Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Touch'd on Tuesday 1

Three months ago I was referred by a friend to start networking online. I took a plunge into the online world, not realizing it was a whole other world. It was so exciting yet so scary because this world had a new set of rules. When meeting someone, you can't rely on your smile and handshake to impress them. In this world you're judged by the words you type. No tones in your voice or body language is going to help you.

I began speaking with some women and men who already had blogs, websites, groups, radio shows, and had this online venture down to a Tee. Not wanting to sound ignorant I was very reluctant to ask questions. In the real world I am "question queen", I want to know it all! These ladies and gents were talking about things that sounded like another language to me. I couldn't imagine ever getting through this.

I finally got up enough nerve to ask a question, and to my surprise I received more responses than I knew what to do with. There were people who seemed to like me for what I wrote and were truly interested in what I was doing. They took me under their wing, they spent time explaining terms and showed me how to be successful.

Before entering the online world, I heard about "mommy bloggers". The buzz "in the real world" was these women were home with their children and had nothing better to do than play on the computer. Let me tell you, this is so far from the truth... it's a joke. These woman are so intelligent and amazing, they can work circles around your CEOs of top corporations. Their blogs/websites are successful businesses. I don't know any CEO who can run a profitable company by himself, take care of the children at the same time, and oh yeah don't forget about cleaning and cooking. These women are powerhouses. They stick by one another and help each other to overcome any obstacles. They've got each others' backs... They are united!

I am a very sentimental person and one reason I picked Touch'd as the name of my business is because I love to help people and I feel we touch people's lives everyday, sometimes not knowing it. I want to recognize the incredible women and men who have "Touch'd" my life and helped me to get this far. I strongly recommend to go to each of their links and get to know these Incredible women and men.

I'd like to present the "You have Touch'd a life" award to the following women and men (in no order). You have all been an influence in my success of Life! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! May be a little wordy but trust me, you have to read about these peeps!



Christy aka ShaketheSalt owner Shake The Salt
Christy was the first person on Twitter to talk to me and to give me guidance, we exchanged email addy's and have been friends ever since! Without her, I would have left and never come back!

Carissa Rogers aka Carissa_MomIF co-founder of Mom It Forward
This is the lady who I can contact at 1:00 am for help and she will stay up until 2 or even 3 am to make sure I have completed what needed to be done. She has also become one of my best Ofriends. ofriends=online friend. We talk practically everyday. Carissa has coached me along to make sure I'm successful! She was also one of my roomies at Blissdom09! Join the Party every Tuesday night at 6 pst, 9est at twitter.com

Jyl aka Jyl_MomIF co-founder of Mom It Forward
I met Jyl through the GNO (Girl's Night Out) parties on twitter. She was the first one to really ask me exactly what it was I did before Twitter and Touch'd. She boosted my confidence by telling me she wanted me a part of GNO. Jyl grabs a hold of those around her and pulls them up with her. She was roomie #2 at Blissdom09. I know she's a true friend, as she didn't kick my ass out of our room when I snored.

Sugar Jones aka SugarJones radio personality on Classy Closet and catch her in the raw at SugarJones.TV
Sugar is my long lost soul sista. We met on twitter and never looked back. I feel like I've known her my whole life. She knew I was kinda shy (go figure), and was the first to help me overcome my fear of speaking on the radio and also was the first one to actually interview me. I was shakin in my heels. We talk everyday and she truly wants to help people succeed. Without her I would not be here. She Rocks!!

Michael Guerin aka MichaelGuerin owner of Automated Merchant Processing and co-owner of
Best Web Presence
I met Michael a couple years ago, he was referred to me when I needed to start accepting credit cards for my business. At the time I was in a bad situation with my former web guy. Michael lended a guiding hand and helped me step by step with my website...FOR FREE, putting aside the credit card plans. "Let's fix this first, before we go forward", Michael said. We got everything straightened out and Michael then set Touch'd up to accept credit cards (yay!) Once this was done I decided I NEEDED to hire this man for my website. He is working very hard and we will see a completed Touchd.net very soon. Michael has become one of those friends you vent to! He also MADE ME join Twitter! So thanks to him I have made lots of new friends!!!

