I know that many of you dream about running your own business.

You may already have a business that you love, but you want to take it to new places.   Or you have an exciting business idea that you haven’t started yet.  Or you think it would be really awesome to make money doing something that you truly love, you just aren’t quite what you want to do.

So, let’s talk business for a minute…

And, to be clear, I’m in no way interested in just any old business.    The only thing I’m willing to discuss is how I can help you create and succeed with a VISIONARY business.

A business that inspires you and fills you up.  That challenges you and excites you and gives you insane levels of joy and satisfaction.

Also, a business that matters, that makes a difference, that helps people in some way.  Whether that business help comes in the form of guiding people to a healthier life or simply gives them a much needed does of beauty.

I truly believe that every single one of us has something magnificent to offer the world. 

Every single one of us has something to share.

You really can create an awesomely successful business doing exactly what you love!

And, if you already have a business, you can bring it more in alignment with your big dreams.  You can transform your business into the vehicle that brings you every single thing that you wish for in life.

Here’s my definition of a Visionary Business:

A business that makes an impact, is inspiring and benefits everyone who comes in contact with it:  the business owner, her family, those wonderful clients/customers, and all the other lucky people that interact with the business in some way.

So..   Do you have a business that wants to be visionary?  Do you have an idea for something new, that inspires you?  Do you dream about running your own something, but not quite sure what you want to do?

Would you like to dive into this further, creating your own visionary business that supports you and your family, that fuels your creativity and ignites your passion?  Do you feel like its time to breath some new life into your current business?

Then, please join me for a free teleclass next Friday (Feb 2nd).

In this free class, I will walk you, step by step, through a process of creating your own visionary business game plan.

You will complete the class with:

1.  A clear vision of what you want your business to look like.

2.  Specific goals/outcomes for your visionary business.

3.  Steps you can take, right now, to get started.

4.  A real experience of the difference you make and how your business can contribute to your life and the lives of many, many people. All while giving you a way to do something that you love and that makes money!  Win-Win-Win! 

I hope you can join me!

Class Details:

“Create Your Own Visionary Business”
Date:  Friday, February 3rd
Time:  12 noon EST (one hour)

Just enter your name and email below to register for this FREE teleclass:

As always, the call will be recorded and sent to all registered participants.

Your voice is that message inside that has something important to say. 

It’s the part of you that wants to make a difference and needs to celebrate all that matters.

It’s also the part of you that can’t look away and ignore the junk of life.  That stuff that doesn’t feel right, the lies that go against what you know in your heart to be true.

Your voice is all about love, beauty, truth, inspiration, courage, joy, and passion.  It wants nothing to do with hiding, telling lies, silence, and cruelty.

On behalf of Your Voice (because we’ve been chatting), here are some things she wants you to know:

1.  It’s okay to be afraid.
Who knows what will happen when you share your truth?  How will people react?  You can’t know that.  That’s okay.  Let the fear be there as an indicator that what you’ve got to say matters.  It’s important.  The fear is there because you care.

2.  Speak out more often.
About all the stuff you don’t talk about often enough.  Your dreams, what inspires you, the difference you want to make.   Share your heart, your passion, your fears.  Talk about the stuff that makes no sense and the stuff that makes you angry.  Fight for what’s right by opening your mouth.  And do it often.

3.  Pay attention.
Every time you knock yourself down with words, you cheat the world of who you really are.  You are not all that nasty garbage you tell yourself.  You aren’t.  So stop giving voice to that stuff.  Instead, speak about who you really are, what you care about, what you dream about.  Tell us what you love about your life and what you love about yourself.  The world likes to be reminded of how special you are.

4.  Ask for what you want.
People aren’t mind readers.  I know you know that, but it’s so easy to forget.  If you want something you aren’t getting, ask for it.  Having to do so doesn’t mean you aren’t loved, by the way.  Stop punishing the people around you because they don’t read your mind, automatically giving you what you want.  People just don’t know.  You have to ask.

