My friend and fellow gypsy spirit, Zan Packard of Loving the Adventure , designed two coloring books that are so much more than coloring books.  Journals to express your thoughts and dreams. “The Mindful Journey” and “Vintage Gypsies” bring coloring, doodling and journaling together with gorgeous illustrations. It’s a great way  to express your feelings and help you make sense of your thinking and clarify your dreams.

 To be entered to win a copy of either coloring book, comment on this post or email me at terri@inspiredlivelihood.com and let me know if you are a gypsy spirit and what a mindful journey means for you. Also please tell me which book you prefer. We’ll announce the winners on June 1st. And, if you haven’t yet heard the conversation Zan and I had in the audio course “Inspiring Entrepreneurs”, you can get the whole series free HERE. 

The winners are:  Sonya Lin, Steven Terry, Jan Lopez, Fran Cooper and Kelly Diemond.  Those of you who didn’t win and haven’t read the book, GET YOURSELF A COPY TODAY.  I don’t receive anything for recommending this book. I just think it’s one of the most valuable books on self-employment and anyone wanting the start or grow a business should read it now.

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Are you trapped in a job that’s just not you? Always dreaming of your next vacation and counting the days until the weekend? Imagine getting paid to do what brings you alive AND making a living without an office or a job.

Can you guess the one comment I hear most frequently from clients who come to me for guidance through the world of self-employment?  Their one biggest obstacle to starting and growing their own business?

I’ll give you a hint: It isn’t “I don’t have enough capital” or “I’m afraid of failure.”  No, it’s “I don’t know where to begin and when I read the books on how-to-start-a-business, it’s as if they’re speaking a foreign language so I get into overwhelm and do nothing.”

Honestly, if I had read any of those “How to Start a Business” books, I probably would have never launched my first business. That MBA speak is boring and downright daunting.

Those how-to’s read like texts books and I don’t believe I’ve ever been able to get through one cover to cover.

Until now. Because someone finally wrote the book I wish I’d had when I started my first business. Except that was the 70s and the author wasn’t born yet. And the world of self-employment looked very different then.

Some of my contemporaries have written inspiring,  practical, valuable content and juicy storytelling but they are my generation. And things were so different for us. We had many of the same challenges but not the ability to do business from a remote island as as easily as from our kitchen table.

Before I’d even read the book, I knew from just the Table of Content that Marianne Cantwell’s “Be a Free Range Human: Escape the 9 to 5, Create the Life You Love and Still Pay the Bills”, would be required reading for all my future workshops. You see, Marianne made the leap from fancy corporate title to a life of free ranging in her 20s and quickly earned more than her previous big corporate salary so knows what she’s talking about and she understands YOU.

Not only does she share her personal experience. Marianne’s  “Be a Free Range Human: Escape the 9 to 5, Create the Life You Love and Still Pay the Bills” is full of brilliant story-telling about actual people who’ve escaped the caged-in cubicle life and created a business doing what they love AND making money. She shares unconventional ideas and practical, do-able steps to:

• Discover what you really want to do with your life
• Create a “free-range” career tailor-made to YOUR personality and interests
• Ditch the Job and still make as much or more than you do now
• Get time and location freedom: make money traveling the world or hanging out in your favorite cafe
• Get started in 90 days for less than $100 without a business degree or stuffy business plan AND
• Do it all YOUR WAY.

I haven’t been this excited about a book since Barbara Winter updated her “Making a Living without a Job” a couple of years ago.

Even if you’ve already started a business, this practical guidebook is chock-full of easy-to-implement steps to grow your dream. AND there’s NO MBA speak. It feels like having a conversation with Marianne.

I’d love to be able to give each of you a copy but I only have a few to give-out so you’re going to have to do a little work for your copy.

I’m holding a book give-away contest. Here’s what you need to do. In the comments below (or email me at terri@inspiredlivelihood.com) before April 30th  tell me in 200 words or less what a free-range life looks like to you. Do you dream of working from home with your kids or pets by your side, from cafes or beaches around the world? What’s your idea of doing something all day long that feels so natural to you that when you glance up at the clock many hours have passed? This isn’t a writing contest so don’t worry about penning a masterpiece. I won’t even judge your spelling. Just share your dream. If you don’t know what that “thing” is, just tell me where you’d like to spend your days. Do you want to wake early or sleep in and work unconventional hours? Will you make things? Write? Work alone or in a group? There is no right or wrong here. This is YOUR fantasy. Just take a couple of minutes right now and tell me what your version of free-ranging would look like, feel like, be like.

