How are you doing with the action steps you planned for the new year?

We’re now into the second work week of the new year. Are you on schedule to reach your goals for 2012?

If you’re like many aspiring entrepreneurs, you have great ideas but find it difficult to take action on them. Or do you get it rolling but have difficulty staying on task because you know what you want the end result to be but the sequence of necessary steps is unclear? Sometimes, it feels overwhelming. Other times, an idea that seemed brilliant at first begins to feel unattainable or you lose confidence in your own ability to make it happen.

Particularly if your friends and family member are not entrepreneurs, you can lose momentum when you don’t have anyone to run your ideas by or be accountable to. Dreams wither in isolation and if you share them with the wrong people, the seeds are squashed before they’ve had a chance to take root.

That’s why I am an enthusiastic advocate of mastermind groups. Being part of an entrepreneurs mastermind is like having an advisory board  for your business and a support group for your dreams. In his book  “Think and Grow Rich”, author Napoleon Hill defined the mastermind as a “coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.”  My experience has been that while having one other person is helpful, having a group of 4 to 6 feels more like putting 8 or 10 heads together.

If you tend to lose confidence, procrastinate or have trouble staying motivated, the accountability of a mastermind will keep you moving in the right direction.  Participants brainstorm ideas, share resources, challenge each other to create and implement goals, give honest input and feedback and fresh perspective.

There is nothing like being in a circle of other entrepreneurs to create forward momentum so that you achieve your goals. That’s why Barbara Winter and I are offering an opportunity for a select group of creative entrepreneurs to join us for a mastermind weekend in Las Vegas. You’ll bring your dream to the circle and get the benefit of our combined 7 decades of self-employment plus the feedback and ongoing support of your tribe. You’ll arrive with questions and leave with answers.  HERE’S THE SCOOP.

What to do about those ideas that keep re-surfacing no matter how many times you bury them

Do you have an idea that you keep putting  off until “someday”, feeling that the time isn’t right, you aren’t sure how to go about it or if it would make money? I have lots of these that sit on the back burner. Some, I pull out, recognize that it isn’t the ideal time and I pop back in the “later” file.  Others, I revisit, evaluate and determine that the profit potential isn’t enough to spend time on or that my passion for the project has dwindled. Then there are ideas that just won’t stop coming back to me. Even when I am immersed in another project, they continually pop up and beg for my attention. I call those “boomerang” ideas. Barbara Winter calls them “neglected ideas”.

If you have an idea, however vague, that keeps popping back up no matter how deep  you bury it, it’s probably worth your time to finally take it seriously.

While I never make a major business decision without weighing it intellectually with facts and figures, I am a true believer in tuning into the subconscious. When an idea returns even after I have dismissed it, I know it’s time to give it serious consideration.

Because boomerang ideas can be pesky for a reason, Barbara Winter and I have planned something we’ve never done before. We’ve reserved a suite in Las Vegas to sit down with a select group of aspiring entrepreneurs and bring those neglected ideas to what I call the “possibility circle”. That means you put your concept out there and we all put our “problem solver” hats on to bust through the obstacles and create a viable business.

This won’t be a lecture and it isn’t for you if you are looking for a “what do I want to do when I grow up” seminar. It will be a hands-on, hats-on how-to-make-it happen NOW workshop. If you’ve been sitting on an idea that won’t leave you alone until you do it, if you are ready to roll up your sleeves, dig in to the details and bring it to life, click HERE to learn more about how you can be part of this powerful mastermind. And if you do it NOW, you’re still in time for a pre-workshop phone consult with me. Here’s how you can join the circle.

Are you getting business advise from a coach who has never started a business?

There appears to be a growing trend in online business that disturbs me and it should concern you too.

In the past couple of years, all these “how to make six and seven figures by working harder, not smarter” 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 a 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 January for an intimate 2-day mastermind where we’ll focus on your business your way. Find out more HERE.

Are you sitting on an idea that you haven’t nurtured because something else always takes priority?

Did you ever notice how when you have an idea and you tell a supportive friend about it,  the options double but if you share the same thought with 2 friends the possibilities multiply and the product is more than the sum of it’s parts?

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 January 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

How do you juggle it all, stay focused and still make space for creative energy?

Most of us have diverse aspects of our daily lives which can lead to distraction and  fragmented thinking.  Whether it’s the need to juggle family, business and household or working on several related projects simultaneously, multi-tasking often breeds mediocrity.

Because I have a couple of different businesses, I am frequently bouncing between websites and blog posts and twitter accounts. Part of the challenge is the constant generation of ideas whirling in my brain faster than I can get them all down. So, I switch over to another page or file and record the thought. I get things accomplished but I know I could do better if I focused on one task at a time.