5.  Fight to be heard.
Sometimes that means pushing your way to the front of the line to guarantee you get a turn.  Sometimes that means fighting with your own fear.  Those holding back habits will die hard.  At the beginning, it might be difficult.  There will be times when you’ll have to fight to get what you have to say OUT.  But, it’s a battle worth fighting.

6.  You can’t mess this up.
Sharing what you love, what inspires you, your passions is a beautiful thing.  Speaking your own truth is glorious.   Standing for good and honor and respect is heroic.  You might fumble the words, or not say it quite like you imagined.   That’s okay.  The very act of speaking is so awesome, people will forgive.  You might offend or push someone away or make someone angry.  Yup, that might happen, but withholding is a far greater expense.  Tiny deaths happen inside of ourselves every time we don’t speak our truth.  So, the only way to mess up is by keeping silent.

Truth telling and giving voice to all that matters is not an easy thing.  It takes practice and courage and a willingness to rock the boat.  But, there is nothing more powerful, nothing more inspiring, nothing more awesome than living life being 100% who you are, with no holding back.

With the new year underway, I’m sure that many of you have set goals for yourself of things you want to do, experience and accomplish during 2012.

And with that, often comes the dreaded “but will I actually do those things?”

I know that I can get super duper excited about something new , but I can also start to feel anxious, wonder if “this time” I’m really going to follow through.

Doubt and worry can creep in mighty fast, leaving me with the urge to scale down my goals, or WORSE!  -> abandon them all together.

Yeah, I admit it.  I do that.

When it comes time to perform, to take action and get started, the fear of failure, or the not not knowing where to begin can leave me walking away from whatever it was that was inspiring me.

Does this happen to you?

Or maybe you do get started, you do take some action, but the results don’t come right away, so you give up.

Or you have some days of being lazy and neglecting the stuff you said you’d do, so you tell yourself “it’s okay, I’m not sure that’s what I really wanted to do anyway.”

Or… you fill in the blank.

All of that is a problem of action.

Or, more accurately, a problem of NO ACTION.

And that can make us feel crummy.

So, then we start working on feeling better.  “Being okay.”  Accepting where we are at – right now.  Being at peace with how things are.  etc.

Except the thing is that we aren’t okay with the way things are.

We want to make stuff happen.

We want results.

We want to achieve great things that inspire us and leave us feeling life we are, in fact, living life the way we want to be living it.

So, how do we overcome the “no action” problem?

Here are the things that work for me, that make a difference and that help me to get up off my butt and do stuff that matters:

1.  Know that you will likely fail.

It’s true.  You will.  Anything worth doing, that’s big and inspiring and courageous.. well.. life will throw up road blocks.

You will get stuck.  Things won’t go to plan.  It’s just what happens.

Don’t be afraid to fail, because you probably will.  Jump on in and get started anyway.  And when you do fail, learn from it and keep going.

2.  Know what there is to do.

What’s the time frame for accomplishing your goals?  How are you going to get things done?  What are the steps along the way that need to happen to get you to the final outcome?

You have to have a plan. 

It doesn’t need to be super detailed and specific unless that helps you.  But, it does have to be clear.

Break down the big picture into bite sized chunks so you know what there is next to do.

Will the plan unfold exacty as you said it would?  Probably not.  (see #1).  But having a path to venture down will lead you toward your goals much more effectively than just wandering aimlessly.

3.  Know when you’re going to work.  (and then work)

If your dream is to write a novel, do you have time each week to work?

Whatever it is you want to make happen requires that you work on it.

Make sure you have time set aside to do that.  Create a schedule for yourself and then stick with it.

Yes, sure, sometimes the kids will get sick or there will be a bonifide emergency that you’ll have to take a “sick day” for.  But otherwise, give yourself specific times to work and then show up for work during those times.

4.  Keep moving forward.

Baby steps.  A little goes a long way.  You don’t have to get to the end over night. 

BUT!  When you keep moving forward, even just doing a small chunk, it keeps you in the game.

If you are overwhelmed and can’t see how you will ever make time to start something new, just do one small thing.

And then another, and then another.  Keep moving forward.  All those small chunks add up over time. 

5.  Be flexible.

The universe works in mysterious ways.   What you initially set out to do may not be what you end up with. 

