My niece is showing me how it’s done. In fact, she’s showing us all.

It took me many years, countless personal growth books, and lots of money before I could GET what she’s just going ahead and DOING right now.

And she isn’t even in high school yet! Nor has she read a single book on letting go of fear or building self-esteem!

For the past three summers, she bypassed the hours-for-dollars path of the typical tween, and created leverage instead.  She combined her skills and talents (Babysitting, Creativity, and Enthusiasm) with a market need (Moms with bored kids who are driving them crazy). She created a week-long “Groovy Girls Day Camp” 8 year old girls in her neighborhood. The day camp happened at her house.

She built the Groovy Girls camp around fun activities. Each day was dedicated to a different topic: “Candy Day,” “Fashion Day,” etc. There were projects completed, videos made, pictures taken, prizes awarded. She taught them, led them, and made them happy. She even posted everything on a website that she created from a basic template – so that at the end of each day, parents could see pictures of their little girls, and get reports on the day’s activities.

And here’s the cool thing:

In one week, she made what most little girls her age make all summer. And she’s passionate about her work and good at what she does. PLUS, the girls (and moms) are happy with her services.

Now, I coach people how to create profitable businesses and uplevel existing businesses. With that said, I meet a lot of people who, in a burst of motivation at a party, want me to help them figure out how to create their own business. Within minutes, I can find a starting place, and map out a business idea that makes the person really excited. But rarely do these people take even the first steps.

This is why I love watching my niece. Yea, I know. She doesn’t have all the bills, challenges, and time constraints that you have. But you know what? She also doesn’t have the excuses either. She just took the first steps, created her vision, marketed and made her offer. (That’s all any of us do, really!)

So, here’s the good news:

You don’t have to “have a business” to make extra money. You can start with what you’ve got in front of you.
So, let’s make it THAT easy – and see what you could do to make money doing what you love. Here’s the steps to take:

1 – Define It.

Define your skills, talents, and passions.

Throw it all out there. What are you good at? What do you love? Take some time to let this drift around in your head. It doesn’t have to come out in one writing session. Record yourself talking about it. Meet up with a friend and share your ideas with her. Let this idea roll around for a while.

When I was a full-time performing songwriter, I realized how much I LOVED connecting with the women in my audience after the show and helping them discover their own passion. So, I began facilitating women’s retreats each year.

I share this so you’ll understand that the only limits here are in your head. (Believe me, there wasn’t a lot of support in the music biz for a songwriter doing personal growth retreats. It was a combination of things that only I loved.) Don’t limit yourself!

Here’s a list of some skills and talents you might have:
Drawing
Organizing
Baking
Pet Sitting
Dog Walking
Cooking
Cleaning
Accounting
Managing Household Projects
Painting
Writing
Errands
Tutoring
Babysitting

2 – Package It.

Package your idea.

How will you offer it? A day-long retreat? A workshop? A monthly subscription service? A workbook? Again, there are no limits. What will you charge? How many people will you allow?  Who are those people? What age groups?

With the example of my retreats, I had to sit down and figure out how long they would be. I had to create the lay-out of each day. I had to map out a way to combine my teaching and coaching – as well as silence and experiences for the women. I certainly didn’t do it perfectly at first – but I got better and better at it. So will you.

3 – Offer It.

Put the word out there. Use every resource available to you. Craigslist, people in your office, relatives and friends. Let the world know what you are offering.

Warning: This is where you’ll be tempted to pull back and play small. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly do that!” You MUST let go of this fear. When you have a service to offer, and you know you’re good at it – then you provide value that needs to be shared so that people can choose to work with you! Don’t hide your light!

4 – Tweak It.

No business idea stays the same once it gets going. You will always be tweaking, adapting and dealing with challenges. (Hey, even my niece had to alter the prize-giving activities because one of her groovy girls locked herself in the bathroom sobbing and wouldn’t come out.)  Any creative idea is dynamic. Expect changes. But remember: You can change course if you’re not moving!

——

These four steps can take as much or as little time as you want.  You can put the word out and have customers rolling in by the end of the week.

Will you be nervous? Will it expand you? Will you be challenged? Absolutely!  But you’ll also make money doing what you love.  And there’s nothing better than that.  Even my niece let me know she never plans on getting a job.

Now THAT is groovy!

If you dig up some of my early music career photographs, you’ll find me standing in an alley with my guitar. I’m usually wearing a bulky jacket and black boots. Typically, a friend was taking the photo, and I just wanted to get the whole damn thing over with. I really believed it wasn’t worth spending the money to get a good photograph.

Boy was I wrong.

