Blog – Page 5

Reinvention Weekend 2015

Basics Matter, Focusing Success, Notes for the Journey with Sweetie Berry

Have you ever wanted to step away from your business life and find refreshment, community and new awareness of your perspectives? Melinda Emerson, the Smallbizlady, has created such a place for small business entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and experienced folks in business. Melinda, who faced a reinvention of herself after her world as a television producer and later her own production company came to a different space during a high risk pregnancy, brings the proposition “What do you need to learn to reinvent your life to one that engages your definition of personal success?” The question brings depth to the premise of the topic. “What is success to each one of us”

A field of branding, social media, and small business experts, a room of engaged hearts and minds, magic began in the opening dialogue by Melinda. MC Trevor Otts has a way of bringing energy to a space and an encouraging presence to own your space as he engaged the audience to share their stories and ask their questions. It’s always going to be a worthwhile experience when you bring in current specialist who function at expert level in many realms to a place of sharing their perspective on beginning strong. The shared stories of their own mistakes, lessons, and focus created the esprit de corp that energizes one to risk becoming and the energy of the room continued to buzz. As we all know, but often seem to forget, our perceptions of our options in life greatly affect our opportunities to engage what is before us.

Reinvention Weekend has a quality of community that folks gathered from all over the country uniquely bring to a conversation. The focus was becoming, in some cases beginning or beginning again. The expectation was engagement and the climate one that allowed for owning your strengths and sharing your mistakes. Authenticity is a beautiful thing in a room of emerging professionals and the engagement was high. Ms Emerson is a powerful moderator and her personal energy is engaging, encouraging and educational. She is indeed working to end small business failure by bringing her A game and her A team to entrepreners who are willing to grab the golden ring for experience.

My experience from the inside and the outside of #ReinventionWeekend was one of panel member, breakout leader as well as an internal perspective as a strategist for Ms Emerson’s works. It was a rare opportunity to see and experience the harvest of Ms Emerson’s personal and professional work and to see just how facilitative her efforts to support small business owners success, and it.was.good. The weekend flew by, the energy consistently high, and much wisdom and sage practices were shared. My personal takeaways will take a few days still to process. What a privilege to watch this group and I personally can’t wait to be a part of her larger launch as #ReinventionWeekend begins at an ever expanding encounter again next year!

More on the team of experts in the next few weeks!

The Stories We Hear Ourselves Tell

Basics Matter, Focusing Success, Notes for the Journey with Sweetie Berry

This weekend I was in Philadelphia to be a part of #ReinventionWeekend with my friend Melinda Emerson. Melinda, who is known as @SmallBizLady, is a powerhouse of business experience and support systems for entrepreneurs and small business owners. I was privileged to be a part of her panel of experts during the conference. Each of our participants were encouraged to share their stories, to introduce themselves when near a microphone and to engage in learning and sharing with each other.

Stories are powerful. Most of us do not truly realize how powerful what we tell others and the words we tell ourselves are. I heard stories of courage of beginning a businesss after a career was downsized. I heard individuals share how they stepped up to the plate when circumstances beyond their control changed their lives. I heard tale after tale of bravery, of creativity, of steadfast efforts and beyond over the top efforts. Each of the stories shared involved hope deferred, Olympian style effort and ongoing courage. However, often those stories shared came from a perspective of “not enoughness” “imperfection” and “failure”. As the stories were shared, often shoulders hunched, eyes and voices tones were more subdued.

Expert panelist, six experts came to spend two days pouring their experience, their knowledge and their personal support to the individuals. However, it was apparent that the perspective of a few of the attendees was “I’ve got to have help” when the purpose of the program was to engage support, encouragement, education and to do the work to learn new methods of engaging success. You see if we’re so busy telling our story of frustration, of failure, of hopelessness, like the drowning man who fights their rescuer, we may drown when help was directly before us. Each of us make mistakes in business. Each business owner faces unexpected and at times unfair setbacks. Many of the most successful business experts in the room recanted how their first, second, and sometimes fourth business failures helped them to learn what mattered. I often share with my clients that

