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About Your Subscription
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Changing Course
is dedicated to helping you:
~Live Life on Purpose
~Work at What You Love
~Follow Your Own Road
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Inside Today's Issue
Featured Article
Getting Funding to Start Your Own Business
Featured Resource
American Writers & Artists Institute and
The Institute for Children's Literature
Guest Article
If It’s Worth Doing, It’s Worth Writing Down
Upcoming Workshops & Teleclasses
Resources for A Change
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If there were
no difficulties there would be no success; if there were nothing to struggle
for, there would be nothing to be achieved. ~ Samuel Smiles |
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Getting Funding to Start Your Own Business
By Valerie Young
Short on funds to launch that great idea? Join the club.
According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), 60% of all new businesses
begin as undercapitalized start-ups. The clue here is that information can pave
the way to financing. So put in the effort by doing your homework.
The SBA site (SBA.gov/financing)
is a good source of information on small business loans. And be sure to contact
your local SBA office for information on government-sponsored programs in your
state.
Another viable source of funding is to find investors.
Don’t think big venture capitalists here. Twenty or so years ago, a local woman
named Lin told me she and her partner were trying to start their own bar and
restaurant. At the same time that I encouraged her to go for it, I have to
admit, I never really thought it would happen. She didn't own a home and had an
average paying job teaching at community college. At the time it just didn't
seem feasible to me that they'd be able to come up with the kind of money they'd
need to do it. Boy was I wrong.
They raised the money by tapping friends, family and
acquaintances to be small investors. It was a big success, but as anyone who’s
worked in the restaurant business knows, it was also a lot of work. After about
eight years they decided to sell and Lin changed course once again. She got her
real estate license and is living her dream on the island of Vieques off of
Puerto Rico where she opened her own vacation rental real estate company.
I remember reading an article a long time ago in
Entrepreneur or a similar type magazine on a creative way of coming up with
money to start a small business. Keep in mind my memory on this is a little hazy
but as I recall, the general idea was this:
Say you need $10,000 to start your business. Instead of
trying to borrow and be liable for the full $10,000, get 10 people to each kick
in $1,000.
Half of the money is considered a loan to be paid back
under terms negotiated ahead of time (and in writing). The other $500 is
considered an investment. That way you and your investors share the risk.
If the business succeeds, then everyone gets the loan
portion back with interest but also earn some kind of return on their
investment. If the business fails, the most you are out is $5,000. To make the
deal more enticing, tell the original investors that if the business really
takes off they'll be given the chance to re-invest.
Of course, you will want to talk to an attorney before
drafting any agreements.
Finding the money to start your
business may not be easy but it almost always
is do-able!
About the Author
Off the beaten path career
counselor, Valerie Young, abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer
in Residence at
ChangingCourse.com, offering free resources
to help you discover your life mission and live it. An expert on the Imposter
Syndrome, she's presented her How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone
Seems to Think You Are program to over 30,000 people.
Find more articles written by
Valerie at
ChangingCourse.com/articles/ |
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Reduce your plan to writing... The moment
you complete this, you will have definitely given concrete form to the
intangible desire. ~ Napoleon Hill |
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Featured Resources
5 Career Launching Training Programs for People
Who Want to Live the Freelancer Life
Over the past few years I've had the opportunity
to review a number of courses offered by the American Writers and Artists
Institute (AWAI). I can tell you without reservation that these are top notch
courses on everything from being a freelance copywriter, to writing for
fundraising, to writing for the romance marketing, to starting your own resume
writing business, to becoming a freelance graphic designer specializing in
direct mail.
These courses offer very real earnings potential
and I endorse them wholeheartedly. On a very practical note, I like the fact
that AWAI programs are highly affordable and come with the comfort of a
money-back guarantee. But that’s not all.
I've also met the dedicated and talented staff at
their offices in Delray Beach, Florida, had the opportunity to attend and speak
at several of their outstanding workshops, and even hired a number of their
program graduates to do freelance work (in fact, now that I understand what
really goes into writing great marketing copy I will only work with writers
who’ve completed the AWAI program – and this from someone who herself spent
seven years working in corporate marketing).