In 2001, encouraged by my coach, I consciously chose to uplevel my approach to my work and my music. I invested in a great photographer for the CD cover art.

And – surprise! – that’s when I started getting invited to do radio interviews and being featured in major media. My CD got airplay, too. Lots of it.

We all know that image shouldn’t matter. And yet, in the professional world, and even in the arts – it does matter. A professional photo shows that you take your work seriously (yes, even if you’re creative and fun-loving) – and it conveys success. Plus, the internet can connect you with so many new opportunities, it only makes sense to put yourself out there in a professional way.

But there are some things you need to know. I’ve learned the hard way that just because a photographer has worked with Faith Hill or Sheryl Crow doesn’t mean he’ll have a clue how you want to come across in your photos. It’s important that you fully engage in the process, and that you get clear about some things before you invest in any photographer!

It doesn’t have to be painful though. And right now, I’m going to make it a whole lot easier for you! From my Been-There-Done-That files, here are 7 Tips for Getting Great Professional Photos…

1 – Get Clear.

Don’t hire anyone until you’re clear about what you want to convey in your photo. Make a list of words to describe who you are, how you show up in the world, and what you share with your clients, customers, students, audiences, etc. (“Professional but not stiff.” “Fun and funky – but in an accessible way.” “Trustworthy and kind.” “Successful and no-nonsense.”)

Write down colors, thoughts on your surroundings, etc. Start a file of your favorite images from magazines. Share these with your photographer.

2 – Hire a Professional.

I know. I know. You can always get your friend Rachel to take a few photos of you after work one Thursday. But I encourage you to uplevel your image and go pro.

You don’t have to break the bank to get a great photographer. Many top-notch wedding photographers offer great prices for mid-week sessions. Ask around or search the internet, and don’t be afraid to interview several different photographers.

3 – Get Make-Up Advice.

I’ve worked with make-up artists who sprayed foundation on my face like spackle. And some who made my hair stand up about 11 inches from my head. You’d think I would’ve spoken up – but for many years, I thought everyone else knew better than me what I should look like.

And yet, I still believe in using a make-up artist!

My advice is to REQUIRE a phone conversation with her before your shoot. Share your images from #1. Listen to her ideas and advice. You’d be surprised at how much make up you need for even a natural looking photo – but spackle is NOT necessary!

If you don’t have the budget for a make-up artist, then get help from friends in the know. I’ve done my own make-up on many shoots – but I used all the advice from those old Seventeen Magazines I used to pore through when I was a teen!

4 – Plan your Outfits in Advance.

Two weeks before your photo shoot, plan your outfits. Pick at least three. (Avoid crazy patterns on your shirts!)
If you need help in this area, I highly recommend making an appointment with a personal shopper at Nordstrom – which has fantastic customer service and highly-trained employees. Plus you’re not required to purchase anything! Share your work from Step #1 with your shopper. Take your time during your appointment.

5 – Go Light on the Accessories.

You don’t want your photo to say, “Hi, I’m Joan. And this is my BIG GIANT PERUVIAN BEAD NECKLACE!” In other words, your accessories should complement – not overpower – your look.

6 – Bring your own Mirror to the Shoot.

Keep a mirror nearby during the shoot so you can check for things like lipstick on teeth and bra straps sticking out in between shoots. Photographers aren’t always good at catching these things because they’re focusing on the lay-out and lighting.

7 – YOU are the most important element.

Your energy. Your light. Your radiance. These are the most important things.

Before you head to the shoot, sit quietly and remember your intentions in your work and life. Connect to your center and take some deep breaths.

Then, as the photos are being shot, remember to be present in your body. Look into and through the camera lens. Act as if you’re looking into the eyes of your very best friend. Don’t be afraid to let loose and smile and laugh. These are often the best photos!

There’s always a weekend when it hits me. It’s usually mid-August. It’s usually hot.  And the cicadas are singing like there’s no tomorrow. I wake up and realize, “Ohmigod! Summer’s almost over!”

If you’re at all like me – you still want to live summer to the fullest!  Here are 22 ideas for how to be more present to this amazing time of the year when summer turns its volume up right before disappearing into cool thin air.

1 – Wake Up Early

The days are still lighter longer, so it’s the perfect chance to wake up and be present to the sunrise. Take a walk in the early hours while it’s still cool outside. Don’t forget to bring your dog!

2 – Create the Ultimate Summer Song Playlist

Visit iTunes and download 20 of your favorite summer happy songs, and take a sunset drive with the windows down.  Sing loud!

