decided to give away my book Live Like Your Nail Color, Even If You Have Naked Nails!  That’s right, give it away!  In small, bite-sized chunks.  A couple of times a week.  Because let’s face it, that’s about all you can fit in to your already swamped schedule.  (And because otherwise my publisher will be all over me!)

The book bites will be posted here so you can read previous sections any time.  Everyone on my mailing list will also get it delivered to their e-mail box. 

Here’s the first installment (call it a mini book bite!): 

Live Like Your Nail Color, Even If You Have Naked Nails: 

 Discovering Sanity, Confidence, and Fun at the Tips of Your Fingers or Toes!

By Mary Foley

This book is dedicated to every woman who has ever wanted more sanity, confidence, and fun in her life.  May she always find the perfect nail color with an inspiring name when she needs it.

There's a new, fun website called SproutLaunch.com that I want to share with you because it's simple, powerful and can help you live like your nail color.

Uh, how? 

Well, the first step to doing your nails and living like your nail color is to get naked -  your nails, that is!  As you're taking off old polish, trimming, filing, buffing, and more, it's the perfect time to reflect on your true, authentic self.  Because the more you can be your authentic, naked self, the more you can experience love, energy and passion for life!  Trust me on this!  ;)

That's why, as you're attending to your naked nails, you ask yourself, "What's one thing I've done recently that I feel really good about and why?"   

It might be a simple gesture of kindness like listening to friend or it might be an act of courage like making a difficult phone call.  Whatever it is, I bet you thought it was no big deal, but it is.  It shows you who you really are! 

If it's a good deed you feel good about, why not share the love?  That's what SproutLaunch.com is all about! 

Let sharing your good deed sprout someone to do a good deed, which sprouts another in you and in the thousands of people who are now sharing their simple, good, authentic deeds on SproutLaunch.com.  Plus, creator Molly Quarles does a weekly prize drawing for everyone who participates!

I was so impressed when I met Molly and learned about her site that I donated 4 signed copies of my new book "Live Like Your Nail Color, Even If You Have Naked Nails" for this week's prize drawing.  I'd love for you to win one!

Just go to SproutLaunch.com now and answer the question "What's one thing I've done recently that I feel really good about and why?"  

It's easy, it's fun, and you just might get rewarded for being your true, authentic self.  How cool is that?

P.S. - There's no catch here.  Molly's not paying me anything, I'm not paying her.  I just noticed what she was doing and thought it was a super kind gesture of her.  Just helping to spread the love!