Week 2 – One Girl’s Journey to Fit:  The Struggle is Real

Motivation is what gets you started; habit is what keeps you going.

-Author Unknown

It seems as if I’ve been on this journey to fit my whole life. I want the wash board abs, toned legs, and the nice booty. I wish I could get on a stage and dance for hours like Beyoncé. I wish I could snap my fingers and instantly step into a hot pink two piece bikini. I just want to love me from the inside out… But, am I ready to do the work to get the results I want.

Starting any journey is exciting when it’s new. I’ve discovered time after time that losing motivation is easy. Week two has been a struggle. I lost some of my steam from the first week. However, by Wednesday, I regained my focus. Part of my getting focus is this blog. It is my accountability factor. I can no longer run and hide.

Getting fit is a journey. I have to come to terms with the reality that it will not happen overnight. I’m going to have to work for it. This week has been more of a mental challenge. I started getting bored with my food choices. I always find myself buying the same things. I mean, how much sautéed mushrooms and peppers can a girl eat? In my journey to find something I wanted to eat, I found a brochure given to me by my job’s resident chef, Chef Lynn. Chef Lynn focuses on natural and healthy foods. She’s great at turning your favorite dish into a healthy alternative. The brochure is on eating the rainbow.

Here are a few important facts from the “Eat the Rainbow” brochure:

Green  

Helps your body……….

• Keep your eyes healthy
• Keep your bones & teeth strong

• Red
• Helps your body……….
• Keep your heart healthy
• Keep your bladder healthy
• Keep your memory strong

Yellow & Orange

Helps your body……….

• Keep your heart healthy
• Keep your eyes healthy
• Keeps you from catching colds

 Blue & Purple

Helps your body……….

• Stay healthy when you get old
• Keep your memory strong

White

Helps your body……….

• Keep your heart healthy
• Have good cholesterol levels

Weight Loss:1.5    Total Loss:5.5

I am ready and excited to enter week three with my new outlook on foods. Introducing color has been a welcomed change. Actually, the colorful foods make me look forward to each meal. My favorite recipe of the week is Rainbow Veggie Flatbread Pizza.

Rainbow Veggie Flatbread Pizza

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

8 mins

Total time

23 mins

Author: Beachbody

Recipe type: Lunch/Dinner

Serves: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 1 6½-inch whole wheat pita (or whole wheat flatbread)
• ¼ cup marinara sauce, no sugar added
• ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes
• ¼ cup chopped orange bell pepper
• ¼ cup chopped yellow bell pepper
• 3 Tbsp. chopped green bell pepper
• 3 Tbsp. chopped broccoli florets
• 2 Tbsp. chopped red onion

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º F.
2. Place pita on a large baking sheet.
3. Spread marinara sauce evenly on pita. Top evenly with cheese.
4. Starting at the edge of the pita, place an approximately 1½-inch circle of tomatoes around the edge of the whole pita. Continue with a 1-inch circle each orange bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, green bell pepper, and broccoli. Make sure each vegetable is touching the previous one. Place onions in the middle.
5. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
6. Slice each pita into 4 slices. Serve immediately.

*Tip – Look for marinara sauce that has an ingredient list that does not contain artificial sweeteners, additives, or preservatives.

Here are some other beautiful “Eat the Rainbow” ideas: Rainbow Roasted Vegetables, Rainbow Salad, and Rainbow Skewers.

Crystal Myers Writes

One Girl’s Journey to Fit: Surviving Week One

For me shedding the weight means freeing yourself to tell the truth and be the truth in every spectrum of your life.

-Oprah Winfrey

This week has been a challenge. For starters, who knew there were at least five different types of vegetarians? Well, if you knew, I didn’t. When most people think of vegetarians, they think of a person who does not eat meat. However, some vegetarians do not eat dairy products, eggs, honey, gelatin, etc.

There are a lot of things you cannot indulge in if you practice a vegetarian diet. For instance, a common snack, like Twinkies, is on the do not eat list. Twinkies are made with beef fat. Yes, you read that right, beef fat. Another surprising item on the do not eat list, Starburst. Starburst is made using gelatin.

