business + wealth articles

today is an epic day. hot, happy, epic.

It doesn’t really matter where you are on the scale of entrepreneurial drive, or if you’re in the jungle with a machete or a butter knife. You can call it a hobby, a labor of love, or a world domination plan. You can rival. You can float.

You can call it ambition, hunger, inspiration, drive, avocation, food on the table—whatever. You can crush the competition, unify an industry, or change just one person’s life.

If you want to make lots of really good stuff happen, then that’s really exciting—for all of us. If you want to earn a living by doing meaningful things—then that’s exceptional.

This truth is most evident: we entrepreneurs, artists, and change agents define ourselves on our own terms.

- from THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS, prelude

Ladies and gentleman, fellow seekers, tribes-people, and lovers of making good stuff happen...

THE FIRE STARTERS SESSIONS IS OFFICIALLY + FULLY LAUNCHED!

$150 for the full-tilt love.

And! $5 from every copy goes to the charity you choose:
The Acumen Fund or Women for Women International

Click here to view the Table of Contents!
Click here to watch the video!

It's an inferno. Really. It's epic. I'm thrilled for about 10,000 reasons, but mostly because I stayed true to my intention to just give 'er. I pray you find it useful. I trust that you will.

VERY STOKED READERS

The lovely people who pre-ordered received the full version yesterday. Tweets of love:

"To borrow from my favorite of her notecards, @DanielleLaPorte's FireStarter Sessions are fanfuckingtastic. Blown. Away."
@ealvarezgibson

"have read FSS on a train, a tube, a plane and at two different desks today. am exploding with ideas. thank you thank you"
@saslockey

"OMG! full edition of the Fire Starter Sessions is in my inbox! spending whole day with @daniellelaporte's genius."
@photobird

"Loving it. It's amazing."
@AbbieMood

"LOVING @DanielleLaPorte's Fire Starter Session...glory boardin', ease and mojo. A sublime must-buy."
@TanyaGeisler

"Inspired by the white hot @DanielleLaPorte, I am lighting a fire under my ass w/ her fab new FireStarter worksheets & videos!"
@cherylsorg

"I am pulsing with excitement!"
@nona_jordan

GROUP COACHING WITH LIANNE RAYMOND

Lianne Raymond is kicking off a program to support women who are ready to step into the "ring of fire" with a group coaching program designed specifically around THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS.

Cool eh?! Her idea! Lianne is a deep, deep, well of perception. Every coaching client I've sent her way has glowed. I can't wait to hear how this goes (and if I'm allowed, I'd like to show up for a session or two!)

The program consists of weekly 90 minute group coaching calls where you'll "address any resistance, ask questions, celebrate successes and dance with whatever else shows up." GO FIND OUT MORE FROM LIANNE.

Blaze your trail!

With a grateful heart,

(HOLY SMOKES! IT'S LAUNCHED!)

 

15 tips for public speaking that apply to shining at work, and just about everywhere else

1. Gratitude is always the best place to begin.
Any and every gig is an honour. Thank the host, and thank the audience for the possible mountains they moved to show up and listen to you.

2. Being prepared is an act of love. And intelligence.
Even if you can improv with the best of them, do a complete run through in advance, and a written key points list of your talk. I like to do a verbal run through in the tub the day before (the tub is my second office, really,) and I do a key points list the morning of the event.

3. Lead with your best stuff.
Make an entrance. Put forth your Big Point right away. Start with your best story, your funniest joke, your guiding theory. Don't make them wait to see you shine. Grab 'em from the get-go.

4. Know who you're talking to.
A co-presenter and I gave a talk to a group of underprivileged single moms. My co-presenter talked about shopping at Tiffany's and Saks. They turned on us. It was ugly. Along this same line…

5. Research your audience.
Guy Kawasaki is great at this. At a presentation in Vancouver last year, he sported a Vancouver Canucks jersey, made some good jokes about the event organizers, and told some personal stories that related to the organization's mission.

