ENTERPRISE + INITIATIVE Page 26 of 33

Work with meaning: Danielle Diamond and Beth Cougler Blom share their stories

Posted on 2011-12-19 at 8:00 am.

Today’s shared stories come from Danielle Diamond and Beth Cougler Blom.

Danielle Diamond

I strive to inspire people to live healthier lives both physically and mentally through Yoga, meditation, and a healthy diet, because I have experienced firsthand the profound positive change it can bring to not only your body, but the amount of happiness you feel on a daily basis- and isn’t that what we all ultimately want- to be happy?

For me, doing what you love can be broken down to the simple act of waking up everyday and feeling inspired by the work that you do. To be excited about the opportunities in front of you; to enjoy the company of the people you engage with throughout the day, and to picture yourself in some way continuing this work for many years to come and still smiling; that’s what doing what you love means to me.

I realized that I needed to change my career when I stopping skipping to work everyday while at MTV. All I ever wanted since the first time I watched them play “Video Killed A Radiostar,” was to work there- but after many years of producing concert shows that I loved, I was being asked to produce reality TV. I felt really crappy about creating this genre of television as well as watching it, and I didn’t want to be a part of the machine that was churning it out. I had begun a love affair with yoga, so I decided I would again turn to something I loved; something that could add to people’s lives in a positive way, instead of making them feel good because of other people’s misfortunes.

I happened to leave MTV when I was 8 months pregnant with my first son, but I continued taking weekly yoga classes at a studio I found nearby. By the time my second son was 9 months old, the studio I frequented was beginning a 9-month training program. The teacher I studied under recommended I look into the program, so I decided to sign up. I wound up not only deepening my practice, but my also my relationships with my family, my friends, and ultimately myself. As soon as I graduated I was offered teaching positions at two local studios; then after teaching for 8 years I developed my new Xen Strength Yoga program, which combines a challenging vinyasa flow sequence with weights.

I am extremely grateful that I’ve been lucky so far in building my yoga career. I am fortunate to work at a few great studios, with owners who really care about teaching students how to take their yoga off the mat as well as just a great way to stretch. I think the real work is just beginning as I try to build my brand and reach a broader audience. However, I can already see that ramping up my work schedule has made me prioritize the importance of spending quality time with my children – I never want to let that be sacrificed for my career.

I really try to look forward and not dwell on what I could have done better in the past, because I could make a mile-long list. However, I do wish I had known about web marketing and blogging eight years ago when I started teaching and people were just beginning to blog. Now the marketplace is flooded, but I really hope to create a niche with my Xen Strength brand. I also wish I knew the importance of learning how to run the “business” side of a business instead of just being concerned with the creative and “fun” aspects of it. I could have saved myself a ton of time and money- but I have learned from my mistakes and hope to make fewer of them in the future.

My dream now is to turn Xen Strength into the next big fitness brand, similar to Zumba. Not only do I have my yoga with weights program and DVD, but I am also creating a teacher training program and writing a book with Dr. Barry Sears of The Zone Diet fame. I would also love to speak about my wellness journey to young women who may be going down the same dark road I once was on, and prepare them with tools on how to navigate self-doubt and body image issues, and increase their self-confidence.

[All images courtesy of Danielle Diamond, creator of Xen Strength Yoga.]

To find out more about Danielle visit her website.

Beth Cougler Blom

I know I’m doing what I love when I really enjoy going to work and the hours fly by when I’m there. It’s always been very important to me to do work that aligns with my values and I believe wholeheartedly in what I do. It’s probably why I ended up working at a volunteer centre here in Victoria, BC, Canada – it’s very easy for me to go around the community and speak about how important it is to volunteer. I’m still passionate about it after being there for five years – a record for me in terms of job longevity!

People always tell me that they can tell I’m passionate about what I do just by the look on my face when I talk about it. That is the greatest compliment to me, and a sure sign that I am on the right track with my career.

