Holiday Double Issue! The
Creativepreneur Volume 1, Issue 3
November/December 2012
...because business is messy
How Does Your Business Give Back? Featured Guests: Elaine Bailey Melissa Klein Monique Lusse
Your Holiday Checklist
What you need to do before you close up shop.
Copyright Š 2012 by Blue Sun Studio, Inc.
The Creativepreneur Studio Volume 1, Issue 3 November/December, 2012 The Creativepreneur is published on the third Friday of every month. Send submissions or contact us at: info@bluesunstudio-inc.com Blue Sun Studio, Inc. 4695 Marnell Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89121 Find us on the Web at: http://bluesunstudio-inc.com Copyright © 2012 by Blue Sun Studio, Inc.
“...I can NOT wait for the second book in the trilogy…. watch out Stephenie Meyers, Anne Rice and even Nora Roberts….you have competition in Deborah Dorchak and Wendi Kelly!” - Lynda Starbuck: Brewster, NY
Order Your Copy Today! (click here to read more reviews)
The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
In This Issue: From the Editors............................................................................ 4 A Prayer In The Wake of Sandy...................................................... 6 Built to Last.................................................................................... 8 Can Free Consultations Save You Money?..................................... 10 Are You Trying to Race Or Pace Your Way to Success?.................. 12 Giving Back.................................................................................... 14 5 Easy Ways to Show Your Love..................................................... 15 Your Personal Mythology and Symbol System.............................. 16 Word Grenades............................................................................. 18 Get Your Financial House in Order for 2013.................................. 22 Five Tips for Winterizing Your Business......................................... 24 Words of Wisdom: Gratitude........................................................ 27 As a Man Thinketh......................................................................... 30
12 Elaine Bailey: Racing or Pacing? Which one are you?
16 Melissa Klein: Discover your own mythology and symbolism.
22 Monique Lusse: Clean out financial clutter.
Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude
From the Editors
I
t’s hard to believe that another holiday season is upon us. It seems like only yesterday we were choosing our words for 2012, Unstoppable for Wendi, and Risk for Deb. The words paired together well for our partnership, and together we said yes to new exciting challenges, stepped boldly into new areas of growth with magazines and new services for our clients and some housecleaning behind the scenes to streamline our systems and bring us even greater efficiency. The result? Even more time to spend with our awesome and wonderful clients! And... time to keep our own creative juices humming along writing our fiction series in our free time. In business, the months of November and December are often filled with reflective activities, looking back on the year to see what worked well, what can be improved, what we should learn from and what needs to be forgiven and forgotten. It is also a time of looking forward. A time of planning and dreaming, setting the course for the new year ahead, developing the goals and strategies 4 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
that will take you where you want to go (p.s. If you would like help with your start of the year planning, we have a short term coaching option for that, to help you get clear on your 2013 vision, but don’t wait too long, those spots book up fast). This time of the year is also a time of counting our blessings. And this year especially, as the upper east coast continues to heal from the storm, Sandy, we have much to be grateful for. Families and health, and also running water and electricity, homes to live in and communities that pull together, and volunteers that open their hearts from all over the world to do what they can to heal a broken area and a broken world. For us, a turkey on the cover just wasn’t going to do it this year. We wanted a symbol of healing, a promise of a brighter future, of good times to come, and the hope and belief in the spirit of us. When we pull together, with love, charity and gratitude, we can conquer anything. God Bless us all, everyone.
Wendi & Deb
Meet the Team Wendi Kelly
Wendi Kelly is the International business coach behind Creative Clarity Coaching, a division of Blue Sun Studio. Wendi is devoted to coaching creative entrepreneurs who are ready to take the leap into clarity, happiness and success in business and life.
Deb Dorchak
Deborah Dorchak has been a graphic designer for more than 28 years and an artist since she could hold a crayon. Deb got her start in Illustration, and her passion for telling stories through images hasn’t wavered yet. She is the designing force behind Blue Sun’s graphics department.
Be A Part of The Creativepreneur! Give us your feedback AND your submissions for next month’s issue! If you like it (and we know you will!) be sure to share this magazine with anyone you know would enjoy it. See our submission guidelines here: Magazine Submission Guidelines. The deadline for the next issue is January 11th.
Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 5
A Prayer in the Wake of Sandy “Disasters work like alarm clocks to the world, hence God allows them. They are shouting, ‘Wake up! Love! Pray!’” Wendi Kelly An interesting quote. Not because it opens the door to the ageless argument over why God “Allows” Bad things to happen to good people, ( A subject for another day) but rather because of the meaning behind the second part of the quote. When bad things do happen, it is like an alarm clock, waking us up to the truth. Reminding us of the important things: Life, love, family…prayer. Health and safety. We reach out to others, doing what we can to help our fellow man. We WAKE UP. We PITCH IN. We remember how much we care. One of the many images I saw on the media coverage was the flooding of Ground Zero. Water pouring into that sacred space, adding insult to an already painful wound. But it was a reminder to me of another time, when the Towers fell, and we all stopped, held hands and sent up a collective prayer of healing and love. We stood as one. We would not be destroyed by violence. Nor will we now. We will wake up, love….pray. Together. The sand will be swept away, the ships 6 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
~Criss Jami and boats returned to the ocean. The fallen trees chopped and hauled away. The damage cleared, the homes and buildings restored and the boardwalk rebuilt and celebrated. Strangers will work together. Politicians from opposite sides of the table will get along. And then we will forget. Until the next time. So here is my prayer for all of us, in the wake of Sandy, the disaster du jour. I pray that not only will we wake up, love, and pray, but that we will remember. That when the sand settles, we will still pray for each other, for our safety, for our health and well being. I pray for a time when it will not take a disaster for us to get along. That there will not have to be destruction before we build a future together and put aside our differences. I pray for a time when Nature doesn’t need to unleash her heavy hand before we are joining ours together. I pray for a day when Hate does not need to start a war before we remember that we are
Photo: Wendi Kelly
one, and that we are united in love. I pray that when the land is dry, we will remember why we cared in the first place. We will remember what is important. What we are grateful for. Our families. Our health. Our simple rituals. Those day to day
moments that we take for granted and forget to even notice. I pray that we won’t need nature’s alarm clock to live Awake, in Love, in Prayer… and in Gratitude. Amen. Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 7
Built to Last?
Deb Dorchak
T
elevision programming is chock full of Armageddon-type shows with everything from how the planet will be destroyed from forces in the universe to mega natural disasters lurking right in our back yards (and zombies, don’t forget the zombies). It’s fascinating stuff and poses a lot of questions. These shows make you think how fleeting 8 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
our existence is on this planet – and it makes you wonder if anything we’re doing today will really matter at all a few hundred or a couple thousand years down the road. Discovery Channel used to have a show called Life After People. The premise was simple: What would happen on earth if people just disappeared? They don’t say how everyone disappeared. Could have been a plague,
or it could have been zombies (at least that’s what Alan, my friend’s 4 year old son seemed to think). Could have been anything. The fact of the matter is the human race is completely gone.
Nothing Lasts Forever – Or Does It? What I found most interesting about this whole concept is the way nature eventually reclaimed everything. Global warming, pollution, being Green and all that in the end didn’t matter. Nature (according to the theories) would eventually clean out everything and life would go on. Very few of our modern marvels seemed unable to withstand the tests of time and elements. Without humans around to maintain our national monuments, bridges and cities, all of them will eventually fall into disrepair and disappear. This led me to another thought. Think about how much we’re pushing to put everything online and “go paperless”. Is that really such a good idea? As humans we have this need to leave behind some kind of legacy. Our ancestors did it. They carved stories into stone, built huge temples and other monuments just to say “We were here!” After several thousand and sometimes even millions of years, we’re still finding these bits of history. But what about our history?
Virtual Legacy Everything we do these days is on our computers. We write our stories, create our art, send letters and keep journals all in the virtual world. What if there was no more electricity to run computers? A CD or DVD would be nothing more than a pretty shiny disc with no way for future explorers to view what’s on it. All the empires we’ve built from our websites and blogs – gone. With digital cameras there won’t be any film or photos left either, unless people still bother to print them out and put them in actual photo albums. It won’t be like today where we might find an antique stash of correspondences of love letters between a Victorian couple in an attic to give us a glimpse into the everyday life at the turn of the 20th century. There wouldn’t be any stone tablets to decipher or treasure filled tombs to unearth. All our information will be locked away behind lifeless monitors and dead keyboards.
Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing Earlier this year I spoke about the trends for 2010. In that post I said that business would be moving out from behind the monitor and back into the real world. Now, take this a step further. The internet is not the whole world. It’s a tool to connect you to the world. How can you use it to create Built to Last cont. on 29
Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 9
Can Free Consultations Save You Money?
Deb Dorchak ttracting new clients often means giving away free stuff. People want to know what they’re getting, if it’s quality and if it meshes with their vision. Giving away things like small ebooks, trial workshops and programs and every kind of swag you can imagine is a sure way to get attention. “Free” is a bit of a misnomer on this, since the
A
10 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
production of the give-away items is anything but free for the business owner. Each year, businesses spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on the materials and services to create them. Even if a business decides to create the freebie in house, it still costs them the time to do it.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at one of the most common freebies: the Consultation.
Who Is A Free Consult Really For? If you were asked who the free consultation is for, what would you say? On the surface, the easy answer is “For the client.” and you’d be right. But you’d also be right if you said it was for you, the business owner, too. A free consultation is a chance for you to get to know a potential client as much as it is for the client to get to know you. Both parties are meeting to see if the other is a good match. Not many business owners look at the consultation in that light. The moment you do, you’ll realize you’re under no obligation to take the client on if you don’t mesh with them. You can say no, and so can they.
Why In The World Would You Say No? Glad you asked. Nobody wants to turn away business. After all, you wanted to attract new clients, didn’t you? Now you have one sitting across the desk from you. But…something doesn’t feel quite right. You’re seeing red flags popping up right and left. Maybe you’ve run into this type of problem client before and dread working with another one. They say they want your highest level package, the whole enchilada and the prospect of a big sale has your mouth watering. Still, a part of you is cringing because you
know the whole thing is going to be a total nightmare. Newsflash: You don’t have to agree to work with anyone you don’t feel right about. Chances are, if your instincts are telling you this client isn’t one of your people, you’re probably right.
How You Save Money No matter what your personal financial situation may be, never take on a client out of desperation. So many start-ups are so afraid
“A free consultation is a chance for you to get to know a potential client as much as it is for the client to get to know you.” they won’t have enough money at the end of the month to pay the bills. It’s very scary, I know. Been there done that. But you know what happens when you do that? You start to do ANYTHING just to get even the tiniest amount of money it. You end up stepping over dollars to pick up dimes. The client has you right where they want you. They will smell the desperation and bargain you down to almost nothing. You’ll give them a cut rate well below what you want Consultations cont. from p.29 Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 11
Are You Trying to Race Or Pace Your Way to Success? Elaine Bailey
L
ife-lessons happen when you least expect it…Even when you’re on holiday! I was blessed to spend a whole week hiking in Grindelwald, Switzerland. My chalet overlooked a stunning valley that led your eye directly up to the north face of the Eiger. Bernard, our mountain hiking guru, knew a lot about this mountain. He’s is a very experienced hiker in the Alps (Swiss born and bred!). He told us of how climbers had perished here in their quest to conquer the north face. Many had been caught out by the sudden change in weather – some had frozen to death overnight or had slipped and fallen; others were the victims of rock falls. Then he led us on the Eiger Trail. This was a 10-hour hike beginning with a 3-hour assent up to the base of the Eiger. It was hard work and I learned so much observing how people approached this assent. Some raced ahead to ‘get her done!’ Not knowing the length of the climb they were soon out of breath, feeling tired and the affects of the thinner air. They weren’t prepared. One woman in another group had to turn 12 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
back because she’d started too quickly, became overwhelmed and panicked. She was both mentally and physically affected by this challenge. It’s easy to get swept up in the enthusiasm and race ahead. In our group, Bernard told us that his wife, Anita was a slow walker but she could walk for miles and miles. I watched and learned from her as we made our assent. She was always at the end of the line, last to arrive BUT she focused on her own pace and enjoyed every step of the way. She was never out of breath or uncomfortable. She set her own pace and refused to be distracted by inwardly comparing herself to others who were pushing ahead and moving faster. She focused on her own goal and worked consistency to achieve it. This got me thinking… How many of us set an intention or goal and race off with enthusiasm and energy at the beginning? We’re all fired up and excited… Then, into the journey, we get exhausted or distracted… perhaps because we haven’t