Read About Real People Living Their Dream Lives
Over the years I’ve written several articles and
course reviews about AWAI – all of which are available for your perusal. If
nothing else, I think you’ll enjoy learning about some of the amazing career
changers I've met whose lives have been transformed as a result of these
programs.
Hear Audio Interviews on What it Takes to Succeed
as a Freelance Copywriter or Travel Writer
You can also listen in to a couple of audio
interviews I’ve done with AWAI grads and staff. One features environmental
scientist-turned-freelance copywriter Krista Jones. You can hear Krista explain
how in little over a year, the Accelerated Course in Six Figure Copywriting
enabled her to match her $80,000 a year salary – and take control over her life
and time. The interview also features some candid remarks from AWAI president
Katie Yeakle about what it really takes to make it as a six figure copywriter.
Love to travel? Then listen in as former
International Living magazine editor and travel writing course designer Jennifer
Stevens and AWAI travel writing program manager Lori Appling as then Jen and
Lori share the myths and realities of getting paid to be a travel writer.
To learn more about these life-changing training
programs click here
ChangingCourse.com/awai.htm
How to Make a Living Writing for Children and Teenagers
Over the years I've heard from many aspiring
children's book writers masquerading as administrative assistants, construction workers,
programmers, and customer service reps. So when I received a call from Bryan
Judge of the Institute of Children’s Literature in West Redding, Connecticut I
was curious to learn more.
Bryan asked if I'd be willing to review the
Institute’s course "Writing for Children and Teenagers." I said I'd be happy to
take a look, but, I explained, before I'll officially endorse any product or
service it must meet certain criteria.
Well, this program won me over and I’ve been
recommending it ever since. If this is something that piques your interest, read
my full review of this wonderful program at
ChangingCourse.com/children.htm
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You can't base your life on other people's
expectations. ~ Unknown |
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Success seems to be largely a matter of
hanging on after others have let go.
~ William Feather |
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Guest Article
If It's Worth Dreaming,
It's Worth Writing Down
By Josh Hinds
You have the idea so therefore you have within you the
ability to make it a reality. Such is one of life's great truths. This may not
always appear to be the case, but rest assured deep down you've got all the
ability it takes.
The problem is that far to often we don't lay a foundation
so that we have in place what it will take to make our idea a reality. First of
all, we have to understand that things often don't just happen. They are the
result of following out carefully planned steps and taking daily action until we
have reached our intended destination.
Say for example you wanted to take a trip. Most likely
you'd chart your course wouldn't you? You'd at least take the time to know where
you were headed and write out the directions. This is the same idea behind
achieving our goals, yet you'd be amazed by how many people choose to go day in
and day out without having a basic plan of where they're headed.
The main thing to keep in mind is that your goals should be
committed to paper. This is the same as having a map. Each time you begin to
feel as though you're drifting away from what you want, you can refer back to
your written goals. Sounds pretty simple doesn't it? Well that my friend is
because it is!
Yet as easy as this is to implement the fact still remains
that most people simply lack the determination to make this an ongoing process.
I won't lie to you here it's going to take an ongoing
commitment. It takes the understanding that all things are changing. Life is
about change. The better we become at adapting to life's changes the better
prepared we will be. Amidst all the changes, keeping a written plan will do
wonders for keeping you heading in the direction of your dreams.
Here's to your success, Josh Hinds
About the Author
Josh Hinds of
GetMotivation.com specializes in helping people to achieve maximum success
and live the life of their dreams. He is also the co-founder of
AudioMotivation.com |
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Visualize this thing you want. See it,
feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint and begin.
~ Robert Collier |
Upcoming Workshops & Teleclasses
Make Money Doing What You Love:
Come to My Opportunity Bootcamp and
Learn How to Turn Interests into Income
If you really want to make a living without a job, you need to stop scanning
the employment postings and start scanning the world around you. Why? Because
that's where the real opportunities are!
