Category: Organization and Business

How to Give Your Child “One Million Kisses” My Debut Book Is Finally Available for Purchase!

On By JenniferOzgurIn Love, Organization and Business, Parenting, WritingLeave a comment

One Million KissesIt’s been over ten years since I became a mom and wrote a poem about kissing my daughter.  Over ten months since meeting with a publisher.

Even though I knew this day was coming, I’m still surprised that it’s finally here… I’m a published author with a book out on the market!

For less than ten dollars, you will:

  • have a sweet illustrated poem that teaches about the concept of one million and how families can give and get “One Million Kisses”
  • support a small, independent brick and mortar children’s book publishing company
  • contribute to my “Trauma-Free Parenting” movement
  • help with my vision of reaching out to families that takes a proactive approach to mental health issues.

CLICK HERE to buy the book!

 

Ending Child Abuse is a Communist Agenda? When Did Parenting Become Political?

On By JenniferOzgurIn Organization and Business, Parenting, politics6 Comments
child with flag
Parenting is NOT a Political Issue!

Quick question: Does wanting to end child abuse make you a Communist?  Let me explain…

My husband sent me THIS LINK  from Face Book that has a video about not physically or emotionally abusing your children.  It’s based on the premise that parents who yell and hit have children who yell and hit.  It is originally from this website: Children See, Children Learn.  I am glad to have another resource to add to my list of organizations who are in line with the Vision and Mission of 153Promise.

Again, like yesterday’s post, I began reading the comments.  (Warning: it could ruin your day.)

People got SO ANGRY from watching an anti-parental bullying PSA!  They defend hitting their child, say that’s why we have brats is due to lack of spanking, and then it degrades into a political debate…

Flag polticalPeople post the quantum leap that videos like this are the work of the Liberals/Socialists/Communists in the US of A. They started making comparisons to totally unrelated issues like gun control and fighting in the Middle East.

Then, I noticed a trend… the ones who were upset MOST at this video were the ones who were spanked as a kid and who defend spanking their own kids!  That legacy is the EXACT TREND the PSA is trying to end!

Perhaps if those negative posters were shown more L.O.V.E. as a child, they would not be so miserable today.

If my commitment to raise my child in a trauma-free environment makes me a Liberal, then so be it.  I will LOVE my children liberally.  I will liberally shower my children with kisses and hugs.

Make it your #153Promise to join the TFPP- Trauma-Free Parenting Party, no matter what your political affiliation!

-Kisses! XxXx

No April Fooling… The Nonprofit Paradox: It Costs Money to Not Make Money!

On By JenniferOzgurIn Organization and Business, School2 Comments
Cash
It’s not about the money…???

I update my students from time to time about the progress of #153Promise.  Yesterday, I told them that the silicone bracelets came in.  They asked how much they will cost.  When I said that I hoped to get $5.oo, they thought that was a bit steep; they suggested no more than 3.  I explained that they cost about a dollar to make, and that it’s not about how much the item is worth; it’s more of a “Thank you” gift with a donation to a cause.  Then came the question:

“So, what are you going to do with the money?”

One thing for sure- NOT go on a trip or pay my personal bills!  I explained that I plan to reinvest the income back into the nonprofit.

“Yeah… but what are you going to DO with the money?”

They clearly didn’t understand; they were hoping to hear something like, “Donate it to XXX cause or charity.”  But I AM the charity!  Still, I felt like I needed to supply them with some clear-cut verbs…

I can’t blame them for not grasping the concept of needing to make money upfront.  In order to do anything to begin to accomplish the mission of #153Promise, it’s going to take a lot of cash.  I mean, why SHOULD they know???  Only over this past week did I begin to gain an understanding for myself just how expensive starting up a nonprofit can be.  So far, this is what I learned:

  1. If I want to be at an event, I have to pay money for the spot.  $50.00 for a 10’x10′ is enough to make me think twice about getting the exposure I need.  I should sell almost 20 books at an event just to break EVEN.
  2. Some events require proof of liability insurance.  That’s up to $700.00 a year- just to be covered in case somebody claims my setup injured them.
  3. You can have the best idea in the world, but if nobody knows about it, it dies.  That means, you have to promote.  That costs money, too.  We’ve spent money on tee-shirts, car magnets, bracelets, and business cards.  Adding all that up, it’s over $500.00.
  4. Here’s the big sticker shock… In order to become a nonprofit, filing fees cost over $1,500.00!  Plus, if you hire a lawyer to do it to make sure it’s done correctly, you pay another grand.

