Archive

From Barista to Writer: Building a Business out of Thin Air

posted 20th October 2011    Written by: Dusti    CATEGORY: All Posts, Dusti, Job/Career/Work, Season 5

I never had any intentions of being an entrepreneur. Really I didn’t.

I thought I was just starting blog. Harmless, really. Then, it was a month-long course on blogging. No biggie. Then, I made my first affiliate sale. Oooh, that was pretty exciting. Then, I was writing and marketing an ebook.

Okay, so it was a slippery slope.

Who am I kidding? I showed all of the telltale signs of the would-be entrepreneur.

The inability to stay at a job I couldn’t stand and couldn’t change. (Seriously, I’ve had 36 jobs.) I had to stop participating in student council, because I blew a fuse or ten when I realized all they did was fundraise for parties and dances. So much for wanting to get the curriculum updated and get the school more active in the community. That may have also been why I was voted most likely to be a politician… in 8th grade.

I joke about it, but honestly, stepping into this new role has changed my life in ways I struggle to describe.

Let’s jump back to the summer of 2010. I was working at a Starbucks, slinging coffee out a window to people more or less unhappy with their lives. (The only notable exception to this was Phil Knight and his wife, two of our regulars.) Life was okay. Except that I knew I was handing a false answer to their problems out the window.

When I wasn’t making coffee, I was online. I’d started blogging in my spare time, downsizing my life, and doing more of what I loved. And what did I love? Writing. Sharing. Even when only an hour of my day could be devoted to this secret passion, it lit me up like the 4th of July.

When I first got started, I did it all for the love of writing. All of these thoughts and ideas had been building up with nowhere to go, and when I started blogging, it was like the floodgates opened. My heart soared every time I penned something. Little pieces of me scattered online and throughout the world.

Now it’s October 2011, and I have built myself a job and the makings of a business. In the past year, I’ve written about half a million words. No exaggeration. Between college, writing for pleasure, and writing for business, the flow of words has been more akin to tsunami force than that of the steady river metaphor I had considered using there.

With no qualifications, I wrote ebooks that real people bought. I offered my services as a branding coach and a copywriter – and real people paid me with real money. Danielle LaPorte says the universe speaks in cashflow, and it certainly did to me. The whole thing still blows my mind.

It’s amazing on so many levels, but entrepreneurship is not easy, especially if you’ve got workaholic tendencies. It feels like your work is never done. There’s always this inner conflict going on. How should I be spending my time? How much time with my daughter is enough? How many hours a week should I work? How many would I like to work? How many do I actually have to work to pay my rent?

We take the structure a workplace provides for granted. The thing with being the one calling shots is just that – you’re the one calling the shots. There’s no one else to blame. It’s all on you. Every decision you make about your schedule, your rates, everything. I’m a fan of bootstrapping, but now I dream of the day I can hire my very own virtual assistant. (I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure the heavens will open up and angels will sing.)

Have you considered starting your own business? I’d love to hear about your ideas, and if you have any questions about how I made the transition, I’m happy to answer them! (Molly and Hannah, I want some input here from you guys, too!)

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Universal Love and Committing to Joy

posted 22nd September 2011    Written by: Dusti    CATEGORY: Dusti, Family, Job/Career/Work, Season 5

The universe is trying to tell me something. I’m convinced.

After a summer of stressing over getting someone to rent to me, I applied to a random Craigslist housing ad. I found a nice two bedroom within my budget. It was a little further out than I wanted, but there was no application fee – which *fingers crossed* meant no credit/rental check.

It’s like the universe wrapped its arms around me and gave me a hug. She rented based on character, not background. And she was one of the nicest ladies I’ve ever met! You just don’t meet people like that anymore.

Then came the cherry on top - the best writing gig EVER lands in my inbox. Cue me dancing a jig! I can’t give details yet, but it’s with a company I would sell my left boob to work with long term.

A place to live and steady income. Did I just achieve some stability? Why, yes, I think I did. Count this as me exiting fight or flight mode. Unless I’m crazy, that should mean I make better decisions for a while.

At the end of this five months, I’ll be ready to pop. As in, the brand new baby boy will be making his arrival like a soda can exploding in the freezer. I’m so excited for him, but I’m afraid for me. My doctor said I have a high likelihood of getting extreme PPD again.

Last time, it destroyed my life. This time, I have a much better support network. I have a wonderful doula, and I’m not in a relationship with someone I can’t stand – progress, right? (In fact, he makes me quite happy. And makes trips out when I get cravings. Yep – he’s a keeper.)

