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.)
Dear Barbara and crew: My career has been in health care as a social worker. I have left that profession. My life-long dream is to be a humor columnist similar to Erma Bombeck, Dave Barry, Andy Rooney. I have written several “columns” and submitted to several local publications without acceptance.
Obstacle: I suffer from severe chronic depression. How can I write humor when I am emotionally sad and humorless much of the time? (My husband has advancing multiple sclerosis and lives in a nursing home.) When I don’t have these symptoms, I can get into writing and relish completing columns.
Question: What format should I use to get started, i.e. blog, and then develop a ‘following’ or approach newspaper editors directly locally and/or nationally? Ultimately I would like to publish the printed columns but that’s the cart before the horse, as they say. I am aware of the Council of Humorists, and that group does provide some advice.
Question: If I were to create a blog, do I retain first publishing rights? Publishing a blog seems overwhelming and frankly I don’t want to ‘interface’ with readers. I just want to write.
Obstacle: how do I maintain motivation to write?
Any advice?
Thank you!
Hey Suzanne,
Here’s my two cents: You wrote abt suffering from depression but wanting to write humor. Have you heard of Robin Williams? (very sorry abt his death.) Many comedians are sad or angry and use comedy to express how they feel. One of my former acting teachers used to say, “Comedy is tragedy..that happens to somebody else.” And it is very true. The late, great Charlie Chaplin had a very diff. life. His little tramp character was inspired by his own experience as a homeless person b4 he became successful.
Local newspapers in your community would be easier to approach. I’m dealing w/a similar issue as I’m also a writer. The bigger, national pubs usually aren’t open to new writers, from what I’ve seen.
You cd always start a blog and make it private so that only you see it. The advantage of that wd be a place for you to write and save your work where you cd look at it later. You’ll also be able to see the dates when you’ve last posted.
Anyhow, that’s all I know…
What speaks against having a blog _and_ approaching newspapers at the same time?
Hi Everyone:
I have a book of ideas that I am writing down as I think of them. They all center around helping others, i.e. children, teens, the homeless, etc. I would like to start a business that I could somehow put on auto-pilot yet one that would help others. Not sure where to start. Any suggestions, especially with the auto-pilot part? Thanks.
Endeavoring to start a community arts center – have a vision for being a host/home to after school programs, small concerts, yoga classes, workshops, spirit-based programs, painting classes for adults and more… I own/have a space that suffered a flood and must re-build. Am a single mom and overwhelmed. Left job to make this my success and am now living on fumes, essentially. Too much to do with one person, too many projects need serious cash. How to start? Oh yeah, and I have a healthy and growing, internationally read blog and am wanting to transform much of it into a book. Both projects – and my sixth grade boy as well (and fifteen chickens too) – need my attention. So does the laundry. Ich. Help? Ideas? Concrete suggestions?
You could look for a big donor or three, Elizabeth. Or you could take a non-taxing job as a “subsidy to the arts,” as Barbara Sher puts it, because living on fumes isn’t very good for your creativity, your son, or your ability to stay with these projects for the long haul both need.
Oh, and I know for a fact that sixth grade is old enough for a boy to learn to do the laundry. (Mine still does it for his wife and kids.) Learning about temperatures and types of bleaches and what they do to colors can be turned into science experiments (with fabric scraps). So can learning how long it takes for wrinkles to set in and for more drying a damp towel to get the wrinkles back out.
Thanks for the thoughtful response, Patty.
Some good points; had a nice talk w/my son and today is ‘learn to fold and put away laundry’ day. ! In fact, he’s excited to have a role which will help me out. We’ll tackle learning the machines next. I do tend to forget he’s quite able now. !
As for the non-taxing job, not sure what you mean. In that I’m a single mom w/no child care, I teach some piano lessons in my home, which helps, but it’s very little. I can’t fit a job into my 6 hour day at present… need to drop off and pick up son, make supper, etc. I just left my last job – at his school – in order to make time for these new projects, so for now, fumes it is I suppose.
Thanks again, your input was indeed helpful.