6. Actively respect your audience.
A playwright friend of mine commented on an actor's performance: "You could tell she didn't like the character that she was playing. And you've always got to find something to love about who you're playing to make it real." Same goes for your audience. You won't always be presenting or pitching to your tribe, to people you "like"—find the common ground and put your love there.

7. Never, ever admit to fatigue.
I heard a very popular author open his talk, to a packed theatre, with "I'm quite tired, I've been on the road for a few days." Instant downer. It made us feel guilty for keeping him up past his bedtime, or ticked that we spent $50 to hear a jet-lagged psychologist. I've done gigs on two hours of sleep, in the middle of a professional tragedy, stoned on Sinutab. You get up there and you SMILE, no matter what. You can collapse when you get off stage.

8. Stay in the lead as long as you're on stage.
A few weeks ago I was speaking to a ballroom of university business students at The Four Seasons Hotel. As I was leaving the stage, a woman at the back of the room raised her hand. I'd just handed back my mic, but I gestured to take her question. She proceeded to tell me that I was dressed like a slob and not setting a good example to the students about personal branding. Not kidding. (And I looked HOT, BTW.) You could have heard a pin drop. Heckled! First time for everything.

"And how have you come to be here tonight?" I asked her. I figured she sneaked in. She mumbled something about being a mentor, and then she made a dash for the door, carrying her various tattered shopping bags. "Well," I said to the stunned audience. "Now you have an example of what elegant is and what elegant isn't. And that's branding." I didn't exhale until I got in my car.

9. Plan your finish.
Wrapping up can be the hardest part of a talk because you've either used up all of your good stuff, you've gone over time, or you have space to fill. Hold on to your closing gold nugget so you can leave on a high note either way.

10. Believe that people are rooting for you.
It's vastly true that every single person watching and listening to you wants you to be amazing. They want a great experience. No one likes to see someone bomb. They really do want you to win.

11. Go easy on the apologies.
This is a tricky one, because elegance is the numero uno concerno. But things like, "Sorry to keep you waiting," "My apologies for the technical snafu," can create more snags in your fabric. Sometimes, most of the time, it's better to just keep going. An ice skater doesn’t apologize for slipping. She keeps skating, distracting you with the next great move.

12. Dress up.
When you're on stage being well dressed says, "I cared about you enough to polish it up." Sunday best.

13. Affirm, pray, focus, ommm.
Whether it's a staff meeting you're leading or a concerto performance, a short pre-show ritual pulls your energy into your center. Before I take the stage I say this quickie prayer, "Help us shine." That's it. That covers me, the audience, and the world in one fell swoop.

14. Ask questions.
Frame your stories into questions and you've created a conversation.

15. Know how you want to feel when you're done your presentation.
Ultimately, you can't really control what the audience does and if try to, you're likely to fumble. I've had what I thought were hilarious stories that didn't get so much as a giggle. And I've had low-engagement audiences that swarmed me after I got off stage. You just don't know.

What you can aim for is how you want to feel. And when you anchor into that feeling, your energy gathers a momentum and you get into the magical flow. When I leave the auditorium, I want to feel like I connected, like I was divinely feminine, and innovative--on my personal edge. And if I did my best to be those things, than I can sleep well, even if I forgot to say thank you, or I tripped over a speaker, or got heckled by a bag lady.

PS...
All-important style tips:
Ladies:
: Wear a good bra. You know, 80% of women are wearing the wrong fit of bra, right? Well, when that happens on stage, it's tragic. While we're on the topic...
: Tits up. You heard me. Lift your girls up and your entire posture changes.
: False eyelashes. Don’t be afraid of them. When you're being photographed, the small touch of glam can give you just the right amount of voom voom.
: Always have a back up outfit.
: High heels are a must. Because, it's not how you feel, it's how you tower.

