That’s what happened to my boyfriend when he tried to make guacamole.

He tried, for longer than I will admit, to make avocados into guacamole.

The avocados weren’t ripe enough.

As he told me the story I couldn’t help but think how I am sometimes like those unripened avocados. 

Sometimes I am not ready to be made into guacamole.

No mushing or blending would make them ready just as no amount of coaching makes me ready for change.

We have to be ready for change whether we’re an avocado, a writer or a guy trying to make guacamole. 

I wish I could blend myself into changing but it won’t work.

I wish I could wave a magic wand and create change.

I wish I could shake someone to make them change.

I wish I could change myself faster.

The truth is we have to go through enough experiences to learn how we are going to change.

Maybe we have to have faith that change will be good for us…even if it feels scary and looks like an avocado flying around a blender.

It wasn’t time for those avocados to be guacamole even though all of the ingredients were available. The timing had to be right. The avocados had to be ready.

When the time is right we can make guacamole from our avocados. Until then we wait and learn, dream and hope, take action and learn. Someday we will be the guacamole of our dreams.

Anne McAuley is a Mesa, AZ based freelance writer and owner of McAuley Freelance Writing. She helps businesses get noticed online through content marketing including blogging, copywriting and social media. She likes to say she is a Word Stylist. While celebrity stylists help their clients find their public style with clothes, hair and make-up, she helps her clients find their style with words and messaging. Anne can be reached at anne@annemcauley.com or on Twitter @freemcauley.

We have spent many an epic weekend together and while it has been fun, real life beckons and we must comply.

While we each had a different idea to present, with different questions or concerns, we found something in common. We were, in our own ways, burying ourselves in work forgetting the importance of taking time for friends and family.

That night was an opportunity to truly understand what is happening in each other’s lives.

The only rules were that we each had a half hour and we had to come with an idea or question for the group.

My friend teaches a class about social media for non-profits at the university level. I wanted to know how for-profit and non-profit social media differs. I am working on a post dedicated to his answer. 

Another friend is starting a business and was looking for ideas for start-ups. She has a business name and needs a title for herself and unique services. We also gave her tips for marketing research and sage advice about eating an elephant one bite at a time. Starting a business is overwhelming on many levels. 

The others shared a combination of personal and business challenges. Balancing personal and business, making the decision to start a business and dating were among the other topics shared.

We networked, shared, laughed and cried. It was a good night for friendship.

An idea sharing event could provide perspective for everyone to understand how to help each other and be more understanding of where each of us is in business and personal lives. Have you or are you interested in participating in a night like this? Please leave your comments below and thank you.

Anne McAuley is a Mesa, AZ based freelance writer and owner of McAuley Freelance Writing. She helps businesses get noticed online through content marketing including blogging, copywriting and social media. She likes to say she is a Word Stylist. While celebrity stylists help their clients find their public style with clothes, hair and make-up, she helps her clients find their style with words and messaging. Anne can be reached at anne@annemcauley.com or on Twitter @freemcauley.

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1. Professional Headshot: Stop cutting your family out of photos that you use for business. Stop fooling us into thinking that isn’t a big mouse or the ocean behind you. Invest some time and money in professional headshots that reflect you and your business.
2. Tells us something about you: We don’t need a complete biography but it is nice to have a personal element in your About Page. Hobbies, pets, spouses and children are all good to share in limited quantities.
3. Tells us how you can help us: This may be the lost part of many About pages on websites. We think ABOUT mean about US as a business owner when it really means ABOUT THE BUSINESS or HOW YOU HELP CLIENTS.

The best About pages are a healthy combination of these key elements. Check out our About Page and share your comments below.

Anne McAuley is a Mesa, AZ based freelance writer and owner of McAuley Freelance Writing. She helps businesses get noticed online through content marketing including blogging, copywriting and social media. She likes to say she is a Word Stylist. While celebrity stylists help their clients find their public style with clothes, hair and make-up, she helps her clients find their style with words and messaging. Anne can be reached at anne@annemcauley.com or on Twitter @freemcauley.