Every year I pick a word and for 2012, my word is FOCUS. I’ve not decided exactly how I will apply this to my work day but I have a few ideas. I may choose to work strictly on one business on certain days. If I am doing a project for Inspired Livelihood and something comes up for Craft Biz Blog, I’ll possibly just pretend that Craft Biz Coach is out of the office today and she will get back with you tomorrow. I’ll keep my Inspired Livelihood hat on all day. And then how do I handle areas of overlap in my businesses? Maybe I’ll divide my day spending morning on one biz and afternoon on the other.

As an artist, you may work on crafts that require diverse processes. Do you design Monday, fabricate Tuesday, solder Wednesday, market Thursday and pack and ship Friday? Do you throw pots in the morning, glaze others in the afternoon while others are firing? What happens when you get a burst of creative energy on a day that’s designated a marketing day? How do you organize your tasks so that you maintain sharp focus while continuing to be open to flow of inspiration?

My friend Barbara Winter has some great tips on 3 Ways to Sharpen your Focus HERE

Do you have people in your life who support you and believe in your dreams?

A Facebook post this morning by Tama Kieves reminds us to surround ourselves with people who support us. Do you have people in your life who believe in you? Are you spending time with nay-sayers who make you feel that your aspirations are frivolous and unlikely to succeed?

It’s tough around the holidays to avoid dream-bashers if they are family members. Sometimes they are well-meaning and think it’s their duty to keep you “practical” and realistic. Remember that particularly when it comes to self-employment, most people who haven’t done it just don’t understand and believe a steady job means staying “safe”. People who’ve been in jobs their whole lives often see starting a business as risky but you know it doesn’t have to be and there’s no real security in a job anyway. “Others,”  to quote Tama,  “demand you climb into small boxes so that they feel safe around you.” Regardless of their motives, don’t let people who haven’t been on that journey discourage you from following your own path.

If you know 2012 is the year you want to finally move forward and make your dreams happen, the best way to do that is to connect with a supportive group of people who are moving in the same direction. People who see obstacles as speed bumps not roadblocks. My friend Barbara Winter and I have created just that environment for you. We’ll be meeting with a select group of entrepreneurs in an intimate setting where we can focus on your dreams and work as a group to find solutions to whatever is in the way of your living your ideal livelihood. As a group, we’ll look at your idea or business and design a concrete plan of steps for you to take to MAKE IT HAPPEN IN 2012.  CLICK HERE to find out more.

Do you believe in “lucky breaks”?

We’ve all heard the stories. The guy who just happened to be seated next to someone on a train who loved their his so much he offered to finance it. The woman who happened to be at the same cocktail party as the only publisher in her genre. Yes, sometimes things happen that seem like “lucky breaks” but the reality is, these people met the right people because they were out there telling their story. You  could be at a holiday party and meet the perfect person to help you break into your dream business but if you don’t have your message clear and share it, nothing will happen. You might be seated on a plane next to the best friend of your ideal client but if you have your earplugs in and your face buried in a book (as I sometimes do on long flights), that person will never know of your expertise.

Maybe you believe in coincidence but the only way you are going to make things happen is if you are clear on what you need to make happen and what steps to take to make it real.

Do you have a dream that you long to bring to fruition but no idea where to begin to make it happen? If you’re serious about starting your dream business, don’t sit around waiting for you lucky break. Outline a plan of small steps you can start taking now to move in the direction of your dream.

Speaking of luck, if you need help figuring out what those steps are or how to make money with your idea and how to do it without enough money to start up, join Barbara Winter and me in Lucky Las Vegas for a Mastermind Weekend where we’ll examine YOUR idea and brainstorm solutions to help you jump those hurdles and make 2012 the year you finally make your dream happen. Find out more HERE

Is regret a price you’re willing to pay to avoid risk?

Growing up, I was restless. Teacher’s often described me as too curious, a dreamer and easily distracted. While I did well in school, I often got in trouble for questioning and challenging. In class, once I understood a concept, I couldn’t just sit in that space while the teacher went over it again with the kids who didn’t “get it.” I’d create new entertainment for myself. At one point, I was labeled a “quitter” because I didn’t stick with an activity once I learned enough to satisfy my curiosity in a subject. I moved onto something else that captured my interest. These days, I’d probably be tested for an attention deficit but I believe I am what Barbara Sher, in her book, “Refuse to Choose” calls a “scanner”. These can be positive personality traits for an entrepreneur.

A counselor in 9th grade actually said, “I’m concerned that you may not be able to settle into a job for any period of time.”  I didn’t understand  why she thought that was a problem. I had the great fortune to grow up in a family that encouraged us to follow our passions and pursue our interests so I don’t think anyone expected me to settle into a career and stay there.  What I didn’t realize was that many people who experience this restlessness perceive it as a flaw. I hear from people who say they have outgrown their careers but fear the risks of moving onto an unknown, so choose to stay in the security of what they know.

