Monday, October 02, 2006

Another Anniversary: Will Blog for Food

Sometime this week, Canadian Entrepreneur will welcome its 10,000th visitor.

Blogging, as you know, is not about numbers, but about conversations and community. I am delighted that so many visitors come back again and again to see what's new in the fertile world of Canadian entrepreneurship, and I implore you to keep reading, keep commenting, and keep the conversation going.

Ten thousand visitors may be a drop in the bucket for Amazon or eBay, but I think it's notable that half of these people have visited in the past six months. (We hit 5,000 on April 6th). It took us 14 months to reach the first 5,000 and just six months to hit the next 5,000, so the growth curve continues.

I should mention that I would love to spend more time on this blog, to improve the content and include a lot more first-person interviews, opinions and news coverage. If you know anyone who wants to sponsor a blog on Canadian small business and entrepreneurship, let 'em know I'm willing to talk.

Sponsor or no, I have a few ideas for improving the blog, making it even more personal and authoritative, and potentially even newsworthy, so please keep checking back. This ride is still just beginning.

1 comment:

herryp said...

There is an old story about a child trying to move a heavy stone while his father looks on. The child works and works, but the little guy is just not strong enough. Finally, he gives up and tells his father, "I can't. It's impossible."

His father replies, "You can do it. You haven't used everything you have available to you yet." The little boy claims he has tried his hardest, and still can't do it, to which the father answers, "But you haven't asked me to help yet, have you?"

Dieting can often seem like moving that heavy rock. You fight and struggle, sweat and exercise, but it's so hard to stick to a diet and exercise schedule that you quit. There comes a time to recognize that asking for help is a sign of strength rather than weakness. Enlisting the aid of friends, family and a good weight loss support group can boost your efforts and help you overcome setbacks that threaten to derail your weight loss program. Instead of trying to diet alone, try a few of these suggestions to help you stay on track with the help of family and friends.

1. Find and work with an exercise buddy. Making a date and a commitment to help someone else's weight loss or exercise efforts will help you stick to yours. But you don't know anyone you can exercise with, you say? You might be pleasantly surprised. Several years ago, I was commiserating with an Internet friend about another failed effort to lose weight when she proposed a splendid idea. We each got a cell phone with the same calling plan, and every afternoon at 2:00, we "met" for a stroll. She did her walking in New Hampshire, and I did mine in Denver -- but by keeping each other company, we helped the other lose 25 pounds each, and created a friendship that will last a lifetime.

2. Get your family on the same page. Wives, husbands, kids and brothers and sisters can offer support in unexpected ways. Something as simple as a sincere compliment at the right time might be all you need to nudge you back on track. On that same token, refuse to let them sabotage your efforts. When you recognize negativity, point it out but keep in mind that they probably don't think of it as "sabotage" or negative influence. If your husband always brings you a bowl of ice cream when he makes one for himself, for example, he probably thinks he's expressing his love. Let him know you appreciate it, but you'd rather have a bowl of fruit or a kiss than ice cream anytime.

3. Join a weight loss group. There's a lot to be said for seeking out the support of others who are struggling withthe same battle you are. Whatever it is which motivates you, you can find it in a weight loss support group. Healthy competition, companionship, encouragement, approval, and practical, common sense advice from others who are also working to take off pounds can all make reforming your eating habits a lot easier.