First 30 Days: Change is Good, For People, And For Business

What holds us back from achieving more? Of getting the lives we want? OK, OK, before I go all Oprah on you...before I put a big meaty arm around you as you bare your soul, lemme get back to First 30 Days, a website about empowering people to make changes in their lives, and then helping them take their first steps.

I had the good fortune of meeting First 30 Days Founder and CEO Ariane de Bonvoisin, and was impressed by her spirit, and her vision.


Ariane De Bonvoisin, Founder and CEO

And what changes, pray tell, can First 30 Days help you make? Well, the list is pretty darned substantial.

• Adopting a Child
• Adopting a Pet
• Being a New Dad
• Being a New Mom
• Being Happier
• Being Pregnant
• Breaking Up
• Buying a Home
• Buying a New Car
• Changing Your Look
• Creating a Green Home
• Dating Online
• Dealing With Depression
• Finding Romance
• Finding Your Dream Job
• Frugal Living
• Getting Divorced
• Getting in Shape
• Getting Organized
• Going Green
• Graduating College
• Grieving
• Having More Money
• Improving Relationships
• Improving Your Sex Life
• Living Healthier
• Living More Spiritually
• Losing Weight
• Losing Your Job
• Making Change Easier
• Managing Breast Cancer
• Managing Diabetes
• Managing Heart Disease
• Managing High Blood Pressure
• Managing Prostate Cancer
• Mastering the iPod
• Meditating
• Moving to a New City
• Planning a Wedding
• Planning for Retirement
• Proposing
• Pursuing Your Dreams
• Quitting Smoking
• Reducing Debt
• Remodeling Your Kitchen
• Saving for College
• Selling a Home
• Smart Investing
• Starting a New Business
• Starting a New Job
• Starting College
• Stepparenting
• Surviving a Natural Disaster
• Switching to a Mac
• Understanding HDTV
• Using Facebook
• Windows Vista
• Working After Baby
• Your Empty Nest
• Your Health Diagnosis

There, then, I am sure there's something in there that would help you Remember Your Spirit - oh, wait, sorry, channeling Ms. Winfrey again. I am sure there's something in the list that would be appealing to you.

In short, there's is a mission they can feel very good about. Here's how they describe themselves in their About Us:

Our mission is to inspire you to find the positive in any change — the ones you've always dreamed of making and the ones life has given you. We want to be the first place you think of in times of change, a place full of optimism and a place where you feel informed and inspired.

And so...how does First 30 Days help you make changes?

Sign up for a 30 day tips email program
Meet and talk to others and share advice, inspiration and stories.
Read expert interviews
Blog, or read blogs
Listen to the weekly about change podcast
Get recommendations for books, vids, websites that can provide additional advice

Sounds nice 'n sticky to me.

Of course, the beauty of the model is that they can do well by doing good. There are hundreds of product and service categories that grow when people make changes in their lives. So many companies are constantly scanning the web for audiences that are either making changes or are about to. Just look over that list above again and you will immediately see the possibilities.

Like any content property, the traffic is a little volatile in the first months. First 30 Days has gotten some choice TV, online media, and blog coverage. According to Quantcast, it appears as if they have about 200,000 regular users. As we near the holidays and then the magical day -- January 1, 2009 when we all try to make some sort of change or indeed bundle of changes -- I expect we'll see some significant growth.

Check it out -- as a marketing venue and as a place to get the kickstart you need to make the change you want in your life.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.