  
 |  | | | | | | | | | Better to fail at doing the right thing than to succeed at doing the wrong thing.
~ Guy Kawasaki | |
| Opportunity Knocks: Creative Ways to Make a Living Without A Job Still Don't Know What You Want To Be "When You Grow Up?" Here Are 3 Ways To Find Out |  | | Valerie Young | By Valerie Young If you’re well into your career but still aren't really sure what youwant to be “when you grow up,” join the mid-life career crisis club! Here are three ways to help you discover your heart's content.
1. Forget skill sets, think satisfaction.
In her book, I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was, career guru Barbara Sher points out that finding your passion is more than just figuring out what you're good at. Reflecting on her own life as a single parent, Sher realized she was clearly “skilled” at raising two children and managing a home on a tight budget. But did she love it? “You live the good life not by doing what you can do,” Sher learned,“but by doing what you want to do.”
2. Pay attention to both past and present-day clues.
In his famous interview with Bill Moyers, renowned mythology scholar Joseph Campbell said, “The way to find out about yourhappiness is to keep your mind on those moments when you feelmost happy, when you are really happy – not excited, not just thrilled,but deeply happy.”
The first place to search for clues to your present day passion is in your own childhood. I once read about a man, who, as a young boyloved to make sand castles. Guess what he does for a living now?He runs a company that travels around the world making elaboratesand sculptures for ocean-side special events!
What about today? What so engrosses you that you scarcely notice the time? Is it watching NASCAR racing? Gardening? Tinkering witha broken toaster? Surfing the Internet? Exploring a museum? Traveling? Helping a friend work through a problem? Tracing yourfamily history? Organizing a closet? Working with children? Get asmall pad of paper or dedicate a section of your organizer to your passion. As something new hits you, add it to the list.
Still stumped? Try making up your own “I’d rather be__________” bumper sticker. Would you rather be following sports, writing poetry,gardening, shopping, fixing things, fishing, watching reruns of yourfavorite childhood shows?
3. Enlarge your view.
One of the best way to expand your thinking – and your options – is by stepping outside the confines of your day-to-day life. Considersigning up for a class on something entirely new to you likebookbinding, feng shui, woodworking, cooking, copywriting,small engine, or computer repair.
Try reading publications outside your typical areas of interest or expertise. If you usually stick to news or women’s magazines,pick up a copy of National Geographic, Antiques Monthly or Down Beat.Even if you don’t read a single article the advertisements alone willopen your eyes to a multitude of fascinating ways to earn a living.
And remember, “When you love what you do,” says author and management guru Harvey McKay, “you'll never have to work a day inyour life.” Add Your Two Cents Want to comment on this article? Click here to hop over to the Changing Course Blog! About the Author "Turning Interests Into Income" expert, Valerie Young, abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at ChangingCourse.com offering resources to help you discover your life mission and live it. Her career change tips have been cited in Kiplinger's, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today Weekend, Woman's Day, and elsewhere and on-line at MSN, CareerBuilder, and iVillage.com. An expert on the Impostor Syndrome, Valerie has spoken on the topic of How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are to such diverse organizations as Daimler Chrysler, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Harvard, and American Women in Radio and Television. To read more articles about how to work at what you love without a job go to ChangingCourse.com/articles.htm Follow Valerie Online  - www.ValerieYoungTwitter.com
- www.ValerieYoungFacebook.com
 - www.ValerieYoungLinkedIn.com
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| Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.~ Ronald E. Osborn | |
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| Featured Resource 
Women's Wildfire Rally |  | | Carrie Wilkerson,
Valerie Young, Lisa Tarrant
at Yanik Silver's 2008 Mastermind Meeting | Carrie Wilkerson (also known as The Barefoot Executive) has brought together 25 amazing women in business (including me!) as part of her rally for change. Carrie asked me to make sure to tell you what makes this is not the same type of virtual event you've participated in before... -
There are no long, flowery introductions -
Carrie didn't allow time for audience Q&A -
No one is selling anything on their calls (no irresistable offers) -
No one interviews quite like Carrie does, haha -
She gave every guest about 15 minutes to SPILL their secrets! (It was tough, but we did it!) These are FAST interviews - power-packed and moving at a quick pace! Don’t let the Texas drawl fool you. Carrie doesn’t do anything slow. This is a woman who built a six and then seven figure income in a little over a year. So she made sure these are FAST interviews - power-packed and moving at a quick pace! Why? Because this mother of four knows that… -
You are BUSY! -
You are tired of what doesn't work. -
You don't want to be 'sold to' from every speaker -
You know that enough is enough and you are tired of things NOT changing in your business. I invite you to join me in attending the Women's Wildfire Rally 2009. The first call starts on August 7th and runs through August 12th at 9:00pm Eastern with each day focusing on a unique topic. ChangingCourse.com/recommends/wildfire There is ZERO COST to listen in and learn from these successful entrepreneurs (it will be broadcast as both a teleclass and a webcast simultaneously), but there is a slight upgrade fee if you want access to the audio recordings and transcripts. P.S. The Wildfire Rally is aimed at women – but all you men trying to change course can benefit just as much!
