A Maker and In Business: The Invocation of Balance.

Someone said the words to me last night: "You have to be a maker too."

At the beginning of things (things being this haphazard and awesome world I call my career/life) I was a MAKER.

I worked with my hands and in my brain, but with that part of my brain that wasn't linear.  I used that part of my brain that was spinning and on fire. That passionate and creative spark. I've still got it.  But it is a bit more buried these days.

You've gotta coax creativity sometimes. (Click to Tweet)

I love business. I love running a business and managing a business and all of those things involving numbers and goals and planning and marketing and making things for business BETTER.  Seriously, ask my clients,

I THRIVE on this shit.  

Need to help clarify your goals? Make a marketing plan?  Get some debt paid off?  Make more money?  I am your woman. Running my businesses and coaching others to run theirs more effectively is who I am.  I'd jump for joy at the opportunity to help you.

But. But. But. But. But.

It is NOT ENOUGH.

I must make as well.  I must tap into that fluid place where color folds onto itself and shapes come into being.  And so must begin, 

the invocation of balance.

You should spend some time today thinking about how to find yours.

Word of the Year: THRIVE

So this year, for me, is about THRIVING.  

To grow, vigorously.

It's funny to talk about this in winter. The trees are cold, nothing is visibly growing.  And there's the rub; Sometimes, this growth is invisible to the naked eye.  

It is hard, hard, hard, hard, hard to measure success when you are in a creative discipline. 

• There is money.  How much are you making?
• There is quantity of work.  How many pieces did you produce?
• There is feeling.  Do you feel good about what you are doing?
• There is praise.  Did you win an award or a new client?

There are tons of ways to measure success and we need to pick our own based on what we value. 

But that's success.  I'm not talking about that.  I'm talking about GROWTH.  

About stretching boundaries

and eating things that make us fuller

and reading things that make us smarter

and moving our bodies so that we get stronger.  

We don't always FEEL our successes.  But we can sure as hell feel growth.  (Click to Tweet)

I feel bigger.  I feel clearer.  I feel more responsible and more frightened and less scared.  I feel so much.  And I continue to grow by putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward.

With intention.

This is it:

THRIVE.

What is it for you?

Frozen.

I used to say I loved winter.  To hunker down inside and work and work and work and work.  To turn inward.  To reflect and hibernate and put down roots and RITUALS. 

(I won't forget it's beautiful.)

(I won't forget it's beautiful.)

(I won't forget it's beautiful.)

But this winter I am feeling more trapped.  More restricted.  

Frozen.

I guess I've something still to learn about stillness. (Click to Tweet)

So now each time I feel trapped, I promise you I'll take a breath.

So now each time I feel restrained, I'll raise my arms and spin in place.

So now each time I must pick my steps so slowly so as not so slip, I will ground and relish in the slowness and intention.

So now each time I pull at the layers, I will relax into the feeling of being held.

So now each time I want to breathe the air, I simply will.  And feel the cold bite of frozen air.

And I will promise to capture a few of these moments in the stillness.  

After all, we are lucky to have these frozen moments.

Small Steady Steps. The Road to Lasting Change

There is this thing called change.  I bet you feel strongly about it. 

A) I crave it.  B) I fear it. C) I could care less. D) All of the above.  Which is you?

It is sticky.  This CHANGE thing.

It is about growth, really.  About stretching in to new uncomfortable positions.  Or for some, it's the challenge of standing still that is the biggest change.

This is a hint.  Don't promise to go to the gym five times a week if you've never gone before.  Don't take on too much.  Don't say. "I'll never."

Let go of the absolutes.  (Click to Tweet.)

The best way to make a LASTING change is to bite off way, way, way, way less than you can chew.  

This week, I'll leave my hair down more.   That's it.  I don't have to CHANGE everything.  I don't have to change ANYTHING.  I just have to dip my toe into the changes I might WANT to make.

Subtle shifts last.  

Under-promise.  You'll shift with ease.

Measuring Success:: How Good Am I?

My father just turned 70.  Birthdays make me think a lot about timelines and transitions and mostly – am I getting where I want to go?  Where is it I want to go? Am I doing a good job?  What is my job?  What am I doing?  Whats the point?

Without dragging you down the bumpy existential road to self discovery...

How do you define success as a creative entrepreneur? 

• Guit instinct?
• Emotional wellbeing?
• Bank balance?
• Fun working?
• Sense of accomplishment?

There is no boss to give you a raise.  There is no one to tell you you are doing a good job.  You are alone at your desk, most of the time.  Or in your studio.  Or on the road.  Maybe you are surrounded by people. But in the end, there is just you and no accepted measure of your success.

Are you richer than last year?  Are you more fulfilled?  

How do you measure fulfillment?

It's different each day, isn't it.  Some days there is GLORY and you are soaring high.  Some days you are in the trenches.

SO how to measure without all the subjectivity?

1. Are you attaining your goals? 
2. Are you in alignment with what you value?

And then we go ONE.STEP.BACK:  

What ARE your goals? And, what do you value?

These are the two core questions that are worth your introspection.  I promise.  It doesn't take long.  And it will be so very worth it.  Every time you begin to spiral down the measurement alley, just ask yourself: Am I attaining my goals?  Am I acting in accordance to what I value?

The answer will point you in the right direction.  

Now walk the path.  One step at a time.

When You Just Don't Wanna:: Tips On How To Start, or not.

Stop procrastinating (Hannah), your desk doesn't have to be clean first.

It doesn't have to be quiet. 

