Deb Nelson – Page 15 – Be Well Consulting Group

A Daughter’s Ironman for Mum: Raising Funds to Support Alzheimer’s Association

For Yarmouth fitness trainer Theresa Saxton, Ironman competitions are serious business. She’s participated in three Ironmen, completing her last one more than five years ago. They all pale in comparison to her upcoming

Theresa and her Mum at one of Theresa's earlier Ironman competitions. — Theresa and her Mum at one of Theresa’s earlier Ironman competitions.

solo Ironman on June 22: she’s dedicating this effort to honor her mother, who has been living in the fog of Alzheimer’s disease for more than 13 years.

Theresa has accepted the Alzheimer’s Association’s challenge and will host a Longest Day Event – a day that acknowledges that every day can seem like the longest day when someone you love is an Alzheimer’s patient. “There are more than 35,000 Alzheimer’s patients in Maine; I’m really proud to be playing a part in supporting those families while honoring my Mum,” said Theresa.

She’ll begin her day of swimming, cycling, and running at 6:30 a.m. and expects to complete the Ironman between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. at her Yarmouth fitness studio. While swimming 2.4 miles, hopping on her bike for 112 miles, and finishing up with a 26.2 mile run is a grand achievement, Theresa has loftier goals. She’s inviting anyone who’s been affected by Alzheimer’s to join her team. She has a fundraising goal of $16,000 and is encouraging people to join her in this day of motion:

Make a donation to Theresa’s team; it’s easy and will support a host of people struggling with Alzheimer’s.
Join the “group” starts for your swim, bike or walk/run to make some new friends and have company for your time in motion.
Get in motion at Fitness Success (Theresa’s studio on Maine Street in Yarmouth): jumping rope, playing games, hula hooping, etc.
Track Theresa’s progress throughout the day – her tentative schedule is posted on her website – and jump in on one of the many loops leaving from Fitness Success.

If you’re in the Greater Portland (ME) area, carve out a couple of hours for Theresa and her Mum on June 22; you’ll be glad you did.

This post is one in a series highlighting good deeds. Please share examples of good deeds in your community by commenting below or contact Deb directly.

A Daughter’s Ironman for Mum: Raising Funds to Support Alzheimer’s Association was last modified: May 14th, 2013 by Deb Nelson

Reinventing an Old Friend to Create a City of Readers

Portland Mayor Michael Brennan at Ribbon Cutting — Portland Mayor Michael Brennan

In a world where following the latest shiny object can be distracting, it’s refreshing to see a shiny object designed to keep us on track. Portland’s shiny new bookmobile was unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony right outside the Portland Public Library. Investors and city officials were quick to point out that this bookmobile should not be confused with the bookmobile of yesteryear.

Embracing new technology and time-tested tradition, this bookmobile will serve a number of functions, including:

Creating a city of readers. It’s common for kids’ reading skills to drop off during the summer months; bringing books to kids throughout the summer will keep their skills sharp and return them to school in September ready to continue their education.
Enhancing financial education. With KeyBank as a lead partner in this venture, financial education is a key component of the bookmobile.
Reducing the number of hungry kids. Kids who receive lunches at no cost during the school year often go hungry during the summer; the bookmobile will assist in getting food to these kids when school is not in session.

Checking in with a good book is good for kids, their families and their communities. Open a book – electronically or the old-fashioned way – and your life is enriched. Through reading we become curious, learn to ask questions, and engage with each other to share what we’ve learned. Thank you, Portland, for bringing a shiny new object to Maine.

We’d love to hear about good deeds in your world ~ drop us a line.

Portland Public Executive Director Steve Podgajny and KeyBank New England District President Sterling Kozlowski — Portland Public Library Executive Director Steve Podgajny and KeyBank New England District President Sterling Kozlowski

Reinventing an Old Friend to Create a City of Readers was last modified: April 3rd, 2013 by Deb Nelson

Cancer Treatment: What if We’re Headed Down the Wrong Path?

