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.)
One dream I have involves launching a unique line of ladies’ active wear. I’ve tested the idea on a women’s group I frequent and there seems to have LOTS of interest. I’ve ordered fabric samples to decide which fabrics will work for the project. My immediate obstacle is finding a professional seamstress/clothing manufacturer with lots of experience in production who can sew and make necessary corrections to achieve the initial garment samples, which I can then take and make tests on to be sure the fabric and the style perform the way I intend to properly market them. I need someone quite experienced and yet affordable since this is a fledgling idea and I a only an individual with an idea, not a big company with lots of money backing me. Finding someone to do this work is more than hiring a local tailor or seamstress and I have ZERO experience in this area.
In Cincinnati, we have a design college at our University. Do you live close to a design school? Because I bet a student would LOVE to collaborate with you on this…maybe even for FREE.
Have you thought about contacting a local college with a fashion design program? You could hire a student to make your samples- most of them are more than capable, and willing to work cheap because they need the experience. Doing this through a college gives you a bit of security as well, because if the students run into problems, there’s a professor to consult. Alternately, you could find a pro on Etsy who’d be willing to make samples for you- it’s not a service they market per se, but most sellers there are open to special projects, and you can see from their shops what their skill level and area of expertise is like. Another idea- get in contact with your local branch of the Fashion Incubator. They’re an organization that helps young designers get their businesses up and running, doing everything from helping with marketing to solving those pesky production issues.
My wish is to be a creative writing coach while living in an RV full time with my family. We are getting ready to put our house on the market to make the RV part a reality. I’ve cleaned houses for over 15 years and I’m sick of it. 🙂 I love writing, coaching, creativity, and unschooling. I’ve even had writers I love say it’s ok for me to teach their work. I jump around with ideas and goals so much, that I’m scared to commit to anything. I devour books, articles, blogs, and anything else that has to do with writing. Yet I can’t figure out exactly what I should be doing or how to do it. Living on the road full time will give me great opportunities for writing and meeting new people. I just always feel stuck on starting.
There’s a great website called Thumbtack.com where you can create a profile for your coaching biz and they will match you with potential students and then you bid for their work. Might be a good place to start.
Okay, here is a dream. My dream job is to move to Missoula, Montana to work for Hank Green at his video production company. I follow several of the employees there on YouTube and it looks like such a fun, motivating and inspiring place to work, somewhere I could actually enjoy what I do (even if not every day is great) and the people I work with.
Here are my obstacles:
1) There is no information about how to get a job or when they are hiring available, at least that I can find. I’ve messaged Hank about it and not heard a response.
2) I’m not sure I have any skills they need for hiring, and despite the fact that I know I can learn anything very quickly once taught, I’m not sure they’d hire me on a wish and a dream.
Obstacle 3) of course would be the actual move from Texas to Montana and getting used to shorter days and longer winters, but that’s something I can accomplish with planning and chutzpah. 😉
Thank you to anyone who reads this, it can’t hurt to put it out there!
You mentioned you watched videos of other employees who work for him. What if YOU made a video and sent it to him? Or to someone else on his staff? Explaining your passion to work there and why…and then talk about your skills. Who knows, it could work!
Jess, can you call them up? Or approach him on Twitter? These days there are plenty of schools that teach media/production skills online, at least part of the time. It sounds like you are attracted to the atmosphere, people and the ambiance of the place. Or are you interested in a particular occupation within what they do? Also, perhaps you could do a short internship with them to see if you would like a) working with them; 2) moving to Montana.
Hi, Stephanie,
Is “ownership” the most important part of your dream (and here I am taking lessons from Barbara’s books and workshops I have attended). If not, how about finding places you like and figure out what you could offer in exchange for letting you live there? There are summer places which are somewhat dormant off-season that might let you live somewhere on their property and even do your retreats if you can split your revenue with them or let them cater it (although what you do in peak season for them may be another brainstorming session)
Best of luck!