The next several months are going to be jam-packed full of goodness. But, it’s also just jam-packed – you know, crappy airline style where the seats are too close together kind of packed. I’m not crazy enough to hope for balance, but I am dreaming of joy. Even when things go bonkers, I want to feel the deep joy of knowing I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be doing what I’m meant to be doing. To commit to joy, I’m making three goals for my time here at Stratejoy.

My three goals for the next five months are:

To prepare as much as I can for the new baby. Mentally, this means making sure I have a network of wonderful women to connect with. I think Stratejoy is going to help with that a TON. Physically, it means yoga and setting up the nursery. (Because you KNOW it’s fun.)

To write my manifesto. Because I can’t write it until I understand all of the in’s and out’s of what I think. This is me committing to self exploration in away I haven’t before.

To open as many doorways as I can for my writing career. This means getting coaching, applying to grad school, working with amazing clients, and doing whatever I can to propel my writing to the next level.

It’s a good thing I like challenges, because this one is going to be one tough mother.

 

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Obsessions, Advice, and My Killer Music Mix

posted 22nd July 2011    Written by: Katharine    CATEGORY: All Posts, Inspiration, Katharine, Life Lesson, Season 4

It’s been an honor sharing the Stratejoy stage with the lovely ladies of Season 4 (and of course, Molly and Katie) and it’s super sad to see this season come to a close.  For my second to last post, it’s time to answer some questions!

What are you most proud of from the last six months?

I’m proud of having the courage to leave everything I knew and loved in America in order to find a way to live my best life.  Truthfully, I didn’t think I was strong enough to do this.  I was terrified of boarding that plane to Prague, but looking back on that moment now, it was the catalyst to get me to Australia.  In these last six months I’ve gained more courage and confidence than I ever thought I would.  I feel like I really am going to conquer the world some day.

What is your favorite meal memory?

This is a tough one because I love food way too much.  I think one of my favorite meal memories was last summer at my cousin’s cottage in the Finger Lakes.  I took two of my girlfriends with me and we sat out on the deck, watching the sunset, sipping on NY’s finest cold Riesling, and eating zweigles and grilled portobello mushrooms.  If you’ve never had a zweigle, you just don’t know.  I demand you click on that website and order a pack (or 12) right now.  It’s totally worth it, I promise.

What’s the best piece of advice you have for someone struggling with a QLC?

Embrace it with both arms and hold on tightly.  Allow yourself to feel the wave of emotions that come with the QLC because that’s one step towards conquering it.  Don’t be afraid to ask yourself those gut-wrenching questions and don’t be afraid to chase after your wildest dreams in pursuit of your own authentic happiness.  It’s the risks we don’t take that we regret the most.  But most importantly, know that whatever you’re going through, you are not alone in it.  You’ve got a tribe supporting you every step of the way!

Post a picture of your happy self – where were you, what were you doing, and who were you with?

One of my all-time favorite things to do in life is watch the sun set.  I know it sounds cheesy, but I find it so mesmerizing and peaceful.  The Boyfriend took me to a park in North Bondi one Sunday evening so I could get some snapshots of the sun setting over the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Skyline.  I’ve seen some amazing sunsets in my lifetime but watching that sun set over the entire city was truly spectacular.  It’s the simple things in life that make me smile.

What’s the best piece of advice someone has ever given you?

“Enjoy every moment of it.”  – JZ (my friend, not the rapper)

Honest, simple, and heart-felt.  It wasn’t until I got to South Korea when I started taking my friend’s advice and really enjoying my time abroad.  I opened my mind (and heart) to the world and all of it’s beauty, and it’s changed my life.

We forget how important it is to truly enjoy the moments that take our breath away, make us smile, and bring happiness in our lives.

In my case, ‘it’ was traveling abroad but maybe yours is a relationship, the decision to start over, or an upcoming vacation.  Whatever ‘it’ is, love it, learn from it, and appreciate the small bursts of joy.  Live for the moments that make you smile.

What’s your killer music mix?

“The Seed” – The Roots
“S&M” – Rihanna
“F*ck You” – Cee Lo Green (sorry, the clean version just doesn’t cut it)
“Float On” – Modest Mouse
“Runaway” – Maroon 5
“Rolling in the Deep” – Adele
“Fearless” – Colbie Caillat
“Shake Me Like a Monkey” – Dave Matthews Band
“Give Me Everything” – Pitbull

(don’t judge me based on my music selection)

Three biggest obsessions right now…

wearing skirts with knee-high boots (apparently I found my feminine side in Australia…)
playing iAssociate2 on my iPhone
sunsets over the Harbour bridge

What has happened in your time as a Stratejoy blogger that you would never have imagined for yourself in January?

Definitely landing in Australia.  This certainly wasn’t on my itinerary when I started this journey around the world, but because I was already in Asia, I knew I just had to come to Australia.  Now that I’m here, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

What’s something you learned from each of the ladies of Season 4?