What if…

Instead of pursuing a war against cancer that began more than 40 years ago,

We celebrate and boost the power of our immune system?

What if…

Instead of focusing on surgery, chemo, and radiation for cancer treatment,

We focus on nutrition, exercise, and stress-free living to boost our immune system?

What if…

Instead of referring to surgery, chemo, and radiation as traditional treatment,

We refer to each of them as conventional treatment?

What if…

Instead of referring to nutrition, exercise and stress-free living as alternative treatment,

We refer to each of them as traditional treatment? And then return to traditional treatment?

What if…

Instead of investing billions of dollars in developing more drugs with debilitating side effects to treat cancer,

We invest in delivering existing treatments that boost the power of our immune system?

What if…

We follow Michael Pollan’s simple advice?

“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

Cancer Treatment: What if We’re Headed Down the Wrong Path? was last modified: December 1st, 2016 by Deb Nelson

Sock Monkeys Against Cancer – Let’s Bring Them to Life

Cancer is serious business; these cute, cuddly monkeys with wild hair bring a ray of sunshine along with a big dose of humor and hope to cancer patients. They are the creation of Jennifer Windrum in response to her mother’s lung cancer diagnosis.

Why SMAC: Sock Monkeys Against Cancer? Windrum and her mother, Leslie Lehrman, live 1200 miles apart. The sock monkeys allow Windrum to have her arms wrapped around Leslie every day – at every chemo session; every test; every nap; and every crazy, unanticipated turn Leslie’s cancer treatment takes.

These two unassuming sock monkeys have a big job to do: NoMo, as in No More cancer, battles all cancers; Phoenix is dedicated to SMAC!-ing lung cancer.

Leslie’s own words describe just how big a role these sock monkeys against cancer play in her life:

It’s hard for me to describe how ‘my boys’ (NoMo and Phoenix) make me feel. I look into their little eyes and they just make my heart melt. It may sound silly, but when I get up, I say ‘good morning’ to them too. They just make me happy…even on my darkest days.

Please take a few minutes to read in Windrum’s own words how this journey began and continues to unfold by visiting Bring SMAC Sock Monkeys Against Cancer to Life. The video shows how this labor of love supports Leslie now and has the potential to support many, many more going through cancer treatment with a little help from us.

If you’d like to support Windrum’s efforts in this cancer SMAC-down, time is of the essence. 25 days (from November 5) remain to raise $35,000 to put this SMAC!-down into place.

This blog post is one in a series highlighting good deeds. Please share examples of good deeds in your community with us below or contact Deb directly.

Sock Monkeys Against Cancer – Let’s Bring Them to Life was last modified: December 1st, 2016 by Deb Nelson

LiveStrong: A Powerful Force for Good

Today is LiveStrong Day, a day to acknowledge and support the 28 million people around the world who are living with cancer. This annual celebration takes place on the anniversary of Lance Armstrong’s October 2, 1996 cancer diagnosis. Yes, you read that correctly, a celebration of a cancer diagnosis. In Armstrong’s own words:

The truth is that cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Armstrong’s diagnosis is also the best thing that happened to millions of cancer patients. After fighting his own battle with cancer, Armstrong (with a little help from his friends) founded LiveStrong – a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping cancer patients and their families navigate the unfamiliar territory of cancer treatment. At a time when emotions are running high and stakes for choosing the right treatment are even higher, LiveStrong’s employees step in to lend a helping hand to millions of people around the world.

Yes, I’m a Lance Armstrong fan. Yes, I wear one of those yellow wristbands every day. And this is why: Armstrong could easily write a check – a very large check – every year to support cancer research; or he could hold one heck of an annual event to raise millions of dollars in support of cancer research. Instead, he shows up every day leveraging his name, his story, and his healthy athletic self to help people figure out how they can deal with hearing these three words: You. Have. Cancer.

Instead of feeling alone, cancer patients are embraced by an extended family experiencing the highs and lows of cancer treatment right along with them. There is a place to turn when you have a question about your cancer treatment; there is a place to turn when you don’t know what questions to ask; that place is LiveStrong.

