CREATIVITY + INNOVATION Page 6 of 38

Knee deep in books and ideas…

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I hope this finds you basking in the same kind of glorious sunshine we are enjoying here in the south of England. I am just back from a few days at the Hay Festival (of books), and How The Light Gets In, a festival of ideas and philosophy, both held in the sweet Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye.

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My mind was left buzzing so much from the events that I have hardly slept since I got back. Today I’m going to share a few pictures and thoughts from Hay, and next week I’ll share some insight into the fascinating ideas festival.

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The Hay Festival is one of the most famous literary festivals in the UK. It pulls in big name authors and crowds of 1000+ people to hear them talk, but it also has smaller intimate events where you can ask your favourite authors anything you like. I went to a wide range of events, from a Q&A with Sarah Bakewell, author of ‘At The Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being and Apricot Cocktails‘, to a session with Anthony Lester QC, author of ‘Five ideas to fight for: How our freedom is under threat and why it matters’ and the barrister at the heart of the thirty year campaign that resulted in the Human Rights Act.

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As you can see there is a bit of a theme going on here… no surprise that I was interested in talks on the theme of freedom with my own book deadline just around the corner, and freedom on my mind…

All the talks were interesting but the one which really blew me away was Ruby Wax on mindfulness. She was hilarious, powerful, knowledgeable, down-to-earth and very real. If I can ever hold a room the way she did, I’ll be proud! I’m looking forward to reading her book, ‘Frazzled‘.

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The main thing I learnt was that it takes all sorts to be an author. The most important thing is to write a really good book, but after that it helps if you can talk about it in a compelling way, with a touch of humour and a bucketload of humanity.

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Depending on your view of books, spending several days at a literary festival may seem like a luxury or a trial, but to me it was a fantastic opportunity to think deeply about certain ideas, to interact with authors and have a lot of fun people watching! It was refreshment for the brain.

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This week I challenge you to take yourself to some kind of event which takes you out of your comfort zone and pushes you to think differently about something you are interested in.

Have a good one!

Beth

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PS: We have another ‘Mastermind Week’ coming up next week in ‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-Course Creation Masterclass’ so if you want the opportunity to pick my brain about anything e-course related, make sure you are signed up to class by Monday June 13! You can register here.

Win a private mentoring session with DWYL Founder Beth Kempton!

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Over the past few months I have received many enquiries about private mentoring for people wanting to develop their own e-course. It’s hardly surprising as online courses can be a fantastic way to generate a flexible income and share your gifts with the world, but… and it’s a big BUT… there is a lot to navigate to get your work out there in the hands of the right people.

I know that it can be a long road, and it can make a huge difference to have someone experienced to bounce your ideas off. Although I am consumed with writing a book right now, I am planning to start offering a 1-1 mentoring service later in the year to go alongside our online course ‘Reach Teach Profit: The E-course Creation Masterclass’.

As a trial for this, I am offering one free mentoring opportunity (in person or via Skype) to someone registered for the class. If you think this would benefit you, read on! (Note: You can register with a £50 discount if you join by May 31 – just use the code ‘rtpmentor’ at checkout).

Not only is this course packed with our unique insight from several years and several million dollars’ worth of e-course sales, it really translates. One current participant recently launched her first course with 70 sign ups in the first 24 hours. Yours could be next!

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THE PRIZE! ** PLEASE NOTE THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED**

Your choice of the following:

  • 2 x one-hour mentoring sessions with me via Skype OR
  • A two-hour mentoring session in person (only available in the UK)

During this time you can ask me anything at all regarding the creation of your online course, or business in general.

*Please note you must be registered for ‘Reach Teach Profit: The E-course Creation Masterclass’ by May 31, 2016 to enter this competition. The Masterclass contains a huge amount of valuable insight into the overall development of your course, and the mentoring is designed to go alongside that teaching. You can register with a £50 discount if you join by May 31 – just register here and use the code ‘rtpmentor’ at checkout.

TO ENTER

Answer the following questions in writing or in a short video (3 mins max):

  • What is your motivation for creating an online course?
  • What is your course about and who is it for?
  • How has the course helped you so far? (Note: If you are a new registrant and have not yet had time to dive into the course, it’s fine to omit this question)
  • Why would mentoring from me help you?
  • What specific topic(s) would you like to discuss in our sessions?
  • If you were to win, would you prefer 2 x one-hour Skype sessions or 1 x two-hour in-person mentoring?

Send your entry to [email protected] with ‘E-course Mentoring Competition’ in the subject title by Friday June 3, 2016 and include the following:

– Your written answers to the questions above or a link to your video (please upload to Vimeo.com and be sure to send the password if you choose to make it private)

– Your full name, and website if you have one

Please be sure to read the small print below before entering.

I will select the winner based on who I think would benefit most from mentoring at this time. The winner will be announced by Friday June 10, 2016.

If you want to take advantage of this rare opportunity to pick my brains directly, please make sure you are registered for the course by Tuesday May 31, 2016, and submit your application by Friday June 3, 2016. (Remember, you can register with a £50 discount if you join by May 31 – just register here and use the code ‘rtpmentor’ at checkout)

Good luck!
Beth

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THE SMALL PRINT

  • This opportunity is only available to individuals registered for Reach Teach Profit by Tuesday May 31, 2016, who submit their entry as per the above guidelines.
  • Beth Kempton’s decision on the winner is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
  • If the winner chooses to have the in-person mentoring session they will be responsible for all travel, accommodation and other related costs to attend the meeting, which will take place in Southampton, UK or London, UK
  • The mentoring sessions will take place at a mutually convenient time, to be completed before December 31, 2016.

