entrepreneurship

rich, happy and hot b-school + loving it up in nyc this november

part 1:

Marie Forelo and I jammed last week on her Rich, Happy & Hot B-School. I've seen the course plan and it's just the kind of work that makes me think, "I'm so glad someone is doing this the smart way."

I'm giving B-School a double thumbs up because:

: B-school materials are logical and uber practical, (like this Instant Money Maker campaign - yep - it's that simple, if you understand the psychology behind it.)
: Marie is a love-driven entrepreneur with stellar intentions.
: The emphasis is on making money online (and every business is about making money online) and MARKETING.
: Marie and her B-School partner, Laura Roeder actually make lotsa of money online. They have a track record.
: B-School is the ideal support system after working with me as a “1-on-1 client or a FIRE STARTER SESSION reader.
: (yep, I'm an affiliate, but I'm not an e-ho', my rep's on the line with every recommendation and I refer sparingly - hope you've noticed.)

: ... and Marie + Laura, win the prize for most innovative and sexy product launch. Check out their Give Me the Funk VIDEO HERE.

Enrollment is CLOSING this Thursday, August 19 at midnight PST - it will sell out, because these ladies make stuff happen.

**** CLICK HERE for B-School pricing and enrollment info. ****

part 2
whereby we set NYC on fire

Marie is hosting her annual Rich, Happy and Hot LIVE Event:
November 12 - 14
New York City
at Donna Karan's Urban Zen Foundation

I'll be rocking the stage (yeah!!!) for one of the days with Marie and one of our favourite wellness mavericks, Kris Carr of Crazy Sexy Cancer/Oprah-sweetheart, founder of CrazySexyLife.com renown.

This will be a really special event...Marie has built so many layers of love into the weekend. I'm deeply excited and honoured. (And to speak at DKNY's Urban Zen Foundation has been a dream of mine!)

THE SPECIAL OFFER The next 25 people to register for B-School, will get a $300 event voucher toward the Rich, Happy & Hot LIVE November Event. So if the Rich, Happy & Hot LIVE in November sounds like something you want to do, register for B-School now and lock-in the $300 savings.

Follow your heart...

 

art + cash, truth + freedom: recent interviews

I've been asked some great questions lately by lovely seekers and servants of entrepreneurship. Please dig in.

LifeDev.net with @Glen Stansberry

Glen: Money and Art seem to always be at odds. This is a massive deal for MANY wanting to stay true to themselves, but still make money. Good money, even.So here’s the Million Dollar Question: How do you create a personal brand, without selling out?

Danielle:...If you create a personal brand that isn’t deeply personal, you’ve already sold out.

The vast majority of artists I know (from writers and craftspeople, to software developers and designers) don’t have any quams with making money – and lot’s of it if possible. What makes them all weird is the marketing of their stuff, they don’t want to sell out and become an infomercial. It understandable, because we live in a culture of false advertising and the slick, hard sell. It’s dangerous turf for sure. But this is where you need to diligently carry your personality forward. It’s not enough to have an authentic, integrity-driven offering, you need to sell it in a way that is true for you. If you’re slick, be slick. If you’re subtle, be subtle. Just be consistent. And above all, be passionately proud of what you’re bringing to the world.

>> READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE

AuthenticatiKate.com with @katenorthrup

Kate: I find that, often, people (meaning myself) are unaccustomed to telling the truth. And my question is, what do you suggest for those of us who’ve been raised to be afraid of the truth, if we want to start to peel back the layers and start telling it like it is?

Danielle: Hang out with people who do tell the truth. Learn from example. Get interviewed. Start telling the truth to yourself.

Here’s a formula: Start telling the truth to yourself in as many ways as possible. And then start telling the truth to a few more people. Extend. I see it as concentric circles. So, you can tell yourself the truth when you look in the mirror. You can tell yourself the truth when you’re journaling. You can tell yourself the truth when you’re getting dressed, when you’re dancing, when you’re getting yourself off, when you’re going shopping. There’s lots of ways to tell yourself the truth. You can tell yourself the truth by drawing it out. Yeah, it’s about expression. And then tell one good friend, and then tell two good friends. And then start telling the people you work with, and then start telling strangers.

>> READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE

PurposefulProduct.com with @samrosen

Integrity branding, stripping it down to your truth, and as Sam calls it, "the mystical fog of creating product."

>> LISTEN TO THE RECORDING HERE

 

11 wisdoms that you can turn into cash…and crazy love

or: WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT THE HUMAN SPIRIT + MONEY ON MY 41st BIRTHDAY

So I did this Pay What You Can Day (hereto referred to as PWYCD) for THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS. On my birthday. Recently. Many people cheered me on for "clever marketing!" And hey, I did come out of the womb with my own press release, but, you know, this wasn't solely driven by a marketing impulse. I love the sentiment of giving gifts on your birthday. Giving feels good on any day. The PWYCD notion came to me just a few days before May 25 and, truly, I thought, Hey, what the hell? If, like 70 people get in on the deal, that'd be sweet. Ha! SEVEN HUNDRED+ e-books later, we lit up the sky with crazy delight and motivation.

