Black Sheep by dreamel. Love how the black sheep is dancing with a hat & cane! If he had fingers, he’d so have jazz hands right now.

Lindsay Christensen is a rockin’ interior designer who I “met” through Blogging Your Way, the awesome blogging e-course that Holly Becker of decor8 led earlier this year. It turned out that I was the lone life coach in a sea of designers & crafters, & I loved every minute of it. Lindsay & I have been reading each other’s blogs & tweeting ever since, & I was thrilled when she offered to contribute as a guest blogger! Like some of my other guest bloggers these past two weeks, Lindsay wrote about the  “scenic, sometimes rocky road” that was her journey to finding her passionate, creative career. Isn’t it amazing how we have so many similar stories, yet they’re all so different? Get the tissues ready!

Coming from a small town, I always just assumed I would do something ‘practical’ or science related. I wasn’t interested in business or English, but I was a good science student. So I had a foolproof plan; go to college, major in something science related (psychology, exercise science, marine biology?) and get a steady and secure job after you graduate in 4 years. Right? I thought I’d figure it out along the way. I didn’t know what I wanted to do right out of high school, so when I enrolled at UC Santa Barbara, I was “undeclared in Biological Sciences.” Chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus, psychology, social psychology, French, art history…all the fun (and not so fun) lower division requirements, blah blah blah. I did really love my art history class, but I didn’t even consider it as a major at the time. Come on, you can’t major in art! You can’t be successful that way! Right? After two years I was burnt out and still confused as ever, so I decided to take a break. A break that turned into a five year break. But I wasn’t doing diddly-squat during my break – I was out there in the world, living back in my home town, taking a class or two here or there, working, researching, trying to find my niche, and I also started dating my future husband and we got married…and that leads me here…

In August 2006 I had a great job. Well, it was great for someone without a Bachelor’s Degree, which I did not have at the time (but was still a goal of mine that I was not going to give up). Great for someone my age (25) who had no children, which I did not have at the time. Great pay for where I lived, meaning that my husband and I could live comfortably with my half of our salary, we had better-than-decent benefits, and it was going to go nowhere but up. I had a great boss and great co-workers. My employer even helped pay for my classes. See, I worked at the local county Public Health Department back then. But that was the month that I quit to go to Interior Design school. I started working there three years earlier in 2003 as the “Office Specialist” (aka receptionist), and after working there for two years, I was promoted to a better job within the department. I could have stayed but it was always a personal goal of mine to finish school with at least a Bachelor’s Degree, so I knew I wasn’t going to be there forever. It wasn’t enough for me, and so I wasn’t happy there. That is something that I figured out while out in the real world; that is not my personality and I won’t stay where I’m not happy. (more…)

Self Portrait by flapperdoodle. Isn’t she just the epitome of a creative entrepreneur?

You’ve already met Tara Lutman Agacayak back in my second installment of Grown-Up Gigs. She describes it below, so I’m not gonna, but seriously, click on the link & read it if you haven’t already. As you can probably guess, I was thrilled to get Tara’s submission as a guest blogger, & I think her 10 Ways are dead on. They absolutely confirmed for me that I’m a creative entrepreneur. What about you?

In one of her Grown-up Gig posts, Michelle introduced me as “Creative Entrepreneurial  Endeavor Developer”.  Though that’s a mouthful, I still haven’t decided on the appropriate title for myself.  But I do know that I enjoy seeing other people develop viable creative businesses.  For this post I thought I’d put together a list of things that I think describe what a creative entrepreneur is since the term can be a bit vague (but creatives are good with vague, aren’t we?).  So, without further ado …

You know you are a creative entrepreneur if: (more…)

A Change Might Be Just Around The Corner by wordboner

Jeremie Miller is a fellow International Coach Academy student who I met via the message boards. I forget the thread that sparked our introduction, but I should tip my hat to it because Jeremie’s awesome. He writes a kick-ass blog called Sunday Night Success & is, in my opinion, a Goal Guru – he knows how to set ‘em & accomplish ‘em & get the support/structure you need all the while. Currently, Jeremie is a life coach for Dads, but he’s been on a long journey to get there. Read below about his path, & how he consistently ditched safety for the pursuit of happiness.

