Yay - no buzzing! Although the image quality isn't as wonderful, but oh well. Tech geniuses out there - HELP PLEASE :)! We typically use iChat for our videos, but this time used OOVOO (http://www.ooovoo.com). We're trying!

Okay no more complaining. I'm excited to hear YOUR thoughts this month on the hot topic: Money. Don't be shy - chime in - or just say hi. We love to hear from you :).

And a huge congratulations to Michelle for taking the leap and leaving her job to life coach full time (and dedicate her heart and soul to Spring - right, Michelle!).

Happy March!!

I second the notion of any tech gurus raising their hands! Oovo was definitely better (at least Carolyn is the same size of us all!) but I didn't like how I became a faceless cartoon person every so often.

And yay for giving my 2 weeks notice last Thursday! As of 3/22 I'll be fully, wholeheartedly, heart-&-soul-ally devoted to Spring! :)

So excited for Michelle!!!

I love Carolyn's advice. For me personally, as a 30 something mom of 2 with a full time job, longing to create a business empowering creative women to follow their dreams, a plan seems necessary. I'm struggling a bit with figuring out how the money will follow, but I believe it will.

Do each of you have an elevator speech? That one sentence that Carolyn mentioned? If so, I'd love to hear it. Will you share?

xo,
Carmen

Thanks for another inspiring and informative video! Congrats Michelle on quitting your day job! That is so exciting.
I liked hearing the different approaches you each have to your business. Being on the cautious side myself and also having a mortgage and all that fun stuff definitely makes me feel like I need a plan, even if it's just for myself, to have that intention to set for myself to keep me going. Thanks for sharing and giving us some good stuff to chew on!

Jess, Jess, Michelle and Carolyn,

Today I was in search of some inspiration on how to stay focused... as I have reached that moment where I must let go of one trapeze swing to grab the one coming toward me. No, I am not joining the circus (!!) I am following my heartfelt passion by creating a new executive coaching enterprise.

What is simple and simultaneously profound about finding your website and video on loving what you do and trusting that the rest will follow, is that you were EXACTLY what I needed today.

You made a difference. Your creativity and commitment to living your best lives is uplifting....and I thank you. May all the success and your wildest, most courageous dreams come true!

Donna
Humanity at Work

i am so happy to have found you ladies! what a lovely place to land, i look forward to visiting often.

happy spring to you all! (and *hi* Jess GS!)

xoxo
:)

trust! as of late, i've been exploring how trust/issues with trust impact different aspects of my life, and i can definitely see the impact that trust (and fear) have on my business. so it's a learning and growing process for me. the beautiful thing is that when you LOVE what you do...and you're passionate about it...it can definitely be easier to trust and leap (even though it's still scary in its own ways)!

When I first clicked on the video, it didn't play, and I got so mad! But then I reloaded the page and it played perfectly! Thanks for fixing those problems. It's nice to be with you all again!

@Carmen - I am constantly revising my elevator speech & would be happy to share it! My first one was: "I'm the When I Grow Up Coach! I help creative people that are at a crossroads between their passion & their grown-up career." My revised one is: "I'm the When I Grow Up Coach! I help creative people figure out how to create the career they think they can't have - or discover it to begin with!" The second one definitely resonates with me more, but it's still not quite "right." I'm working on it!

@Jadyn - Thanks, Jadyn! And I know what ya mean about plans, which was the main reason I just didn't jump into coaching when I discovered it. I knew the fastest way to fail (for me!) was to not have a client base or a financial security blanket, so I made sure I was comfortable with both of those things before realizing it was time to take the leap. While I didn't have a specific number in my head ("I'll quit when I have $X saved or X # of clients), I was able to recognize it when the time came.

@Donna - What an amazing sentiment! And kinda spooky, as just this week I was looking to take a trapeze class to symbolize the leap I was taking into being a full-time coach! Please note I'm scared of heights when I'm not contained within something, so this idea scares the crap out of me. But it's also exciting. Just like quitting my job! :)

@Shelley - Please feel free to land here as often as you're like! We generally have new videos up every Tuesday, but we have some surprises up our sleeve for March & April so you'll be seeing even more of us. We're sneaky!

@Krista - You totally hit on something that I've been thinking about of late - how trust & fear are not mutually exclusive. You can trust something & be scared of/for/about it, or you can not be scared of something yet not trust it. That was a total lightbulb thought for me. I used to think that if I was scared about something it meant that I didn't trust it, but the more I look at the risks I'm taking & how I'm coming into my uniquity, the more I think that's false. I can trust that I'm going to make a lucrative living, but still feel scared that I won't. Isn't sorta nice to feel that those feelings can live separately. It's comforting, for some reason.

@Victoria - Whew! We would have been pulling our hair out if you said you couldn't see us! We'll keep chipping away at the format - promise!

Thanks for sharing Michelle! ♥

Great video and advise! You've inspired me to do more with my Etsy business. I'll have to think of a one-liner to describe my business. Hmmmm....

Beautiful necklace! Hope I win! Can't wait to share with friends!

You girls are such an inspiration! I have dreams of owning my own business one day, but with grad school (I hope!) just around the corner, it's hard to believe that dream might ever become a reality. It's nice to hear the practical side of business discussed, and it's even better to hear it from girls who have made it happen! Plus, I'm beginning to think everyone-- not just business owners-- should have an "elevator speech"; it's a great concept for meeting new people and expanding your horizons, at least for an introvert like me!

And, congraulations, Michelle! I've been reading your blog for a while, and a thought you mentioned there came to mind during this discussion. I've kept it in my planner this week: "Things should be both scary and exciting." Meaning, that if the leap you're about to take is just scary, it's probably not the right move. And if it's just exciting, it might be the safest move. But if the leap is scary AND exciting, then you're on the right track. As I prepare to make changes in my life, this is my new mantra.

Thanks to all of you for sharing here! I love playing a part in the discussion!

Great video guys, and played for me first time :o)
I love how even though you all approach your businesses differently, your advice was really all about the same thing - having the kind of plan right for YOU. Whether you need a full-on official business strategy like Carolyn, or a more organic networking approach like Jess, or something in between like Michelle, you have all managed to work out what works for you, and what you're comfortable with before taking that leap. Clearly, you are all out actively chasing that strategy too - you're not sitting around waiting for the work to come to you! Such a great inspiration for the rest of us scaredy-cats!

Thank you so much for this video! I have no idea how I landed here, but it is just what I needed. I have been an emotional mess all week because I am at a point in my life where it is either give up my "real" job or give up my business, the thing I truly love to do. As a wife and a mom of two, I cannot do it all anymore. I cannot work a full time job and manage a business successfully, and I feel like I am not doing anything 100% anymore. In my heart, I know I have the skills to just step forward and never look back, but I am really struggling with the thought of leaving the "perfect" job with a guaranteed paycheck, 401K, health benefits, etc. It is scary! But what is even more terrifying is the thought of giving up on my dream and doing something that does not fulfill me just for that paycheck and benefits. I just feel lost right now, really!

Anyway, if you've read this far...thank you! My real question is: do you have any tips for writing a business plan? I have never seen one and I have no idea where to start.

Thanks again, girls! I look forward to learning more from you all.

What perfect timing to have happened upon this lovely site. Keep it coming!!! The necklace is fab. Thanks for the chance to win!

CarrieQ

What is simple and simultaneously profound about finding your website and video on loving what you do and trusting that the rest will follow, is that you were EXACTLY what I needed today.