What happened behind the scenes:
I went for a salt scrub that morning and when I came up for air to check my iPhone I almost fell off my lounger. Gobsmacked, as the Londoners say. My VA, Dawn and I just about keeled from the comments and the emails. (It took Dawn nearly two weeks to sort out the messages, PayPal invoices, currency exchanges, cheques, and special requests.) I got in my car and had to have a boo-happy-hoo. The stories sent to my personal email address were heart-stretching, sobering, inspiring. The outpouring of love and appreciation was stunning, and (and this is what moved me so deeply,) the spontaneous generosity sparked amongst White Hot visitors, well, that just about did me in. Between the spa steam, chocolate cake, and the PWYCD affection, I was a stun bunny.

It was a life-affirming, wisdom-bolstering, humbling event that ranks in the Top 3 highlights of my career (and birthdays!) Here's what it confirmed:

11 Wisdoms That You Can Convert to Cash + Crazy Love

1. Creativity + Aspiration = INGENUITY. And ingenuity wins, every time.

Make up your mind to make an effort and then make it up as you go.

"Here is a promise and my offer. 1) I will pay this gift forward. 2) I will hold you in the Light with an intention for abundant blessings on you, your family, your ventures, and your efforts to make the world a better place. 3) I'll send you 10% of every payment I receive from every client until the entire $150 is paid off."
- Eydie

"If I sell a painting this week, I'll send you $100. If I don't sell anything, will $41 do?"
- Lisa

2. Initiative and specificity are sexy.

"I've got $37.80 in my PayPal account. It's yours. Right now. (I wish it were so much more.) I will Tweet your praises and send you a full testimonial within two weeks of receiving the book."
- Andi

3. Humility is the inroad to conviction.

The stories of hardship, and resiliency, and exceptional wealth that were so open-heartedly shared with me from women and men in four different countries...well, be still my heart. I had flashbacks to my own days in the New Mexico welfare office after I'd lost three clients in two weeks. I had flash-forwards to my intentions for sweeping financial freedom.

"I am a broke, unfunded graduate student & I work part time and a children's bookstore to feed my belly while I stoke my soul. I'd like to offer $30, a multiple of three, a great fairy tale number. And when my first book is published, you'll be in the Acknowledgments.
- Natasha

"My situation: I am currently unemployed - but am stirred up, expectant, and on purpose. I hope to use your vook to successfully launch a blog of my own. I am most humbled by your generosity and am offering to pay $75 USD."
- Rah

"I'm a single mom of two, getting food stamps, with plenty of ambition and smarts and vision. I'm good for $30 this month."
- Sasha

Sharing your story is the surest way to create a unified field of empathy. And empathy moves mountains.

4. Generous people have more to give.

"Danielle, I'd like to offer $150 but in a spread-the-love way. I'd like to:
1. give $50 directly to you,
2. give $50 to whichever of these (http://u.nu/366pa) Gulf oil spill rescue & cleanup initiatives you'd like me donate to, &
3. give a final $50 on behalf of someone who can't afford to pay anything at all for the sessions because they've done something very brave (like for instance, a woman leaving an abusive relationship with her young kids)"
- Kye

(This gesture of Kye's started a domino affect. We gave out about a dozen Fire Starter Sessions "scholarships" and paired up the donor with the recipient.)

"I would like to humbly offer you $28.44. I know this is not a lot and does not do justice to the work that you have put in to your Fire Starter Sessions. I am offering you this amount because it is the entire amount of extra money that have outside of the finances that I have put aside for rent and other similar things. If you accept my offer, I promise that I will pay it forward and make sure to share both my experience with the Fire Starter Sessions and the generosity that you have shown. I can also send some vegan baked goods your way."
- Lexi

"I would like to offer you $25 for the FSS. In addition, here is my deal to you:
~ Within the next 6 months, I will pay the remaining $125 to pay the full amount.
~ By your 42nd birthday, I will not only book an actual Fire Starter Session with you, but I will also pay another $150 so that someone who either cannot swing today's offer or does not know about it can enjoy FSS, too."
- Mary

"Offering $75 for FSS and $75 for the Gulf clean up efforts - just let me know which one of those charities you prefer."
- CJ

"I can pay $50 for Fire Starter Sessions and in a month or two give another $50 to my friends organization in Haiti on your behalf." Check http://www.fida-pch.org "
- Bronwyn

"I love this idea so much that I'm offering $200. I've had a tab open on your site since you launched, planning to buy when the moment was right. I'd say this is it."
- Oroboros