Here are the different types of vegetarians: Flexitarian/Semi-Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Lacto-ovo Vegetarian, Vegan, and Raw Vegan. A Flexitarian is a person who mostly eats a vegetarian diet, but occasionally eats meat. A Pescatarian eats fish but abstains from eating all other forms of meat. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians do not eat pork, poultry, fish, beef, or animal flesh, but does eat eggs and dairy products. A vegan does not eat meat of any kind nor do they eat eggs or dairy products. Raw vegans eat raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, seeds, and sea vegetables. This diet involves no cooking.

I know that was a lot of information to take in, but you have to know where you fit before starting the weekday vegetarian diet. Now that I know the types of vegetarians, I can say for this challenge, I will follow the Lacto-ovo Vegetarian diet.

Here’s to week one of the weekday vegetarian diet. I lost three pounds and gained a new perspective on what it is to be a vegetarian. My favorite recipe of the week was stuffed pineapple and quinoa.

Ingredients:

Quinoa            Peppers (red, yellow, orange)  Spinach   Vegetable Broth    Salt   Pineapple    Mushrooms   Yellow Onion

Weight Loss    

Week 1: 4 lbs

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

 Hello everyone, my name is Crystal Holmes Myers. I am an author, self-publishing coach, playwright, and aspiring filmmaker. I’m also an emotional eater. For most of my life I have been overweight. Today, I am not at my heaviest, but I am not happy with my weight. If you know me personally, you know that this is me stepping all the way out of my comfort zone. I do not share my personal life with others unless I consider you a dear friend. Trust, if you have ever had the opportunity to have aconversation with me about my personal life, I value your friendship and advice.

This blog is about change. I can motivate, coach, and encourage others to step out and live in their purpose. I encourage others to complete and remove visions from their vision board. However, year after year, I leave one of my visions unchecked on the board. My vision to lose weight. My vision to be comfortable in my skin. My vision to be honest with myself about my weight. Year after year, I just push it to the side. Of course, every New Years, I take the plunge and begin a new workout regime. I may even buy new products and vow that this is my year, but by my birthday, February 22, that New Year resolution is already forgotten and I am back to my grind of focusing on everything except my weight.

Well, today it all stops. I cannot live in my purpose if I am ashamed to come from out the shadows. My face has to be out there. Visual Marketing is important. We no longer live in a world where you can hide behind your business. If people don’t know who I am, how do I expect them to purchase my products? Sure my sales have been great, but I can’t be the ‘six figures or more chick’ I know I can be if I don’t step out and put my face out there. Truthfully, the honesty in this blog is surprising the hell out of me.

Today, I began my fourth quarter challenge. I am going to get my coins by pushing through in my business. I am also going to get to work on losing this weight. I am an emotional eater. I bury my feelings in food. Lately, I have been releasing some of my emotions through my characters, but that is not enough. By the way, I am an amazing author. Check out books one and two of my Kilpatrick Series. Brown Sugar and Chocolate Storm are available for sale at www.crystalmyerswrites.com and on Amazon and nook. Yes, that was a shameless plug.

Today marks the first day of my Weekday Vegetarian Challenge. I will post a weekly blog for the next 16 weeks detailing my progress. I will include pictures, videos, and my favorite recipe of the week. I’m ending 2016 with a bang.

Much Love,

Crystal

Starting Weight:

          248.0

Favorite Recipe of the Week:  Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup

One pot, healthy vegan broccoli cheese soup is sure to make any dinner special. This broccoli cheese soup only takes 25 minutes, and is packed with added veggies, fiber and protein! Vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and delicious!

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower, removed from thick stalk and cut into small pieces
• 1 box organic vegetable stock
• 1 head broccoli, removed from thick stalk, cut into small bite size pieces
• 2 organic carrots, sliced
• 1 can organic northern white beans
• ¾ cups flax or coconut milk, unsweetened, divided
• ½ cup nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. thyme (optional)
• Black pepper (to taste)
• Instructions

1. In a large pot, add ½ the carton of vegetable broth and cauliflower. Cover and cook 12-15 minutes, or until cauliflower is tender.
2. While cauliflower is cooking, chop the broccoli and slice the carrots.
3. Once cauliflower is tender, blend the cauliflower in the pot with an immersion blender (or transfer to blender and blend in batches, being careful with hot liquids).
4. To the cauliflower puree, add the remaining vegetable broth, broccoli, carrots, garlic powder, salt, thyme and black pepper. Stir and cover for 7 minutes, or until broccoli is tender.
5. While soup is cooking, rinse and drain the can of northern white beans. After soaking 5 minutes, rinse and drain. Blend with ½ cup non-dairy milk until smooth.
6. Add beans and additional ¼ cup non-dairy milk to the soup once the broccoli is tender.
7. Add ½ cup nutritional yeast and stir to combine.
8. Allow to cool slightly before enjoying.
9. NOTE: If the soup is too thick for you, add another ¼ cup non-dairy milk
10. if the soup is too thin for you, simply simmer on the stove for 5 minutes or until desired consistency is reached.