I never want to have the kind of job again that I dread going to every Sunday night, thinking about the next morning. I really think we all deserve a lot more than that.

I don’t know if there will ever be “one thing” that I want to do, as I have many things that I love doing. And I need a lot of variety in what I do or I get bored. Right now I love organizing events, connecting with people, developing and facilitating workshops, speaking in the community, and promoting issues and causes that I believe in. I feel pretty lucky to be doing all this, yet I know my future probably holds other types of work in it as well. I just don’t know what they all will be yet!

For me, though, teaching/training has always been an interest and then a love. I wanted to be a high school teacher like my parents when I started university but eventually I found my way to adult education instead. I think the principles of adult education actually fit better with how I think education should be “done”, that is, recognizing that everyone in the classroom has some knowledge to contribute, not just the teacher. I find that concept very freeing as a facilitator: that I don’t have to have all the answers. In fact, it’s more interesting and rich when I don’t because it allows others in the room to share their experience. I always learn something myself when I facilitate workshops – I love that!

Last year I did a self-imposed retreat and I read back years’ worth of journals. I discovered that I had written – eight years before – 23 points of what I needed in my future work. I was incredibly surprised to realize that I had 22 of them in my current job! That really struck me about the power of positive intention … I put it out there to the universe what I wanted, and eventually I got it.

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and so in the past few months I’ve started a business on the side of my day job. It is doing workshop facilitation and motivational speaking around the themes of “do what you love”, “love where you work” and “work effectively.” I have a number of passion areas of that I am exploring and facilitating workshops around underneath those themes. It’s exciting to put myself out there under my own name, yet also a bit scary. I guess my big dream is that I become fabulously successful and people will pay big bucks to contract me as a facilitator! And of course, that I am in heaven doing it. I’d love someone to call and say, “I was wondering if we could fly you to facilitate a workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico…” I’d be there in a second!

If I could ask one thing of the universe I would ask for it to always give me the confidence and courage I need to keep putting myself out there and taking risks to do what I love. It takes a lot of guts to follow your dreams, and I find that a lot of fears bubble to the surface that I have to keep setting aside. I am very lucky to receive support from my friends and family to follow my dreams, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a little cosmic assistance as well!

I think I spent a lot of my twenties thinking that I had to be older than I was to do what I really wanted to do. I didn’t think people would take me seriously as a facilitator or trainer because I wasn’t old enough. Silly me…what a waste of time! In my mid-30s I had a baby and I think I gained more confidence at the same time. I finally woke up and realized that I wasn’t the youngest one in the office anymore, that I am really good at what I do, and that I can do so much more! I could spend time now getting after myself for taking so long to gain the confidence I needed to grow in new directions, but I am instead spending more time reveling in being the age I am now. And like the butterfly in the photo here, drinking life’s nectar and enjoying spreading my wings.

[Images courtesy of Beth Cougler Blom.]

Find out more about Beth on her blog or connect on Twitter (@BethCouglerBlom) or Facebook.

Running businesses inspired by nurture and nature: Lisa Grace Byrne and Marie Pickering share their stories

Posted on 2011-12-12 at 9:24 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Marie Pickering and Lisa Grace Byrne.

Lisa Grace Byrne

The story of the birth of my business is really the story of when “That Which You Must Do” became radically clear and in focus. It also happened to coincide with my own birthing as a mother. It’s a fascinating phenomenon that many women share upon becoming a mother. Whether it happens early on after the birth of your first child or in a later season of your life… for some of us, motherhood is the crucible that refines a powerful urge to contribute in a specific way. It is as if your experience in mothering your actual child brings up your maternal nature toward yourself, toward others and toward the world. But first it isn’t always pretty.