E
E, when my husband died suddenly leaving me with a 9-year-old in a private school with no buses or after-school care and a 50-hour-a-week job with a 2 1/2 hour a day commute, I ran out of fumes and discovered a lot of things I always thought were necessary weren’t.
But the other angle is to make more doing what you’re already doing or get others to do it for something other than money. Can you teach two piano players at a time, charging each of them less while making more for you? Can you advertise piano playing for stress reduction lessons to high-income women with crazy schedules? Can you invite your local vo-tech school to use your walls to practice putting up sheet rock and taping and spackling it? Can you offer some sort of VIP privileges to those who join you for a one-day painting party at the center? Can you find a neighbor and each of you cook for both families on half as many afternoons as you cook now?
Hi Elizabeth. You have some great projects lined up!
But you’re right, you can’t do them all alone, and you can’t do them all at once either. I think probably you should focus on the arts center first and leave the book and other projects for later.
Patty’s suggestion of getting a job to ease your financial situation is a very good one. I’m not American so I had to Google “sixth grade age”. It said 11-12 and I agree that’s plenty old enough for your son to do the laundry and other jobs around the house. Get him involved in the more exciting arts centre stuff too if he’s interested.
You want it to be a community arts center, so I think your first step is to start building the community, even though the space isn’t ready yet. Find a room somewhere that you can have meetings in, and invite anyone who might be interested to come to an idea party about how to proceed. In particular, invite people who might want to run or participate in the future programs, classes and workshops, and people who might like to become patrons or supporters. You can also build support for it online through your blog, Twitter, Facebook etc.
Then when you have the beginnings of your community, you can start organising fundraising events and campaigns, and volunteer repairing and decorating parties. Local businesses might also be willing to contribute money, materials or work in exchange for their names appearing somewhere prominent.
Another way of getting practical help is by offering to be a host to volunteers who come and stay for a while. Here are some sites for connecting working volunteers with hosts.
http://www.helpx.net
http://www.workaway.info
http://www.wwoof.net
With your blog-managing experience and existing online network, you could be in a good position to raise money for your projects by crowdfunding. This site has been used successfully by members of Barbara’s Hanging Out Club for crowdfunding campaigns.
http://gogetfunding.com
Oh, don’t forget to register a domain name for the arts center, if you haven’t already done so, before you start mentioning its name online, otherwise domain name squatters could grab it and register it themselves. Do that even if you’re not ready to make a website for it yet. And don’t even tell us it’s name here until the domain is registered.
I recommend http://www.dreamhost.com/ for domain registering and site hosting. They host all Barbara’s sites too. Unlike some others, they won’t steal your domain name and sell it if you forget to re-register in time. (And if you put my user name in the promo code box you might get a discount. It used to work like that anyway.)
My goodness, thanks! Many good points, again, re the job, I left my job specifically because I did not have enough time to be on site at my center – I need to be there to not only do work myself (to save money on labor) as in install insulation, put up drywall, etc, but I need to be here to direct workers. So piano lessons will have to suffice, as will a year of going without.
I hadn’t thought of dropping the book, but now I see I must for now. Leaving my job this year was also a hard choice, but you’re right, can’t do it all.
Got my domain, so that’s good. Thanks for the cautionary advice there – very appreciated. And the idea of community groups helping is also great. I had hesitated to go there, but I think it might be perfect – it’ll engage neighbors and give folks a sense of involvement and ownership over a place which I fully wish to belong to everyone.
I’ve used gofundme successfully in the past, and will likely use grants before I use that, as I might want to hold that card for my book – in case I self publish and need money then.
And regarding my son – I often forget just how capable he is. He’s actually happy to help me. He sees how hard I work and often feels powerless to assist, so laundry it is. !
Off to a busy day – thanks again, I had NO hope that my post would net any results at all, so this has been a good experience.
I’ll past a link to my blog here if you’d like to see my progress…
http://thehillhouseingreenfield.com/
thanks again – E
I’m sorry I have no concrete suggestions. All I can say is, it sounds like you are having a lot of fun. My intuition says that somehow you make it all work! Even if it seems like you are running on fumes. …
Hi Elizabeth,
I just thought if the rebuilding problem could be solved turning it into a project for young people?? I have heard of workshops where (older) children get together and build something: it builds not only their skills but also their confidence and so on.
All the best!
Hi again Elizabeth
I went to take a quick look at your blog and I was still reading it hours and hours later. So now I know a lot more about your situation and I’ll try to give you a better answer, probably divided into 2 or 3 posts.
You’re an excellent writer, and I think you’ve coped remarkably well with all the problems and crises that life has thrown at you. But it looks like you need some extra help at the moment, so it’s great that you’ve come to Barbara Sher’s website, because we love helping people here.
How did you manage to find your way here? Have you read any of Barbara’s books? I think you would find them very helpful for improving your life and making progress with your projects. And they are probably very different from any other self-help books you’ve read. She used to be a divorced single mother on a very low income too, so she understands what it’s like.
Her first book “Wishcraft” is a great one to start with because you can read and download it for free here http://wishcraft.com/ The first part is about discovering what you really want out of life (you seem to know some of that already) and the second part is about very practical ways of getting it.
I see that you and your son have many different interests and talents and projects, so I also strongly recommend you to read “Refuse to Choose”, the book Barbara wrote specially for people like you, or I should say people like us. There’s a lot of good stuff in it about how to do everything you want without getting panicked or overwhelmed by it all. It’s not online, but you should be able to get it from the library.
So you’re going back to work at the school because they didn’t get a replacement. That’s probably not such a bad thing, although your hand problems are making it more difficult. What kind of arthritis is it? There’s some evidence that rheumatoid arthritis is connected with vitamin D deficiency. And there is a greater risk of both rheumatoid arthritis and vit D deficiency if you live in northeastern USA, so a high dose D3 supplement (say 1000 IU per day) is worth a try. A Mediterranean diet is also recommended for it, and could help with reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and weight too.
Mediterranean food pyramid
http://oldwayspt.org/resources/heritage-pyramids/mediterranean-pyramid/overview
I think the Harvard Nutrition Source is one of the best places for general info about healthy eating, as it’s based on years of actual research.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/
I’m not saying drop the book, but mark it on your calendar for a future date. But if you don’t want to, you could make more time by dropping or postponing something else, e.g drop weightwatchers and just start eating more healthily (you don’t look fat to me), or just winterize the studio and postpone the major renovations until next spring when you will hopefully have more support.
What’s your reason for turning your blog into a book? Do you just want more readers, or some printed copies as keepsakes for friends and family, or are you hoping to make money by selling lots of copies? An eBook is the easiest and quickest way to publish. It can be just a pdf file that customers can download from an email link, or I think it’s not too difficult to prepare a book for Kindle publishing. Some people here know how to do it both ways. You could then think about a printed book if the eBook proves popular enough.
I do think you should use your writing talents to write the story of the Studio, past, present and potential future, on it’s own blog or website, separate from your personal stuff. You can copy or adapt the posts you’ve already written about it. It could also be made into a book or booklet. Maybe some local press releases and promotional flyers around town too.
And since it was your father’s studio, where he organised his wonderful music festivals, and which must have made him into a local celebrity, I think it would be good to rename the Studio to incorporate his name – like The Joe Bloggs Studio, The Joe Bloggs Arts Centre, The Joe Bloggs Memorial Hall. That will help to attract supporters.
Then you can persuade readers of the joebloggsstudio.com blog to join your club or mailing list called “Friends of the Joe Bloggs Studio”, and start inviting them to fund-raising events and idea parties.
Your mother misses catering to all the festival people, so what about inviting your supporters to a fund-raising dinner or buffet once a month, that she provides the food for. If her house isn’t big enough to fit them in, you’ll need to find a room somewhere else. But small and exclusive could be fine as you could charge more, and it will seem more desirable. Maybe some live music too, and a talk about the center and your plans for it, and display some of your father’s memorabilia etc. etc.
