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.
(Your first comment below has to be approved, so it may not display instantly depending on the time of the day. Once your email address is approved you can post instantly. If you want your own profile photo to show up beside your comments, instead of the cute little design, upload your photo on Gravatar.com and give them an hour or so to make it happen.)
I want to first thank you for being available to the public! I discovered you on youtube. You have definitely been an inspiration to me. I definitely think I am a scanner. I was always confused about what to do with my career life. But I do know that I love interacting and socializing with good people, learning about their culture, and also doing activities such as skydiving, snorkeling. I just enjoy having fun in good company. Aside from that, I also love doing something with my hands, being crafty and stylish. I have written poems in the past but, not sure if that is the way to go right now. I have many interests that would allow me to be creative, independent, and fulfilled. I thought about journalism, but i am afraid of my writing skills, i prefer speaking and being on camera or writing creatively. My second option is event planning. So I really hope I can find something to do in this present moment. I am doing more research and will read your books to gain some more insight.
Hi,
I am going to hold back a bit on saying what my dream is. I know exactly what kinds of things I would like to be doing right now, but I have a killer obstacle. I lost one of the jobs I was using to fund my ongoing effort to get my dream job ( I actually worked in a place that was almost my dream job but it closed). I want to mention that my “pay the bills” job liked me and said I was “super efficient”. They said that they would be glad to recommend me and I have used them in applying for new jobs. They just ran out of work.
So after four months I have come close to getting evicted for not being able to pay a modest rent. I have applied for every kind of job under the sun but all I have is a 20 hour a week job that pays me less than $160 week. In the past I was able to get something much more quickly with the kind of effort I am putting into this.
I am sorry but I cannot escape the conclusion that my age is finally becoming a barrier to getting work. I am now 56. If you read this story from the Huffington Post you can see that the statistics bear out this dreadful possibility:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/long-term-unemployment_n_1071851.html
How can I go to networking events or meet people for lunch for “informational interviews” when I am suddenly wondering if I will become homeless or never get a decent-paying position again?
How can I volunteer my time in hopes of segueying into a career job when I cannot afford to volunteer my time right now???
Has anyone ever had the experience that suddenly all the techniques they ever used in their life to find and win jobs suddenly stopped working for some reason? Has anyone had the further experience that they met this challenge by multiplying and diversifying their efforts and that this further effort also failed to work?
Has anyone had to deal with the sudden onset of hopelessness when what they tried to do yields no results regardless of trying all kinds of things and trying them with sincerity and persistence.
Is it really still true that “it’s only too late if you don’t start now” or is it possible that the rules of the economy have shifted against certain people in certain demographic groups and there really is a point at which there is no hope???
Hello; followed you from 1st pub of Wishcraft;
Needing to earn money at advanced age; want to try writing Executive Summaries,
but have never found the route to employment, (just find how to buy completed summaries).
How to find out the way to get in on writing Executive Summaries…….
Hi Barbara,
I have a similar question to DG’s. I came across Refuse to Choose, which I read with interest (although it wasn’t quite applicable to my situation), and am really interested in following through with your life-improving trajectory.
The large number of books, websites, and forums you have is a little daunting, and it’s difficult to know where to begin. Since I’m currently ‘unemployed’– which is to say, very employed in my own pursuits, but currently out of work and not making any money– I want to make the most effective use of my time, and am wondering which books and resources to begin with.
A little about my situation:
— I am in my early 30s, and though I do have manifold interests, am not quite a ‘scanner,’ as Refuse to Choose confirmed
— There is certainly one thing I really love doing (which really means the whole constellation of interests and activities that informs it): writing, or what could be called ‘writing with a capital W.’ Prose (the kind called “literary fiction” nowadays), poetry, and philosophy. I’ve been pursuing this passion for a while, although it seems decreasingly popular and ‘marketable’ in this day and age, and I make no money from it as yet
— I’ve worked at various full-time, part-time, & freelance jobs in the past, but am still yet to find a trade that both provides a sustainable income and leaves enough time and energy to write effectively. (Though maybe unrealistic, it would be great if I enjoyed it to some extent too!)
