A Place of Joy

02/22/2024

Apparently this is the year to lay foundations and create structure for your business.

Or at least that's what a lot of entrepreneurs I know, including me, have realized.

And that's making a lot of us cranky.

When you're an ideator who loves to be in creation mode, systems and details can fall by the wayside.

Or get shoved.

For those of us who flourish in flow, who are energized by coming up with new ideas and bringing them to life, our minds often rebel at what feels like the restriction of structure, spreadsheets, systems, tracking, and other repetitive tasks that tend to keep businesses alive and healthy.

I saw this almost across the board at last week's Vision Map workshop.

Many of the participants are creatives and/or support creatives and/or have minds that fly in multiple directions at once and light up like constellations.

Our businesses have all reached a point at which, as one participant put it, we "have to become really pragmatic," where we "can't move forward without putting structure, organization, processes in place."

The problem is that this feel hard, unnatural, not-our-skill-set to a lot of us.

This can help...

How to Release Crankiness and Embrace Structure

--> Get to your why. At the workshop, every time we dug into the heart of someone's business you could see the shift in their energy. When you remember why you're passionate about your work and the impact it has on the world it fuels you to do the things that seem less intuitive, easy and fun. The systems become a means to an end that you simply need to figure out, rather than a giant mountain that blocks your view of everything else.
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--> Find gratitude for the hard thing. One new mom at the workshop, who is figuring out how to build a business and care for her 7-month-old, said this and I thought it was beautiful: "Have gratitude for the discomfort of the hard days because if we can do it on the hard days we can definitely do it when it’s easy." If something feels hard to you, let it feel hard. Then take a deep breath and do it anyway. That's where your muscles grow, and it's what makes it easier to do the next time.
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--> Break it down. In the Vision Map we start broad ("My Business in 2024") and narrow down until you're building a strategy in bite-sized steps. Give yourself 10 minutes and do a brain dump of every system you think you need in place, everything that's not working right now and what you wish were happening instead, and everything other people do in their businesses that you'd love to do in yours.
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You don't have to DO anything yet with this list, just make it.

This will move you forward.

And moving forward is the only thing you need to do right now.

One step at a time.

That's how you build a business.

Want to build your business alongside friends? Join the next Implementation Lab for Entrepreneurs.

Want to build with a partner? Let's talk.​

Whatever you do--keep your feet on the ground, your head in the clouds, and keep going.

Joy : )

02/12/2024

When I help someone craft a Vision Map, I pull an animal guide for the year and I "pull" a belief from a beautiful book I once received as a gift from a client.

This is the one I pulled for myself.

As I work on my own Vision Map for my business this year, I think about so many choices I've made over the past decades of running my own business, and all the times I chose to believe when others did not.

To run your own business takes courage, especially when what you're sharing is you--your way of looking at things, the methods you've invented, the insights and intuition that come through you.

People don't always agree with you. Sometimes people think that the exact opposite of what you're doing is a much better idea. People will even feel free to tell you why you're wrong and would be better off doing - or being - something other than what (and who) you are.

Sometimes those suggestions are the absolute right choices--for them. Sometimes their feedback is just what you needed to hear. And sometimes you need to believe when others might not.

I am also in deep gratitude for all the ways in which people believed in me, especially during those times when I was running low on faith. Like the time I called my mom in tears the night before my first big live event and told her I wasn't going to go.

It helps to have cheerleaders.

And it helps to know you're not alone.

If you want a map for your business's 2024, join me at the Vision Map workshop online this Wednesday. You'll get focused on what you're creating this year, a clear strategy that's aligned with both your vision and your heart, and a dose of magic.

Plus cheerleaders and aligned community. And creating your year from a place of joy! Info in c.o.m.m.e.n.t.s.

And for ALL you fabulous humans--believe when others might not!

12/15/2023

I'M DAY 15 in Mia Moran's amazing Small Moves That Matter series! And I'm getting such nice feedback from people watching the video and trying out the tool!

Like: Jennifer Zwiebel! YOU are glorious - and your energetic and way of expressing how we can want what we want is the biggest invitation of all! Thank you

You too can witness the glory! For free!

Watch me explain in 5 minutes how to craft a clear and compelling vision so you can have what you really want.