Photo: Elaine Bailey thought things through properly or we’re too busy ‘doing’ to notice that we’ve deviated off the right path? We use all our energy at the beginning and there’s little left to keep us going for the whole journey. Continuing with our mountain metaphor… In our haste to get to the summit we’re not interested in the ‘tedium’ of doing the work –
one foot after the other. We just want the end result NOW! And we race to end as quickly as possible just to get it done. So we set the wrong pace, lack the discipline and persistence to keep placing one foot in front of the other, we become impatient and Elaine Bailey cont. on 25 Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 13
Giving Back
I
believe strongly in paying it forward, personally and as a business woman. There are so many worthy causes out there, but when it was time for Silver & Grace to start paying-it-forward I found one that truly resonates with me. I purchase trees as carbon credits through The Carbon Farmer. The Carbon Farmer’s story could have been my own. Brad Rabiey, along with his wife Rebecca, plant trees on his third generation family farm. I grew up on a third generation family farm that the first two generations reforested from an over farmed wasteland of blowing sand. I spent countless glorious hours among those trees, simply being me. The cool thing is that Brad gave me my very own online Silver & Grace Forest. Each time I purchase a tree to thank a client, or celebrate a business milestone, I get to see my forest expand. Of course the super cool thing is, I know that another tree has been planted for real. Happy wildlife + happy air + happy planet = one very happy Eliza. —Eliza Fayle 14 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
5
Easy Ways to Show Your Love Give a service or product away to a client who could use a leg up.
Teach!
Volunteer! Give Blood Make a donation in your business’s name. It doesn’t have to be money. Clothes, food and time go a long way. Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 15
Mythology Your Personal
and Symbol System
Melissa Klein; Spirit Runner Melissa Klein Why do we need mythology in a modern world? A Story.... Imagine a rider on an elephant. Our logical brain, the “thinker” is the rider. The emotions are the elephant. If rider tries to direct the elephant to a place where the elephant doesn’t want to go, the rider will quickly tire from the effort and give up. We have had that experience, where in spite of all of the best intentions and the logical reasons to do (or not do something) we fail 16 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
in some endeavor - whether it is weight loss, saving money etc. The elephant overpowers the rider and grabs the cupcake! Or buys the shoes! The key is to get the elephant and the rider to work together —where the powerful emotions are in alignment with the logistical talents of the rider. (paraphrased from “Switch - How to Change When Change is Hard” by Chip & Dan Heath) How? Mythology and symbols can access the subconscious brain in deep ways that can words simply cannot! The linguistic area of our brains is located in the frontal lobes, mostly on the
left hemisphere, but the emotions which drive our behavior is in the deep, “primitive” areas of the brain - in the area of the amygdala. Visual images and symbols have a direct access to our emotions. We have emotional responses to color and symbols can encapsulate whole idea systems - for example, consider these symbols: a cross, a Star of David, a swastika. They all evoke powerful emotions, and have moved people to great lengths - for good and bad.
But.... What if you are not a part of an organized religion or your religion doesn’t use your symbol system? I believe that people already know what is special to them. Many people have certain symbols that have had special meaning for them throughout their whole lives - it’s often an animal, but it can be other things - a ladybug, a pair of shoes, a mermaid etc. We develop these symbols and attach strong Mythology cont. on p.20
Melissa Klein; Making Wavesr Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 17
Word Grenades Wendi Kelly If you are a coach, boss, spouse, friend, family member or human, there has been a time or two when you have been in the position to give feedback, criticism or commentary to someone. No matter how much you would like to mind your own business and stay out of it, your opinion is going to be asked for. You can’t get away from it. Let’s get really honest here. Shall we? Sometimes, you don’t mind your own business and you give your opinion when it’s not asked for.
After all, isn’t that mostly what Facebook, Twitter and the rest of social media is all about? People plopping their opinions all over the internet in a free-fall of helpful and not-so-helpful feedback? Think about it, if people stopped sharing their thoughts and feedback on Social Media, the concept would be as deserted as a school hallway on winter break. The concept of “Mind Your Own Business” in Social Media is null and void. Simply by putting ourselves out there and commenting, we have given unstated permission for people to start commenting and giving their point of view. That’s the game. That is what it is all about.