— I want to explore my interests in greater depth to discover what sorts of more-than-just-tolerable jobs/endeavors might enable me to make a relatively reliable and sustainable income while allowing enough time and energy to write, until, perhaps, I can make some or all of my income through writing, and to have a concerted plan to achieve these goals
I plan on working through “I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was.” After that, do you think it would be best to read “Live the Life You Love” or “Wishcraft”? Are there any other resources that you feel would be particularly helpful? It would be great if eventually you had a sort of ‘key’ or ‘diagram’ on one of your sites saying something to the effect of, ‘For personality type X, these resources are most pertinent in this order,’ ‘For personality type Y, these resources in this order,’ and so on.
Thanks for your time, and I really appreciate all the work you have been and continue doing for all who would dare to explore and pursue their passions.
All the best,
Svend
My walk is across rocky terrains now when I switched tranquility for mechanized livelihood.
Only my thoughts and self talk keep me afloat, as I numb to the waves that rock my boat.
The compass of my spirit gets lost in the world as I move around,
Lost?
Fool?
Late?
Unknown it is, yes, but a good-kind-of-calming-unknown.
Is not enough to bake bread cos the winter is here.
The spasms of thrill warms me up from the coldness of hurt.
Thank god for the club.
I am on a spiritual crisis for several years ; I worked as an accountant, therapist , counselor and I was a people pleaser ; now , I see that my heart wants to be happy and I just don’t know what to do for a living.
reading your books I discovered that I am a scanner 🙂 ; people see me as a walking enciclopedia and always want my help (but now I discovered how exhausting si this for me ); so … I create jewelery for my own sake , I paint , I decorate my house , I sometimes sew and I read a lot .
people are waiting for me to do the same things as I used to , but reading “refuse to choose” I found to my surprise that I was only learning about therapy and counseling because I needed it for my own emotional and physical health, and not to help others.
I trained myself in many things : healthy eating , energy techniques, feng shui, etc , but I don’t want to work with them , there is no pleasure for me in that.
so right now, I really don’t know what to do with my life in terms of supporting myself (because creativity , curiosity and learning are already developed :))).
I was thinking about making jewelery which i lstill love so much , to sell or to teach , or write an e-book.
my obstacles would be :
-I don’t think this will bring me the money I need
-I already tried to sell my creations but they are not appreciated as I would like (they are romantic , vintage style) and they would sell for almost nothing which would make me upset and not validated (I work many hours to do them)
-I tried to do an online creativity course with tutorials but didn’t work ; I also offered the tutorials as an ebook but nobody was interested ; what I found is that people are interested to pay only for what I used to do as a therapist
-I am afraid of public speaking so teaching a class would be out of the question right now (I did that once for another theme and I got ill for several months after that)
not sure what can I do beside that ; I need financial freedom to follow my dreams (travel, maybe divorcing and moving in another town or country , etc).
any suggestions ?
Hi,
Why wouldn’t you look for a program to overcome your fear of publicspeaking ? I know there are a lot of hypnosis cd’s that can help you achieve that. I actually never tried it on this particular issue, but hypnosis has helped me in a lot of aspects in my life.
I remember I found a very interesting one, testimonials were very encouraging. It usually works through lisetning to the cd for 21 days.
This could be a good way out for you if you want to teach, you may actually find it a very pleasant experience;
Let me know if you are interested, I might help you find a good program.
Good luck !
Fluidgirl, have you tried selling your jewelry on Etsy? http://www.etsy.com I have seen and bought romantic, vintage type things there. Each person sets up her/his own store there and you get a huge audience there. If you are afraid of public speaking, check out Toastmasters in your area. You will get lots of practice in a safe environment. For income, you answered your own question- if people are willing to buy what you write if it is based on what you used to do as a therapist, this might be the right way to get a foot in the door in e-book success. You have many interests and abilities and I wish you the best!