 I’ll announce the winners on May 1st.

AdvantageWest Economic Development Group’s official definition of their economic development strategy  (Certified Entrepreneurial Community) :  “a program that helps communities (towns, areas, and counties) become entrepreneur ready. That means the overall business climate, policies, regulations, and opportunities to learn and grow are simple to find and available. It also means there’s a positive, enthusiastic attitude that permeates the culture. One that asks “how can we help you start and succeed at business?” A Certified Entrepreneurial Community is one of economic opportunity for entrepreneurs.”

Having been a brick and mortar retailer in the past,  I have been part of developing an entrepreneur-friendly physical environment but I know that it’s even more vital for those of us who do all or most of our business on-line and by phone to find or form a “community” of entrepreneurial friends.

Yes, there are online forums, chatrooms and social media sites where you can connect with fellow entrepreneurs and support one another. Still, I hear from many fledgling self-employed folks who feel isolated trying to launch or grow their solo businesses without the support of entrepreneurs they’ve met in person. Coaches these days offer group virtual self-study courses and some organize mastermind groups but it’s not the same as face-to-face time with a small group of kindred spirits who commit to continue to support one another as they grow their livelihoods.

This past year, I’ve had the honor of witnessing the power of a mastermind group who originally met in person and continue monthly phone calls and frequent emails to hold each other accountable and work together to meet their goals of self-employment.

The past two Januaries,  Barbara Winter ,  best-selling author “Making a Living Without a Job”,  and I invited a select group of aspiring and fledgling entrepreneurs to join us in an intimate setting to address any and all roadblocks that have been holding them back from finally launching or expanding their dream business. Since then, we’ve had monthly group sharing and accountability calls. In the time between those calls, lots of emails have flown back and forth amongst the group asking for and receiving advice and feedback, helping one another get un-stuck, sharing resources and of course, reporting triumph and celebrating successes.

Barbara and I are so inspired by the forward momentum and victories of the attendees of our last Mastermind  that we’ve scheduled another  Mastermind Magic for April.  Learn more about how you can be part of our entrepreneurial community and hear what previous attendees have to say  HERE.

Barbara and I are so inspired by the forward momentum and victories the attendees of our last two Masterminds that we have  scheduled another  Mastermind Magic  for April. Since we’ve had so many requests to do it on the “other side of the Mississippi” so we’ll be meeting in another town that is a mecca of creative genius-Nashville. What better spot than a city that exemplifies entrepreneurship and possibilities, right? Check out what past participants had to say HERE

None of them did it alone. They all were part of a group that met regularly with the purpose of helping one another attain their goals. They were each involved in a Mastermind.

In fact, I don’t know of a single person who has been super successful without the help of a mastermind.

Just as you’re more likely to drag yourself out of bed if you’re  running buddy is counting on you and you’re less likely to stray from your diet if you have to weigh in weekly with the group at Weight Watchers, having an accountability group keeps you on task.

Accountability is only one of many reasons entrepreneurs need to be part of a mastermind.

The beauty of a mastermind group lies in it’s ability to defy mathematics. You see, when you put 8 entrepreneurs in a room together, the resulting brain power is much more than the sum of 4+4. I can’t tell you why but I believe it has something to do with the way entrepreneurs thrive on challenge and problem solving. We love to share what we’ve learned to  help others achieve success.

If you haven’t been successful in launching or growing your small business, it’s likely because you don’t have a group of other entrepreneurs to brainstorm with, network on your behalf and challenge you to work towards and meet your goals.

An effective mastermind group will give you the benefit of different perspectives and share resources, tactics and connections. You’ll inspire each other and offer valuable feedback that your friends, family or employees can’t give because they just don’t understand the way an entrepreneur thinks. You need people who can relate to and give input on your unique challenges  because they’ve been there.

When you occasionally spin off course, get sidelined or distracted by too many ideas or you lose momentum because of a let-down, your mastermind will help you get back on track and regain focus.

A well-functioning mastermind will help you overcome your stumbling blocks because they are looking at your obstacles through varying lenses, bringing different skill sets from diverse backgrounds.

If you’re a solo-entrepreneur, you can’t go it alone. You need the mutual support, advice and counsel of other entrepreneurs and the guidance of those who’ve climbed the mountain before you.