I have three young children, all close in age from five years old to almost two years old. I can remember when my second child was born, my oldest just a young toddler. I was so unprepared for the physical, emotional and mental intensity of motherhood, that I had literally run myself ragged. Eating poorly, sleeping poorly, out of check stress, post partum depression. And then a cold hit that knocked me out cold. Double ear infections in each ear and deep infection in my lungs, I literally couldn’t move an inch without triggering vertigo and intense vomiting. It was a pretty bleak place. I was encouraged by many people to go and see a therapist (which would have been a very good and wonderful thing to do – I’m not against therapy!), but that is when a small flicker of who I was caught my inner eye and I knew. I knew how I was to reconnect to myself again and what I needed. At that point, WellGrounded Life began.

Something within whispered that in order for my mind and body to heal, I needed to give it the raw materials – the literal nutrition it needed in order to become whole and healthy. Some inner voice gently asked me to extend loving kindness toward myself and consider walking the path of whole nourishment, paying attention to a soul’s need for beauty, silence, friendship, meaningful work, laughter, fresh air, movement, joy, ambition.

Part of my meaningful work was to lift others up as I cared and tended to my own health. It was a way to self-care without wallowing. To firmly offer my gifts to the world without succumbing to self neglect (which happens all too often when our lives become others-focused and outward-looking- very easy for a mother to fall into).

WellGrounded Life just grew and grew out of my heart’s own journey of healing and stepping into a vibrant life as a woman and mother in the world. What started as a blog and private coaching grew into speaking and live workshops and grew still into online multimedia courses, an international community within my membership site and a forthcoming book. It has been a way for me to knit together an integrated and congruent life from what once felt deeply fractured and scattered.

One of the gifts of doing what you love in the world is that it can grow with you, you can keep moving your great work along your own growth edge. For me that is exploring how we as modern women of this generation are navigating the path of motherhood while honouring our ambitions, passions and great purpose.

I believe that in order to be a happy and energized mother you must begin by being a healthy and self-connected woman. My work offers tools to moms who are feeling scattered and depleted… and in turn it keeps me on my path of self-kindness, restoration and growth.

[All images courtesy of Lisa Grace Byrne.]

Lisa is author of forthcoming book ‘Healthy Woman, Vibrant Mom: 7 habits that will make you a calm, energized and healthy mother’. To find out more about Lisa visit her website.

Marie Pickering

The Enchanted World of Needle Felting is full of Rainbow dyed soft New Zealand Wool Its warmth and light speaks to me, I feel it breathe in my hands and fingers. I want to warm peoples hearts and ignite in them a stirring of their spirit. Magical creatures, fantasy figures, Waldorf Inspired, Gnomes, Fairies. Living out in the rural countryside. I am inspired by Mother Nature. Here all is calm and peaceful.

Children especially find my art appealing as it appeals to their wonderful imaginations. My small homestead and garden is organic and was built 25 years ago. I work on the kitchen table, and the sun’s light bounces off the wooden walls, to create a heart-warming glow.

I started making a few small wool dolls, and took them to markets and fairs to sell. They were well received. I friend suggested that I start a blog, and I have been astounded at the interest and following. I joined Etsy and the New Zealand on-line shop Felt. I wanted to share my art with others globally, to let them have in their homes a little piece of me. To this end my art is affordable to all.

By going global this has extended my view of the world. New Zealand is a fairly small Island nation, but now I consider the seasons happening in the world and create items for others’ Seasonal Nature Tables. I love what I do and have written a lot of short poems that go alongside my original 3D needle felt art. My hope is to publish these in a book.

Soft light falls

The pale yellow sun’s light

shines down on to the little child

Her pale pink dress glows softly in the pale sunlight

Flowers abound in her long golden hair

Soft light falls

May the sun’s soft light shine on you

My original designs come easily to me. I feel I have a spiritual connection to each piece and that the receiver is imbued with my light. This I feel is what I am meant to be doing in the world.

[Images courtesy of Marie Pickering.]

Find out more about Marie on her blog.