Career changes have never really frightened me.

That is not to say that, when I decide to make a change, I am not plagued by the small voices telling me I am crazy, that it will all fall apart, and that I am making a huge mistake. (more…)

Today’s guest blogger is Cory Huff, who I stalked after I saw he was looking for people to profile on his website, The Abundant Artist.  I didn’t quite fit what he was looking for, so I followed him on Twitter instead of submitting myself. It must’ve been The Secret working, because Cory DM’d me & asked me to guest post for him! I haven’t taken him up on it (yet!), but he’s jumping in the ring first with this awesome post about why we should all be aspiring troublemakers. Take that, Goody Two Shoes!

Do Your Own Thing by StephanieFizer

“I’m a troublemaker, not a double taker. Doing things my own way and never giving up.” – from the song Troublemaker, by Weezer

I tend to get in trouble. I say the wrong thing at the wrong time. I do what I’m not supposed to do. When I’m being held back by people who don’t know what they’re talking about I tend to strike out on my own just to show them what I can do. I offend people when I speak truth that goes against what they believe. I’m that Gen Y guy who makes the Baby Boomers grind their teeth in frustration because even though I didn’t do it the way they think it should be done, I still did it well and it had great results.

It has worked out pretty well for me to be this way. I got lead roles in all my high school plays because I was the best. I got my wife to marry me because I asked her six times. In college I got good grades on papers by ignoring what the professor told us to do and just wrote something worth reading. At one company I worked for I was allowed to start a new department because I kept bothering the CEO & VP about social media & blogging. I was also the highest commissioned sales rep at that company because I didn’t sell the way everyone else sold. (more…)

from momentary bliss, found via kind over matter

Jen Curran picked up a postcard of mine at a rehearsal studio last month, & emailed me to introduce herself. She was in the midst of her last week or two at her desk job, & came on over to see if I was another creative soul out to inspire others to follow their bliss. Thankfully, she found that I was & emailed me about her background (an NYU/Tisch theater grad like me!), her 10-month-old blog (follow my bliss), her new online bakery Fanny & Jane & her current quest to find her grown-up passion while free of the cubicle chains (aka “plan-less”). She asked if she could write a guest post for me, & as soon as I clicked over to her blog I got entranced. I spent hours there, & responded with an intelligent, “Duh!” You can thank me later.

I quit my boring desk job exactly three weeks ago today.

While swimming with my boyfriend one lazy Saturday afternoon two summers ago, I made a promise to myself that I would quit that stupid desk job by the time I turned 29. Having been only 27 years old at the time, turning 29 seemed like a date so far off in the future, I figured I would surely determine the precise ways and means to go about quitting my job by the time my 29th birthday rolled around. (more…)

invincible spring by spreadthelove, found via decor8

I forget how Laura Neff & I originally connected, but I think it had to be on Twitter. The Life Leadership Coach, she & I immediately “clicked”. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it was, but it immediately felt like we’d known each other forever, & I automatically considered her as a friend. I was thrilled to be asked to be interviewed by Laura on her Rock Star Coach call this summer (listen to the recording here – it’s fun!), & I’m glad I can now return the favor by hosting her guest post on my blog. Read on to hear Laura’s “from there to here” story, a touching, inspirational account of how she removed those corporate shackles – successfully! passionately! excitingly! – before figuring out the “what” of it all.

When I worked in Corporate America, I spent a lot of time crammed into a corner and confused.

