Barbara Sher’s Idea Party

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How Does the Online Idea Party Work?

You have a dream or a wish, and an obstacle to getting there. (If you don’t think you know your wish, work through my kick-starter and read this post. To learn why you must put logic aside to find your dream, read the following.)

The online Idea Party is here to help you – and the other fellow party goers – with your wishes and obstacles.

Voices from Success Teams and Idea Parties:

Having a team to report to and hearing what everybody did each week is very exciting. It’s kept me moving all year. In the past I made some good starts on my own, but found, every time, when the energy ran out, I ran out. Now it doesn’t run out.
Jade G.
Children’s Playroom Therapist, New York Hospital

I would do a painting a year, a sketch a year. If it was only me I know I would never do it. Having to tell you makes all the difference. It’s crazy why I didn’t do this years ago, it’s so easy all of a sudden.
Caroline R. Personnel Executive, Macy’s Dept Store

Post Your Wish and Your Obstacle Here!

And help your team mates out when you can. Use the Reply link to help, the form below the comments to add your own Wish and Obstacle.

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4,554 thoughts on “Barbara Sher’s Idea Party”

  1. My dream is to empower at-risk teens to create the life of their dreams.
    I want to offer virtual group coaching for them on a monthly basis.
    I am also planning workshops, and realize that I need to get sponsors to
    help offset the cost of the workshops to make it affordable for the teens.

    Any ideas on getting sponsors and teen clients for virtual group coaching,
    and in person workshops?

    My website is: http://www.TeenDreamCenter.com

    Thanks so much for your help!

    Take care,

    Tresaca

    http://www.TeenDreamCenter.com

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Tresaca,
      Having raised one “at risk” teen that is now proudly serving in the Air Force! My suggestion is go to the parents first! I would glady have participated in something like that years ago had it been available.
      Also, go to your local youth, teen, drug support centers or groups. high schools too….counseling centers….do a free introductory session and offer something else that you sell, course or ebook.
      bring the kids in of course also….kudos to you. Had i not found the support group for my teen at the time, our lives, his would have taken a very sad and different course! Good luck to you.
      Kris

      http://www.wellnesstalkradio.com,http://www.broadcastontheinternet.net

      Reply ↓

      • Kris,

        Thank you so much for your awesome advice!

        I prepared an introductory workshop to offer organizations, and I like your suggestions of other places to offer it to.

        I am glad your son turned his life around.
        I want to reach parents like you who recognize the need for help for their teen, and are actively seeking help.

        http://www.TeenDreamCenter.com

        Reply ↓

          • what about telling your local church about it? And maybe you find a way to present your great idea on the internet (youtube) or even the TV. One perfect moment could be enough to attract someone’s attention that is willing to support you…so I’d recommend you focus on both local help and the big publicity
            good luck! 🙂

    • checked out your site. very nice! something that came to mind…you can rope teens in with subjects…ie do you hate your new step dad?
      is being overweight keeping you from trying out for sports?
      is your lifelong friend experimenting with drugs? do you want to have your own rock band? 101 new skateboard tricks you can learn fast. Are your parents really lame? stuff like that.
      hope this helps,
      kris

      http://www.wellnesstalkradio.com,http://www.broadcastontheinternet.net

      Reply ↓

  2. Hi, what a great idea here Thanks.
    I’ve Produced and Hosted Wellness Talk Radio for the last 4 years. I also have a Live Video Streaming Production company where we build websites for people and they can archive or stream their own great quality audio or video. In building these things I have learned almost every techie skill in the book, ie production, editing, building wordpress websites, interviewing authors and others ( which i love doing!)
    Iv’e interviewed plenty of millionaires and mega successful people over the last 4 yrs. And amazingly successful and interesting people.
    okay, here’s the “funny” part..(not so funny anymore…).I cannot for the life of me seem to make a go of making any of this lucrative financially. I am missing the boat here somehow and I’m not sure how. About at the “go get a job teaching” and give up point. Anybody have ideas on what I’m missing here?

    Reply ↓

      • Hi Helen, Thanks for responding. I have tons of “services”. the big challenge has been I’ve not been successful at explaining to people what I can do or getting them to pay for it. Tried a lot of JV stuff that has been so so.
        Sold advertising for the show for the first year, but found it too demoralizing….personalized all of the rejection.

        Reply ↓

        • Tell stories. Don’t explain what you can do, just tell stories of actual times you did it. They’ll understand that you charge for the service. Send them to a page on your site that gives them learning options and various tuitions.

          Reply ↓

    • I know what you mean about advertisers. That’s a nightmare.

