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Feb 03
2010
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Imagine SuccessPosted by Jan in selfemployed, personal growth, entrepreneur |
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Great Quote:
The power of sustained imagination can bring success.
Elf Productions Books
Description of my blog
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Feb 03
2010
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Be the change you want to see in the world.
It is easy to get bogged down by negative circumstances, people, or events. Instead of letting that defeat your or overwhelm you, try something else.
When you see inequality in the world, observe well. In some situations, you will have the power to make an immediate difference but in others you will not.
The choice lies in how you will respond.
You have the chance to make things right in your own way.
What do I mean by that?
You can define your own working conditions: with whom and how you will work. So for example, in a previous job, project, or employment, were you uncomfortable with the lack of professionalism or unfair standards?
Well, you can decide for yourself what standards you want to have as a self-employed professional or business owner. You can create quality standards and benchmarks. You can treat people equally and reward their excellence through appreciation and encouragement.
When you worked previously, were you stressed because you did not receive payments in time? Well, in your own business, you can be a good, reliable employer who is responsible to his or her employees.
Being your own boss allows you the freedom of choice. You can choose to become an outstanding employer and worker in everything you do. You can create a positive working environment and culture by your presence, actions, and planning. The choice is yours.
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Jan 01
2010
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Happy New Year! As 2010 begins, I ask you to think about where you are in life and what you wish to accomplish.
As I look back over the last 3 years when I left my job at UVM and launched Elf Productions full-time, the thing that I did that helped me the most was:
I trusted my intuition.
I had held on to a job that I had outgrown after 6 months but I had, like most people, wanted the security of a job and familiar people. I had stayed in something for those reasons.
Yet, when I started Elf Productions in my first year of launch 2007-8:
1. I doubled my income
2. I worked my own hours
3. I eliminated all negative human interaction as much as possible
4. I found my energy level rising again
5. I began to enjoy interactions with people again a lot
5. I worked hard, met new people all over the world, and enjoyed the work I did
Now, in 2010 as we reach the end of our 3rd year in business (February 2010), I have found that the BEST decision I made was to trust my own intuition.
Only you know what you want and what you can do. You will test yourself out in the world every day and learn more about what you excel at, what you love, what you want to do, what you do not want to do, and what skills and learning you want to acquire.
Staying flexible is important.
As I want to launch and grow new ideas and projects, I find that the right people and the right resources keep turning up.
By having a clear, defined goal but being flexible about how that process is achieved, we can achieve the goals we set out to accomplish at Elf Productions.
By letting go and relaxing, believing in the future, and focusing on the future, the best comes.
As you harness that power within you and take action, you will bring your whole life into harmony with who you are.
You can accomplish vastly more with much less effort than ever before.
Best of luck and keep on keepin' on!
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Nov 02
2009
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I was thinking today that the best aspects of capitalism are:
1. The ability to focus
2. The ability of an individual to achieve
That is how some of the greatest ideas were born and how some of the greatest fortunes built.
You need freedom to do that.
That's the hope.
At the same time, the minute you have more than one person involved, you need ethics to keep everyone working and living together peacefully and to keep your country safe.
We live in a post-war generation. We have survived World War II, attacks on the World Trade Center, the collapse of the banking and financial sector, and massive climate change. While the world our parents and grandparents grew up in is rapidly changing, there are many positives that we can draw from their experience. We can unite these ideas with the knowledge and understanding gathered from their mistakes as well.
Then we can build a country anew where innovation and entrepreneurship again are hallmarks of our democratic spirit, right alongside humane and ethical stewardship of our planet and our people.
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Oct 26
2009
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You will find that in your first year of business, you will learn more than you ever learned in college. Or ever could possibly learn.
College is great - don't get me wrong. I found that at Emory I made true friends that I could play with and enjoy on every level - social, intellectual, artistic, physical, emotional, and spiritual.
What I loved about college was people. So I learned about people a good deal.
But learning about LIFE and how to apply ideas and make them real; and how to use your knowledge about people and about relationships - well, that involves getting out there and doing it.
And nothing beats running your own company. You will get a crash course in:
Life 101
Business 101
Relationships 101
Finances 101
Emotional Stability 101
Health 101
You get my drift...
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Oct 13
2009
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Having a business that is synonymous with your lifestyle is ideal. When a business is truly part of your life, you can view it in a holistic way.
