I have been watching PlanHQ go through the development phase and now they are released. I was a Beta tester for them and it is an interesting project.

They provide a Business Plan tool that is an online, living business plan. It lets you collaborate on the plan with investors and partners and lets you adjust the plan every month to keep it realistic.

I am not a big fan of formal business plans, because by the time the ink dries there are usually changes. This product is the solution to that issue. I might just start telling people they DO need a business plan again.

When your kids don’t eat their vegetables, what do you say?  “There are starving kids someplace that would love to have those vegetables, eat them!”

What you are really saying to them is that some people have to work much harder than you to have the basics and you should appreciate what you have and not waste opportunities.

If I say publish a book because it will help your career, most people nod their head but do not do it.  It is a lot of work.

If I say promote yourself online every day, people nod their head and try it for a week, and then give up.

Ultimately, it is a question of character and will.  Glenda Watson Hyatt is an author and promotes herself online daily.  This post is part of Glenda’s Virtual Book Tour.

Glenda has Cerebral Palsy.  She can only type with her left thumb.  (What was your excuse again, I missed that…)

Here is an interview between Glenda and me about her book and promoting online:

Q: You have cerebral palsy and your book is written for others with cerebral palsy and their families.  What do you want them to feel when they finish reading your book?

A: I would like them to feel hope.

Cerebral palsy is not an easy journey, and, unlike other disabilities and disorders, it really is a crap shoot as to the abilities and functions that are affected. However, with support, encourage and a positive attitude, it is not an impossible journey.

Q: What is the best fan mail you have gotten?

A: I have received two pieces of mail that I cherish. One is a Christmas card from a father who I had met online through his blog; inside was an order and a photo of his little boy with cp and his big sister. I felt so honored to have received something as personal as a photo of his children. What I’m trying to accomplish and the connections I’m making became more real.

The other one is an email from a woman after she read I’ll Do It Myself. She acquired multiple sclerosis in her early forties. She wrote, in part, “I spend a lot of time being angry about things that are now a struggle – this week when I find myself doing that I say ‘okay how would Glenda being coping with this?’ I am trying to learn to waste less time being angry.” Spending less time and energy being angry could be so life-altering for her, and to think that my words were the catalyst for that change is gratifying.

That is why I spent years writing the book.

Q: I always tell people that anyone can create buzz on the web.  Many people resist because they think it is too technical or it intimidates them.  Do you think that it is something anyone can do?

A: Anyone can create a buzz online if they have the desire to acquire the skills and to increase their comfort level with using the web. I would suggest that people take the time to learn the skills, i.e. blogging, online social networking, email and such, and to became familiar with what online marketing strategies are possible before they attempt creating a buzz and putting their name (and reputation) out there. Once they are comfortable online, the possibilities for creating buzz on the web are endless!

Q: Has the Virtual Book Tour met your expectations?  What is your biggest success with it so far?

A: While doing some quick research on virtual book tours, I didn’t find anything on expected results or outcomes, so I had no idea what to expect; I intentionally didn’t set any. I wanted to see where the adventure would lead me. I have been pleasantly surprised by the response I have received from other bloggers and their willingness to participate in this new concept of a virtual book tour. Meeting new people has definitely been a highlight.

For what it is worth, I have been tracking my technorati ranking as one measure of progress, and possibly, success. On January 21^st, the day before heading out on the virtual book tour, my ranking was 1,626,267. It has been exciting to watch it gradually increase. As of Monday evening, it was 74,359. Not bad in just over seven weeks! The real challenge will be maintaining and increasing the ranking once this tour is over.

Glenda Invites you to read her other responses all over the Blogosphere.

Ron, thank you for hosting today’s appearance of my virtual book tour. I truly appreciate it. I would like to invite your readers to join me for the final few days of my virtual book tour at www.doitmyselfblog.com.

If you are looking for a fun way to meet a few new people, consider finding people with your name. (If you are a John Smith, stop reading now)

Look at this post about two guys named Mark Goren that recently met.

There is a pesky realtor named Ron McDaniel that is the only person keeping me out of owning all the top Google spots.

I have a friend that used to go by Kathy, but had to switch to Katherine because a porn star was going by Kathy and her last name.

For more on names, see what Seth Godin had to say.?

I got an email from Aaron Joslow, Editor of RainToday.com (http://www.raintoday.com), an online content site focused on marketing and selling for professional services.

Here is what he wrote:

We recently surveyed over 700 professional services firms and asked them, among other things, what has worked to generate leads for them in the past, what has not worked, and what they are planning on doing to generate leads in the future.

We released the results and analysis in the report, The “Future of Lead Generation” Benchmark Report (http://www.raintoday.com/leadgenreport.cfm). Some results I thought you might find of particular interest include: