ENTERPRISE + INITIATIVE Page 11 of 33

How to leave work on time

Posted on 2015-07-14 at 8:55 am.

This is a guest post by one of the UK’s leading experts in digital distraction and digital detox and author of The Distraction Trap: How to Focus in a Digital World, Frances Booth. Find out more about Frances here.

For many of us, leaving work on time seems impossible. Getting up from our desk, and walking out of the door at the time we are meant to should be simple, but it isn’t. We want to leave work on time, we aim to leave work on time, but yet, we don’t manage it.

Day after day, this cycle repeats.

So how can we shift our thinking? While working 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour late each day might not seem like much in isolation, when you add this little bit of time up each and every day, it becomes a huge chunk of our time. One of the things that often overwhelms us about work when things get out of balance is not having enough time for personal admin. All those little life tasks build up and we feel disorganised and out of control because we have no time to do them.

By getting our work done, then leaving on time, we leave ourselves time for our lives outside of work. Being productive during the working day improves our work-life balance. An important part of time management includes leaving time for our lives outside of work. It might seem a small thing, but one vital step in doing this is leaving work on time. After all, if Barack Obama manages to get home in time for dinner, then surely, so can we.

Here are some [Tweet “dos and don’ts to help you leave work on time”].

Don’t:

Pick up the phone to answer one last call just before you’re due to leave. The call is bound to be a tricky one.

‘Just check’ your email one last time. You’ll get pulled back in to answering demands, and another email cycle will begin that could pull you off course for another half hour an hour.

Waste time during the day and then have to stay late to catch up on what you should have done earlier.

Create a crisis each day.

Make extra work for yourself. Instead, look for ways to be more productive in every instance possible.

Work in an office where there is a culture of all staying late just for show.

Let work fill your entire evening. Be especially careful if you work for yourself – you might have to do extra work on boundary setting.

Waste time on email.

Waste time on social media.

Feel guilty. By taking time away from work to wind down, recharge, and enjoy your life outside of work, you’ll be more productive and happier when you get back to the office.

Do

Expect it to take longer than you think to finish up for the day.

Leave clear instructions ahead of time for anyone you’re handing over to as you leave.

Stay late on the days it’s really vital to. You won’t mind this now and again if you leave on time normally.

Steer clear of other people who waste your time. Remember, you need that time so you can leave on time. Read my article on the Top 10 Ways To Say No And Save Time to help with this.

Get organised. Work hard.

Get your work done in a productive, efficient way during the day.

Think twice before deciding to take work home with you. This especially includes working from your smartphone or tablet (just because the technology means you can doesn’t mean you should).

Set a good example if you’re the boss.

Get in to the habit of leaving on time.

Think about results, productivity and getting things done, rather than sitting at your desk just for the sake of it. What you get done is the important thing, not how many hours it takes you.

Expect it to be tricky at first. Whenever we make a behaviour change this is the case.

Try leaving work on time today.

Do What You Love interview – Anna DeMarco-Mills

Posted on 2015-07-02 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Anna DeMarco-Mills is a jack of many terrific trades. She’s surrounded by creativity with her New Old Fashioned endeavor that hosts well-curated craft and culinary workshops, as well as her day job in the accounts department at Urban Outfitters Inc. in Philadelphia. Beth and I had the pleasure of meeting Anna at the Sweet Paul Makerie at terrain back in April (more about this in July’s newsletters!). Here she had teamed up with talented calligrapher Meredith Langer to teach a wonderful Watercolour Correspondence workshop which was packed with practical hints, tips, tools and techniques to help us create our own works of art. It was so much fun and Anna was a fantastic teacher. We couldn’t wait to find out more about her and how she’s doing what she loves. Hope you enjoy the interview. ~ Rachel

1. What’s your background?

I was raised in an Italian American family with a chef for a dad and a very serious baker for a mom. Throughout my life, my family owned restaurants, gourmet shops and a catering business. I studied Small Business Management in college because I always knew my goal was to run my own business. Somewhere along the way, I discovered my talent for crunching numbers. That’s how I landed in the finance world. I spent many years focusing on “success” and what was supporting me financially while pursuing other passions, and honing my skills and expertise in cooking, styling and event coordination.

Once I figured out what I really wanted, I started creating and volunteering my time; I put myself out there as much as possible. When I have an idea or a concept, I don’t think, “I wonder if anyone will like this.” Instead, I dare myself to do it. So over the past few years I’ve been exploring my creative side much more and taking many more risks in order to grow my business.

3. How do you find the time to do your day job at Urban Outfitters Inc. in Philadelphia with running your own business?

It can be extremely hard at times, especially on Monday mornings after a “work-end” full of events. Luckily, I have a very understanding and supportive husband and my friends and family are very accepting. I miss socializing, but my friends are so lovely that they often attend my events in order to spend time with me! How lucky am I?

From creative crafts to pickling vegetables Anna hosts all sorts of wonderful workshops

4. New Old Fashioned started as a passion project and it’s grown into a viable business. Was this always your intention and how have your goals and dreams changed?
The New Old Fashioned started as a dare to myself! I was starting to get really angsty. I had so many ideas and concepts in my head, but I couldn’t find a way to align them to form a business plan that made sense. I just decided to forget the labels and do what felt exciting. I started throwing workshops, catering and volunteering for photo styling jobs, etc. It seemed to grow organically and take shape from there.

Watercolour stationery – one of Anna’s many talents!

5. What are the toughest lessons you’ve learnt launching a new start-up?

You don’t know what you don’t know! Sounds simple, right? You are never going to be able to predict things on the horizon, you just have to be prepared as much as possible and be willing and able to recoup when the unexpected happens.

6. What can people expect from a New Old Fashioned workshop? And when are your next workshops?

My hope is that the students who attend my workshops, first and foremost, learn something new and have fun. I want them to feel the wonder of learning a new skill and feel confident about using their new-found tools and techniques once they’re back home. I engage my students in as many ways possible for the full experience and we love to eat and laugh! Recently I’ve been incredibly busy with private and corporate events, but I have a lots of fun workshops planned for the near future. Look out for some culinary workshops that will be open to the public in the Fall.

Made by Anna: delicious sweet treats to sell at market

7. What have been your biggest highlights in the last year or two?

It’s been incredible to see interest in artisan workshops in the event industry grow. I love that in the digital age, when we are bombarded by information via the internet and social media, etc. there’s a growing desire to get together for face to face workshops and gatherings. My participation in the Sweet Paul Makerie was a particular highlight. It was a full circle moment for me. I’ve been a fan of Sweet Paul for years and the magazine is a constant source of inspiration for me so to be involved in such an inspiring event that brought so many creative, like-minded people together meant the world!

Anna’s watercolour workshop at Sweet Paul Makerie, Philadelphia

8. As well as cooking, styling and coordinating events, you’re an amazing artist; when did you discover your passion for watercolour painting and how often do you do it?

I actually discovered watercolour one day at work. At URBN, we have a weekly “Brown Bag” class. It’s open to employees only and each class has a different focus. About five years ago, I attended a watercolour Christmas card class and it was a total game changer. I started making my own cards and my hobby took off from there. Last week, I taught my very own Brown Bag on DIY Designer popcorn making. It was extremely fun!

Anna’s DIY Designer Popcorn making workshop

9. Talk us through your dream day…

My kind of day involves waking up very early in the morning, jumping in my car with my husband, Tommy, and going for a road trip. It’s so lovely to live on the Eastern seaboard. We are within driving distance to so many amazing destinations. This road trip would also include any combination of a farmer’s market, flea market, antique shops, vintage cookbooks and, of course, great food.

10. Where do you go to dream, create or just be?

I go to the beach or the mountains. Here in Pennsylvania, we have the very best of both words… we are no more than two hours from both. My husband and like to spend as much time as possible in the Pocono Mountains and hope to have a little place of our own there someday.

11. It’s an exciting time for you; what’s next?

Well, as you know, this was a dare turned into a much bigger project, so it’s almost like starting from the middle. I would like to spend some time focusing on fine-tuning my business plan and branding. I think a big part of the future for The New Old Fashioned will be the workshop piece being added to amazing events. I’ve been getting a lot of requests from people who want to add a workshop element to an event or party they are organizing and I think that is a wonderful idea. How cool would it be to offer entertainment in the form of inspiration and education to guests at your next get-together?

Partnerning with Lindsey Buck of The Hive Studio to deliver calligraphy workshops in Philly

12. What’s your ultimate dream?

This is funny because I used to tell everyone that my dream would be to work for a lifestyle brand like Ina Garten , Martha Stewart or (our favourite ) Sweet Paul, but I think my secret dream, in the deepest part of my heart, is to create a lifestyle brand centred around home, cooking and crafting. I would never want to be anyone else, but I’d like to build something similar around my own loves and passions.