Cookie Ferrucci aka Cferrucci owner of Can you feel it, my heart beating through my chest
I have known Cookie her whole life. She brought me joy every day from the minute I brought her home. She is my life and my world. She is also my Biggest Fan! From day one, when I started Touch'd, I was able to ask for her opinions, editting skills, hugs on bad days, excitement on great days, and yes, she is also my product tester. This little ball of fire has shown me how to stick with my beliefs and not worry about what others think. She was/is my role model of staying True to yourself- no matter what! She is one of the strongest women I know. Whatever path she takes, she will leave a trail for others to follow. I am so proud that she is my daughter. I love you hunny!!!

Erin Pyle aka erinjeany owner of From Son Up To Son Down
Erin has dropped everything to help me with techie stuff. She had to break it down in a way that I would understand and wrote so much that she was able to use it as a post...lol. She hates to talk on the phone yet she broke that rule for me, because I need to be walked through certain things. She offered continued help which normally she gets paid big money for. Yes, I feel special! It's rare if I go a couple days without talking to Erin. She is a friend I cherrish! Without her I wouldn't be where I am today!

Chris Perrin aka Blogwelldone owner of Blog Well Done and now intoducing Start being Productive
Where do I start with Chris. The first time I referred to him I said, "she". He still gave me a chance. We talk every night til 2-3 in the morning. He knows when I'm getting tired, because the stupidity factor comes into play. This is usually when he says, "Night". Chris and I started talking about recipes, then I found out he too had technie knowledge.....you guessed...he now has questions coming at him like bullets. Chris is now "a cousin", and he'll be creating recipes for Touch'd! This is going to be so cool. He is also helping me be more productive. (check out his new site). He is one of my closest friends...I can even say fart to him!

Phylis aka Babyswags owner of Baby Swags
Phylis and I met on twitter, there was a situation that I needed to speak with her about so we exchanged emails. That led to exchanging phone numbers. The first time we talked on the phone it must have been for an hour. We could have probably talked for another 8 hours. We shared ideas and dreams and came up with at least 10 businesses we wanted to partner up on. We did, however, start the Wii Twit Fit club. We can go without talking for weeks and start again right where we left off. Phylis is my celebrity friend..lol. She is always thinking of others and I'm glad she's one of my best Ofriends.

There are so many others who deserve this award, but I don't want people to not read about them because there's too much. I decided to start a series "Touch'd on Tuesday". If you feel you should be here- you probably will be. I did not pick anyone in any order. Just as you love all your children the same...you love your friends the same too. Those who know me should have realized I only had one of my daughters listed. As I said I started a series.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG, you have made my day! I was having one of those "poor me" days along with I want to scream because my daughter is doing everything possible to prevent me from working kind of days!

You have truly put a smile on my face when I really didn't think that was possible, lol.

Thank you OFriend! :)
BTW-have ya been on a Wii lately? LOL

MomItForward Jyl and Carissa said...

Rachel... you have no idea how meaningful this is to me. You are an amazing person and are going to achieve success because of your giving heart. Thanks for being my O and IRL friend :). BTW: I love you, snores and all!!!! And, I'm missing you. May have to fly out in April for your tweet up :). You could order me some pizza with "mozza." ;)

MomItForward Jyl and Carissa said...

BTW: that was me (jyl)

Rachel said...

aren't you just the sweetest thing ever.

Sugar Jones said...

aaawww... you are so sweet! I miss you already. This summer can't come soon enough to hang out with you again. Thanks for "touching" me!! ;)

Erinjeany said...

I must have read this 3 times already. lol I feel so blessed to have met you as well Rach! I only wished I had more time to spend with you! Even IRL! :) And yes being an exception to my phone usage is a big deal. LOL I had to get off the phone with my mom today because she talked for 13 minutes. I was tickled pink you even remembered that. (omg someone pays attention to my silly little surveys)

I agree that all the women (& man hehe) that you picked are all awesome, caring, warm, smart people and deserve awards! :)


oh my... thank you so much Rach! xox erin

MomItForward Jyl and Carissa said...

Hey! THANKS! You make me kind of cry you know? FERRUCCI!!!!!!

See you tonight!

PS went to a restaurant tonight and thought of you sitting at my table..

@carissa_momif

Veronica Lee said...

Hi Rachel. Welcome to MBC! You have a fabulous blog.

kristin maynes said...

Loved your post!!! All these ladies are some of my idols!!

The blogging world is so Amazing!