It’s not just rhetoric. If we are to learn, if we are to be teachable, we have to begin by affirming to ourselves and others we can and that we will choose to learn to be successful. When I stumble, fail or have to postphone success on a goal I often tell myself “I just haven’t learned that yet” sung to the tune of “I just haven’t met her yet.” by Michael Buble’. It takes courage to try, to fail, to get up and try again using what you learned, or seeking knowledge to not repeat the experience. Our stories are important. I know I personally am not the person I was when I failed a goal the first time, the third time or even last week that was important to me in business. However I could have forever talked about the unfairness, the bitterness of the loss, or the anger of having put in so much effort with a less than stellar result. However the story I prefer to tell myself is that in my ignorance and eagerness I had not understood some vital foundational parts of my business and now I am thankful the experience happened early in my entrepreneurial days, so that the loss was recovered and I learned a valuable lesson. I speak more kindly to myself as I share no one I had known had owned a business online, so it was not surprising that I would make ignorant mistakes. We seldom can overcome what we are unaware of in our lives. We rarely move forward if we are consistently looking down or to our past.

This weekend at #ReinventionWeekend I was affirmed in just how important it is to seek community in your business. To listen and to explore other perspectives of the processes of business. To have cohorts who are authentic and honest about their experiences and who share not only the mountaintop experiences, but encourage each other through the hardships. My breakout group was so articulate and caring. The stories shared were quickly reframed to uphold the truth of the individual’s experience: that courage was present, that hardships were over come, that restarting differently was not only brave, but the willingness to seek assistance, conversation and new perspectives a highly respected trait.

What stories are you telling yourself? What parameters do you place on how you frame your story. You see, each time we retell or history we can either affirm failure or amplify that we’re teachable, we’re learning and we are moving forward towards our goals. The remarkable tie that bound all of the presentors was one unique trait…they have all failed in some way, but instead of focusing on their shortcomings, they have focused forward on becoming the learner, learning from their experiences and accepting that the only person who can own their success is themselves.

Reinvention Weekend was in Philadelphia last weekend, it’s an annual event with Melinda Emerson and her amazing team, but more than a weekend, reinvention is a way of life. How can you leverage the lessons of your present and past to create your future. THAT, is truly the story to leverage building your best life. Let’s beginning telling ourselves and others about this day, and build upon our past with possibilities and perspective to go forward.

To find out more about the distinguished panel experts, each offer superb resources for small business owners :

Melinda Emerson Http://howtosucceedasyourownboss.com

Barry Moltz http://barrymoltz.com

Barbara Pender http://youtsocialsage.com

Hajj Flemings http://hajjflemings.com

Sulaiman Rahman http://uppn.com

Misty Young http://MistyYoung.com

and find additional resources from me at http://basicsmatter.com

Happy Everything

Todays Permission with Sweetie

If the rule for having a gathering in my home is I wait until everything is ready, life may never happen. You see we’re renovating a 1955 home on three acres and we’ve decided that the adventure part is living in it as we do it. Never mind that we own another home that is complete, but it made sense in our excitement to simply be where we were working. The excitement of finding #thetackybrownhouse at auction, the dream of downsizing to a simpler life was simply too good to pass up…and I’m not sorry that we gave ourselves permission a few weeks after purchasing her to move in. Of course we had to learn how to deal with a winter without central heat for a few weeks. The reality of a dirt floor in what should have been the washroom presented opportunities to truly know our one station town’s owners for restroom privileges for a few weeks. I re-learned how to cook with the gas grill in winter and that charcoal heated coffee has that special smokey flavor that now has fond memories attached every time we light the barbque.

What are you putting off until you are ready? What experiences are you missing by not being where you are, as you are? This weekend we had friends over for a Happy Everything party. I had dreamed of #thetackybrownhouse hosting gatherings for families. For bands and authors I work with to perform for house concerts. Never mind that the house is 1500 sft and smallish in room size. Never mind that rains come and outdoor plans have to change. My vision for life at 51 was to have a home where people gathered, where fellowship and music came together. Where families could come and have time with other families. Where laughter and mirth were a regular part of the menu. Were we ready? Heavens no. The siding isn’t done, the kitchen cabinets are temporarily shelving units, the 2nd bathroom still in sheetrock, but a gathering we did have. Not even the downpour at the beginning of the evening stopped the plan once in motion.