For so many people, one of the main reasons for burnout is losing interest in the work and feeling a sense of alienation when working from the rest of their lives. They find themselves staying up all night to pursue other interests and passions.
However, when your business revolves around your core values and what you are passionate about, you will find that you have a broader perspective. Integrity and quality are important to you as well as the ability to think originally.
When you want to do meaningful work, you may have a lot of steps ahead of you. However, by consciously choosing a path that involves healthy choices, you will ultimately enjoy greater satisfaction.
The amount of money that you earn in a business unlike a job, can be limitless. It can be far beyond anything you ever earned before. It will expand your concept of what earnings and income can be.
How will you reflect this? How do you digest this information?
The amount of money you earn is less important in the long run for your company than the talent you bring. You can get the investors you need for a financial boost to get your products out the door. However, what is most important is having the right people, the vision, and the personal drive to make it happen.
Money without people is not enough.
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Aug 24
2009
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Here are 3 things you can do that will propel your business concept into a successful and viable reality.
1. What problems does your product or service address? How important are they for your target audience? Do you offer a solution that is unique, one-of-a-kind, or solves a problem that has never been addressed before or quite in the way you offer?
2. What are the key terms, phrases, or expressions your target audience employs to find your products or services?
3. Do you offer a solution that is unique, one-of-a-kind, or solves a problem that has never been addressed before or quite in the way you offer? Maybe your products or services are the fastest, safest, most reliable, best quality, etc. What is your USP or unique selling proposition?
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Aug 24
2009
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When you are first trying to figure out what you want to do, perhaps the idea of doing anything you want is a little overwhelming. You might find it difficult to narrow down your options or you might be oppressed by your current circumstances, that dreaming of something different is difficult for you. Whatever be the case, you could possibly benefit from the CISS questionnaire.
The CISS or Campbell Interest and Skill Survey is a comprehensive questionnaire that guides you through your interests and skills, helping you figure out in 4 broad categories, what you should (in order of interest):
1. Pursue
2. Explore
3. Develop
4. Avoid
I took this test back at Emory some 10 odd years ago at the Career Center when I graduated and I saved the folder. Pulling it out recently and looking it over, I felt very satisfied and excited to see the progress I had made and was surprised by how accurate those results were.
You could probably take this test for free at a career center at your school or university if it is available or buy it online.
In addition, to helping you focus your interests (creative, mechanical, administrative, vocational, etc.), you will also be able to clearly define some things that are important for your sense of happiness, success, and well-being.
For example, here are a few things I learned about myself 10 years ago and am very happy to know that I am pursuing now. Reading it again helps me remember what it is important to me:
- Creativity
- Innovation
- Loose Structure
- Variety
- Security
- Stable Income
- Ability to Work from Home
- Opportunity for Business Travel
- Challenge
- Independence and Autonomy
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Aug 04
2009
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In speaking with a good friend a couple of weeks ago, I realized that what I could see so vibrantly in her were the same qualities that are present in any individual of great talent and aspiration.
What are these qualities?
They are hunger, determination, a willingness to work hard, motivation, and a creative spark within that individual.
Finding one's own path is an exciting time. In fact, it is the path that every artist must embark upon if they want to truly express themselves and to connect with an audience.
Independence in mind and action is necessary to develop the strength in oneself to express originality.
I have found in my own experience, that by expressing myself and finding my own path, I have come to a greater understanding and appreciation of other people, and a peace within.
It is a journey that one should embark upon with the utmost humility and openness. You will be surprised by the sheer beauty and richness of experience that you will have when you come from that mindset.
Your life is an adventure. Enjoy it!!
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Jul 30
2009
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Here are some sample business plans and templates you can use whether you intend to work at home, be a freelancer, self-employed, or start your own small business.
Sample Business Plans
BizPlanIt's Virtual Business Plan
Bplans.com – Sample Business Plans
www.bplans.com/Sample_Business_Plans/all_plans.cfm
Hill Reference Library - Business Plans: Guides and Samples
FREE: 877.700.4455 | EMAIL: info@jjhill.org | www.jjhill.org
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Business Plans and Profiles Index
www.clpgh.org/research/business/bplansindex.html
SCORE Business Templates
www.score.org/template_gallery.html
BizStats.com
