entrepreneurship

ode to the entrepreneurial spirit: an apology to 9 to 5r’s everywhere

I think an alarming number of us are indeed Zombies, as Everett Brogue puts it. I rode the Metro in Washington, DC for three years and all it takes is one week riding next to depressed and frazzled government commuters in their too tight Dress Barn suits and crappy ties, eating on the go, looking vacantly into the dark tunnel to conclude that, Yep, 9 to 5 is a special kind of hell and the residents are too tired to escape.

Around that time I came into a lot of contact with Navy Admirals and Pentagon folk. As a vegetarian, apolitical Canadian with crystals tucked into my bra and the Law of Attraction as my secret weapon, I wasn't too stoked to meet Colonel and the boys. I reeked of judgment. But now I can tell you from experience that the Pentagon is peppered with enlightened men whose primary intention is to make the world more peaceful. They believe in universal intelligence and they're remarkably open-minded. I even knew a vegetarian Commander. So the joke was on me. The human spirit thrives everywhere.

And the entrepreneurial spirit thrives everywhere -- even in cubicles and factory lines.

I've been waving the great flag of work-for-yourself freedom for years. Bust out! Crush restrictions! Define life on your own terms! Creativity sovereignty or death! I'm a midwife of the strategies that make freedom dreams real -- and proud as any Baptist or Marine about it. Righteousness is beautiful, dangerous territory.

There's so many of us fuck-the-system cool kids with platforms now, it's giving me cause for some pause. I see the potential for divisiveness. Superiority. J-o-bs vs. Careers. Ninjas vs. Suits. Artists vs. Civil Servants. I think the freedom message is evolutionary. It's sacred. And we need to stay anchored to the pure intention of it.

Is someone working at Cisco or ABC Tool & Die missing out on the good life? Are line-workers and 9 to 5r's less daring, less free, less...entrepreneurial? I used to think so. I apologize.

I know executives who are profoundly liberated in how they bring their gifts to the world. I know people who work for themselves in such a punishing way that they may as well be working for The Man.

It's not about the packaging, it's not about the form, it's the heart of the matter that we need to see rightly.

It's the entrepreneurial spirit that I want to foster.
Inside the system and out.
Everywhere.

Mike Rowe, host of the Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs sums it up in this TED talk. His masterfully told story begins with a tale of castrating sheep, winds through some Greek philosophy, and lands on the war on work and this insight:

"Clean and dirty aren't opposites, they are two sides of the same coin. Just like innovation and imitation, risk and responsibility."

When we peel back the labels, and the job titles, and being cool, all work can be an opportunity for liberation.

. . . . . . .

 

9 books for deepening how you create + work (part 2 of 3)

This is part 2 in a 3 part series. Upcoming this week:
Read Part 1 here: 9 books that could deeply influence how you live

creating & entrepreneuring

Beauty: Rediscovering the True Sources of Compassion, Serenity, and Hope, by John O'Donohue
"The awakening of individuality is a continual unfolding of our presence. Individuality is not a thing or a position, not the act to a fixed or stolid identity. Individuality is the creative voyage of aloneness in which the fits and limitations of real presence merge." I adore this man, a rogue priest turned poet.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't, by Jim Collins
There are about four game-changing practices that I took away from Good to Great. I write about my favourite of them here: my dominatrix of decisions rides a hedgehog

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, by Tim Ferris
I'm not down with the potential detached autotron-ness of 4HWW, howevah, Ferris' reasoning and tactics for freedom-driven living inspired me to grow my lil' empire in some more effective ways.

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich
Never did I take my good fortune and earned success for granted. And thanks to Ehrenreich's great journalism, I never will.

The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick), by Seth Godin
"Smart people quit sooner."

Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World, by Margaret Wheatley
"In this new world, you and I make it up as we go along, not because we lack expertise or planning skills, but because that is the nature of reality. Reality changes shape and meaning because of our activity. And it is constantly new. We are required to be there, as active participants. It can’t happen without us and nobody can do it for us."

Let Your Life Speak: Listening To The Voice of Vocation, by Parker Palmer
Parker, a legendary educator, shares his journey of deep depression toward the unfolding of his truer calling. "I lead by word and deed simply because I am here doing what I do. If you are also here, doing what you do, then you also exercise leadership of some sort."

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamott
The Shitty First Draft... The white cards... Page by page and bird by bird. Warm touchstones for anyone who writes.

Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative, by Edward Tufte
Designers and scientists and engineers and the aesthetically-obsessed alike should be worshiping at the altar of Tufte.

. . . . . . .

NEW: one of my favourite recent interviews, with activist and yogini, Marianne Elliot

 

cast your votes! strike a match for fire starter session winners!