Because we believe that being part of an effective mastermind group is like having your own board of directors,  Barbara Winter and I have put together something you’ll want to be a part of. Get the scoop HERE.

If you attend networking meetings or join a philanthropic business leader club, you’ve probably noticed that there’s not a lot of exposing vulnerability. The goal of those meetings is often to promote your business so the friends you make in that type of setting aren’t likely the friends you share challenges with.

The best way I know to stay motivated and continue to move your business forward is to join a mastermind group but where do you find the right group for you and your business?

A great way to find your tribe, those whose values you share and will benefit from masterminding with is to connect with people who attend workshops facilitated by  the same mentors you follow.  For example, if you enjoy small, interactive workshops, it’s not in your best interest to mastermind with people who like to attend glitzy speaker seminars with thousands of attendees. I learned this when I went to one of those seminars to learn about internet marketing and formed a mastermind with friends I met there. They were lovely, smart women who I like and respect but have very different goals from mine. They wanted to be like that speaker. I have no interest in glamour and spotlight. I’d have done better masterminding with entrepreneurs who admired the same mentors as I did.

Four years ago, I was searching around online for someone whose philosophies,  values and ideas about entrepreneurship were similar to my own. I don’t think I was looking for a mentor as much as a tribe. On a fluke, (there are no coincidences, right?) I found Barbara Winter. She was going to be speaking in Lexington, Ky the next day and I happened to be flying out of a Northern Ky airport the following night. It is through Barbara’s network that I met many of my current “tribe” of entrepreneurs who believe small is still smart and crave connection not fame.

Consider whose blogs you enjoy reading, in whose company you would like to spend a weekend. Then look at who else communicates with those mentors. Find out if those mentors offer a mastermind group and if not, see what type of events they facilitate. You’re more likely to  get to know other entrepreneurs at small group events than large seminar where the speaker stands at the front of the room. Most likely the people you meet at your mentors’ events will be like-minded people who you’ll benefit from masterminding with.

Because Barbara and I recognize how much entrepreneurs benefit from in-person workshops and  ongoing support, we’ve put together an intimate event in a place where people go to realize their dreams. HERE’S THE SCOOP

If you’re an idea generator like I am, you know that feeling of “I will never live long enough to bring all these ideas to fruition”. For those of us who have a constant flow of fresh ideas, we choose which to give our attention to first and don’t fret over those that may not be hatched for awhile. (and I’ll tell you a little secret. Sometimes I give my best ideas away to clients, because I don’t know when I’ll find time and I want to see them come to life. Each time, the muse gifts me with several more.)

When I speak with people who have lots of ideas, I suggest they jot down some notes and keep them in a file. Once they’re recorded, the anxiety over possibly forgetting them subsides. The mind is then free to focus on one idea at a time and the file is always there when you are ready for it.

What about the ideas that you thought were brilliant when you stashed them away but when you have time, you never revisit them? Why are you neglecting them? Is it fear of failure?

If you’re risk adverse, let me ask you this. Which is scarier to you? Trying and failing or the regret of never having tried? I’m sure you can guess which frightens me. Regret, for sure. I take risks because I am more afraid of regret than failure. (and for the record, I have no regrets.)

It wasn’t until recently that I realized there are people who fear success. Some worry about having to live up to others’ expectations of them if they succeed. For some, it’s uncomfortable to be in the spotlight. Well, contrary to popular thought, I know that a private person can be successful without having to show up on Oprah.

Another excuse I hear for leaving a good idea by the wayside is the fear that someone will steal your idea.  Of course it’s possible that someone will copy your great idea, manufacture it cheaply in China and it will outsell your original. But you know what? You can’t do anything with your great idea if you never take it out of the closet.

Fear is definitely an obstacle to bringing ideas to life but the most common reason people give for not moving forward on their dreams is overwhelm. When I speak with aspiring entrepreneurs about what’s been holding them back, they most frequently site overwhelm with not knowing what to do first. They just have no idea where to begin so they freeze and do nothing. One of the best ways to overcome that overwhelm is to get a clear vision of the whole project and then break it down into actionable small steps.