The Fire Within – a guest post by Christine Mason Miller

Posted on 2011-12-06 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

(Images via christinemasonmiller.com)

Way back when – in the fall of 1995 – I started a business called Swirly with no earthly idea what I was doing. The internet was just beginning to come into its own, but had yet to become the now-indispensible tool it is for creative entrepreneurs. There were no e-courses with step-by-step instructions on setting up a business, there was no Etsy, and it was not possible to instantly spread the word about my work to a global audience the way I can today with Twitter. I took one adult education course on the basics of the wholesale gift industry, and marched onward from there with no long-term plan, no start-up money, and no experience. In other words, I had to figure it out on my own, make it up as I went along, and pick myself up again and again after all of the slips, stumbles, and missteps that were impossible to avoid.

All I had was an idea I was wildly passionate about, and the belief that I could make it real.

That is all anyone who has pursued their creative passions and built a meaningful life ever started with – an idea. Whether the idea is to create a close-knit family, learn how to bake the perfect cupcake, open a ceramics studio, master the art of juggling, travel across the country, re-unite with a long-lost friend, or get back on a bicycle after a bad accident, it is the ideas that make our hearts sparkle (you know the ideas I’m talking about) that have the potential to transform our lives, and, in turn, the world. The ideas don’t have to be “big”, and they don’t have to involve international travel, Fortune 500 goals, or New York Times bestseller lists. They don’t need to go farther than one’s own backyard. If they are sincere, and made real with integrity, their light will travel beyond those boundaries without our having to do a thing. That is the funny thing about our creative passions – they are capable of traveling at the speed of light all on their own.

I think it is extraordinary how much information, guidance, encouragement, and practical support is available here in 2011. No matter what the dream or passion, it is possible to find and/or create a community for that passion, to promote and/or share it, and to learn how to integrate those ideas that make our hearts sparkle into our day-to-day lives. The availability of resources is truly endless. But beyond all the opportunities we now have to plan, prepare, educate ourselves, and organize our lives, it is important to remember that there is also value in the stumbles and gifts in the mistakes. There is something to be said for learning, researching, and prioritizing, but even more for the commitment to getting up each day and doing the work our passions require. My ability to create a passionate, meaningful life has absolutely been supported and furthered by classes I’ve taken, mentors I’ve trusted, and advisors I’ve hired, but if all I did was look outside myself for the answers I was seeking and the direction I felt like I was missing, I wouldn’t have gotten far.

Sixteen years ago, I secured a business license on the foundation of an idea, and the idea was to inspire others. Ever since then, this deep desire has taken me down dirt roads, to dead ends, across oceans, up winding staircases, and in hot air balloons. It has carried me, held me, thrown up roadblocks, and provided me with gifts that were far greater than I had ever imagined. Through it all, I have learned to trust my dreams, and to let them lead the way. And it is the day-to-day experiences of this journey, rather than any final goal, that have provided me with the ongoing inspiration to keep doing the work I am doing – the most important work of my life, my most meaningful work in the world.

***

Christine Mason Miller is a Santa Monica-based artist, writer, and explorer. Her next book – Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World – is now available at bookstores everywhere and Amazon.com.. Follow her adventures on www.christinemasonmiller.com

Do What You Love is one year old!

Posted on 2011-11-30 at 4:44 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

This month we celebrated one year of Do What You Love as a registered company (although the dreams have been in the works for much longer than that!) So much has happened, including the inaugural Do What You Love retreat a full six months ago – as I was reminded by one of the lovely participants who sent me a note recently saying,

“It’s lovely having that moment in time as a kind of benchmark for change and evolution (or even revolution!) It will always serve as a beautiful milestone in my life.”

I have to be completely honest and say that before Do What You Love I never thought for one moment I could create something that would have that kind of impact on an individual, and it is what makes everything feel so right – and makes me so grateful to everyone who has helped me make the choices that brought me right here, right now.