In other words, if you really want to find creative alternatives to having a
job, you have to learn to become what I call an "Opportunity Analyst." As an
opportunity analyst you must have an open mind and be willing to look beyond
what you have done (your resume) or what you can do (your current skills) and
think instead of what you might really LIKE to do… and then look for
opportunities to do it.
Join me in this lively two part Teleclass and…
- Discover the 4 Sources of Opportunities that are right in front of you
- Hear how to take every-day information and turn it into income
generating opportunities
- Experience the exhilaration and freedom that comes when you begin to see
money-making opportunities literally all around you!
May 18th and May 25th from
8:00-9:30pm EST
ChangingCourse.com/oppanalystteleclass.htm
How to Feel As Bright and Capable As Everyone Seems
to Think You Are: What Every Woman (and Man) Needs to Know About Competence,
the Impostor Syndrome, and the Art of Winging It
Are You An
“Impostor”? Take the Quiz
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Do you secretly worry
others will find out you’re not as intelligent and competent as they seem to
think you are?
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Do you often dismiss your
accomplishments as a “fluke” or “no big deal?”
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Are you convinced that
“responsible people” in “responsible jobs” are a lot more “adult” than you?
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Do you sometimes shy away
from challenges because of nagging self-doubt?
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Are you crushed by even
constructive criticism, taking it as evidence of your ineptness? Is your
definition of competence: perfection with ease?
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Does the thought of not
knowing 150% strike fear in your heart?
If so, join the club. Over
20,000 people have attended this enlightening workshop. And now you can too.
You CAN feel like the smart, talented, self-assured person everyone else
seems to think you are. Join me to learn why so many intelligent, capable people
suffer from the so-called Impostor Syndrome and what it takes to overcome it!
Tuesday,
June 14th from 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm EST
ChangingCourse.com/impteleclass.htm
Miracle-Grow your
Business in Las Vegas!
You're invited to join
Barbara Winter and Nick Williams for four action-packed, life-changing days. You
know that you need something more ... an added dimension to your
business that will claim its extraordinary potential. You just need some help
with where to look. We're making it easy for you. A veritable entrepreneurial
greenhouse, an oasis of creativity in the desert — join us in Las Vegas. There's
no place like it. Its creative genius reaches far beyond the obvious glitz. And
it can teach us a lot about winning ways.
The place fairly sings with
vibrant energy. In fact, when your creative vision gets fine-tuned in Las Vegas,
it'll be a permanent adjustment. One that will impact how you see the rest of
your world, and how quickly you can grow your business.
Monday, June 6 - Thursday, June 9
ChangingCourse.com/courses.htm |
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What's New in the Changing Course Bookstore
How to Be Inspired
by Nick Williams will be released on May 23rd.
The book is wonderfully structured with 54 short essays, each containing a
secret to living from our inspired centre, learning skills and overcoming our
resistance.
If Not Now… Then When?
Stories and Strategies of People Over 40 Who Have Successfully Reinvented
Themselves
Peter J. Fogel will prove to you
no matter what profession you “feel stuck” in today, you can change your
situation and get the career you want… even if you’re 40 and beyond!
Learn more about Peter and this
wonderful book at
ReinventYourselfNow.com
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Resources for a Change
Help for Freelance
Web-Designers and Opportunities for Freelance Writers
SitePoint.comfeatures a special area on
Selling Your Services for freelancers. In the About Us section you’ll see
they’re also looking for writers and book ideas.
I particularly liked
Elena Fawkner’s article on multiple income streams.
Are You the Creative Type?
AllArtSchools.com is a great place to find schools specializing in training
for careers in creative fields like animation, game design, interior design,
digital media, accessory design, fashion design, graphic design, photography and
more.
Best of all the Q&A section features informative
advice from people like Pixar animator Scott Clark,
self-employed video producer and director Meg McHutchinson, self-employed
apparel designer Stephanie Schuster, and others already working in
your dream career.
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live
life on purpose