3 – Get a Last-Minute Beach Deal

If you don’t have kids who are heading back to school, it’s a great time to find deals at the beach!  Plus, it’s a quiet and peaceful time to be on the shore.

4 – Listen Up

Depending on where you live, the end of the summer is a feast of healing sounds for your ears. Cicadas, tree frogs, wood thrush and songbirds – to name a few. Take some time to sit still and listen. Pure attention is creativity at its finest.

5 – Visit your Local Tailgate Market

I often wish I still had my organic garden. I loved growing my own vegetables. But the truth is, I don’t have the time (or sunlight!) to create a thriving garden. Which is why I’m so happy to visit the local tailgate market this time of year. This is when harvest is at its most decadent. Stretch yourself and purchase a few new veggies you’ve never eaten before!

6 – Catch an Outdoor Concert

Some of my very best concert memories are from the many concerts I’ve seen while sitting on a blanket in the grass. From Latin to Lillith, from ballet to Buffett – outdoor performances are a renewal for your soul.

7 – Fire Up the Pit

If the nights are getting cooler in your area, it’s a great time to light up a fire and have friends over for some intimate conversation by the outdoor fire pit or chiminea.

8 – Call in Lazy

Okay, I’ll go ahead and admit it. When I had a “real” job, I called in lazy a few times. (Of course, I never actually used those words!)  My friend Diane and I would sometimes call in lazy together and use those days to drive to the Chesapeake Bay for a quick getaway from our city lives.  Take off for a day of total summer immersion.  Don’t wait til you’re sick to pamper yourself!

9 – Outside More than Inside

Sometimes I present myself with the following weekend challenge: Be outside more hours than inside. (In fact, as I write this, I’m sitting by the falls on the river.)  Nature revives us. Our bodies get in tune and in touch when we surround ourselves with the natural rhythms of the earth.  Challenge yourself to see how much time you can spend outside!

10 – Catch a Great Summer Movie

Talk to me all you want about Netflix – but there’s something special about going to a theater and seeing a movie on the big screen. There’s always a few good summer movies in each genre – so don’t wait for the DVD!  Experience a fun evening out!

11 – Watch the sun set

One of my mantras is this: “Above all – reverence.” One of my favorite ways to experience the awe and wonder of life is to sit quietly and watch a sunset. It’s free. It’s easy. And there’s always lots of great spots in any city or region to make an occasion out of it.

12 – Slice a tomato.

The end of summer is tomato time! My favorites are the big purple red heirloom tomatoes – not just because they taste so good, but because they are so completely beautiful when you slice into them. Each one is a work of art. Slice a tomato, cover it with fresh dill, and a little bit of salt.  Enjoy!

13 – Get Naked. Go Swimming.

Oceans, swimming holes, lakes, rivers – yes, they’re all a whole lot more fun when you’re naked!  I’ll leave the details up to you!

14 – Go ahead. Get trashy.

There’s nothing better than indulging in that slightly embarrassing book you’ve been meaning to read. Don’t worry about hiding the cover behind a National Geographic magazine. Just enjoy it!

15 – Shed the Excess

The heat of summer is a great excuse to get rid of the excess. If you’re weighed down by lots of clutter and stuff you don’t use, toss open your windows, crank up the music and de-clutter. You’ll feel so much lighter when fall arrives.

16 – Dig in the Dirt

If you have a garden, it’s a great time to divide your plants, add some compost, mulch it up, and gather seeds. In my shade garden, it’s time to divide the hostas!  Just plunging your hands into the earth will awaken your heart to what’s real!

17 – Go for Gazpacho!

If you haven’t done it yet, this is the best time to make gazpacho soup. It’s healthy, and it uses all the ingredients readily available in abundance right now.

18 – Take an After-Dinner Walk

Before you know it, it’ll be dark outside as you make your dinner.  Take advantage of these last days of late sun – and take a simple quiet walk after dinner.

19 – Swing on a swing.

Swinging is the happiest activity in the world. All you have to do is keep your eyes on the lookout for a great swing – in a park, on a tree by the river, at a local farm. Don’t roll your eyes! Get out there and swing. Your mood will thank you!

20 – Adopt a pet.

It’s the time of year when the spring babies are ready for adoption. What better way to prepare yourself for winter than to bring a furry bundle of love to your home?

21 – Take a shade gardening workshop

One of my favorite blogs is A Way to Garden. Margaret Roach is the coolest smartest kick-assingest woo-woo garden blogger out there. She and Bob Hyland are offering a day-long shade gardening workshop – which I would totally sign up for if I weren’t so far away. (Note: This will sell out very quickly. Take advantage of the low price!)

22 – Make Pesto

Basil is, quite simply, the best thing EVER. Or maybe pesto is. I can never really decide. Anyway, pesto is heaven. You can find many great recipes on the web. Or, do like I do, and use your intuition. Either way, pesto will keep you happy through the winter – and it makes a great gift for your friends and neighbors! (And by the way, you can make an awesome vegan pesto too. The cheese is totally optional!)

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Have you ever said something like this to a friend…

“Okay – I have this idea. Here’s the deal…

[You then spend a good three minutes explaining your idea for a direction you want to go in – or a business you want to start - and then you finish the whole thing off by asking,]

“…Is that a good idea? Or am I just, like, COMPLETELY insane, totally freakin’ NUTS?”

So, let’s talk about this little habit for a moment, okay?

Here’s why.

Because #1: The IDEA is not the problem.

And #2: YOU are!

If you recognize yourself in that above example, it’s okay.  But I want you to understand the REAL ISSUE.

The real issue is not about the idea. The real issue is about DOING IT.  And the even realer issue is about fear.  As Seth Godin so aptly states:  “There isn’t a shortage of ideas. There’s a shortage of execution.”

So here’s a few simple ways to begin creating unwavering faith behind your ideas – so you can (gasp!) DO something about them.

1.   Consider HOW you share your ideas.

Okay – let’s just SAY that you’re sharing your idea with a friend. And let’s just say that you do it with the self-deprecating “finisher.”  (ie, “…or am I just an idiot”, “…or is that the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard?”, “…or does that idea just totally suck?”)

I call this the “smoke and mirrors” approach to sharing an idea. The share-ee, rather than getting to jump in and help you with your idea – now has to deal with the QUESTION you’ve presented – which is dramatic, self-defacing, and has absolutely nothing at all to do with your idea.

Imagine you’re sitting in front of Donald Trump, and he’s considering investing in your idea, your business, or your art.  Would he even give you a second of his time if you closed with one of your self-deprecating questions?

No way!

Your friend has the same dilemma.

When it comes right down to it, people read your energy MORE THAN they absorb your idea.  If your energy is all over the place, it’ll be hard for them to take your idea seriously.

2 – “Procrastination-by-Inquiry.”

One night I caught an MTV video with a cool-dude electric guitar player surrounded by women clad in nothing but plastic thongs.  It gave me an idea for a song.

Rather than pick up my guitar and begin writing, I did the next best thing.  I waited!

Then I waited some more!

Then I called my friend Kathy. I explained about the video and about my idea for the song – and then began a long litany of reasons my idea was so boring, and did she think it was a stupid idea, and should I just give up on everything in my life?

After a long pause, Kathy said, “I’ll tell you what Christine.  You write the song. Then we’ll decide if it’s good.”

Face it.  There’s absolutely NO way to know if an idea is going to be “a good idea.”  In fact, there’s at least 10 good reasons it’s NOT going to work. Asking people about your idea is often just “Procrastination-by-Inquiry.”  You aren’t going to know if it’s good until you start DOING something about it.

(By the way, that song I mentioned became my most requested song ever.)

3 – Be careful WHO you share your idea with

I’m guessing there’s probably about five people in your life with one common trait:

They’re the WORST people you could EVER share a new idea with. They’ll trample all over it.  They’ll tell you it’s a terrible idea – and yes you ARE, in fact, insane.

So, then, why are we compelled to share our ideas with these five folks?

Well, the truth is: they provide an amazing service.  In fact, we secretly LOVE these people and how they trash our ideas with bone-chilling sarcasm.

Why?

Because then we never have to do anything about them!  We don’t have to take action.  After all, if Uncle Richie says that your idea for a vegetarian catering service stinks – then hey, good news! You don’t have to face your fears!  Now you get to head home and dive headlong into a bag of Cheeto’s and watch reruns of The Biggest Loser on the Lifestyle channel! Woohoo!

Do yourself a favor.  For the sake of your spirit and your ability to take action – be mindful of who gets to hear about ANY of your ideas.

4 –  The most crucial question of all.

Here’s a question that will end all questioning, all excuses, and will make you the most productive kid on your block.

“What is the very next step I need to take?”

When I knew I wanted to be a songwriter, I bought a new guitar.  Then I signed up for lessons. Then I’d sit in my Georgetown apartment and learn riffs while a  metronome ticked along in the background.

At no time, during the implementing of these steps could anyone say to me: “Are you INSANE?? You’re playing SCALES?  Have you LOST YOUR MIND?”

No. Because I was simply taking the next step.