What’s happening with YOUR neglected dream? Are you still making excuses or are you ready to  put it on the table and give it the attention your great idea deserves?  check out what Barbara Winter and I are doing to help a small group of aspiring entrepreneurs break through the barriers and start their dream businesses NOW. HERE’S the SCOOP

In the past couple of years, all these “how to make six and seven figures by working harder, not smarter” courses have cropped up. It goes like this:.  A recent corporate refugee, let’s call her Suzie,  attends a large seminar where another recent corporate escapee tells her story of hating her job and being broke until she took these specific steps to create her dream business and ideal life and she can teach you to do the same to create your six or seven figure business. She sells a membership or coaching program or series of live calls, CDs and transcripts teaching you how to do what she did. Suzie and sixty other recent corporate refugees purchase the program and put some of the steps into practice. A hand-full of those seminar attendees do have an area of expertise and may go on to use the techniques from the seminar to leverage and make more money. But the majority of them will create joint ventures with others they met at the first seminar to interview each other in a free tele-class during which they sell a program based on what they learned at the seminar and within a short time, they are teaching others how to create a six figure business by teaching others to create a six figure business by teaching others to create a six figure business. But have any of those people ever really started a business other than selling the idea of creating a six figure business?

Now, I’m NOT calling this a pyramid scheme but it does have the feel of those letters people used to send out that said, “Send me $19.95 and I will send you my secret program that will teach you how I made almost $200,000 with less than a twenty dollar investment.” The program actually told people to send out letters asking people to send them $19.95 to learn how to make $200,000 with a $20. investment. If they sold 10,000 of these people, they would make $200,000 with a $20. investment.

Here’s the difference: Suzie and her pals from the seminar are NOT trying to screw anyone. They truly want to help others do what they did and make more money with this formula. They aren’t shysters. Most were successful in their previous corporate careers. But they were employees. The only experience they’ve had in self-employment is selling this formula. Yes, many put their own personality or brand into it but they are primarily all doing the same thing. No one is doing anything innovative so how can they possibly be creative and solve your business problems if they are simply following a formula?

It feels very much like a franchise and while there is nothing dishonest about most franchises, I wouldn’t go to someone who purchased and successfully ran a Subway for advise on how to start a business unless I wanted to open a sandwich shop.  If I wanted business coaching, I would not seek the help of someone who took a course in how to be a business coach but has never started their own business other than business coaching.  If I wanted to start a new business but needed help figuring out how to go about making my idea into a viable money making venture, I would seek advise from someone who has created businesses.

Barbara Winter and I have each started several successful businesses. We both love guiding aspiring entrepreneurs on the journey from idea to inspired self-employment. Neither of us use formulas and we don’t teach you to do what we do. We listen to your dreams and help you figure out how to make them into your own unique enterprise. If you’re ready for personalized, innovative problem solving, there’s still time to join us in April for an intimate 2 1/2-day mastermind where we’ll focus on your business your way. Find out more HERE.

Well, imagine yourself in a roomful of creative thinkers who all hold the intention of propelling their own dreams into reality and are also excited about your ideas and have suggestions and solutions for you as well.

You can read books, take home study courses, hire a coach, participate in tele-classes and webinars but there is nothing as powerful as being in a room full of supportive people who share a common goal and the desire to make it happen.

Are you sitting on an idea that you haven’t nurtured because something else always takes priority? Do you find your enthusiasm for it waxes and wanes, the idea keeps coming back but you just don’t know where to begin to make it happen?
Georffrey James in a recent Inc.com article titled “14 Easy Ways to Get Insanely Motivated” says, “Seek out the similarly motivated. Their positive energy will rub off on you and you can imitate their success strategies.”

Most people need supporters to birth a new project and advisors to bring it to fruition. As small business owners, we don’t have a board of directors. The advantage is that we get to captain our own ship. The downside is that we have no sounding board and often feel discouraged if we don’t surround ourselves with a tribe of inspired entrepreneurs to brainstorm and problem solve with.

If you’re tired of putting your dream on the back burner and you are ready to move forward , what better time than the New Year to commit to making it happen.

What if you could sit down with two lifelong entrepreneurs and focus on your idea, address the challenges and obstacles that have held you back,  brainstorm solutions and design concrete steps to make it real? What if in addition to two self-employment muses and problem solvers, you also had a small group of enthusiastic supporters who were committed to nurturing their ideas while also helping you grow yours?

Well, that’s exactly what Barbara Winter and I will be doing in
April in Nashville and if you register right away you’ll save with the early bird special and qualify for a private phone consult to get crystal clear on your idea. If you want to be part of this select group, find out more HERE