Pat and Lorna Shanks

Getting Started with Gravatar.com (101)

Pat & Lorna Cool Tips, Cool Tools, Gravatar, Pat and Lorna Shanks, Tools 29

In this video we show you how to get started with Gravatar.com. Gravatar allows you to have your image appear beside the blog comments you leave on other people's posts.

To get a basic understanding of Gravatar.com you can review the Wikipedia.org overview of it

You can download our Gravatar.com 101 checklist HERE.

Getting Started with Gravatar.com (101) – Video Tutorial

Action Steps

1) Set up your Gravatar.com Account

1.1 Go to www.Gravatar.com
1.2 Click on “Sign up” => http://en.gravatar.com/site/signup
1.3 Enter your Email
1.4 Click the “Link” in the confirmation Email that you received

2) Upload Your Image

2.1 Go to www.Gravatar.com
2.2 Click on “Log in” => http://en.gravatar.com/site/login

2.2.1 Enter your Email or Username
2.2.2 Enter your Password

2.3 Click on “Add an Image” => http://en.gravatar.com/gravatars/new

Choose where you'd like to get the image from:

My computer's hard drive
An image on the Internet
A webcam attached to your computer
A previously uploaded image

3) Add an Email address

3.1 Go to www.Gravatar.com
3.2 Click on “Add an Email Address” => http://en.gravatar.com/emails/new
3.3 Confirm the Email sent from Gravatar

4) Check your Avatar

4.1 Go to => http://en.gravatar.com/site/check
4.2 Enter an Email address you wish to check

5) Additional Learning Assets
5.1 Download this Checklist => http://TheCoolestCouple.com/Gravatar101
5.2 Check out our tutorial – Gravatar (202) on The Public Profile => http://TheCoolestCouple.com/Gravatar202

=>>> If you found this post useful, please bookmark, share, comment, like and re-tweet so we can help impact more people's lives 🙂

Are You Really Stuck, or do You Just Believe You Are?

Pat & Lorna Cool Videos, Pat and Lorna Shanks 9

Have you ever gotten to a point where you feel you've done all you can and no matter what, you'll never grow further or reach your goals? You've told yourself you really want to get there, but you've consciously or sub-consciously told yourself that although you want it, you don't have a hope in heck of getting it.

So… let's discuss making things happen, amazing support and how important mindset really is.

I (Lorna) entered a Figures Competition (like bodybuilding – with a little less muscle definition) last year. I committed to the training and the diet (death by chicken) and entered in a competition. I placed fourth in one of the classes, which I felt was absolutely fantastic! So, I thought to myself… that's probably about as high as I'll ever get… the other girls had more time, trainers, nutritionists, were younger, blah, blah, blah… basically, plain old excuses.

But, because I did have a lot of fun, and it was a phenomenal experience… I entered another competition this spring.

I trained even harder (never thought that was possible) committed to the diet again, and used a lot of visualization and awareness to get back into competition form. It paid off, as I placed third in one of the classes!

Very Cool! And the coolest part of it was the amazing support I got from my sweetheart, Pat. He was with me the whole way… and voiced that support while he was in the audience at the competition for all to hear. I'm pretty sure the audience appreciated how much he supported me as well. Watch and listen to this very cool moment…

So do I now believe I can still grow further and win a competition? Most definitely! It brings awareness to this question: what are my limiting beliefs, what is it I believe that is preventing me from experiencing other amazing things in my life?

Once again I had a lot of fun… and the third-place finish was like icing on the cake. Being that I started competing a little later than most (49) I thought I wouldn't even come close to fitting in with the “seasoned pros”. A limiting belief, that once I moved past, allowed me to grow, improve and get a whole new perspective on being committed to making it happen.

In Alberta the association that holds these competitions is the Alberta Bodybuilding Association they are a class act all the way and are run like most associations with volunteers. Here are the 2011 Northern Alberta Championship Results and I placed third in Masters 45+.

The other competitors were all friendly, helpful, supportive, nervous and very hungry 😉

Some big learning experiences for me were:

1) Sharing a common goal and journey with others is very COOL
2) There are no egos backstage
3) Everyone has their own way of achieving their goals and dreams
4) The volunteers are amazing
5) Even though the event is a “Judged” event, I entered for the experience and for my growth

No Matter How Old You Are, You’re Always Learning!

Pat & Lorna Cool Knowledge, Pat and Lorna Shanks 4

So, one more figures competition under my belt, this time at the National level. Yes, the competition was tougher than at the Provincial level and I had to step up my game… but that is a Cool thing. Sometimes it takes a challenge to get us to step up and make some major changes and improvements.

For this competition my amazing husband, Pat, hired a trainer for me. I sure learned a lot through my sessions with my trainer and the diets and exercise routines he had me follow. I had a great foundation already established… but yet it was that extra 20% that made up 80% of my visible progress.