Anna’s snapshot

Best light-bulb moment: Realising that I didn’t need to be working full time in the event industry to start creating; I could create and produce my own work and start building a portfolio on my own. I think people who love to plan events should just start planning events. Grassroots style… throw a party, sell tickets on Eventbrite and take great photos. True passion and talent are contagious and people will notice.

Favourite way to relax: Believe it or not…cooking and baking. As long as my husband loads the dishwasher for me!

Next creative challenge: Defining my company brand identity. It’s hard because I want it to encompass so many different things. I guess I should probably just keep it as simple as possible!

Colour you most love right now: Turquoise is my very favourite, but I always love a pale peach, too.

Quote you live by: Always treat others as you’d like to be treated.

Wish for the world: That we don’t let social media destroy our connection with one another.

To find out more about Anna, visit her website, or connect with her on Facebook or Pinterest.

Do What You Love – Update from HQ – June 2015

Posted on 2015-06-30 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

In our line of work, as a company where everyone works remotely, we don’t often get a chance to spend that much time – in person – with our team or our collaborators. However June provided us with an opportunity to get together and enjoy a fun couple of days in the sunshine. It was a great reminder of the energy people bring to a community when their passions and values align.

Our ‘Annual Idea Generation Away Days’ saw us bring our small (and perfectly formed!) HQ team together, from Brighton, Sheffield and Spain. We planned the two days very carefully to make sure they were as special and relaxed as possible, while also being useful and productive.

We began day one by celebrating everyone’s hard work over the past 12 months, and sharing our vision and business plan for the next few years. Then we went on to discuss ideas for some exciting new resources that we are currently developing (which are all hush-hush for the time being!) and in true DWYL team fashion everyone’s positivity and ideas lifted our thoughts off the paper (and computer screen!) and transformed them into real, workable concepts.

The afternoon was packed with brainstorming new ideas for even more ways we can help people to do what they love. One of the highlights was sharing news about ‘Reading Week’, where later in the summer, everyone in the team will switch off their email and do in-depth research and thinking on a particular topic, without distraction. We gave each team member has a specific brief to work on during this time – something we know they relate to and feel passionately about. Vickie was especially pleased as hers, as it included a trip to Berlin at the end of July! Stay tuned for an update on that one!

And on the second day we took the team to a place where Beth and I always do our best thinking… the open seas! A few hours on a yacht, soaking up the glorious sunshine, saw us generate tons more great ideas, and share how we all plan to do more of what we love over the coming months. All in all it was a fantastic couple of days.

Our team: (From left to right) Rachel, Rose, Me, Beth, Louise and Vickie

There is, of course, lots more exciting news to report this month too…

1. The DWYL e-course, started on June 15 and once again we’re delighted to be joined by participants from all over the world. The honesty and courage being shown in class to date has been remarkable and we are watching on with interest as everyone’s unique journey unfolds. If you are wondering about the true power of the course, well it doesn’t come much bigger than a marriage proposal… and just wait until you find out how he popped the question!

2. The Business Soul Sessions is coming to an end, and we have loved witnessing all the lightbulb moments in the classroom. We can’t wait to see the participating entrepreneurs use their new-found knowledge and skills to make positive changes within their businesses to create greater impact, explosive growth and serious profits they can be proud of.

3. The Little Beach Hut of Dreams has opened its doors again to the ‘Dreamers in Residence’. We look forward to sharing some of their blog posts shortly. UPDATE: The Little Beach Hut of Dreams has been sold as we no longer live in Brighton and only residents are permitted to own beach huts there. This post has been archived for reference but we are no longer accepting applications for Dreamer-in-Residence. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Dreamers-in-Residence for being part of our adventure, and to Towergate Insurance for awarding The Little Beach Hut of Dreams runner up position in Beach Hut of the Year 2015. She was very proud!

4. Our blog continues to be galvanised by our guest bloggers who are all leading all experts in their field. They include: Alastair Humphreys, Ben Keene, Frances Booth, Louise Armstrong and Lara Tabatznik. One of my favourites this month was Alastair’s post on how his book ‘Microadventures’ became a bestseller on Amazon – you can read it here. Of course what he doesn’t say in his post is that his book is also a brilliant read!

