Next Steps Gathering

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Yesterday, I was invited by a friend Cathy to lead my dream box workshop with her small networking group of East Bay entrepreneurial women. These five financial- and foodie-focused females get together regularly to help support each other in their “next steps.” It’s such a great idea to have a group of like-minded people to help keep accountability and motivate each other to keep moving forward. We had a fun few hours of collaging and gabbing. I love doing workshops like this for small gatherings of women who already are friends (like I did for my painting and collage workshop last year). It’s usually a nice change of pace for them and they get inspired by each other’s creative visions. What fun, new creative activities can you do with your group of friends?

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My husband, Brian Ng, is an amazing wedding photographer. He recently re-launched his photo blog and has some really cool pics of a recent wedding at AT&T Park in the city. He also posted images from a photojournalism intensive workshop that he attended in Texas. If you’re a dog lover, take a peek! He was assigned to shoot dog agility classes and he captured several cute pups in action.

Educational Melting Pot

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Tonight I was a guest presenter at C.E.O. Women’s four-month entrepreneurial training program. C.E.O. Women is an amazing organization based here in Oakland that helps low-income immigrant and refugee women start their own business. These brave, dedicated women hail from around the world… Nigeria, St. Lucia, Ethiopia, Peru, Vietnam and Japan to name a few.

Our focus for this evening was market research and we had a good discussion about different ideas for gathering data about customers, products and services. I love seeing how the women help each other out with suggestions and encouragement.

One of the things I admire about this organization is the creative way they’ve designed their outreach programs. Not only do they offer ESL with their business training, they also provide coaching and mentoring, and last year they developed a groundbreaking telenovella educational video to teach the entrepreneurial concepts and language in an engaging and entertaining way.

With women launching their businesses at three times the rate of men, it’s great to know that groups like this are empowering women from all ethnic and economic backgrounds.

Inspiring Incubatresses

A couple of hours ago we wrapped up night two of our March Ladies Who Launch Incubator Intensive. I am blown away by this group’s overflow of positive energy and generous spirit. There is a deep soulful connection that these women created in just one week!

One of our Incubatresses Kate Prentiss was so moved by fellow Incubatress Karon Fields and her non-profit Rooms for Change, that she set out to raise $1,000 for Karon’s cause within a week. You bet we had to whip out the tissues tonight when Kate handed more than $1,000 to a surprised and speechless Karon. Kate’s act of kindness exemplifies the power of seeing a need, setting a goal, speaking it out into the world and enlisting support from others. As Victoria and Beth say in their Ladies Who Launch book, to launch anything you first imagine it, speak it, do it and then celebrate it. We sure celebrated tonight! And it’s just the beginning for these 10 star ladies. We have two more weeks of Incubator magic together and I can’t wait to see what more blossoms. It’s amazing what happens when you bring together a group of strong, creative and giving women!

On a side note, I’m really excited to have met Kate at the end of last year. Not only is she an incredibly talented designer and artist (who’s helping me with my brochure and several upcoming creative projects) she’s a super cool and inspiring friend. I knew she and I would click when I had my first meeting with her and her Creative Urge business partner Cami Walker (another totally inspiring, creative gal and fellow launcher). We were playing with unique brochure formats and all three of us were going totally ga-ga over little bits of folded paper! I was with my creative peeps!

And look at this cool poem Kate shared with me at the end of tonight’s session…

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Wow, I’m so blessed to have these fabulous women in my life!!!

Girl Power

Last night was the session one of our January/February Oakland Incubator Intensive. We’ve got an amazing group of 10 women who are up to really cool things. We are in for an exciting and inspiring month of expanding visions, clarifying direction and moving forward! Having just come back from Ladies Who Launch leader training, I am raring to go.

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My second dose of Girl Power came tonight. I just got home from the “Girl’s Guide to Kicking Your Career Into Gear” book signing where I got to meet Caitlin and Kim in person (photo above). I love that they bring a feminine perspective to the workplace and that their mission is to create a “New Girl’s Network” that blows the old boy’s network out of the water and helps us gals increase our confidence, fulfillment and prosperity in business. Their tips, stories and advice aim to level the playing field – no more women earning 77 cents to men’s dollar. Kim and Caitlin urge us women to ask for what we want, promote ourselves more freely and support each other. Amen, sisters!

It’s been cool that over the last couple of weeks I’ve been able to spend a little time with amazing women leaders of amazing companies – Karen Kimsey-House – the President of The Coaches Training Institute, Victoria Colligan – co-founder of Ladies Who Launch and now Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio of YMC Media and The Girl’s Guides. They are all inspirational and each are promoting strong female leadership with their own unique voice. What an honor to be amongst such tremendous Girl Power!

Questers, Dreamers and Launchers

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The past 10 days have been a whirlwind of excitement, connection, fulfillment and fun! I visited Washington DC to be a Circle Coach for Quest, returned home to lead a dream box workshop at It’s Yoga and then flew out to Cleveland for our Ladies Who Launch leader training. I had a great time at all the different events. And this weary traveler is happy to be home (where it’s not snowing!).

Quest was amazing. What an honor to help shepherd our Questers on their journey of discovering their leadership essence and taking action on their inspiring Quests. I look forward to seeing how they each continue to make their unique impact on the world!

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The icing on the cake was meeting up with my friends John and Marie last Saturday night in DC. I hadn’t seen John in about three years and this was my first time meeting Marie in person. What a treat!