And with a bit of luck or strategy you’ll get, among those well-fed supporters, a lawyer or two, a planning expert, a building inspector, an architect, some local officials and politicians, an arts centre manager, or any of the other people you need to help or advise you. Or at least there will be people who know those kinds of people.
Yeah, music! Whatever it is you miss most about your previous musical life, you need to get it back into your life again, in at least a small way, as soon as possible. I think it will do wonders for your well-being. Playing music in the school doesn’t seem to be quite hitting the spot for you. Is it playing with other people you miss most, or playing to an audience, or having fans, or travelling to music events, or hanging out with musicians, or playing a particular genre of music or something else?
When your son goes busking, why don’t you try playing with him instead of just watching? I think a mother and son act that catered to the tastes of the elderly tourists could make a serious income. Maybe they would like polkas.
You can’t drag your piano into town, but I’ve seen buskers with keyboards, or you could learn a more portable instrument like a harmonium, a hammer dulcimer, a xylophone, a piano accordion, or just sing. I used to make a living from busking, and would do it again if I was in a suitable place.
Well now, where on earth to begin? It’s always interesting to hear outside perspective, whether it resonates with me or not. Certainly, you’ve got me thinking in a new way about some things, and I’m truly grateful for that.
I’m going to have to just set some short and long term goals and keep plugging away. As you know, there are so many minute logistic details of life (shop, petcare/chicken care!/domestic, admin, etc) that I find I simply cannot take on too much. My problem is that there’s no one but me – and I have a LOT to do. I am not the best at maximizing use of my time, and that’s something I’m getting better at. Actually, WW has been a nice reminder of that skill – setting goals and pacing oneself. (It’s making my mom feel good to sponsor me in this, so in part I’m doing it for her.)
Even taking the time to respond to this has me a bit nervous with such a huge to-do pile in front of me… I will jot down all the points you made – and the book suggestions, too. I have great general ideas, and must narrow them down into do-able steps/tasks. And regarding ‘my book’ – I wish to see it reach a huge audience and net a modest – and I do mean modest, although I’m trying to envision what it might feel like to realize even more – income from it. If I had my druthers, I’d write a LOT more, and I’d get paid for it. I have TOO many ideas for posts… they pile up like leaves in boxes and files… So, publishing my book is an economic desire born of my love for writing.
I do have a melodica and could busk with my son – and we’ve talked about it, but again, that needs a bit of time and prep, and I don’t need another project. Gotta streamline and focus. Tourist season’s over anyhow. Maybe next year- and Elihu can also play bass and we two can sing…
Re arthritis – it’s not RA but OA, and my mom has it too. I’m pretty good w/diet and supplements. Seems it’s my destiny. !
Oh, and I have named and dedicated the hall to mom and dad – had a lovely brass plaque made and I presented it to them on our final concert, three years ago. The performance room itself is called Conant Hall. I will indeed use the name (had kinda forgotten about it!) thanks to your reminder.
You are now a mystery I would like to know more about -and this place, too. ?? I have no idea how I found B’s Club… just one of those magical late night discoveries while surfing the net… I take it you’re a musician, too, huh?
I’m going to make a list of your points – and the book titles too. Thanks again a million times for all your thought and the time you’ve taken to respond. It’s very touching – and truly, very helpful.
E
Elizabeth,
I am glad you stumbled upon Barbara’s Club and posted your wish and obstacle. It was wonderful to read all if Skannie’s great suggestions, too. She is a gifted and generous researcher who adds so much here and to all of our discussions.
I’d just like to add that the bright, kind, and giving people you met here are typical of Barbara Sher fans (like attracts like?) and are a small sampling of the wonderful folks, ideas, and discussions we all have as part of Barbara’s Club, Hanging Out.
This is my third year as a member of HO, and I can truly say the ideas and information that Barbara has shared, as well as the fantastic conversations she has sparked, have changed my life for the better. I think you would fit in well with the hundreds of people from all over the globe who met here (like Skannie), and enjoy hanging out with our mentor Barbara Sher.
My two cents worth.
Good luck with all your projects and please keep us posted.