If you are really clear on your why, your vision, the Big Picture and you keep working on manifesting that in the world, new opportunities and paths will likely open up.  Don’t close yourself up to those.

You may start out wanting to learn photography and end up a world famous painter.   You never know.

Don’t get stuck thinking that what’s going to inspire you and make you happy is the only thing.

6.  Start today.

Life is here, happening right now. 

If you want to start your own business, start it today.  Sure you might not be 100% successful and able to live off that business right away, but it’s never going to happen if you don’t begin.

So stop waiting.  Jump on in and go for it.  See what happens.  You might surprise yourself.

7.  Be unreasonable.

Don’t give yourself excuses.  Push yourself.

I know that it’s hard to do, but the more you push, the more you challenge, the more you let go of all your reasons why today is not the day, the easier it gets to do that over and over again.

Practice this and it will become a habit.

8.  Get away from distractions.

If you can’t write your grand novel while the kids are climbing all over you, escape to a coffee shop for a few hours.

If the dishes keep calling your name, go lock yourself in the guestroom.

If you find your attention being pulled to other stuff, find a way to get away from the temptation so you can get your work done.

I often leave my house to work on stuff.  I camp out in my favorite coffee shop, put on my headphones and tackle whatever it is that needs to be done for the day.  I can get so much more work done this way.  It works for me.

Find your “safe space” with the fewest distractions and go there.

9.  Be organized with your workstuffs.

If you are a painter and it takes you an hour to set up before you can get started, you’re not going to be motivated to get going.

Have your supplies/materials at the ready. 

Keep your work plans easy to get to, so when you sit down to work, you can get started right away – knowing your doing the right stuff.

I cannot stress this enough:  if your work is not sitting there ready for you to dive in, it will be so much harder to get started.  But, if your workstuff is ready to go, then you can get in the groove quick and easy.

10.  Have a clear vision.

What are you stressing about all this productivity stuff for anyway?

To make some money?  Buggers to that!  That is not a sufficient reason for working your butt off.

To feel better about yourself?  Yeah, that won’t motivate you to keep going.

Know WHY you are doing what you do. 

Have a reason that inspires you, that leaves you saying YES to life, that wakes you up and gives you purpose.

Having that kind of vision behind your goals and dreams will motivate you so much more than trying to fix or change something in your life.

11.  Be grateful.

Celebrate your life, your accomplishments and who you are. 

Do it often.

And by often, I mean many times throughout the day.  The more you can stop and say yes to all that is working in your life, the more motivated you will be to work on the stuff that matters.

Gratitude keeps us in the presence of our own awesomeness and that’s a key ingredient to making big stuff happen.

12.  Finish one small thing.

I find that when I’m crazy not in the mood to get to work on something, whether it’s cleaning the house, doing my schoolwork, working on my business or cooking dinner…  if I can complete one small thing, it gets the ball rolling. 

Then I do another small thing, and another,  and before you know it, I’m in full on getting stuff done mode.

Finishing something, no matter how small, feels good and makes us want to finish more.

So if the big stuff feels way too big, start with one small thing.

13.  Give up trying to be perfect.

Because none of us are.

Well, we are perfectly US!  But we don’t usually give ourselves credit for that.

Instead of trying to be this perfect version of yourself that exists only in the fantasies of your own mind, why not just be you?

And, I’m all for working toward being the best you possible.  But the bar for that will always be raised.  You won’t ever “arrive” and be perfect.

Focus on working hard, trying your best, giving it your all. 

In the end, that’s all any of us can do.

14.  Work on your dreams inside of a community.

Get support, community, cheerleaders, people that encourage you.

Have people who want to see you succeed around you. 

Talk to them about your ideas.  Share your vision.  Let them lift you up when you get stuck or don’t feel like it anymore.  Even better?  Have a group of people that will not only support and encourage you, but will hold you to account and keep you focused.

15.  Don’t give up

Every moment is a choice.  Every day is a chance to make something awesome happen.

Your dreams are right here, waiting for you to start working on them.

You always have a choice about whether or not you are going to get started on your dreams, or if you are going to give them up.