Here’s a secret I’ve learned about execution:

Getting an idea is step one.  The rest of the steps are all about tricking your ego into shutting up so you can get stuff done. The ego would prefer it if you’d just continue getting big ideas.  The ego LOVES your big ideas because then it can reach into its arsenal of big fears, big dramas and big emotional hooks – and it can MATCH your big idea. Tit for tat.

The ego doesn’t have much to say when you sit down and do some work for 30 minutes. That’s not nearly dramatic enough.

So, what’s the next step you need to take?

5 – Give it Legs.

It is said that the most successful people make decisions quickly.

Even if that doesn’t apply to every single decision, it makes perfect sense.  Many of us let our emotions, our hooks, and our drama become the perfect excuse for procrastination and fear.

Wanna know the exactly how to have faith in your idea?  Decide to do it.

Decision gives legs to intentions.

Make a decision. Tell someone you’re going to do it.  Move forward. Then wake up tomorrow and decide again.

Anytime your faith wavers, decide again.

Anytime it wavers after that, decide again.

Repeat until successful.

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“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
- Howard Thurman

I was understandably nervous the first time I spoke in front of an audience. There’s a reason the fear of public speaking is second only to death.

Another presenter spoke first, and I watched in amazement as she worked the crowd. They were like old friends within 15 minutes. She was funny, an entertainer. She was really good at this. My anxiety escalated.

I suddenly felt small. And worried. (Piglet, from Winnie-the-Pooh, would’ve looked serene in comparison.)

I was nothing like that speaker.

Not that I’m not funny. Actually, sometimes I’m downright hilarious. But not in an overt way. You’d have to be paying attention.

Then it was my turn to speak. And to tell you the truth, I don’t even remember much of what I said. I was so busy trying to figure out how to be like the first speaker, how to engage an audience like she did – that I wasn’t even present. I just got through it. My personality didn’t even show up. It was still sitting in the back of the room with Piglet.

Thinking back to that moment reminded me how often we chase coolness. Like I did that day, you observe or meet someone who enthralls you- maybe it’s her talent, her amazing wardrobe, her ability to decorate a room for $50 and a trip to the fabric store- and you want what she has. You want to BE her. And sometimes you begin to chase her coolness.

There’s just one problem: none of it feels right when you’re doing it. It feels like pretending. You feel bad inside because you can’t even pull off pretending to be like her. And in the mean time you’re telling yourself that you aren’t innately cool. Other people ARE cool. You must settle for chasing it.

I’ve learned (and practiced) a few things in the years since that first speaking engagement:

Your Spark Matters

The more I spoke from my own viewpoint, my own experience and my own heart, the more I enjoyed speaking. Like the quote above, I was more alive.

Earlier this year I spoke about a topic I thought may bring eye rolling and dismissal from a crowd of veteran health care workers. It was a step out of my comfort zone, but I was excited about it. I decided to stick to my message regardless of what I saw in the audience. I repeated this talk 4 times within a couple of days. I wondered if people would keep showing up. To my utter amazement there were people standing in the back of the room and sitting on the floor during the last talk!

So whatever your message is, know that it’s really that spark, that foundational joy and truth that people need. Just you, being totally you in the moment.

You, rocking your coolness.

No More Comparison

I stopped comparing myself to others. This is a tough one. But as I began to accept my own unique way of looking at things, it gave me the space to appreciate what others brought to the table. I gathered the energy I formerly used to chase coolness to work on my own craft.

Besides, their coolness did not by rule, negate mine. And if I paid attention to those speakers, they taught me a lot. No wonder I thought they were cool! I absorbed their lessons instead of grasping at them.

(Along the way you may find people who begin to tell you you’re doing it all wrong. This is a sure sign that you’ve stepped into yourself, your own coolness. Sometimes this triggers other people. But it’s not about you.)

Breaking the Mold

The world is saturated with sameness. Burgers, fries, reality shows. It’s numbing.

But there’s only one you. No one else can bring to the world what you can. Only you have your lessons from your past, your vision for the future and the presence to use it all wisely.

There are many speakers who cover topics similar to mine. This is great, because we can serve many people this way. What’s also great is that no one addresses those topics in exactly the way I do. I have to champion my differences. And it’s only taken me a decade to come to terms with this!

Consider this: you have an interesting life.

Small things, triumphs, flat out failures, pain, elation. Whether you run your own business or just want to run your own life, the world is begging for you to show up as yourself. YOU are begging you to show up as yourself.

The coolest people I know are unmistakably themselves. That doesn’t mean you have to magnify your personality, it just means you remove the barriers that keep you from actually showing it.

Stepping into yourself without fear is one powerful way to tell yourself you matter.