Ownership is not key! Love your idea… I am in a retreat planning mastermind but had not thought of trying to “barter” with a property to live there for a period of time. Hmmmmm…. brain ticking.
I am a Corporate Mindfulness Consultant and Coach who specializes in helping salespeople and line managers (sales, marketing, anything customer facing). I’ve been doing this part-time for 25 years, but now want to end my marketing and advertising career (after 42 years) and do it full-time
My obstacle: I need my first 5 paying clients to cut the cord with my fulltime “day”job and have not been able to get them by cold-calling (emailing).
Hi Jim
1. Work your email list by announcing your new next phase & asking “What 1 thing did I say or do to help you that I should include in my new program?”
2. Use above info to create a free webinar/commercial announcing your new goodies-and inviting first 5 to sign up bonus deal (free 20 minute 1 on 1 call or something)
3. Can you appeal to your former clients to share testimonials with you that you can add to your emails.
4. Do #1 as a video & add to your email
5. Do you have any kind of corporate connection where you could do a group talk…and again invite to your free event!
Folks already on your list are already familiar with your work. Easiest to start with word of mouth.
My Wish: I am a Corporate Mindfulness Consultant and Coach who specializes in helping salespeople and line managers (sales, marketing, anything customer facing). I’ve been doing this part-time for 25 years, but now want to end my marketing and advertising career (after 42 years) and do it full-time
My obstacle: I need my first 5 paying clients to cut the cord with my fulltime “day”job and have not been able to get them by cold-calling (emailing).
I just told someone else on here about a great resource for all kinds of coaches, teachers and service providers to connect with potential clients. I have used it for about a year now. It’s called Thumbtack.com. Check it out. But also you will need to explore building a social media presence and a sales funnel from that into your program. Do you have a website?
I am nearing retirement. We had to refinance our home due to repairs needed. I would love to pay off the home and return to my childhood home of North Carolina. My mother was very well known and has a scholarship at the college there in her name. I would love to work for Mother’s legacy and add to the scholarship and help those who get the scholarship. My problem is I don’t have the money to retire until I can pay off the home we had to mortgage again. Also homes are not selling great in the area I live in (Ohio). Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated!
1. Can you find someone to rent your home, at least temporarily, so you can continue to pay the mortgage until the housing market improves? You can put your stuff in storage or take it with you.
2. See if you can get the legacy group to pay for your moving expenses to NC. Some for-profit companies still pay to move their employees, so it’s not unreasonable to ask.
Hello Stephanie!
I have the same dream with the same problem! Would love to collaborate with you and see what we can come up with.
Angel….collaboration rocks! Where are you located?
Hello Stephanie! You’re idea sounds amazing , and I would go right away to you’re retreat center. You said that finances is you’re only obstacle. Here is my idea.
Finances
1) A crowdfunding site such as go fund me can help you get the money you need in order to buy you’re property. I would make a video telling you’re life story and why you want to do this. People love to donate to people who want to make a difference in the world. 🙂
Good luck! P.s. I hope I can come there soon !
Thanks, Nevaeh! Crowdfunding is such a great alternative for most projects. I found that with purchasing real estate there could be some legalities to consider. But I haven’t looked at that solution for a year or so, I am going to revisit to see if the restrictions have lifted!
I would LOVE for you to be my guest 🙂
My wish is to live in a beautiful home that will also serve as a transformational retreat center where I can bring together top spiritual teachers with guests who long to Be A Force in the world. My obstacle is that over the past few years, I have had some financial difficulties and this has been a big hurdle to getting financed for a property and operations of a space like this.
Hi Stephanie,
I think starting small is the best way to go on your way to the big retreat center. You can have people come to your home and pay you $ to help finance your expenses, and save even for later. Don’t forget to ‘Build A Bridge of Helping Hands’ as Barbara puts it.
Josette, thanks so much for your input! Starting small is definitely the way to go. My home is not quite set up for hosting, but I am looking for other smaller opportunities 🙂