5. Giving begets giving.

This flipped me right 'round:

"I'd like to gift a copy to my fabulous friend Jo Hanlon-Moores. She is brilliant and funny and talented. And her business is growing from a little acorn. I want to bring her some fire :)"
- Sas Lockey

"I can pay the full amount and am going to because your amazingly generous offer reminded me of just how very lucky we are and we live our lives by these three words - dignity, integrity and love. I hope that by paying in full I can help subsidize a copy for someone else."
- Sophie

"I'd like to give you $100 directly for the Fire Starter Sessions, and $50 to a charity of your choice."
- Melissa

6. You must heed the impulse to give. Generosity is a core muscle that your whole being can move on.

"Today has been full of unexpected gifts and I am now able to increase my offer to $100. Reading the comments in response to your generous offer I am struck by the power of sharing our gifts. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity within my own work, and you've inspired in me a grand vision for an annual pay-as-you-can gift to my extended community."
- Sarah Juliusson

7. When you give people a break, they want to -- and usually will -- go the distance for you.

"I wanted to ask for FSS for $50, but I can actually afford the full price if I'm honest. But your generosity forces me to either pay in full or not at all. Sigh. Stupid freakin integrity..."
- Andrew Lightheart

"I only have about $50 extra bucks a month, but I want to pay the full price because I know it's worth it."
- Sam

"I'd love to pay the full $150, but with the tight spot I'm in, $40 would make my heart smile. I hope that works for you. I'd be honored to pay the balance, or make a donation to charity in your name, once my business is up and running."
- Brian

"I sold three memberships to my small site today, so that's $60. I'd like to offer that as payment for the course right now."
- Magpie Girl

8. Scarcity creates anxiety.

(This fact alone gives me cause to never do another time-sensitive event like this. I'm not saying that I won't but...whoa.) We were bowled over by dozens of emails to this affect: "Did you accept my offer?" Some people left their price offer as a blog comment, then emailed me AND my VA, and also messaged me on Twitter, and in some cases, also left a message on Facebook. The sense of urgency was...urgent! I was shocked, because, in my mind (which of course I expected thousands of people to read), I intended to honour a huge range of offers. Need + want + restriction = urgency. And the tighter the restriction, the more likely that urgency will turn into anxiety.

9. Money makes people get all weird n' stuff.

Money is like a chemical. Some chemicals mix nicely with other chemicals, some don't. With my PWYCD experiment, some folks got downright demando, "I left my comment/offer this morning and I STILL haven't heard back from you." Chill. And I'm not saying to back off just 'cause you got a hot deal (tho' that is a factor,) I'm saying chill because "chill" is generally better for world peace and your complexion. When money and trust occupy the same space, things move forward.

10. Generosity + healthy boundaries clearly communicated = ahhhh.

It's fair to say that in the (now distant) past, I may have had some uh, boundary issues with my giving nature. So although I very clearly stated in the PWYCD announcement: "This offer expires at midnight PST May 25, just like my birthday does. And I'm serious about it." I was still fretting about the possibilities of pleading, after-the-fact requests. But I only got a couple of such requests and they were so gracious and dignified and sincere, that it was a total (healthy) pleasure to honour them.

11. Humanity is, on the whole, generous, loving and kind. People want to give.

And when you operate on that foundational premise, you are actively allowing amazing things to happen.

QUESTIONS?
I'm opening up this conversation to answer any questions about the behind the scenes happenings, technological do's and snafus, emotions, and outcomes of the PWYCD extravaganza. Let 'em fly!

And...thank you.

Ever true,

. . . . . . . . .

$150 for the full-tilt FIRE STARTERS SESSIONS 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 full
Table of Contents!

 

it’s pay what you can day. happy birthday to…us!

It's my birthday on Tuesday May 25. (I'm 41. No need to lie about it because: a) I look great, and b) I feel...41 some days, 111 on others, and usually, about 30.)

You could send: orchids, fine milk chocolate or cashmere. Or some Pinion incense from Taos, or Amber oil from Bali. I'm also partial to gold hoop earrings and mystical poetry.

But if you send some cash - on May 25 - I'll give you a prezzie back, because until midnight Pacific Standard Time, May 25, it's:

PAY WHAT YOU CAN DAY FOR THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

This offer applies to my Fire Starter Sessions digital extravaganza e-book (not my 1-on-1 consults. I'm not that beatific.) This could be a total snafuzzle but what the hey, it worked for Naomi...

Here's how it works: you pay what you truly can. That's it.

1) Leave a comment in the comments box and tell me what price would make your heart smile. Then we'll send you a PayPal invoice. If you're not inclined to publicly declare that your Mastercard (and Visa) are way maxed and you'd like to send me three postdated cheques for $20 each, over the course of ten years, well then, we'll make it happen.
2) Once you pay, we'll zap you the access code to the book. You'll need to download the book within 24 hours of receiving the link.
3) You go light up your life and career.