On my 39th

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Costa Rica - poolI want to take a moment to be grateful today, for this day, my 39th birthday which I am spending in a beautiful yoga spa in the Costa Rican jungle and on a white sand beach at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

I have spent most this week working on my book, which will be on the shelves this time next year. I came here eleven days ago with a rough structure and an inch-high stack of notes. I now have nearly 30,000 words of a first draft to send to my editor. It’s still a long way off the final version, but it’s in a completely different place to the day I landed, and I am so grateful for this time.

I couldn’t have done it without the incredible care of the staff here at the Costa Rica Yoga Spa. They couldn’t have done more to make me feel at home, and give me space to write and write.

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Want to be more creative? Think like a child

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There’s a fascinating relationship between creative thinking and play. If you’re interested in learning more about it, or you want to find out how play can improve your life, watch these inspiring TED Talks:

Tim Brown’s Tales of Creativity and Play

David Kelley’s How To Build Your Creative Confidence

Stuart Brown’s Play is more than just fun

Jay Silver’s Hack a banana, make a keyboard!

Mastermind Week is here – your online teaching questions answered!

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All this week I’m answering ANY and ALL questions you might have about building your own e-course and teaching online, in our first ‘Mastermind Week’ within ‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-course Creation Masterclass‘.

This opportunity is available exclusively to participants of the course, so if you want to get involved get yourself registered!

Don’t underestimate the value of being able to pick the brains of someone who has produced more than 15 online courses, with students in 100+ countries worldwide and who has probably made every mistake in the book along the way, so you don’t have to… You can join us here!

I look forward to being of service to you as you get your e-course out into the world.
Beth

Are you trapped? Are you a freedom seeker? I need your story for my book!

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I am deep into the writing of my book, which is due out with Hay House in Spring 2017. It will be called ‘Freedom Seeker: Live more. Worry less. Do what you love.” This writing process is tough, tough, tough, but it is also one of the most spirit-lifting, intellectually-stimulating, and thrilling things I have ever done. I absolutely love it. But there is still a long way to go until I hand my manuscript in in the summer.

And this is where you come in. The book is packed with tools and personal stories to help readers escape whatever is holding them back, and learn to soar, so they can live a life doing what they love.  But I also want to include a host of stories of other people at various stages of life, with a variety of experiences, who have felt stuck, trapped or held back from living their fullest life.

It could be that you are in it right now, feeling like you have lost control, or that your circumstances are dictating what is possible for you. Perhaps you have dreams of what you want things to be like, but you never seem to get off the starting block, or you get part of the way along and then the dark clouds come in – the fear, the negativity, the worry about money or what others will think. Or maybe your responsibilities always seem to take over and you can’t find the time to take the steps you need to take.

Or perhaps you have been there, but are now living a freer, happier life. Perhaps something happened and you were inspired (or forced) to make major changes in your life which have resulted in you feeling more free, doing something you love and being happier?

If so, I want to hear your story! If you would be willing to share it, please sign up here to join my Freedom Seeker Research Group by Wednesday 30 March, and I will be in touch later this week with an initial questionnaire.

Even if you aren’t able to share your story, I hope you will cheer me along over the coming months as I birth this book and put myself out there in a way which right now feels terrifying! Some things just have to be done…

Thank you so much!

Beth

**A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHARED THEIR INSPIRING STORY WITH ME AND HELPED TO BRING MY BOOK TO LIFE. FREEDOM SEEKER: LIVE MORE. WORRY LESS. DO WHAT YOU LOVE IS NOW OUT.**

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Huge news! On becoming a Hay House author (somebody pinch me!)

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Huge news! On becoming a Hay House author (somebody pinch me!) dwylhq1

Some days are really big days, and I just had one of them. It was the day I signed a deal with Hay House, for them to publish my first book! It is a book about freedom, written for anyone who feels trapped, stuck, hemmed in—not in control of their own time, money, or destiny. It is for people who are afraid that life is passing them by, but feel powerless to do anything about it. It is a timely self-empowerment manifesto: an inspiring and practical manual that will enable people to recognise that freedom is a choice. I am busy writing it now and cannot wait for it to be released worldwide in Spring 2017!

Hang on a minute. Let’s just rewind. Did someone just say I’m going to be a Hay House author? Am I dreaming? It certainly feels that way right now, because this is not just something on my ‘Do Before I’m 40 Bucket List’, but something I have been dreaming of for many years.

In case you’re curious about how it came about, I’ll share the story here. I warn you, this is going to be a long post, because I want to share all the pieces of how this particular dream has unfolded. So get yourself a nice cup of tea and we’ll begin… (Note: I would love for you to help me bring this book to life. Right at the end of this post there’s some info on how to get involved!)

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What’s it like to work with us?

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We are thrilled at the response to our brand new class ‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-Course Creation Masterclass’, and are excited to help such a variety of new e-courses come to life! If you are on the fence about taking this course, take a look at the videos below to find out what it’s like to work with us, and to see that we really do know what we are talking about.

Lots of you have been asking whether you get access to me as part of this course. The answer is yes! Although it is a self-paced course, several times a year I will be hosting Mastermind Weeks in the private class community space, when you can ask me anything. The first of these will run from March 28 – April 1, and there will be more later in the year. These are free of charge for anyone registered for the course, and you can participate as many times as you like when the Mastermind Weeks are offered. If you register today and get started on the course, you’ll be ready with your questions when the first Mastermind Week begins on March 28!

So what’s it like to work with us?

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