Your dreams matter!  You making them happen is MAGNIFICENT!!  Don’t give up.

Happy New Year!!

It’s here, isn’t it?  Already just about a week into a brand new year.

Are you still plotting and planning, thinking about your plans for 2012?

If so, be sure to grab yourself a FREE New Year Strategy Session with me to look at exactly what you want to accomplish and HOW you’re going to go about making your big ideas happen this year.

Also.. last year, I did a whole big, long series about Intentions.. how to create them, how to keep them, and how to use them to empower you to make stuff happen in your life.  You can check out that series here. 

So, what do you want 2012 to be about?

This is the thing that I’m going to be working on in this new year  (and I’m going to be super focused on training and working with anyone who also wants this in her life)… it’s this:

Living a Visionary Life

And here’s what I mean by that…

You know those moments when all is clear.. anything is possible.. you know that you can BE anyone you want.. you can ACCOMPLISH anything you desire, you can love with all your heart and zero fear, courage comes easy, and in that moment you are 100% satisfied, ridiculously happy and without question fulfilled?  I call those magic moments.

In those magic moments, your VISION for life is also very, very clear.  The essence, or flavor, of what truly inspires you is right there, present and filling you up.

It’s giving you life.

When you can take that vision and infuse it into all areas of your life:  your parenting, your work, your home, your friendships, your art, and everything else that you do (even folding the laundry).  When your vision is the backbone of your entire life.. that is Visionary Living.

When you live this way it makes an impact. 

It effects everything and everyone you come into contact with.  The world becomes a better place because YOUR vision is out there making a difference.

So that’s what I’m focusing on this year..  Living MY life in a visionary way and helping as many moms as I can to also live Visionary Lives.

Because, can you imagine that?

Us moms totally inspired, in contact with our own magnificent inspirations and living in a way that has our biggest, boldest visions fully out there, alive in the world?

Imagine the impact of that on our kiddos?   And who they will become because of us livng true to what we believe and invision for the world? (yeah, awesome, huh?)

Ok, I know I am doing some grandiose thinking here.. but really.. why not?

Why not live life to make an impact?

Why not be connected to that powerfully aliveness?

Why not spread joy and happiness and fulfillment with everything we do?

Why freakin not?

I think I’ll grab that as my mantra for the year.. WHY FREAKIN’ NOT??

I love you guys!

Thanks for being here and spreading the magic of Visionary Living with me.    So excited to see what impact each and every one of you make in the world throughout this sparkly brand new year.

xo, Lisa

A Free Resource just for you!

It is that time of the year.. we are busy, busy, busy with family, the end of 2011 is here, and many of us are looking out into the future, thinking about what we want to make happen in the new year.

So, I thought I would put together a little free resource for you to help you complete the year in a powerful way, allowing for a clean slate to create the new year.

In the video below, I talk about completion and why it’s so important to take some time to let things go ~ the yucky stuff AND the awesome stuff.

Here’s the Completing 2011 Worksheet:

Click here to download this free resource

Also, be sure to grab yourself a copy of the Make A Plan Workshop to start creating what you want to make happen in 2012. From now until the end of the year, this DIY workshop is available for whatever you can pay.  Click here for more info.

And… a brand new Visionary Mom Team is staring in January. I haven’t coached a team since July and I’m not sure when the next one will start. So, if you are looking for an affordable way to work with me, get some support, make your dreams happen, and connect with other Visionary Moms, check out the teams. They are really awesome.   (and:  if you register before the end of the year, I’m throwing in a free one-on-one pow wow session with me.. woot!)

Happy Winter Solstice, everyone!!!
xo, Lisa

Have you started to think about 2012 and what you want to make happen in the new year?

I know I have and that means it’s time to start PLANNING!

And since I want to support you in making your awesome stuff happen, I am offering you the super magnificent Make A Plan DIY e-course for anything you are willing to pay.

Yup, that’s right! Have a dollar and that’s it? Then pay me $1.

I am not joking about this.

Pay whatever you can afford or feel the course would be worth to you. And it’s a deal.

I know that the way I teach you to plan in this course really works. It helps you get your ideas out of your head, scheduled and makes sure you are set up to succeed, making your big dreams happen.

So, I want to give anyone access to the course. Please don’t let money or fear, or whatever get in the way of you making your dreams come true.

Your life is now. You can make anything you want happen.

Anything. You just have to claim it and begin.

The Make A Plan Course will help you do that.

Your dreams are waiting for you.

Go here to get the Make A Plan course for whatever you can afford.  And, I’m not crazy, so this offer will only be available for a brief time.  So don’t wait.

Let’s, together, create miracles in 2012!!!

xo, Lisa

The month of December is CRAZY !!!

I see it in people’s facebook updates and spending time with friends.  There is so much to do right now and the wonkers is starting to kick in.

There are people to see, there is joy to spread, and little people to make happy.   We have our attention on cultivation memories and making this time of year special.

But, there is a ton of stuff to do. Which can leave even the best of us frazzled and worn out.

It is times like this that I think it’s super, duper important to take care of ourselves.  I know I don’t want to get wiped out, do you?

Heck no!

So my thought is that each and every one of us needs to take some time this December to do at least one thing that is totally, 100% just for us.

What fills up your giving batteries?

What would have you stop and just reconnect?

What would inspire you and motivate you to live life a little fuller?

What are you craving more of that you could give to yourself?

What would just be ridiculously FUN?

one thing i love: a pile of prints i've created in the darkroom.

I challenge and encourage you to take a little time during this month to do something that is entirely YOURS!

Sooooo? What are you going to do?

Did you know that passion alone won’t carry the day?

my daughter, creating her own dreams...

Yes, passion is important.  It’s vital to living a truly joyous life that is fulfilling and makes an impact.

But, you need a heck of lot more than just passion to live a life worth living.

There are other things that are just as important.   And when they join forces with that glorious passion spark, then WATCH OUT!  Very little will stop you from making those big, juicy, inspiring dreams of yours happen!

This list is not the be all, end all. 

The top 5 things you need to truly thrive in life:

1.  Passion.

Yes, for sure.  Passion is the light that makes everything seem possible. It is the love, the joy, the thrill.   It’s why you are working on what you’re working on in the first place.

2.  A Clear Vision

I am crazy inspired by creativity.  But, that alone will not make anything really fabulous happen in my life.  What do I want to do with creativity?  Do I want to make things?  Write?  How do I want to express myself?  Do I want to help others find their creativity?  What is it about this whole business of being creative that inspires me?  What do I want to make happen in the world with this passion of mine?  In what ways can I tap into and live my life being creative?

These are important questions to ask and answer.  How are you going to manifest your passion? What is the vision of how to best bring more of your passion into your life and the world?

Get specific here!  For me, I’ve decided I’m going to be an art teacher.  I changed my major in school to make this happen.  I have a clear vision of how I want to inspire teenagers to express themselves through art.    Along the way, I’m also going to make lots of art and engage with the creative community where I live.  But, I have a goal, a specific vision of what I want to make happen in the world.

3.  A Plan

Just winging it usually doesn’t work.  Yes, sometimes we get lucky.  Or our passion is so big, we can’t help but to work on making our dream a reality.  But, more often than not, the day to day grind of just living will, the urgent pressing needs of our everyday lives, will get in the way and wear us out.  Leaving little room, energy and motivation for the yummy stuff that feeds our soul.

It’s such a funny thing, but we are all guilty of it!

We all know that when we are inspired and engaged with life in a passionate way, we feel better, are better mamas and are way more fulfilled and happy.  And yet, we put that stuff off until later.

You have to plan for your dreams.  You have to carve out room in your busy life to work on them, or they may not happen! I have a plan for getting my teaching credentials, I know where I’m going to finish off my schooling, how long it’s going to take and what I need to do.  I am registered for classes and am actively working on that plan.

My dream is coming to fruition because I have a plan.  Without that plan, all I would have is the idea.

Knowing what you want to manifest in the world and how you’re going to do that breeds a far greater chance that you will actually succeed!