The words of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and LiveStrong say it best:

Unity is strength.

Knowledge is power.

Attitude is everything.

LiveStrong may be the most powerful example of leveraging celebrity status I’ve come across. But then again, we’d expect nothing less of Armstrong, would we?

This blog post is one in a series highlighting good deeds. Please share examples of good deeds in your community with us below or contact Deb directly.

LiveStrong: A Powerful Force for Good was last modified: October 2nd, 2012 by Deb Nelson

Staycation: Reflect, Recharge and Reconnect Close to Home

Southern Maine proved to be the perfect setting for an end-of-summer staycation for my husband and me. First up: beaches, of course, since we find nothing more relaxing than a multi-day beach tour. Mother Nature cooperated, providing beautiful sunny days for the entire week, as we visited old favorites and added one more to our list:

The week began with a couple of visits to Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth – a small, comfortable beach enjoyed primarily by families. Kettle Cove is a great spot to read, chat and reconnect with your inner child while
This sand castle is about to become a happy memory as the tide moves in at Kennebunk Beach.

watching kids squeal with delight at nature’s gifts: sand, waves, and tidal pools.
If you’re looking for a beach with more legroom, meander down the road a bit to Crescent Beach State Park. There’s plenty of room to spread out and take a long head-clearing walk at this beach.
Heading north, we made our first visit to Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg. Arriving mid-day, we avoided the waiting line we’ve heard greets early morning arrivals. Firmly planted in our beach chairs after a long walk along the shoreline, we witnessed a family of seven sharing their lunch with brazen seagulls. We’ve seen seagulls before, but not like this: these gulls are well-practiced in securing their next meal! And, yes, we were grateful they weren’t interested in the grapes we surreptitiously snacked on over the course of the afternoon.
Timing is everything when visiting Kennebunk Beach, as the sidewalk is the only place to park your chair or blanket at high tide. Arrive a few hours ahead of the tide, however, and you’ll be rewarded with a great beach experience as experts and novices surf the waves, sand sculptures take shape throughout the day, and peals of laughter erupt from every corner of the beach.
Last, but certainly not least on our tour, was Ogunquit Beach. One of our favorite beaches, there is always a lot of activity to take in here: suddenly everyone is a kid again! Good intentions of reading were quickly replaced by a walk on the beach, jumping into the waves, and a catnap.

While we were based out of our home for most of the week, we spent a couple of days at the Kennebunkport Inn, where the staff’s attention to service was top notch very day, all day. The recently renovated patio was the ideal spot to watch the sunset following a bike ride along the rocky coast. The staff also graciously found us outdoor seating at their restaurant, One Dock, when we were late to make a reservation. Our meals were stellar, and service once again exceeded our expectations. And, since Kennebunkport offers up so many great restaurants, we had to visit a couple of favorites: Bandaloop and Old Vines. We’ve always felt right at home upon entering both of these spots that are filled with good food, good wine, and good friends.

With a week of lounging on the beach and exploring the restaurant scene here and there, we found plenty of time to add some exercise to the mix: a few scenic bike rides, a couple of runs in Portland, and perhaps best of all, joining two 15-year-old girls for a standup paddle board lesson. During our staycation we slowed down the pace to appreciate what’s right in our own backyard and, like Dorothy, found there’s no place like home.

Staycation: Reflect, Recharge and Reconnect Close to Home was last modified: September 6th, 2012 by Deb Nelson

Need Funding? Make. Every. Word. Count.

Whether your goal is to bring your entrepreneurial vision to the masses or carry out the mission of a nonprofit, your success in the search for funds will undoubtedly rest upon your ability to develop and share a good story.