I, too, am a crafter. For me, it’s sewing: bags, napkins, placemats, purses, toys, blankets, book covers, etc. I venture into some beading and wire-crafting, but mostly it’s sewing. Like you, I found that some of the things I create are not appreciated for what went into them, and people want to pay Wal-Mart prices for meticulously handcrafted items. So, when it comes to sewing for my pleasure, I continue to do so, and still offer many of the items up for sale in Artfire (like Etsy, only much less expensive), but I also offer some of the items I make as kits. I found that they tend to sell better that way. People don’t have to pay me for my time and talent, they get to put something together without having to hunt for the right components, and I offer the option to have me put it together for them for an additional fee.
You like being creative; people like your therapeutic capabilities. Have you considered combining them? Craft therapy? Art therapy? Maybe art classes for kids? Working with the elderly in a retirement home? Perhaps a craft store near you that needs people to offer quick classes for people walking in the door? What about churches? Many offer Vacation Bible Schools in the summer, but they might have workshops or classes in other seasons as well. Look up how to make rosaries and take a craft workshop to a Catholic church. Ask a priest if he’ll hang around to bless them when they’re done. For any of these, you can charge a set price per person attending to cover the cost of supplies and your time, and they have a great time socializing, learning something new, and have something to take away with them when they’re done.
The e-book is a good idea, but, like my own little online craft shop, it really needs to be marketed. Have you tried that? Artfire has a wonderful 45-day quick start program, and they once offered a Social Media Boot Camp to teach how to use things like Twitter and Facebook to market your shop and wares. Then, too, just type “online marketing for crafts” or “selling crafts online” into Google or your favorite search engine to find other ideas. Sometimes I just browse what’s in Artfire to get ideas for other things I’d like to try making and selling.
There are ways to support yourself making jewelry, but it won’t happen overnight, and it won’t happen without research and work. If you’re a scanner, there’s more to who you are than making jewelry, and likely if you decided on just that, it would quickly lose it’s allure. That’s why I suggest taking all those things you’ve learned about and becoming a master-enough of them all to help people learn how to do them, too.
Just some suggestions.
I make jewelry and am not sure that I can make it as a stable primary either but I realized I can make things like lanyards for my co-workers and at least use the money to pay for my gas to get to work. I work in a call center and as far as call centers go it is a very good envirnment towork in as it is one of the few places whereIi actually get treated like a person. I do not want to stay there and I am going to start my own thing soon but in the meantime I can work on my lanyards at work between calls. I guess I wanted to write to you to let you know that even of the jewelry isn’t going to satisfy all of your needs, it will satisfy something. For me it satisfies part of my creative needs while working at a doldrum uncreative job, plus it helps with my gas bill for my car.
Have you tried Etsy for selling your jewellery?
For public speaking – Lee Glickstein http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsGA0yD-gMA
If your online course or ebook didn’t sell – better SEO? Is it worth trying again?
Wish: To start my own small film production company, making lower-budget feature films and documentaries and perhaps an internet TV series, where I would be the writer/director and I would recruit a repertory company of actors and crew who would work together on multiple projects over time.
Obstacles: Zero film experience or schooling (I’m a psychology instructor by training). I cannot afford film school as I’m still paying off my master’s degree. I want to teach myself — but how?
Zero contacts in the business.
I’m in the Sacramento area, not L.A. I don’t want to move; I want to establish my company in this area.
Money — for projects, and perhaps to keep me going financially if my job comes to a sudden end (see below).
My current job — while it gives me great flexibility in terms of hours, the environment is very dysfunctional and stressful and I’m not sure how much longer this job will last.
People — I’m stumped as to how to find people to work with me on these projects. Friends and family have no interest in film.
Overwhem due to the problems listed above.
What I do have:
Lots of ideas for film projects, enough to keep me going for a career.
Some video equipment — camera, lights, mics, etc.
Total passion for the work. I do feel this is something I was born to do — I’m just frustrated because I can’t figure out how to get started!
BarbarasClub is looking great!
W: Create a simple ProNagger product and/or service to help people rock 2012.
O: Not much is feeling simple recently. Specifically the obstacles are…
*coming up with that simple offer.
*keeping the creation and implementation simple.
*spelling, grammer and editing challenges that are slowing me way down.