An update on our collaborations

Make Art That Sells (MATS):

1. There is only one place to start… MATS: The Global Art Gathering was just the most amazing event! At the gorgeous Brighton Dome on June 12 we played host to creative people from all across the world in what was an extraordinary day of career development, inspiration and motivation. It promised to be fun-filled and action-packed, with all the energy, passion and magic you’d expect from Make Art That Sells, and in the end it was all that and more! It surpassed all of our expectations and left all of Brighton buzzing. All the months of hard work were worth it when we saw the radiant smiles, and felt the incredible energy, of everyone in the room. The artists had gathered from across the globe with one thing in common – a love and passion for art and a commitment to making it their career.

Besides our partner Lilla Rogers, the team was joined by some very special guests including Kelly Rae Roberts, Rachael Taylor and Lilla’s agents, Susan McCabe and Joanne Hus who were outrageously generous with their knowledge, experience and advice.

For me it was great to witness 60-70 people meet for the first time in person after discussing art for the best part of two years online within our classrooms. One of them described the day as feeling like a first date: exciting and nervewracking at the same time and potentially, the start of something amazing!

From left to right: Beth, Lilla and Kelly Rae

For us the most important thing of all was that everyone left feeling inspired, invigorated and motivated to forge ahead in their career in art. We look forward to supporting them in doing that.

2. MATS: Creating Collections for Home Decor started last Monday. It has been hugely in demand since we announced its launch a few months ago. Lilla and Beth have teamed up with Top Art Director Margo Tantau (VP of Creative for MidwestCBK) to create it. Margo says: “This course is teaching something desperately needed in the industry. It’s a gamechanger.”

3. Registration for the 2015 Global Talent Search is now open! Don’t miss out on what could be one of the biggest and best opportunities for your career… you can register here. We are proud to be producing this global online event again this year, and are blown away by the calibre of the judges and prizes on offer. Find out more here.

4. MATS: Assignment Bootcamp finished with the publishing of the June gallery. I can honestly say that I’ll miss the buzz in the Bootcamp Community but I know there will only be a short interlude before attention turns to this year’s Global Talent Search.

5. The Make Art That Sells website continues to turn heads! It’s bursting with free resources, industry insight and motivational videos to help the artists among you make leaps forward with your career. Be sure to check it out.

Make It In Design (MIID)

Rachael Taylor – speaking at three industry events: already this summer Rachael Taylor and the Make it in Design team have hit the road – and the sky – to attend a number of industry events. Recently Rachael spoke at The Make Art That Sells Global Gathering and the New Designers trade show in London, and she’ll also be speaking at Printsource New York in August 2015. Read more on the MIID blog.

Registration opens for Summer School: back by popular demand Summer School returns to bring fun, creativity and inspiration to homes around the world this July. There are three tracks Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced and you can sign up for one or more options to use this opportunity to stretch yourself, connect with other designers, experience working to a brief, grow your portfolio and even get your work published! Summer School starts on July 6 and finishes on July 31. Visit the Summer School page to discover what’s in store, prizes on offer and free resources at your fingertips.

The Ultimate Portfolio Builder course is well underway. We have welcomed students from around the world including the USA, Dubai, Italy, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Slovenia, China, Bulgaria, Austria, Netherlands, UK and more. The course’s private Facebook group is alive with creativity, buzzing with excitement and brimming with artwork inspired by different cultures. We’ll soon be opening up registration for our next round of courses starting September 21, so be sure to sign up and prepare to launch your career and design work to dizzy heights.

Thought of the month…

I am currently reading ‘An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth‘ by Chris Hadfield and I thought I’d share a few passages, which I’m sure we can all relate to.

“Square astronaut, round hole. It’s the story of my life, really: trying to figure out how to get where I want to go when just getting out the door seems impossible. On paper, my career trajectory looks preordained: engineer, fighter pilot, test pilot, astronaut. But that’s not how it really was. There were hairpin curves and dead ends all the way along. I wasn’t destined to be an astronaut. I had to turn myself in to one…”

As a 9-year-old after watching Neil Armstrong land on the moon…

“…I was old enough to understand that getting ready wasn’t simply a matter of playing ‘space mission’ with my brothers in our bunk beds, underneath a big National Geographic poster of the moon. But there was no program I could enroll in, no manual I could read, no one even to ask. There was only one option, I decided. I had to imagine what an astronaut might do if he were 9 years old, then do exactly the same thing. I could get started immediately. Would an astronaut eat his vegetables or have potato chips instead? Sleep in late or get up early to read a book?”

