live
life on purpose
work at what you love
follow your own road
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Better to fail at doing the right thing than to
succeed at doing the wrong thing.
~ Guy Kawasaki |
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Opportunity Knocks:
Creative Ways to Make a Living Without A Job
Still Don't Know What You Want To Be "When You Grow Up?" Here Are 3 Ways To Find Out
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Valerie
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By Valerie Young
If you’re well into your career but still aren't really sure what you
want to be “when you grow up,” join the mid-life career crisis club! Here are three ways to help you discover your heart's content.
1. Forget skill sets, think satisfaction.
In her book, I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was, career guru Barbara Sher points out that finding your passion is more than just figuring out what you're good at. Reflecting on her own life as a single parent, Sher realized she was clearly “skilled” at raising two children and managing a home on a tight budget. But did she love it?
“You live the good life not by doing what you can do,” Sher learned,
“but by doing what you want to do.”
2. Pay attention to both past and present-day clues.
In his famous interview with Bill Moyers, renowned mythology scholar Joseph
Campbell said, “The way to find out about your
happiness is to keep your mind on those moments when you feel
most happy, when you are really happy – not excited, not just thrilled,
but deeply happy.”
The first place to search for clues to your present day passion is in your own childhood. I once read about a man, who, as a young boy
loved to make sand castles. Guess what he does for a living now?
He runs a company that travels around the world making elaborate
sand sculptures for ocean-side special events!
What about today? What so engrosses you that you scarcely notice the time? Is it watching NASCAR racing? Gardening? Tinkering with
a broken toaster? Surfing the Internet? Exploring a museum? Traveling? Helping a friend work through a problem? Tracing your
family history? Organizing a closet? Working with children? Get a
small pad of paper or dedicate a section of your organizer to your passion. As something new hits you, add it to the list.
Still stumped? Try making up your own “I’d rather be__________”
bumper sticker. Would you rather be following sports, writing poetry,
gardening, shopping, fixing things, fishing, watching reruns of your
favorite childhood shows?
3. Enlarge your view.
One of the best way to expand your thinking – and your options – is
by stepping outside the confines of your day-to-day life. Consider
signing up for a class on something entirely new to you like
bookbinding, feng shui, woodworking, cooking, copywriting,
small engine, or computer repair.
Try reading publications outside your typical areas of interest or expertise. If you usually stick to news or women’s magazines,
pick up a copy of National Geographic, Antiques Monthly or Down Beat.
Even if you don’t read a single article the advertisements alone will
open your eyes to a multitude of fascinating ways to earn a living.
And remember, “When you love what you do,” says author and management guru Harvey McKay, “you'll never have to work a day in
your life.”
Add Your Two Cents
Want to comment on this
article?
Click here to hop over to the Changing Course Blog!
About the
Author
"Turning Interests Into Income" 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.htm
Follow
Valerie Online
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www.ValerieYoungTwitter.com
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www.ValerieYoungFacebook.com
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www.ValerieYoungLinkedIn.com
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Unless you try to do something beyond
what you have already mastered, you will never grow.
~ Ronald E. Osborn
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Featured
Resource
Women's Wildfire Rally
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Carrie Wilkerson,
Valerie Young, Lisa Tarrant
at Yanik Silver's 2008 Mastermind Meeting |
Carrie Wilkerson (also known as
The Barefoot Executive) has brought together 25 amazing women in business
(including me!) as part of her rally for change.
Carrie asked me to make sure to tell you what makes this is not the same type of
virtual event you've participated in before...
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There are no long, flowery
introductions
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Carrie didn't allow time
for audience Q&A
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No one is selling anything
on their calls (no irresistable offers)
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No one interviews quite
like Carrie does, haha
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She gave every guest about
15 minutes to SPILL their secrets! (It was tough, but we did it!)
These are FAST interviews -
power-packed and moving at a quick pace!
Don’t let the Texas drawl fool you. Carrie doesn’t do anything slow. This is a woman who built a six and then seven figure income in a little over a year. So she made sure these are FAST interviews - power-packed and moving at a quick pace! Why? Because this mother of
four knows that…
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You are BUSY!
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You are tired of
what doesn't work.
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You don't want to
be 'sold to' from every speaker
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You know that enough is
enough and you are tired of things NOT changing in your business.