Warm regards,
Jennifer
I want to raise the money for my project.I have been working at this for a year now. I am absolutely petrified I won’t make my goal and I will fail.
Today you don’t have the money for your project, Amber. If you fail to raise the money for it (and petrification certainly increases the chances of failure), things will be exactly as they are today, and you can start again in a less scary fashion. Or you can start again today, taking smaller, less risky steps, so you enjoy the journey as well as the prize.
What are the areas that I could use a passion other than a job? I am reading I Could Do Anything If I only Knew What It Was, but it all seems to be pointing to getting a job/career. I’ve got 4 young kids and some major health issues, so I really don’t see getting a job as an option. I would LOVE to discover my passion though. I’m trying so hard – doing the exercises in the book and all. There are some things I’m interested in, but not good at – such as architecture, interior design, and real estate. I don’t know what I could do with that other than enjoy looking at it all.
So basically, let’s start with what am I looking to DO if it’s not a job? Can you help?
Hi Jessica. I hear you. First we find what you love to spend time doing. After that we can figure out a way (not a job) that you can do it — if there are obstacles to that.
Can you remember any of the things you enjoyed most in your life?
Do you know how to use the H-Levels system I designed? It’s pretty simple: Just imagine yourself doing something with any of your interests (architecture, interior design, real estate). Just close your eyes and fantasize actually doing something: studying architecture online in a course? watching people with pens and drawing boards design small buildings on YouTube? Learning the history of some kind of architecture? Or something else, something that made you know you were interested in architecture in the first place.
Each time you imagine yourself in a scene related to architecture, ask yourself this question: On a scale of one to ten – with one being sheer boredom, and ten being utter delight – what Happiness Level would you assign to this fantasy?
Then do the same thing with interior design: imagine being a designer in some particular circumstance, or a research for a novelist who’s setting the story in one kind of home, and then another? Or something else. And assign an H-Level to each fantasy, from 1 to 10.
Ditto real estate.
When you’re done, take a look at everything that was an H-Level of 7 or above and see what it tells you. Then tell us and we’ll move on from there.
I appreciate your response so much! I’m working on it. 🙂
I’ve been a reader and a fan of Wish Craft ever since it came out, but lately I am so frustrated and mired down, I think I need a support community who understands my frustration. (I think my family is getting sick of hearing about it…..lol.)
I LOVED Wish Craft and the amazing advice, but I’m looking forward to being able to network electronically with like minded individuals!
I guess I am the fairly typical starving artist (sculptor) who just can’t give up on the dream of being financially successful! (Luckily, my $$$ needs are minimal and my lifestyle is very simple) -And to be clear, it is being able to make a living with my art work that will validate it for me. I have had some success, but right now I am facing a very difficult time financially which seems to have pretty much shut me down. Panic mode is setting in…..
There are some amazing art ‘stores’ on Etsy…. have you considered putting your work on there to sell?
I am a left handed creative type that got an engineering degree because I could. I am very passionate about spirituality and people and helping them improve their circumstances so that they live joy-filled lives. AND I have to make a living. I wish I could work within my passion. I’m a zealot at heart. Like a community activist, I wonder, is there such a thing as a spiritual activist? I’ve even considered being a Success Team Leader as a good starting point but I just have trouble taking a chance on myself! Go figure.
Hi Christi
I’m not clear what kind of spiritual activist you want to be. Do you mean that you want to help people improve their lives through teaching them your spiritual beliefs and practices, or do you just want to use your spirituality as your motivation for helping other people with practical problems, regardless of their own beliefs.
There are and have been many spiritual activists of the first kind, but we usually call them preachers, gurus, missionaries, evangelists, shamans, proselytisers etc. The most famous ones have founded whole new religions or branches of religions.
Some get paid for doing it as a job. Some have worked out ways of getting paid directly by their followers through donations, or fees for spiritual services and teachings, or sales of merchandise etc. Others do it for free and have another paying job.
So if you could find an existing organisation that spreads a spiritual message compatible with your own, and has enough members to financially support its spiritual leaders, then joining it as an active member and eventually becoming one of those leaders could be the way for you to go.