Well, it opens up a lot of options:

  1. You can take tax write-offs.
  2. You can offer receipts so other people’s donations are tax-deductible.
  3. You can begin the fun adventure of writing grant proposals to get big money.

THEN, once that all happens and I’m free to get down to the nitty-gritty of actually doing the good work I plan to do, THAT takes a lot of time and money, too!  Offering programming and writing curriculum to educate families about trauma-free parenting does not fall off trees…

So, as much as I want to become a nonprofit charity, it looks like I can’t afford to right now.

This Catch 22 was not something I had anticipated!  Neither was the difficulty in answering the question,

“So, what are you going to do with the money?”

I learned a lot by those students’ inquiry… even though it humbled me a bit.

Make it the #153Proise to be open enough to learn from any situation.

Kisses! XxXx

Time for Another Author’s Update! 3.21.16

On By JenniferOzgurIn Organization and Business, Parenting, WritingLeave a comment

mommy kisses baby

My book adventure continues to pick up steam!  Click HERE to read more about my most recent developments in my “One Million Kisses” saga, in addition to getting #153Promise off the ground.

In this entry, I highlight more interaction with my publisher regarding branding me as an author and the work my husband and I are doing to turn this blog into a legitimate nonprofit organization!

As I stated in the update: No wonder why all those male authors are always so moody- it’s the closest thing they’ll ever get to giving birth! ; )

-Kisses! XxXx

The Benefits of a Smaller Publishing House

On By JenniferOzgurIn Organization and Business, Uncategorized, WritingLeave a comment

Pencil, Sharpener, Notebook, PaperPlease read the highlights of my most recent phone conversations with my publisher here in my Writer’s Journal.

There’s no way I’d be getting so much attention from a larger publishing house.  We brainstorm, he challenges me, and I’m leaning a lot from him.

While I still dream about one day signing with a larger company, having an agent, a publicist, and all the other trappings of a famous author, I can honestly say that I don’t know if I know enough about the industry yet.  I’m enjoying learning all of the aspects of what it takes to create a book, promote it and get it into the hands of the public.

Hopefully, you’re learning something right along with me, too!  : )

The Words “Next Month” Gives Me Chutzpah!

On By JenniferOzgurIn Organization and Business, WritingLeave a comment

Notebook, Fountain Pens, Pen, Notes, To Write, Office

I’ve been a lot more vocal, bold… brazen, even… when it comes to getting the word out regarding my book, “One Million Kisses.”

I’m a lot more courageous now that I can say, “I have a book coming out next month.”

I’ve been keeping a (albeit loose) journal on the progress here.

Please stop by to read about my most recent updates.  For a while, it was the “Hurry up and wait” approach, but I think it’s going to increase with some speed now that the hard copies are just weeks away.

Make it your #153Promise to keep checking back to find out when you can finally get your hands on this little labor of love.

-Kisses! XxXx

Journal Update, 2.26.16

On By JenniferOzgurIn Organization and Business, Parenting, WritingLeave a comment

Hop over to my Journal to read about developments of “One Million Kisses,” my children’s book that was the inspiration for #153Promise.

In it, I update about my social media, products, the progress with my publisher and my general stress of launching a book.

I have a busy weekend with BOTH of my children being in the winter gymnastics show.  This will be the third on for my daughter (she turns 10.5 on Monday- yes leap day!) and my son’s first (at 3.5, he’s finally old enough to be in the Y program).

In my “spare time,” I’ll be working on posts all for next week.  They will all be outlining the highlights of the “Stress Workshop for Parents” I attended this past Wednesday.  It was very… interesting.  Stay tuned!

And in case you missed my logo when I pushed it out, here it is:

153PRMSINSTTT

Have a Happy Friday!

-Kisses! XxXx

 

A Traumatic Statistic: Prevalence of PTSD

On By JenniferOzgurIn Health, Organization and Business, Parenting, Relationships, School, ValidationLeave a comment

Fear, Woman, Crack, Notch, Furrow

Did you know that a whopping 70% of the general public will experience a traumatic event, and of those who do, 20% go on to develop PTSD?

