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Issue 178 |
February 20, 2008 | |
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The great
pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
~
Walter Bagehot
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Opportunity Knocks:
Creative Ways to Make a Living Without A Job
Want to Be an
Entrepreneur?
Start "Hanging Out" With Them!
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Valerie and her wonder dog,
"Cokie Roberts" |
By Valerie Young
Sometimes, great opportunities get in the way of "life." In this
case, a last minute, and very exciting, business trip to New York City put a serious cramp
in my writing time.
Part 2 of "Are Your
Attitudes About Money Holding
You Back?" will resume in the next issue.
Instead, I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to some fascinating
entrepreneurs.
Starting Small, Thinking Big
Crystal Kane is a great example of someone who turned a common problem into a
great business opportunity. One day she was sitting in the back of her car feeding her 6 month old daughter,
Lily. Suddenly, the bottle
 began
leaking everywhere - on the baby, on her, and in the car. Desperate for a solution, Crystal
grabbed one of Lily's baby blankets to wrap around the bottle. Lily
grabbed hold of the blanket-wrapped bottle, and for the first time in her young life, was able
to effortlessly feed herself. Better yet, she seemed comforted by
the soft fabric of the blanket.
Knowing a great idea when she sees one, Crystal immediately made plans to create
fun animal and insect-inspired bottle holders with soft ears
or wings the infant could use to hold the bottle. She named them LilyBugs, a
term of endearment given to her daughter. These adorable creatures work with
baby bottles, sippy cups, water bottles, and more.
What began as a simple idea has turned into a LilyBug empire. Crystal's fascinating product
has been featured at Baby and Toddler Expos and was included in the $100,000 celebrity gift bags
at the 2007 Emmy Awards. If you have an infant or toddler in your life, or just
want to see an example of how you can start something small and make it grow,
you really need to visit her website at
LilyBugs.com
Tapping An Unlikely
Partnership
When
Susan Reimer-Torn created Scentient Beings (ScentientBeings.com),
it was
to help adults boost their confidence, self-trust, and clarity. Combining her
interest in aromatherapy and her passion for coaching, she offers her clients,
as her tagline reads, "the scents to be your
best self, breath by aromatic breath."
Susan recently took a trip to California to introduce her Scentient Beings
Life-Coaching, Aromatherapy Kit to some west coast spas. During that visit, she
tapped into an unlikely partnership. While at a dinner party, Susan struck up a
conversation with Katherine Priore. Katherine runs Headstand, a
nonprofit organization that works with the San Francisco School Alliance to bring yoga into inner-city schools. But Katherine
does much more than simply teach yoga to these children. She uses yoga as a tool
to address their most challenging issues: concentration, focus, self-esteem,
motivation, resisting stress, substance abuse, and peer pressure.
While maybe not an obvious fit,
Susan realized right away that her company strives to achieve these same
goals, but for burned-out adults. Wondering if there might be a way to both learn from
and help Katherine, she offered to donate some aromatherapy inhalers for the kids and the
kids loved them!
Now,
Susan and Katherine are coming up with more and more ideas
for how aromatherapy can enhance Headstand's mission of helping children to be
their best selves and intend to co-develop a kids' line of breathable oils with
the profits being used to fund additional inner-city work. As Susan says, this "accidental
partnership" has taken on a life of its own.
"Get in the Conversation"
Barbara Winter often talks about how important it is to "get in the
conversation" with other entrepreneurs. That's exactly what our next
entrepreneur
does on a regular basis.
George Murphy is the host of a television show called
"Making It Here" on local public television station WGBY (WGBY.org).
If you're in western New England, you may have had the pleasure of watching
George interview a host of entrepreneurs from a woman who started a human
powered hauling and delivery service (PedalPeople.com)
to a guy who repairs and restores clocks (TheBritishClockMaker.com).
I've been a fan of George's show for years. In fact, for those who attended last
year's Work at What You Love Workshop, I originally discovered 2006 panelist Leslie
Grinnell from Eddie's Wheels (EddiesWheels.com)
on George's show.
