If money wasn’t an issue… what would you do for fun?
When I was going through a difficult time in 2004, after just being laid off yet again… I met the most wonderful person that really helped me during that difficult time. Her name is Tama J. Kieves and she wrote this fantastic book called- This Time I Dance! Creating The Work You Love… (which was just published in a new edition.) A friend I met at an unemployment seminar mentioned Tama to me and asked if I wanted to tag along to a seminar she was giving.
It was the best thing I could have done at that time for myself. Tama is such a dynamic speaker and her story is so inspirational of how she was a Harvard Lawyer and left her corporate job to discover her creative self and develop the livelihood that stirred her soul and paid the bills. I remember sitting in my chair and taking lots of notes and really paying attention to writing down the answers to her fabulous questions like- “If money wasn’t an issue- write down all the things I’d do for fun and that inspired me.”I’ve done this exercise a few more times since then, and it’s a wonderful thing to do. If you haven’t tried this yet, I’d encourage you to do it. It’s a bit different from the question- “If you had all the money in the world, what would you do with it?” Her question got to a deeper meaning within because I was able to write about what brings me joy and fun and entertainment and the list for me was long! And through that I was really able to focus on what my gifts are and I what my ultimate passion was that would fuel me in my new found career outside of corporate America.
Here’s a photo of Tama and me from last month when I attended her seminar in Montclair, New Jersey.
I realized I have many many interests and passions. So, my work was trying to simply narrow them down so I could get started and do something! Hence I ended up starting my Marketing Implementer business and in turn have helped many new and current business owners and entrepreneurs not only turn their businesses around, but see how they can use their passion in their business and also focus on areas they can reinvent themselves and create more income. Then, of course, I’m also going down some other paths, contributing to a book that will be published in June and writing a chapter in another book that will be coming out in the fall. And I’m also focusing more efforts on my photography business and on coaching women in transition business. I told you I had a lot of passions!
I hope you can glean from these musings a little inspiration to pay attention and focus on what you love to do. It’s not too late to take your hobby and transition it into a business. “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” This is another one of my favorite quotes. Take a pen out now or open up a Word document and start typing the answer. If I can do it- I know you can too! Let me know what’s working for you or if you need any help- I’m here!
P.S. It’s been 23 days since my operation, and I just got the ok to wear this really stylish (not!) orthopedic sandal now. So no more boots, and in another week I can wear shoes again- yeah! I feel back to myself now and promise to get back to my weekly posts.