The Millionaire Mom Adventure

Since I was a child, I've loved the musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." I'm looking into producing it as a gift to myself for my 45 birthday. The role of Molly Brown is the one role I know of that I'd love to play that I haven't yet. Molly Brown was an actual person who lived an adventurous life, even surviving the sinking of the Titanic, and though I'm sure it wasn't always "easy" or "pleasant", she didn't give up on her dreams. I'm convinced more than ever that what seems hard will become easy if we commit ourselves to becoming unstoppable and unsinkable. The reason it gets easy is because we LEARN what we needed to know to make it easy. As adults, we tend to forget that we had to struggle for a long time to learn a lot of things - to roll over, to sit up, to walk, to talk, to swim, to ride a bike, to drive! If other humans are doing what you want to do, you can too! Just commit to the learning process, to a goal that excites you, and look for "your way" to accomplish it. Looking for ways your strengths apply to your mission will help you find the path of least resistance.

Play It Cool!

I just returned from improv rehearsal.  Too wound up to go  to bed.  Sometimes I come home high as a kite from the satisfaction of a job well done.  Tonight I have the nagging feeling of wimping out in the face of a new challenge. 

How to keep your cool when you're feeling like a fool?
How to make bold offers when you haven't mastered all the rules?
How not to cave inside when your colleagues make you drool?
How to enjoy the game when you're so attached to looking cool?

I do improv to make me strong.   (and to laugh) In real life, messing up can have grave consequences.  In improv, it really doesn't matter as long as you don't let it.  We say, if you fail, "Fail Big!"  That's the challenge.  Self-forgiveness.  How quickly can your ego surrender to self-forgiveness?  How attached are you to being "cool"?  Does the need to be "cool" stop you from taking risks because you might fail?  

On a scale of 1-10, how brave do you have to be to risk looking like a fool?

This question is important because the biggest battle most of us face is with our own inner demons.  Being in my 40's, I can really see how the mythic "hero's journey" we  can each take, if we dare, is to march off into the unknown to battle with the destructive forces of self-doubt.

Improv is such a rich training ground for practicing the warrior attitude, for learning how to play it cool, even when you're sweating and your gut is tight.  What we practice in improv is to have a great attitude.  We practice generosity, saying "yes", and enhancing the story so that it becomes more interesting. We practice trusting the process because that is the only way to move forward when you head into unchartered territory.  I really encourage anyone reading this to take an improv class because, as the fairy tales will all tell you, the Fool always wins the biggest prize in the end.  Besides, the more comfortable you can learn to become in the shoes of the Fool, the less fear you feel, which is what ultimately makes you SO COOL!

I'm teaching Playful Parenting classes this summer and offering private Theater of Transformation sessions in Santa Rosa this Spring to people who are ready to embrace life as the ultimate improv.  Email me if you're interested: bridget@artoflivinginstitute.org

Get The Support You Need To Keep Your Spirits Up!

How do you get your business off the ground?  I've confronted a variety of issues which make all the difference.  One of them is buoyancy of spirit.  Think about all of the heat energy it takes to get a balloon to lift a basket full of people hundreds of feet off the ground, fighting gravity all the way.  You have to keep the air inside the balloon warm or it will start deflating and the basket will head earthwards.  When you're starting out in a new career, the weight of lack of knowledge and experience hold you back.  You often feel afraid about which choice to make to best serve the development of your ideas.  It takes energy to act plus it takes energy to keep choosing to act in the face of fear.

Today I got energy from two sources.  One was listening to an interview with Jack Canfield who  was reminding the listeners that it makes sense to do the HARD first, because then you can get to the EASY.  Climb the mountain, and then enjoy skiing down from the top.  In my experience, he's right on.  People who promise that growth and change and making money are "easy" are trying to sell us something.  It's not easy.  Gravity is real.  Humans can't fly without help.  However, we CAN fly.  We just had to figure out HOW to do it.  It took time and energy, but in the end, it was worth it!  If you have a dream, accept that it will take hard work and perseverance to bring it to the world, but don't lose sight of how much better life will be for you and others once you've made it real.

I also got energy from a childhood friend who took the time to read my blog and comment to me.  If you're getting tired and feel like you're always climbing uphill, check in with some friends.  They can give you valuable feedback to reignite your flame if your spirits are dwindling.  Keep focusing on what you  DO KNOW and whom you HAVE HELPED, and you'll have more energy to keep moving onwards and upwards rather than being weighed down by anxiety over what  you still have to master!