I’ve learned that even the most talented, beautiful, capable women can hit rock bottom and find a way to climb to the top with even more courage, confidence and determination than they had before.  These ladies are nothing short of inspiring and they all hold a special place in my heart.

What’s your Dream Job?  Dream Vacation?  Dream Home?

Dream Job:  owning my own restaurant, cafe, or Bed & Breakfast.

Dream Vacation:  sailing around Croatia and the Greek Isles.

Dream Home:  a nice, small home with a really awesome, brand new, state-of-the-art kitchen.  Oh, and a patio facing a body of water would be nice, too, so I could drink a glass of New York’s finest Riesling while watching the sun set.

What’s currently turning you on?

All of the male Australian accents.  #swoon.

How are you going to change the world?

By staying true to myself.  By living with passion and intention.  By listening more and talking less.  By believing that if you really want something in life, you will do whatever it takes to get it.  By encouraging Generation-Y and future generations to stop conforming to societies norms and start defining your own norms.  You don’t have to have it all figured out by age 30 and you don’t have to join Facebook just because everyone else did.

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Ice cream, Andy Warhol, and Leading by Doing

posted 20th July 2011    Written by: Laura    CATEGORY: Inspiration, Laura, Season 4

I remember asking Molly on our first blogger call if we would get to do an interview post at the end of the season. And lo and behold, we do! I LOVE these!

What are you most proud of from the last 6 months? My improved ability to listen to myself. This has led to me to make joyful wedding planning decisions, be brutally honest with my new colleagues, become acutely aware of my business needs and sensitivities, and set some personal goals for the year that I’m really excited about.

What is your favorite meal memory? This might be lame, but it’s what immediately came to mind: It’s June 2008. After a long day of travelling, I had just checked into my hotel in Long Beach, CA. I was in California for the first time and was beside myself with excitement, but was too tired to function. I went for a stroll to check out my surroundings and happened across Cold Stone Creamery. Little did I know, it would be the start of a love affair. I ordered the biggest size of Founder’s Favorite, in a waffle bowl, and sat on the steps in front of my hotel, with the sun on my face and the water glistening in the distance, and ate the best ice cream I’ve ever had, for supper. Then I went to bed (at 7 p.m. local time), slept for 12 hours, and awoke ready to take on the world…or just Long Beach and the surrounding area.

What’s the best piece of advice you have for someone struggling with a QLC? That’s it’s OK to take baby steps. Not every QLC needs to be handled by quitting your job, breaking up with someone, travelling for a year, moving to another country, or otherwise turning your life upside down. That works for some, not all.

Post a picture of your happy self over the last six months – Where were you, what were you doing and who were you with? I was at an amazing resort in the Mayan Riviera with my Hunny and about 40 others, for the wedding of two dear friends. On this particular day, Hunny and I pretended we know how to golf, by playing 9 holes of the nicest course I’ll probably ever be on in my life.

What’s the best piece of advice someone has ever given you? The words of wisdom I’ve most appreciated over the years have been realizations and ah-has more so than advice. Things like “Laura, you’re a builder, not a maintainer,” and lessons from Molly about to view certain personal tendencies as strengths, rather than shortcomings. The advice inspiring me right now is:

Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art. – Andy Warhol

What’s your killer music mix? An Eminem, Jay-Z and Kayne West iPod playlist. Or the Garden State soundtrack.

Three biggest obsessions right now? Insanity workout program, the Millennium trilogy (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and so on), Booster Juice smoothies, and Big Brother. Oops, that’s four.

What has happened in your time as a Stratejoy blogger that you would never have imagined for yourself in January? I now have a short-term plan for Red Balloon that I’m really jazzed about. I expected to be feeling more tension between what I want to be doing and what I am doing. I found a killer wedding venue. Also, I have some new ideas brewing in the back of my mind that I wouldn’t have expected. I wasn’t that inspired in January.

What’s something you learned from each of the other ladies of Season 4? That young women are full of surprises, strength and potential. We’re bursting with it! I mean, I sort of already believed that, but these ladies have proven it!

What’s your dream job? Dream vacation? Dream home? Dream job: a hybrid of author, mixed media artist, and magazine editor. Dream vacation: Hawaii and the Greek Isles, but not in the same trip! Dream home: It has two bedrooms, an extra room or alcove for a kick-ass, space-efficient office, two bathrooms, lots of closet space, tons of windows, no carpet, a fireplace, a nice back deck and fenced backyard, a view of something charming (maybe trees, or a park, or…something), and a detached garage. It does not have a creepy basement or attic (although non-creepy basements are OK). It’s walking distance to a coffee shop. It’s in a neighbourhood I feel comfortable jogging in. And, in my dreams, I have the money and know-how to fully redecorate it to make it full of inspiration and colour!