With the show now in its sixth season,
George has talked with literally hundreds of entrepreneurs. During that time,
he's had the chance to see up close and in person just what makes an inspired
entrepreneur tick. But you don't have to have your own television show to start
asking your own questions. George and "Making it Here" are great reminders that
the next time you're out and about, start asking questions and you'll be amazed at
what you'll learn.
The exciting news is that Crystal, Susan, and George have agreed to share their
stories as part of the Inspired Entrepreneurs Panel at the Work at What
You Love Workshop happening this April in Northampton, Massachusetts. For any
local entrepreneurs looking for your 15 minutes of fame, "Making it Here" producer
David Fraser will also be on hand looking for the next inspired entrepreneur.
P.S. Lisa had her video camera out at last year's
workshop and captured a few aspiring entrepreneurs and inspiring attendees in
action. Listen in as your fellow dreamers talk about the workshop:
Add Your Two Cents
Want to comment on this
article?
Click here to hop over to the Changing Course Blog!
About the Author
"Profiting From Your Passions" expert Valerie Young
abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at
ChangingCourse.com
offering resources to help you discover your life mission and live it. Her
career change tips have been cited in Kiplinger's, The Wall Street Journal,
USA Today Weekend, Woman's Day, and elsewhere and on-line at MSN,
CareerBuilder, and iVillage.com. An expert on the Impostor Syndrome, Valerie
has spoken on the topic of
How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are
to
such diverse organizations as Daimler Chrysler, Bristol-Meyers Squibb,
Harvard, and American Women in Radio and Television.
To read more
articles about how to work at what you love without a job go to
ChangingCourse.com/articles
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To succeed, we must
first believe that we can. ~ Michael
Korda |
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Featured
Resource
If You Can Write a Simple Letter, You Can Earn a Great
Living as a Freelance Copywriter
Simply put, a copywriter is someone who uses words
to sell products, services, or causes. One huge perk of being a
 freelance
copywriter is the flexible lifestyle. You can earn your living from anywhere in
the world – on the road in your RV, in a London flat, on an island, or in your own home.
The self-paced course is outstanding and includes individual feedback from an
American Writers & Artists Institute instructor. Plus, they show you everything you need to know to start getting
paid assignments. Top copywriters earn mega-six figure incomes. Most people
average more in the $40,000 – $80,000 range. I've personally met dozens of
people who've been able to quit their job in as little as a year and are now
working as freelance copywriters.
Read my complete course review and meet the
instructors and people who've taken the course at
ChangingCourse.com/make-money-as-a-freelance-copywriter.htm or listen to
Katie Yeakle,
Executive Director of American Writers & Artists Institute, and Krista Jones, a
freelance copywriter, answer questions about being a professional copywriter as
part of our Ask the Expert Teleclass series at
ChangingCourse.com/asktheexpert.htm
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To be a great
champion you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.
~ Muhammad Ali |
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Special
Announcement
It’s not too
late to get on the First in Line List to
get first dibs at a spot as well as ongoing updates about the program. Click
here to sign up now:
ChangingCourse.com/firstinline.htm
If you’re one of the 100+ already on the list, watch your email next week
for some exciting details.
P.S. I know some of you are already adding up
the cost to come to a 5 day training program. Even without the travel costs,
I know the tuition price will be a barrier for a lot of people. So to help
out as much as possible I’m going to cover your hotel at the historic Hotel
Northampton and meals for all five days.
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I believe life is
to be lived, not worked, enjoyed, not agonized, loved, not hated.
~ Leland Bartlett |
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Opportunity Knocks
Note
from the Editor: Rather than use a guest article for this issue, I
thought I would share one of Valerie's previous articles from our
article archive. You'll find many more inspiring articles like this one
at
ChangingCourse.com/articles
The Key to Changing Course is to Start:
6 Tips on How to Get Started
By Valerie Young
Sometimes signs arrive when you least expect them. On a recent dog walk
along the Connecticut River, I spotted a large white sign tacked to a
tree on the opposite shore. The sign contained a single word: Start.
This simple but powerful word got me thinking of all the different
places someone who wanted to change course could start. Here are 6 tips
to get you started on getting started:
1. Start where you are.
The great tennis player Arthur Ashe once said, “Start where you are.