You'll also have access to my gift, The Vision Starter Tool Kit, and to all of the other 30 teachings and gifts throughout December : )

Join here to get it all: https://aplaceofjoy--plansimple.thrivecart.com/flow365/6542796cf0b53/

11/30/2023

While much of my heart and mind are focused on very big things going on in the world, I recognize that the details of life need attention tool. We still eat, we still run our businesses, we still look for ways to spend meaningful time with people we love.

Mia Moran has gathered 31 amazing women to offer one 5-minute teaching each day during the month of December.

Designed to help each of us create more ease and joy in our lives (and businesses), these short, compelling videos introduce you to Small Moves That Matter.

Watch one, watch them all--one small change can have a huge impact. From meditation to technology to food to crafting your vision for the coming year, see what's ready to be discovered and what small moves you can make that really matter. No cost, huge value.

31 Five-Minute Teachings by 31 Amazing Women to Create More Ease and Joy in Your Life (and Business) this Season

12/05/2019

This just popped up as a fb memory from 5 years ago--and it still holds true, and I'm going to go ahead and say it's true both for creatives AND entrepreneurs--you can replace the word "creative" below with entrepreneurial, visionary or mission-driven:

OK, so this is what I'm seeing, both with myself and my clients: if you've got strong creative bones in your body, they need space to bang around, consistently and loudly. Make that space, honor it, even if that means leaving the house or ignoring everyone and everything for that moment in your life, even if it means accepting the fact that there are some things that you are just not going to get to today. Including dinner. That's why god invented frozen meals.

And learn to accept the fact that you might not love giving up one thing so you can have another, and that the people around you might not love it either, and might not love the particular choices you're making, but really, too damn bad, because if you don't let the creative bones bang, the rest of you won't be able to function all that well, and you will likely get very resentful, angry, cranky and blamey--which is not fun for you or anyone around you.

So go bang.

11/22/2019

Let's talk about cooking rage.

Cooking rage is a real thing. There's a good chance you'll recognize it when I describe it.

I want to talk about it because when I experienced it earlier this week I discovered a striking parallel between what happened to me as I attempted to cook a healthy meal for my family and what happens to me and to so many of my clients and friends who own businesses when we try to do something we believe will help our businesses grow.

When I shared this revelation with a community of entrepreneurs it struck a chord. In fact, a number of people responded that they needed to hear exactly what I'd written, and so I decided to share it with you too. Hope it gives you something to think about. Here's the post:

Let's talk about cooking rage. Cooking rage is a real thing. And it's a lot like what entrepreneurs experience when they try to do something they think will help their businesses grow. This is how to make the rage work for you.

11/22/2019

02/26/2019

Hello to all the fabulous people in the Boston area! If the words "Creative Sanctuary for Visionaries" make you breathe deeply and smile, please pm me so we can connect, get to know each other, and figure out if you'd love to be part of the one I'm leading in Westford, MA at the end of March : )

08/20/2018

Quick note: YOU ARE ALREADY WONDERFUL!! Even if you don't happen to be traveling to one of the most beautiful places ever (Sardinia), you are still totally wonderful.

Name one way--doesn't have to be big or fancy, just has to be true--in which you're already wonderful. Do this every day, whenever you think of it, and you will FEEL a difference.

I'll start: I'm already wonderful and I know this is true because I gave my yoga teacher an card to take on his travels and he's celebrating his wonder in Sardinia--and I get to see what Sardinia looks like without leaving NYC!

Post yours below : )

07/04/2018

Hey! Thought it was time to remind everyone--be your own damn Wonder Woman : )

Just so you know--YOU ARE ALREADY OF VALUE. Full stop. End of sentence. No qualifiers.

You do not have to be more productive.
You do not have to earn more money.
You do not have to lose weight.
You do not have to be a better parent.
You do not have to write your book, organize your house or launch your business.

There is NOTHING you have to do right now in order to be a valuable, worthy human being. You do not have to earn your place in this world.

Read the article below to find out how to remember all this better, to know it in your body, to own it in your soul...

Just a quick heads up--YOU ARE ALREADY OF VALUE. Full stop. End of sentence. No qualifiers. You do not have to be more productive.  You do not have to earn more money.  You do not have to lose weight.  You do not have to be a better parent.  You do not have to wr

10/11/2017

What do you most wish for RIGHT NOW?? : )

I pick a sun-filled office in the treetops, with birds singing and a few hours just to write.