motivation

your permission slip from the universe

I've got the Goddess of Permission on speed dial and she was thrilled to oblige with this sweeping list of acts of self expression and liberation. We can draw on it whenever we need. Come back often. Build on it. The Permission Goddess sends kisses and high-fives.

you have permission to

: not finish reading books that you're not really enjoying. Don't force it, close it.
: walk out of movies that suck (and hey, if you leave in the first twenty minutes, you can get your money back.)
: let it go to voicemail (especially during dinner, or snuggling, or watching So You Think You Can Dance?)
: give birthday gifts anytime of the year (which means you can be late or early and you can give yourself time to find just the right gift.)
: talk shit about WalMart (even if they do have the economic power of a small country.)
: cut the obligations cords that are driven by guilt.***
: pursue your own agenda.
: own next to nothing, live on a mattress, read and write and make love all day with no other responsibilities***
: return crappy products to their crappy manufacturers (because you can vote with your dollars.)
: leave your current business model so you can go do something bigger than you***
: tell your kids when you think that something an authority figure told them is bullshit (you need to be in solidarity with your child, not the so-called grown ups.)
: quit your job, even if you just started two weeks ago, or just got a raise, or are seemingly indispensable.
: get yourself off even, if you have a partner.
: have some secrets.
: cut out the elements of your business that you don't totally LOVE. The parts that 90% of the time make you say, "WHY am I doing this? I don't WANT to do this." ***
: give away/recycle/get rid of stuff, stuff, stuff sentimental stuff that special people gave you (your home is for you, not them); stuff that doesn't make you feel good even, if you spent a lot of money on it; stuff that has intense memories attached to it; stuff!
: say no to "free" stuff, like swag bags at fancy events and novelty erasers and pom-pom pens from the bank. (Because the only thing in life that's free is love.)

you have permission to

: fail, and fail again.
: to succeed, wildly, more than your neighbours, more than your folks, more than you thought was possible.
: be rich and "spiritual"
: be broke AND generous
: leave work early, get some ice cream, and sit in the hot tub at the gym***
: charge what you're worth***
: focus more on creating your soul job and less on finding a ho' job.***
: sleep! sleep in, nap, sleep.
: earn a living knitting for charity.***
: relax. To let go of the growing to-do list in your head. To release the need to get it "just right."***
: to dance.
: go bra-less or underwear free.
: give it all to charity.
: check your email whenever the hell you want.
: start now, without the degree, without the funding, without knowing exactly where you're going.
: sell your house to afford a big trip to India (a friend of mine did just that, no regrets.)
: walk away.
: fall in love.
: eat dessert first.

you have permission to
: not ever feel the need for permission.***

PS...The Goddess of Compassion, Quan Yin, also emailed me. She and The G' of Permish are a rad' team when they ride together. Quan Yin just wanted me to make sure she gets repp'ed in the mix: quit responsibly, say Fuck off with compassion in your heart, liberate with love, and cut clean when you need to use your sword. And when you can, do what you say you're going to do, or announce when you can't with deftness and care.

And then Ms. Permissive emailed me to say she gives you permission to whatever, however, because ultimately, it's all progress. I asked the Deities to take their debate off-line. Your liberation isn't their business anyway.

*** = permission requests. click on the asterisks to see who has been granted extra-special permission.

. . . . . . . .
ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS!

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.

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

$20 bucks, baby. And when you're hot for more, you can put the cost of the chapter toward the full-tilt FIRE STARTER SESSIONS program.

>> CLICK HERE to BUY True Strengths + The Metrics of Ease

>> or click here for more details

"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

. . . . . . . . .

MARIE FORELO'S B-SCHOOL
Registration for B-School closes this Thursday, August 19. Here's why I'm recommending it whole heartedly.

 

building trust and other tactical bullshit that you probably don’t need

I was on my way to a speaking gig in Austin, Texas. The taxi driver picked me up from the hotel so naturally he asked me if I was in town for business. "Sure am." I said. Then he asked what I did. (A question that always makes me sigh heavily inside. I teach people about the importance of having a "cocktail line," so lest I be a hypocrite, I have a smooth one liner that I can pull out at parties. This is NOT it:)

"I write, and I speak...on stage...n' stuff." (Severely LAME intro, my Fire Starter Sessions readers would be aghast.) "You're taking me to my gig tonight, actually."