I
invite you to join me in attending the Women's Wildfire Rally 2009. The first
call starts on August 7th and runs through August 12th at 9:00pm Eastern with
each day focusing on a unique topic.
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/wildfire
There is ZERO COST to listen in
and learn from these successful entrepreneurs (it will be broadcast as both a
teleclass and a webcast simultaneously), but there is a slight upgrade fee if you
want access to the audio recordings and transcripts.
P.S.
The Wildfire Rally is aimed at women – but all you men trying to change course
can benefit just as much!
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I'm not afraid of
storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship.
~ Louisa May Alcott |
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There’s no reward in life without risk.
~ Barry J.
Farber |
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Guest Article
Turn Your Hobby Into
Cash
By Carrie Wilkerson
Whether you have
an elementary education or a PhD, you can turn your love for knitting, cooking,
crafting or any other hobby into a profitable home business. Refill that cup of
coffee or tea, stoke your enthusiasm and let's take a look at the basics of
developing your hobby into a home business.
The Mechanics of
Business Home businesses can be divided into three distinct categories:
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Those that
sell a product,
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Those that
provide a service and
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Those that
provide information.
These categories
provide an opportunity for the conversion of nearly any hobby into a home
business. Hobbies like knitting, doll-making and painting all provide great
resources for a home-based business. Many crafters choose to sell the results of
their hobby to the public. Local craft shows and flea markets are packed with
enterprising crafters peddling their wares.
Many hobbies can
be put to use as a home-based business providing services like creative writing,
image consulting or even home organization. Selling a service that you are
qualified to perform and enjoy can give your business the advantage over your
competitors.
Information is a
valuable resource. If you are a lay expert on backyard gardening, golfing or
making custom dollhouses, chances are that other fellow gardeners, golfers or
dollhouse makers would love to take advantage of your experience and expertise.
Money Talks
After you know
which type of business is best suited for your hobby, it's time to sit down and
decide what people would actually pay. Put yourself in the shoes of a customer
and decide what types of products, services or information would be valuable
enough for you to part with your hard-earned money. The only way to make your
business successful is to supply what is in demand.
For example, if
you enjoy quilting by hand with a group of women and notice that many have
difficulty seeing the stitches as they pass middle age, ask them how much they
would pay for a magnifying device that would allow them to clearly see the
stitches from a comfortable distance. Poll your friends and family members to
determine if there is an interest in your product idea.
Shameless Self-promotion Doesn't Hurt Either
Even the
greatest business on Earth fails if no one knows it exists. Marketing and
promotion are unavoidable in the world of business. If the only advertising spot
you can afford is on the back of the door to the port-a-potty at your county
fair, take what you can get (as long as that crowd has a need for the
product/service you offer). Any form of promotion helps get the word out about
your business.
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Give out
t-shirts emblazoned with your company website
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Leave
business cards along with the tip at your favorite restaurant
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Post flyers
on every corkboard in every church, school or grocery store in your
neighborhood
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Ask friends
and family to talk about your business with everyone they meet
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Put a
signature line on your outgoing emails.
With
determination, a passion for your hobby and a little know how, you can turn your
love for a hobby into a thriving, enjoyable home business. Prepare to join the
ranks of other talented women who have turned a love for a hobby into a
successful home business.
About the Author
Carrie Wilkerson
is the voice of experience. From corporate life to teaching high school to
direct sales, she has 'been there and done that' professionally and
personally. An 'overnight mom' to 2 toddlers through adoption, her
priorities instantly changed and so did her workplace. She's now built
several businesses and coached others to do the same while overcoming
extreme debt, losing 110lbs and having 2 more children, for a total of 4
children, ages infant through 12!
As 'The Barefoot
Executive', Carrie and her network of experts have quickly become the
definite resource for helping women achieve extra income and career goals
while working from home. You can learn more about Carrie at
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/wildfire
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Success
isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.
~ Proverb |
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Learning Opportunities
Turn Your Interests
Into Income Tele-Brainstorming Call with Your Host, Valerie Young
Have you ever wished that you could sit down and
have a
one-on-one brainstorming session with Valerie? You know you want to do
work you love, you just don't know how! Here's your chance!
Join us this month as we feature business ideas or challenges that Valerie and her special guests will
focus on.