How is Social Media Different than Aunt Bessie’s Thanksgiving Dinner Table? What happens when we step off the pages of social media? Are these behaviors being carried out in our real lives too? Do we come armed to the holiday gatherings with our arsenal full of sentences that stars with “If you ask me…I think you should…” “I always say…” Or the bully version—“If you had any sense at all you would…” 18 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
What has happened to our boundaries? How about our manners? I’ll admit, my social media friends and inperson relationships are filled to the brim with respectful, supportive, kind and funny people who I enjoy spending time with. That’s the way I like it and those who aren’t in the above categories are quietly ushered off to the sidelines with a smile and wish of good will. I simply don’t have the time, desire or inclination to fill my life with well-meaning negativity. Yet I hear complaints from friends and clients about how So-and-So said this, and that, and really hurt their feelings or made them second guess their own thoughts, path or dreams. Some carelessly tossed comment landed like a grenade and has set them spiraling backward. The recent Presidential Election had some people ducking for cover in both their social media lives and their in person relationships.
Is this happening to you? Or worse, could you be the one tossing the word grenades without even a clue? Could I? Sadly, we probably are and don’t even know it. I know I have tossed my fair share of them in the past. I have a reputation for being blunt and it has been a lifetime learning experience to temper my Bluntness with Grace. I’ve taken many an elbow to the ribs from my adult kids and best friends when I forget too. ( They have permission to remind me.) On this lesson of word grenades, I speak from experience. The last thing I ever want to do is cause pain with words. As a writer, I know full well the power words have to heal or hurt. I have a mission in my life to use my words to heal. But as a human, sadly, I fail at that mission sometimes. Sometimes life gives us powerful reminders, like elections and upcoming holidays, to help Grenades cont. on p.28
To read more from Wendi or contact her for your own personal creative coaching, visit us today at Creative Clarity Coaching.
Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 19
Mythology cont. from p.17 emotions to them - and go to great lengths to find them. And when we do - we light up. Like, finally! I have found what I need! We are starved for those images. But sometimes it’s hard to find just the right illustration of what is your symbols, and the right combination - that works with your environment and personal style. I strongly identify with horses, but many of the images of horses are well, kind of cheesy. I still like them, but my tastes have evolved from being a kid, and in my 40’s those horse posters just don’t look good anymore in my
Left: Melissa Klein; Harvest Above: Melissa Klein; Breakfast with Friendsr 20 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
living room (although the plastic figurines are still kinda cool!). There is a need for something with more depth that reaches beyond the beauty of the animals to what they mean - the freedom, strength, courage and wisdom that I have learned from them. Luckily because I’m an artist - I can create the painting that I want to see, and often it feels like I am making the image that I need to see. These images help me
navigate through my day and help reassure me during difficult times. Many times I’ve had someone buy a card or print of a horse and she will say “I don’t even know why I’m have to have this! I’m afraid of horses and don’t ride.” When I point out that the for many people horses symbolize freedom - seeing her face light up with an “Aha! That’s what it is.” is just magic.
Melissa Klein; Dream Catcherr
About Melissa My paintings are moving meditations that inspire people to look beyond the ordinary. They depict spiritual, dream images that emerge from the trance-like state I experience when painting. Many times I have been told that these images help their new keepers navigate major transitions in their lives. Visit me at Melissa Klein Art Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 21
Get Your Financial House In Order For 2013 Monique Lusse
I
f you put just these five things in place by December 31st, 2012 you’ll “hit the ground running” with confidence and peace of mind come January 2nd, 2013.
Get QuickBooks and use it! If you started your business in 2012, this will be the first year that you’re filing your business taxes. Congratulations! While you have until April 15, 2013 to file your tax returns, there are a few good reasons why getting your books up-to-date before the year-end is a really good idea. I know how easy it is when you’re just starting out to throw your receipts in a drawer or to keep track of your income and expenses on an Excel spreadsheet. Getting setup on QuickBooks may seem like overkill to you right now, especially if you’re spending more than your bringing in. You’re going to get busy, you’re going to get clients, you’re going to need it next year. As a client of mine once said, “It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.” You’re going to have to set up your books eventually. Sooner is better than later; it’s much easier for you to get the hang of using 22 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
it now when things are a bit slower and you have the time. Take advantage of that.
Set up and fund an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
Open a separate business checking account.
Not only is this a strategy for your future, it also helps you in the present. You can “shelter” (not pay taxes on) up to $5,000 per year ($6,000 if you’re over 50). All contributions must come from income earned in 2012. You have until April 15, 2013 to both open and fund your IRA for 2012.
