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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4,428 thoughts on “Barbara Sher’s Idea Party

  1. I would like to be writing every day…
    Not with the ugggghhh feeling, but with the feeling of lightness, regardless of feeling “inspired,” or “sparked.”
    Getting myself into a chair (or even on the floor) and writing daily will lead to other things, I know…
    Perhaps being published (okay, yes, being published)
    Perhaps finishing writings I’ve begun (okay, again yes)
    Perhaps sifting and sorting through old scraps and notes I’ve got (…maybe)

    • If your idea of writing is books similar to Barbara Sher’s, I hope you will join us in Barbara Sher’s WriteSpeak program. We begin at the end of February. There’s an information session during this year’s free Dare to Soar Telesummit on February 8th.

      • Hi Patty,
        I just joined the Hanging Out thing. Would the WriteSpeak program be a better fit?
        Also, I don’t know if I got a notification that you responded Maybe I didn’t check the right thing below. So…
        I’m gonna set it to notify me for “Replies to my comments.” Hopefully I’ll get notified.
        Thanks Patty,
        -Brooke.

  2. Want to start a Worker Directed Investment Fund – that would allow employees to purchase the businesses they work for
    Make a tremendous difference – not only help the employees but the economy as well, do better in times of financial difficulties/ tend to last longer than private enterprises 

    Non profits that invest in worker directed business have 99.2% of loans repaidInvestor would get paid for initialinvestment over time – plus 20% of profits per year

    Looking for help with the following:
    Someone could bounce ideas off of
    ideas for financing
    Marketing 

    Open to any suggestions – feel this can make a difference and would like to see something like this in the world

  3. Hello, Ines:

    Have you considered house/pet sitting for someone who needs you to care for their pet(s) while they travel as much as you need a place?

    • Hi Michele,

      I’ve looked into the 2 major housesitting websites of the US ( trustedhousesitters and housesitters america ) and none of them have hosts for the dates I’m looking for in the bay Area (3-23 March).
      Do you know of any other house sitting plataform?

  4. Guys I wish for means to travel for about 20 days next March in California. I have payed for the flight to San Francisco already. Obstacle: No money to pay for a camper van
    Thanks for reading

      • Hi Sue,

        Thanks for asking,
        I speak fluent portuguese ( well I’m a native :), can read tarot cards, can give a lecture on the enneagram ( never have, though), can entertain children without feeling drained for long periods of time, make 3 different desserts really well( raspberry-chocolate pie, orange roll and rice pudding); am generally unafraid of all kinds of wildlife; and can type fast. Sometimes I make people laugh hard.

        • Well, I’m not quite sure if you were trying to be witty, but your writing is fabulous and you just made me laugh! What about reading tarot cards from now until then and everything you make you can say for your trip? I also love the idea of housesitting, that could come in very handy. Can I assume you make enough money right now to support yourself?

          • At the moment I don’t make much money, enough for basics .I was looking forward to this trip to get inspired and recharged since I had a pretty rough year emotionally.
            I’d certainly be open to housesit.
            Thanks for the sugestions

      • Ines,

        Have you looked into workaway.info? It’s a really wonderful way to travel free/cheap – and sometimes hosts even pay you. But the concept is simple – share your talents/time, and they share their home and often times food. It’s a great way to see the local’s view vs just be a Tourist..

        When you join workaway.info ($35/year I think), you also have access to their community of other travelers – maybe reaching out to one of them you could travel with / split expenses.

        Also – the Couchsurfing app (not near as creepy as it sounds as you have access to everyone’s reviews).. sleeping in a local’s spare bedroom or couch for a few days. I did this when I got stranded in Italy and it was the best time of my life and I met the greatest people! A friend told me the desktop site (not the app!) has a housesitting and pet sitting option.

        Also, Hostelworld for cheap accommodation.

        I really hope you’re able to get away for a bit.

        Sending love!

  5. Hello everyone and happy 2020 🙂

    I just found out about being a scanner and man – what a relief!

    I am T. from Germany. My friends always tell me I should make it my job to sell ideas cause I have so many of them 🙂 Unfortunately, I don’t know how one does this.

    My problem so far has been that I get bored quickly and that I am interested in a million different things. But now that I have learned that this is something positive I would be thrilled if you could help me find an occupation that fits me and my character traits:

    1. I have a million ideas on creative, social, environmental projects (some of them could be amazing model projects but require a lot of money to realize them) to make the world a kinder, more social and sustainable place but no group, company or money to develop them to a level of implementation with.
    2. I love working with people and groups making them realize their potentials and emotions and motivate them to chase after what they want. Thus, becoming a coach or something alike would be another great dream.
    3. I am a very creative and artsy person who loves to express their ideas and emotions though art, writing articles and short stories or creative protest forms.
    4. I love to work with people and animals and spend time in nature (I work as a horseback riding teacher for children on the side to have something that grounds me and makes my hands dirty 😉 ). I excel in working with/ leading groups; in situations where there is a direct feedback.