What Now?

There are a little over 100 days left in the year, what are you going to do to close it out with a bang? Did you spend time making a vision board at the top of the year? Did you follow through? If not, what now?

What is your implementation strategy for the remainder of the year? Do you know what sets entrepreneurs and 9-to-5’ers apart from millionaires? The answer is simple, implementation. Millionaires implement ideas, concepts, and strategies within 24 to 48 hours of creation. If you allow yourself time to sit on an idea, you will probably procrastinate or talk yourself out of it before it is created.

What are you going to do to finish 2016 strong? You’ve done the prep work so, what now? Practice what you’ve prepared. It does not have to be perfect. If you wait for perfection you will miss your opportunity.

We all have the same 24 hours. The only thing that separates you from the game changers like the Steve Harveys, Kevin Harts and Shonda Rhimeses of the world is implementation and drive. You have to want it bad enough to work for it. These entrepreneurs are awake when the rest of the world is sleeping. They are making money in their sleep, yet they get up every morning and push themselves to do more.

Here are some WHAT NOW problems we face and answers to get pass them so you can move into your purpose.

My family, spouse, or significant other won’t support me, WHAT NOW? Everyone who you think will be in your corner will not be there. Some of your closest friends will question why you are doing whatever it is you are pursuing. Some people don’t understand the hustle and grind. Some don’t understand why you would spend money on what they consider a hobby when you can just work your nine-to-five. However, if you are like me and entrepreneurship runs through your veins, you won’t stop trying until something works.

I made a mistake launching, WHAT NOW? I made a lot of mistakes releasing my first book. I did not have the time to sit back and think WHAT NOW. I had to fix my mistakes quickly. I submitted the wrong file to the printer and ended up with a hundred books I could not sell. Then, I reprinted the book only to discover that the editor and I missed somethings. So, once again I had to have the book reprinted. I still cringe about the idea of books with mistakes floating around the world with my name on them. WHAT NOW? Do I stop and cry or do I pick myself up and keep going? For me, I keep going. Mistakes are stepping stones to greatness. Do not let mistakes stop you from working towards your goal. I’ve turned my self-publishing mistakes into a course that I will be launching in 2017.

I’ve completed and taken my vision off of my vision board and made a successful product, WHAT NOW? After you have a successful season of implementation you may find yourself asking, WHAT NOW. What do I do next? How do I keep the momentum going? It doesn’t matter how, but you have to keep going. One idea can be turned into several streams of income. For instance, one book can lead to speaking engagements, online courses, and miscellaneous products. Don’t stop at one successful idea. Keep dreaming and pushing yourself to do more.

Life is full of possibilities. Don’t let your vision sit on your vision board year after year. You are the visionary. Put your vision to work. Answer your WHAT NOW and finish 2016 strong.

Crystal Myers

CEO of Crystal Myers Writes & Creative Expressions Press

Self-Publishing Coach

When Life Gives You Lemons……………

Don’t allow someone to bring shade to your lemonade stand!

        When life gives you lemons, what do you do? Do you keep moving? Do you take a moment to breathe and assess the situation? Do you sit around and complain? Do you carry the sack of lemons on your back, i.e. fear, uncertainty, anxiety, frustration, anger? Do you let it weigh you down or do you make lemonade?

I’ve learned the best way to deal with life’s lemons is to make lemonade. Unfortunately, many of us don’t know how to turn lemons into lemonade. We allow our circumstances to weigh on us. I am a fighter, but I’ve learned that using my fists is not the best way to make lemonade. My fists can lead me to jail. My fists can change the direction of my life. I refuse to let circumstances knock me off my path. When life gives me lemons, I pray and pick myself up and keep moving. Things happen in life. How you handle lemons is the true testament of your strength and character. Don’t allow the sourness of lemons to change you. Know that in every decision you make, there are consequences or rewards. Don’t let a rotten batch of lemons ruin your life. Here are a few ways to make the best lemonade on the block:

1. Squeeze it– Squeeze out fear, anxiety, and frustration. Pray, cry, journal, sing, or schedule a sister/friend night. Do whatever it takes to rid yourself of excess lemon juice. Release, pick yourself up and keep moving. DO NOT STOP! Quitting is not an option. Be intentional and live in your purpose. Sometimes in life, the person who brings the lemons has no concept of what it takes for you to make lemonade. Don’t allow your purpose or your walk to be derailed with rotten lemons or lemons that have no purpose or goal in life. You are here for a purpose. Live in your truth and keep going.