Don’t commingle funds. Keep your business finances separate from your personal ones. There are a few reasons for this. 1. It makes reconciling your bank and credit card accounts a snap. 2. Reconciling your accounts insures that you have accounted for each and every transaction accurately and completely. 3. It allows you to accept payments in the name of your business.
Get a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). This is equivalent to a social security number for businesses. And you don’t have to be an employer to get one. It doesn’t cost anything and you can apply and get one online in just a few minutes. There are two main reasons why this is beneficial to you. 1. You need an FEIN in order to open a business checking account. 2. You keep your social security number private, thereby limiting the number of people who see it, thereby reducing the risk of identity theft.
Get clear and conscious about what your intentions are for 2013. Create a “financial vision board,” also known as a “budget,” for next year. Dream a little. First, imagine how much you’d like to make in income. Stretch yourself, get a little uncomfortable. Second, estimate what your expenses are going to be, including what you need to spend in order to support the income you want. This may mean that you attend some conferences, or tradeshows, or networking events. Travel and coaching may be involved, so think about what you’re willing to invest in yourself and your business in order to reach your income goals.
About Monique Monique Lusse is a Financial Midwife who guides and supports business owners with their financial operations. To schedule a complimentary “Financial Clarity Call,” go to www.equitybydesign.com
Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 23
Five Tips for Winterizing Your Business Wrap up any existing projects, include a cut off date for new ones and schedule them for when you get back
Write and schedule your posts/newsletters
Notify your clients you’ll be on break
Plan your first few “Back to Work” projects so you will be focused and ready to go when you get back!
DON’T tell your social networks! Check out the site Please Rob Me to see how easily your over sharing can get you in trouble.
24 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
Elaine Bailey cont. from p.13 frustrated because we ‘haven’t got there yet.’ We burn out, give up or become distracted by something else… We never reach the summit and instead well allow the excuses to take over: ‘it’s too hard’ or ‘it’s not for me’ or ‘I didn’t really try.’
1
Being successful involves discipline and persistence – You have to show up and do the work EVERY single day. Hiking up a mountain involves taking every single step along the way… one after the other. Creating a business or building a career is very similar.
“It’s easy to get swept up in the enthusiasm and race ahead.” Are you setting yourself up for success and committing for the entire duration of the journey or are you looking for any quick way to get it all done?! This mountain metaphor can be transferred to your own life or work goals… Here’s what Anita taught me on the Eiger trail:
You have to be in it for the duration – not just when you feel like it. You can only enjoy it fully if you set the right pace for YOU. Listen to your body and be guided by your own intuition. Stretch and challenge yourself – YES! Kill yourself – NO! Set your pace for success and commit to
2
Elaine Bailey cont. on p.26
Your Designers for Life See how our unique approach to design will help your business. Visit us today: http://bluesunstudio-inc.com Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 25
Elaine Bailey cont. from p.25 it. It’s not about racing, it’s about pacing! Don’t get distracted by comparing yourself to others. YOU are YOU… You’re not someone else so stop trying to contort yourself. Be 100% pure YOU! Start from where you are today and do it your way! Be the leader in your life by setting your own pace. It’s NOT a race… It’s just you and the mountain! (it’s just you and your goal). Enjoy the journey. There is much to see (and learn) along the way – take it in… FULLY experience what is happening and what is around you. Many people walk through
3
4
life unconsciously and become de-sensitized because we’re just ‘too busy’ getting things done. Some hikers were focused on getting to the top and didn’t even stop to take in the breath-taking views and beauty around them. We are all human beings – no one is better than the other… Racing to the top of the mountain (or your end goal) doesn’t make you BIGGER, better or more important than anyone else. You need to take action and do the work – one step at a time. Get there on your terms NOT on your ego’s terms! It’s NOT about racing… it’s about pacing!