(Image: NavyBlur)

These past few weeks I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the Do What You Love journey in preparation for sharing it (highs, lows, finances, warts and all!) in January. I have trawled through a whole stack of journals, seeking the moments of sparkle and darkness, the whispers of intent and the hesitant recognition that it might just be working! I don’t normally read my own journals and they certainly aren’t written with the intention of showing them to anyone else, so to open them up to the class so completely makes me more than a little uncomfortable – but I am so intrigued by the story they tell that I know it is worth it in order to share them.

I will be sharing a few sneak peeks here over the coming weeks. For now I just want to acknowledge that this has been one of the best years of my life so far, and none of it would have been possible without the support of others – including YOU! So thank you. Truly, thank you so much.

***

Stay tuned for an exciting new project being unwrapped and announced here tomorrow! You are going to LOVE it!

On the right path: Jozica Rade and Christy Nimeh share their stories

Posted on 2011-11-14 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from art therapist Jozica Rade in Slovenia and artist Christy Nimeh in the US.

Jozica Rade

For me, ‘doing what you love’ means expressing yourself the best way you can – freely, and with an open heart… It means going with the flow, forgetting about time, hungry stomachs, or even about where you are. You just do it, without really knowing why (and from where this need comes). And guess what? You don’t really worry about the answers. Doing what you love is enough.

That’s how I feel when working with clients attending my art therapy or phototherapy sessions. I forget about myself and my needs, and I feel like I’m in a trance whenever I’m with them. They are my teachers, my inspiration, my way of learning about Life. I’m very thankful for them, for their open hearts and shared sad stories. It is not easy to tell your deepest thoughts to a stranger. I’m really thankful for their trust.

My journey to here is a long story, but there were moments in my life when I just knew I was on the right path. 17 years ago, miles and miles away from my home (in the US), I heard about art therapy for the first time. At that very first moment I knew that it was something I would like to do for life! But the circumstances at that time didn’t allow me to get into it then, and in fact ten years had to go by to make it happen – to begin my journey to become art therapist.

Studying a post-graduate program of art therapy was not easy. Not only because of all the books and texts and workshops, but rather because of the work we’ve had to do on ourselves. Lots of self-analyzing, observing our inner Selves, exploring our limits, revealing and working on our weaknesses… Sometimes it’s not easy to face all the little pieces of our-Selves, is it?

And just when I thought I was ready and happy to swim with the art therapy flow, another powerful idea hit me and I have gone through another wave of “I-know-what-I-(would)-love-to-do”! This time it is phototherapy. At one of the workshops I discovered this therapy technique and fell in love at once! How did I not know about it? A whole new world has opened to me and this river of energy pushed me in a new direction, learning all about this new therapeutic field. So I ended up choosing phototherapy for my final dissertation and research, and I even found mentors from abroad to help me out. Nothing can stop me now! I can’t even stop myself from thinking, breathing and ‘swimming’ in the river of art and phototherapy!!

Sometimes I’m sorry that I didn’t start studying art therapy in the US seventeen years ago. Maybe I didn’t try hard enough to make my dream come true – I would love to have started this journey sooner. But… who knows? Maybe I was not ready, maybe I didn’t understand the purpose of that mission, maybe I didn’t understand people the way I do now?? I believe everything happens for a reason, at the right time and in the right place. That’s why I believe that my journey is the best journey for me. I go with the flow…

The only thing that makes me sad is that I can’t work as art therapist full time. Social support and understanding of this field are lacking here in Slovenia. The projects I have proposed to the government – projects working with vulnerable people like victims of crime, women in shelters and people on very low incomes – have all been turned down. Every project needs funds, but social ones rely on the good people who are willing to help and support them. The current model of the social field doesn’t generate its own money, so it is always struggling, always begging… That’s what makes me sad as I know quite a few people who would give their hearts to make a change and help all the people in need.