4.  Integrity

Being passionate about something, knowing specifically what you want to make happen, and mapping out a plan for how to get there will make exactly nothing happen  if you don’t take action.   If you don’t do the things that are necessary to bring about whatever it is you want to create in your life, then your big ideas probably won’t happen.

If I totally slack off in school, don’t do my assignments, don’t engage in my learning and participate with a full heart, then I’m not going to end up teaching.    Period.

You have to do the work.

If you say you are going to spend time in your studio painting, you have to do it if you want to be a painter.

And here’s the rub about integrity:
Every time you don’t do something that you set out to do, it clouds your vision, it warps your passion and it leaves you doubting yourself.  Which can so quickly send you down the “I suck, what’s wrong with me, my life is hard” path.

The more you take action on your dreams, the more happy and fulfilled you are.  The more you blow off stuff and avoid taking action, the more like poo you feel.

So, yeah, integrity is a seriously important component.

5.  Support

All of the above, you can for sure manage and do on your own.  But, it is so much easier and so much more effective when you don’t go it alone.

Having people around you who support your dreams, encourage you to take action, push you to go for it.  This makes such a ginormous difference.

When my people have my back, they don’t buy into my self doubt.  They lift me up when I feel like I can’t go on.  They cheer on my accomplishments.  They say yes to all my lofty ideas.  They get me and that gives me courage.

—

When you put these 5 things together.. so much more becomes possible.

You really can make any dream, ANY DREAM,  you want come true.

Spreading Joy. I think that’s important, don’t you?

my kiddos playing football on thanksgiving - JOY!

Really, can there ever be too much joy in the world?

Well, here is a really easy, super simple way to spread some joy around. And, I think because this is such a busy, crazy, often stressful time of the year, all the people that you do this with will be even more impacted.

It’s super simple.

You ready?

All there is to do just listen.

Don’t you love it when you get a chance to talk about your life, your dreams, your experiences? When someone is genuinely interested in YOU.. doesn’t that make you feel great?  Important?  Loved?  Cared about?  When someone really pays attention to you, doesn’t it help you get present to your own life, to your journey and to where you want to go?

Here’s what you do:

When you’re with someone.. a friend, a co-worker, another parent. You stop and get present to them. Without saying a word, shift your attention to them. Who is this person?  Open your heart up to them and give them permission to totally be themselves.

Doing just that will be amazing.  Trust me, try it.

But then, you can ask a question if you want. “How was Thanksgiving?” “What do you wish for this Christmas?” “What was your favorite thing as a kid?” “What do you want to accomplish by the end of the year?”

And then listen. Listen for their dreams, for what they love. Listen for who they really are (not all the stressed out, going through the motions junk).

Listen for their spark.

Give them some space to just share. To talk about themselves and to feel like what they have to say matters. Make them feel important by paying attention.

Easy enough, yes?

I’d love to hear what happens when you try this.  Drop me note, or leave a comment.  Lets you and me, together, spread some joy in the world!

I have been super duper focused on this idea of “self care” ~ and taking care of the mama.

My thoughts about taking care of ourselves have way less to do with traditional being healthy stuff, and way more to do with doing what you love.

I find that the more I focus on ME, what makes me happy, what do I want to contribute, what inspires me.. what’s FUN?  The more my life is juicy and yummy and rich.

Which then has me feeling AWESOME!!!

I think, as mamas, we focus so much on self care (or the LACK of it) because we want to feel good.  So we try to eat the right foods and get to bed at a decent hour.  But, do you ever notice how you can do all the “right stuff” and still feel blah?

My cure for that?

Do what you love.

Pure and simple.  The more your life is filled with fantastic stuff that totally makes you happy, the better you will feel.

I know this for a fact!

Vitality, feeling healthy, having energy, being happy….  that’s a function of engaging with life…  diving in and soaking it up.

In this video, I’m talking more about this idea by sharing a little about what ENGAGING in life is looking like for me these days.  I hope it inspires you to do less of the trying to get it right stuff and more of the having fun and seeking your own bliss stuff.

(if you are reading this via email, click here to watch the video).

So, what can you do, right now, this very instant to be more engaged?  To really go for it.  To live boldly and to seek the joy in everything you do?