Quick notice here about the kickoff of “GutZyGrams” on Blog Talk Radio Wednesday May6th, 6PM EST, US

8am East coast Thursday Morn for my Ozzie friends

Call-in Number: (347) 215-6997

or click on  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SingleAgain

 With host, my very good friend and colleague, Joanie Winberg, founder of the National Association of Divorce for Women and Children.

“Fresh Start After Divorce Community“

Are you going through a divorce or are you divorced?– Are you a widow or widower?– Becoming “Single Again” is an emotional roller coaster ride.– Join Joanie and her special guests from around the world each week sharing tips to support and encourage you during these transitional times in your life.– Maybe the tips will inspire you, make you laugh or just be the right thing you need to hear at this time in your life.

I’ll be introducing my newest short and sweet content: For women who demand the latest…QUICKLY!

Take a “GutZyGram” moment and discover:

• Unique Insights for Getting Seen & Heard over the crowd

• Effective New Tools for Creating & Attracting in the Virtual World

• Short & Sweet Videos for Building a Stellar Online Presence

Debbie Ducic, aka GutZy Woman has been involved with the internet since 1998, when she saw the potential for herself and other women to create income by working from home using a computer and internet technology. She also worked 30 plus years as an advocate for gender equality, entrepreneurism  and economic development for women. Those passions merged together when in 2008, GutZy Women LLC was born.

With a desire to create a truly global movement, Debbie took one step closer to her goal when she and her family picked up and moved to Australia in 2009. She is convinced the once male dominated internet marketing industry is now giving way to a much more balanced and woman friendly place thanks to social media and simplified software applications. As a result, Debbie’s on a mission to inspire, motivate and mentor women all over the world to use the internet and other communication technology to their benefit as long as it also benefits our people and our planet.

To learn more about Debbie or GutZy Women 

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Hang around here for a while and you’ll meet the most interesting women!

For example, several weeks ago, a good girlfriend invited us to dinner to meet a multi talented musician, author, poet, actress, activist born in Southern Colorado near the New Mexico border from an educated and  political Hispanic family.

Her name is well known in New Mexico circles, but not just as an entertainer. She’s not afraid to speak up and take action when her people and community need a leader to bring attention to the plight of the rural areas of Colorado and New Mexico. She has become the keeper of the language and culture of the people.

Her Name: Veronica Ortiz. In some circles she is known as “The Gypsy Nun”.

We were treated to a delicious Cuban dinner, an eclectic and fun mix of guests and a performance of delightful and beautiful songs sung in spanish, a soothing voice and a strumming guitar. It was a delightful evening, but even more engaging were the stories told by this greying woman of the world, who now sticks close to her home of  El Rito, a rural setting, which, while beautiful, is suffering from lack of water as a result of drying up wells from years of drought.

It’s a Problem. People Need Water!

And the discussion was…how is it possible that the government in this great United States of ours, one of the richest nations in the world, cannot seem to provide for the basic needs of it’s people! People Need WATER! And because this is an aging and economically depressed rural area, the people cannot afford to pay for the infrastructure needed to pipe in water. The problem is falling on deaf ears.

But rather than dwell on it, Veronica just does what she can to help her community AND she has many stories to tell of her younger days growing up on a sheep ranch in a family of 13 children. She talks with a focus on the benefits of her experiences…

as a nun in training at a Benedictine Convent…

Deciding to leave the order to travel and follow her love of music and creativity…

The consequence of that ending in divorce and separation with her children…

Winning recognition and awards as an artist, actress, as well as activist…

As a multimedia maven and as a natural communicator, I am passionate about revealing the remarkable stories of GutZy Women!

Our stories are important and for many years were hidden away from the history books, but couldn’t be stopped as women LOVE to talk and we pass stories on by  word of mouth, woman to woman and then pass the down to our children. But often they get lost, as they have in my family.

Just exactly why I LOVE this medium called the internet with all of it’s capabilities to communicate, connect, educate, archive and inspire! Won’t you join us?

Don’t forget to come back when Part 2 is unleashed! 

In the meantime, there is much to gain from the TONS of INFO at my website

AND, there is MORE to gain from Veronica’s Wisdom…

Obviously it’s something that has to do with thin air, but what?

