Yes folks, there is a Santa Claus, and her name is Milana. 

Milana, where were you and your book five years and $25,000 ago? To think that I could have done it all myself brings tears to my eyes. Tears for the money I spent, and tears of joy knowing that you are here now to bring me to my senses, and cent-ses. 

And to know that I can do this in ten days just boggles my mind. When I read your title I asked myself how could that be? "Impossible, a fraudulent concept," my inner critic responded. Just thinking I could do my setup myself brought out feelings of shame. Shame for all the times I gave up my power to a designer who promised me the moon and gave me an asteroid instead. Shame for the times I turned my back on my innate ability to do what you now tell me I can do, yet I didnt believe in myself enough to even attempt it. I gave the work to others who then gave it back with their view and their agenda and stacked with their toys that they like to work on. 

I tried to read those books that called me a dummy and an idiot, but to no avail. After each fiasco I told myself, as I wrote out check after check, that although I wanted to do my own thing, but alas, the dark unknown was too scary. A conversation with my inner child revealed that she didnt like being called those names. They were demeaning and abusive. More designer set backs my inner child thought she could be ready, but was really scared of not doing it right. She didnt want to fail, she didnt want people to laugh at her. So I wrote out more checks to more designers who just didnt get what I wanted, who didnt get who I was. 

One day I wanted this on my site, the next day I wanted to expand the "this" into a "that." They would constantly remind me that changes were costing me money. I heard them, but I just couldnt make the move to do it myself. 

Every once and awhile there was a glimmer of a person who seemed to understand. But those relationships didnt last long either. Something about they were the designer I was the client, and I should know and accept their wisdom. They knew what was needed to make the site workable, not what I thought workable should be. 

Increasingly, each Web designer I had would exhibit impatience from all the creative redos done from their uncreative dos. 

I knew I was doing something right because I kept getting compliments on my site design. My is the keyword here. I finally just hired technicians to do my bidding. Although I was still writing checks, there was a rebirth of stirrings that maybe, just maybe I could do this myself. 

And then one day Beca Lewis of TheShift.com encouraged me to do my own thing. All I needed was a shift in perception that I could do it. That HTML wasnt a foreign language. Once again I approached my inner child and we talked about this fear of the unknown. Again she refused. Why I asked? 

I know this sounds bizarre coming from someone such as myself who teaches others "the tricks of the trade to take charge of your own success". In fact those very words are the subtitle of my book 101 Ways to Promote Yourself. I am constantly telling others to tell themselves "I can do it, I will do, I am doing it." 

The flash of lightening was blinding as I was reminded that we teach that what we are here to learn. And it was not long after that realization that you contacted me to write a foreword for your book. A testimonial on a book about Creating Your First Business Web Site. What you told me I could do in 10 days was on the subject I have been avoiding for 5 years. 

And there it was, that certain something I had been looking for all along. Someone who understood my fears and who was willing to take the time to understand me, rather than mold me to what they know. Wow, what a concept. What a woman. What a book. 

There it was. I finally had a down to earth, easy to read, easy to follow, made up of clear and concise language, with step by step instructions I could follow. And more than that, it was witty, entertaining and serious at the same time. Milana's approach is light and airy and I don't feel as if she is talking down to me. 

There it was, just a wonderful person who understood my fears and was encouraging me to dig just a little deeper, face them, conquer them and celebrate the outcome. All in10 days. 

So I gathered the inner children and the internal critic, much like Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Lion and the Scarecrow and followed Milana down the yellow brick cyber road. I followed her directions and I actually succeeded in creating several additions for my page that had cost me many hundreds of dollars. 

To sum up my feelings about where I am now after being introduced to Milana and "Create Your First Business Web Site in 10 Days", three quotations come to mind, Edgar Allan Poes "Quote the Raven, NEVER MORE; " Martin Luther Kings "Free at last Free at last, thank God Almighty Im Free at last;" and Aretha Franklins "I will suvive!" 

Thank you Milana. I consider you and your book as angels in disguise. 

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