I really liked Alexis’ideas about having VIP’s who could lovingly help resolve snafus before really going wide with the announcements.  Brilliant!

And in general, a Money Map is an intriguing idea.  there are lots and lots of ways to approach the necessary step of creating and visualizing a  clear picture in your heart-mind-body about what you are building and moving towards.  I like collages, and the way they can tap into your right brain as you get absorbed in the creative zone and process.  But it’s all good!

Your Livelihood as an Evolutionary Path | The Shift Network.

Until you’ve really experienced failure and then recovered from that failure, can you genuinely advise someone how to move on?  The pain and sorrow of losing one’s life dreams are not trivial and can not be set aside on a whim.  Nor should one be indulged and mollycoddled into staying a course that no longer works!  But the compassion, grace and wisdom to find true balance I believe takes at least a few decades to root in a deep understanding and practice of life.

Then one can show the way, point out the hidden pitfalls, sidestep the unpleasant and unnecessary bits, pare away the flotsam and get going with the real plan: significant results from what is likely to be a fair amount of hard work.  Onward to the life one has always dreamed of living…. with a good dose of grounding and common sense to get the job done.  That’s what people need.

I don’t absolutely agree with his advice about PR companies, because most entrepreneurs do not have the time to follow all that media and make all those phone calls. I think outsourcing that is not a bad idea, but yes, you can also make calls yourself.  (Hello?)  (LOL)

I really agree with the part about knowing how you are going to make money.  That’s why a business plan – even if it’s just a paragraph on a cocktail napkin – is a really good idea.  You can start with a teeny one and make it bigger over time.  But you need a plan and a way to keep your focus.  A mantra if you will.

I like: Listen. Respond. Care. Have fun.   That’s my new business mantra.

We’re going to see a lot more of this believe me. Brands are moving more & more into co-creation with their ‘fans’and supporters, a phenomenon which parallels and perhaps even leads some of the change in power relationships we are seeing as we Shift into the new paradigm. woo hoo!

the new look from Ladies Home Journal

In her very inspiring post about the top 5 regrets of the dying, Bonnie Ware writes that failing to be true to ourselves and our own visions is the number one regret that people have at the end of their life. Let’s be sure you are not going to say the same thing.  Here is an article about a happy artistic couple that are now making their livelihoods by pursuing their dreams as creative entrepreneurs in the glass etching business.  Amanda Siska, the genius behind their shop at BreadandBadger.com, offers some excellent tips for anyone starting out.  Read it and follow her links!

I’ll continue to post stories like this one to help you find the inspiration you need to take charge of your own life.  As the master says, “This is not a dress rehearsal.”  Seize the day!   And as my friend Max Kraus tells me, when they want to encourage you to stay strong in Austria they say, “Keep your ears stiff!”  Like this guy!

In Mark’s news, we are celebrating the release of the DVD of the movie based on his script, Kill Kate Malone, which can now also be seen on Showtime!  He has published over 40 short stories in the past 3 years, and is co-editing an anthology, Forsaken, with his friend Joe McKinney, which should be out next year.  His website has links and includes a free download or two.  Three family-friendly projects are making progress under the umbrella of some great producers, and we’re looking forward to seeing good news in 2012 on that front.  Mark is currently polishing a horror film draft for yet another group of producers, and sending out his novel Kushtaka to various agents.  He has a number of other script and fiction projects in various stages of development and it’s really no wonder that workaholic Stephen King is one of his great inspirations.  If he could clone himself, he would!  So many ideas and so little time…. sigh.

In Tobey’s news, she has pretty much completed her transition from academic to writer and soul coach, helping people find their path, express themselves in various media, and flourish in their new ‘Plan A.’  She’s done a lot of websites this year!  As Vice President of the organization Circles of Empowerment, she has also had a chance to learn from some wonderful elders and bring that information back to our Central Coast community.  It seems every month brings more and more ceremony, readings from her own White Heart deck that she has created, and now she’s very excited to be making a move to the Amethyst Healing Center on Main Street in Cambria for 2012.  She is at work on a book, part spiritual memoir, part manifesto and she can’t wait to share just a few short excerpts from this work in progress.

We celebrated Tobey’s grandmother’s 102nd birthday in October, and her aunt Betsy’s 70th just last week.  Our nephew Jacob is 10, Seth is 9 and niece Kimberly is 8 – we’re so proud of them!  Our god daughter Elena is in her sophomore year of college.  Wow – it really does go fast!  We added a new family member of our own with our lovely new kitten Callisto Tigerlily of Themyscira.  She’s been a real ray of sunshine although Orion and William might call her something else.  LOL.  We are so very lucky to have animal companions in our lives.  We hope this finds you and yours well.  Happy holidays!!!

our three darlings Orion, Callisto & William in the laundry