Take your best shot with this multiple choice quiz:

A. Spiritual gurus on a mountain summit manifesting cool things out of thin air?

B. Altitude sickness sufferers collectively test a new inhaler that works in the thin air of the mountains?

C. Experienced climbers gather to brainstorm ways to lessen the affects of thin air in order to reach the summit?

D. None of the above.

Trick question, actually, because it’s a bit of all three …

But before you continue reading the article, I would LOVE to hear YOUR first guess as to what is a Thin Air Summit? Come on, be creative! Could be fun.

In truth, The Thin Air Summit is the evolutionary outcome of an eclectic group of new media enthusiasts originally coming together to plan a “Podcamp.” But just as new technology and media morphs at the speed of light, so has the nature of this event , scheduled to happen in November 2008 in (drum roll please…) DENVER, COLORADO (Thin Air…get it?)

So what is a Podcamp? How is it different than a “New Media Conference”?A PodCamp is a usually a free “BarCamp-style” community UnConference (which just means an “unorganized conference,” shortened to the word UnConference.) for new media enthusiasts and professionals including bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, social networkers, and ANYONE curious about new media.

A BarCamp is an ad-hoc gathering of people born from the desire of each to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos and interaction from participants.

The first PodCamp was held September 8-10, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts. They’re now being held regularly all over the world, so they’ve proven to be quite popular events.

PodCamps aren’t just about podcasting.(I know…this gets confusing, with alll these new terms, so bare with me).If you’re interested in blogging, social media, social networking, podcasting, video on the net, audio, or you’re just curious about new media and how you can use it in YOUR endeavors, you definately want get involved.

If you’re eyes glazed over when you read those terms, it’s OK, you aren’t alone. 

You just haven’t read up on some of my other articles or watched my videos yet. It’s all there in short and simple, easy to understand articles. Hey, It’s important to your future success, especially if you run a  business or compete for donation dollars.

Then when you feel a bit more confident and don’t want to sit on the sidelines any more, please join in.

When Patti Serrano invited me to join her in crashing the Denver party and after a couple of “meetups” I’ve met some very “media savvy” men and women who will become incredible resources for me, as well as those I serve.

OK, so what makes the Thin Air Summit different than a Podcamp is that it has morphed into a “real conference” as opposed to an “Unconference” (an “unplanned” conference is now been shortened to the word: Unconference).

In other words , it IS an organized event  which will include experts in their fields to give primarily EDUCATIONAL presentations divided up into 3 different tracks: text, audio and video . The individual sessions will provide practical information relevant to creating better content in that particular medium.

They’re also planning some panel discussions. The panels will bring all three tracks together and be focused on new media topics that are relevant to all - both the practical, such as monetization, and the philosophical, such as “What is New Media and Why is it Important”.

So what’s in it for GutZy Women (or Brave Men ) like you?

Many of you might experience a fear or frustration when it comes to technology and multimedia marketing. The first step to getting over it is education. The next step is taking what you have learned and implementing it.

Sometimes, we need a little handholding, mentoring, inspiration and support in actually taking the action necessary to move forward.

The Thin Air Summit will be an UNBELIEVABLY VALUABLE place to be to learn, be inspired, connect, ask for help and the price is definitely right…LIKE FREE?

If the organizers hear from you powerful women and Enlightened Men out there who believe it’s important to include a greatly diverse bunch of qualified presenters, If you DO feel that way, there just might be a good showing of well qualified women speakers on stage at the event.

So forget all those expensive, overdone conferences that make your cash vanish into Thin Air! Rise to the Summit challenge. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone even if you feel it’s going to be too “techie” for you.

Events like this are a great opportunity to network with people who can teach you, mentor you and learn from you as well. As a matter of fact, the organizers are now in the process of looking for great presenters. Maybe you’re one?

^{In the mean time, what’s  your version of what the Thin Air Summit could be? Let’s hear your ideas in the comments down below… (Let’s keep it clean, OK?)}

She did it! My daughter graduated from high school!

Graduation parties abound this time of year. GRAND celebrations…not just for our kids, but for us parents as well, who seriously questioned whether OUR child’s turn would truly come to pass.  There were times…

Like the day the report card came in the mail. “You skipped 6th hour 22 times? Unexcused absences how many days? Why wasn’t I notified? How is this possible? You’re grounded the rest of your life. AAARRRGH!”

The inevitable conversations with school adminstrators and councelors only served to strengthen my daughter’s resolve to find an alternative solution. Sitting in overfilled classrooms, listening to uninspired lectures, dealing with kids intent to disrupt, sick of the pressures of sex, drugs and alcohol, she’d had enough and wasn’t willing to do it anymore.