| I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship. ~ Louisa May Alcott |
| | | | | There’s no reward in life without risk. ~ Barry J. Farber | | Guest Article Turn Your Hobby Into Cash By Carrie Wilkerson Whether you have an elementary education or a PhD, you can turn your love for knitting, cooking, crafting or any other hobby into a profitable home business. Refill that cup of coffee or tea, stoke your enthusiasm and let's take a look at the basics of developing your hobby into a home business. The Mechanics of Business Home businesses can be divided into three distinct categories: -
Those that sell a product, -
Those that provide a service and -
Those that provide information. These categories provide an opportunity for the conversion of nearly any hobby into a home business. Hobbies like knitting, doll-making and painting all provide great resources for a home-based business. Many crafters choose to sell the results of their hobby to the public. Local craft shows and flea markets are packed with enterprising crafters peddling their wares. Many hobbies can be put to use as a home-based business providing services like creative writing, image consulting or even home organization. Selling a service that you are qualified to perform and enjoy can give your business the advantage over your competitors. Information is a valuable resource. If you are a lay expert on backyard gardening, golfing or making custom dollhouses, chances are that other fellow gardeners, golfers or dollhouse makers would love to take advantage of your experience and expertise. Money Talks After you know which type of business is best suited for your hobby, it's time to sit down and decide what people would actually pay. Put yourself in the shoes of a customer and decide what types of products, services or information would be valuable enough for you to part with your hard-earned money. The only way to make your business successful is to supply what is in demand. For example, if you enjoy quilting by hand with a group of women and notice that many have difficulty seeing the stitches as they pass middle age, ask them how much they would pay for a magnifying device that would allow them to clearly see the stitches from a comfortable distance. Poll your friends and family members to determine if there is an interest in your product idea. Shameless Self-promotion Doesn't Hurt Either Even the greatest business on Earth fails if no one knows it exists. Marketing and promotion are unavoidable in the world of business. If the only advertising spot you can afford is on the back of the door to the port-a-potty at your county fair, take what you can get (as long as that crowd has a need for the product/service you offer). Any form of promotion helps get the word out about your business. -
Give out t-shirts emblazoned with your company website -
Leave business cards along with the tip at your favorite restaurant -
Post flyers on every corkboard in every church, school or grocery store in your neighborhood -
Ask friends and family to talk about your business with everyone they meet -
Put a signature line on your outgoing emails. With determination, a passion for your hobby and a little know how, you can turn your love for a hobby into a thriving, enjoyable home business. Prepare to join the ranks of other talented women who have turned a love for a hobby into a successful home business. About the Author Carrie Wilkerson is the voice of experience. From corporate life to teaching high school to direct sales, she has 'been there and done that' professionally and personally. An 'overnight mom' to 2 toddlers through adoption, her priorities instantly changed and so did her workplace. She's now built several businesses and coached others to do the same while overcoming extreme debt, losing 110lbs and having 2 more children, for a total of 4 children, ages infant through 12! As 'The Barefoot Executive', Carrie and her network of experts have quickly become the definite resource for helping women achieve extra income and career goals while working from home. You can learn more about Carrie at ChangingCourse.com/recommends/wildfire
| Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.
~ Proverb | Learning Opportunities Turn Your Interests Into Income Tele-Brainstorming Call with Your Host, Valerie YoungHave you ever wished that you could sit down and have a
one-on-one brainstorming session with Valerie? You know you want to do work you love, you just don't know how! Here's your chance! Join us this month as we feature business ideas or challenges that Valerie and her special guests will focus on. | Wednesday, August 26
8:30-9:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Free for Changing Course Club Members*
(sign up in the Club Lounge)
$19.00 for Non Members**
Click Here to Register |  *This series is free to current members of theChanging Course Club.