♥ CLICK HERE TO VIEW + VOTE FOR THE LOVE MATCHEES ♥

Love Match Week yielded 130 fervent applications from aspiring entrepreneurs from New York to New Zealand. Guidelines for applicants were finicky but open to interpretation. Alexandra and I selected 15 finalists, and now it's time for the the free world to choose the winners. 7 of them. Each of whom had a great cocktail line and is revving to take their work in the world to the next level.

It's out of my hands now. I kind of feel like Simon Cowell when it's America's turn to choose the Idol. (But sweeter. And without all that V-neck exposing chest hair.) (more...)

 

saying yes to your dream: frank gehry + devotion

Even great artists sell out. Sometimes it happens post fame and fortune. Other times, as in the case of architect Frank Gehry, you sell your soul in the beginning of your career, on what you hope is your way up.

It's better to sell out early, if only because time is merciful and you can blame so much on youth and learning curves. You have time to recover and re-invent. It's exceedingly harder to redeem yourself once you've let your hit song be used for a burger commercial, or you've turned your personal touch into a factory franchise. So for all of you grinding gears in a day job while your heart is spinning bigger dreams, consider this:

One of Frank Gehry's first buildings, was a shopping mall, The Santa Monica Place. It was rigidly geometric and pale pink. He played it safe for investors and went LA-style. He hated it.

Meanwhile, as a more direct and personal creative outlet, Gehry went full out "Gehry" on building his own home. Sloping roofs, curvaceous windows, jutting peaks. Wacky and wildly organic.

The night of the grand opening of the Santa Monica Place, the president of the real estate company that had hired Frank was at Gehry's home for a dinner party.

Real estate Exec: What the hell is this?, he said to Frank, looking around Gehry's house, awestruck.
Frank: Well, I was experimenting, you know, playing with it.
Exec: Well you must like it if it's your house. You do like this, right?
Frank: Yeah. I'm happy with how it turned out.
Exec: So then...the building that you just did for us...the shopping mall...you can't possibly like that.
Frank: You're right, I don't.
Exec: Then why'd you do it?
Frank: Because I need to make a living.

Pause.

Exec: Well stop it. Don't do that kind of work anymore.
Frank: Yeah, you're right.

They shook hands that night and decided to quit everything they were working on (they were employing forty people at the time.)

"It was like jumping off a cliff," Gehry says. "It was an amazing feeling. I was so happy from then on."

Devotion can be that easy.

The moment you say yes is the beginning. It's not when you give your notice or when your novel is off the press. It's when you say yes to the desire.

"Maybe" clogs up the dream machine.
Do you want a career that amazes even you? Then say yes. Do you want a love life brimming with adoration and the sweet stuff? Then say yes. If you start to tell me why it's not possible or how bad you want it but you don't know how to get it - then you don't want it bad enough. Maybe isn't going to cut it.

And if someone great calls you out on your own greatness, consider it a sacred moment. Those opportunities are precious. To have your 'yes' witnessed is magic-making.

Even after his big yes moment, there were failures for Frank. He was supposedly cash-strapped more than once. He bid on projects he never got. He had to can staff. He questioned is own judgment.

But he never did another building that he didn't absolutely love creating.

Sketches of Frank Gehry by Sydney Pollack is one of my favourite documentaries. (The late) Pollack features in it and the interaction between the master director and master architect is inspiring and charming.

 

snap, crackle, win. the love match tally is in! 2 days to play.

It was Love Match Week last week for The Fire Starter Sessions. For every program purchased, we gave one away. "Gifted" copies were directly donated by purchasers to their friends, daughters, fellow bloggers (there were tears and applause, lot's of goodness,) or, buyers could donate their copy to the Love Match Mix, for aspiring/applying entrepreneurs to win. The results are in: (more...)

 

monthly round up: september was fully-saturated, swift…and soft

Here's a White Hot recap of the planet's last 30 revolutions:

If you're opening this email TODAY, FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, it's the final day for the LOVE MATCH EVENT. Ends at midnight.
Buy 1 Fire Starter Session. We give 1. There are two ways to give: you can gift the program to someone you already know; or to an aspiring entrepreneur you haven't met yet, who will be selected through a public voting process. There is one way to receive: by applying.
CHECK IT OUT.

: the initiated woman. She knows that kindness is fertile, that compassion is a lever, and that the shortest distance between you and me is...love. INITIATE YOURSELF.

: traffic, tears and tenderness. Vulnerability is valuable. Stories are effectual. And yep — soul sells. PUT SOME HUSTLE IN YOUR BUSTLE with 17 lessons from 5 years of on-line hustling.