I think Chris’s book is beautifully honest and reminds me that are very few things in this world that we cannot achieve if we want to.

Have you let the seemingly impossible stand in your way?

Until next time,

Mr. K

Some inspiration for dreamers

Posted on 2015-06-26 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

What are you dreaming about today?

Download a high res version to print here.

Passion + talent + attention to detail = a Global Art Gathering in Brighton

Posted on 2015-06-23 at 11:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

The Global Art Gathering 2015 is behind us, but the magic of the event lingers on. Rose Radtke takes a look back on why the event was special for her…

Usually, when I picture Brighton, I picture home. The familiarity of my little flat, a pebble beach remaining unchanged as the seasons come and go, the route I take to work and the shops and cafes I like to mooch around at the weekend. But now I look back on one week in June 2015, and I see Brighton differently. I see it through the eyes of a group of people who arrived in a sunny, quirky seaside town on the south coast of England, eagerly anticipating exploring a new place and meeting long-distance friends in person for the first time.

This group of people are special. Led by Lilla and her lovely team (including husband Andy, son Jacob and daughter Natasha), they radiated positivity from the moment they set foot on British soil. They saw Brighton sparkling in the sunlight, and sought out treasure in the little shops that line the North Laines. While we obsessed over whether the weather was on the turn, they obsessed over our British accents and reveled in our polite, gentle culture.

A whole week was festooned with new people, group shopping trips and VIP events, but the main Global Art Gathering event, held at the Brighton Dome, was undoubtedly where the real magic happened. With artists from the UK meeting those from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand in person for the very first time, you could feel it in the air from the moment we opened the doors.

As I watched so many women (and one man!) join forces, I was struck by how different this event was to any conference I’d been to before. Instead of suits people wore colour and big smiles, and instead of business cards they exchanged compliments. I suddenly understood the power of this community that exists in the most part online, but sets a room alight when they come together. Even though I’m not an artist, that week I felt like one. And seeing those women living their passion made me more determined than ever to seek out my own.

Some really hard work went in to making this event happen. That much you could tell from the careful details on each table, the surprise envelopes hidden under each chair and the stage set up as a cosy living room. The attention to detail combined with the talented speakers and the passion of the crowd made the event so worthwhile for all those who’d travelled from far and wide.

I’m sure the Global Art Gathering 2015 will stick in my mind for many years to come. And I hope I’ll continue to draw on the magic I became a part of. Next time I’m feeling a little deflated I’ll cast my mind back to that special day and remember that I have passion, talent and thoughtfulness somewhere deep inside me.

Where does your mind take you when you need a lift? Is there a person, or a tribe, that continues to inspire you even when you’re not together?

All images by Debbie Joliff

How my book became an Amazon best seller

Posted on 2015-06-16 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

This is a guest post by adventurer, author and motivational speaker Alastair Humphreys. Find out more about Alastair here.

The day you finish writing your book is not the day your book is finished. Nor is it the day the book is published and you gaze with a mixture of relief, disbelief, pride and trepidation on the book in your hand. Your book! At last!

Now you need to sell your book. This requires at least as much work, and is almost as important, as crafting your beautiful manuscript was in the first place.

My book Microadventures, reached #12 on the chart for all books sold on Amazon UK. To put this in context, my long-time most popular book, Moods of Future Joys, is currently sitting at 33,365 in the book rankings!

Here are a few things to consider that will help you boost your sales on Amazon.

1. How does your book, and how do you, the author, look on the site?

How good is your Amazon author page? Get your photo, bio and Twitter feed all up to date on there.

How good is the book page itself? Can you ‘Look Inside’ the book? Are there plenty of images available (where appropriate)? Are there enough? Is the description of the book as good as it could be? Look at the books of your competitors to see how you match up.

If you have several versions of the same book available (paperback and Kindle, for example), get them consolidated onto one page. Fix any inconsistencies. Having random rubbish appear when people search for you and your books damages your brand equity. Yes I did just write “brand equity”!

2. Make sure the book is very “discoverable”

People search for books in two way, so you need to focus on both things. These are:

Search: What keywords are people going to type in to find your book? Amazon explains it well: “Please include any words customers would use to search for your product on search engines that aren’t already in your item title attributes – brand name, model name, target audience, product description, size, size unit of measurement or colour name.” You can get idea of the stuff that people search for by typing in a word to the Amazon search box. Amazon then drops down lots of suggestions. Nab these. Then write the word followed by ‘a’ to get the popular second words beginning with ‘a’. Then do it for ‘b’ and so on… (Thanks, Jo, for this tip!)