The Unitarian Universalist Association is one worth considering. They welcome people of all kinds of religious and spiritual beliefs, and they have professional ministers and other staff. You could start as a volunteer or intern at one of their churches to see how well you like it. http://www.uua.org/
If you’re more of a spiritual free-lancer, you’ll probably have to gather your own flock around you and then find ways of getting them to support you financially. I’d suggest starting with a blog about your spiritual message, and then maybe selling e-books and webinars, doing public speaking and live workshops etc.
But if on the other hand you’re more inclined to be the second kind of spiritual activist, demonstrating your spirituality mainly through good works rather than direct spiritual teachings, I think there are many charities and philanthropic organisations that could make good use of a person with an engineering degree.
I’m particularly thinking of those that build housing, install wells and sanitation etc. for people lacking those facilities, or rebuild infrastructure after wars and natural disasters. You could look for a job with one of those organisations, or start by volunteering.
Yes you could probably become a success team leader if there isn’t already one in your locality. But bear in mind that “…an important characteristic of Barbara Sher’s program is that it is not connected with any religious or spiritual practice and must remain that way.” So it may possibly not suit your purpose.
You said “I just have trouble taking a chance on myself! Go figure!”
So I went and I figured that if you feel like you would be taking a chance, you’re probably trying to take too big a step at once, or you don’t have enough information yet. It’s usually easier and less scarey to start with small steps. Then if they are successful it gives you the knowledge and confidence to go further.
Some small first steps for you could be responding helpfully to people’s problems online in forums and idea parties; creating or sharing some relevant blog posts or tweets or videos; volunteering for a local charitable organisation or project or service (there should be some getting ready for Christmas); just seeing someone who needs help and helping them; attending some spiritual or religious gatherings or services to see if you like them; researching spiritual and charitable organisations (Google is your friend) to see if you like what they do and if they might have a role for you; reading some more about Barbara’s Success Teams and talking to some registered team leaders about how it works in practice, and of course reading and re-reading all Barbara’s books so you really get to understand what she is saying.
There are tons of people who make lots of money being spiritual activists! Like spiritual life coaches. Personal coaches selling their time to clients in packages…. like 6 one-hour sessions for $500 ….I know people who charge lots more than that. And they meet their clients online through Skype or something similar. You could help lots of people that way.
I/ and kinda we/ are stuck! Age 65 and do not have a retirement plan..at all.
Went to counselors, read books, talked, worked with THE NAG (Rachel). But
don’t have a plan, a clue, a vision, a anything! Terrified that some event will
happen to give us an unwanted plan- and we have had enough of these.
No grandchildren from our 2 kids- strange situation there.
Liz,
I’m not clear on what type of plan you need help with. Is it a financial plan? Or a “what-do-I-do-all-day” type plan?
It helps if you can word things as if you were attending one of Barbara’s Idea Parties and we were all there: “This is my wish” and “This is my obstacle”, as in: “I want to have a plan to be useful and happy in my retirement, but I haven’t a clue where to begin…” — or something like that.
Thanks!
Go fishing! Is a good hobby. Feeds you. And if you catch enough you can always smoke it and sell it! 🙂
I’ve been a stay at home mother for 12 years. I didn’t have much of a career before I had kids (short stint teaching). I’m trying to figure out how to combine my interests into a job(s) while also figuring out how to step back into the world of work. I’ve taught fitness classes at the gym, taught health/nutrition at the community college, volunteered in so many venues hoping to find a true calling. I love health (mental/physical), nutrition (but not in that annoying way of telling people to switch out mayonaise with broccoli) and teaching. I’ve volunteered in lots of places and discovered that I really don’t enjoy working with people that don’t have any interest in being helped (that sounds sort of negative- not sure I like how I sound in this…). I’ve most enjoyed my time with folks that are open to change or want to see themselves become better. I have a pretty good sense of humor and can make people feel at ease. I guess I always see others as equals and can easily relate to most people . I’m not sure if I need another masters degree in nutrition to give me more credibility. I’m also not sure what other areas to explore.