Use what you have. Do what you can.” Let’s say the main thing holding
you back is money. You might start by downsizing your life now so
when you do take the leap, you’ll be better prepared to earn less in the
short term. Or, you could start by setting up a special savings account
to fund your dream. The psychological impact of saving for a dream can
be as powerful as the actual monetary earnings.
2. Start hanging out with the right crowd.
A client named Eve had been a teacher for 20 years. Whenever she talked
about the things she’d love to do – travel, work with dogs, start a
summer camp, her voice would fill with excitement. This initial
excitement, though, would though always turn to resignation, “I know this is just
a pipe dream,” she’d sigh.
The fact that I never see dreams as unrealistic made me think that Eve
was probably hanging out with the wrong people. People who have always
worked for someone else tend to have a status quo, play it safe, the
only way out is to hit the lottery type mentality. Entrepreneurs on the
other hand are possibility people. They think “what if…” and “why not?”
and then they go out and make it happen.
Where do you find entrepreneurs? You don’t have to be a business owner
to join your local chamber of commerce or another organization like
Business and Professional Women (BPW). Even though
I’m not an inventor, I joined a local inventor’s group just to be in the
company of “yes you can” type people.
3. Start tuning into your gifts
A great place to begin to explore your true calling is by looking back
at the kinds of things you loved to do as a child. That’s what Barbara
Ewing of Springfield, Massachusetts did. Barbara has known since she was
young that she loved to cook. When other kids were outside playing,
Barbara would be in the kitchen.
Pay attention, too, to the things you love to do right now. Like
Barbara, Cindy Friedman of California shared a passion for food and
cooking. When I first met Cindy she was considering becoming a personal
chef. Living in wine country also made her want to work somehow with
wine.
For Gail Greenwald, a 41-year-old from New York City, that love is yoga.
So much so, that after a long day working at her job in a media research
company, Gail still had the energy to teach a yoga class. If something
makes you happy, it probably contains important clues to your calling.
If you still don’t know what you want to be “when you grow up” then
start by trying to find out. You might want to do as Barbara did and
start by recalling the kinds of things you loved doing as a kid, start
reading Wishcraft, or anything by Barbara Sher, or checking out
numerous articles in the Changing Course articles archive at
ChangingCourse.com/articles
4. Start listening more to yourself and less to others.
Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how
to remain an artist once he grows up.” Unfortunately, even in childhood,
our dreams too often get dismissed. Barbara says that growing up, her
interest in cooking was always either viewed as a hobby or as “cute.”
She says, “I was never encouraged to pursue this as a career choice,”
adding “sadly, I am not alone. If more people would just stop listening
to others and instead develop [their] God given talent or skill,” she
writes, “we as a society would have happier, less stressed, successful
workers (versus the grumpy, stressed, unhappy, successful workers).”
Once you do find your gift, Gail says you should never dive in without
doing your homework. Once you do, though, she adds, you should “listen to
your heart because your head will tell you differently.”
5. Start letting go of the
idea that everything has to be perfect
In his
online newsletter, Quick Tips for Creative People, creativity coach
Bob Baker
writes, “Far too many creative people drag out the artistic process,
adjusting a detail here, fine-tuning a nuance there... waiting for a
time when the thing is as perfect as they can get it. Others wait years
just to start a new project. They require every factor (including their
mood) to be in alignment before they'll even take the first step.”
Perfectionism is the bane of dreams. So is striving to be the “expert”
who has to know everything there is to know about a subject before you
can take action. And like perfectionism, striving to be the expert can
slow you down or, in some cases, bring your goals to a screeching halt.
Why? Because if your definition of competence is “needing to know
everything there is to know” then there will always be one more book
to read, one more class to take, one more presentation to make, one more
book to write, one more degree to earn before you dare pronounce
yourself “qualified.”
6. Start taking action
Since attending the Dreams Can’t Wait workshop, Barbara has
made tremendous strides in turning her dream of launching her own food
line into reality.