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Wednesday,
August 26
8:30-9:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Free for Changing Course Club Members*
(sign up in the Club Lounge)
$19.00 for Non Members**
Click Here to Register |
 *This
series is free to current members of the
Changing Course
Club.
**100 percent of Non-Members registration fees go to the non-profit
micro-grant organization
TrickleUp.org
The 2nd Annual Creative
Freelancer Conference
This is the
only business conference for "creative solopreneurs" presented by HOW Magazine
and Marketing-Mentor.com. It will be a high energy networking melting pot of
graphic, web and interactive designers, photographers, copywriters, video
producers, illustrators and anyone else who is committed to making their
freelance life work.
Creative-business experts including Ilise
Benun, Peleg Top, Petrula Vrontikis, Lee Silber, June Walker, Todd Henry,
Colleen Wainwright, Darryl Salerno, Michelle Goodman and others, will share best
practices for pricing, online marketing, building client relationships, dealing
with taxes, being creative on demand, maintaining a work/life balance and other
skills critical to freelance success.
August 26-28
San Diego, CA
Click Here for
More Details
Changing Course readers will receive an
additional $25 discount if you use this promo code: BC2.
For additional details and registration information, visit here:
CreativeFreelancerConference.com
Are You Ready to Make Your Business SHINE
and Discover Your True Wealth?
Once in
a Lifetime Comes an Invitation That Can Change Your Destiny
 Join
one of the most dynamic female entrepreneurs of our generation—Ali Brown—as
she hosts a life-shifting experience to uncover the millionaire inside.
At this mega 3 day event,
Shine: Discover Your True Wealth™ happening this November in Las Vegas,
Nevada, you will meet over 1,000 other Inspired Entrepreneurs for one unforgettable
experience. Over three amazing days, you will...
....attain a whole new level of confidence and courage to succeed...
...gain the clarity and certainty you've been searching for...
...transcend any preconceived subconscious limitations and beliefs while you
build a secure business model that can take care of you and your family for
years to come.
You’ll Also Experience Networking That’s Bar None
Ask anyone who’s been to an Ali Brown event and you’ll hear them share that not
only did they receive stellar business-building information, but they also
enjoyed the best business networking of their life. True deal-makers know that
nothing compares to meeting new contacts in person, and it’s always worth the
trip.
If you’re looking to connect with a large number of extraordinary entrepreneurs
who are serious about doing business in a conscious way, then your registration
for Shine could more than pay for itself many times over in potential
opportunities for networking, joint ventures, and business deals.
This promises to be a transformational multimedia and multisensory journey
unlike any other seminar you've ever attended.
Shine: Discover Your True Wealth™
November 5-7, 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada
NOTE: Payment Plan Option Ends August 14th
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You don't get to choose how
you're going to die, or when. You can only decide how you're going to live now.
~ Joan Baez |
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The View From
the
Other Side
“I wanted to be in
charge of my own destiny.
It may be a weakness in me: I'm always wondering what
I'll do next. Enough is never enough."
~ Howard Schultz,
founder of Starbucks
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Resources for
a Change
Making a Living By Making A Difference
This site helps you turn your values into your vocation. It has a searchable database of nearly 37,000 non-profits in 165 countries where you'll find job postings, volunteer opportunities, events, etc. Plus there's a place to promote your products or consulting services to non-profits, a library of inspiring articles, and lots more. Site can be accessed in Spanish, French, and Russian.
(IdeaList.org)
Turn Your Pictures Into Cash
What if you could earn $300, $800, or even $8,000 from a single photograph? If you think it’s impossible to make $8,000 from a single photo it’s because you haven’t met digital photographer Rich Wagner. But I have.
Rich was a speaker at one of my workshops. He’s made over $8,000 selling framed copies of a single picture he snapped of a hilltop tower near his home in Connecticut. He’s also one of the developers of this exciting course. In addition to meeting Rich, I’ve personally reviewed the course and they are right when they say that it teaches anyone, even the casual vacation photographer, the
secrets, tips, techniques, and strategies you need to take profitable photographs and have fun – including where to find paying clients.
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/photos
Back Door Jobs
Are you ready to explore the many doors of opportunity that short-term jobs have to offer? Or maybe you're interested in finding your place in the world?
This site features lots of life-expanding opportunities under categories like adventure, nature lover jobs, heart work, and opportunities abroad.
BackDoorJobs.com/
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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