    My dream would be to find an occupation where all or most of these traits would be needed and appreciated instead of labeled as getting in the way.

    I am currently doing my PhD on creative protests as a teaching method for learning democracy skills in action and to realize and learn how power works on us in our every day lives, how to surpass the norms, peer pressure and thinking models that hinders us in developing and living our own opinions and standpoints. Its meant to transfer critical theory into critical action. I have developed my own theoretical concept as well as teaching method for this and both was immense fun. While I love the teaching, I am struggling with the writing process cause it bores me (all the exiting concept development and implementation is over).

    So to make a long story short:

    Goal: I am looking for someone to help me find a job or a training opportunity where these qualities are appreciated and can be put to use to help others and the planet while I can making a living.

    Obstacle: no money, no knowledge about the steps that take me there and no group that supports me on the way (I am a very social animal and need people that share my dream to not loose motivation and fall back into anxiety or doubt and give up on this dream).

    A bit about me:
    I am 36 and the proud mom of a 17 year old daughter. I hold a MA in political science and social cultural anthropology. I have worked in politics, for governmental and non governmental organizations and research institutions but always felt I had to sell my ideals and values to keep the jobs and thus often quit after a short amount of time.
    Thus I am back in university where I have more freedom of thought and a project that is in line with my value system, yet not exactly what makes me jump out of the bed in the morning with motivation and excitement (apart from teaching).

    I am based in Germany but will spend the next 6 month in the US, Monterey Bay area, as a visiting scholar working with the uni and NGOs.

    I am very curious if there is anyone out there with an idea – if there is, please do hit me up 🙂

    An amazing 2020 to all of you 🙂

    Best, t

    • Hi T.
      This is Vici from Cologne. I just read your text and I felt like telling you that I would like to get to know you in person. Where are living in Germany? What you do and what you wish for sounds great. Please allow me to say that to me it seams that your dream is ab bit vague – but that is also true for me. I am 41 years old and I am also working at a university, managing my own project, that is a non-scientific one though. I share some of your interests but right now I don t have a concreate idea how to help you. If you are intersted in contacting me, let me know via this page.
      Best, Vici

      • Hi T.
        This is Vici from Cologne. I just read your text and I felt like telling you that I would like to get to know you in person. Where are living in Germany? What you do and what you wish for sounds great. Please allow me to say that to me it seams that your dream is ab bit vague – but that is also true for me. I am 41 years old and I am also working at a university, managing my own project, that is a non-scientific one though. I share some of your interests but right now I don t have a concreate idea how to help you. If you are intersted in contacting me, let me know via this page.
        Further, I love the topic of your doctoral theses and if you have alread a concept and you love teaching you should find the right target group. I have thinking of a project for some time but I have not yet found people who like thinking out of the box. I am like you in terms of creativity and ideas but people I know don t dare to realize their ideas.
        Best, Vici

  6. Hello guys! I have an obstacle(s), but believe can get here or elsewhere great ideas to overcome them!

    Here is the first point. A more than a year ago I began to sing, and made a significant progress, as I’ve been training daily. It’s really a part of me, and I feel upset imagining that I cannot use it professionally. But the problem of the Russian market is that I literally HATE the music which is in a high demand here, and very little demand for what I love (qualitative English pop-music). I would sing at streets, but really believe it’s not safe here . I’m trying to move to English-speaking country, but until succeed, what can I do to progress? In my case progress is performance, because singing at home is a good thing of course, but not enough now.

    The second point is stand-up comedy. Some days I feel so inspired of it and prepare performances (I have a lot of material ready, actually), but some days feel so exhausted that think it’s just not for me. And I also don’t know if people take me seriously if I both sing (sad songs sometimes!), and stand-up. Suppose I just need a little bit of inspiration here.

    And the third point is that both of this activities demands traveling. I’m fine with traveling, but not fine with sleeping not in my own bed and eating unusual food. And I don’t know If I can even get used to it. It seems the biggest problem to me. I think I need a comfort, permanent home and environment… Please, help!:)

    • Your dream sounds wonderful! I believe you said you would need to change locations to be successful and safe. If that is the case and you are a bit afraid of traveling/moving, maybe you can start small. How about making food from the country of your choice a few times a week to get used to the food? How about sleeping on your sofa instead of your bed a few nights a week to be more comfortable?
      Good luck!

    • What about creating a youtube channel that includes the singing and the stand up – either one channel or two separate ones? Many people earn money from youtube.