2. Add Sugar-Turn every experience into a lesson. Positive thinking and prayer will take you further than negative thinking and chaos. Spoons of sugar adds to your lemonade. That sweet, sweet, sugar gives your lemonade life. Life is short. Spend it by living with purpose. Triumph in the mist of adversity. A decision made in the heat of the moment can change the course of your life. Add the best sugar, take a deep breath, and continue making the best lemonade.

3. Ice– Stir the ice around in your lemonade. As the ice hits the glass container, think about your life. Watch how the ice rolls around with the sugar and the lemons. Be like the ice and roll with the punches. Don’t throw punches! Accept what you can’t change and keep going.

Life gave you lemons, now go out and make lemonade. At the end of the day, your ability to handle lemons will provide you with the tools to make lemonade.

#lemonade #purposedriven #thinkbeforeyouact

Crystal Myers

CEO of Crystal Myers Writes & Creative Expressions Press

Are You Living Your Best Life NOW?

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.

-Oprah Winfrey

How do you feel about where you are in life today? Are you happy? Do you feel you are living the life of your dreams? If not, what steps are you taking to make sure you enjoy the one life you have? Do you have a vision for your life? A dream to pursue? A purpose? Here are three things you can do to get you on the path to living your best life now.

3 Ways to Live Your Best Life

Push Boundaries – Don’t sit around and wait for opportunities, create them. If you feel stuck in life, push through. It does not matter if it is a relationship, career, or mindset. You cannot live your best life if you are stuck. Push those boundaries. If you hate your nine-to-five, spend at least an hour or two a day planning for a change. What makes you happy? What is your dream job? Do you want to start your own business? Answer those questions. Then, plan and do the work to get or create the job of your dreams. Let’s be real, quitting your job is not the answer if you do not have the finances to pay your bills. So, do your homework and find out what you need to do to move into a new career. If you don’t have the experience, intern or volunteer. Find a mentor in the field you want to pursue. Ask what they did to get started. Push yourself and go after what you want in life.

Listen – Oprah said it best, “Listen to life’s whispers.” We often walk through life without a plan or a goal. Oprah defines this as sleep walking through life. If we listen to our instincts (the whispers), we can align with our true purpose, our passion and our reason for breathing. Life is too short not to live your best life. Listen to the voice within. Let it lead you to your best life.

Enjoy Life – Find your happy place. Most people believe you need money to enjoy life. In reality, everything you need you already have. Love yourself. No amount of money or things will make you happy. There is someone spending thousands of dollars right now getting plastic surgery and it will still not make them happy. Pause for a moment and be grateful for what you have. There is someone else who wishes they were in your position. Enjoy life, smile, and be grateful. Live your best life!

Crystal Myers

CEO of Crystal Myers Writes & Creative Expressions Press

DARE to Dream BIG!

Life holds special magic for those who dare to dream.

-Author Unknown

Recently, Steve Harvey challenged his audience to think BIG! He challenged them to write down 500 things they want. Yes, you read that right, 500 things. Are you capable of thinking of and writing down 500 things? Better yet, can you think of 100 things? How about 25? If you can’t think of at least 25 things you want, you need to re-evaluate your thought process. Everyone should be able to think of 25 things, goals, or dreams.

Why do we limit our dreams? Do we think we are not deserving or capable of thinking BIG? Steve stated, we don’t think big because our minds are not conditioned to think that way. He also mentioned, we are trained to think only of what fits our current paycheck and situation. Is Steve right? Can you see beyond your current situation? Often times, we let our inner voice and the voices of those around us stop us before we get started. Don’t let someone else’s fears, failures, and negative energy suffocate your dreams.