Just how do you craft that story? No problem here thanks to Seth Rigoletti of Valico Group and his 10 basic steps to persuasive communication. At a workshop hosted by Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, Rigoletti illustrated with quick wit and confidence how each of these steps will help you prepare for any conversation with a potential investor or donor:

Core message that can be said in one sentence.
This step sets the stage for your ask, forcing you to clarify exactly what is so special about your cause. AND it is also the sentence that will make your listeners say, “Wow, tell me more.” If your core message can’t be said in one sentence, you don’t have a core message yet. Keep working.
Organize your pitch:
a. Tell them the problem.
b. Tell them your solution.
c. So what?
This is my favorite question: when you can answer this question without becoming defensive, you are well on your way to achieving your goal. ALWAYS be ready for this question.
Be simple, not simplistic. (No jargon unless specifically asked.)
Simple here means clear language that someone not in your field can understand. Do not confuse being simple with being condescending. Condescension = game over and you lose.
Be Bold. Trust yourself. Self-doubt is not invited.
Check your insecurity and self-doubt at the door; do not let them eat away at your credibility. Enter the room as an expert, prepared to defend your idea.
Communicate your passion for the idea by revealing your excitement in its possibilities.
Make it clear why you’re doing this work. We don’t pay tune in to boring; if you’re not enthusiastic, why should prospective investors or donors pay attention to you?
Don’t expect or need anything from anyone. (Wanting is okay, neediness not so much.)
Desperation is not your friend here.
Be concrete in your examples. (Practice them on your friends.)
The example Rigoletti had here was President John F. Kennedy’s request for funding from Congress: “[T]his nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” Boom: concrete, challenging, clear.
Use stories (real or imagined) to convey and illustrate the value of the idea.
Everyone – yes, everyone – loves a good story. If you’re introducing a new product or program, begin with “Imagine the impact of…” or “Imagine the possibilities when…” and refine, refine, refine.
Give them a reason other than wealth for following you.
Their investment needs to go past your fortune and fame. Explain how the world is a better place because of this endeavor.
Be honest and humble. “I don’t know” isn’t a death sentence as long as you can follow it up with what you do know.
You’re bound to run into a question that will require you to answer by either
(a) saying “I don’t know” or (b) making something up. Choose option (a). This is where that boldness and preparation will save the day for you. You can be vulnerable here without being weak. It’s powerful when you are able to confidently say “I don’t know, but what we do know is …”

As you walk through and re-visit these 10 steps, keep in mind that the goal is for the audience to see the problem and solution through your eyes. This will happen when you:

Have a clear one-sentence core message
Convey your passion through concrete examples / illustrations
Trust yourself and your audience

The beauty of storytelling is that the story never ends. As Rigoletti advises: wash, rinse, repeat.

Need Funding? Make. Every. Word. Count. was last modified: August 17th, 2012 by Deb Nelson

You’re Blogging. Anyone Listening? Five Tips to Build Your Blog’s Traffic.

You’ve made the commitment to blogging. You’ve even put it on your calendar and have become a blog-writing machine. One blog post a day. No topic is off limits. All of a sudden, you lift your head up and wonder why your readership is so low and, holy cow, why no one has commented on one of your posts in weeks.

You’ve got a choice to make here: Get discouraged or regroup. If you choose to regroup (as I hope you will), here are a few tips that might help you increase traffic to your blog and expand your audience:

Learn everything you can about your audience. This will help you understand exactly what the people you’re writing for are interested in learning. Oh, what’s that? Your audience is everyone? Really? Everyone? It’s time to have a brainstorming session with a small group of trusted advisors, narrow your scope, and tailor your message to your audience.
Be relevant. This means you have to ask yourself the tough questions about the content of your blog: Who Cares? So What? If your blog post doesn’t provide value to your audience, it’s back to the drawing board – or blogging board – for you. Delete, and begin anew. Nothing to say? Save your writing for another day. Otherwise, you may very well have a snoozer of a blog post.
Be remarkable. Ho-hum has got to go. When you sit down to write your blog, think about blogs that you look forward to reading. You know the ones I’m talking about, the blogs you immediately read when that email notification arrives in your inbox. Here are a few of my favorites:
Content Marketing Institute
flyte new media
Christopher S. Penn
UnMarketing
Be social. Write your blog in a conversational tone to encourage reader comments and shares. That means it’s okay to use contractions and informal language. After all, you’ve done the research, and you’ve become friends with your audience. Your blog shouldn’t read like a stuffy speech to a group of strangers. (If you’ve got a stuffy speech for a group of strangers, re-write it as though you’ve already made friends with this group.)
Avoid acronyms at all costs. This is a logical next step to being social. Acronyms and corporate speak are exclusive, rather than inclusive. If you want to expand your influence, your words should be welcoming to, and readily understood by, anyone who wanders through your blog’s pages.