5
Where to Find Elaine Elaine Bailey is the founder and CEO of Elaine Bailey International Ltd a learning organization committed to growth and empowerment of inspired business owners and busy corporate leaders. She coaches them to become the best they possibly can be by taking a whole new approach to personal development, self-leadership, productivity, business and lifestyle. Elaine is an exceptional international business coach, combining both an intense focus on individual lifestyle, and a deeper commitment to business leadership and transformation. Her online magazine WorkBrilliant has an international readership, sharing weekly articles, practical tips and advice. It has been reprinted on several world-renowned websites. She is a published author. She has privately coached people in professional fields ranging from nursing, therapy, telecommunications, veterinary practice, law, banking to scientific research. Her unique ability is helping people who are ready to take the leading role in their life and make things happen, whether it is in their own business or in corporate.Here’s how to contact Elaine: Website: www.elainebaileyinternational.com Mail: info@elainebaileyinternational.com LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/elainejbailey Facebook: www.facebook.com/elainejbailey 26 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
Words of Wisdom: Gratitude “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.“ ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero “Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.” ~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
“Whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will increase in your life.” ~ Sanaya Roman, Living with Joy: Keys to Personal Power and Spiritual Transformation “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.“ ~ William Arthur Ward
Blocked? Unleash your creative power! No predictions or premonitions. Practical intuitive guidance.
Click Below for Eliza Fayle’s Email Intuitive Tarot Reading Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 27
Grenades cont. from p.19 us pay extra attention to the word grenades we are holding in our hands. We need to be even more careful to look at our words from someone else’s perspective and not our own before flinging those hurtful grenades without a care. Some of the roles in our lives make it easy to be critical or thoughtless. Parenting is a difficult job, (I think the hardest) and our words have the power to scar for life and yet, it’s the easiest place to let loose lips fly. This is my most challenging area. And I have learned from personal experience, that self-care is my best defense. I am never at my best when I am overtired, overworked or harried. Being a boss, we forget that our criticism and harsh commentary shapes an employee’s job satisfaction, their self esteem and ability to move forward. We can say we are offering
constructive criticism, but is it always that constructive? Or is it really more destructive? As coaches and mentors, it’s our place to offer constructive insights, helpful tips and feedback. However, do they leave their time with us feeling energized or beaten down? How about as friends? Spouses? Family members? Are we as careful as we could be to be sure our words are helpful? Do we take the time to think about if our words are helping or hurting the people we love most? Words matter. Our opinions matter, our constructive comments, feedback and insights can change a life. But carelessly tossed, they can also harm one too. This holiday season, take an extra moment to stop and remember that your words can be a grenade or a healing balm. Which one will you pack when you leave the house?
A new Indie Film Production Company needs your help! head on over to: www.classclownpictures.com Click on “wedgie!” and please donate—get your friends to do the same for karmic rewards!
28 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
Inspiring peace and joy Offering beautiful wares.
Creating a soulful newsletter.
Spiritually mentoring dear souls.
Leading journaling workshops
Come along! www.joyonyourshoulders.com Built to Last cont. from p.9 something solid, something that will stand up over time? If you’re making art, do you make prints? If you write, will you publish your work in an actual book? Or will it all just float for eternity in the ether? The beauty of everything we do online is it started out as a physical product. Somewhere
along the line, in a relatively short period of time, that balance shifted. Use the internet as a tool to create reality, not the other way around. Take a look at what you do online, whether it’s for fun or for a living. How can you build something to last?
Consultation cont. from p.11 and in turn, that client will want even more as the project gets underway. Before you know it, you’re putting in far more time and effort to please this individual and keep them. The scope and budget for the project is way out of whack and you end up losing money on the deal. Stay true to your ideal client no matter what. You have an ideal client in mind for a reason:
You like working with that kind of person. They “get” you and you “get” them. It works. It’s effortless. It’s a pleasure. You look forward to getting up in the morning to work with them. The project comes to life without a hitch and may even get done ahead of schedule. You’re having fun, your ideal client is having fun and chances are, you’re both probably planning out the next project! Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 29
You will be what you will to be; Let failure find its false content In that poor word “environment,” But spirit scorns it, and is free. It masters time, it conquers space, It cows that boastful trickster, Chance, And bids the tyrant Circumstance Uncrown, and take a servant’s place. The human Will, that force unseen, The offspring of a deathless Soul, Can hew a way to any goal, Though walls of granite intervene. Be not impatient in delay, But wait as one who understands; When spirit rises and commands, The gods are ready to obey. ~ James Allen, As a Man Thinketh 30 The Creativepreneur, November/December 2012
Photo: Wendi Kelly Creativity Blossoms In Gratitude 31