A few notices I took away from my experience at the National competition:

Although I was told everyone was there to win and I wouldn't find anyone to be friendly or cooperative, it was totally opposite. I met so many COOL people and had a blast back stage.
No matter how lean, muscular, toned, tanned, etc. you think you are, there is always at least one other person who is just a bit more.
Being a judged sport… you can't control the judges thoughts and opinions. And they're all looking at you a little differently.
Coming in last place isn't degrading or defeating unless you make it that way.

Yes, I did come in last place in my categories. And yes, I could have quit after that… but I'm thinking… why would I? I've dieted for over three months, tanned myself silly, lifted what seems like millions of pounds of weights… just to quit? Nope.

This applies so well to the rest of our lives… in business, on a personal level, in sports, whatever… one “kick in the butt” and we may feel like we want to quit. Instead, perhaps look at it this way… take a step back, look at where you really are, and where you started from. You may (in fact, you probably will) surprise yourself.

Are you willing to give up on all that you've done, everything you've accomplished to that point, just to pack it in? That can be a tough question, and we're thinking the answer for the most part would be a resounding NO. Of course there are the few times when the writing is on the wall, and a different path would be the best choice.

My trainer did have a few of his students quit just before the competition. That boggled my mind. I couldn't understand investing in that much time, energy, pain and money just to drop out. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? You could come in last place 😉

What Do Facebook and Chocolate Have in Common?

Pat & Lorna Cool Knowledge, Pat and Lorna Shanks 16

You're a success! You have all the knowledge and tools you need to make a difference in peoples' lives… something to offer the world. Whether it's how to make a first-rate Facebook Page or homemade chocolate that is to die for, there is something you know that will help others.

All you need now is guidance on how to spread your message… the knowledge you possess that others can benefit from. So find someone with the knowledge of how to get your message out, and learn from them. You owe it to the world to spread the knowledge you have, to allow others to experience it as well.

You may not see yourself as successful. You may feel that you aren't making enough money from what you know, or that what you know is of no value to others. Look at it this way… if it's of value to you, it must be of value to someone else. As human beings, we are not that much different.

Your knowledge may not directly bring you millions of dollars… but it can lead to other things which may… and in any case, if you can help one person it is a success.

Success depends on your perspective. Look for and find the successes in your life, and celebrate them. By focusing on your successes, you'll be sure to create more.

Online Business; Anytime, Anywhere… Do It Your Way

Pat & Lorna Cool Knowledge, Pat and Lorna Shanks 16

Picture this… you’re soaking up the sun on a white-sand beach, or perhaps skiing down a pristine snow-covered slope. This is the life! And you’re thinking… it feels like I’ve won the lottery. Later, back in your spacious suite, you pull out the laptop, connect to the Internet and voila… you’re in business. What? This isn’t how it works for you? It could be.

We've been there… whether it was the breathtaking mountains of Whistler, B.C. or Banff, Alberta… or the lush wine country in California… we've enjoyed all there was to offer and still kept in touch with our online business.

It is so cool having a business that focuses on e-courses, e-learning, online videos, or any other kind of online web presentation. The logistical freedom is liberating.

The Internet can be accessed almost anywhere. Granted, if you are in the deep jungles of Borneo searching for a rare frog it may not work, but those are the times when you are really “getting away from it all”. By making use of the Internet’s accessibility you can create your products and market them while you are virtually anywhere in the world.

No longer does owning your own business mean that you are tied down. It doesn’t have to keep you stuck at home, never being able to take vacations. Seriously, isn’t that the reason you would want to start your own business in the first place… the freedom?

So… start by thinking… how can I take something I am passionate about and turn it into a business that will lend itself to online products or services? Then, of course, you will have to do the market research to ensure that enough people will want to buy what you have to offer. Once you’ve established a market and have come up with products that people will pay for, you either create the products yourself or outsource it to someone else. Then market like crazy.

We know that we’ve seriously condensed and generalized the whole process. There are numerous courses, books and websites dedicated to each part of creating a business that operates online… study, learn, do it, make mistakes, do it some more, and above all… enjoy the journey.

Enjoying the journey, the freedom of doing business online, is to us the best part. You can do it from anywhere, and anytime you want. The structure of being at a specific location during specific times of the day is a thing of the past… move your business online and liberate yourself!

Pat & Lorna

Pat and Lorna Shanks deliver the "COOL" Goods and connections to "COOL" People. They provide tips, tools, education and informative sessions with knowledgeable people that enable entrepreneurs, independent professionals and small business owners to attract more clients and make more money.

For more "COOL" tips, tools, knowledge and people, please follow us on Twitter or check us out on Facebook.