CREATIVE BIZ MARATHON

Hey guys, I got my book on Friday and it's pure bound inspiration & more, I can't tell you how super excited I am about this marathon thing. After flipping through the book, I'm not sure exactly where I will start ... but I'm thinking I might start with my customer ... yes that's it ... my customer, I'll start tomorrow  morning  at ... 9 AM MT by creating a collage of my ideal customer ...  ... you know when I think about it, I even know what kind of car she drives. my first posting time is at 1 PM MT ... so, I should have the collage completed & photographed by then ... check back here for Robin's post at  9 AM  MT  ... she's kicking this marathon off  ... no pressure Robin ... we love ya! ... followed by a post every hour for 25 hours ... cause it's a Creative Biz Marathon and we're stepping up our game before the new year gets here. How are yoU planning on stepping up your creative biz game for 2011?

  photo credit So I mentioned in my last post that my work from the first three chapters was put together on airplanes.  Here's what else you need to know.  I KNEW that I was going to work through the book  in kind of an odd setting so I prepared a spiral notebook with swatches of paint and fabric, inspiring sayings cut out of books, and pretty pens and markers.  I knew when the time came where this was not simply this fun idea but would call for me to DIG DEEPER, I would need to fall back on COLOR and SURPRISE on the pages as they turned.  And I will tell you that I was QUITE amazed at how some sessions, the exercise lined up PERFECTLY with what I had randomly put on the page during prep times (of course there were other times where it just seems WACKY!).  AND SOMETIMES I did an exercise out of order because something I stuck on the page put me in the space to tackle the work more effectively. OK SO... My tools included: 5x7 spiral notebook colore...

In June of 2010, I decided to take a leap of faith and sign up for an e-course led by one of my favorite artists, Kelly Rae Roberts.  You see, my dreams about building something more than just a "hobby" from my jewelry-making and marketing/design work were whispering softly to me.  When I really listened in the quiet moments, I could feel and hear the dream even more clearly. I didn't have many of the things that people will tell you are necessary...extra time, extra income, tremendous talent, a knack for business, etc.  But I had what I believe may be an even more powerful combination...passion, persistence, and patience.  Thanks to Kelly Rae, I was instantly plugged into a talented group of entrepreneurial artists from around the world. I hadn't picked up a paint brush in 10 years! I'd never been formally trained on jewelry-making, didn't know much about natural stones, beads, or even jewelry techniques.   Fast forward to 6 months later. First, ...

photo credit Approximately 48 hours to go before we begin this magical adventure (yes it really does feel like that before the hard work begins!).  I wanted to let you know a couple of things before the ball drops and we begin this marathon together: 1. I have an ABSOLUTE LOVE of business - My undergrad is in business and I am fascinated by what makes businesses succeed and fail.   2. I am a list maker - I have lists of lists about other lists about a list that I need to make (and I am not kidding!).  So for much of this I know I will lean more on my comfort of making lists when the going gets tough in the creative component of putting together a business plan.  I LOVE how beautiful the pages look in The Creative Entrepreneur  yet I know that my strong suit is LISTS. 3. I got a head start - About a month ago, I took my book on a trip overseas and worked on it while flying internationally.  I put in about six hours and got through the first three chap...

Busy ... Clearing ... Cleaning, cause I just, so want a clean slate , to start a new, to begin again. I'm praying for this, I'm waiting for this. I'm expecting this, for I have HIS promise of this & so do yoU.

photo credit As an Almuni of Kelly Rae Roberts Flying Lessons E-Course I have learned to feel the intensity that comes with a new adventure and simply note the feeling rather than FLEE for safety.  This is what I am feeling this morning.  I want to take out my book The Creative Entrepreneur and BEGIN and at the same time I am already preparing my heart for failure.  Doesn't that seem silly? Pessimistic? Practical?  Normal? BUT...this morning I remind myself what a great catalyst anticipation can be.  The momentum is just what I will need to get through the "want to quit" feelings.  So I remain patient and I do not even LOOK at the book.  And I let the anticipation build...

photo credit I can feel the anticipation building as I prepare to begin this crazy, whimsical challenge to live more deeply into my creative business dreams.  2010 has been a year of practicing the title of this new life.  2011 I hope to connect with the identity behind these baby steps.   My heart feel light and air today.  I feel the wings on my back wanting to spread wide and soar high.  I know I am built for the beginning of things.  But I want to truly prepare myself for the long haul.  And that is why I am here...