Remabulous

keri smith in conversation with cecil vortex

i am a big fan of keri smith- how she approaches challenge, creativity, and life in general. i think i probably seem like some kind of crazy stalker as much of my reading list gets pulled from her wonderful site, wish jar.

i couldn't resist sharing some additional great reading: an interview she recently did on the creative process with cecil vortex, and one that i think will fuel a lot of artists or anyone seeking to live a mindful life, should they take the time to read it.

while you're there- note that there are a lot of other great interviews on the site in the sidebar, with many other artists in conversation. not a bad place to hang out for a while.

inner resources

in working with clients, i often see themes popping up when people think about the challenges of working for oneself. one that has come up most often as i listen to people talk about their hopes and fears for their career is this: the difference between a  security type and an authority type.

knowing which one you are is essential in order to move forward in a way that is effective.

deep thoughts from dilbert

i got this quotation from zaadz/gaia this morning, as i do several times a week and just loved it:

  One day, about ten years ago, I was alone in my office, sitting on the couch and reflecting on the fact that I had managed to become rich and famous in my dream job. For the first time in my life, I had no goals. And for a goal-oriented guy, that’s an empty feeling. Success was supposed to feel good and stay that way. But it tricked me. There was a huge hole in my soul. I sat in my office and sobbed.

 

Then the change happened. It wasn’t something I thought about. It wasn’t an indication that I am a good person or a bad person. It was just some sort of chemical reaction in my moist robot head. It was natural.

 

I turned outward.

 

And in so doing, bit by bit, I found meaning. I found ways to use my success to make the world a little bit better. It’s surprising how often the opportunity comes up. It ranges from personal favors to investment decisions to my choices to continue making a comic and a blog post for you every day.

the thought of there being somewhere meaningful to go after having hit the disillusionment of success is so lovely. and the idea that service is often the last frontier we consider is one that i think needs to change. asking myself how i can help someone else with my project or idea is often the most clarifying question i can ask, as well as the one that pushes me past fear and resistance. perhaps this question is one we should be asking ourselves sooner.

"nice work if you can get it" on npr

today, driving back from a lovely day of exploring the canals in venice, a friend staying with me from out of town and i caught the tail end of an apropos episode of "this american life." it featured people who had somehow gotten what we think would be dream jobs, but with a catch. excellent listening. enjoy hearing about television acting, the lottery business, and what it means to go to college if you are an illegal us resident. perhaps a good inspiration to be grateful for the work we have, or reason to change it, if these are obstacles we don't have to worry about facing.

coaching those who work from home

the fabulous kristen havens pointed out to me in a message today that coaching work might benefit those of us who live and work in the same place: home. being in that category along with her, i have learned what it is like to be in this unique position and what it takes to feel -and actually be- productive.

the top five things i think can be compromised while working at home are as follows:

• clarity: when am i working, when am i not? what tasks are considered work and what do i have to stop doing at the end of my "workday"?
• separation: a subset of clarity, but it is really hard to relax and sleep well in a bedroom that is also your office. ditto for romantic dinners at home with your partner when your workload is hovering in your line of gazing into each others' eyes. or trying to, that is.
• a clear conscience: when i worked in an office, i never felt bad about relaxing at home. now that i work there, i feel bad returning calls to friends, taking a nap, anything that makes me feel that i am not putting in a "real" work day. it is a big deal to use coaching to define what your best workday looks like.
• avoiding stir-craziness: it is really important to get out of the house. most people have daydreams about being able to stay home and work in pjs, but once you actually have, it becomes clear that socializing with others and seeing scenery other than your hallway is really important. this should be part of your work plan also.
• motivation: for those who get lulled into a half doze by being at home, the problem is the opposite: instead of having trouble turning themselves off at the end of a reasonable period of work, some people have trouble getting started and can putter all day. a ritual that clearly says to your brain, "ok- it's work time now," can be just the ticket.

to learn more, set up a free 30 min consult with me. every client is different, and it is important to respect the culture that is you as a plan and method of support is laid out.

great workshop in the los angeles area!

hello all... i wanted to pass along this information about a workshop in l.a. with the wonderful and amazing artist christine mason miller. below, see her flyer about the class! for more information, write to christine.

Greetings Creative Beauties...I wanted to let you know I have officially added an afternoon Creative Journaling Workshop Series beginning Thursday, April 3, 2008.

Week One :: I Leap :: Thursday, April 3, 2008
 Our first evening together will be all about play. We'll start off with a review of basic collage techniques and then move right into the good stuff - letting your creativity run wild.
Week Two :: I Am :: Thursday, April 10, 2008
 This workshop is for you to explore who you are, your values and priorities and your wildest creative dreams.
Week Three :: I Can :: Thursday, April 17, 2008
 A follow up to I Am, this week is about tapping into what makes you feel brave, strong and yes, creative.
Week Four :: I Will :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
 We'll wrap things up by tying everything together and using what you've learned to bring your creative dreams to life.

All materials will be supplied. If you prefer to work in your own journal, feel free to bring it, as well as any other photographs, papers, etc. that you would like to create with.

All workshops will be held 1:00 - 4:00pm at Peach Tree Studios: 3795 Boise Avenue, Mar Vista, CA 90066

i love daylight savings

usually, i don't notice much of a shift from an extra hour of daylight at this time of year. the sacrifice of that extra sunday morning hour seems a high price to pay when the really long days are still weeks or months off. but this year, i feel it immediately. out knitting in west hollywood yesterday, i could have hung out with the group for ages longer than we did, and was so happy to drive home in daylight.

thinking about longer days gives me the illusion of more time, and the mental space to think about filling it with fun new ideas. in my newsletter today, i wrote about an idea i like and will try along with my readers for the next week: save a little treat for the end of the day. give yourself some time to work on a new idea or project right before you plan to finish up your working day. send a risky e-mail inviting a potential mentor for lunch; read that article you've been putting off; finally hem that skirt that's been in the works for months (that last one being my own personal goal). then... finish work while it's still light out and take a little time outside to enjoy it. go for a walk, or just see how the view around your home or office is changing.

it's amazing how a little change like this is enough to get momentum going. i plan to make big leaps this year... now is as good a time as any to begin. look for a shot of me in the completed skirt very soon...

flow

there are many places to get stuck on this independent journey we entrepreneurs find ourselves on. mine seems to be staying with the flow. a great session with a mentor and teacher of mine this morning reminded me of the importance of being open to how things flow in... and out.

springtime plans

just returned from a lovely weekend holiday away in stinson beach, north of san francisco. being the sort who gets a lot out of time away, even just recently having returned from my european adventure, i am now humming with ideas i want to move forward on.

priority number one: there needs to be a lot more boggle being played.

image: caroline donahue for remabulous.

adventure!

i have been off on adventures lately. the current one being a trip to stinson beach for the weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday. another being trying to type this post on michael's computer, which has a differently responsive keyboard than mine...

have been enjoying a smorgasboard of magazines laying about on the coffee table while coloring a large rainforest themed poster- a tradition for this weekend- and came across an article in this month's bust magazine about a woman, michelle dobrovolny, who biked from manitoba to texas in 58 days. she faced a lot of questions about whether or not she was afraid to travel alone and camp, to the extent that one stranger asked her to e-mail regularly to be sure she was ok. this made me think about the idea of being lost or away from the expected, a theme that has been prominent with me recently.