You don't need it to be perfect.  

There is something called a beginning.  There is something called good enough.

When you or I wrestle with beginning something, or continuing something, or just picking up the damn toys off the floor we meet one of our biggest teachers.  That teacher is RESISTANCE.  It says:  

I don't want to get up.

I don't want to make dinner.  

I don't want to do this job.  

I don't want to clean up my toys.

I don't want to pay my bills.

I don't wanna!  

We all say it, in one way or another (it doesn't have to be with words). Dads say it. Executives say it.  Even yogis say it.  My dog says it.  The weather says it.

Got a case of the "I don't wanna's" ?  Here is a quick guide to meeting that feeling and moving on:

• admit your resistance: Well, hello again resistance to making supper.  Fancy meeting you here at suppertime.
• weigh reality: Do I really have to make supper tonight, or is there another, better option?
• reframe it: Instead of  hating on the making, love on the action of nourishing your body.
• make it sweeter: While I do this, I'll listen to my new favorite song.
• reward yourself: When I am done, there will be chocolate.
• breathe: Inhale, exhale, repeat.

You Bright-Eyed-Bushy-Tailed Business Fledgling

I have this new client (a start-up) and they are so tired that I am tired for them.  Just totally exhausted.

What do we do as self-employed types? Eat chocolates and curl up in bed? (No, but that's what my dog did today while I was out all day, sigh.) 

Here are just a few of those many hats:

• budgeting
• paying bills
• entering expenses
• communicating with clients
• creating estimates and invoices
• buying office supplies
• maintaining mailing lists
• creating newsletters
• researching
• facebook, twitter, instagram, linkedin
• maintaining equipment
• paying taxes

Oh, right, and then there is doing all the actual work people pay you for...

Are you scared yet?  

Is it a lot of work? Yes.  Yes, it is.

Are you bored yet? Does some of it suck?  

Yes.  Yes, it does.

That being said, I have so much respect for those people who are running businesses with no prior business experience.  

Talk about BAD ASS PEOPLE BITING OFF MORE THAN THEY CAN CHEW.

(CLICK TO TWEET)

The slope is steep. (I know!)

This is one of my most treasured parts of working with fledgling businesses.  

I like to coax all of those threads of confusion into beautiful tapestry.  

• Make things simpler.
• Follow a plan, yet be flexible.
• Create something EFFECTIVE.
• Work within your capacity.

I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.  TRUST ME.  I BELIEVE IN YOU.

Overwhelmed by the Internet

Sometimes the Internet is like that. Omnipresent.  Addictive.

Pesky addictions.  

Recently, coming down off being busy as hell, I cannot jet down.  Everything is rushed.  Nothing feels really, really, really, really good.  I mean, don't get me wrong.  My family is healthy, I found a great new home for one of my dogs, and what looms on the horizon is glimmering and golden.  

But the Internet is like an overly crowed subway car and I just cannot stop staring at the see-through white pants and black thong in front of me.

Fuck me I am tired and stuck online.  

From blog posts to cool tools to home renovations to laundry sorting bins research to articles.

There is just TOO much information.

How can there be so much I want to read?   EVERY.SINGLE.DAY 

Frozen bubbles?  How to clean my cookies sheets? Vaccine controversy?

Seriously, shouldn't it get boring?  Shouldn't there be no more new ideas?  Shouldn't I be doing something MORE IMPORTANT?  

And here I am, contributing to all of that.  Another drop in the bucket.  Another voice in the choir.  Blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Google Plus, Tumblr.  Platform after platform.  SO MUCH CONTENT. 

Today I choose: Will I shout loudly or will I whisper?

(CLICK TO TWEET)

Oh, NOW you get it.

That's what I do.  

                What do I do?

I want you to follow your dreams the way I follow mine. Successfully.

I live my life in a very purposeful, flexible, accountable, and now public, way.

Yup. That's pretty much what I do. 

• I work with you to clarify how you want to live and then help you integrate those needs and wants into your daily experience.
• And my blog is just a place where I get to show what it looks like for me: Messy, yet perfect. 

Get my blog sent you you by signing up HERE.  It is free.  I don't do spam.  And I'll try my best to kick your ass, gently.

I'm a fucking coach. (That post is coming soon.)

I Am Your New Years Resolution

Once a month.  Check in. Where are you?  No.  Where are you really?

Stop spinning.  Ground yourself, make a plan, be honest.  Stick to it.

This is important work for you.  ACCOUNTABILITY.  It keeps your feet on the ground, solidly moving forward. ACCOUNTABILITY.  I've learned we all need it.  To be accountable, to be reliable, and to STAY flexible.  ACCOUNTABILITY.

This is growing up.  ACCOUNTABILITY.  This is realizing the wholeness of our perfect imperfection. (Click HERE to Tweet).  This is where you firmly need to be.  

Only in part a disaster.  In part glowing and beautiful.

You can get there.  It doesn't matter where there is.  You can do it.  But you need help. Admit it: I need help.  

                 There, I said it.  Can you say it?  

A monthly check in with me will hold you to it.

Do something for yourself in 2014.  

Make a promise to yourself.

Not a New Year's resolution. I hate those.

Make a celebration of grounded intention.  

• I promise it will help you.  
• I promise it will leave you feeling clear.  
• I promise it will make you a better you than you are today.

Sign up HERE for a monthly session.  

We will cut the fat.

 Literally.  

We will get to the meat. 

The favors will meld and simmer and you will

GLOW.

With awe and deep New Year breaths,

     Hannah