Issue 115

April 28, 2005

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Changing Course is dedicated to helping you:

~Live Life on Purpose
~Work at What You Love
~Follow Your Own Road

Inside Today's Issue

Featured Article

Learning From the Dream Makers

Featured Resource

Yes You Can

Guest Article

There Are Always More "Nos" than "Yeses"

Note From the Editor

Upcoming Workshops & Teleclasses

You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however. ~ Richard Bach

Learning From the Dream Makers:

Want to Work at What You Love?
Look to Those Who Are Doing It

By Valerie Young

There’s more than one way to turn your dream of working at what you love into reality. I dug through my Opportunity Knocks file to find inspired five people who are doing work that feeds their soul. Each one has something to teach us all about what it takes to make our own dream of right livelihood happen.

Buck Stereotypes

Who says you have to be a woman to be a nanny? According to trend spotter Faith Popcorn, the next decade will see a marked increase in the number of male nannies or “mannies” as the guys are called. Most male nannies, like their female counterparts, are in their 20s and have experience as camp counselors or teacher’s aides.

There’s a lot that parents find appealing about male nannies. Single mothers like having male energy around the house including someone who gets the appeal that computer games hold for most boys. For dual income families where the father is either older or frequently away on business, it’s great to have a youthful male role model who can engage in rough and tumble activities with their kids.

What attracts men to this field is simple – they love kids. As teacher’s aide-turned-nannie Alan Schuchman put it in a 2003 Time magazine interview, “It’s very enriching – you get a lot closer to them than you would in a class setting.” Male nannies also like the pay. The going salary for live out nannies in Boston is about $35,000-$40,000 a year with benefits – or about the same as an entry level teacher but without the administrative headaches.

And since there’s a web site on just about everything, is it any surprise that someone put together the Manny site (TheManny.com), a resource about male nannies?

Tap into a Childhood Passion and Then Create Your Own Job

As a child, Elizabeth Dunaway loved outdoor activities. So it made sense that she’d later go on to study environmental science and outdoor education at Hampshire College before going on to graduate from Greenfield Community College’s Outdoor Leadership Program.

Today the 32-year-old is the founder and executive director of All Out Adventures (AOA) AllOutAdventures.org, a socially inclusion-oriented organization that enables people with mental and physical disabilities, their families and friends to participate in outdoor recreational activities. Participants enjoy programs, trainings, and trips that allow them to enjoy activities like cross-country skiing, hiking, skating, boating, and camping.

Since starting the non-profit in 2001, Dunaway has put together a team of like-minded souls with complimentary skills and training. It’s fascinating to see how people’s backgrounds bring them to their current work. Fellow Hampshire College graduate Megan Briggs spent her college years studying disability and family psychology before becoming AOA’s Program Coordinator. Project coordinator Bryce Field has a background in environmental, travel-based, and classroom education.

The organization is supported by a $150,000 grant from the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, Christopher Reeve’s Foundation, and various partnerships. One such partnership is with the Department of Environmental Management (DEM). All Out Adventures has also been contracted by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Universal Access Program to provide free outdoor activities for people with disabilities in the commonwealth’s various state parks.

Turn Your Hobby into a Job

Not quite ready to be on your own? It is possible to find a traditional job doing what you love. That’s what Douglas Harman did. A native of Nebraska, Harman moved to Fort Worth in 1985 to take a job as city manager. Four years later he applied for and landed the job of running the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A life-long fan of cowboy culture, convention center president and CEO Harman now gets to manage 1,600 square feet of exhibition space featuring vintage cowboy hats and boots, bits, bridles, hand tooled tack, braided whips, and western art and photography dating back to the 1800s. Says Harman, “My job and my hobby merged.”

Find a Niche and Go After It

There are more freelance writers out there than you can shake a stick at… but what about a riding crop? Patti Schofler of Dark Horse Communications BitsAndBridles.com/darkhorse turned her love for horses into a viable career as a writer specializing in writing promotional and other copy for those in the horse world. Clients include horse breeders, stable owners, trainers, artists, as well as horse-related associations, horse show promoters, and manufacturers and sellers of equine products.

In addition to serving as a publicist, Patti has written for numerous equestrian sports publications including Practical Horseman, Dressage Today, International Arabian Horse, Chronicle of the Horse, Equus, Arabian Horse World, and Ride. What makes Patti valuable to her clients is, quite simply, she knows their world. She’s managed and promoted horse shows and special events, is a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) USDF.org dressage judge, and is herself a USDF bronze medal rider.