      But you have to sell something to earn money. You’ve got what publishers call a ‘platform,’ something they want their authors to have so books will sell. A platform is an ongoing promotion; people know you, listen to you, love to hear what you say. They want more. You can give them more, and you can make it the highest quality, something much more interactive with more personal exchanges. People will pay for that.

      Pick a subject and write a short book about it (eBook and Print On Demand) so you don’t have printing costs. Offer it free as an eBook on your site. Get testimonials and praise. Make sure the book teaches readers how to do something that will make their lives better. (That’s called ‘prescriptive,’ as in a prescription.)

      Looking at your latest post here I realize you can have a weekend retreat showing people how to put up their website, work with 10 people, charge less than they expect, lecture, then walk around helping them. (You just need a meeting room with Internet connectivity – maybe.)

      You can do another retreat on How to have your own online TV show. I wouldn’t charge less than $600 for that, probably more.

      Ask people to Instant Message or email you while you’re on the air so you can build a mailing list.

      Have a free happening that’s fun and might attract attention: lunch at a cheap place. Goal: to help everyone use their cell phones and iPads and other portable electronics. Get a newspaper reporter to attend.

      In your show, talk about something that people can do to change their lives for the better and feature quotes from different authors, or use your own stuff.

      At anything you present: Record every word you say! (and whatever you can of everyone else). You’ll use what you say in your books and eBooks. What they say will help you with context when you later write it down.

      You can base afternoon classes ($25 per person?) on an exercise from one of your favorite authors. (Do Ideal Day from Wishcraft – they can get the book free online).

      You should speak at meetings of small women’s organizations. You’re a radio show host, so if you come up with a topic and charge a token honorarium, you have a good chance of being accepted as a speaker. You could talk about ‘How to Start Your Own Radio Show on the Internet. (And then you’d better turn yours into a TV show by having a camera on you like so many radio talkshow hosts do).

      You’ve built what every publisher wishes their authors would build – a really good radio show.

      Now you have to use the power of that platform to let people know what else you offer.

      Reply ↓

      • WOW! Knock my socks off! Thank you Barbara. So many great options…your comment made me realize one of the big roadblocks to why I can’t sell….I’m assuming everybody already knows how to do what I do.
        It’s easy for me so it must be easy for them! I’ve been trying to sell this “live, have your own channel broadcasting platform”, thinking that everyone I talk to is ready to have their own show! You mean I actually have to teach them how to do it first?
        hmmm…Also, why am I trying to sell (via explaining with words)a live broadcasting channel to people rather than just live video broadcasting from my own channel and showing them how its done? Or Audio Broadcasting for that matter.
        I did put together an ebook and haven’t marketed it much or sold it. I also have permission to create ebooks or cd’s for many of the bestselling authors ive interviewed. Not sure how to get all of it done, and afraid that if I do take the time to create it it won’t sell.
        I am a Scanner with a capital S! A whirlwind of projects, but nothing bringing in income like it should.
        You mentioned since I Host a show, I can present about this, but when I really think aboutit, what I’m really passionate about is helping other people get their message out, there are so many brilliant people out there with content that can change lives….
        “You can base afternoon classes ($25 per person?) on an exercise from one of your favorite authors. (Do Ideal Day from Wishcraft – they can get the book free online).”
        Now this is exciting! (Don’t laugh…was reading wishcraft again last night!It’s a permanent fixture in my room)
        Will offer this on my live broadcasting channel. (with maybe a small in person group, to get away from the “isolation” thing….Free since I.m practicing.Don’t laugh, where/what is ideal day? Can’t find it in the book.
        Thanks again Huge appreciation!

        http://www.wellnesstalkradio.com,http://www.broadcastontheinternet.net

        Reply ↓

          • I also have permission to create ebooks or cd’s for many of the bestselling authors ive interviewed. Not sure how to get all of it done, and afraid that if I do take the time to create it it won’t sell.

            Don’t do it yourself, Kris. Isolation is the dream-killer! Train a reliable high-school student to do it and work with them in the same room so you can watch the details and answer questions.

        • No, not Idea Party, Ideal Day. It’s in Wishcraft, but never mind, I have a better idea.
          Yes, you have to teach them how to do it first. Teach me the live online TV show, Kris. I’ll be your first guinea pig, and will gladly pay you for such a valuable service.

          And then I have a bunch of other things I wish you’d teach, things I’m advising to people when I have the time to do 20-minute Skype video sessions. Problem is, I’m advising almost the same thing over and over and over. I’m not even good at it and can’t teach it. I just know that many dreams that look impossible are very possible if people can get up on YouTube and understand how to use blogging and Facebook and Twitter to promote themselves. They listen. They get it. They get excited. And then their eyes glaze over because they know they’ll never figure out how to do it.

          I’d love to send them to you!