"What do you talk about?" asked Bert.

"About being yourself," said I, Mademoiselle Motivational Speaker.

Silence. He was doing the math.

"Ain't it kind of sad that you gotta talk to people about being themselves?" asked Bert, thinking nothing of it. I laughed. Like, slapped my legged and threw back my head laughing. It was just the kind of relief that's sweet before you're about to go on stage in heels that will expire in precisely 2 hours.

"Yeah, it's sad. But if everyone were authentic, I'd be out of a gig, Bert. Some people need what I got. And if not, well I'm always good for a few jokes."
We laughed, together.

HAWKING WISDOM, AND BUYING IT
As a professional, I prey pray on the conundrums of the human condition. I get to polish my halo because we're all such fucked up, curious, perfectly beautiful messes. Cha-ching. I tell people things that are primary to some ears, and YES! revolutionary to other hearts.

As a peddler of stuff that goes into the collective field of consciousness, I'm responsible to wonder: Do you really NEED what I've got? I don't want to load the cultural landfill with useless know-what-ness.

Try this. The next time you walk into a bookstore, or stumble upon a seemingly helpful blog, or lean in to hear a theory from someone supposedly wiser or more trained than you, just ask yourself:
DO I REALLY NEED THIS?

When you ask yourself if you really need what someone is selling (from flip flops to life philosophy,) you start to rattle the trance-inducing phenomena of "popular," "pretty," "bestselling," "certified," "ordained," et cetera-rah-blah-blah-blah.

There are books that hit the NYTimes Bestseller list that are about the merits of being nice to people in business. About how, (hold on, this is breakthrough theorizing:) taking an active interest in people can help you build better relationships in the workplace; why asking people about their personal lives before a meeting can make them feel like they're part of team. (Wow. Is that like, statistically proven?)

Do you really need a blog to tell you how to...be nice?

And now there's a plethora of material about building trust, as if trust is a precious mineral that only some gifted folk know how to mine.

Do you really need a book to tell you how to...be trust-worthy?
Here, I'll tell you in one sentence and you can skip all those books: be yourself on a regular basis and don't tell lies. It's worked well for a lot of people I know. Renegades.

DO I REALLY NEED THIS?

It's such a fog-cutting, wake-you-up kind of question. It activates your smarty pants brain chemicals, it safeguards you like a big brother looking after you on the first day of school. "Do I really need this?" saves you cash money. (WalMart might consider this article propaganda.)

So when the blogger or the Buddhist or the Motivational Speaker in heels tells you the answer to your problem, maybe you don't really need that answer. You have your very own.

Take my word for it.

. . . . . . . . .


PROUD SELF PROMO, (NOT SO SUBTLY POSITIONED AT THE END OF AN ARTICLE ABOUT BUYING/NOT BUYING WISDOM):

"The Fire Starter Sessions is a huge gift to anyone who is an entrepreneur, is thinking about becoming an entrepreneur or might one day entertain the possibility of maybe becoming an entrepreneur. Danielle helps you light a fire that is truly your own sacred flame. She delivers on every level: smarts, guidance, authenticity, deep wisdom, intuition, killer business acumen and practicality. She helps you tap into your deepest truth and create a thriving business from there. She is an alchemist, high priestess and yes, a true fire starter. This is not just a book or some videos, it's an experience."
- Danielle Vieth, Marketing strategist, copywriter

$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


Learn more...

. . . . . . .

Need writerly wisdom? I can hook you up: Bindu Wiles' Diamond Cutters course just opened. 6 writers. 6 weeks to refine and shine. CHECK IT.

 

confidence vs. blind faith: rock ‘em both

confidence

: Is earned. No exceptions. There are NO short cuts to initiation. Ever. It's law. You can do it quick n' dirty, (think: near death experiences, starter marriages done at the Lusty Lady Chapel in Vegas, trauma and tragedy, the 1999 dot com boom, winning the lottery.) Or you can do it slow, like, over life times kind of slow. But confidence is the result of insight and insight comes from experiencing things on a very deep level.

: Confidence is an arrow ommming to the target. Ommm. Spwack! Bull's eye.
: Confidence has a past. She has lost something before. (Dignity.) She's been shaken (even if she never showed it.)
: Confidence wavered and then went on to finish the race.
: Confidence goes in eyes wide open.