Dual Noding: Also known as “finding your book in more than one area”. Look at the list of topics on the left of the page here. Could your book fit into more than one category? Where might the customer reasonably search for your book? There are a bazillion sub-categories to all of these things too. You obviously want to be in the right category. But bear in mind that if you can become a best-seller in a tiny, random category then you can more or less claim your book to be best-selling without feeling too much of a fraud. Clearly every book ever written claims to be best-selling so I wouldn’t hold too much in store from this dubious honour!

See what random categories my book has ended up in:

3. Casting the net wide

I should have (but haven’t) tried to get the book on Audible.

4. Reviews

If you are an Amazon customer yourself you will know how you respond to items that have lots or not many reviews. Which do you prefer? My personal preference is for books that have lots of reviews, but not when the reviews have blatantly all just been written by the authors friends with an instant 5-star rating.

When Microadventures came out I worked really hard to get people to review the book. I asked – a lot – on social media. I probably annoyed people by doing it too much. I didn’t ask them to write a good review, I asked for an honest review. I didn’t just want 50 identical 5-star reviews from my friends. I believed that the book was good and that the reviews would genuinely be good. So I was willing to accept a few bad ones too, if necessary. Like this 1-star review I got.

5. Rally your tribe

Amazon takes note of spikes of sales: sudden sharp bursts of activity are more likely to get your book zooming up the charts than a steady trickle of sales. You need to rally your tribe – your friends, family, blog readers, social media followers and beg, plead, order them to buy your book on one certain date. Don’t do this lightly – it’s quite annoying for them. But people are willing to tolerate you hassling them like this if you’ll built up a rapport and a store of goodwill. Here’s how I did it for Microadventures. I went so far as to offer one of my other books for free as an incentive.

I am certainly not an expert about any of this stuff, so I would welcome any thoughts and suggestions you might have.

Good luck!

Dreamer, doer or a dreamer who does?

Posted on 2015-06-15 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Are you a dreamer and a doer? What’s your big dream? What are you doing to make your dream come true?

8 ways to identify your passions and purpose

Posted on 2015-06-10 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

As Confucius said, “choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” It’s great advice, but it’s not always that simple. Discovering what you want to do in life is, for many people, a life-long pursuit. Yet when you do eventually find your passion it is like finding your personal guide to happiness. You feel motivated, inspired, and so much clearer about what your next steps in life should be.

If you know you want to do what you love, but you’re not sure what that is, here are our top tips for pinpointing your passions:

1. Take a trip down memory lane

Often, our truest passions emerge in childhood, only to be squelched by real life pressures. So think about what you loved doing when you were little. Did you love animals? Taking care of people? Storytelling? Playing shopkeeper? Drawing? Painting? Speaking French? Revisiting these things could be the key to unlocking big dreams and doing what you love.

2. Relax your mind

When slow down and still our minds we listen to our inner voice and reconnect with our true authentic selves. Practicing yoga or Tai Chi each day, walking in nature, meditating and taking time to chill out, can help us find the answers we’re looking for.

3. Think about what makes you special

No one else has your personality and your unique combination of talents, wisdom, strengths, skills, and creativity. Identifying what sets you apart and what comes easily and naturally to you will take you a step closer to doing what you love. Remember that we are all here for a reason and we all have our own light to shine on the world.

4. Find the themes

What themes seem to show up aregularly in your life? What are you drawn to time and time again? What areas of your life are full of joy and light? When we recognise and acknowledge the re-ocurring patterns in our life, we can begin to understand what they are teaching us and act on them to take us closer to doing what we love.

5. Figure out what excites and energizes you?

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

What do you most look forward to in day-to-day life? What makes you smile? What activities leave you feeling mentally refreshed and energized? What hobbies see you losing track of time? Can you make a career out of this, so your passion can become your day job?

6. Think big, think positive and believe

If we are continually telling ourselves we can’t, then we will never believe we can. You can create affirmations, focus on the things you want, or make a vision board that shows your future success.