Do It Your Way

Everybody knows you can’t make money as a musician, right? Don’t tell Martin Sexton that. The singer actually produced two records through a major label. Despite good reviews, sales were tepid. So in 2001 Sexton left Atlantic Records and went out on his own. 

That next year he logged 80,000 miles in his Land Rover, played at bigger clubs, theaters, and arenas than he did under contract with Altantic and cleared (are you ready for this) $200,000 on revenue of about $500,000.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the 38 year old said, “It’s a great thing to have a career, to make a living and to support two kids, and to have basically all the things you wanted in life. I thank God probably every night that I don’t have a day job.” You can listen to Martin at MartinSexton.com 

Great stories, you say, but how do I go after my dream, you say? The same way these enterprising souls did. From the manny story you learned to not let society’s ideas about gender appropriate jobs deter you from your dreams. If you’re a guy who wants to open a bridal shop or become a nurse, or a nanny, or you’re a woman who wants to start her own construction company or be a mortician, do it. 

From Patti Schofler’s Dark Horse Communications, you learned about the benefits of niche marketing. If you have a passion for something, there’s an excellent chance others share your passion. Ask yourself, how could I get paid to do what I love in that area? In other words, if you love to write, teach, give advice, heal, research, or analyze, then ask yourself, “How could I get paid to do that in my chosen interest area?”

But that’s not all. Patti’s impressive publishing credentials reminded us of just how many niche publications there are out there. Whether you’re a freelance writer looking for a market to shop your articles to or just want to learn more about a field in which you’d like niche, start by doing a search for publications and associations that serve that same market.

From our cowboy culture-loving friend we learned that you don’t necessarily need prior experience in a field to land your dream job. Did it help that Harman was already employed by the city? Absolutely. But his passion for cowboy culture and history surely gave him a leg up others who did have a background in the tourism industry. When I was a corporate trainer, I would have never landed my job in the strategic marketing department if I hadn’t applied from within the company. If there’s a job you want that you have the aptitude for but not the requisite credentials, sometimes the best way to get there is through the back door.

From Elizabeth Dunaway and All Out Adventures, we learned that childhood passions often do contain hidden clues to present day callings. We also learned that if your dream job doesn’t exist, that you can create it. And finally, singer Martin Sexton reminded us that sometimes the road less traveled will get you to your destination fastest.

From all of these remarkable, yet wonderfully ordinary, people we learned that the road to any dream begins with the willingness to take a single step. What small step are you willing to take today to start living the life you really want?

About the Author

Off the beaten path career counselor, Valerie Young, abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at 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 ChangingCourse.com/articles/

Do not be like the cat who wanted a fish but was afraid to get his paws wet.
~ William Shakespeare

Featured Resource

Yes You Can!

Today… With Just A Little Encouragement, You Can Take Control Of Your Life And Truly Live A Richer, More Balanced Life Doing Work You Really Love

If you really want to create a more balanced, rewarding life doing work you truly love, you'll need to create a mindset that will instantly turn ‘can’t’ into ‘can.’

There will always be dream dashers.

But the world is also full of people who believe in the power of a dream. There’s just no better way to adjust your mindset than by “hanging out” with a group of people who know how to guide you along your path and give you that inspirational jolt you need to stop wishing and start doing.

That’s exactly what you’ll get in Yes You Can! The Inspirational Kick in the Pants You Need To Take Control Of Your Life and Go After Your Dreams, available in either an eBook or paper. Learn more at http://ChangingCourse.com/yesyoucan.htm

Deciding to focus on our own freedom isn't selfish; it is the greatest gift we can give to humanity. ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

The Changing Course Newsletter
Copyright 2004
Lisa Tarrant, Editor
Valerie Young, Publisher
info@changingcourse.com
www.ChangingCourse.com
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Montague, MA 01351

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Keep your face to the sunshine and you can never see the shadow. ~ Helen Keller

Guest Article

There Are Always More "Nos" Than "Yeses"

By Rachelle Disbennett-Lee

Although it may not seem true, if we think about it, we will come to realize that there are always more nos than yeses. We will be turned down more often than not. The good news is that the more nos we get the more the yeses will increase. It is a numbers game. The more often we ask the more our chances of success increase.

If, just for fun, we took a jar and put a penny in it for every no we received and took out a penny for every yes, we would never empty the jar. The nos will far exceed the yeses. There is of course one way to limit the number of nos one receives, and that is to never ask. No comes from putting ourselves out there, being brave and taking risks. The good news is that being brave and taking risks usually doesn't call for any extra human capabilities. It could be as simple as asking someone out on a date or applying for a new job. A simple yes is easy, but most likely not. It is never easy to stretch our comfort zone and take the risk of being rejected. Thankfully, no one dies from rejection, and no simply means next opportunity.