She writes, “I have decided on a name for my food brand, contacted the
Franklin County Community Development Center and met with director of
the Food Center. I have chosen the first six or so recipes I want to use
to get the food line started. I have also started formulating the next
level (growth) processes. In addition to the contact with the Food
Center and development of my ideas, I have enrolled in the American
Writers & Artists Institute Copywriting and Resume Writing courses. My plan is to use some of the
writing income to fund the Food project.” (For more information on these
courses go to ChangingCourse.com/awai.htm)
Cindy, too, took action. After 16 years in the software industry in Marin
County, California, the 39-year-old decided it was time to get off the
fast track. She quit her high-pressured sales job and moved to a less
expensive area of the state to work in the fields she really loved, wine
and food.
But first she reconsidered her initial idea of becoming a personal chef.
“After giving this careful consideration I decided to hold off pursuing
it in the fear that I would burn out and not enjoy cooking for my own
family and friends anymore... which is something I enjoy immensely.”
The important thing is that Cindy put herself in a position to be open
to possibility. So when a part time position opened up in Chico at a
very successful wine bar and cheese shop, she went for it. “The
customers are demanding and walk in with their dinner menus and ask for
specific wine pairing recommendations. This job has turned into much
more than just retail sales. I have helped the owner with special
events, including wine tasting classes, etc.”
Sometimes changing course happens in phases. Cindy says, “I am exactly
where I need to be. Even though I am not running my own business I have
flexibility and am able to enjoy being involved with something I am
passionate about. Perhaps someday I'll become such an expert in my field
that I can teach community classes about wine tasting basics and pairing
wine and food!”
Gail has also taken bold steps to transform her love of yoga into her
career. These are the kind of follow up emails every career advisor
loves to get. She writes:
“About 3 weeks [after our session] I found a listing on a yoga website
for a yoga teacher at a B&B in Cozumel, Mexico. I corresponded with the
owner, went down in June to visit and this Thursday I'm leaving for a
stay of four months to teach yoga classes in English. I quit my job to
follow a more rewarding path."
Three weeks later another update arrives. Reading Gail’s update should
inspire anyone with a dream to start. She writes:
“My decision to go to Cozumel, Mexico involved a surrendering of some
sort. I left a steady job, the sites and sounds of New York City, said
goodbye to clients, co-workers, friends and family to make room for a
new experience. My schedule and transportation options allow me to bike
to Playa Azul during the day. I swim in the clear turquoise colored
waters at this beach and admire palm trees sprouting out of white
powdery sand.
I am able to travel to Isla Mujeres, another island that is a laid back
Caribbean paradise of shallow clear waters. It is twenty minutes by
ferry from the city of Cancun on the Mexican mainland. An overnight stay
at the island enabled me to see the moon lighting a lunar path over the
sea and fall asleep to the sound of the ocean’s ebb and flow.
I find myself giving in to afternoon naps. The temperature has been in
the 80’s with high humidity. It is perfect for falling asleep below a
whirling ceiling fan. There are areas of Cozumel I would still like to
explore, but when I feel my body dragging and my eyes closing, doing
nothing is more satisfying.”
Not quite ready for such a big change? Then start small. Read a book,
take a course, talk to someone who is doing work you’re drawn to,
research how other people are making a living from their love of
animals, cooking, writing, travel, art, or wherever your own gifts lie.
If you’re waiting for inspiration to strike first, don’t. As Frank
Tibolt put it, “We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start
a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom
generates action.” When it comes to changing the course of your life,
the key is always simply to start.
Add Your Two Cents
Want to comment on this
article?
Click here to hop over to the Changing Course Blog!
About the Author
"Profiting From Your Passions" expert Valerie Young
abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at
ChangingCourse.com
offering resources to help you discover your life mission and live it. Her
career change tips have been cited in Kiplinger's, The Wall Street Journal,
USA Today Weekend, Woman's Day, and elsewhere and on-line at MSN,
CareerBuilder, and iVillage.com. An expert on the Impostor Syndrome, Valerie
has spoken on the topic of
How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are
to
such diverse organizations as Daimler Chrysler, Bristol-Meyers Squibb,
Harvard, and American Women in Radio and Television.