Gentlemen:
: Shave. A 5 o'clock shadow looks great when you roll over in the morning, but in the spotlight or on camera, you do not look suave, you look like a bum. Or like George Michael in 1991.
: The pants. It's all about excellent fitting pants. Get a tailor.

. . . . . .

Hey, did I mention that THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS FULL EDITION LAUNCHES THIS WEDNESDAY?! Well it does, and let me tell you, it's freaking EPIC. I'm thrilled, jittery, pleased, excited, and ready to get some sunshine.

If you order it now you'll still get the sneak peak chapter pronto, and all 12 of my videos are now loaded into the private, top-secret video-viewing place for the special people who want to set their life ablaze.

CLICK HERE to see the mondo Table of Contents

"I quickly downloaded the first chapter and it's blowing my mind. Amazing. I can't wait to get the rest. This chapter alone is worth way more than $150."
- Tim Murphy

"After The Fire Starter Sessions, you'll stop thinking of yourself as a 'little entrepreneur.'"
- Abby Kerr

"This material is dripping with passion, credibility, and vulnerability."
- Toni Reece, The PEOPLE Academy

. . . . .

The Freak Revolution ladies, Pace + Kyeli, have pulled together a great roster for the World-Changing Writing Workshop, which will run every Thursday from June 10th to July 15th. I'm going to jam about some creativity + publishing nitty gritty. I'm really excited to get into it.

REGISTRATION OPENS TUESDAY MAY 11th! CHECK IT OUT.

posted 10 May 10 in: business + wealth articles, creativity + art + design articles   ·   tags: communication   ·   34 comments

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the best business advice i’ve ever received. part 2

 

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This is excerpted from the prelude of THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS digital book. The full book launches May 12! Pre-order now and get the "True Strengths & The Metrics of Ease" session immediately!

CLICK HERE TO READ PART 1 if you missed it.

Be daring. Be different. Be first.

- Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop

I was co-running The Body Shop Canada’s Department of Social Inventions. The culture was fresh and progressive – the glory days of new social responsibility. Anita was a Tasmanian devil-angel. Daring, different—I had those qualities in spades. But moxy and uniqueness don’t add up to much if you don’t execute. Getting there first changes everything. Everything.

Know your rights.

- Lance Tracey, founder of lots of big companies

Angelina Jolie has this phrase tattooed across the back of her neck. I get it now. When I went through a messy business divorce I was inclined to jump though hoops and meet all the scary demands being hurled at me because surely, “they” must be “right.” Resist submission until you get all the facts.

Follow the money.

- Plenty of people

Old business guys love to throw this adage out. It’s so true. If you can find out who’s making the most money and how, you will solve multiple mysteries.

Create a 'Culture of Yes'

– Steve Rechtshaffener, former CCO of Electronic Arts

Steve is the former CCO for Electronic Arts, one of the leading game developers in the world, so he knows a lot about getting teams to push their creative limits. You need to surround yourself with people who can trust your creative insanity, people who want to get out of the box more than anything. This is not the same as “yes men” this is about audacity. When dreamers unite, they get a lot done.

Bring your femininity to bear.

- Karen Lam, business coach

My very best decisions and strongest maneuvers have been fuelled by what would typically be labeled as feminine characteristics. This counsel may sound like it’s only applicable to 50% of the population, but receptivity, intuitive guidance, tenderness, and fierce inclusivity are transformative powers that anyone can wield. Our future depends on it.

The boss ain't always right. But the boss is always the boss.

- Dennis Laporte, aka, my dad

My first job was selling hot dogs at my old man’s hockey arena. (I made $4.32/hour, which made me enough to keep me in Gypsy jeans and Bonnie Bell lip gloss.) As the boss’ daughter, I took the liberty of uh, like, questioning some of his, like, policies. He had to admire my feistiness, but was quick to state the facts about who was in charge: him. End of conversation. Get back to work.

Conclusion: it’s better to be the boss.

. . . . . . .