You’ll no longer be chasing coolness. You’ll be living it.

———–

Sue Ludwig is the President and Founder of the National Association of Neonatal Therapists. She is a consultant to neonatal intensive care units around the country, a national speaker, and a published poet. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children.

One of the scariest things I ever did was quit my first (and only) “real” job so I could begin my own brand of creative work in the world.

I became – gasp! – self-employed.

I was warned of the risks. I was told I’d lose my benefits. I was told it’s “hard out there” working for yourself.

It’s funny that the assumption so many people base one of their biggest life choices on is that “working for yourself is risky.”  Now – after 16 years of making a living on my own terms – I believe the exact opposite!

So, here are seven of my favorite reasons to NOT have a job.

1. Having a job is way too risky.

When you have a job, someone can take away your income just by uttering two words: “You’re fired.”  This is happening more and more as companies crumble in the face of global changes in commerce.

If you ask me, there’s nothing secure about that.

When you create your own business, and a client or customer moves on – then guess what?  You get to say, “Next!”

2. No Bonus Pay for Messing Up

When you mess up at your job, you get punished, maybe even a pay-cut. Then you have to run around “making nice” to the people who might lay you off or promote someone else who’s younger and “hungry.” (Hungry for what? More time at the office?)

When one of my clients faces challenges in her business, I cheer. She’s getting paid to learn!  Every mistake teaches her more about how to succeed.

Instead of getting an MBA – she’s getting a TBF. (Trial by Fire! )  TBF’s can really pay-off!

3. Your Ceiling isn’t Adjustable.

Often, I sit down with clients and show them multiple places they can generate income in their business within the next few months.  Their eyes light up as they realize that the possibilities are endless.  They stop thinking in terms of “hours for dollars,” and start thinking of passive income.  (Hey, why not get paid while you sleep?)

In a job, you can’t adjust your income based on the value you provide. Instead you have to ask for a raise.  Not fun.

4. Pantyhose.

As I write this, I’m working.

I’m wearing a Tarheels baseball cap, a t-shirt, and jeans. I’ve got my feet propped up on the deck railing as birds sing at the feeder.

When I had a job, there was a dress code. And rules about what you could have on your desk. There was limited time for lunch, and no time for creativity.  And don’t even get me started on pantyhose!

5. Your money doesn’t go as far.

Did you know that employee income is the most heavily taxed income in the U.S.?   As an employee, almost half your salary will go to taxes.  You get to spend what’s left on living expenses.

One of my first self-employed discoveries was that my money went MUCH further – because I could invest in myself or get equipment and supplies with pre-tax income.  Any good accountant will help you make your dollars expand in your own business.

6. Focusing on your Weaknesses.

Have you ever heard of a “360?”

That’s when your co-workers and supervisors (and anyone else who wants to chip in) analyze your job performance. You learn all about your weaknesses – and you get a review outlining the ways you need to work on them. Often, people leave these “360” reviews in tears.

In the world of the solo-preneur, we don’t mess with our weaknesses. The motto is Strengthen your Strengths. Hire your Weaknesses. In other words, as you become aware of your weaknesses, you don’t waste your precious energy fixing them.

7. Negative Environment.

Many office environments don’t encourage creative thinking or positive energy. Instead, there’s lots of negativity among employees who feel powerless.

In your own business, you set the tone, and you choose who enters your environment. You become deeply personally responsible for every aspect of your life.

This is often more uncomfortable than sitting back and blaming “The Man,” but it will absolutely free you.

—–

There has NEVER been a better time to have a business.  The world is now at your fingertips.  If you are self-employed and find that you’re not where you want to be – don’t blame yourself. The “job” paradigm can be a tough one to break. (I’ve been there!)

If you want some step-by-step guidance for turning your passion into a profitable business – then join me on my upcoming free Training Call. I’m going to reveal all my best-kept secrets for doubling your income and experiencing the true freedom that comes with being a Value-Providing-Money-Generating machine! Click here to join me!

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I use the ol’ GPS metaphor a lot.

In fact, I found myself doing it yet again yesterday.  And the reason is this:

It works!

Think about it.

You are a walkin’ talkin’ energetically tuned-in navigation system – all rolled into an amazing body!

Here are 7 success lessons from the technological miracle that is called Navigation:

1 – Enter a destination.

Your GPS is useless if you don’t know where you’re going.  It serves no purpose without a destination.

Same goes for you.

So, always ask yourself:

Where am I going?  What do I want?  Who do I want to be? What do I want to do?  What do I want to have?

Set an intention. Write down a goal. Make it clear, concise and meaningful to you.