Yesterday, while reading an article on Serial Entrepreneurship in American Express Open Forum, I came across the phrase  “You have more fear of regret than of failure”. That is the way I’ve always felt and summarizes what drives me as an entrepreneur.

In her Dec. Changing Course newsletter, author Valerie Young compares outgrowing a career or business to falling out of love with a good and faithful partner. It’s time to move on. She warns,  Read more

Is it ever too early to start talking to kids about making a living doing what they love?

My friend and mentor, Barbara Winter asked this question on Facebook, “How do you keep your curiosity alive?” My initial response was that curiosity is an innate trait rather than a skill that needs to be honed. However, Barbara replied that all two year olds are curious-we all are born with curiosity  but it is often discouraged. That makes sense to me. While in my family of origin, curiosity was valued and encouraged, I married into a more reserved family and my husband was embarrassed when I would ask too many questions, calling it “nosey”.

This conversation on FB reminded me of all the valuable human traits we are born with but taught to suppress in favor of politeness, safety or fitting the mold.

About a year ago, I read an article in a Canadian newspaper about a study done in Ottowa schools. As I recall, the conclusion was that career counseling should start as early as 6th grade. That may seem very young for a student to begin planning for a career but think about one of the first questions nearly every re-careering coach asks you. What kinds of things fascinated you when you were a child? What could you spend hours doing?

Since our earliest interests are key to our ideal livelihood, it sure seems reasonable that we’d begin exploring viable career options with kids in elementary school. The occupation a child aspires to at that age is based on passion, not paycheck and external expectations. So, exploring different careers at such an early age may just keep young people more focused on making a living doing something they love rather than what their parents, teachers or society deem an appropriate career for them.

Many schools do have a career day of some sort that involves parents coming to school and discussing what they do and students have the opportunity to shadow an adult at work for a day. When my son was in grade school, there were two commercial pilots and a pitcher for the Padres among the parents. When I suggested that either my husband or I go to talk about being entrepreneurs, our son said, “no one wants to grow up to be a business man.” I agree that if we went to school and talked about sales quotas, projections and balance sheets we’d have put the kids to sleep (and embarrassed our son). But talking about getting paid to do what you love and the benefits of self employment (like taking your dog to work or  taking your work and your kids on a  snorkeling vacation) would have peeked their interest in entrepreneurship.

In primary school, all the boys wanted to be firemen or policemen because they were heros. Why not show them examples of businesses that make a difference and improve lives; entrepreneurs who teach a whole village to make a living and bring schools,  clean drinking water and shoes to children their age? Almost daily I hear from middle aged adults who’ve spent decades in a career they were bored with, chosen because they were told they had an aptitude for it or because it was expected of them. They are looking for something that has more meaning, that they enjoy. What would happen if we didn’t have to go back and reconnect with the passions of our youth because we were encouraged in grade school to start thinking about doing something we love for a living instead?

Do you remember what you loved to do as a child? Were you encouraged to think about doing that for a living? What kinds of messages did parents, teachers and advisors give you about career choices? Were they based on your passions or your aptitude and societies expectations? As always, you are invited to share your thoughts with our readers below.

Now just might be the perfect time to take those old dreams off the back burner

My friend and mentor, Barbara Winter, is talking a lot lately about readying her home and office for an impending move. Pruning her library, flipping through books she hasn’t read in a while, she comes across valuable insights and quotes which she shares on Facebook, Twitter and on her Buon Viaggio blog.  I’m  reminded of my son’s toy-closet cleaning when he was little. He would discover trinkets he hadn’t seen in a while and hours later, he would be joyfully engaged in a project, having found renewed interest and new uses for nearly forgotten gadgets. I did the same with photographs and art supplies.  When we haven’t seen those treasures in awhile, they’re fresh and new again. Or we remember why we were so fond of them.

Sometimes the same thing happens when we attend a reunion or hear from old friends. With some, we quickly realize we’ve little in common. Others feel like a comfy old pair of loafers or bring out exciting parts of ourselves we’d like to revisit.

Thinking about this re-discovering of old books, treasures and friends reminds me why we should periodically revisit old ideas and dreams. Will we remember why we chose to store them away for a while rather than discard them? Will they feel fresh and new, full of interest and possibility?

Are there aspirations you’ve put back on the shelf because maybe the time wasn’t right, you weren’t sure they were valuable or you didn’t have the energy to do anything with them? Or because you didn’t have the support to make them happen?

What dreams have you pushed to the back of the closet that you might revisit now and find renewed possibilities in? Could a change in life

circumstances or other factors make it possible to see these ideas from a new perspective? Now might be the right time to reexamine those aspirations.  If you’re ready to take  those dreams off the back burner, check out the Idea Generator Sessions. With brainstorming and support, you just may find that vague idea could be a profitable business.

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