Bon voyage!

xoxo to all my sisters on the journey

Bridget 

If you want to hear from the people I've helped, check out the testimonials on my website at http://www.artoflivinginstitute.org.

The Value of Doing

Something I've become more conscious of recently is that "Intention" really gets you no where fast without "Action!"  It doesn't matter how many fabulous ideas you have if you aren't willing or able to take steps to manifest them in the material world.  When I spend time to bring my ideas to life they either happen or I find out that they're not very feasible, but either way I've had a useful experience.  Right now I'm striving to focus my energies more so I can make faster progress on building my internet business.  There's so much to learn and understand about the many options for internet marketing.  My site http://www.highfunctionfeldenkrais.com features CD's that guide people through gentle movement lessons that  improve people's coordination in a relaxing way.  They use the FELDENKRAIS METHOD®, which I love because it feels great to do and it offers physical, mental, and emotional benefits through the ways it supports healthy thought and movement HABITS.  If you want to play sports or an instrument better or exercise with greater ease and less exhaustion, I really encourage you to check it out.

What a trip! In every sense of the word...

Today from 7-11 pm in the Quantum Leap Program we did a personal process designed to help us combat the self-critical voices in our heads.  What really "tripped me out" was that a number of "Professional" motivational speakers and motivational coaches revealed that they still had plenty of their own issues despite what they were selling and telling to other people.  Wow!  I felt like it really took the pressure off to realize that I don't have to be perfect before I can help other people.  It seems that there is no ultimate  healing for us humans except for the VERY few.  For the rest of us, I think the point is to learn helpful strategies that keep us in a positive mind-frame more often than not.  That's as good as it gets! 

I also had one big "Aha!" moment (and a lot of tears) when I realized that I REALLY want to become super wealthy to help address the issue of homelessness in our culture.  I feel pain every time I pass a homeless person and don't help them.  I know they would not be in the scary, demoralizing situation they are in  if they had gotten the love and support they'd needed from their families.  It is SO tragic to me that precious young children grow up to be filthy men begging on street corners and sleeping on sidewalks.  How can such a wealthy nation turn it's back on the suffering of its citizens?  It doesn't take that many resources to care for a human.  Think of all the money being spent on every convict to feed and house them.  Not that I wish for them to become homeless, but are they more deserving of care than homeless people, many of whom are mentally ill?

What do you think?  Which cause are you passionate about?  Would making a difference in that arena motivate you to do what's necessary to get really wealthy??

Share Your Joy - Change a Life!

 
I'm having so much fun at this Quantum Leap conference because people are attracted to the enthusiasm with which I speak about the Feldenkrais Method® and Improv.  By sharing what I know, I am able to stimulate other people's thinking about ways they can improve their lives or  else I validate ideas that are already important to them.  Either way it's win-win for both of us because we have meaningful connections which serve both of us on our path towards our goals.

Do not underestimate the simple business success strategy of talking to people about what you do or what you're excited about.  Even if it isn't a match for them, many people will refer you to someone they know who would be interested in your topic. The more people you connect with who specifically need what you're offering, the sooner you'll build a following and the happier and more successful you'll be.  Make daily conversations about your subject a habit and you'll speed down the road to success.

By sharing your joy you'll improve the lives of others AND your own at the same time!

Invest in Yourself

 
At 3:00 AM, I'll be on an airporter on my way to Philadelphia for my first Quantum Leap meeting.  It is so exciting to be going to participate in a group where I know that highly qualified professional mentors are going to be helping me become the person I want to become and live the life I want to live. 

What price tag does one put on creating their dream life?

Signing up for this program required me to overcome my fear of spending money, but in light of the question above,  what am I actually afraid of??

I know  the information I am going to learn about topics like writing books, public speaking, creating teleseminars, direct marketing, & pitching the media, as well as the connections I am going to make are super valuable.  So, the only thing I really have to fear is that despite all the expert support, I will fail because I am just not good enough to succeed.  

I know it may sound almost silly, but I have never forgotten that my high school class voted me the girl "Most Likely to Succeed" and I feel like I am about to deliver on their faith in me.  (Thank you any high school friends who read this!)

I know that many people don't think too highly of themselves.  Unfortunately, so many people have absorbed messages which make them doubt their own self-worth.  I have had my fair share of such experiences.    However, I firmly that believe that everyone has unique gifts to share and that the greatest obstacle holding them back  is the  self-critical thoughts in their own heads.  The second obstacle is just not knowing how to create  a successful business out of their ideas.  This can be learned.  Many models exist to copy.  Look around you.