I think you should work for people who have programs like mine. It’s to their (our) advantage that their members follow through and succeed so I think they will work with you to publicize your services. Many of them will even pay part of your fee so they can offer The Magnificent ProNagger at an unusually low price. Of course, that’s for working with individual people. I’m assuming you can only do so much of that.
Your idea of having a product is a much better in the long run. You give such great advice that you should definitely have a number of short, inexpensive Kindle books. (Kindle now goes on everyone’s laptop and iPad and iPhone for free.) You’ll need tech help getting that published, as I will as well. But that shouldn’t be hard to get. I’ll talk to you about what I’m finding.
And someone just put out a deck of cards (in German) with quotes from I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was. Simple really, just reminders. Nothing fancy. But fans of the book love it and are buying lots of decks. While a deck of cards requires a whole production project, it’s not that hard to get a 99c App out for the iPhone. There’s a program someone mentioned to me I think I can find.
Re spelling etc., you should not be doing that at all! Your services are way too valuable to have you locked away with spelling and grammar repair! You should have a client or two who will do that in exchange for your services or we should have an Idea Party to solve that one problem.
Look at what you do, Rachel: The one thing that turns failure into success, and stops people from hating themselves for letting their dreams slip out of their grasp. You’re the least-expensive coach and the easiest-to-find Success Team and the smartest, kindest, funniest but no-fooling-around ‘school teacher ominously slapping a ruler onto her palm’ in the whole world. Success depends on support and accountabiity, not attitude. Well, you are Support and Accountability, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t need you!
Hi Rachel,
I have a few ideas for you, and I need your nagging services!
If you want to deliver a live class via video, I can set that up for you.
If you want to create CD’s/ DVD’s we can Produce and supply you with a master and recommend a couple of companies for fulfillment that are affordable. We can do small fulfillment orders (less than 100 at a time), but you’d have to nag me on that one. Ever duplicated CD’s? It’s boring!
If you need ebooks put up on Amazon/Kindle can do that too.
You can reach me at kris@wellnesstalkradio.com
Kris, thanks for finding me on facebook. I didn’t realize all these comments were here!!! I’m excited to possibly doing some trade work with you.
Oh, goodness….I missed this!!
Your first suggestion: “I think you should work for people who have programs like mine” is interesting to me. It would be kind of cool to be hired by someone who has a program and needs a nag to help their clients to keep moving. Plus I would get to learn about some pretty cool programs. You’re right, there is only so much of me so I would have to figure out how this could work, but I like it.
PLEASE let me know what you find out about getting published on Kindle. I feel my energy drain when I think about some of the tech hurdles. Even more blood drains from my extremities when I think about the editing issues! I am game for the idea party to help with the spelling and grammar issues!
Lastly, thank you for your complementary words! I can’t tell you how wonderful that feels coming from you! It means the world to me. I wouldn’t be the Nag that I am today without your all your support.
I wish I could help you with editing and proofreading. I am good at it. I need only a little bit of income stream. Btw, it is “grammar” not “grammer.”
LOL, you are good at it Janie. It’s looking like I’m going to be the only income producer in my household until the end of March. That said, I am more attracted to trades for the moment. That said, I am curious to know what you think you would ask for editing? I have no idea how much a service like that costs.
And “complimentary” means someone gave someone a compliment, whereas “complementary” means something different: complementary colors, for instance are red&green or Yellow&Purple (or something like that) and “His frugality complement her spendthriftery.” 🙂
But, like I said, you shouldn’t care about spelling or grammar. Or Editing. There Are People Who Do That and will do it in return for your services (and getting to work with your message, which should be helpful for any editor).
Eileen will surely do the first two. Email me. As for the editing, I just send printouts of my chapters around to friends and they say where they got lost, where they laughed, what they found most amazing. I use that for editing. (I don’t allow them to say a word about spelling or grammar!)
That complementary color compliments your skin tone?
Wish: To use what I know in my field to contribute to our group’s project, learning new areas as needed so I can be a resource that does and coordinates the right things (in the right order of priority) efficiently and on time and with minimal gut-clenching bad feelings.