That’s why I have a dream (no, I won’t give up!). I have a dream of a beautiful place, a special place for those people who need our help. A place where they are able to get themselves back on their feet again with the help of art therapy, phototherapy or other therapies. And angels in the shape of good people will support our projects and our mission. They will trust us and believe in us. I dream… I know I dream big, but you know, I can wait another seventeen years to make it happen. It’s not ‘long’ for me if I know I’d be blessed to help a person or two or three…

I’m following my calling, I’m on a journey… I hope your journey is as special, inspiring, fulfilling and yours as it is mine. Enjoy the ride and… do what you love!

[Images courtesy of Jozica Rade.]

Find out more about Jozica on her website ‘Creatissimo Lab’ here.

***

Christy Nimeh

I have always thought of myself as a sort of “secret artist.” One who only dares to show others the very best that I have to offer. I have been creating in one form or another since I was a little girl. Painting was always my passion, but with no formal training or an art degree, I didn’t think of myself as a ‘real artist’. Over the years I painted less and less because the fear of rejection grew bigger and bigger. I found myself completely shutting down. Still needing to be creative, but fully aware of that ‘secret artist’ that wouldn’t go away, I dove into other avenues such as interior design, jewelry making, styling, extravagant parties, and a little gardening. Not to mention raising a family. While learning a lot during this time, I couldn’t figure out why I felt so empty and unfulfilled creatively. I remember saying to my husband that I felt like I was clawing the walls down inch by inch in search for something bigger… my true voice.

Fast forward to about two years ago, I had an explosive breakthrough. My husband was ill and needed to have heart valve replacement surgery. The thought and fear of the unknown lit a fire inside of me that I thought was long gone! Thinking about my two children, (one of them having autism), and the future, led me to face many fears and the ever present ‘secret artist’ head on. On a whim, I enrolled in Kelly Rae Roberts’ ‘Flying Lessons’ e-course. Let me just say it changed my life. I remember shedding a lot of tears during that time, but it was in the peeling back of all those layers that I realized that it’s the process, not the destination that matters. That was a big concept change for me – the first of many changes that I have made on the road to Doing What I Love.

Now I make time for myself and my art. I am more open to anything and everything that the universe is telling me. This next lesson is a work in progress, but I am learning that it’s OK if the laundry and cleaning isn’t done from time to time, and that it doesn’t make me a bad mom or wife. I have also learned that I am forever learning, and it’s OK to not have all the answers. Mistakes will be made, but I now view them as a learning tool and a necessary part of my success. Since I believe in the journey, unfolding as it’s supposed to, I wouldn’t change anything, except maybe for listening to my amazing Grandma Eileen and my dear friend Leslie. Both encouraged me all along to never stop painting and they believed in me as an artist.

Now I listen to my dreams and give them the honor and power they deserve. While I have many dreams and goals swirling around in my head, I have currently set my sights on opening up an art store that specializes in the most current products.

[All images courtesy of Christy Nimeh.]

Find out more about Christy here.

***

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor starts TODAY!

If you sign up now you can still squeeze in! Don’t miss out, register here

Finishing touches

Posted on 2011-11-07 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Rachael Taylor preparing an audio message for class

Working with the very lovely and talented Rachael Taylor on the planning, design and development of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design has been such a fantastic experience. I have learned so much from Rachael, and had such fun along the way. I have loved diving into all the delicious exercises, and cannot wait to share some of my designs here with you over the coming weeks.

(Image courtesy of Rachael Taylor)

I have also loved helping to wrap gifts for our participants around the globe (who each get sent a surprise set of postcards designed by Rachael and exclusive to the ecourse, sent in the mail!)

As we are now just a week away from the start of Module 1 ‘Designing Your Way’, we are both really excited about the opportunities it is going to open up for budding surface pattern designers all over the world. We have been staggered with the response to the course, with pattern lovers signed up from 20 different countries on 5 continents! We cannot wait to see how everyone’s different backgrounds and cultures are going to influence their pattern design.

