I love my career

I have been working pretty hard the past few years to get my business off the ground, and although I've enjoyed almost every minute of it, it has been tiring. I have had to sacrifice time, money, and who knows what else to make my presence known in the massage world. And although fame might make marketing easier, I am reminded every now and then what the real goal is. It is good to feel appreciated. And I am very happy to be an official sponsor of Grumpy's/Little Guy Racing!

We are winding up our first year as a cycling club, and I am glad to say I'll be able to spend more time with the team in year two, as I am learning how to be more efficient at business marketing. When you have to spend much of your time providing personal service, there isn't much left over for anything else. So this winter will be spent planning my time more wisely during next year's racing season. Of course, that's the plan, and plans can change. But I think my client base is broad enough now that I don't have to spend every weekend at some craft fair doing chair massage. It's ok as work goes, but I'd rather spend some weekends racing, or at least near the cycling scene. That could be some of the best marketing I do all year.

Meditation for the Day

Which is better for you, Tai Chi or Chai Tea?

Swedish Immigrant Trail

If you haven't heard, the Swedish Immigrant Trail in Chisago County is officially 'open!' Trail dedication was at 10 am today, and rain did not spoil the ribbon cutting. I did not have my bike with me, but I took a walk on it from Shafer towards Center City. It is a pretty trail, with wetlands, trees, and even a buffalo farm nearby!

It will be a good alternative to highway 8 and other local roads, as they become congested with more and more auto traffic. As I live on the probable route of the Gateway Trail expansion, I am hoping to see the two trails meet sometime in the near future. I usually have no problem with riding on roads, as I have done a lot of long-distance road touring, but as the media becomes clogged with stories of deteriorating infrastructure, too many taxpayers seem to think that the problem will be fixed by diverting all funds from parks and trails to roads and bridges. So the roadhogs increasingly curse cyclists who dare use the road when the roadhogs 'paid x million for the blankety-blank bike trail!' I don't expect them to understand. They are, after all, roadhogs. They also want free gasoline. As a cyclist, I know I'm somehow paying for their gas consumption habits. Money that I'd rather spend on bike trails, that is. But I don't waste time screaming at motorists. I'll just keep riding my bike.