Consumed.

There was no better word to describe my life but consumed.

I was pretty good at hiding it, covering it up; all outward appearances seemed calm, easy going, together, but I was in denial.  I had so many unresolved emotions both in my personal life as well as in my business.  I stopped feeling. I was exhausted and depleted with a range of negative emotions.  My bucket didn’t just have leaks in it, there were gaping holes that fear and anger, feelings of inadequacy and loneliness came pouring out.  I needed to re-evaluate what was most important to me and I needed a connection with people; both those who were in the same boat as me and those who could bail me out.

Insights mastermind group was my lifesaver.  They helped me set down the baggage, not just my own but other people’s baggage that was affecting me.  To look at life through new filters, from a different perspective.  I was living with and engaging with negative people.  I had to ask myself “Am I negative?”  I didn’t like the answer.   Unfortunately I found that I spent more metal energy beating myself up instead of just being myself and this was going on for such a long time.  Why did I resist change?  What was holding me back?  I was living more in the past than the present or the future.  My mastermind group showed me that my emotional importance was becoming truth and was holding me back; that my weaknesses and habits were locking out the opportunities.  It was my perception of reality that I had to deal with.  It wasn’t the economy, the news, my parents, my husband or anything else.

My biggest limitation was believing that I deserved a better life.  I was running and chasing but I couldn’t catch what I was after, dwelling on the having where I should have been dwelling on the being.   I didn’t like who I was, phlegmatic and melancholy.  To me this only meant slow to act and feeling alone.  In fact, Insights showed me how to bring out the strengths of my personality, that I was a calm, stoic and thoughtful influence.  As I said, I was living in the past but I learned that the past is not set in concrete and that I have the ability to change my own past, that the bad news that I was harboring had no return on it’s investment.

But you know the word consumed doesn’t have to have a negative connotation, it has other meanings…. inspired, enthusiastic, devoted.  By sharing my thoughts and views with my fellow master minders, problems were reframed into opportunities and my past suddenly was a point of reference and not a point of residence.  So many testimonials are written once someone has hit bottom but I am breaking that mold and am rising to the top.  It’s not easy, there is no magic bullet or special Kool-Aid to drink, and it’s being in the moment and keeping the junk out of my head.  I’m editing my story, rethinking the past and challenging all my beliefs.  My emotions are what got me into this mess and now I am working on identifying then appreciating my emotions.  If I can’t change them then I should gain knowledge from them, let my emotions empower me.  It’s very exciting, it means growth.  Gratitude is number one and through appreciation I have developed curiosity, excitement, passion, vitality and much more.   Life is not about surviving but thriving, clouds of possibilities hang over me and I have broken out of my typecast.

It’s all about surrounding yourself with people that make you feel better about yourself and then you become what you associate yourself with.  People want commonality; we want relationships.

They are there to help me identify opportunities, to share in my successes and to celebrate my failures.  They have taught me to take ownership and not to let what others say about me, good or bad, affect me.  I thank God for people who are ahead of their time – I am surrounded by them in my master mind group.  I am getting help for my business and having a lot of fun with some really cool friends at the same time.  What could be better?

Now speaking of business, I have stepped out of the competitive world and into the creative world.  I don’t work for a living – I create for a life.  Through InSights and the mastermind group I have learned not to chase money but to attract it and to see the world from a sense of abundance.  We don’t always get what we want but we always get what we expect so look to the edge and see the possibilities.

I have been taught to question everything.  By asking the questions you’ll get more answers.  What is happiness?  What is bliss?  What makes me exceptional?  Am I price worthy, memorable?  Why do people care about me and why do they do business with me?  What do people hear when I speak?  Who am I, where am I going and how do I get there?  What is success?  What is my story; people love a good story?  What makes my heart sing?  What have I done that people said couldn’t be done?  Do I want it bad enough?  The questions are always there; sometimes you just can’t see them.

You need to consider business slow down as an opportunity.  When the economy tanked in 2008, Insights’ taught me the basics of social media – blogging, Facebook, Linkedin etc… through their signature Tic-Tac-Toe organic marketing method.  These were invaluable tools, ones that no business big or small, should ignore.  Through these methods there is huge potential for business growth or I should say there is potential for huge business growth.  But more than this, they have given me permission to play, to find out what is different about me.  I am prepared, impeccable and always do my best with my craft, ready to let it happen – the bonus – people find me whether they are looking for me or not.  You see it’s not about me – it’s about my clients and I want them to feel as important as my work.  Sell the emotional as well as the physical aspects, that’s what people are buying.  I am a rock star to my clients and fame to me means that I am known within the circles that matter to me.  It’s all in telling the story.  I have a story to tell not a product to sell.  What is your story?

In the end true wealth does not come from a career.  Wealth is what you have left if you lost all your money. Don’t wish for money – ask for relationships, lifestyles and the essence of what you want, and then the money will flow.  I am who I am for no reason other than myself.  I am not my outcome – yet.

I do matter.

What’s the magic? A compelling story…here are a few of my favorites:

GBS Detroit Presents Captain Ivory

Elevation Dock

Goldie Blox

TGT Wallet

Litographs: Entire Books on Posters and T-shirts

Make Cheese Inc – Let’s Make Cheese in Your Own Kitchen

Manoa Hawaiian Chocolate: Bean-to-bar handcrafted for all!

Run Free 2013

 Twig Theatre Project

Roominate

If you were tasked with inventing a new product to feature in a Kickstarter campaign, where would you start? What would you think of creating?

If you have an idea, and need help putting together a campaign, let us know. We have a group sharing ideas and inspiration for new products, new businesses, and investment opportunities. Maybe we can help!