      Also, try not to limit yourself just because English pop isn’t in high-demand in Russia. If you like it, chances are good that there are others around you do too. Use something like meetup.com or social media or even posting fliers at a coffee shop to see who is also interested in the music. If someone likes the music, they might hire you as entertainment for a party or something. And not feeling isolated in your interest might also help you generate other ideas.

  7. I want to be an author. And own my dream home one day. My obstacles are my anxiety, and I don’t have connections or a college degree for writing.

    • Hi Sam,

      what exactly are you afraid of?

      What kind of writer do you want to be?

      I have no education in writing but wanted to get stuff of my chest and started writing articles on politics. I send out a lot and in the end 2 were published.

      So my advice would be: just send your stuff out to the agencies or newspapers or whatever applies to you.

      Or have you thought about joining or creating a writers group where you life?

      Concerning the collage degree: I often see people having feeling of inferiority because they don’t have a degree in he field or at all. But honestly: who cares? Most great writers did not and let me tell you from experience: university can easily kill your creativity and all the concepts in your head might make you spin rather than helping you.
      So if this is part of you anxiety, stop worrying and start writing Love 🙂

      Hope this helps

      XX

  8. Hello Everyone and Happy 2020!!

    My wish; To grow my residential construction company to $100,000 sales per month.

    Obstacle: Me!! I had a previous construction company with sales over $150,000 per month and due to some unforeseen circumstances and poor decisions on my part, the company failed. It was terrible. Financially, emotionally and spiritually I was devastated, not to mention others who stayed with until the company closed. I have taken steps to partner with a wonderful mentor and great accountant, but I am still afraid. I am great at what I do; build beautiful homes with total support for my clients. I need to move on and get going again and put myself out there for new construction projects. I live in the Chicago markets. Any help or advise would be wonderful.

    • So sounds like you are in full control of the obstacles. Just take that step and totally and wholeheartedly trust the process. Dont let the ego trying to control the future.

      • Henry,
        Thank you for your kind words. Can you please elaborate on what “letting the ego go and stop controlling” looks like? Thank you!

        • Meaning don’t let your mind try to manage every detail that it comes up with especially those that isn’t in any of your control.

          Just cast it out there and let the process work itself out after all you know what you’re expecting since you’ve don’t it successfully before. You have the map in your hands.

    • Good morning! I am a designer and own a residential building/remodeling company. Here’s some things that really help grow the network. There’s a home builders association and a design association that I found in the Chicago area. Sponsoring a few events, doing a few give aways, and networking with designers, builders, and tradesman can make a big difference. Some lead services can be beneficial for a while if you need the support of something like Angie’s List or Home Advisor. They aren’t my favorite but they are a resource. Keep your social media and website looking fresh with project updates! Be personable in short videos that highlight things like “quick tip for a homeowner,” “favorite part of this project,” “how to spot a hack job”, “trending in kitchens and bath,” and “where to spend your money when building a home.”
      Educating clients is a great way to build trust. So share articles or have an intern write one for you. There’s hundreds of topics in the building and design subject.
      If your demographic is 40+ years of age, then get good photos of projects on Facebook, houzz, and even Pinterest. Don’t be afraid to pay for Facebook ads. If you spend time building the demographic for your ad, it can target the people you want. (It’s cool and a little creepy haha)
      Media marketing individuals can work remotely too. So consider hiring someone as you get busier.
      Here’s a couple links to the HBA in Chicago and a few helpful tips:

      https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-refine-facebook-audience-for-better-ad-targeting/

      https://hbagc.com/about-us/

      Good luck!!

      • Jessica,
        Thank you very much for your support and ideas! I especially love your “how to” ideas. If you can share more of those I would be grateful .

        I am part of several newtworks, including The Women’s Federation of Contractors and Chicago Chamber of Commerce. They are great networking tools and I have a good amount of companies I work with reciprocally.
        Thank you,
        Sue

    • Good morning! I am a designer and own a residential building/remodeling company. Here’s some things that really help grow the network. There’s a home builders association and a design association that I found in the Chicago area. Sponsoring a few events, doing a few give aways, and networking with designers, builders, and tradesman can make a big difference. Some lead services can be beneficial for a while if you need the support of something like Angie’s List or Home Advisor. They aren’t my favorite but they are a resource. Keep your social media and website looking fresh with project updates! Be personable in short videos that highlight things like “quick tip for a homeowner,” “favorite part of this project,” “how to spot a hack job”, “trending in kitchens and bath,” and “where to spend your money when building a home.”
      Educating clients is a great way to build trust. So share articles or have an intern write one for you. There’s hundreds of topics in the building and design subject.
      If your demographic is 40+ years of age, then get good photos of projects on Facebook, houzz, and even Pinterest. Don’t be afraid to pay for Facebook ads. If you spend time building the demographic for your ad, it can target the people you want. (It’s cool and a little creepy haha)
      Media marketing individuals can work remotely too. So consider hiring someone as you get busier.
      Here’s a couple links to the HBA in Chicago and a few helpful tips:

      https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-refine-facebook-audience-for-better-ad-targeting/

      https://hbagc.com/about-us/

      Good luck!!