If you’re one of those “go with the flow” people, that’s fine. But check in about something: Are you “going with the flow” because you’re scared to actually ask for what you want?

2 – All you need is the next step.

When you enter an address in, say, Little Rock, the voice of your GPS doesn’t shout, “Little Rock? You wanna go to Little Rock? Do you have ANY idea what that’s going to take? How many HOURS? I mean, I can’t even GO THERE, okay? Not today. No freakin’ way.”

No. It doesn’t do that. (Only our minds work like that!)

Your GPS gives you THE NEXT STEP.  Drive to the highlighted route. And move forward for X number of miles.

What is YOUR next step? Do it now.

3 – Get Back on The Road.

When you get off course on your trip, your GPS will direct you to get back on the road.  If you stop to pee, or grab some deep fried macaroni & cheese at Arby’s, your GPS will simply show you to your original path.

It doesn’t say, “Well, then.  Looks like you screwed it all up again, didn’t you? You were going along perfect – but no! You had to pull off. And now look at us. We’re like 2.6 miles from the highway.  And we have to spend THAT much longer getting BACK to where we were. You had built up so much momentum, too. You know what? Don’t even bother. Let’s just stay here. In fact, you should probably consider looking at an apartment to rent cuz you’ll never get back on course now.”

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t get distracted, thrown off course, have a bad day, lose their focus, momentum, or mindset.

NONE of that matters. All you have to do is GET BACK ON THE ROAD.

4 – Re-enter Your Destination When Necessary.

Sometimes when you turn the car off, you lose the destination. No worries. Just re-enter your destination – and your navigation will begin again.

So it is with your goals and intentions. Sometimes our minds can’t remember why we got started in the first place. We get caught up in something else.  Everything feels lost. We can’t find motivation.

No worries. Just re-decide. Re-commit. Re-enter your destination and your navigation will begin again.

5 – Change the Routing.

In the face of traffic jams and undesirable roads, you don’t turn to your driver and say “Oh well. I guess that’s it. This trip is over.”  With a GPS  – you just change your routing.

I call it “Changing the HOW, Not the WHAT.”

One of my Uplevel Your Business™ students was all set to give up on her business. She hated it. She was burnt out. She was ready to throw it all away and become something – anything! – different.

I told her to stick with me during the program – and to think of changing the HOW of her business. Not the WHAT.  If she changed the HOW and still felt like walking away, then that would be fine.

Consistently, she began cleaning up her business systems, letting go of clients that drained her, hiring better people to support her, automating her marketing. Within months, she was happier and could see that there was lots of new opportunities in her business – and lots more excitement and creativity in her daily life.

When you’re tempted to give up on your situation, ask yourself if you need to change the routing. Do it differently. Clean it up. Change the scenery!

6 – Count the On-Ramps and Off-Ramps.

Your GPS always gives you the mile-count of your on-ramps and off ramps.  These are considered an element of your journey. They are not ignored.

Same thing with your path each day.  Gotta go to the gym?  Remember your on-ramp: (Getting dressed, grabbing your Sigg water bottle, driving to the gym.)  Getting home from work? Remember your off-ramp: needing time to sit still, taking a moment to stretch, changing clothes.

Give yourself TIME and SPACE for your on-ramps and off-ramps. They are important.  They set you up for the next road you’ll be traveling.

7 – Move Forward Without Drama.

Your GPS is a beautiful tool because it charts your course. It doesn’t judge you, give snarky commentary on your latest stupid move, or comment on the other idiots out on the road. It simply tells you how to move forward on your journey.

I’ve worked with over 500 people on their lives and in their businesses – and I’ve come to believe that 98% of what blocks our success and stalls us out is our own thoughts, mindsets and emotions.  We stop ourselves from success with our drama.

This is the biggest lesson from your GPS:  There’s no need for drama on your trip. It’ll only stop you in your tracks.

Here’s to moving forward and having a great journey!

I made a new video! Click on the link to watch – and then join me on my upcoming FREE TRAINING CALL: Your Soul & Your Systems: How to Uplevel Your Business and Double Your Income Now!

Register here:
http://www.christinekane.com/soulandsystems.html

It was about 10 years ago.

I bought a ticket to see Oprah Winfrey on one of her summer “Live Your Best Life” tours. I drove 5 hours to Raleigh, NC. I sat with people I didn’t know because none of my friends wanted to go with me.

I listened to Oprah’s 2-hour opening speech in awe. I spent the day going through the journal she gave to the participants – as she encouraged us to face our own “stuff” and get clear about our lives. I answered every single item honestly and with as much vision as I could muster.

I drove back home on a “Hope High” that I thought would never go away.

