Paying the Cost of Free in Virtual Public Schools

Virtual public schools may be tuition free but there is a cost.

And, the more they promote tuition free the more they will recruit families who are not willing to pay the cost.

It's time to re-imagine virtual schools.

houston@figment-consulting.com

2015 Homeschool Conferences: 12 Tips to Increase Sales

Download your copy today. Begin increasing your sales, your leads, and your profits at the next homeschool conference you attend.

I have listed out 12 Tips -- easy to understand, and easy to implement -- all vendors should know in order to increase their return on investment.

In addition, I include multiple Extra Tips, and even 3 Bonus Tips to provide you with almost 20 ideas you can use to help you achieve your goals, increase your leads, and earn more sales.

As an added Bonus, here is an additional Tip for all homeschool vendors:

TIP: Determine how you will measure success

Do you have a sales goal identified? How many leads do you want to obtain? Take time to determine your goals for the upcoming homeschool conference so you will be able to decide if it was a successful venture or not.

Measuring results is equally as important as determining activities. Too many times homeschool vendors approach the convention they are exhibiting at with little to no preparation on what they anticipate their return on investment will be.

When setting your goals, be specific and keep it simple. Outline them on paper and go over them several times leading up to the homeschool conference.

If you have team members working with you make sure they understand what the goals are and the ways you intend to reach them.

Success can only be determined properly if you know how you plan to measure it.

Want more Tips for your next homeschool conference? Order my 12 Tips today.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Thank you @HeatherParady #YourTurnChallenge

I had multiple ideas running through my head for the Day 4 #YourTurnChallenge post via Seth Godin. Some were funny (at least to me), some were insightful, and some perhaps were even intelligent.

Then, I read the post from @HeatherParady -- Today My Husband Leaves

And, I realized, sometimes the best thing we can do is to share what others have written. So, if you have not read Heather's post, I encourage you to do so.

Perspective can change things for you. It can take what you deem important and minimize it when you see what others are facing today.

houston@figment-consulting.com

The Challenge of Your Turn: #YourTurnChallenge

I simply moved the word Challenge ahead of Your Turn. Does it take on a whole new meaning for you?

Merriam-Webster tells us that challenge is a verb, a transitive verb, and an intransitive verb. I counted 13 definitions attached to the word challenge -- does that mean we get to choose the definition we want?

Is Your Turn daring you to prove your worthiness of choosing yourself?

Is it inviting you into a competition involving others who have also accepted the challenge?

Is it asking you to prove your identity calling you a stranger in this world of choosing oneself?

Perhaps it is disputing past assumptions and calling them invalid leaving you to change your beliefs?

Or, is it stimulating you, arousing you by presenting you with difficulties. Difficulties, that once overcome, will allow you to experience the joy that comes with choosing Your Turn.

Maybe the word Challenge is a noun. Merriam-Webster tells us that as a noun challenge has three primary definitions: a difficult task or problem; an action, statement, etc., that is against something; an invitation to compete.

Perhaps one of those definitions will suffice for you.

However, before you decide ask yourself, "Who said I have to use the word challenge?"

I simply rearranged the words and put challenge first. It is just as easy for you to replace it with one of your choosing.

After all, it is Your Turn.

houston@figment-consulting.com
#YourTurnChallenge

The tribe of #YourTurnChallenge

It was a brilliant idea really, perhaps even taken from the playbook of the master of inspiration Zig Ziglar himself.

"You will get what you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want." Zig Ziglar

Over 500,000 people follow Seth Godin and his daily blog. We are, in essence, the Tribe. And, with the #YourTurnChallenge, Seth is able to give the Tribe what they want. In return, hopefully he receives what he wants (and it is much more than sales of his new book).

The beauty of it all is the Tribe has come to life, sharing their stories, and "shipping their art" as Seth likes to call it.

And because of Seth's genius idea, we are all benefiting from being introduced to such talented artists.

Andy Stitt poured his heart into the Day 1 Challenge and through it we learned how to simplify the complexity of generosity.

Priscilla Tallman reminds us we are all in this together and that one voice can changes lives -- though only when it speaks.

Vanessa Thomas took the Challenge to new heights by starting a blog in response to it. She was ready (Junbi) to choose herself, and we are all better for it.

Tosinger is sharing her art, inspiring us all to stretch our dreams.

Catrina Ossman reminds us that sometimes all we need is a little motivation to get started.

Drew Griffin is thinking deeply about the Challenge itself, sharing insights into what it means to ship, opportunity, and acceptance.

But, one of my favorites of Day 1 was Tom Larsen. Tom is in insurance and somewhere along the way I saw a note from him lamenting the fact that he is concerned that blogging about insurance is not exciting enough.

Yet, in perusing his first post it led me to look over his blog overall. I encourage you to read Tom's blog. Insurance may not be sexy but saving money, protecting your belongings, and increasing your wealth is sexy. Sometimes they just disguise themselves under the insurance heading.

The Tribe is much more extensive than this list, and I could truly not do it justice in trying to describe it, or even the ones I listed here. However, I simply encourage you to join us. We are a worldwide Tribe who share the commonality of following Seth Godin and his writings.

However, there's always room for you in our Tribe. We need to hear what you have to say.

#YourTurnChallenge

houston@figment-consulting.com

Keep moving forward: #YourTurnChallenge

Though the Promised Land has not been reached, that does not mean we should halt our journey. 

We must learn from the past, be inspired by the potential of the future, and do what we can today, now, to take that next step. 

We must fly, run, walk, and crawl. We must keep moving forward.

#YourTurnChallenge

houston@figment-consulting.com

3 Blogs Worth Following

Below are 3 bloggers you may want to follow on a regular basis. The quality of the content they offer on a consistent basis is what I aspire to offer as well. Whether or not I am accomplishing that is still a question.

However, these bloggers make you think, and see things differently. And, I believe that is what they should do.

1. Michael Michalko

www.creativethinking.net

Author of books such as Thinkertoys, Michael's blog posts and thought projects are some of the best I have ever read and used. If you want to dive in deeper, expand your mind, and tap into your inner idea genius, then I would also encourage you to purchase his books.

2. Seth Godin

www.sethgodin.com

Seth is one of the most prolific authors, bloggers, and thought gurus in recent history. His insight into marketing, entrepreneurship, self-development, and personal growth is a daily dose of wisdom and action-provoking ideas.

3. Richard Branson

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson

Founder of Virgin, Sir Richard may not be for everyone. However, within each of his blog posts lies great nuggets of information that can help you reach your potential. His posts are filled with inspiration and challenge you to reach beyond what you think possible.

Hope these suggestions help you in some way. I encourage you to read them, follow them, and consider using their suggestions to help you reach your dreams.

houston@figment-consulting.com