Write down your thoughts and dreams. Writing it down makes it real. It is a great way to hold yourself accountable. Speak life into your dreams and goals. Be self-accountable by giving yourself a target time to reach your goals. If the time passes without you reaching the dream or goal, realign your thoughts and put more time and effort into making your dream a reality. If you feel others won’t be receptive to your dreams, keep them to yourself. I never dreamt my goal of becoming an author would be a reality, but here I stand, a self-published author. Keep going. I assure you, there is magic in thinking and dreaming BIG.

#thinkbig #positivethinking #daretodream

Crystal Myers

CEO of Crystal Myers Writes & Creative Expressions Press

My Top 5 BIG Dreams…………………

Bestselling Author

Table Mtn, South Africa

Amsterdam

TV Writer

Filmmaker

Get Inspired! How Taking a Vacation Will Help You Recharge, Reflect & Relax

Take vacations, go as many places as you can. You can always make money, you can’t always create memories.

-Author Unknown

For many entrepreneurs, working twenty-four hours a day is the norm. Taking a break seems unrealistic and a waste of time. However, after a weekend of seaside bliss, I’ve discovered taking a break was just what I needed.

A break is good for your mental and physical health. Taking a break and experiencing life are essential for personal and professional growth. A relaxed and recharged mind fosters productivity. I left my sea side vacation with new ideas, plans for expansion, and great stories in the making.

For entrepreneurs, it’s hard to shut everything down and take a few days off. My suggestion to you is a vacation with a purpose. Find an inspiring location that will stay with you when you return home. A place that will help refuel your purpose for becoming an entrepreneur. As a writer, everything is an inspiration. There is so much to see, taste, feel, smell, touch, and experience. I attended a harbor view wedding this weekend for my former college roommate and friend. I left with a playbook full of notes, plots, to-die-for sensory elements, and a wedding scene I’m sure will end up in a future novel.

Here are 6 things you should do on your vacation to ensure you recharge, reflect, and relax:

1. Explore (i.e. tours, live entertainment, food, art, etc.)
2. Challenge yourself (i.e. mountain climbing, skydiving, biking, etc.)
3. Read a book
4. Journal (Plan, think, write)
5. Reconnect with yourself (i.e. meditate, yoga, moment of silence, etc.)
6. Relax (i.e. massage, soak in a Jacuzzi, etc.)

If done right, a vacation can leave you with clarity and purpose. Maybe, it can leave a different perspective on life. You will return to the daily grind inspired and fired up! You have work hard to build your business. It is now time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Recharge, reflect, and relax. Let a vacation inspire you to reach new heights. DON’T JUST EXIST, LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST. #Recharge #Reflect #Relax #BeInspired

Crystal Myers

CEO of Crystal Myers Writes & Creative Expressions Press

Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.

-John C Crosby

Can someone be your mentor and not know it? After all, a mentor is someone you look to for advice, accountability, and guidance. Live streaming, the new wave of spontaneous conversation, has made it possible to get all of that through your smart phone. Business Dictionay.com defines virtual mentoring as implementing video conferencing via the Internet and e-mail to mentor individuals and whole companies.

In today’s world of live streaming, you can find a virtual mentor on multiple social media platforms at any given time. Live streaming has made it easy to not only follow someone, but to interact with individuals without meeting them face-to-face. It gives you the ability to give and receive advice, guidance, and receive the help you need. Periscope, my favorite live streaming app, is where I found my virtual mentor. I found someone whom I would probably have never met in life. When I see my virtual mentor broadcasts on a social media platform, I immediately grab my playbook and begin taking notes.

I began blogging because my virtual mentor started a broadcast series focused on content generation. She holds her followers accountable for implementation. I’ve always wanted to blog, but I was not sure where I would get the content from or if anyone would be interested in reading my blog. I used every excuse possible not to be a blogger, but my virtual mentor held me accountable. As a mentee, I followed her guide and I began to post content. Watching and following is great; however, implementation is key.

Mentorship is important. It is the best thing you can do for yourself. If you do not have the time to meet face-to-face with a mentor, do yourself a favor and find a virtual mentor. Make sure it is someone in your industry who has the experience and knowledge to help you become a success. You have to hold yourself accountable. Just watching a person’s broadcast is not enough to get the most out of the virtual mentorship experience. You have to implement the strategies and put plans into action in order to achieve the goals you’ve set out for yourself.