It takes practice to stop self-limiting beliefs.  Usually, you need some form of support.  As you gain ground in tuning them out, your vision of what you want and how to achieve it will grow stronger.  You will probably realize that there is some information you need to know to help you accomplish your goals.  Seek it out!!  That's what all the success coaches will tell you. 

Don't let ignorance hold you back or prevent you from connecting with the people who will benefit from your skills. 

Don't short change your own dreams by not seeking the information you need.  Even if you don't have a lot of extra income, you can get a wealth of information from the library to start you off.  Whether you have time or money, invest what you can.  You'll enjoy your life so much more!!

You Can HAVE IT, IF You Can IMAGINE IT

More words of wisdom from T. Harv Eker today.  When you are imagining your business model,AND you want to have a BUSY business, be sure to have a front end product that is very low risk.  This will enable you to connect with more people and build trust.  But also have a plan in place.  Once you have earned your clients or customers' trust, what else can you offer them that will help them meet their goals.  Have a buffet ready of choices and options that cost more, but are worth more to the consumer.  These are often referred to as back end products.  According to Eker, if you can imagine how to offer your services with this model, you will be on the fast track to a very successful business.  Let your imagination and your heart be your guide.

What do you enjoy offering to people?

How many ways can you make their life better?

What kind of impact will your services have on their life?  How much is it worth?

Being Specific Makes All the Difference

Today, I was driving around town on my errands listening to some tapes by business guru T. Harv Eker.  If you aren't familiar with his ideas, I really encourage you to find out more.  He has a great book called Secrets of the Millionaire  Mind.

One of the points in his workshop that really struck me, was how ESSENTIAL it is to clearly and concisely state what you are offering and what your Unique Selling Point is.  I heard a number of his participants give 30 second "core message" speeches.  The ones that really didn't work were way too vague.  Customers or clients want to come to an expert so it really is CRITICAL that we clearly claim what we're an expert in.  That attracts our ideal client to us and lets the other ones find what they're really looking for somewhere else.

I continue to struggle with this issue a bit because I know so many ways to help people and want to share it all.  I'm also realizing, though, through my intense learning process, that TOO MUCH INFORMATION can really result in paralysis rather than movement.   I'm striving to focus my own energies efficiently and pass on pieces of info to others that are usable.

Eker says that coming up with your 30 second message is one of the KEYS  TO SUCCESS in your business.  If you can't explain it powerfully and clearly in 30 sec., you are losing out on a lot of income. 

He also really pushed the idea, which I've heard before, that if you want to actually become wealthy, you need a good "front end" product and a good "back end" product.  This is because it is really expensive to get a new client, but once you've earned their trust, you can profit much more from a mutually beneficial long term relationship.

As Eker says, we will receive according to who we are.  I invite you to think carefully about your character.  Who are you playing on the stage of life?  Are you satisfied with this character's experience? Is there anything you would change?  You know you can, if you focus your attention on that part of your self.

What Do You Focus On in This Image?

This is an image of a regal monarch.  It is also an image of hundreds of aphids feasting on the leaves of the host plant.  Where does your attention go?  The beauty?  The pests?  The "suffering" of the plant?  The potential banquet for a hungry ladybug?

Success in business requires mastery of your own attention.  It requires flexibility to meet each new challenge with whichever novel resources are needed.  The more I study business and success, and pursue my own business adventure, the more obvious that becomes.  If you focus on your fear, you get paralyzed.  If you focus on where you're going with your business, the next steps to take become obvious (even if they are a little scary). 

It helps me to think about the flight of the butterfly.  Sometimes it's at rest.  Sometimes it's launching off in search of food.  Sometimes it floats on a breeze.  Sometimes it flaps it's wings to gain altitude.  Sometimes it's searching for the next resting place.  All phases of it's life are natural and make sense.  It's all okay.

Even though it's hard for me to stay in this frame of mind, I'm striving to be gentle with myself.  To have a light touch, like handling a butterfly.

Today I purchased Peggy McColl's "Chill Out!" approach to using the Laws of Attraction.  I haven't had time to listen to them yet, but I'm ATTRACTED to that idea.  I'll share any gems of wisdom once I have a chance to listen to what she says.

May you treat yourself as the delicate, gorgeous butterfly that you are!