See, I was lucky to have a cubicle with a window and even luckier to have one with a thick, round column that ran floor to ceiling in the corner of my little gray domain. When no one was looking, I would tuck myself back behind that column, into the small space between it and the window, where no one passing by in the hall could see me. And with hands and forehead pressed against the thick, thick, one-way glass, I’d peer down, watching the small cars zooming by on the city streets below, watching all the people moving through the world, on their way from somewhere to someplace else. (more…)

I met Aidan Donnelley Rowley at her (amazing, beautiful, drool-enducing) home in the Upper West Side as the host of the NYC Fire Starter Session run by Danielle LaPorte. Aidan is one of those people whose warmth, authenticity & niceness overshadows the insecurities that one (i.e. me) can feel  when meeting a beautiful, successful, put-together, seems-to-have-it-all woman (i.e. Aidan). I’m now hooked on her blog, Ivy League Insecurities, & can not wait for the release of her book, Life After Yes, next year. Aiden posted this on October 6th, and I was thrilled when she agreed that I could share it with all of you. I think this will resonate with anyone that has left – or is thinking of leaving – a “sure thing” to “chase a persistent dream” (Charlotte, are you reading this? And yes, I posted this back to back with yours on purpose. Aidan used to be a lawyer!), as it describes what goes through your mind when you’re thisclose to reaching your goal.

Listen to your dreams2 by wordboner

As I type these words, my fingers are tingling and my palms are sweating. I’ve had these symptoms before. A lot recently.

Why the sweaty tingles? Good question. And you, my friends, deserve an answer. So do I. Truth be told, I’ve had this tingly/sweaty thing on and off for a while now. And it’s finally occurring to me that it’s not the copious amounts of Pike Place Roast that I pump through my veins at all hours of the day. No. (more…)

I want to start off my Guest Blogger Time with a post from my client, Charlotte Dauphin. A lawyer by trade & an artist by passion, Charlotte decided to quit her lawyering in September & focus on a career that would make her happy. While she’s still finding her way, she writes a beautiful blog, has an incredible portfolio, & just opened her very own Etsy shop! Charlotte published this post on Fri Oct 2nd, & I asked her immediately if I could share it with all of you.

the brave pig is still undecided on loungerie’s flickrstream

As you may (or may not!) already know, I quit my job. My last day of employment is officially October 9, 2009–that’s one week! People keep asking me why I would quit a “perfectly good job” in an economic environment like this one, where people everywhere are clinging hopelessly to ANY job they can get.

And my answer is simply that I am not fulfilled in this job. Yes, I make money. Yes, I have health insurance. Yes, I have my very own office. But when it comes right down to it, I can get those things in many places and many different positions–what I am looking for right now is a JOB or a CAREER that leaves me excited to get up in the morning, where I feel like my energy is making a positive contribution to society and the world.

There is a Buddhist philosophy that thinks that every person born into this world is equally capable of good or evil, and which part is expressed depends on the society and circumstances into which the child is born. If a child is born into a group of people who are unhappy and not contributing positively, then he is less likely to manifest the good and happy in his potential, and so forth. By that theory, every unhappy person in this world makes the world a worse place. So I am trying to change my circumstances so that I may be a more fulfilled and productive individual. (more…)

You’re the Cherry on Top on 3LambsStudio’s Photostream

I really love you guys. Honestly, writing a post and reading your comments is something I wouldn’t trade it for nothing. That’s why, when I faced facts & realized that this blog will be tough to maintain over the next month – as I’m moving (hopefully to my new, permanent home & not a temporary one!) & demolishing & painting & unpacking – I got very sad. Sad that I’d have to “see” you less regularly. Sad that you’d come here to see what’s new & be greeted with something old. Sad that I wouldn’t get any new comments to read & sad because I’d wonder how you guys are doing!

But, as the life coach I am, I realized that I need to take a break this month (& partly into next) for my sanity. It would just be too much to maintain the pace I’ve been going at & not be stresed out from all of it at once. So, I thought of a less sad option:

Guest Posts! (more…)