This article appeared on Easter Sunday 2009 in the News Ltd Group National papers.

The last almost 3 years online and what I have learned in that time is one obvious reason. My mentor the Aussie Internet Marketer, Sean Rasmussen (who is basking in the Vanuatu sun as I write this) had a big role to play.

Since announcing a New Product Launch here a few months back, I have been following the Smart Systems Geeky course. Geeky because it’s online and I am, after-all, a Geek Girl Blogger LOL… and note the geeky smile … gasp!

Following a press release, journalist Lorna Knowles from News Ltd called to ask me some questions about my online ventures. Who would give up a chance to be in the National papers I ask you. We had to organise a time for the photographer to come around and take some photos of me. Next came the questions.

Norm from the Herald Sun Newspaper

Lorna asked me about what I do online and so I told her about my various sites and blogs I author, my JV opportunites and Affiliate Marketing. I also do some Social Media and SEO coaching for private clients.  All these efforts combined are my source of income. If you’d like to hire me for your business, use the contact form here with Coaching in the subject line.

Smart Systems and Geekversity

Shaun Stenning and Sean Rasmussen now travel around Australia almost every weekend (aside from Tasmania and the Northern Territory) and due to hit the UK in June, with a two day condensed version of the Geekversity course. What you will learn in this two day event:

FIND a subject you are passionate about as there is more of a chance you will stick with it.

RESEARCH whether it’s a viable business option.

BUILD the website and learn the best ways to generate income.

LEARN how to generate traffic to your site, and

START making money.

Their gags are something else. You have to be there to know what I mean. So how do I get there, Ange…

If you go to Smart Systems and/or Geekversity choose the dates which suit and enter the code AngeToldMe – I have been able to organise some scholarship tickets for the first 100 64 43 27 people to register.

At this stage, I will be at the Melbourne event on the 9th and 10th of May and the following weekend in Sydney on the 16th and 17th of May if you would like to meet me in person.

Remember to also bring your friends along as it’s fun to work on this with someone you know.

I look forward to seeing more geeks out there

For Australians, this is the setting of an extremely difficult time during World War II where we lost the most number of diggers – 6000, in the shortest space of time – 7 months. The Aussie soldiers held the Japanese back from taking Port Moresby by land, retreating many times and firing back to exhaust the Japanese soldiers into re-thinking their strategy which saw them file back to the Northern part of the Island.

The Kokoda Trail is a single file footpath that stretches for 96 kilometres (about 60 miles) in a north/south direction, straight across the Owen Stanley ranges in Papua New Guinea. My good Aussie mate Allan and I will be combining our efforts to bring you some history of the Kokoda Trail, along with the training I am undertaking and most importantly, the mindset behind taking on such a feat.

Choosing to Trek Kokoda Trail

This is not a decision I made lightly and for those that know me on a personal level would know that I am not the kind of girl to get my hands dirty, camping and hiking in the outback is not something I do on a regular basis as I am a creature of comforts and I really, really like hot showers, clean toilets, meals cooked in a clean kitchen and a comfy bed with a cozy doona/comforter to snuggle into. So, do you think I am going to have to have a paradigm shift in order to get through this challenge and change my mindset around creature comforts? I think it will open up new possibilities for me in the way I perceive things, and I will definitely be in need of a Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel on this trip.


Kokoda Memorial 1000 Steps

Saturday just gone was our first official training day as a group and I was whisked off to the Dandenong Ranges here in Melbourne to climb the 1000 steps which are part of the Kokoda memorial. I didn’t count them as I was too busy trying to catch my breath. I have plenty of work to do on my fitness level in preparation for this adventure so stick with me and I will give updates on my progress.

I will leave you with a sample of what I am to expect once we land in Port Moresby… tell me your thoughts and if someone here has already taken this challenge on, please share your experience. There are many expeditions organised on regular basis through various companies.

Kokoda Adventure Video

Click here to view the embedded video.

EDIT: Thought I would add the links to my story as this post does get a bit of traffic.

My Excellent Kokoda Adventure Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

It’s funny how people react and for the most part and we gave and received some very big hugs. There were also those who took a wide berth, mainly the corporate types but I did manage to get some of the suits hugging me

There were all sorts of people in need of the human touch and one little boy especially who was nudged towards me by his mother. He would have been maybe 2 years old and his mother told him to get a hug from me because she never hugs him… ever. Having two little girls myself, my heart just broke so I spoke with him for a few minutes as he hesitantly came my way. Eventually he got close enough and accepted my hug. He was really sweet.

I feel for those people in the world who just don’t have that capability of being able to express themselves in this way. It is a form of love and healing when you touch another person and the warmth and energy that you get from a hug is just incredible. There is always room for more hugs in this world.

I think that my energy was zapped by the end of the day as I would have passed it on to those in need. I was truly exhausted and wouldn’t change a thing about the day (except my cameramen, perhaps). Moving right along.

There were also many highschool students around doing various projects around the CBD and this group in the photo here came up and mobbed me in a group hug. They actually couldn’t help themselves and kept coming back again and again. It was really great.

All in all, I wanted to get out there and Make A Difference to the lives of those who wanted me too. The Free Hugs Campaign which started with Juan Mann in Sydney, is all around the world now and speaking of which, I must thank Sam who is a seasoned hugger and goes to many of these events in his travels all around the world. He showed up after I posted in the forum at the main site and I was glad to meet him. He has also attended these events with Juan Mann himself.

I overcame many barriers on that day. Going out into a public place and hugging total strangers was a real buzz. I hope that the hugged people also felt blessed and that their barriers were broken down a little too. I did ask them all to pay it forward to others.

Making a contribution to a society that is filled with bad news 99% of the time, or so it seems, and the fact that it was the day before the anniversary 9/11 made it all the more special.

With a little social transformation going on right now, I would urge all of you who can to take part in this event. You can do it any day you want to in your local area. Or even better, check out the forum to see when one is coming up in your area and join in. I will be doing it again, that’s for sure.

As my friend Yogi says, if you want to be noticed, try being human. Afterall, we are spiritual beings having a human experience so let’s use it to our advantage.

Oh, I almost forgot, the footage of this day is being edited so I will let you know when it comes available. This is something new for me so be patient please. I can’t wait to see the finished product.

May You Be Blessed and virtual HUGS to all of you.

Ange