~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Changing Course Newsletter
Issue 107 January 1st, 2005
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The free newsletter from http://www.ChangingCourse.com
Dedicated to helping you:
~ Live Life on Purpose
~ Work at What You Love
~ Follow Your Own Road
In This Issue:
1. Featured Article: Want to Live Your Dream in 2005?
2. Featured Resource: Changing Course Teleclass
3. Guest Article: Get a Clean Start to Your Year
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY’S WISE WORDS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trust in yourself. Your perceptions are often more accurate than you are
willing to believe. ~ Claudia Black
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Featured Article
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Want to Live Your Dream in 2005?
5 Keys to Changing Course
By Valerie Young
I hear from a lot of people at various junctures along the road to right
livelihood. Some are at the very beginning, still trying to figure out which
path is right for them. Others have happily reached their destination.
Others are midway on their journey.
Regardless of where you are in the process, there are five keys to changing
course:
1. Set big… and small goals
I know it sounds cliché, and especially at the start of the New Year, but if
you’re really serious about taking control of your life, you need to set
some goals for yourself. Knowing that you want to change your life or to
work for yourself is a great start. But expressing a desire if different
than stating a goal.
In her Broadway show Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Lily
Tomlin’s bag lady character remarks, “I always wanted to be somebody. I
realize now I should have been more specific.” Deciding you want to earn
money by making and selling gift baskets is much more specific than saying
you want to make money doing something creative. But even here you need to
get more precise.
One of the best ways to move a goal along is to quantify it. Using our gift
basket example, the key questions are how much money do you want to make and
by when. You can always shoot higher, but for now let’s think in terms of
generating $5,000 in gift basket sales 2005. From here you’d want to make
your goal both real and reachable by breaking it down into smaller more
manageable goals, like, for example, making and selling six gift baskets by
February 15th. Actually writing this date on your calendar will make it even
more real.
2. Figure out what it will take to reach your goal happen and start doing it
A long-time subscriber named Joe understands the importance of looking to
others for inspiration. He also understands how important it is to hear not
just about people that have followed their dream and made it happen, but
also about, he says, about “those currently traveling the pathway to a new
career, setting goals for themselves, managing to keep their dream alive and
staying focused on the goal of a new career.”
And setting and working toward a goal is exactly what this 33 year old
software engineer from Maryland is doing. But I’ll let Joe tell you about
his plans – and progress – in his own words:
“A year and a half ago I started reading a lot of real estate investing
books. I wanted to get into the medical field as a Physical Therapist and
needed a way to supplement my income. I took classes at
http://www.InvestorsUnited.com
and for 10 months I soaked up all of the real estate knowledge I could get."
[Editors Note: I checked out this school and it appears to be quite
reputable].
“I worked with their advisors until I landed my first deal. It was a rehab
house and after I repaired it I made $28,000 profit for an endeavor I spent
five months on part-time. I was thrilled. I took this money and used it to
help purchase a rental property and another rehab which I am now selling.”
“I set goals for myself. My big goal is a career change at five years.
Presently I have four years left. I plan on generating enough income to
cover all of my expenses. I also have smaller goals. At the two year mark I
plan to make $1,000 net cash flow per month. At three years I plan to make
$2,000 net cash flow per month. This will allow me to pursue Physical
Therapy without worrying about money ! I have volunteered in two hospitals
and determined that this is where I belong.”
“This is my journey. It’s hard to wake up every morning and go to my current
job. However I now see an end in sight. I know that in a few years I will be
enjoying helping people everyday. And when that day comes, it will be a
dream come true.”
Some of you are probably saying, “Five years! I can’t wait that long.” You
don’t have to. Joe’s goal is very specific – to generate enough money from
real estate to be able to fully support him during his schooling. Depending
on your goals, your financial situation, your level of commitment, and the
amount of time you’re willing to invest, you can certainly change course in
far less time.
Whether you want to be living your new life in five years or in five months,
the point is to set a goal, quantifying it, and then, one day at a time,
take the small steps actions required to make your goal happen.
3. Live life now
Shooting for a future goal is great. But I received a deeply moving email
this week that reminded me of the importance of also remembering to live
life fully in the moment. The email was from a woman named Pam who wrote to
thank me for inspiring her partner Bruce, a man I never met but in some
small way, I apparently encouraged to live his dream.
Pam has generously allowed me to share her and Bruce’s story with you.
Before he was killed instantly in a traffic accident last week Bruce was
living his dream. Bruce had been a computer consultant who, explained Pam,
tired of the cubicle life. “Although he made a boatload of money doing it,
he realized that there was more out there to do. He always wanted to do
something purposeful with his life, and didn’t see that the programs he
wrote made much of an impact.”
Pam went on to say that she and Bruce lived together for two very wonderful
years, “living our dream. We both left the corporate grind, had opened our
own business as massage therapists. Bruce was a wonderful man. He had healed
so much in his life and many times said, ‘If I'm to be the kind of spiritual
man I wish to be, then I need to work on this.’ He was making a difference
in people’s lives on a daily basis. I'm so very grateful for every moment
that we shared. We were blessed to have many friends. And I plan to continue
our dream.”