Had one day back home to make dream boxes with the yoga teacher trainers including students from Mexico, Israel, Japan and all across the US. I’m always so moved by what the participants dream of and create!

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Next up, Cleveland! On our first day there, Launy, Corinne and I ventured to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I’m no music buff, so much of the paraphernalia was beyond me. But I did get a kick out of seeing a letter that Madonna wrote to a friend while she was at the University of Michigan, Jim Morrison’s report cards from grade school and drawings that Jimi Hendrix did as a kid.

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California girls Launy, me, Corinne and Claire braving the snow. It was so much fun to be at the training with these smart, savvy gals. And we’re so excited to bring all our launching energy back to our fellow Bay Area launchers.

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Oh, and I just had to take a picture of the infamous chocolate cake that magically appeared after every meal. Good thing we had yoga class Friday morning to work off such decadence.

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And finally, a beautiful shot of all 14 leaders in training from across the US and Canada along with our awesome trainer Stella. What an amazing group of women!

In Print AND the Power of Intention

The third installment of the best-selling Girl’s Guide series comes out today AND I’m featured in the book!!! The Girl’s Guide to Kicking Your Career Into Gear by Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio offers practical advice for taking charge of your career – whether it’s getting to that next level, switching careers or deciding to work for yourself.

As the featured coach in Chapter Two: Getting where you want to go, I provide some creative exercises for envisioning what you want from your job and offer suggested actions to take. (Note, I’m listed under my former coaching brand Change Journey Coaching due to publishing lead time).

uylv-book-back-cover.jpgNot only am I thrilled to be in print, this opportunity exemplifies the power of intention… Last year around this time, I had just finished a great book about using collage to set dreams and goals. I thought to myself, “Hey, I really could write a book about my approach to art visioning!” I got inspired to do some art visioning of my own around the book idea and planned to create a mock book jacket for my future book. It was late at night, so to make sure I didn’t forget the next day, I wrote an e-mail to myself on 1/7/07 with the subject line “mock up a book cover/jacket w/ headshot, bio, advanced praise, etc.”

Well, I woke up the next morning to find in my inbox an e-mail with the subject line, “book interview.” I had to do a double-take. Was this what I called the note to myself about my book? I was beside myself when I realized it was one of the Girl’s Guide authors asking if I wanted to be interviewed for their next book! I was amazed that in less than 24-hours, a wonderful opportunity presented itself that was a great first step toward writing my own book!!

By the way, the authors will be holding a book-signing/workshop in San Francisco on Wednesday, January 30th from 7:30-9:30PM at Books Inc. on 2251 Chestnut Street. Maybe I’ll see you there?!

Right-Brain Business Plan Blog

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In November of 2007, I participated in Leah Piken’s Art Every Day Month. The final two days of the challenge serendipitously culminated in a new creative idea that I call the Right-Brain Business Plan. Well, in the last several weeks, my Right-Brain Business Plan has generated quite a bit of interest – comments on my blog, others posting about my plan on their site, and those who’ve seen it in-person wanting to create one for themselves. I even recently worked with a client and her business partner to develop their own Right-Brain Business Plans. So, given the great response, I figured, hey, why not officially start a movement!

I’ve created a new blog called “The Right-Brain Business Plan Blog.” Please check it out! Stay tuned for more creative ideas for your business and opportunities for connection and community with fellow right-brainers!

This is NOT business as usual!

Right-Brain Business Plan Part II – AEDM Day 30

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With scissors, pens and glue stick in hand, I worked on detailing out the different sections of my Artizen Coaching Right-Brain Business Plan on the flip side. Sure beats sitting in front of a computer for hours!

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I revised my company description with the look of my ink and water colors visual journal. The paint really brought the key words to life and made it feel more like me.

I wanted my plan to be interactive and evolving, so I created different ways to incorporate information that I could take out, update and put back in. The next page to the left has a pocket that holds cards describing my different services and products. I like that I can pull them out and add to it easily.

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Next, I created a mini bound calendar to list out my major events and milestones. It actually slips out of the little holder so that I can thumb through it (see picture below).

I also created a section for describing who I’m partnering with and for what. In addition, I thought through what my role would be versus what I have already outsourced or need to outsource in the future.

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I really love that this format is expandable and adaptable – just like my business! Plus, it’s portable and fun to look at!

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Finally, I created spaces for holding my financial and overall business goals plus my marketing strategies and approaches. Since these are also in an envelope type form, I can easily slip cards in and out. Plus there’s a little more privacy.

I’m super-excited to have a tangible, interactive vision for where I want to take my business in the next year and beyond. I’m also thrilled that I’ve developed another creative approach to use with clients in crafting the personal and professional goals.

I am so grateful to the Art Every Day and NaBloPoMo challenges (I’m overlooking those days when I was sooo overwhelmed and stressed!). This month’s art making and blogging has culminated into a new way for me do business planning, has helped me to develop new approaches and product ideas and has widened my community of creative souls. This process reminds me that the more I try new things, connect with others, tap into my creativity… then the more quickly my vision and ideas can evolve and manifest. Doing art every day has definitely accelerated my life big time in ways I wouldn’t have even imagined 29 days ago and am still processing. Amazing!

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, business planning, right-brain business plan, art visioning, expressive arts coaching, business coaching, entrepreneurship, collage, book arts, accordion book[/tags]