As we put the finishing touches on the classroom, which Rachael has designed from scratch with so much love and attention, we cannot wait for class to begin!

There is still time to sign up if you are quick – find out more and register here.

Want to learn how to turn your mixed media paintings into patterns?

Posted on 2011-11-01 at 11:19 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Do you know the gorgeous mixed media work of Kelly Rae Roberts?

In the upcoming course The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design, Rachael Taylor will be working with some of Kelly Rae’s pieces to show you how to take elements of mixed media paintings and turn them into patterns – which you can then put on products! This is a very simple example of what Rachael will be demonstrating… using this beautiful painting (image courtesy of Kelly Rae Roberts)…

Rachael will show you how to isolate a particular element and turn it into patterns like these:

And then put them onto products like these…

(Images courtesy of Rachael Taylor)

And this is just the beginning. Rachael will demonstrate how to add additional elements, background textures and different colour palettes, as well as show how to mock up a variety of different products to increase your chances of selling or licensing your designs.

Can you imagine the possibilities??? It opens up a whole new world of opportunity!

Read about Kelly Rae’s thoughts on this here.

The course begins in less than two weeks – don’t miss out! Register here.

Do what you love and make money: Denise Duffield-Thomas shares her story

Posted on 2011-10-31 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from money mindset mentor Denise Duffield-Thomas.

I was a born entrepreneur but it doesn’t mean I was naturally good at it.

When I was 9, I had a fluoro bracelet business. The trouble was that I sold them for the same price as the cost of my materials which meant a zero profit. When my school teacher pointed that out, I felt ashamed, whereas before I was just thrilled by the pure joy of selling and making my own money.

That year my mum gave me an electric typewriter for Christmas and it was the best present ever! After dabbling with writing newsletters and short-stories, I went into the forgery business, selling ‘personally signed’ letters from Kylie Minogue for $5 a piece by claiming she was my cousin.

Aged twelve, I organised a club for my friends, inspired by the Baby Sitters Club, but we called it ‘The Cool Kids Club’ (we even had a song!). We worked on a random variety of projects that we never got around to finishing, like selling horse manure and organising garage sales. I’m great at the ideas, less on the follow up and eventually my mum made us throw out everything we had accumulated. Manure included.

In my teens, I came up with this concept of ‘being brave’ with my close girlfriends. We encouraged each other to get involved in ‘scary’ school projects like the debate team or running for school council. We watched Oprah together and talked about our dreams. It was my first ‘mastermind’ experience.

Undoubtedly from a young age I exhibited clear signs of being a creative entrepreneur, a dynamic life coach (although I didn’t know that was even a job) and an enthusiastic (though occasionally unethical) writer and communicator.

These are all the things I do professionally now, but why on earth did I spend my twenties denying my natural talents and doing everything from waitressing to event management – a total of over 50 random and often very unfulfilling jobs?

Why does anyone waste time living small just to pay the bills?

Don’t tell me you don’t know what you’re ‘meant to be’. I’ll bet there were just as clear signs in your childhood as there were in mine.

When I left my small town to go to University, suddenly I was in a much scarier pond, very far removed from growing up with a struggling single mum in a low-income area. I didn’t realise that people would look down on me, because most of my friends back-home had the same.

I allowed myself to feel ‘less than’ everyone else. In consequence, I failed most of my degree and often felt depressed and frustrated.

So, rather than being the vibrant kid who had zero doubt of her capabilities, I drifted from job to job, trying to find the ‘thing’ when it was completely obvious. I allowed self-worth issues to block that which would have fulfilled me. I sabotaged easy success.

Recently I went back to my old high school and spoke to 25 of the school’s most promising students. Like me, some of them came from struggling backgrounds and had limited imagination to what was possible out of our town.