Children lack the proper coping mechanisms, so they are particularly vulnerable.

War is not the only way to get PTSD.  Other traumatic events can include:

  • a serious injury or illness
  • a death
  • a car accident
  • a significant life change, like a divorce or move
  • abuse or bullying
  • dysfunction in the home, like yelling or addiction
  • a disaster like a fire
  • a crime
  • either first-hand experience of the events above or even witnessing them second-hand

The key to not developing PTSD in the first place is to get immediate aftercare.  But if that did not happen, it’s not too late to seek treatment for your child months or even years afterward.

Some of the symptoms of PTSD, according to the Mayo Clinic and WebMD re:

  • Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior
  • Always being on guard for danger
  • Overwhelming guilt or shame
  • Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Not enjoying activities usually enjoyed
  • Avoiding certain situations
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Bad dreams
  • Being easily startled or frightened
  • Panic attacks
  • Headaches, stomach aches, muscle pain without specific injury

For students, these may also manifest as lowered grades or discipline problems at school.

Candle, Rose, Tealight, Quiet

Every child deserves to feel at peace and safe in their environment.  You never know if something they experienced may have been recorded as a trauma in their brain and they need professional help to learn how to re-regulate their emotions.

If your child starts to begin to display any of the signs above, or if they or your family has experienced any of the major events listed above,  please make the #153Promise to contact their guidance counselor and share your concerns.

They may need validation from someone who understands what they are going through.

-KissesXxXx

 

To Hash or Not to Hash? Logo Dilemmas…

On By JenniferOzgurIn Organization and Business, politics, Uncategorized, Writing2 Comments

 

153PRMSINSTTT

The logo for 153Promise is finally here!  My sweet, supportive husband pulled a few strings and got a professional graphic designer to mock up a few logos based upon a few different images of a pinkie promise with the heart.  I wanted pink and blue to reflect babies, but not toooo babyish.  A pretty simple concept, I hope.

I had my students vote.  I analyzed trends and came back to the GD with a few tweaking requests and the above is the result.

I also want to add on shirts, magnets, bracelets, etc the “LOVE” anagram:

*L*isten *O*bserve *V*alidate *E*mpathize

(That was my ten year old daughter’s idea; I figure we can easily add that on our own.)

I was happy and excited… that lasted for about a day when I came downstairs this morning and started reading news feeds.  There was a story about the Oregon standoff.  That lead me to some anti-Islamic stories.  Which brought me to anti-Black stories.  Then I finally ended up onto the BlackLivesMatter website.

Hashtag, Hash, Tag, Social, Internet, Network, MediaI like their site.  I am inspired how they created a movement in a few short years- though I am saddened at the same time that it needs to exist.  But one thing confuses me… the elusive hash tag.

It’s not in their URL.  It’s not on their logo.  It’s not on other places on their website… But it IS on some of their headings, in some of the body copy, and on all off the pictures from people at rallies and other events.

So now I’m confused whether or not I should have put the “#” in my logo, in my posts, or what…

Social media is jammed up my brain.  In fact, that’s what I plan to write about tomorrow as I get back to my posts about making the 153Promise — or should that be the #153Promise — to your children to show them L.O.V.E. on a daily basis.  Stay on the lookout for my “Social Media is S & M” post for tomorrow.

IF you are reading this post, PLEASE comment on my question…

To Hash or Not to Hash?

 

 

 

153Promise Action Plan

On By JenniferOzgurIn Organization and Business, Uncategorized, Writing5 Comments

Business Idea, Planning, Business PlanEventually, I hope to turn this post (which will be edited along the way) into buttons at the top of the site, so keep coming back.