          Tell stories on your show about how you’re showing people how to earn money at their craft (for instance, an acting teacher who had moved away from NY and has no students) if they teach long-distance on video – Skype or YouTube). This simple (to you!) stuff makes impossible-seeming dreams totally possible!

          Tell those stories and you’ll get calls from your listeners right away, because they want to learn it, too. Offer one-on-one Skype sessions (10 sessions at $100 each?) or a class of 5 or 10 for $25 a session. On-site, $1200. An 8-week blog course with video and forum: $300. Or something.

          You are so needed!

          Reply ↓

  3. The most important things in life are not “things”.
    I have an appreciation for material possessions but we can’t take them when we go and we won’t be remembered for them.
    For me …. Life is about relationships and experiences.
    A relationship between any two humans is a dynamic thing.
    Since I was little I have had a love for horses and it has just been the last 4 ½ years that I have been able to explore this love which is truly a passion. I have learned such a great deal about myself through my beloved horses, Paisley and Shayla, who even through their passing have continued with their teachings.
    I am learning more and more that horses are a very spiritual being who take us on a deep journey to the realms of healing, awareness and soul growth. These amazing animals serve as teachers and guides transporting us to a new journey of consciousness. They aid us to look deeper in to nature and our interconnectedness with all life and as a result, deeper into our own hearts. Through communication with horses, we can learn to develop that selfless love the Greeks called agape which leads to a passion for life —- a passion that has dimmed as we’ve lost our communion with nature and the natural. I truly believe that horses can teach us to become better human beings.
    My dream is to have a beautiful acreage that will become home for me and the beautiful horses, and other furry family members, which will come and go from my life. On this acreage I want to have quaint little cabins for people to come and stay in while they go back to basics in life. I want them to look deeper in to nature and to reconnect with life and deeper in to their own hearts. This ‘home’ will be shared with many as a tranquil escape to bring joy, peace and clarity.

    Reply ↓

  4. Will do my first video on some of the dishes from blameitongranny.com in december, need Helen to help set it up on line. Hope she can finish Barbara Club site by then. Looking forward for Barbara Sher to sign up as the first student. Have a lot of ideas cooking in my brain. But for sure to be in Cambodia and Mustang in August next year. Need to do something more meaningful with my life than standing in the kitchen cooking. Keeping fingers cross

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Issac,
      Thought you might want to see this for some inspiration.(not the vegan part (:
      http://www.veganculinaryexperience.com/
      Interviewed this Chef a while back. I think he does well with his catering, free subscription to his mag, and “upgraded” paid subscription.
      Enjoyed looking at your site.
      My daughter is in a culinary arts program….don’t know where she learned to cook! I burn water..really I do!
      Best of luck to you,
      Kris

      http://www.wellnesstalkradio.com,http://www.broadcastontheinternet.net

      Reply ↓

      • Thanks Kris something for me to look into and ideas I can adapt from the vegan site. Would like do something like that to raise funds for social work but first have to really get a feel in whatever field I want to be involve in.
        Good to know that your daughter is in culinary arts program. The best compliment and encouragement to your daughter is: Make sure you do not leave anything behind when she serve food to you.
        Empty plates makes happy chef!
        Thanks for inspiration

        http://blameitongranny.com

        Reply ↓

      • The money making one is bookkeeping for small businesses. I love working with people who don’t think they ca do numbers. In in Minneapolis and relocating to Jacksonville FL. I want to keep it going in both places.

        Reply ↓

        • Sounds like yiou are a bit of a teacher too? I would sign up for an online class if you have found a good system for us small biz owners to get the book keeping and number things done (if not country specific, I´m n Sweden)! I´m not bad at numbers, just bored and a bit disorganised with the crunching of them.

          Gointg to both places, I can envision a rescue-clinic for small biz. Announcing somthing like “ER for bookkeeping emergencies is open on thursday in xxx between xx and xx. Bring your books!” Drop-in and appointments maybe? It should be a good travelling biz, we don´t need help all the time so it could be scheduled for both places alternate.

          Reply ↓

  7. As advice from Bab, have decided to try out in a couple of orphanage in Cambodia and Mustang, Nepal.Just to get a feel of working as a volunteer. Will slowly start cooking course on line with my wife’s help as from December to generate interest and funding for my future work. Thanks Barbara idea party is great.
    Himalayan Chef

    Reply ↓

    • That is so wonderful, Himalayan Chef!! What a great idea. I want to come with you!! (Need a fundraising idea to pay for the plane tickets? Run a teleclass or two on Skype – with video – and show us how to cook one interesting thing. I know you’re already a chef. And I’m getting bored with what I eat. Charge $22 – or something – and make our lives better. Do one or two classes a month & put the proceeds in a piggy bank. Sign me up as the first student.)

      Reply ↓

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