Have you ever moved into your dreams long before they were ready? You see for me, visual space matters. What I can see in my mind, what I can physically see, allows me to engage the vision and I almost automatically deconstruct it to make it doable in smaller pieces. I can see it as I want it to be, but also I see it as already a possibility that simply needs time or training to engage. I’m that kind of girl. People talk about the power of putting your goals on paper, and creating vision boards for your goals. It’s not just talk in my life, almost every accomplishment I’ve made started by affirming on paper and on a vision board what it is I desired. The challenge though comes when I cannot give myself permission to be, have, or to do whatever it is that comes next. We live by our beliefs, by the rules we run in our head. Now I don’t know about you, but there are days I simply need to rethink the rules I live by. This life of mine was reared to be very orderly in boundaries, but at times I realize my thinking is arbitrary, is limited in its belief boundaries or simply has gotten complacient about what’s familiar instead of the life that would be fascinating and fun to live.

Saturday night we lived one of my dreams for #thetackybrownhouse. Families gathered. Bands played. Food was plentiful and fellowship was fun. Laughter and joy was shared among perfect strangers and friends alike and we all left a little more full of this thing I call the good life. It was a rewriting of the rules in my head. Nester shared years ago that “it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful” and our home exuded that truth. Friends shared in the joy of the work we’ve done to create home on our little property. Strangers didn’t mind that the siding isn’t done, the house in progress. They simply moved the living room and came inside when the rains came.

The music, the candlelight, the fellowship meant more and that’s what mattered. Do you have things that hold you back from trying out your dreams? Living the life you desire? I encourage you to consider what about those dreams are you not allowing yourself? If it’s budget, get creative…the party was simple in decorations from thrift stores….all unnecessary but fun for me to find and connect together! Having Ariellah and the Band MacClelland was simply a vision come true. The night was magic and the fellowship all that I hoped it would be. They are amazing talents from Nashville and I encourage you to see them where ever they play!

The food was simple, but could and will often be in the future a potluck. (did you hear that “often”? That means we’re doing this again and again, for it WAS so much as we dreamed it would be!) Is it the “no one will come”…that happens, folks get busy, others have work, or simply forget the date or directions. We invite, encourage, and send information on how to arrive, but all in all, folks come and when they don’t, they come next time or not at all…but those who do arrive, who gather, are blessed and enjoy the fun.

Having a band in your living room may not be your dream, but the permission to do whatever it is that makes your heart happy. That engages in this very day, the present, cultivating a life you want to live is the point. What makes your heart happy today? What can you be today? How do you live so that you’re vision becomes a little more real….today? If permission is needed here it is! My clients often say they need permission to be who they desire to be…early influences from their childhood, perhaps a difficult youth or adult experiences sometimes limits what we believe is possible.

I encourage folks to consider the permissions in their lives, and engage in giving themselves permission to cultivate their desired days…every day…for this is the day we have! Are you ready? I promise, if it doesn’t turn out the way you thought, you can adjust your vision and try again! After all, when we were little we thought eating candy every day for all meals was the dream, as we mature and experience life we may learn more options and choices!

Are You Waiting for Permission?

Notes for the Journey with Sweetie Berry

As an entrepreneur, wife, mom and stepmom to young adults, life is simply a whirlwind somedays. We are all so inundated with media, 24/7 social choices, and the same things that every one faces… life activities to survive. I don’t know about you but I’m pretty reliable to get the “have to” stuff done. (now laundry has never made that list!) My work is a passion, so that’s never an issue, cooking a joy, so that gets done, strategy calls with clients are scheduled so that happens weekly but there was something missing. My air force trained physican father was a rural town doctor and that translated long hours and hard labors. I do not remember a time off that didn’t involve a medical meeting. My mom an endless public servant and professional counselor. My role models valued work ethics, hard work and discipline. In adulthood I realized that I didn’t give myself much permission to play, to plan to plan, or to take time to just enjoy life.

What permissions might you need to consider in your life? Do you need permission to create a life you love? Each week I share one of the permissions I’m working on myself. Come along and join the journey of creating more time for you in your life!

Grow a life you’ll love living!