My most recent research about where I want 153Promise to go revealed that I need to flesh out several elements.  First, there’s the dreamy/fun part.  I’m good at this stuff:

  1. A Premise (focus on the past and present)
  2. Core Beliefs and Values
  3. A Vision Statement (focus on the future)
  4. A Mission Statement (focus on the present)
  5. Goals (big picture and maybe not measurable… does not change and it tied to Vision and Mission… guides everyday decisions)
  6. Objectives (actions that are measurable to achieve the goal… may change in order to adjust… ARE the everyday decisions)

Then there’s the less fun/technical stuff:

  1. A Strategy (what to do)
  2. Tactics (how to do it)
  3. An Action Plan (the order in which to do it)

I found these buzz words everywhere on the internet.  Apparently, it’s common knowledge (or should be) in Fortune 500 companies and successful organizations around the world.  However, since there are TONS of articles and blog posts explaining the finer distinctions between all of these terms, I shouldn’t feel too bad.  In fact, I should be pretty darn tickled with myself that I’m even thinking about these issues going into trying to make 153Promise a success!

I did find one site, Innovation Excellence, that did an excellent job of stringing many of the words together:

“Values should underpin Vision, which dictates Mission, which determines Strategy, which surfaces Goals that frame Objectives, which in turn drives the Tactics that tell an organization what Resources, Infrastructure and Processes are needed to support a certainty of execution.” – (Mike Myatt, 1988)

For all of this, I’m really going to need some help.

I’ve already started making contacts and speaking to some people who are in the position to help me.  The most interesting discovery is that what I want to create — a resource for families to be proactive about mental health issues — does not really seem to exist… yet.

As it stands, it seem to me that there are many resources once a person is diagnosed with a mental illness, addiction, or in crisis.  There’s also many places to go if there’s financial burdens (social services) or groups to deal with surviving with loss.

But what about educating families so the above agencies are not stretched so thin so they can better use their resources?

Parachute, Training, ParachutingI’m not saying we can prevent ALL bad things from happening… life itself is risky.  But how about realizing that fact WAY in advance and start packing a parachute instead of hoping someone below will be holding a net to catch your fall?

I actually really like that analogy!  Every person has their own parachute, but the nets below are a catch-all for the masses.  I know I’m going to feel a lot more secure jumping if I know I had help packing my own safety device, rather than jumping and hoping that some random thing at the very end will be there to bail me out.

Back to my point- I think I can tackle the dreamy stuff this weekend.  The technical stuff?  Well, that’s where I will have to enlist the help of others who, quite frankly, know much more than me.  That means I’ll need to work on yet another element:

  1. A “Founder” of 153Promise– that’s me!  : DSinger, Frank Sinatra, 1947, Microphone
  2. Board of Directors- people who will help me with the major decisions that get a vote
  3. Advisory Board- people who are experts that offer an opinion that do not necessarily make executive decisions regarding to organization
  4. Executive Director- is that me?  SHOULD is be me? is that the head of the BOD?  Is that the same as the COB?  (Why am I getting visions of the Rat Pack and Frank Sinatra?)
  5. Chief Executive Officer- is the ECO the same as the ED?
  6. A Chief Financial Officer- I don’t pretend to know anything about finances, but I better be in-the-know regarding all figures, or I’ll get robbed blind… I’ve been in the restaurant business enough to know that!
  7. Trustees- essentially, the purse strings

I also realize I need to be smart right at the start… and although 153Promise is a “.com” for now (so I can sell my “One Million Kisses” book), should it be a non-profit?

Reason being, in all my internet surfing, I found this nightmare testimony  at blueavacado.org about a BOD firing its founder.  So I need to make sure I am always part of the voting and cannot be usurped, in addition to keeping in mind that there’s also financial issues to contend with.

Even though an organization may not be for profit, that certainly doesn’t mean that money isn’t important!

To quote my students… “So yeah…”  There’s a LOT I need to consider, and it seems like this is the perfect time… just when a logo makes is seem a whole lot more real… I better start thinking like it is.

(The Big Elephant in the room is when to start seeking out the advice of a lawyer?  That word has a negative connotation, but a good one certainly is an asset… but I don’t have the money for now… but if that’s the case, I may not be able to afford NOT to get one if I wait to later… thus a great catch 22.)

Hand, Keep, Head, Brain, Imitation

Right now, I’ve only got a bunch of dreams and a book coming out in several weeks (with no upfront cost to me).  But once I start selling books and both my publisher and I start making money (hopefully!) I’ll really need to start to consider what I’m doing since with money comes more options and responsibility.

So my biggest lesson thus far is no matter what you do, if it’s something new,  treat it like a business.

Kisses! XxXx