Although I never had the privilege of meeting Bruce, he sounds like a truly
remarkable human being and one who will be missed by many. How wonderful
that while he was among us Bruce was living his dream. Pam’s strength, her
gratitude in the face of unspeakable grief and her resolve to continue to
live their dream is inspiring indeed.
When we think about goals, we tend to think about achieving some future
result. And yet as John Lennon once observed, “Life is what’s happening when
you’re making other plans.” Bruce’s story serves as an important reminder
that even while you strive to reach your future goals, you must live life
now and with as few regrets as possible.
4. Break a rule
Sometimes changing course can begin with the simple act of shaking up your
normal routine. Take Barbara, a former coworker of mine from my corporate
days. Most people spend their Saturday mornings in a frenzy of house
cleaning and errands. Barbara does this stuff too but not until after she’s
indulged herself by crawling back into bed with a cup of coffee and popping
in a suspense movie.
Spending your Saturday morning watching a movie may not be your cup of tea,
but surely there is some small fun thing you can do to shake things up. If
you tend to read self-help books try a romance novel.
Walk your dog in a totally new place or drive a different way to work.
Visit your local historic society or museum. On the first day of each month
have ice cream for breakfast. Go to the movies on a weeknight.
Experiencing small changes can make the bigger ones seem more doable.
5. Use the one step a day approach
When I was desperately trying to get myself out of corporate America, I
promised myself that I would not go to bed at night until I had taken at
least one small step toward my goal. It doesn’t have to be a big step.
For example, I knew that at least in the short term, leaving my job-job
would mean I’d be earning less money. So one day I brainstormed a list of
ways to supplement my income. I have a finished basement with a bath so one
idea was rent it out to a commuting grad student who needed a place to stay
during the week. The next day I stopped by the hardware store to see what I
could find out about sound proof ceiling tiles. The following day I looked
up the web site for the housing office at the local college and so on.
Not only do small steps add up but just as important is the sense of
momentum you’ll gain. And once you get started on a dream, it’s hard to
stop!
“The big break for me,” said Jon Stewart of the Daily Show, “was deciding
that this is my life.” Another year is upon us. Since this indeed your life,
let this be the year you start making your dreams happen.
Off the beaten path career counselor, Valerie Young, abandoned her corporate
cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at
http://www.ChangingCourse.com,
offering free resources to help you discover your life mission and live it.
An expert on the
Imposter Syndrome, she’s presented her How to Feel as Bright and Capable
as Everyone Seems to Think You Are program to over 30,000 people. Find more
articles written by Valerie at
http://www.ChangingCourse.com/articles/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Featured Resource: Changing Course Teleclass
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW The Science of Law of
Attraction:
How to Attract Your Ideal Career or Build a Business You Love Teleclass with
best selling author, Michael J Losier
During this 60-minute, high-content, high-participation teleclass, Michael
will give you the tools and strategies necessary so you can start using Law
of Attraction more deliberately.
You are already experience Law of Attraction. When you use expressions like:
coincidence, serendipity, fate, karma, out-of-the blue and synchronicity,
you are explaining evidence of Law of Attraction.
Join this lively, educational and for some, life-changing teleclass and
learn how you can tap into the power of Law of Attraction.
Michael's book, Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What
You Want and Less of What You Don't became a National Canadian Bestseller –
without spending any money on marketing or promotions – now that's Law of
Attraction at work. Learn more about Michael’s book at
http://www.ChangingCourse.com/bookstore.htm
Wednesday, January 26th from 9:00-10:00 p.m. EST Course Fee: $29 Space is
limited. Register today at
http://www.ChangingCourse.com/courses.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INSPIRATION TO FOLLOW YOUR BLISS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you’re never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any
chances. ~ Julia Sorel
I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy. ~ Marie
Curie
The reason why so little is done, is generally because so little is
attempted. ~ Samuel Smiles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. GUEST ARTICLE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Get A Clean Start To Your Year
By Suzanne Falter-Barns
So, it's January and the energy is fairly crackling with possibilities for
your dreams. But how can you effectively harness all that energy, and turn
it into actions that really move you forward?
I say have a Clean Start Planning Retreat. This is a technique I've been
using for several years that really helps focus and ground your actions.
1. Schedule two full days in which you can do something just for you.
Begin by scheduling in at least two full days sometime before the end of
January, that you can designate Clean Start Days. You can schedule them
together, or separately. Saturdays can work well for this. (If you tend to
be a guilty parent, use this as a chance for someone else who loves your
kids to spend the day with them.)
2. Record your results for the last year.
Day 1 is dedicated to assessing what progress you’ve made on your dream for
the last year. It may be that you’re just beginning your dream, and have few
or possibly no ‘tangible’ records of progress yet.
Take a look through journals, and notebooks from classes or programs.
On the other hand, you may be launching a business, or just starting to sell
your work. If so sort through ledgers, stat reports on web sites, check book
registers, receipt piles, Quicken files, sent email files, even phone bills.