In an interview with actress Christina Applegate, she shares how being a teen star actually made it more difficult to break into adult acting. After ten years starring as Kelly Bundee on the television sitcom "Married with Children," Applegate found it difficult to land adult acting parts. "You give everything you have and it's “No!. You hear no so many more times than yes.". Fortunately, Applegate did not give up, and ten years after her teen success, she has created a successful adult acting career. For Applegate, as with the rest of us, no doesn't mean stop, it means keep going. No is just one more hurdle closer to yes.

Although hearing no and receiving rejection isn't easy, it is a part of life. We may never become totally comfortable with rejection, and we can come to realize that no isn't a stopping point. No is a sign that a new opportunity is around the corner. No never means the end unless we want it to. It means that we have to find a different way, look in a different direction, ask someone else, or ask in a different way. I received 47 nos when trying to find a publisher for my book. Had I stopped at any one of those nos, I would have missed out on the 48th one that said yes.

No just means "next opportunity." Learn to take no in your stride and whatever you do - don't take it personally. When people say no, it doesn't mean anything about you, it is all about them. They may not be interested. They might not understand the opportunity, or even what you are offering, or they simply may not be in a place to say yes. Whatever their reason, don't let it become your excuse to stop. Find someone who does see the value, appreciates what you have to offer and has the ability and power to say yes.

About the Author

Coach Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD, is a Certified Master Coach specializing in working with business owners and professionals in being more profitable and productive while staying sane and balanced. Coach Lee is the publisher of the award winning e-zine, 365 Days of Coaching. Her first book, 365 Days of Coaching – Because Life Happens Every Day (Universal Publisher, 2004) was named a finalist for Best Book 2004 by Publish.com and has a five star rating on Amazon.com. Visit Coach Lee at her websites CoachLee.com and 365DaysOfCoaching.com

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Upcoming Workshops & Teleclasses

You’ll find more information on all of these workshops and teleclasses at ChangingCourse.com

~Make Money Doing What You Love with Valerie Young, May 18 & May 25

~Camp Jumpstart with Barbara Winter,
May 13 – May 15

~Miracle-Grow Your Business with Barbara Winter and Nick Williams, June 6 – June 9

Note From the Editor

In the Company of Dreamers

By Lisa Tarrant

I spent the weekend in the company of dreamers. People that believe so strongly in the creation and creativity of one individual that they dedicate hours of their time, not to dress up in costume and escape reality for awhile as I originally thought, but to take their admiration for a ground breaking movie, along with their own desire to be a part of it – even if it’s a small part, and use that to bring a smile to a child’s face or an adult’s face. I attended Star Wars Celebration III (StarWars.com/c3) with the rock band, Pallet (PalletRocks.com). How am I connected to a rock band? My husband is the bass player. The band was asked by Lucasfilm to attend the conference and play their original rock music at an after hours party for Celebration III. It was a dream for the band members (and for those who have been supportive and not so supportive along the way). Our entourage included a few people who’ve been there for the band for the past 10 years and a few who have sincerely doubted the band along the way. What better way to have someone encourage your dream than to do what you love doing and have other people appreciate the effort?  

I met one dreamer, Jay Thompson, who transitioned from a 9 to 5 job as a Graphic Designer to documentary maker. He sacrificed everything he had to spend three years filming a documentary about a community of people from around the world that call themselves the “fighting 501^st.” This community has had exponential growth from a meager group of 2 to over 3,000 members in only 5 years. Jay began the documentary to try and figure out why these adults would spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on a plastic costume to dress up as a character from Star Wars. He discovered the same thing that I did in this short weekend, it’s not so much about dressing up in costume as it is about the effects of the costume. This community spends thousands of hours doing charitable work and visiting hospitals to bring a smile to a sick child’s face. When the founder of the 501^st learned that his young daughter was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, this group that he started to bring a smile to other children’s faces joined forces to raise money and arrange visits to bring a smile to his own daughter’s face. You can learn more about young Katie and the efforts to raise money to help her at ForKatie.org  If you would like to help support a dreamer make his dream come true, or if you would just like a better understanding of the thousands of people who dress up in plastic, please visit HeartOfAnEmpire.com

We attended Celebration III along with 30,000 other individuals and what I learned along the way gave me new insight and respect for a group of dreamers. These people braved the rain, wind and cold for hours on end to be a participant in one man’s vision. A small percentage of the 30,000 attendees got to hear George Lucas talk not only about his previous movies, but also his vision for the future. What have you done for your dream lately?