: 7 things I know about active letting go. De-cluttering is a practice — like meditating or playing the piano. Shedding, clearing and carving space is a creative act. AND IT'S GONNA HURT. FACT.

interviews

: it's not about the grammar, it's about the passion. My interview with Amelia Critchlow. Moxy, deep listening and a parable set in high school. My high school. READ IT HERE.

: Creative sovereignty, publishing, Paris...and lobster My interview with Girl Habits. CRACK OPEN THE SHELL.

: Crafting crafts + ideas. My interview with Moth & Squirrel. "You want enlightenment? Tile my house!" And other things my Buddhist Lama friend said to me. GET CRAFTY.

sightings + soul merch

: engaging eCourses: how to motivate others to get the results they want. Info without action isn’t worth much. To bridge the gap, Kelly Kingman + Pace Smith interviewed moi (and brilliant others like Sonia Simone, Charlie Gilkey, Mark Silver, Scott Stratten and Pam Slim). The result? Engaging eCourses — a must-read for anyone designing a virtual workshop. CHECK IT OUT.

: save the dates. I've got a stream of speaking gigs in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland and NYC. Find out where I'm gonna crowdsurf next (spiritually, not literally). PERUSE MY UPCOMING EVENTS

Autumn Love,

 

the divine law of the ugly chair, hot shopping and nyc love

Possibilities & The Divine Law of The Ugly Chair, my guest post on BinduWiles.com

In a past life, I did a bit of interior design work to pay the bills. This was a common scene: The homeowners and I do a walk through of their house. In the living room is a garish chair. Fugly. Usually a lounger, often with some kind of floral pattern. The couple has brought me in because they want fresh, contemporary, comfort. “What’s with the chair?” I ask. “We know it’s horrible, we hate it. But we haven’t had the money to get a new one.” Me: “Get rid of it this weekend.” Them: “But what will we sit on?” Me: “Sit on the floor. Pile up on the couch. You’ll figure it out. The sooner you get rid of it, the sooner the right chair will show up.”

Here's the monumentally important philosophical point: The Divine Law of the Ugly Chair applies as much to furniture and stuff, as it does to lovers, jobs, and thought forms. Please head over to BinduWiles to read the full article.

And if you're inspired, join in The Shed Project. I'm an active member in the Shed-venture, and I'll be writing more in the coming weeks about the terror, ecstasy, and thrilling efficiency of letting go-go-go.

. . . . . .

Fresh WhiteHot
I just gave my website a facial. Newness =
: HOT SHOP! which now includes an extended list of People You Need To Know (like, coaches, writers, and other life-supporters), some Most Recommended Resources, and a spiffed up personal Amazon store.
: RAVES! fabulous things (most of it unsolicited, even!) that purchasers of The Fire Starter Sessions are saying.
: GIGS: A calendar of upcoming speaking gigs + events in NYC, Seattle, Vancouver, Portland OR, and next week in the Salt Lake City area.

. . . . . .

NEW YORK, I love you.
Two things:
1) I'm speaking at the Rich, Happy, Hot Live event at Donna Karan's Urban Zen Center on November 13. It will be an epic 3 day event. I'll be hanging for most of it because I'm mad-crazy about everyone involved and the chickas who have registered so far. Not sure, but I think it's almost sold out (only 150 places.) Check it out, make it happen if you can.

2) SAVE THE DATE. Tweet up Anniversary! Were you at the Thom Bar in SOHO last September with some really hot mamas + me? You'd remember if you were. Details are in the works but Bindu Wiles (who I met at said legendary Tweet Up) and I are looking at Thursday November 11, Wednesday November 10 for a gathering. Just to drink and laugh. No microphones or sign up sheets. The world is invited. Stay tuned.

Lovetothelove,

 

new york, salt lake city + seattle…here i come!

After taking a few months off of public speaking to launch The Fire Starter Sessions, set up a new home, road trip with my kid, and generally deepen into the how of my what...I am getting my heels and lip gloss back on! Gimme the mic. It's time to levitate.

salt lake city area

Noah's South Jordan, Utah: Friday, September 24
StartUp Princess, Touch Point
"The Startup Princess Annual Event for Women Entrepreneurs...to share and discuss every aspect of starting and growing a business."
TICKET INFO...

seattle

Seattle: Monday, November 8
Ladies Who Launch: Dream It, Launch It, Live It! Global Conference
"...a distinctive, boutique conference experience that will help take women everywhere to the next level of their lives. We will deliver the encouragement, advice, authentic tools and inspiration you need to launch your dream business – and your dream life!"
TICKET INFO...

new york city

New York City: Nov 12 - 14, 2010
Rich, Happy + Hot... LIVE EVENT with Marie Forleo
Donna Karan's Urban Zen Institute, Manhattan
TICKET INFO...