To read more
articles about how to work at what you love without a job go to
ChangingCourse.com/articles
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It is time for us
to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever, the one who recognizes the
challenge and does something about it.
~ Vince Lombardi |
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Upcoming Workshops and Teleclasses
Work at
What You Love:
The Life Changing Workshop for People Who Want to Quit Their
Job and Work at What They Love
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 Find
out how you can escape the J-O-B box… and uncover a
whole new world of possibilities.
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Tap
your wildest dreams...and start making a plan to make
them happen right
now...
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Discover the powerful secret to turning almost
anything
into an alternative to a J-O-B...
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Come
away with the tools you need to create work – and a life
– you really love.
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Highly successful entrepreneurs do it instinctively. Now
you can, too. Learn powerful, proven techniques for
marketing your business without the fear of rejection.
Join
"Outside the Job Box" expert Valerie Young and Barbara
Winter, best-selling author of Making a Living Without a Job
for what promises to be an extraordinary two days – filled
with energy, enthusiasm, wisdom...and practical,
life-changing know-how.
April 11-12,
2008
Northampton, Massachusetts
Click
Here to Learn More
The "Extreme
Early
Bird Registration" $100 off discount ends February 24th
The "Still Great Early Bird Registration" $50 off discount ends March 15th
Lodging Update
If you're looking for lodging in the area, we've
gotten a new, lower room block rate from the Hotel Northampton, where the
workshop will be held. We have a limited number of rooms reserved for attendees,
and once these are gone, we can no longer guarantee our special rate. You can
find our more details about this and all general travel questions at
ChangingCourse.com/workshops/noho.htm
"After
the workshop I decided that life was too short not to follow
my dreams...and I started planning my future. About a year
later, I resigned from my "big salary" job to pursue my
dreams." ~ Suzanne Willis
Mark Victor Hansen's Mega Book
Marketing University
If you're an
author, an aspiring author or interested in book publishing, here's why you need
to sign up RIGHT NOW for Mega Book Marketing 2008:
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The publishing industry is changing by the minute.
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Without experts to help you navigate your way through the
"publishing jungle", you're sure to get eaten up alive…and forgotten before
your book ever has a chance to make it to best-seller status.
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Many folks who have attended the MEGA Book weekends have
become international speakers, New York Times best-selling authors,
successful information entrepreneurs, and top-paid publishing pros.
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Many of our attendees will pitch their book ideas to Top
Agents and Publishers.
Whether you're a
new author or an author of five best-sellers, you've got to wonder…"How can I make
my book a success when the 'old Book Publishing model' is dead and today's model
is constantly changing?"
Find out the
secrets of publishing your book faster, easier, and less expensively than ever
before, using the latest methods and technology.
February 29 - March 2
Los Angeles, CA
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/megabookmktg
Travel
to Ecuador this Spring and Learn How Easy it Can Be to Turn Your Vacation
Snapshots into Cash… Plus Master Spanish in Just a Week!
Join us and you’ll:
-
 Learn
how to take beautiful photographs in a dream setting with professional
photographers Rich Wagner and Victor Englebert as your guides...
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Explore and
photograph colorful leather and craft markets...
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Try out a
Spanish immersion + "Super Thinking" program, geared to teach you
Spanish in just days...
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Capture
breathtaking views of the Andes and local villages...
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Plus, enjoy
a relaxing soak in a healing thermal spa...
Hotel, some
meals, and all adventure included. Get the details here:
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/ecuador
Note: The Early
Registration discount ends March 3rd
"How to Become Joyfully Jobless"
Teleclass Series
hosted by Barbara Winter
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Barbara Winter |
Learn
what it takes to live the joyfully jobless life from the
master − Barbara Winter, author of
Making a Living
Without a Job.
A
vivacious and wildly popular speaker, Barbara will address
such topics as the power of multiple income streams… how to
stop thinking like an employee and start thinking like an
entrepreneur… why starting small is the smartest (and most
profitable) way to launch your new enterprise… and much
more.
