In Your Success Zone Blog

Venturing into the Dark Forest - and Back Again

About 4 months ago, I embarked on "discovering my brand" so that I could serve more Creative Entrepreneurs with my services and products. I began working with a brilliant small business and branding consultant named Whitney Greer. Little did I know what a creative and confronting process this would be!

To me "discovering my brand" is another phrase for going into the "Dark Forest of the Unknown". There are reasons that I haven't gone there before.

Thank goodness Whitney HAS been into the Dark Forest with others before and knows how to get me back home at the end of each conversation. She gives me exercises to do each week and helps me see beyond my blind spots into clarity.

She recently described her process as helping people realize what they do well and talk about it clearly so that it communicates effectively to others. What a gift it is to be seen and valued!

Now that we are fairly deep into the branding process and my "core messages" are becoming clearer, I am stepping up to owning them. I have faced challenges of 

• the fear of being seen and known for my true self,
• clinging to limiting definitions of myself from the past, and  
• judging myself for past disappointments.

As I face these challenges through working with Whitney and on my own to reprogram my limiting beliefs, I find that I

• know more about myself and my work,
• feel more confident about sharing my work with others, and
• am developing some good ideas about how to go about doing that sharing. 

My branding journey perfectly describes the process of being a Creative Entrepreneur - setting off on a journey into an unexplored land; facing challenges with creative instincts; experiencing confusion and doubting success, but perservering anyway; and finally seeing the end goal within reach! 

Here's to each of you who uses your creativity every day in your work and life. I salute your courage, strength, and stamina. Journey on, Creative Entrepreneur!

What Do You Value? [FR*EE TELECLASS]

You are invited to explore what you value - about yourself and your work - in this month's Fr*ee Teleclass on Thursday, April 9th at 12 noon EDT. In this 35 minute interactive class held on a teleconference call, you'll learn

• where you may be misjudging yourself
• how you can acknowledge your value 
• how honoring your gifts makes them more valuable to yourself and others

If you are interested in learning how using the wrong measuring stick sabotages your success in business and in life, REGISTER HERE!

If you find yourself caught up in measuring yourself and your work against impossible standards and always coming up short, you may want to read my article entitled, "What Do You Value?" HERE

  

Am I a Loser If ... ?

I had a conversation yesterday with an accomplished and brilliant business woman whom I'll call "Mary". She is changing direction from consulting with major corporations to a more entrepreneurial venture of working with individual professionals.

This move is by choice as Mary matures and her interests evolve. She is listening more closely to her passions than to the "have to's" of her younger professional life.

Mary called to discuss a decision about spending money on her new logo and corporate brand. The amount she was talking about is reasonable for professional graphic design. In her past incarnation, the designer's fee would have been a fraction of her anticipated income from corporate clients.

But now her income is not yet certain and her startup resources are finite.In this context the designer's fee represents a big commitment. She said, "In the past, I would have just spent the money. But now I want to make sure this is the best decision for me and my new business. I just don't want to look like a loser." 

What I heard was, "Will I be a loser if I don't spend this money this way?"

In a word, "NO!" 

I responded to Mary that finding another way to get a quality business identity would definitely be in her best interest at this point in her new business. We discussed her options, and she thought of some other options to pursue. 

Our conversation reminded me how easy it is for a Creative Entrepreneur to doubt herself - to take her measure and come up wanting. I find this is a common theme for all the Creative Entrepreneurs I work with, including myself! What's the antidote?

Here are some simple suggestions:

1. Back off the comparisons - with others and with "how it used to be"
2. Remind yourself that you are creative and will find a way to solve the problem in front of you 
3. Realize that business is a progression of challenges - unless you've got them, you aren't in business! 

If you are a Creative, you aren't a loser. You just haven't created the resolution to your present challenge - YET! Get to Creating!

Creativity on the Edge

 

I read Seth Godin's books and blogs. He's a fresh thinker and business guru for our new world (connected, constantly changing, and clamoring for community). 

Today Seth wrote a post that speaks to being creative in every situation. He encourages us to 

• find your edge in the situation
• expand it - a little or a lot  

This strategy works equally well for "Creatives" and "non-Creatives" as Seth explains. You  may find yourself more creative and willing to stretch in some areas of your business and life than others. For instance, you may be eager for new clients and customers and more reticent about changing your products and services 

The key is to find the edge and work it.

I'm noticing the pace of change accelerating. Reading Seth's post confirms that my best approach is to be WILLING TO EXPAND MY EDGES to keep surfing with the rate of change. I think that's the challenge and opportunity of our times.

Where are your edges? Are you willing to stretch them?

You can read Seth's entire post HERE.

Shine in 2009 Audio Available

Did you miss our January fr*ee teleclass on "How Will You Shine in '09" yesterday?

No, worries! You can listen to it HERE and download the accompanying worksheet HERE.

The class is 30 minutes long and is a good way to get clear about what you want to create this year and to get going on making it happen.

It's the latest installment in our Create Your Success Studio series. Join us for our February fr*ee teleclass on February 12th at 12 noon ET (US). Our topic is

Stop Stopping Yourself & Reach Higher!

You can register at no cost HERE. Hope you'll join me!

How Will You Shine in '09?

You're invited to our next 

CREATE YOUR SUCCESS STUDIO

held on telephone conference call on 

Thursday, January 15, 2009

12 noon Eastern US Time

Duration: 35 minutes

Led by Adele Michal, Business Coach for Creative Entrepreneurs

Register at no cost here: http://tinyurl.com/89qxch

Are you planning for this SHINY new year?

Want some assistance in getting clear on what’s possible for you this year?

If so, use this teleclass to get more specific about what you intend to create in 2009.