This is going to be a magical experience.
Only 150 places are available, and about 40 have sold already so...boogie on.
I'm THRILLED to be sharing the stage over the three days with Marie Forleo and Kris Carr...and at Donna Karan's Urban Zen Center!!! Dreamy.

I'll be speaking on The Business of Deep Courage: How to Harness Your Sincere Ambition

There's a kind of ambition that comes from your soul. It's beyond the status quo, to-do lists, and comparison. It's fiery. It's complicated. It's simple. It's original. Sound like you?

When you tend to your truest ambition with fierce love and intelligence, things begin to flow: ideas, cash, clear strategy, results. The right people connect with you; you see the most direct routes to making things happen; challenges feel like freedom-training rather than cursed obstacles. You will discover the equation of joy + service that = cashola.

This success does not happen without plenty of courage. You cannot avoid your deepest desires and expect to create something sustainable. Devotion to your sincere ambition — and to the collective is essential. This is the deep business of courage. It's practical, and smart, and…hot.

Sound like you?

It will.

Registration is now OPEN!

 

monthly round up: august was…expansive

August was ripe with road trips and permission slips. Here's a round up of the past month:

: depression vs. sadness: the power of mincing words. Sadness strips you raw. Depression muffles and muddles. When you respect the difference, you're closer to the cure. SHARPEN YOUR LEXICON, READ HERE. (more...)

 

get a spark o’ the fire : the true strengths + the metrics of ease chapter

Would you rather be sufficient, or masterful?
Would you rather be bright, or a freaking supernova?
Would you rather be well-rounded, or
on your own leading edge?

"This chapter is a BEAUTY — such a kick start.
Your words give me permission to be awesome."
- Sas Lockey

True Strengths + The Metrics of Ease is Session 3 in THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS. One of the most popular chapters, you can get it now as a mini-media sparklet, a warm up for the mondo inferno. It explores:

: clarifying your intrinsic strengths vs. weaknesses
: the dangers of being "competent." Being well-rounded is highly overrated.
: the game-changing practice of getting better at what you’re best at
: passion as your growth point
: the brilliance of approving of your weaknesses
: enthusiasm as a state of higher consciousness
: using grace as data in your decision making
: a list of personality tests and reading resources
: ...and a word on life purpose
: VIDEO: The Metrics of Ease with Danielle
: VIDEO: The Merits of Self-Centered with Danielle + Dyana Valentine
: WORKSHEET 4: Passion Play
: WORKSHEET 5: Very Strong Priorities

"[this] chapter...is blowing my mind. Amazing.
This chapter alone is worth way more than $150."
- Tim Murphy

All this for $20 bucks, baby. And when you're hot for more, you can put the cost of this chapter toward the full-tilt FIRE STARTER SESSIONS program. And! By owning the True Strengths chapter, you're able to become an affiliate.

** click here to purchase true strengths + the metrics of ease **

rave reviews

"Danielle LaPorte's passion for her mission leaps off the page, and reading a few chapters of this book will ignite you into action."
– Gretchen Rubin | Author, The Happiness Project

"The Fire Starter Sessions is the revolution you’ve been waiting for. It will shake-up and wake-up every aspect of your life."
– Kris Carr | Award-winning Author and Documentarian, Crazy, Sexy, Cancer

"The Fire Starter Sessions is the new, bad-ass Artist’s Way.”
– Linda Sivertsen | Co-Author, Harmonic Wealth and Generation Green

"The Fire Starter Sessions...is so good that I’m taking it slow. All meat, no filler."
– Nathan Hangen | Author, Beyond Blogging and the Webrepreneur's Guide to Funding Your Business

"No entrepreneur should make another decision about the direction of his or her future without reading this book and doing the exercises Danielle has included."
– Alexis Martin Neely | Founder, Family Wealth Planning Institute and The LIFT Foundation System

"I'm savoring my way through FSS and loving it. I've scheduled a standing weekly appointment to work through Danielle's ass-kicking, fire-lighting, stakes-raising worksheets until. I'm. done. I'm admitting, forgiving, clarifying, imagining, and (most importantly) becoming – and I've needed this for a long time."
– Dave Navarro | TheLaunchCoach.com

"Money, failure, power, appreciation – this doesn't leave anything out of the mix."
– Barbara Stanny | Author, Overcoming Underearning

"You know the acronym TABO? True And Bleedingly Obvious. The Fire Starter Sessions are the opposite of that. They're fresh, compassionate, practical, sassy, designed (and design is one crucial way that content becomes useful), wise, engaging and, above all, different."
– Michael Bungay Stanier | Author, Do More Great Work and Senior Partner, Box of Crayons

Or of course, you could just go for the mondo inferno right this minute and invest in the full FIRE STARTERS SESSIONS program. Click the orange icon:

$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

or...

click here and warm up for $20 with a sample Session.

With Love,