7. Forget about the money

If money were limitless, what would you be doing? Remember that being happy is not the same as being rich – you can always scale back. Focus on your interests and your passions, even if they seem farfetched; doing something you love will make you happier than being paid for doing something you hate. More on this at 5 Reasons You Should Never Work for Money.

8. Trust synchronicity and take action!

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” ~ Milton Berle

When we trust our gut feelings and invite something new into our lives it can trigger a series of events that can, potentially, change our lives. For instance it was taking a calligraphy class that inspired Steve Jobs to start Apple. You’ll never know if you like something unless you give it a try so stop finding excuses and go for it! Learn a language, sign up for a class or course, try a sport you’ve never played before, become a volunteer for a cause you feel strongly about, or start the business plan you’ve been dreaming about, and it will take you another step closer to finding your passion.

The Do What You Love e-course will help you identify your passion and purpose. If you know it’s time to make a major change in your life – if you are seeking personal, professional or financial freedom and need support to find your way – don’t miss it! The course starts next week so find out more and register here.

We love big crazy dreams

Posted on 2015-06-08 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Make your big crazy dreams come true this June!

Do you find yourself thinking things like: “I can’t afford to _______” … or “I’m too old to _______” … or “I’m going to need years of training before I can _______” … or “It’s just not realistic for me to _______?” Then our flagship e-course is for you – and you can register today!

Do What You Love is an acclaimed transformational course that will show you that all of your options are still open, no matter what your current circumstances and responsibilities may be. It’s about re-opening doors that you thought were locked shut… re-opening possibilities that you thought were long gone… and illuminating possibilities you never knew existed.

Over the period of 5 weeks course you’ll be inspired and motivated. You’ll learn things about yourself that you may never have know and you’ll have lots of fun! Lessons are energising and doable and they’ve been carefully sequenced to help you build confidence, build a plan and build momentum.

Join us and make possibility your new reality.

“Thanks to this course I stepped off the ledge and did something I have been wanting to do for years – and I feel lighter than air.” ~ Christine B

Do What You Love interview – Jessica Nazarali

Posted on 2015-06-04 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Imagine feeling creatively fulfilled in your work, having plenty of time to spend with your loved ones, travelling all over the world and earning a six figure salary, all while making a real and lasting difference to other people’s lives… Well for Sydney-based Jessica Nazarali, this is no longer a dream, it’s reality.

Just 12 months after quitting her day job, hiring a business coach, and going all in on her business as a Divine Living Coach, she gained the reputation as the next big ‘it girl coach’ and earned over $250,000. Four years on, aged 27, she runs a thriving business helping new women coaches create successful coaching businesses and build beautiful, personal brands.

“I always knew I wanted to do something “big” in the world,” Jessica says. “I’ve never wanted to lead an ordinary life, just scraping by only taking holidays once a year, only eating at my favourite restaurants on ‘special’ occasions, buying a new outfit only if I could justify the spend. As scary as it was to take the leap and be a full-time Divine Living Coach and entrepreneur, the thought of looking back in five, 10 or 20 years time and thinking “what if” seemed MUCH more scary. I’ve always believed that the world is better place when women do work they love and I am passionate about helping them to fulfil their true potential. It feels so good knowing that in some way I’m making a lasting difference.” Enjoy the interview. ~Rachel

1. How did starting a blog inspire you to become an entrepreneur?

I started out with a blog in 2011 on healthy living and eating, and over time, it grew to have a big following. Even though I thought I was terrible at writing when I first got started, I grew to love the process of writing and photo-documenting. Of course, I loved my readers too! From here other bloggers started asking me for tips on how to make their blogs as widely followed as mine was and eventually, that turned into coaching. A new business was born. I thought I would be a healthy eating coach, since that was the topic of my blog. It felt like a natural shift. But that wasn’t what I loved, which was helping women change their lives by starting their own coaching businesses. At first, I was trading my coaching services for beauty therapy, so I’ve come a long way since then.

2. You can help women turn their dreams of creating a six figure coaching business into a reality… how?

I take my clients through every step of the process, from the ‘big stuff’ such as getting over the fears that are holding you back to the tiny details like using Facebook ads and the importance of beautiful web design. Many women come to me with no coaching business at all – just a dream they’ve been thinking about – and after going through coaching with me or one of my programs, they are booking high end, one-on-one clients.

3. As women we all live busy lives so what advice would you give to help us find the time to step outside our routine, dream and get a vision for our next phase?