Good luck in your blogging adventures. Got any favorites of your own? Post below and we’ll check them out.

You’re Blogging. Anyone Listening? Five Tips to Build Your Blog’s Traffic. was last modified: August 8th, 2012 by Deb Nelson

Collaborating for Good to Take the Mystery Out of Video Production

If only all meetings could be this effective! Offered free of charge, Telling Your Nonprofit’s Story…Through Video exceeded all expectations. Andrea Berry and Kyle Andrei of Idealware and Maine Association of Nonprofits served up a winner, providing:

Tips and tools for video production
Examples of powerful messages delivered through video
Options for sharing videos online
All-important nourishment for this lunch-and-learn session

Want to lower your anxiety level around video production a notch or two? Here are a few suggestions that should do the trick:

1. Plan, plan, plan. Before production begins, make sure you’ve identified:

Your target audience
The action that you want viewers to take after watching your video
Great storytellers to appear in your video

2. Tools of the trade. No need to be overwhelmed by technology. Simple tools can help in producing a topnotch video:

Flip Camera – great for documentaries and conveying emotion of your organization
Tripod – reduces the shakiness of the Flip Camera while still allowing you to maintain the realistic, informal tone of your piece
Sony Handycam – this option brings a higher level of professionalism to your production for viewing at galas/fundraisers

3. Editing Options. Never underestimate the power of editing; clever editing allows you to both show and tell your story. Beginner tools include:

iMovie (for Mac users – free)
Windows Movie Maker (for PC users – free)
Adobe Premiere Elements

4. Publish or Perish. Online resources make it easier than ever to share your story. Soak up the link love and post your video for all to see:

YouTube
Vimeo
Your Website / Blog
Distribute to local news outlets and community TV stations
Include in your E-newsletter
Facebook and twitter

5. What, there’s more? Gotta love it when you get more than you expected from a presentation:

Find copyright-free music at: http://www.socialbrite.org/sharing-center/free-video-directory/
Learn how to create a video with photos at http://animoto.com/
Idealware’s presentation for this SkillBuilder: http://bit.ly/MANPvideo

Onward and upward with video production – put these practices into play and watch the magic happen.

Collaborating for Good to Take the Mystery Out of Video Production was last modified: July 16th, 2012 by Deb Nelson

Coffee, Business, and a Side of Advice

On your first visit to Perk Coffee Bar and Café, it will seem as though you’re catching up with a comfortable old friend. This café seems to have it all for those of us who rely on coffee shops to provide a satellite office:

Great coffee
Variety of snacks
Wi-Fi
Inviting atmosphere
Energy from a thriving business
Parking

Located in a beautifully renovated mill building, this café is steeped in history. Comfortable as you’ll be in the café’s open space, take a few minutes as you sip your coffee to roam through the building. You’re sure to find inspiration in the creative use of space and the variety of businesses that are housed in the North Dam Mill.

Upon returning to the café, you’ll likely find a small group meeting and a few individuals cranking away on their PCs or phones. The unexpected find at Perk, though, is a piece of advice not to be ignored while chatting with the barista: It’s Never Too Late To Live Happily Ever After. Hmmm… makes you stop and think for a moment or two. Your story doesn’t end at the end of the day or chapter. So get going, you’ve got a story to live.

Coffee, Business, and a Side of Advice was last modified: July 3rd, 2012 by Deb Nelson

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