"If you haven't heard, or you've been on the fence about pre-ordering Danielle LaPorte's FIRE STARTER SESSIONS for entrepreneurs, run, don't walk. You will not be sorry. The first chapter is brilliant and I am sure the rest to come will be. just. as. amazing."
- Nona Jordan, business & life coach

"This chapter is BEAUTY. Your words give me permission to be awesome."
- Sarah Lockey

. . . . . . .

INTERVIEWS

Crystal at BigBright Bulb and I talked about how to get a stationery line off the ground in no time flat.

I adore coach Susan Hyatt because she calls me a "bad ass". LISTEN HERE to our power chick chat about making work happen for you. Super energizing.

posted 19 Apr 10 in: business + wealth articles, creativity + art + design articles   ·   tags: entrepreneurship   ·   8 comments

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best business advice i’ve ever received. part 1

 

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This is excerpted from the prelude of THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS digital book. The full book launches May 12! Pre-order now and get the "True Strengths & The Metrics of Ease" session immediately!

Don't spend it before you have it.

- Melody Biringer, self-proclaimed start up junkie, founder of over twenty businesses, most currently: The CRAVE Company

This is such a difficult course to stay when the money finally starts coming in, or you get some serious interest from your biggie client on your biggie proposal, or you finally convince the loan officer at the bank that you’re a worthy human being. Hard fact: before you earn it, you don’t have it. Projections and ideals do not equal money in the bank.

Don't spend it when you get it.

- Robert Kent, wildly successful photographer and philanthropist

My last business partner and I were expecting mid-six figures for a book advance. Dreams were ballooning. Family was swooning. Our ship was coming in! The deal wasn’t even sealed and we had picked out a new house and the custom-made sofa to go with it.

“That wave of money is going to come in,” Rob said to me over Souvlaki, “and it’s going to take you right out with it.” My dreams of a Dwell pre-fab house started to crumble.

“Listen,” Rob continued. “You need to feel the power of sitting on it, of letting it actually feed your creativity. If you spend it when you get it, you’ll have to catch up with it, and that will sap your energy.”

We didn’t listen. We sank most of our advance money into the book and needless company growth. We didn’t need to expand. We needed to deepen, to stay lean and focused. Not long after, we were developing bigger projects to keep up with ourselves. I should have listened to this…

Grow organically.

- Rikia Saddy, marketing strategist

Rikia declined to invest in one of my companies because she thought it was the kind of business that should “grow organically…one step leading to the next. Your work needs to build on itself.” Those words would echo in my mind when it all fell apart. And when I started my solo, biggest venture ever.

Fuck your so-called principles.

- Mr. A., lawyer

Some young TV producers and I were very tangled in a very good-for-them but bad-for-me contract. “It’s not about the money grab they’re going for,” I ranted to my lawyer. “I don’t care about the money. It’s about the principle of the matter. What they’re doing is so wrong and they bloody well know it.”

“So you want to drag this out for months because of your principles?” he said. “You want to sink a few more grand into this because of your principles? I’ve had a lot of clients over the years that have made themselves sick, wrecked their marriages, or drained their finances to protect their so-called principles.

Of course the Producer Girls are wrong. They’re greedy twits. You could counter sue and probably crush them. But fuck your principles and get on with your life.”

And so I did.

Only do it if it's fun. If it's not fun, make it fun. If you can't make it fun, don't do it.

- Peter Russell, physicist/philosopher

Ah, sweet Peter. If only I took this jesterly sagacity to heart way back when, I’d have avoided so much agony. This has become my most impassioned mantra. I do only what I want to now, and that’s crazy fun.

Don't burn bridges.

-John Petersen, Futurist

At the time I thought this was staid and stodgy convention. Yawn - heard it a hundred times. And how could I possibly stomach being nice to General So & So for being such a such n’ such – I was outta there, wasn’t gonna look back. But John went on to philosophize a bit, and it touched me. “The world is a small town, and you never know when you’re going to circle back and need someone. Besides, it’s rarely worth telling someone off, there’s always something better to do with your time.”