**100 percent of Non-Members registration fees go to the non-profit micro-grant organization TrickleUp.org
The 2nd Annual Creative Freelancer Conference This is the only business conference for "creative solopreneurs" presented by HOW Magazine and Marketing-Mentor.com. It will be a high energy networking melting pot of graphic, web and interactive designers, photographers, copywriters, video producers, illustrators and anyone else who is committed to making their freelance life work. Creative-business experts including Ilise Benun, Peleg Top, Petrula Vrontikis, Lee Silber, June Walker, Todd Henry, Colleen Wainwright, Darryl Salerno, Michelle Goodman and others, will share best practices for pricing, online marketing, building client relationships, dealing with taxes, being creative on demand, maintaining a work/life balance and other skills critical to freelance success. August 26-28
San Diego, CA
Click Here for More Details Changing Course readers will receive an additional $25 discount if you use this promo code: BC2.For additional details and registration information, visit here:CreativeFreelancerConference.com
Are You Ready to Make Your Business SHINE and Discover Your True Wealth? Once in a Lifetime Comes an Invitation That Can Change Your Destiny  Join one of the most dynamic female entrepreneurs of our generation—Ali Brown—as she hosts a life-shifting experience to uncover the millionaire inside.
At this mega 3 day event, Shine: Discover Your True Wealth™ happening this November in Las Vegas, Nevada, you will meet over 1,000 other Inspired Entrepreneurs for one unforgettable experience. Over three amazing days, you will... ....attain a whole new level of confidence and courage to succeed... ...gain the clarity and certainty you've been searching for... ...transcend any preconceived subconscious limitations and beliefs while you build a secure business model that can take care of you and your family for years to come. You’ll Also Experience Networking That’s Bar None Ask anyone who’s been to an Ali Brown event and you’ll hear them share that not only did they receive stellar business-building information, but they also enjoyed the best business networking of their life. True deal-makers know that nothing compares to meeting new contacts in person, and it’s always worth the trip. If you’re looking to connect with a large number of extraordinary entrepreneurs who are serious about doing business in a conscious way, then your registration for Shine could more than pay for itself many times over in potential opportunities for networking, joint ventures, and business deals. This promises to be a transformational multimedia and multisensory journey unlike any other seminar you've ever attended. Shine: Discover Your True Wealth™
November 5-7, 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada
NOTE: Payment Plan Option Ends August 14th
| You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can only decide how you're going to live now.~ Joan Baez |
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The View From theOther Side “I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny.
It may be a weakness in me: I'm always wondering what I'll do next. Enough is never enough." ~ Howard Schultz,
founder of Starbucks
| | Resources for a Change Making a Living By Making A Difference This site helps you turn your values into your vocation. It has a searchable database of nearly 37,000 non-profits in 165 countries where you'll find job postings, volunteer opportunities, events, etc. Plus there's a place to promote your products or consulting services to non-profits, a library of inspiring articles, and lots more. Site can be accessed in Spanish, French, and Russian. (IdeaList.org) Turn Your Pictures Into Cash What if you could earn $300, $800, or even $8,000 from a single photograph? If you think it’s impossible to make $8,000 from a single photo it’s because you haven’t met digital photographer Rich Wagner. But I have. Rich was a speaker at one of my workshops. He’s made over $8,000 selling framed copies of a single picture he snapped of a hilltop tower near his home in Connecticut. He’s also one of the developers of this exciting course. In addition to meeting Rich, I’ve personally reviewed the course and they are right when they say that it teaches anyone, even the casual vacation photographer, the secrets, tips, techniques, and strategies you need to take profitable photographs and have fun – including where to find paying clients. ChangingCourse.com/recommends/photos Back Door Jobs Are you ready to explore the many doors of opportunity that short-term jobs have to offer? Or maybe you're interested in finding your place in the world? This site features lots of life-expanding opportunities under categories like adventure, nature lover jobs, heart work, and opportunities abroad.BackDoorJobs.com/ Note: Changing Course does not accept paid advertisements from any of the resources listed here. This list is provided to expand your thinking about just how many interesting ways there are to make a living without a job!
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live life on purpose