Any ideas??
Colleen, sounds like your a much needed personal trainer and personal chef that has many niche services for a variety of helpful services. How about pregnant moms with gestational diabetes that needs help and motivation following the doctors orders? Even maybe cooking several to freeze. Add nutritional coach to that and cheer her on as she battles her diet for a healthy baby? What about the new breastfeeding mom that does not want to leave her baby or “leak” while exercising but really wants to get back in shape? You go to her. What about helping her with a new healthy after baby diet? What about the new heart patient that now needs a whole new lifestyle? They need exercise, new healthy diet and loads of motivation…there are many others that come to mind,
Have you thought of heading in the direction of becoming some sort of counselor or advisor? That might satisfy a lot of things, including wanting to help people who want to improve. Definitely a good place for someone with a sense of humor, and the other qualities you list seem to fit, too.
Hi Everyone!
Does anyone have any experience doing a “right-brain” business plan? http://www.rightbrainbusinessplan.com/
I’m just curious. I have been putting a business plan off because I keep trying to shove my creative self into a boring plan…but since I’m not applying for a loan or publishing the plan anywhere, I realized, “Duh! I can create any kind of business plan I want!”
My second question is that I’m looking for an easier to navigate social networking group (not facebook!) to see and interact with people (doesn’t have to be only scanners). I need more positive influence and support! Any ideas?
Thanks,
Becca
I’ve done a “blissness plan”….maybe thahttp://boards.barbarasher.com/’s kind of like a right brained business plan. This was some visualizing, some drawing, some relaxing in the bath tub, some chatting with friends about my dreams and goals. I did some work facilitated by Dr Amanda Noelle (dramandanoelle.com). Definitely for a certain “woo woo” loving type of woman, but definitely fun!
As for social networks that aren’t facebook… 😀 tribe.net
or there is the forum on barbarasher.com which seems pretty amazing!
Thanks! I’ll check those out. I totally forgot about the forum and it reminds me that I have access to another forum (lifestyleliberationacademy.com) too! Phew! Thanks!
Have you worked with lifestyleliberationacademy.com? thanks for posting it just wondering if you had success with it?
thank you.
Also there’s puttylike.com = puttytribe does charge a small monthly fee to participate in the social networking site.
Hi Becca
“Does anyone have any experience doing a “right-brain” business plan? http://www.rightbrainbusinessplan.com/”
Not me! I’m rather allergic to right-brain/left-brain stuff because it’s more urban folklore than brain science, and everyone uses both sides of their brain to do almost anything, and I don’t think it’s good for people to limit themselves to being either creative or analytical when it’s perfectly possible to be both, especially for scanners.
But there could be some great stuff in that program in spite of it’s title. Probably less boring than a conventional plan anyway.
“but since I’m not applying for a loan or publishing the plan anywhere …”
So why do you want a business plan at all? What stage are you at with your business? I think a plan can be useful if your business is already up and running, and you’re getting paying customers, and have some real figures to feed into it.
Or if you want to start on a grand scale with expensive materials and equipment and buildings and employees.
But I see lots of people starting with elaborate business plans when they don’t even know if they have a product or service they can sell, and that’s a waste of time and energy..
So if it’s just a small personal business, and you haven’t actually sold anything yet, I think it would be only fiction and would just delay you getting started on the important stuff.
And in that case I think the only plan you need is on the lines of :
Create stuff – tell people about it – try to sell it – if it sells make more stuff – tell more people about it – sell it – and so on and so on.
If you can’t sell it (or only to friends and family) try something different. If it sells well, consider charging more and making variations to create a product range.
“I’m looking for an easier to navigate social networking group”
Have you tried LinkedIn? It’s very good for business and professional networking.
Skannie,
Has this approach worked for you? The business plan/written plan appeals to me in a “write down your vision” sort of way, so that’s why I’m asking. Sadly, I’m having a hard time finding what people would pay for so creating the vision was my idea to move me out of “solve a problem for people.”
-Becca