You will learn

• How to make a creative representation of your desires for this year
• How to make your list of intentions for 2009
• How to let your Creative Mind help bring you the opportunities and resources to let you shine in ’09!

Register here for the Fr*ee Teleclass: http://tinyurl.com/89qxch

Resolutions or Intentions to Create?

 

It's that time again! Making up the list of Resolutions for the New Year is as much a part of the holiday  season as parties, gifts, and reconnecting with family and friends.

Well, I'm not doing it. I'm not making a Resolutions list any more - it's too durn much like going on a diet - which is almost always on everyone's Resolutions list and gets shuttled by the end of January. 

Nope, I'm making a "What I Intend to Create in 2009" list. It just is more fun and inviting. And I know I will actually do what is on that list.

As I look back on my Intentions to Create list from 2008, I find I have achieved everyone of my intentions. On my (very short on purpose) list were

1. I write daily
2. I love myself and others 
3. I actively engage in my life  

I didn't know how these intentions would show up or what I would have to do to become the person that does these things. But this year Life has offered my opportunities to grow in each of the areas listed. And I have found ways to respond so that I am writing, loving, and engaging more now than a year ago.

So I'm upping the ante for 2009 and going bigger. Here's my list of what I Intend to Create in 2009:

1. I am powerful and prosperous 
2. I create and contribute 
3. I love life fully  

Yep, it'll be a stretch, but I know that Life and I will work it out.

How about you? What do you intend to create in 2009? 

Another Gift for You

Today is Boxing Day in England, the day when the gifts are given to the community outside of one's family. I am taking this opportunity to give you a gift.

If you celebrate Christmas, did you get the gifts you wanted yesterday?

Is there anything else you would like - something intangible or spiritual?

Something like 

• more peace
• more love 
• more creative ideas and expression
• more abundance 
• more joy 
• more confidence? 

Please choose something you would like in your life.

Stop and imagine it already existing in your life.

Close your eyes and feel its presence in your life.

Savor it. It is now yours. Looks for clues of its presence and say "Thank you".

Do You Have to Be in Crisis to Be Creative and Productive?

I spoke recently with a client who says she does her best work in a crisis. And she's generated some in her life:

• a major illness (from which she has recovered :),
• an office she reports is so full of books and papers that it distracts her from her work, and 
• avoidance of some business activities that would bring her more income and give her a greater sense of security.

She is not alone in responding mightily to crisis. For myself and many Creative Entrepreneurs I talk with, I find that the drama of crisis can be a great motivator when dreams and aspirations alone cannot. I operated this way for many years, so much so that I often felt I was "running on empty" energetically and emotionally. I'm sure I wasn't always doing my best work.

As I have begun to dismantle FEAR as a primary driver of my actions, I find that certain habits helpful in enhancing my feeling of calm and encouraging my creativity:

• I schedule Laundry Day, Grocery Day, and Exercise Days throughout my week so that my health is taken care of, and I have the strength and stamina to work.I have begun to think of these activities as part of my work instead of distractions I can put off. If I don't feel good, I don't work well. 
• I schedule a time to talk to my Virtual Assistant & Technology Savant weekly so that I keep going on my work on projects and don't let them languish. 
• I schedule in some fun and inspiration every week. Again, I see this as part of my work to manage my energy so I can do and give my best.
• I play with "Time Zones" during my day so that I write, work with clients, respond to email, and attend to business when my energy is most appropriate for each of these tasks. 
• I have said "no" to some activities that I enjoy but have were distracting me from more important things. I know that I can add them back in when my priorities shift.
• I try to do something on my projects, even if it is a small action, every day. This keeps me moving and sometimes helps me get started when the "mountain" of a project seems to big to begin climbing. I am amazed how an action a day adds up!

I admit that managing time and energy as a Creative is a work in progress. I'm often distracted by the next "shiny object" as I love learning and exploring. I do respond to crisis. I let FEAR drive me.

But I'm learning that habits, structured time, and calm can be wonderful foundations for productive creativity. 

How about you? How are you managing your time and energy to serve your creativity?

On the Ride

In the summer of 2007 I cruised in Atlantic Canada with my family. We were docked in Halifax, Nova Scotia when the remnants of a tropical storm came blowing in. We left Halifax in the late afternoon and sailed into high seas and strong winds. 

It was "Lobster Night" on board the ship. Unfortunately many passengers and staff headed for their cabins to ride out the storm instead making it to the dining room. My family clung on to hand rails to take our table several stories above the rocking sea. 

At first I was frightened as the ship dipped and rose with the ocean. The ups and downs got worse as we left the protection of barrier islands and made our way into open sea.

As my fear mounted, I realized what a ridiculous situation we were in. We were having an elegant dinner on a beautiful, multimillion dollar ship. If the captain thought we were going to capsize, he would have kept the ship in port. Obviously his navigation devices and experience on the sea told him it was safe to proceed.

And really, it was the best thrill ride I could have had without getting on a roller coaster. Plus it was Lobster Night! 

So I decided to put my fear on pause and enjoy this surreal experience with my family. We ate dinner, I enjoyed my new-found perspective, and we had a pleasant evening on board ship.

The seas calmed, and we awoke the next morning at Bar Harbor, Maine to the most beautiful day there in months. 

I tell you this story, dear Creative Entrepreneur, because I sense that we are on a ship in a tropical storm right now. In America we will soon learn who will serve as our next President; the economy is beginning to stabilize, but still looking shaky with warnings ahead; and uncertainty rides high.

I invite you to consider this turbulent time a thrill ride. The ups and downs are extreme, but there just  may be an Intelligence in the background making sure that we all get to the next port in good shape. That's the story I'm telling myself so that I enjoy the ride, too!