Compare what you unearth to any goals you made for the last year.
Wherever you are with your dream, write up a report that addresses these
essential categories. (It’s okay to write ‘None yet’ in many categories if
that’s where you are … this gives you room to grow,
right?)
~ Products/Services produced
~ Marketing efforts (be sure to log in their effectiveness) ~ People reached
(and which target markets they come from, if you can) ~ Income ~ Expenses ~
Support System (include staff, temp help, consultants, support
group)
~ Office (assess the effectiveness of your workspace and its
equipment)
~ Inspirational Tools (note any sources of stimulation or ideas that have
worked well for you, or what you might need in this area) ~ Mistakes Made ~
Lessons Learned ~ Ideas Hatched ~ Old Projects Retired ~ Reviews/Critiques/Feeback
(assess overall reaction on each product or service) ~ General Risk
Assessment (did you take enough? Wish you took more?)
Feel free to add any more categories. (I'd love to know what else could go
on this list! Send suggestions to me at info@howmuchjoy.com)
3. Pick a really appealing location for Day Two. (You might even bring a
supportive friend.)
Once you've got your report in hand, move on to day two. It's critically
important you not do this work in your höme or office.
Instead, go into a new environment that gives you a blast of inspiration.
Choose a place that naturally nurtures you. It doesn't have to be an
expensive resort. My husband and I often spend the day sitting in front of
the fireplace of a nearby country inn, where we also eat lunch. Think of
weekend getaways belonging to friends, your favorite beach, a string of cool
coffee bars and restaurants. You might even consider doing this work with a
friend and splitting the cost of a room at a hotel or resort for a night or
two. Pick places that are fun to be in, but also provide a spot to get
comfortable and talk quietly.
If you do choose to bring along a friend, make sure it's a staunch
supporter. You want to share your dreams and visions with someone who won't
take too much delight in ‘playing devil's advocate'. Nor do you want to
bring along a mindless yes-person who will go over your worst ideas. You
want someone who can help you see the gaps in last year’s systems, and help
you to reach for your biggest and best, as well. You also want to be
available to support that person’s goals, too. This way, you can become
yearlong support buddies to each other, which always helps.
Also, if you bring a friend, take turns briefly sharing last year’s progress
reports that you created in Day 1, so he or she has a point of reference.
Of course, many of us prefer to do this sort of planning alone, and that’s
just fine, too!
4. Spend Day 2 imagining the year you really want.
It's this simple: bring lots of paper, sit back and dream. That's why a
nice, nurturing environment is so important – because it's hard to think big
if you're looking at a kitchen full of dirty dishes.
Set concrete goals in all the following areas that speak to you, plus any
others you can think of.
~ Products Produced/Services Rendered
~ People reached (how many and whom)
~ Overall Results
~ Emotional being/Level of personal satisfaction ~ Publicity/Promotion ~
Financial ~ Work environment ~ Support Staff ~ Sources of Inspiration
Really blue sky this ... (and feel free to add any other categories you can
think of.) And while you're at it, listen to your gut. That's the beauty of
taking the time to do this – it finally gives you time to hear what you're
intuition wants to tell you about your dream.
Also, be careful to be specific with your goals. Don't wish to "make lots of
money." Give it a dollar amount. Don’t write down “I’m generally happy,”
under Emotional being – write down, “I’m happy and satisfied with the
knowledge that I’m helping people achieve …” or whatever it is that
resonates for you.
Also, don't write down things you think you should want, but in your heart,
you're not so sure about. If you think being on Oprah would be a good idea,
but you have this vague feeling that it might be overwhelming, don't write
it down. You won’t be able to manifest it anyway, probably, since
manifesting is a gut-based process. Instead, pick the goal that seems really
right – maybe appear on a local cable show or do some radio.
Finally, you want to imagine goals that align with your soul purpose in life
– that unique gift that you are meant to give to others. Let this be like a
great guiding umbrella that informs your choices. (To get clear on your Soul
Purpose, check out our Discover Your Soul Purpose teleclasses coming up in
January, at http://tinyurl.com/572wj)
5. Divide your goal list into business quarters.
To further treat your visions and goals effectively, break them down by
quarters, like businesses do, that end on April 1, June 1, September 1 and
January 1, 2006. Figure out what you can reasonably expect to get done by
quarterly dates, (a support buddy can be a great help with this.) You can
even write down a specific list of actions for the first quarter, and leave
the remaining three rather vague. That's okay. Just tighten them up as you
progress through the year. Then you can have a little burst of energy at the
beginning of each quarter, as you slice, dice, reassess and rearrange your
goals.
Now you're all set to have a magnificent year! Congratulations!
Suzanne Falter-Barns’ website,
HowMuchJoy.com, has
all sorts of free, practical tips and tools for finding the time, money and
energy to live your dreams. For information on how to connect with your
passion – and make your year and your dream go even more swimmingly – drop
by and check out our Passion Connector by
clicking here.
live life on purpose