You need confidence to lead, to sustain, and to offer the kind of straight up compassion that transforms people.

blind faith

: Is exhilarating, caffeinated, giddy.
: Blind faith is like a race car. He white knuckles the wheel and hopes he makes the curve. Fhew.
: Blind faith is fresh. She recruits chance, destiny, and the good will of others. She prays, wishes, crosses her heart, and cozies up to luck, symbols and "signs." (It's a sign!)
: Blind faith gets carefree and careless confused. (It's okay, this is healthy chaos.)
: Blind faith tends to give up more easily, but regardless of that, blind faith is incredibly endearing.

You need blind faith to build confidence.

 

fear.less stories: the beautiful epidemic of fear

I learned this great little self-psych, truth-excavating trick in a Diamond Approach workshop: repetitive asking of the same question. It's simple, annoying, and soul-exfoliating. And it ALWAYS works with me and my fear. If you can breathe through the discomfort of not knowing, or the blocks that come up with digging into the "logic" of fear, this exercise can be incredibly effective, and fast. It just requires an open heart.

Following is an excerpt from Fear.Less Stories, an interviewed from Ishita Gupta. You can download the full, gorgeous magazine by clicking here now:
I sound a bit hard core, but I'm much more sweet then this snippet might have you believe. (All the more reason to go read the full article.)

. . .

We’re a culture of fear because we’re a culture of conformity. I’m a Zen master when it comes to fear with my entrepreneurial clients. I get out the cane and whack it and tell them, “Get over it.” I ask, “Do you want to be scared or do you want to be broke? Do you want to be scared, or do you want to move forward?” It’s OK if you want to be scared. You can do that if you want to stay in your 9-to-5 job.

When you make it that black and white, it becomes clear which way they’re going to go. I often do an exercise with people where I repeat the same question to them two, three, four times until we get to what’s really bothering them, until we get to their truth. If someone’s talking about their start-up, I say, “What are you scared of?” And they might say, “I’m scared of losing money.” I say, “What are you scared of?” They say, ‘I’m scared of making my husband angry.” I say, “What are you scared of?” They say, “I’m afraid of being alone.”

And there you go. There’s always a silent moment. Who’d have thought they’re scared to start their business because they may end up alone? Just the exercise of seeing that “a-ha” moment is fuel for getting on with things.

Everyone is struggling with the same thing: fear of being his or her true self. Everyone from artists to start-ups to high-level CEOs - everyone. They all have the same craving, the same longing to just get paid and be authentic. My God, it’s a beautiful epidemic.

. . .

Ishita Gupta interviewed me over the phone for the Fear.Less Stories project. She and her collaborator, Clay Hebert, were two of the superstars who made the cut for Seth Godin's highly sought-after Six Month MBA program.

Their project: inspire action through real life stories of how people have approached fear. The result: an elegant and motivating "micro magazine" that brings together the stories of Muhammad Ali, Howard Zinn, Karen Armstrong, Tony Hsieh, and one of my personal favourites, Parker Palmer, and other real life non-conformists. It's gorgeous. Go check it out.

. . . . . .
Visit Fear.Less Stories for some serious inspiration (and great design)
Ishita on Twitter: @ishitagupta
Clay Hebert on Twitter: @clayhebert
Seth Godin on micro magazines and a future of media

. . . . . .
THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS FULL LAUNCH COUNTDOWN IS ON! MAY 12!

CLICK HERE to see the epic table of contents

. . . . . .
INTERVIEWS
You gotta love a man who loves Rumi. Nathan Hangen + me on grief, focus and real business: WATCH HERE

Carmen Torbus + me on money and cheer-leading: LISTEN HERE

 

the sacred yes we wish for…and warrant

I used to think I was weak n' needy for wanting my "big break." I dreamed of being discovered. I toyed with the willingness to enter some Svengali deal where an agent dude or silver foxy dada would see my raw talent and shape me into a formidable star--a fresh new voice on the scene. I longed for Someone Really Important to give me a Yes that would change my life.

One day, that Yes came.

My first literary agent is one of the most powerful people in the business. With an agency roster like Malcolm Gladwell, Al Gore, Camille Paglia, Michael Moore, Jane Fonda, Anderson Cooper, even Danielle Steel...publishers and producers trip over themselves to take her her call. The day she signed me, my life changed. I was in bed for the teleconference. 10am EST, 7am PST. It was snowing out. She was extolling the merits of the book proposal, and in my state of stunned glee, I had to interrupt. "May I ask a question?" I said. "Does all this meaning that you're taking on the project?"