I FREAKED!

But thanks to the University of Miami’s College Prep Online High School, we found an alternative and a good one at that. I was a bit nervous about it, as the cost was a shocker and self-discipline was required. But since it was mid - semester, there weren’t alot of alternative solutions for her to remain a student.

Turned out to be the best move we could have made.

It was a turning point in her attitude and determination to do well in school. She went on to enroll in a dual credit program between a local charter school and the colleges in town. This last year, she completed not only high school but now has full year of college credits for the classes she finished at the local community college (with flying colors, I might add!).

So here’s my point…

GutZy Women is about helping people (especially the female type) get over their fear & frustration of computer technology and the Internet because it is the single most powerful educational tool in our world today. It allows you stay at home, yet have access to the most up-to-date information and the most knowledgeable people across the world.

It changes the way we live, learn and do business. Sometimes, as in my daughter’s case, it provides solutions. But for those of us who grew up in a different world, it’s not an easy thing to change our thought patterns.

How different the world is today for our graduates than in my day!

• I had a very hard time thinking, at first, that my girl would miss out on traditional high school life. Like sports, running for queen, school functions, annual signing, etc. But she didn’t! She had even more amazing experiences because she wasn’t afraid to step out of the box.

• I’d had a very hard time dealing with her coming home and telling me she couldn’t sit in a classroom, listen to lectures, put up with the way the kids treated each other and wanting to try an alternative to traditional high school. But she didn’t. She knew what she wanted and went after it.

• I was worried that she would have a hard time with the self discipline of online high school as well as waitressing part time. But she wasn’t. And now our daughter understands what it takes to live successfully in the world.

We are SO PROUD of her! She is an AMAZING, determined young woman!

Our hearts are exploding with joy that she represents the next generation of GUTZY WOMEN!

CONGRATULATIONS to all the new graduates, but especially to you parents out there who have survived it .

Here’s to us…HALLELUJAH!

Are you letting the weight of the world drag you down?

A few weeks ago I was feeling crushed by the weight of the world, with all the natural disasters, the recession, violence against women around the world, the number of our young men and women being killed and traumatized by the war and on, and on…UGH! It was really getting to me and I let it affect the way I thought about my life, my family and my business.  My family, whom I love dearly, were getting on my nerves and taking up my time in a way that I was resentful. I wasn’t going into my office because I didn’t want to leave my house. My girlfriends, who were always asking me to do things with them, were now too busy with their own lives. Money and clients seemed to just disappear.  

“HMMM….WHAT IS GOING ON???”…This is NOT ME! I’m NOT like that normally and have had very few bouts of depression throughout my life, so I had to step back and wonder why I was often on the verge of tears.  My poor mentor had to put up with tears and nose blowing for a couple of hours at the local coffee shop one morning in front of all these people and I had NO INTENTION of even mentioning what had been going on in my head, but when he asked me how things were, my emotions took over and I couldn’t stop myself, for the life of me! 

It was embarrassing and yet obviously it was something I needed to get out of my system. I felt better immediately, listened to some very sage advice and continued to re-examine my perception of life, the happenings in the world and the direction of business.  Funny thing is I talked to more than a few friends and colleagues who were going through something similar, to different degrees.  

Now, I know this is a personal issue, so why I am writing about this here?

In this blog and on my GutZy Women Website, I’ve always tried to focus on delivering valuable information for YOUR benefit. The majority of the articles and videos I’ve published have been to educate, illuminate, inspire and motivate YOU to leverage the power of technology and Multi Media to expand your reach, whether for business, personal or benevolent purposes. 

But now I feel drawn to take it a step further and use my knowledge, skills and passion not just for business purposes, but to seek out those who are using a more holistic approach to how we can serve each other and the world and align myself and GutZy Women LLC with those who are proactively seeking positive solutions and taking action to impact positive change. 

So one “ah-ha” that came to mind through this process is that I wonder if what I’ve been publishing, teaching and offering is actually accomplishing that which I intended. Another question in my mind is that since the vision of GutZy Women is HUGE and has so many facets, is it time now to add another piece of the vision?

The first question can only be answered by YOU and I would LOVE your feedback. Call, write or comment below:

The second question, although open for discussion, must pretty much be decided by me and the universe. Come back tomorrow to see what I decided and how YOU can benefit!

LOVE

Deb Ducic

PS: The third question is…How is the state of the world affecting you? How are you handling it?