Motivation Note Cards by watersounds

Most people talk about The Best as it’s this known, established Fact. The Best Actor of our generation? Sean Penn. Or Robert Downey Jr. Or Heath Ledger. Or Sasha Baron Cohen…..or…..

Acknowledging the fact that being The Best is totally subjective, & chucking all sense of ego out the window, answer this tough question:

Why are you The Best? (more…)

When I got an email from Katie Wilkinson of K Public Relations telling me of a client that went from the Army to Microsoft to a children’s book author, I knew I had to interview him for Grown-Up Gigs! Roger Hackett is the the author of the Ryan & Robbie series (yup, that’s him above reading to a classroom of kids) & is obviously passionate about writing a kid’s book with multicultural characters. A man with a mission – ain’t that what being a Creative is all about?

1. What did you want to be when you grew up? When I was a kid, I loved adventures. Because I was so rambunctious, my father always made me carry a book in the car. That left a lasting impression on me, and ever since I have wanted to be an author. Somehow, I always thought I would write about Robots, Outer space, or travel adventures. When I had kids, it totally changed my life, and it was just natural for my first book to be about and for kids!

2.  You’ve had an extremely varied career: from being in the Army, to being a “Microsoftie” (Katie’s word, which I love!) to now writing children’s books. Can you articulate what took you from one place to the next to the next? As an adult I still love adventures. What I do for a living is a huge part of who I am. From the Army, Microsoft, to Apple’s iPod Division, to Ryan and Robbie the work that I have done has given people freedom, improved their lives, and empowered them in ways they never knew were possible.  It has always been engaging and fun all along the way both in the United States and around the world.

For me, there are three words that help me find that next big thing… (more…)

live from your heart, uploaded by Deb Did It, found via kind over matter

March 29, 2010

Dear Michelle,

It’s your first day as a full-time entrepreneur! Well, technically it’s your 6th day, but since last week was Soul Week this is your first “official” day. Doesn’t it feel warm? Doesn’t it feel special? Doesn’t it feel peaceful & right? Can’t you get a glimpse of what your life will be like from now on (hint: you call the shots & plan your day around your values & intentions!)? You’re already off to a great start, having showered, gotten dressed, enjoyed a cup of coffee & a bowl of cereal & some time with your Google Reader. Heck, you even returned some emails & crossed some stuff off your To Do List – but you eased into it slowly. And here it is, only 9:30a & you’re already honoring the Me Time you want to have in each work day. (more…)

Give Me a Hand by Blue Bicicletta

Last month, I got a tweet from Danielle LaPorte alerting me to the Help Haiti Blog Challenge, & it’s been stuck in my mind ever since. I’ve been running it over in my head, trying to figure out how I want to contribute. I’m supposed to add a badge & complete this sentence:

“I will donate ________ dollars to _________ on behalf of the next person who buys _________from me.”

But I don’t wanna. I wanna involve more people than just The Next Person. I wanna give more of myself & the things I can contribute. I wanna donate 5% of my coaching income for February to Haiti. Will you help me make sure it’s a lot? Click on over to my Services page to find out about my private sessions, & over to Events to explore the group sessions I got goin’ on, & know that your hard-earned money will be hard at work for those in need.

roar by jessgonacha. How I love that girl.

Do any of these exchanges sound familiar, fellow creative?

Them: “So…what do you do?”
You: “I’m an Executive Assistant.” (leaves out that you’re a certified life coach & kicks ass at it & won’t be an Executive Assistant for much longer)

or
Them:”So…what are you up to?”
You: “Uh….Well, I just opened my own shop on Etsy.”
Them:”What’s Etsy?”
You: “Oh, it’s just this online store thing….People can by my artwork….”
Them:”And you make a living from that?”
You: “Uh, well, I’m trying! I’ve sold some art and, uh, got featured on a blog and…”
Them:”Didn’t you used to be a project manager?”
You: “Uh….yeah….”
Them:”Y’know, I know someone who’s a project manager. I’ll ask if they know of any openings.”
You: “Uh…thanks..” (leaves out that you will never (ever!) go back to being a project manager & actually just sold you first piece of art in your shop)

or
Them:”Are you still performing? You always loved that!”
You: “No. I pounded the pavement for a few years, but now I perform in my husband’s show. He writes new episodes of old sitcoms – it’s neat! But yeah, other than that…” (leaves out that you miss performing in musicals & are planning on auditioning at a theater you’ve found that’s close to your new apartment)

Today, we’re slaying the vampire that comes out to play when someone asks you the question, “So…what do you do?” For a creative person who might be stuck in a dead-end job (dead-end in their heart, at least) or embarking on a new “risky” career, that question can be a cause for panic – or neck sucking. In my case, there are times that I don’t pimp myself out as a coach because I’m afraid people won’t understand what it is, or they’ll think I’m a hippy or they’ll question how I can possibly earn a living coaching. I’ve heard similar things from my clients, especially ones that leave stable, lucrative careers to pursue their creative passions. They feel dumb admitting they gave up “a sure thing” for the “nomadic” life of an artist. They fear that they’ll be judged unfairly, or not be taken seriously about their new endeavor. And above all that, they can’t see how to put this “weird” choice (to the rest of the world) in a flattering light. (more…)

I am so proud of me by teaforthoughts

OK, twist my arm, I’ll admit it: I’m so very proud of me. To the Newsweek video interview that’s supposed to be live tomorrow (aaaaahhhhhh!) to ensuring that my site is ready for re-launch by then to taking many, many, many (many many!) steps in creating this life that is my purpose, even if I’m still reaching, reaching, reaching to get there (& while I have an immediate finish line in mind, I know it’ll be an everlasting journey that is mine to create)….I’m doing it, I’ve done it, and I’m proud of me.

What are you proud of today? (If it’s really early by you & the day’s barely begun, then share what you’re proud of you for doing/being yesterday. It’s not cheating.)

It can be big, it can be small, it can be for an action or an intention or a thought or just a word. It all counts! You better comment about it, too – I want nothing but love here this week for my birthday on Thursday!

I’ve never been one for 5 year plans, but lately I can see a few of them - an urban version, a wildly optomistic version, a realistic verstion, a simple version. But this Tuesday’s question asks:

What does your most successful future look like?

Guess we’re going with the wildly optomistic version. Join me in the Comments section to hear about my successful future & share your own!

Click here for all the installments of Tough (Question) Tuesday.

“you do, i mean it,” found in harpy’s photostream via Design is Mine.

The entire Motivation Monday series can be found here.

Last week, I completed a big fat goal of mine – only 2 days past deadline. I’ve spent the last 4 days trying to come up with the “right” celebration. Yes, I know I have a running Celebration List but nothing that was on there seemed…right. A bath and some wine seemed ordinary, but tickets to a Broadway show seemed extravagent.

So join me in thinking about that goal you just reached, or the one that’s just around the corner – even if it’s not finished yet (especially if it’s not finished yet!). Then ask yourself:

How am I going to celebrate this achievement?

See you in the comments section! (more…)

I’ve mentioned Sophie Hainsworth on this blog before – most recently in this week’s installment of Freakin’ (Great Links) Friday – but she recently sent me an email that I HAD to bring your attention to.

It started:

“I invite you to take part in a creative project between you and your trusted friends, to bring further awareness to the fact that inspiration is everywhere…”