She laughed. "Yes!"

I had it. It felt like someone had lifted the red velvet curtains to my heart. I hung up the phone and cried. And I thought to myself, "God really wants me to do my work, 'cause this is it."

It's natural to crave the sacred Yes. Ideally, you give yourself the Yes first. That self-love methodology is all neat and tidy and evolved. But I think you still get evolution bonus points even if it takes a dozen power people to convince you that you are fabulous. Neil Young said that he didn't know for sure if he was talented until his albums sold. Fair enough.

It's the kernel of our humanity to want to be seen, recognized, understood--celebrated, even. And when that kernel is watered, magic tends to proliferate.

The sacred yeses you get don't have to be exceptional or prestigious or catapulting. The yeses can be votes of confidence, offerings of counsel, connections, a bitta cash when you need it most.

And you don't need to be a big league power broker to give someone a sacred affirmative.

We are all power brokers. Yes?

. . . . . . .
"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

"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

. . . . . . . .
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Master speaking coach, Gail Larsen as a spot left in her May 13-17 Transformational Speaking Intensive on Whidby Island. Her work is life-changing.

The very smart chickas at Freak Revolution have pulled together a great roster for the World-Changing Writing Workshop, which will run every Thursday from June 10th through July 15th. I'm going to jam about some creativity + publishing nitty gritty and I'm really excited about it. CLICK HERE to get on the "tell me more list," registration opens May 11th.

. . . . . . . .
INTERVIEWS
Hiro Boga is a cosmological gem and my favourite find of 2010. We talk about creativity and conscious business: LISTEN HERE.

Alexandra Franzen is the firecracker behind "Unicorns for Socialism" - smart and sassy. We talked about sleazy networking and word association: WATCH HERE.

 

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!

 

burning questions with jen louden, the comfort queen

"Comfort Queen." Who doesn't want to meet the woman who earned that title?

Jen Louden is the author of the Oprah-loved The Woman's Comfort Book, a coach who describes her typical client as "smart, curious, has a pretty good sense of humor, and doesn’t suffer fools lightly." (sound familiar?) And one of the innovators of the "virtual retreat."

Her next virtual retreat is right around the corner: Refresh, Reawaken, & Rediscover Who You are in Ways that Truly Work, February 12th-14th.

I especially love Jennifer via video. When she talks about getting the "renewal I need for my soul..." I want it. When she talks about going from "the grind to the organic flow..." I'm nodding. I believe the twinkle in her eye. I start fantasizing about radical self-care and spa time, spirit-centered creative retreats, and meandering to the beat of my heart and I...feel comforted already.

1. What do you know to be true, unquestionably beyond doubt, certain with every cell of your being, completely, passionately, righteously certain?

That I love the bejuses out of my daughter. That befriending myself is better than kicking myself. That I am never alone. That little in life is fixed. That planning isn't the same as creating. That depletion is another name for hiding your genius. That creating stuff makes me happy. That it's not about me. That Bob loves me. That nature restores my faith. That my body is the way in. That yoga heals. That books are a miracle. That women will bring about the change we are hungry for. That life is a hoot. Oh, and expect the Spanish Inquisition and be pleasantly surprised when all goes well.

2. What did you decide to stop doing in order to be the real Jen, instead of the gotta-have-it-all, do-it-all Wonder Woman version so many of us are burning out for?

Anything to do with details - I'm a big idea person and very bad with the details. Tracking things. Spelling. House cleaning. Cooking. Sending birthday cards. Committees - never never ever. I'm trying to learn how to hire someone who can help me hold my business. There is an energetic plus detail letting go that is next for me.

3. What happens when women find their voice?

What doesn't happen? When I wrote my first book in 1992, The Woman's Comfort Book, that was my feminist manifesto. True self-care liberates self-trust and trust in something larger than yourself and that creates a chain reaction from "I will keep my paycheck husband thank you very much" to "I don't have to work at a job I hate. I can go back to school / start my own business."

Claiming our own lives and our own desires can start to feel hackneyed as in old hat, already done, so basic. When in fact, claiming our voice, our selves, will always be the essential act of growing up. Ignore it or belittle it at your own peril. (more...)