Obstacles:
guilt for procrastinating
guilt for not already having learned x
impostor syndrome
worry that I’m not using the skills I’m best at
distracted by a hobby that I’m good at (but not efficient at
distracted by urgent things, like showing what I already know in meetings
introversion
inertia, bad habits (websurfing)
lack of confidence to champion my ideas
mundane little chores clogging my desk
sleepiness in the afternoon
distracted by blogs that seem helpful for introspection but don’t solve the problem
feeling pressured to sit at my desk and seem productive at certain times
worry about my reputation/opportunities if I don’t get this done
worry I’m not able to learn new things anymore
uselessly high standards, perfectionism in stupid little things
overanalyzing data (analysis is my strength, maybe, but not prioritization, which I’ve had as feedback before)
Hey Viva,
Do you write a daily to-do list? Maybe if you started with a small, easy to complete list of tasks you could start to build your confidence. When you write a list, imagine you’re writing instructions for someone who might be subbing for you for a day. In doing this, what you write will be clear and actionable!
Use surfing the web and other things you’re calling “bad habits” as relaxing treats after completing something.
Give those little chores a little bit of your daily attention. As little as 5 min. Once you have done what you said you were going to do be done with the worry about it for a day.
Do low energy chores during low energy times. Or nap…if you can. Also eat a little something healthy, your brain might be needing fuel. Also there are lots of focusing tools to help you stay on task. A bit of white noise might be all you need to keep your focus. Here’s a feel place to get some white, pink or brown noise: http://simplynoise.com/
Give each day a designated worry time. I like to worry from 3:300-3:15 every day. Save any worry, fret or self flogging for the designated time.
These letters go directly into your Kindle book because your answers are your message and your content. Just keep answering questions (here, on my bbs, and in forums for procrastinators).
Someone else has to do the tech for your kindle book, not you. Bad use of your time. There are inexpensive kindle books out telling people how to do it, and maybe — if he’s technically inclined — your hubby could do it. I’m sure that once he masters it, he can get income-producing work doing it for lots of other people. We’ll praise him lavishly on Twitter and send them his way.
Copy and Pasting now! How quickly I forget!
Hubby? Tech? Not happening! He’s got plenty of work to do, besides. The reason it’s all on me right now is because he’s working like a dog for his first solo show in New York City at the end of March. This means all the work he produces now is NFS until the show. So it has been a pretty long stretch with him not selling any work at all.
Where to Begin….
Many years ago I read Wishcraft. Recently, I picked up “It’s only too late if you don’t start now”. OMG! You were right there inside my brain. I am going through a delayed mid-life crisis (in my late 50’s). Ready for changes in both career and personal life. I just purchased Refuse to Choose, Live the Life, and I Could Do Anything. Additionally, I see many more resources on this site. I’m feeling overwhelmed. In what order would you suggest reading the other books? What other suggestions would you suggest to stay focused and not get overwhelmed?
Be sure to finish It’s Only Too Late If You Don’t Start Now That’s essential. You might find everything you need there. Some people get all crazy at the ‘Beauty’ chapter (according to comments on Amazon.com. Maybe I should have used the words ‘looking fertile.’ (You’ll see what I mean when I get there.)
While you’re reading it, head over to YouTube and take a look at the video of me in a pink dress, wearing pearls and looking like Barbara Bush. That segment will give you instructions on what to do next, and also the laughs you really need to get perspective.
Then, if you’re looking to find what you really want to do so you can get into action, I recommend Live the Life You Love. It’s an action book – step by step – and moves much faster than Wishcraft. (“Shoots you out of a cannon” said a trusty reader). If you simply follow the steps in that book, just one by one, you’ll find yourself in an astonishing place when you finish. If you’d rather be less active and get more insights, read I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was But since I’m already in your head (I’m delighted to hear), you probably should move to action. To not get overwhelmed, watch Barbara’s Club. We’re going to launch it in January. Join ‘Hanging Out with Barbara’ and you won’t get overwhelmed. 🙂
Thanks! This is going to be fun.