I’m sure you know what happened.

About, oh, 3 hours into the very next day, I was face to face with “reality.” My old thought habits came back to crush my new Hope High. I was face to face with my life, my money problems, and all the “stuff” my current mindsets had created for me. (Where was Oprah when I really needed her?)

The cynical among us would have us believe that my day with Oprah (or your day in a similar situation) was bullsh*t. That I was only momentarily distracted from the practical reality of my life. Disillusioned. Duped. Dumb.

Here’s the thing though:

I recently found that old journal that Oprah gave me 10 years ago. Everything (everything!) I wrote in there has come to pass. And during these 10 years, I’ve gone to other cool events, read uplifting books, and talked face to face with people who inspired me to no end. Again and again, I’ve gotten lost in the pure potential of possibility. And of course – I’ve had the old crummy thought habits come up the very next day trying to convince me that the possibilities I saw for myself were just pipe dreams.

But I’ve come to see the pipe dream (and the hope high differently) now. After spending that day with Oprah, I began to ask myself one very un-cynical question that changed it all:

What if that HOPE, that HIGH, that inspiration I felt was the TRUTH? What if that was the REAL ME – and all this other icky stuff is the BS?

Think about it. From the day we’re born, we’re taught that the cynicism and doubt are “smart.” We use them as a protective shield. We ward off the hope, the dream – and we successfully keep ourselves stuck.

Still, we get these amazing glimpses of ourselves, of what’s possible.  We also get these fantastic ideas and opportunities. We see our greatness as if it’s standing right in front of us. Sometimes other people or big events help us see it. Sometimes it’s a book.  Sometimes it’s just a moment of pure living in the present moment.

If you’re like most people (and me),  it’s easy to crush that hope the minute the voices of “reality” set in.

It is imperative that you learn to trust that hope.  Here are five things I’ve learned since that day with Oprah. They are true even now as I keep on expanding and changing into even bigger dreams. Let them guide you through the new hopes AND the old habits!

1 – It’s much easier to stop trying than it is to keep believing.

It’s so easy to just believe the old habit voices that whine criticize and shame. Why? Well – let’s be honest – cuz then we don’t have to DO anything!

2 – The Pipe Dream and the Hope are part of the process. But so is the tedium and the work.

Without the dream, you’d never get started. Without the work, you’ll never get anywhere. (And yes, the work is sometimes slow, boring, clean-up work.)

3 – Expecting to feel inspired and happy 100% of the time is the real pipe dream.

I’m a huge believer in Martha Beck’s “shackles on/shackles off” approach. Also – in the Abraham-Hicks “feel good” philosophy.

AND, in my own experience, much of what I thought was a “shackles on/doesn’t feel good” experience – was my assumption about that experience. In fact, sometimes just getting something done or being proud of myself was the “feel good” I was looking for! When I expect inspiration and happiness to constantly be there before I do anything, then I set myself up for staying stuck.

4 – There’s a connection between discomfort and happiness.

We imagine that true happiness is hanging out by a pool sipping froo-froo drinks.  While that can indeed be fun – it will eventually get boring.  Our souls have more in mind for us than froo-froo drinks. Our souls have more in mind for us than protecting us from failure.  Time and time again, I’ve helped my clients move out of the stuck place into deep places of discomfort (and then success).  One of them recently put it this way: “This is the most uncomfortable I’ve been in a long time – but I am so happy and alive! It’s way better than being stuck!”

5 – Make time for more hope.

Feed your hope. Feed your vision. Read books that inspire. Hang out with people who believe in you.  Make time in each day to tap back into that place of hope and vision.  This will act as navigation and keep you moving in the right direction.

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Flashback lots and lots of years ago:

I’m sitting on a balcony of my apartment building looking at the mountains with my friend Kurt who is visiting me in Asheville. In only three days, I’m supposed to head back to Northern Virginia – as my three month visit to the mountains of North Carolina has come to an end.

I sigh very heavy and very deep.

After one of those long pauses that only the best of friends allow in their conversations, I say to Kurt, “I don’t want to go back.”

Without batting an eye, Kurt says matter-of-fact, “So don’t.”

It’s a simple statement. A simple moment. But it changes the course of my whole life.

You mean I have a choice?

That’s all I could think inside my head. A choice?

You mean, I could actually live somewhere I LOVE? You mean I don’t have to listen to the criticism in my head telling me I’m throwing my life away if I don’t have a “serious” city job? You mean I can actually HAVE THIS?

Sometimes it’s just So. Freakin’. Simple.

And the answer is almost always: Yes, you do. And yes, you can.

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