The Blessing Week 3

Bible Study, The Gift of the Blessing Bible Study

“The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” Exodus 14:14. Can you imagine fleeing from Egypt? Can you imagine picking up everything you own and running for your life with the Roman soldiers behind you with chariots and you’re on foot? No convenience stores along the way. No Dominoes to pick up food enroute or time to wait for a garden to come to harvest. No money to purchase anything and an unknown future in front of you?

Compared to that scenario, most anything any one of us are facing is light weight stress wouldn’t you say? We have food, doctors, shelter, and support around us on the earth and in heaven. One of the fallouts of not having the blessing from your earthly father is that you do not have the assurance that he took care of you and its harder perhaps to transition that God will take care of you. Can you relate? I know I can. While I had earthly provisions, my heart and head were often not protected and the names my father called me were not beloved nor precious. However God says I am his precious creation and my husband Les laughs and says “that’s one way to put it”…for we both know God had to delight in my creation for I am a hot mess of mixtures of abilities and colorful thinking.

Children who are in a safe, loving, nurturing environment have an easier time believing God is a trustable God. The core of “God cannot lie” is harder for many adults to believe because not one single adult in their house didn’t either lie to them or keep the other adult’s lie. However Christ came to earth, received every temptation to protect himself, to call off the attacks against him, to give in to anger, ugly and revenge when things were going badly (have you ever had that moment where someone whipped Y OU and you just allowed it because it was what you were sent to do?) So when Christ went to the Father to sit at God’s right hand he is not without understanding of angst, of pain, or ugly on the earth.

Personally I am in a period of life that I am looking daily at the promises of God. There are hundreds of them. The very words read out loud to myself during my devotions are empowering to me each day. I write one at the top of my planner each week. I have others on my computer screen. I have a prayer journal each morning that I write at least a couple down that go with whatever I am praying about. God’s word is infalliable. It is infinitely true and those words have transformed my life this summer. Peace for me is a state of believing God’s got me. He’s got this…whatever “this” I am facing.

“..and call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee and thou shall glorify me” Psalms 50:15

Whether your trouble is over working, whether your trouble is facing a diagnosis, whether your trouble is simply the inability to stop patterns of behavior that are not supporting a peace filled life….God is there. Do you know peace?

This week we’ve read about how important it is to give blessings to others. To receive blessings. To reach out and have a meaningful and approriate touch. To lay hands on those we bless. To have a spoken message, to specifically say to others the blessing you have for them. To attach high value and honor others. Not what they’ve DONE but who they ARE…as a child of God…it is enough…we don’t have to accomplish but to take the role of the child of the King and become who we are. To picture a special future for the one we are blessing. Cast visions for them, speak life to them, share expectations for them and assurances God has a life planned for them. and create an active commitment to those you bless. Check in on them, help them find the tools they may need for their gifts, be present in their lives.

Whether you’re raising children, mentoring adults, or growing your community through involvement. Your intentionality about blessing those before you can make such a difference….and by the way…can you consider allowing others to speak blessings over you. Can you allow yourself to hear the good things others want for you? Allow receiving that which others have for you? Align your thinking to the way God thinks about you?

I believe that God indeed has your life in the palm of His hand, and that is a mighty safe place to be if you’ll allow it to be and engage His word, His promises for the path and provision for your life. What are you not at rest about? Have you spoken to God about it? Looked for promises of His provision in that area of your life? I know for me, it is a new walk to expect help in areas I know it is a lack of self discipline, but God promises he’ll give me right desires and even the laundry isn’t looking so bad any more. 🙂

You are loved my friends, I love you!

New Perspective on the Same Life

Focusing Success

Have you ever felt stuck? Have you ever realized later you missed the forest for the tree in front of you? I grew up being very near-sighted, as in coke bottle thick glasses near-sighted. Couldn’t see my glasses if they were not on my face near-sighted. Seven years ago I had a life changing eye injury that limited my ability to focus consistently. This week my opthamologist changed the type and scale of my lenses for daily vision. What a different that perspective has made. I am seeing things in my daily life I haven’t seen in over five years since an accident changed my ability to focus. This week I have new awareness of just how our perspectives can change right where we are…Are you ready to change your world by changing what you see where you are?