Are you limiting your dream to the size of your desktop?

Is your dream too tidy? When you sit down to plan out your next business moves or other creative project, do you work on your laptop or a legal pad? You could be limiting the scope of your imagination or stifling creativity by trying to fit a big idea into an 8.5 X 11 inch space.

The past few days, I’ve been chatting with attendees of the upcoming  Inspired Livelihood Obstacle Busting Mastermind. The purpose of the pre-workshop call is to help them gain clarity on their idea so that when they arrive in Las Vegas we will focus on how to make it happen.

As I listen to all these exciting ideas, my possibility cogs spin and I realize how we limit our dreams by confining them to the size of our desktops. That may work if you are a  linear thinker but a lot of us, particularly artists, think in more dimensions and need to give our dreams room to grow.

If you have an idea for a project and want to get crystal clear on what shape it will take, try this:

• Get several pieces of poster size paper or a roll of craft or butcher paper and some markers. NO erasable pencils because for this exercise, there’s no such thing as a mistake.
• Spread them out on the floor rather than a desk. (If you can’t get down on the floor, use a large table but let the papers overlap so that you KNOW you are not limited to the size of the table.
• In the center of the paper, write your topic or project name. (This doesn’t have to be the permanent name.)
• Then jot down a word or symbol for everything you think of. At this point, it doesn’t matter where on the paper-When one idea sparks another, record it somewhere near that-just get it down-quickly. Don’t analyze it.
• Don’t worry right now about the order or whether or not you even know how to do whatever idea pops into your mind. This is about “WHAT IT IS” not how to do it. (that comes later.)

Nothing you do in this first exercise is a commitment.  These are just random thoughts and ideas.
I suggest you say to yourself, “If this business (or project) could be anything I wanted and I didn’t have to think about whether or not I have the knowledge or resources to do it, what would it look like?” This is the dream stage. Don’t try to be realistic or worry about if you could sell this idea or the logistics. Just get your ideas down.
If you get near an edge of the first piece of paper, tape another piece to it. Don’t limit yourself to what fits on the paper. Even if you have to go out the room, down the hall and through the front door, make sure you don’t let running out of space on the paper stop you.
You’ll be amazed at how your ideas will expand into the space they are given.

If you have a BIG idea but don’t know where to begin to make it happen, there are still a few spaces left in the upcoming Mastermind in Las Vegas. Join Barbara Winter and me as we guide a small group of creative entrepreneurs through the obstacles to make their dreams into a viable business. HERE’S THE SCOOP

Where you should never put your limited start-up cash (and the one thing you mustn’t skimp on)

One of the most frequent questions aspiring entrepreneurs ask me is “Where should I spend my limited amount of start-up money?”  My answer is that it depends on the type of business you are starting.

A brick and mortar retail shop does need more start-up cash than an online information product business. There is inventory, rent, security deposits and possibly some fix-up/build-out work to be done. There are ways around spending on these items with barter, consignment, trade and other savings options which I have implemented myself and have written about on this blog. I have started successful businesses on very little cash and that is my number one suggestion for anyone starting a new venture.

There is only one thing I would borrow money for at start-up, but first, I’ll tell you what
I recommend you do NOT spend money on:

• High priced legal and accounting services. Yes, there will be a time when these are vital to your business but a l lot of new entrepreneurs waste time and money on establishing an LLC or Corporation and setting up expensive accounting systems long before they need to. Unless your business involves liability, just get started. Get whatever licenses you need, start as a sole proprietor and start making money. Of course if you are selling physical items in a state with sales tax, you will need to obtain a re-sale license right away. Keep your business money completely separate from your personal money.  Then, when you are generating revenue, contact an attorney and set up a legal business entity to protect your assets and a good accountant to help you avoid unnecessary tax.
  *note:I do highly recommend you purchase insurance if you have a brick and mortar location where you could be liable for injury to a customer. If you have inventory you will need to insure it for fire and theft as well. If your stock is on consignment. check with the artist or supplier to see if their insurance covers it while in your possession.
• Fancy office equipment, fixtures or build-out. You don’t need state-of the art technology unless you are starting a tech-based business. I’ve started every business with a pen and legal pad, off-the-shelf receipts and a cigar box for cash. Wouldn’t you rather hit your break even point and start building up a reserve than have a snazzy cash register? If you are doing your business online, you do need a working computer you can depend on but you do not need a lot of pricey software, nor do you need the fastest, best technology. Try to work with what you have until your business is generating enough to pay for it.
• An expensive website. Too many new entrepreneurs wait until they have the perfect website to start their business. That’s a huge waste. What you think you want in the beginning is almost never what ends up serving you and your clients best once your business is up and running. Do pay for a self-hosted domain and use a free WordPress theme to begin. I am absolutely not a techie and even I can set up a WordPress site in a day. Later, when you are generating enough income to pay for it, hire a WordPress expert to help you fine-tune the site to suit your needs. Have them teach you how to do it so that you can keep it updated yourself. Ideally, barter for their services. ( I learned this the hard way. I paid a Silicon Valley way too much money and wasted weeks waiting for them to create my dream site. I wasn’t in business long before I realized it did not fit my needs and replaced it with a WordPress blog which I  can make changes to myself as my needs change.

The one thing I would spend money on, even if I had to borrow it, is education or consulting. I’m not talking about an elite platinum group coaching club where you pay $20,000 to $100,000 to spend 4 days a year with a coach in a group of people. (Yes those do exist and people vie for a spot in them.) Rather I am suggesting that if you know what you want to do but not exactly how to go about it, you hire someone who has done it successfully to guide you through the obstacles. It will pay you many times over to get it right the first time.

If you can’t afford one-on-one consulting which can be quite expensive, find a small group mastermind led by someone who is experienced in helping people work-through solutions. It doesn’t have to cost a bundle and it will be the single best investment you make in your start-up. If you are ready to take the first step toward making your dream business happen in 2012, go HERE to learn how you can get your ideas in front of 2 life-long entrepreneurs and problem solvers.

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

Why Teens Need Entrepreneurs as Mentors

Several months ago I felt honored to be invited to mentor a 17 year old high school senior.  As a requirement for graduation, each student chose a year long community service project, which culminated in an awards program. Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the presentations and came away with an optimism about our future leaders.

Naturally, some of the students thought the project was “lame” and did only the required work with little enthusiasm. But what delighted me was seeing the pride on the faces of many others who were so inspired by the work that they far exceeded the obligatory hours. Their Power Point presentations, story boards, scrapbooks, oral or written reports showed they’d put far more time and energy into the project than was required.

I’m aware that young people often do volunteer community service because their churches encourage benevolence or they know it looks good on a college resume, but whatever their initial motivation, some of these kids discover empathy and purpose that hopefully will give their lives direction. Of course they feel the satisfaction of helping others but they also learn that goodwill and philanthropy isn’t just about volunteering and making charitable donations. That beneficence can be a way of life and a livelihood.

A proponent of socially responsible business, I found it encouraging that these young people gained an appreciation for and interest in environmental,  elder care and youth services careers.  As a life-long entrepreneur and self employment advocate, I was elated that they not only volunteered in civic and  social service agencies but also witnessed adults gleefully earning their livelihood as proprietors of private recycling services and sports camps for disabled children. They discovered that they could be self employed elder advocates, or environmental lobbyists in the private sector. One young man exuberantly reported on his work with a rock band who did a playground improvement project in each town they performed on tour. Another student, a pitcher on the high school baseball team, when asked if he hoped to play professionally, said his project coaching an inner city basketball team inspired him to maybe start a baseball camp for less privileged kids.  A girl whose project was testing river water for impurities, when asked if she wanted to be a researcher said, “No, I’m going to be an author.  I’ve already started writing fictional stories that teach a lesson about our precious natural resources.”

Sure, many of these kids will be job seekers but I’m ecstatic that some are already thinking like entrepreneurs. They know that they don’t have to have a job to do well financially and that volunteering or check writing aren’t the only ways to do good. These grads are heading out into the world knowing that they can make a difference by making a living as a social entrepreneur.  I’m still smiling.