What’s currently turning you on? My Hunny’s participation in our wedding planning – and it’s not by force!

How are you going to change the world? By creating moments of clarity for others and by oozing authenticity (you know, leading by doing).

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My goals, They’re a Changin’

posted 13th April 2011    Written by: Laura    CATEGORY: Inspiration, Laura, Life Lesson, Season 4

When I hopped on this Stratejoy blogging train, I knew that committing to three specific goals was part of the deal. Seemed like a great idea. You know, so I can report back and share what I learned and experienced along the way.

Well guess what? We’re less than three months in and I’ve hit a bit of a rough patch. I’ve decided to kibosh not one but TWO of my goals.

Uh oh. A failure detector should start going off now, shouldn’t it? Goals are meant to be achieved, are they not? To Do lists are meant to be crossed off, yes?

Well, as I spend more time talking with Molly, listening to my own thoughts and instincts, and learning from like-minded people such as yourselves, I’m discovering that’s not necessarily the case.

Goals are meant to be exploratory and motivating. They’re meant to encourage us to ask for more for ourselves and our lives…for no other reason than we deserve it. But goals also represent a point in time. They were established and embraced on a certain day, with certain thoughts and feelings and assumptions as context around them. So when those thoughts, feelings and assumptions change – and they often do – our goals might end up feeling a little less worthy of our effort.

That’s exactly what happened to me. My goals worked well for the person I was in February months ago, but they don’t fit so nicely with the person I am now. Instead of wasting time chasing after two accomplishments that I wouldn’t even enjoy or feel inspired to complete, I’m bailing on them.

But, since I can’t leave you (or myself) hanging, I’ve come up with two new goals that I feel a little more excited about.

Old Goal #1: Run a half marathon.

New Goal #1: Run a 10 km…and maybe a half marathon later this year.

The rationale: I’ve ran half marathons before. And I’m confident that I will again some day….in fact, I already have tentative plans for running one in October. I enjoy the challenge, the stretching of well-used leg muscles, the discipline of training, and the adrenaline rush and exhilaration of running among a crowd. But right now, I don’t need another challenge.

What I need is to swing my pendulum from the “over achiever” side into the “easy come, easy go” side.

Then, and only then, will I learn how to settle somewhere in the middle, playing the ambitious role sometimes and the chilled out role other times.

I’m still committing to getting in better shape, that hasn’t changed. But instead of following a tough and disciplined training schedule right now, I’m going to focus on variety. On going outside if I hear my sneakers calling my name. Or hitting the gym if it’s raining and cold out. Or going for a lane swim, if I’m in the mood for a quick, all-over workout. Or, going to yoga whenever I’m craving more of a mind-body connection. I’m going to cut myself some slack and just go with the flow.

And since I’m already registered for the Bluenose Marathon, I’m going to drop down to running the 10km. It’s a totally achievable target that will still lead me to feel physically stronger and more alive than I do today. Now that sounds like a goal I can get behind!

Old Goal #2: Share my story with a group of women in my community.

New Goal #2: Draft a book proposal.

The rationale: This one’s pretty simple. First of all, I love the being an analyzing, instinct-embracing, ballsy woman. I love sharing optimistic perspectives, personal realizations and insights with others. Second, I dream of writing a book some day. I don’t have a solid idea, I don’t even have a first chapter. I have nothing but a wish and a prayer…and fear. Conclusion? Instead of waiting, I’m just going to start. A dear friend of mine sent me a book proposal template that has come highly recommended to her. I’m going to take it and see what I can come up with. I’m going to organize the thoughts floating around in my head into a first draft of a book proposal.

I have no idea what’s going to come out. It might be total crap. I don’t even know where I’m going to find the time or clarity of mind right now to do this. But I’m going to. Because it’s important to me. And it’s what my heart wants; even if it makes no logical sense.

I don’t have a formulated plan for building an Internet-famous blog, going on a speaking tour, and creating a tribe of followers. I had intended to come up with one, which is why writing a motivational speech of some sort in order to build some profile seemed like a good goal at first.

But, I’ve decided to say fuck it (as I often do). I’ve decided to rip the band-aid off and start writing. Maybe that proposal will go in a file never to be seen again. Maybe it’ll be so bad, all I’ll be able to do is laugh. Maybe it’ll turn into a free e-book I can give away. Maybe it’ll become a presentation I can deliver after all…some day, somewhere. Maybe I’ll be inspired to keep writing book proposal, after book proposal until years from now, something sticks. I don’t know.

But right now, something inside me says that trying is better than knowing. It also says that listening to yourself if better than telling yourself.

So that’s what I’m going to do.

{Photo credit}

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