Here’s what I told them:

Work with your natural strengths

Life is so much better when you give yourself permission to live in your brilliance. Don’t feel guilty because it’s easy and feels good. Better yet if you can find the sweet spot between your natural strengths and your passions. Every combination you can think of is possible.

Believe you’re good enough

I didn’t get this until my late twenties and then some of my natural enthusiasm and creativity came back with a vengeance. Nobody else was holding me back except for me. Give that gift to yourself and be in your own corner.

Continue to set big goals for your life

I’ve seen that any crazy dream is possible, but nobody is going to track you down and say ‘YOU – you must share your talents with the world!’ You have to be clear on what you want.

I wish I could go back in time to meet the little hustling entrepreneur I was at 9 and say ‘keep going – you’ll get there’. But it was my journey and I can honestly say that finally, I’m in a place where I can say – I LOVE what I do.

[Images courtesy of Denise Duffield Thomas.]

Denise is the money mindset mentor for the new wave of online female entrepreneurs. Her best-selling books “Lucky Bitch” and “Get Rich, Lucky Bitch” give a fresh and funny road-map to create an outrageously successful life and business. Denise helps women release their fear of money, set premium prices for their services and take back control over their finances. Denise is an award winning speaker, author and entrepreneur who helps women transform their Economy-Class money mindset into a First-Class life. Find her at www.LuckyBitch.com

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Only two weeks to go until The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor begins!

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Christina Rosalie on becoming who she’s always longed to be: an artist

Posted on 2011-10-24 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from soulful writer and mixed media artist.

Image via christinarosalie.com

This is what I love to do: Make sparks. Stalk wonder. Stir ideas. Start conversations. Inspire action. Ignite joy. And while I have always known this, I spent many years preoccupied with doing what was expected of me, what was sensible, reasonable, and made other people happy. Out of college I became an elementary teacher, even though my heart was full of wanderlust, my head full of images, my notebook full of words.

It took seven years as a teacher, losing my father, the birth of my two sons, economic collapse, starting to freelance, ending my teaching career, extreme financial strain, synchronicity, uncertainty, and the willingness to reinvent everything, to even consider the wild possibility of being what I have always longed to be: An artist.

It took the kind of urgency that occurs at the storm to make me realize that the work I was doing in my scant snippets of free time -writing, painting, connecting, communicating, sharing – was the work that I wanted to be doing every single minute of the day.

This leap towards doing what I love began with asking for help, palms open to the universe. Which I did, on the spur of the moment, two years ago. And now I am here, on the brink of publishing A Field Guide To Now: notes on mindfulness and life in the PRESENT TENSE and in my second year of graduate school; moving each day closer towards making a career with creative work at its center.

This is what all the uncertainty and turbulence, heartache and adventure of the last seven years as taught me: There will never be a better time. Tomorrow is never assured. If you want to do what you love, take action now.

Say it out loud. Start with anything. Learn to fall, and get up, and start again. Trust the universe to respond. Leap. Make it real.

I have this quote by Goethe taped to the wall in front of my desk:

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and endless plans. That the moment one definitely commits oneself then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never have otherwise occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

There are no truer words.

[All images courtesy of Christina Rosalie.]

Christina is a writer and mixed media artist. She is currently pursuing an MFA in Emergent Media from Champlain College. Her first book, will be published by Skirt! Books in September, 2012. Find out more about her on her lovely website.

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Have you heard about my collaboration with surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor?

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design is open for registration now! Find out more here

Do What You Love interview – Emma Dolan

Posted on 2011-10-20 at 2:04 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Emma Dolan is a Leeds-based contemporary textile artist who creates adorable teacups and saucers from iconic fabric known as ‘Harris Tweed’. Her unique cups won the ‘Best New Product’ award at the Scotland Trade Show, and Emma will be teaching a teacup workshop at the V&A in London next month. I was fascinated by her creations, and went along to her studio – in a lovely converted mid 19^th Century schoolhouse – to find out more.

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