I love this question! I do a few things. First, I try to fit in at least a bit of yoga everyday. That really keeps me grounded and focused. Also, I have music on almost always, but especially when I’m masterminding or daydreaming. It really sets the tone for the positivity I want in my life and my business. Last but not least, travel always does this for me. I usually return from a trip with a huge, new plan to get started on.

4. You talk a lot about wow factors – ways we can all ‘up-level’ and keep improving ourselves personally and professionally. Why is it so important to learn, grow and keep developing ourselves and how can we all start doing this today?

Well, no one is going to make your dreams happen but you. I decided I was going to make my dreams come true No. Matter. What. I keep that in mind with every decision I make and every leap I need to take. It makes the fear of failure less scary because even if I don’t succeed at one little thing, it’s part of a larger success story. So it’s important not to let one potential mistake stop you in your tracks.

Beyond that, if you’re not continuing to improve all the time, it gets boring, right? No one wants a boring coach. So I like to keep things interesting for myself and for my clients.

5. Tell us about your business courses… what do they involve and how do we know which is right for us?

Your First Leap is everything you need to launch a coaching business and say goodbye to the day job that is holding you back from so much more. You’ll build a quit plan that makes sense for you and your life and get started building your dream business.

Find Your First Paying Coaching Clients is for women who are ready to go from no paying clients to successful coaching business that consistently get high end clients using premium packages. You’ll learn all of the steps to put your business together and create a brand that feels uniquely personal. While there are many business programs out there, there are not so many that focus solely on coaches AND specifically helping them find coaching clients. It’s important for new coaches to focus on finding clients because when you find your first paying clients, your confidence and belief in yourself really sky rockets.

Then, my new program, The Next It Girl Coach is about making a huge impact with your unique message to become the next ‘big thing’ in the coaching industry. What I love about It Girl is that it gives you permission to want fame and fortune along with reaching more people through your coaching career.

6. Your book, Leaping from the ladder, is written for women with big dreams who want to do what they love everyday. How does it help women figure out whether they are ready to be their own boss and get started?

Leaping From the Ladder is part memoir of my own experience going from corporate career girl to coaching queen, and part how to guide, walking you through everything you need to know about working for yourself and transitioning from reliable paychecks to earning your own income. It’s perfect for you if you want to start building your dream business with your eyes wide open about what it means to be your own boss and how to make it happen.

7. Mindvalley has asked you to create a coaching program for their new company Evercoach, how did this come about, what’s the program about, and what is involved?

Yes! This is really exciting, isn’t it? It’s a lesson in not underestimating yourself, for sure. A couple of months ago my husband mentioned that he thought Mindvalley would “love to partner with me” (being the very supportive husband that he is!) and I went into, “Well, maybe in five years when I’m more established, blah, blah.” Not a month later, I got a call from Mindvalley, based on a referral from Gina DeVee, asking me to create a course for them! So, my course will be coming out next month and it’s called Thrive.

8. How does it feel to see your business dreams come to life?

It feels amazing! Back when I was working in corporate, if you had told me I would be where I am right now – running my own 6-figure business, traveling the globe (as I write this from the south of France!), working with amazing clients to help them build their dream coaching businesses – I think I would have fainted!

9. What’s the key to getting balance?

I actually find it’s easier to balance it all now than it was back when I was working in my day job and running a business on the side. I don’t take it for granted that I can go to lunch with friends when I want, start my work day as early or as late as I need to, and work from anywhere in the world as long as I have my laptop.

10. What are the next steps in your business dream? What’s your ultimate dream?

Big question! I’m working on a couple of new projects right now, including the Mindvalley course, that are really expanding my vision of what’s possible in the very near future. Ultimately, I would love to have a huge platform for sharing my message with the world.

Jessica’s snapshot

Happiest place: Anywhere with my husband!

Quickest way to find clarity: Take a break and leave the house

Yoga position you love: Pigeon. I hated it when I first started yoga but now I really love it.

Mantra of the moment: I’m a millionaire

Most inspiring book you’ve read: I love Leveraging the Universe by Mike Dooley

Biggest ‘ah-ha’ moment in the last year: Anyone can be a millionaire within three years. Think about how empowering that is!

Three words that describe you: Determined, fun, love

Quote you live by: “Done is better than perfect”

Wish for the world: A ton of healing can come from accepting who you are, flaws and all. If everyone could do that, the world would be a happier, healthier place.

For more information about Jessica and the fascinating work she does visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.