I’m going switch gears and end this blog with a story about traditional mentorship. One of the mentors from my youth died last year and I would like to acknowledge the impact he had on my life and the lives of so many youths in my home church. My former pastor, Rev Clementa Pinckney, was one of my first mentors. He poured so much into everyone he encountered. He believed and lived the concept of a purpose-driven life. As a person who benefited from his knowledge, grace, and life, I feel it is my responsibility to do my best. There are no excuses. I will push myself and with God’s willing, fulfill all of my dreams because of the path that was laid out before me.

Rev. Pinckney did things for me and others that he never spoke about. He made moves and paved the way without expecting anything in return. He showed the youth that dreams are possible and you can be whatever and whomever you want to be if you work hard. He did so many great things in silence. He did not want the recognition; he just wanted you to WIN.

Mentorship is important. No matter where you are in life, there is something you can offer to someone coming behind you. Knowledge is power. Be the MENTOR you needed when you were GROWING UP!

If you are lost and in need of a great mentor, log in to Periscope, Blab, or Facebook Live and seek out a virtual mentor who is WINNING in the field you are pursuing. Great advice, guidance, and strategies for success are just a click away!

Crystal Myers

CEO of Crystal Myers Writes

Self-Publishing Diva

www.crystalmyerswrites.com

I Believe in FREE!

You don’t have to be in debt to start a successful business.

-Nicole “ScOprah” Walters

I was watching Nicole “ScOprah” Walters’ periscope last week and I had an “ah ha” moment. She made the statement, “You don’t have to be in debt to start a successful business.” Yes, I will say that again. “You don’t have to be in debt to start a successful business.” I immediately took out my pen and paper and started taking notes. I actually watched the replay twice to make sure I did not miss any advice. As an entrepreneur, one of my biggest setbacks has been money. Do I have the money to get started? Do I have the money to attend events? Do I have money to purchase marketing materials? Money, money, money…my greatest obstacle. It seemed money, or the lack thereof, was my downfall. I always believed a substantial cash flow was needed to run a successful business. However, I have discovered there are less expensive options entrepreneurs can utilize to start their business.

As entrepreneurs, we often look to what others are doing successfully and follow suit. However, if you are not in that income bracket, you should not purchase items you cannot afford or have no idea how to use. You have to be smart with the money you do have. Make your dollars stretch and work for you until you are able to make greater investments. For me on my personal journey, I began researching self-publishing in 2014. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the investment of self-publishing was not as daunting as I previously believed. So, I dusted of my pen and began working on a romantic suspense novel. Within six months, I had a finalized copy and I was ready to publish my book. I said all of this to say, sometimes our misconceptions can cause us to put our dreams on hold. I could have been a published author years ago. Actually, I could have avoided a lot of student loans if my younger self new that being an author was a tangible goal.

Sure, money is needed to fund a business. Nicole says, we can do what we need for FREE! Everyone raise your hands. Yes, we do believe in FREE! Your dream can be a click away only if you use the tools available to get started. So, how do we start this journey with utilizing FREE tools? For me, my journey to self-publishing was a success. I used a small portion of my paychecks from my nine-to-five to purchase small items. As a writer, my first purchase was a laptop. I love writing on pen and paper, but after the first couple drafts, my book is transferred to a word document. Make sure you are utilizing your funds for items you need for day to day operations.

Here are a few tips to start your business for FREE or with low cost options. The first step to any business is having a clear goal of what it is you want to do. Do not waste your time. If you do not have a clear goal, your business will fail. Next, a website presence is necessary. You can purchase a domain for as little as $.99 from companies like GoDaddy.com. After the domain purchase, you can use a FREE platform such as Word Press to create a website. You can also purchase business cards for as little as $20 from Vista Print or Staples. Do you see where I’m going with this? If you have an idea and you are willing to do the work, you can do it.

For writers, FREE is more than an option, it is a reality. They are so many FREE resources for writers who want to publish their books. Create Space, Kindle, Nook, and LULU are just a few of the platforms that allow you to publish your books for FREE. However, I suggest you purchase your ISBN and barcode separately. Generally, an ISBN cost $125 and a barcode cost $25. FREE marketing can be done on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Periscope, LinkedIn, and Pintrest. Visibility is the key to having a successful visual marketing campaign. Posting and engaging in groups on these various sites can be the catalyst needed to get you in front of your target audience. FREE is in your near future. So, go and be GREAT!

If you would like to per-order my book, Self-Publishing 101, please visit my website www.crystalmyerswrites.com

Crystal Myers

CEO of Crystal Myers Writes

Self-Publishing Diva