Picking Up the Pieces

Yesterday, I went to the dry cleaner which I never do. As the mother of two small children, my wardrobe is pretty much wash and wear (or don't wash and wear, depending on the week). When I gave her my phone number, the woman behind the counter said, "Oh, you have something here." This surprised me since I couldn't remember the last time that I'd been there. "Wait," she continued, "that was in 2005."

It all came flooding back to me. 4 years ago, I had been to the dry cleaner. But I couldn't afford to pick up the clothes. We were so broke that not only could I not afford to pick up 2 items of dry cleaning, but I couldn't fill my tank at the gas station, buy food regularly, and every month, we played roulette to decide which bills to pay.

What does all this have to do with your idea? It struck me last night that for every creator, at some point, there is this type of "dark night of the soul" where you feel it is hopeless, that you've lost the game and you are ready to give up. Thinking back to that moment in my life when money was non-existent and I had two babies, the situation felt impossible. How were we ever going to make it through?

But we did. And it was my body that carried me through when my mind was consumed by torturous thoughts and negative scenarios. Regardless, I still had to get up in the morning, make breakfast out of whatever we had, change diapers, take the kids for a walk and look for bugs under rocks. I just kept moving. And eventually, doors opened, money came back into our lives and we have more than enough now.

There is a tremendous amount of advice right now about how to manifest money and how to create the life that you want. To be honest, I find it all kind of confusing and if I did do all the stuff in The Secret, how would I have time to do anything else?

All I can tell you is what I do... In my mind, I have a clear picture of myself in my 60's, the white hair, the house, the life, the accomplishments. Almost every day, I check in with her, my future self, and I ask her to guide me in getting from this moment to there. What are the steps to take? Envision your future self, let him or her help you whenever you are stuck, confused, or ready to give up.

This may sound like obnoxious advice, especially during a recession, when people are struggling and afraid the way I was 4 years ago, but if you are out of work or not working as much as you'd like, there is a lot you can enjoy for free. Carve out time for your family and yourself, for your idea. These moments when everything is taken away are potent because in them, you can recreate your life. There is nothing stopping you but your own resourcefulness. Dive deeply into your own empty spaces, your own possibilities and do something. Pick up a phone, call somebody, write something, email everyone you know, fight for the life you want.I don't mean fight with other people or struggle and suffer. I mean show up 100%. Give it your all. Because your future depends on it.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

1. Write a very detailed description of your future self. Meditate on this image. Ask him or her a specific question and wait for an answer.

2. Where have you given up in your idea development process? In your life? Or where are you not giving 100%? Write it down. (Are you keeping an idea development journal?)

3. Remember back to the first time you ever gave up. Describe the moment in as much detail as you can. Then, forgive yourself and make a list of what is worth fighting for today.

The University of Google

With any idea, there is the balance of the practical elements of developing your idea - i.e. writing your business plan or proposal - and the esoteric or internal work that needs to be done. For the past 3 weeks, we've looked at our inner landscapes, our beliefs and visions, so now it's time to address some of the more mundane aspects.

The word, mundane, has gotten a bad rap. It's become a word for all that is boring, dull, or trivial. Originally, it meant "belonging to the world" (as distinct from the church) and in that sense, it is very relevant for all of us trying to create a product or service that will "belong to the world". It's time to embrace the mundane!

What does all this have to do with Google? Well, it is the organizer of all that is mundane. On it, you can find the resources that you need to move forward. Type in "business plan sample" and you get 19,400,000 hits. Type in "book proposal sample" and you get 1,530,000 hits. Need some demographic information for a meeting with a possible funder? It's there. This crucial step of finding the forms our ideas need to take to be sold or financed in the world are often out there. So stop wondering what to do next and start searching for your next steps. It's all waiting for you.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

1. Look at your list of next steps (remember WEEK 2?) and begin searching for the information you need to take those steps.

2. Try and search each step 10 different ways. Be creative because you never know how your resources may be labeled.

3. Do it right now!

Often, when talking to clients, I refer them to the University of Google. We are limited only by the creativity of our search words. Today, anyone can sell anything to everyone.

For those of you out there operating at the level of spirit