Like
mini-workshops, these monthly Joyfully Jobless Teleclasses
are interactive, which means
you get to ask questions and benefit from firsthand feedback
from the woman I call the "Muse of Self-Bossing."
This
series is free to current members of the
Fast Track Your Dream
Community*. Non-members are welcome to
attend for $19 with all proceeds going to the non-profit
micro-grant organization TrickleUp.org**
*To
learn more about how you can fast track your dream of
working at what you love - and get a two month membership FREE - go to
ChangingCourse.com/fasttrackyourdream.htm
**A
portion of all revenue from this Teleclass will go to
support the entrepreneurial aspirations of impoverished
people in the US and internationally via the micro-grant
organization
TrickleUp.org
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The best thing
about the future is that it only comes one day at a time.
~ Abraham Lincoln |
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The View From
the
Other Side
"Anything’s
possible if you’ve got enough nerve.
I was determined to try.
I was determined to try because, frankly, my life was such a mess at this
point, what – what was the worst that could happen? Everyone turn me down?
Big deal."
~ JK Rowling, creator of Harry
Potter
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Resources for
a Change
Learn from 12 Work at Home Experts
Work
at home expert Carrie Wilkerson has put together an impressive line-up of free
Teleseminars featuring experts on a broad range of subjects like marketing,
sales, staying motivated, and more. The whole point is to help current and
aspiring self-bossers think bigger so they can start or grow their own at-home
business. My segment is happening March 18th and I feel honored to be
included with the likes of Jerry Clark (whom I had the pleasure of lunching with
in Denver), Kim Dukes, and a host of others. The classes are geared to women but
honestly anyone can benefit. Carrie has very generously made this entire program
free or you can upgrade to the premium version of the summit at any time. At what
she’s asking relative to what you get I can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t.
Classes are underway now – jump in at
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/barefootexperts
(To get a feel for what Carrie’s philosophy is all about watch her short movie at
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/barefootmovie)
Book Writer’s Retreat for Coaches/Consultants, Speakers,
and Entrepreneurs
Writing a book is a great
way to get credibility and exposure. This three day workshop and retreat
features three on-site experts who know what it takes to write, publish and
market a business, health, or inspirational (non-fiction) book. I have not
attended this event but met Joan at a seminar and was impressed with her and her
work. Class is limited to 10. First four registrants receive free lodging. Learn
more at ChangingCourse.com/recommends/bizbookretreat
If you have a book inside of you but can’t get to a live workshop – or want to
write fiction – I highly recommend a program called Break into Print.
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/print
A New Earth Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose
by Echart Tolle
Oprah is offering a 10-week webcast on the book.
Some
friends of mine are starting a weekly discussion group - you might want to do the
same.
The webcast is free but registration
is required
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/newearthwebcast
For your convenience, A New Earth is now
available in the Changing Course Bookstore
ChangingCourse.com/bookstore.htm
Get Paid to Read: Writing Book Reviews for Fun and Profit
Co-authors Steve Weinburg (Steve earns $10,000-$20,000 a year this way and gets
all the books for free) and Bob Bly show book lovers how to get paid to read.
This will not replace your income, but could be one profit center and a fun place
to start down the freelance trail. I have not read the manual, but I know Bob
professionally and personally and (not that this prolific and highly respected
writer needs my endorsement but for what it’s worth) anything Bob puts out is
top notch.
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/getpaidtoread
The Millionaire Real Estate Investor
This book by
Gary Keller is considered by many to be a principle-based, step-by-step guide to
real estate investments and the definitive source for real estate investing. This
New York Times best-seller is also the foundation for Longmeadow,
Massachusetts-based real estate agent Carol Bright’s workshop by the same name.
In a time when a lot of realtors have had to bail out of the business, it’s also
a great example of someone in a down market using her entrepreneurial wits to
tap a viable niche. Wisely, Carol is targeting her workshop to women who tend to
shy away from finances and investing. Spaces are limited. To register for the
February 23 workshop ($49) call 413-747-4648.
Note: Changing Course does not accept
paid advertisements from any of the resources listed here. This list is
provided to expand your thinking about just how many interesting ways there
are to make a living without a job!
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live
life on purpose