Of course, I have burned some bridges. TNT kaboom and obliterated. In fact, I said to one client who accused me of shopping out his proprietary slogans to another client, “You best consider this bridge burned. To a crisp.” But generally, bridge preservation in work relationships is about basic kindness and dignity to all parties. And that’s always a good thing.

TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR PART 2.

Love,

. . . . . . .

"If you haven't heard, or you've been on the fence about pre-ordering Danielle LaPorte's Fire Starter Sessions for Entrepreneurs, run, don't walk. You will not be sorry. The first chapter is brilliant and I am sure the rest to come will be. just. as. amazing."
- Nona Jordan, business & life coach

. . . . . . .

INTERVIEWS

Tammy at Rowdy Kitten asked me:
"What are your thoughts on self-imposed limitations?"
Me: Self-imposed limitations can be a major act of creativity, I’m talking more about discipline and the boundaries that come with being focused on your art. It’s what Twyla Tharp called “The Bubble”. You enter a zone for a period time to get the art out, to get the job done by letting yourself be consumed. You can’t live in that bubble always, but it’s a sweet, productive place to be... READ MORE.

Jennifer Hritz asked me about the importance of “play” for adults!
Me: Work without play is death. Life without play is work. READ MORE.

 

part 1: lifeblazing interview

This is Part 1 of a 3-part interview that life coach Erika Harris, did with me. It's fabulous...not because of moi-moi-moi, but because Erika asks thoughtful questions. The result: some really useful (and hopefully inspiring) material for both business and life. I felt like I'd just cozied up with Charlie Rose. But better.

PART 1

This segment is particularly useful if you're interested in publishing - online or traditional. I give a zip-zap run down of what I think is up in the industry right now. I also talk about generosity + entrepreneurship, and the power of telling your own story.

. . . . . . .

THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS ebook is open for pre-orders, don'tchya know!

. . . . . . .

FIND Erika Harris
Erika Harris is an empathic coach specializing in the needs and gifts of Introverts, Empaths and Highly Sensitive People (HSPs.) She works with individuals and pioneering companies to brainstorm the ways that skillful sensitivity can be mastered and monetized.

site: Joyful-Work-For-Sensitive-People

 

part 2: lifeblazing interview

PART 2 of 3

Why we've become too politically corrected when it comes to giving our opinions; and the intersection between sovereignty and collaboration (such a great question!)

. . . . . . .

THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS ebook is open for pre-orders, don'tchya know!

 

part 3: lifeblazing interview

PART 3 of 3

The paradigms of collaboration, the pain of being edited, and "creating a culture of yes." And...the spiritual value of your name.

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. . . . . . .

THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS ebook is open for pre-orders, don'tchya know!

 

the fire is lit: behind the scenes of launch day

It's 9:11pm PST on a Tuesday night.

THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS pre-buy has just been launched!

I'm listening to some Hildegard von Bingen chants and drinking the pot of Acai tea that got cold this morning. The house is quiet.

TRUE STORY: I was exchanging dirty jokes with Bindu Wiles earlier today (she's a Buddhist, but she can gutter-mind with the best of them.) Like I had time today, of all days, for crackin' jokes on email. The technology that sits behind the distribution of a digitally-sold digital product, with videos embedded and lotsa pages, and an aesthetic perfectionist at the helm (that'd be me)...we'll let's just say it's a-many-layered beast of beauty that requires some concentration and teamwork. I relented. Some jokes were in order to lighten the mood in order for me to make my life-line (can't use the word deadline, there's nothing dead about this, it's ALIVE!)