      • Sue,

        I agree with Alisa as well! I too have struggled with a fear of failure. I am working toward changing my perspective from failure to “I am always learning, and always extending my capacity.”

        How To’s, Articles, and social media:

        How to articles are a good way to educate yourself & your clients/future clients. Here are some things I have learned in the past few years as a designer & remodeler: Every couple of months, take time to look into what’s trending. Not only from a design standpoint but an efficiency one as well. Why is using Schluter products a good option? Who holds the industry standards in Shower, kitchen, & flooring products…. why? What technologies make them better.
        Connecting to good local showrooms that sell these products is a good way to begin this process. While not all showroom designers know their stuff…. the brands are clearing on display. Reach out or look at their websites. Often times, they are working the hardest to educate people about the viability of their products.
        If a product is new, then hit youtube and watch a few HOW TOs from reputable installers. Write a brief article about it which highlights the trend, product, as well as basic install. Your goals isn’t to teach your client how to do a DIY… it’s more to let them know “I know what I’m talking about.,” You want the clients who recognize this and still call you for a bid.

        You can hire someone to do basic video ads for facebook marketing and youtube. A combination of visuals from good stock video websites can be combined with your images and projects. This is what I do in Northwest Arkansas for other builders and designers too. Often they are too busy. They drop box me their photos or videos, I edit, add music and consider a little voice over if need be. This can be you or the person creating your ads as long as they have a good grasp on the topic.
        You may be able to find someone in your local area.

        You can also share articles written by designers (not competition) and be sure you site them and their website. Who knows? They might want to hire you if you enjoy working with designers!

        I am a product person… I love knowing where something comes from and the combination of minds and hands that created it. If you happen to do high end products like mosaics, stain glass inserts, custom trim and wood work… consider highlighting the trade companies you hire as well. It’s a great way to show your work & theirs, while establishing a relationship that can bring you more clients through those companies.

        I hope this helps!

        Jessica Watson

        • Jessica,
          I would love to speak with you regarding your wonderful insight. Since I don’t think I should give out my number here, can you email me at sue@augustlimited.com? Can you put “Barbara’s Group” in the email so I know it’s you?

          Thanks a million!!!!

    • Sue, having problems with fear to fail again, I think about all those people, who considered to be winners, but who got up and went on after failure (sometimes after a row of failures!) Amongst them are Tomas Edison, Henry Ford, Winston Churchill, and any businessman, who I met in life. Maybe it’ll help you too. Failure is an unpleasant thing, but it’s a part of life, and especially of life of doers. And it cannot be avoided anyway. Either one follow her dreams and face failures on the way to them, or don’t follow, and then it’s a failure itself, cause it wasn’t even started.

      Besides, failure is a good source for analysis for fixing problems. So it can be beneficial to use it to grow up the new business. You learnt and did much, and it’s your treasure, imho. Obviously you have a mission. If you love ‘build beautiful homes with total support for my clients’ It can be a great source of inspiration for both you and your clients.

        • Sue, I’m glad to be helpful. Sure one or even twenty comments cannot protect from all difficulties, but you can always get support from friendly people here or anywhere else.

  9. What do you do for a living? What skills, assets, contacts, or other resources do you have that might allow you to make more money?

    • Connie
      I am sorry I was not clear, I am a builder currently and have one home under construction, but I am not following through on what needs to be done to grow my company. I am stopping myself due to a fear of failing again and hurting people who depend on my.
      Thank you so much for asking, as your kindness and concern mean so much! I have isolated myself for about a year in shame and guilt. This is the first time I have asked for help.
      Sue

    • What other resources and talents do you have, Eliza? It’s amazing what you can trade, right up to a house.

      Who do you know that might know someone who knows someone looking for a housemate in Vancouver? (either to put you in the neighborhood to hear about options for buying or trading up or to split the mortgage payments on a house in your own name when you have a down payment) Or for a caretaker of an older house? Or for an employee for a good paying job there?

      Where might you be willing to live, in a fixer-upper, maybe with a housemate, where prices are going up rapidly enough to convert a very small down payment into a good bit of equity when you sell there to move to Vancouver?

    • Wish: Move to Paris, France and open a beautiful and successful hair salon.

      Obstacle: I need a work visa, a sponsor, and money.

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