Some disclaimers and emotionality:
: THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS retails for $150 USD. A number of people have expressed that they think it's under-priced for the value. I'm cool with that.
: If you already have The Fire Starter Sessions and would like to gift it to someone at a pay-what-you-can rate, let us know who the lucky recipient is.
: This birthday offer is not retroactive.
: I reserve the right to veto ridiculous offers.
: If you feel inclined to pay the full price after you experience The Sessions, feel free.
: If you're independently wealthy and want to pay more than $150 for The Sessions, than that's just brilliant karma.
: I will take multiple payments over time (this works on the honour system. If you want to pay, say $30 in three installments, just let us know what your plan is.)
: For those of you who do not jive with PayPal or credit cards, you can mail a money order or a cheque (that's Canadian for "check") to: Danielle LaPorte, Box 78055, Grandview RPO, Vancouver BC, V5N 5W1

Repeat: this offer expires at midnight PST May 25, just like my birthday does. And I'm serious about it. If you're out of town, if you missed this email in your inbox...then the opportunity will have vanished. I like things, especially money things, elegant and simple (and generous.) So I'm extremely unlikely to do any other gimmicky stunts like this.

Make a wish! And and make me an offer...

With all the love in my heart,

. . . . . . . .

INTERVIEWS

: I'm a big fan of Adam Baker at Man vs. Debt, and after our interview, I'm convinced he needs his own TV show: WATCH HERE

: An interview with Kristin Harad about getting unstuck: LISTEN HERE

 

the logic + love of the nonrefundable policy. mine, that is.

Here it is: THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS is a non-refundable investment in your mojo and moxy -- similarly to the commerce for artwork, a book you'd buy from a bookstore and read, a consulting exchange, a concert, or an album that you would digitally download.

This is counter to the predominant e-book culture, I know. And I understand that having a satisfaction or money back guarantee helps to reduce buying resistance. I get it. But both my intellect and my heart are standing in the value of what I've created, and the responsibility and free-will of each of us.

BELOVED BUYERS:
1. Always, always know where your money is going. Get to know me before you pay me. Hang out, read my stuff. It won't take long to see that my belief system is melange of the deeply esoteric, and no-shit street smarts, and that my acumen comes as much from raising venture capital and hustling the media, as it does from Buddhism and too many self-help retreats. You'll probably get a lot more out of my work if you feel a sense of kinship with, or at least a likable curiosity about me and my perspectives.
2. Credit card and PayPal money is real money. It's easy to click-click. Lot's of on-line retailers rely on the click-click psychology. I'd much rather that you value your money in such a way that buying THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS feels like a high-traction investment, because you are worth it. And you most certainly are.
3. In the grand scheme of your vocation, your fulfillment and financial freedom, $150 is, potentially, a micro investment.

BELOVED FELLOW ARTISTS:
1. Give it your all. As an artist and a strategist, my responsibility is to show up and be fully available with every ounce of wisdom and experience that I've got to give. Holding back or reserving my better stuff for down the road isn't an option for me. For this product, this is the absolute best I have to give. That intention counts for a lot. But not everything of course. In the end, you need to deliver something with utility. According to the reviews, this is incredibly useful stuff.
2. Be specific about the features and format. I clearly layout what you'll get in terms of format. The Table of Contents says it well.
3. Test it out. And then test it out some more. Over 500 clients and seminar participants heard and responded to my theories and how-to's over the last two years. And a few dozen literary agents, editors, and willing guinea pigs reviewed my material to suggest improvements and affirmed it's practical application, and sometimes, it's sheer brilliance.
4. Wave your passion flag. As for the ineffable elements I promise to deliver, like, "inspiration" and "mojo fire" while I appreciate that we're all motivated and inspired by different things, if you're not moved or illuminated by at least half of the motivational content in The Sessions, than dude, not even puppies and miracles could blast through your cynicism.

I get asked if THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS will help someone achieve XYZ, or help them get clear on their goals or their life purpose, or give them SEO tips, or creativity prompts, and does it have value for someone who's still working in a corporate j-o-b.

My first answer: absolutely, positively, without a doubt, maybe.
My second answer: If you want it, get it. Follow your heart. That way, you're guaranteed to learn what you need to know.

Love + Respect,

 

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!)

 

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

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.

 

best business advice i’ve ever received. part 1

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,

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"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

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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.

 

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

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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.

 

the cover! ta-da!

Me to my mom: So what do you think of the cover?
Mom: you're all blurry. No one can see your pretty face.
Me: Ma, it's, like, art.
Mom: Oh. Art.

PRE-ORDERING OPENS NEXT WEDNESDAY APRIL 7th!