So after the exchange of raunchness, while Bindu was drinking Bordeaux on my behalf in a wine-bar in Brooklyn, I zapped her back quickly to say:

like I have time for these antics.
okay serially, now.
can you and yours send mega watts of light my way?
that my launch is blessed ten-fold.
that my content is stellar and improves lives.
that I'm flooded with cash and joy.
launching in a few hours.
hope it doesn't suck.
xo
D

And then Bindu (keep in mind she's probably drunk at this point, and she said she'd laughed so hard at my blue joke that she chipped a tooth.) Anyway, she zaps me right back:

It's so endearing that you are nervous. Such a lovely aspect of you.
Yes of course the Brooklyn Buddhists have your back. Blessings and retweets coming your way.
Everyone is sooooooo excited and waiting. Tomorrow is like Christmas on Twitter.
You have been through a hard push and I hope tonight before you go to sleep you smile and appreciate yourself.
I am so moved by you.
Cheers and cash,
Bindu (and friends in wine-bar)

Now, you know by now that I only share personal stuff if I can turn my anguish and glory into, like, a teachable moment for the universe.

Here it is: art + commerce is tricky shit. Always has been. Always will be.

A highly regarded painter friend of mine said that art shows were, "Like pulling down your pants in front of everyone. Slowly."

In this case, my pre-pre-buy pre-launch pre-flutteries reminded me of this, simply: That I care. Deeply. And that's such a comforting reminder when you're trying to peddle your art. And apparently, it's pretty endearing.

Now please head over to this lovely new section and get yourself a piece of the flame.

With a very full heart,

The raunchy joke? Can't tell. It's family property.

 

all about the fire starter sessions digital book. in just two minutes.

PRE-ORDERING OPENS WEDNESDAY APRIL 7th! TWO DAYS!
Universal launch: Wednesday, May 12th

. . . . . . .

FIERY INTERVIEWS

"I dig your superhero name, Agent Now. What wily foe does Agent Now most often battle, and what is that foe’s kryptonite?"
: Marissa Bracke asked me some of the best big questions, ever.

"Money gives women agency. Why should money be more important to women? "
: Sas Lockey and I got down with femininity, power and snake bites.

 

a reprise of hot stuff: part 1

I'm in a whirling creative vortex these days and when it spits me out, I'll have a new video-eBook of love and strategy in my arms for you:

THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS, "a digital experience for people with the entrepreneurial spirit" The pre-order launch is next Wednesday, April 7th! If you buy your copy next week, you'll get a sneak peak chapter: "True Strength & The Metrics of Ease." Prepare to get all worked up.

This is a good time to scan the White Hot library for some best-of's that you may have missed or adored. Please dig in.

3 OF MY MOST EFFECTUAL BUSINESS ARTICLES
: 3 keys to un-branding…and why I changed my twitter name
: 11 productivity tips that creative types already know
: doozers and losers: my favourite business mistakes

WHEN I NEEDED TO TAKE MY OWN ADVICE
: how to apologize. I actually had to think about this piece last week when I botched an apology to someone. Oops. Which then led me to this: 11 tips for dealing with criticism

WHEN I WROTE THESE PIECES, I WAS CRYING
: where to find God: down, not up
: are you willing to be toast?: authentic transformation
: what is your relationship to…life?
: what's it going to take?

PART OF MY EVERYDAY LIFE
: inhale suffering, exhale compassion: tonglen meditation

INSPIRED BY MY SHRINK
: no excuse for bad manners
: love sucks, but you can't beat it
: are you positively addicted?

THE ASK A FRIEND SURVEY
I get a lot of thanks for this one. Have you ever asked a good friend what they think of you? Take a deep breath and just send it.

I'M SO WELL-ROUNDED I CAN HARDLY STAND IT
One of the few (and probably last) pieces I wrote on style: take the style self-exam

QUOTES
I passed a thousand signs
looking for my own name.
- Johnny Cash

When I first launched White Hot Truth, I regularly ran other people's inspirational quotes, poetry, and lyrics - Johnny Cash to Rumi (wouldn't THAT combo make for The Man of All Men?!) I have a collection of beautiful clips here - explore.

Sending Love from The Lab of Inspired Pragmatism,
and I'll see you next week with THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS ebook!