 

cake walks + fire walks: beginner’s mind

I walked on hot coals once - barefoot. Across a bed of white hot embers about twenty feet long. When you walk off the fiery path you step into a puddle of water and you can hear your feet sizzle and see steam rise. And lo', thanks to mind over matter, I didn't even blister. Hot damn.

I raced home at midnight, under a full moon, with a note card tucked into my Levi's: "I, Veronica Danielle LaPorte walked on fire. I can do anything."

Would I do it again? Ummm....I....dunno. The evening of that fire walk workshop I asked some of the repeat walkers how it was for them. I was surprised to hear that a lot of them burned their feet on their second walk. "Say whu?! But you already slammed these coals once." The prevailing response: "Yeah, but I got cocky the second time around." Every walk requires a fresh meditation.

Ask any athlete or elite performer. Writers, salesmen, speakers, very big project managers, wide-awake lovers: Success can dull your senses. Each win is a new win, earned with intense focus and an open heart.

Do not take your expertise or natural talent for granted. Stay awake. Hunt. Kill your old material. Listen for new information. Tell a different story in a different way. Crush your gimmicks. Let the page be white. Kiss him like it's your first kiss.

Let your heart race and concentrate. Then and only then, begin.

 

life is subject to change: what happened when I raised my rates

I announced via Twitter and Facebook last week that my Fire Starter Session fee was moving to $500 (from $300.) And I also mentioned it in my post that went out late last night. And then...

Deluge. Chuck wagon outta control. Four-alarm fire. Standing room only.

I've been wrestling with how to handle the gorgeous demand. And my conclusion is this: I need to handle the demands of my heart and loved ones first, then career (which is an extension of my heart.) The profundity of that statement for me is colossal. It's taken me yearrrrs to be able to say it and mean it. Before I grew up (which is really just in the last few weeks, actually,) I would have tried to fit everyone in, even if it meant weekends, and getting a baby sitter, and apologizing to my man because, once again, "I'll be in my office tonight."

And in this case, I almost went there. I adore my Fire Starter clients and I'm so passionate about entrepreneurs rocking it with integrity, that I was leaning toward booking into spring 2015 at my old rate and "fitting it all in somehow." Why? Because I don't want you to think I'm a discompassionate bitch. Because money is fun. Because I used to think self neglect was cool. (It's not.)

The logic and love of raising my Fire Starter session fee:

a) It's worth it. (Any clients who want to chime in on this, uh, feel free to back me up here.)

"Danielle’s Fire Starter session is invaluable for you at any stage of your career --from early idea to well established rut. She is thorough, quick and intuitive. Her soft spoken style is deceptive. This woman won’t mince words to let you know what you need to hear. And you will be better for the listening. Her questions alone are priceless, but add the brainstorming, cheerleading, taped session and list of resources and you can’t go wrong."
- Ten People to Rock Your Career in 2010
CoachSpotlight.com, Pearl Mattenson

b) 2010 is all about creating content that can serve many thousands of people. I need focused time to do that. I love writing in long, long stretches, getting absorbed, and consumed, and used up by the gods of poetic sound bites and how-to's. I need space to make stuff that will be effectual and lasting ... and sell like white hot cakes!

c) I want to live more. Repeated late nights "catching up" on things leaves you with the feeling that you are always needing to...catch up.

d) I'm keeping it pointed to where I want it to go: creativity, freedom, passive income, wider broadcasting, multimedia. (I'll talk more about how my Hedgehog allows me to stay so focused on this next week.)

All that to say:
My $300 Fire Starter slots are (more than) full, and effective immediately, I'll be booking in at $500. Email me directly to book your session.

Further clarity:
I work exclusively with active and progressive entrepreneurs, or those on the verge of breaking out with their own enterprise. I am not a business or career transition coach (read: I suck at it.) I’m a High Priestess of Practicality and I'm about standing ideas up in the most elegant, kick-ass way possible. Strategy makes me hot.

When in-transition job folk or people who want continual coaching to lift a project off the ground come to me, I steer them to the following coaches. Each of them is amazing.

: Lianne Raymond is a clear-thinking, strong-hearted, Martha Beck-certified coach. Only works with women.

: Ronna Detrick has "renegade conversations." She is spiritually-based and powerful.

: Tanya Geisler is a strong and compassionate...and funny.

: Dyana Valentine is a brilliant force of nature who has kicked my creative butt into shape. She's gifted, I work with her regularly.

: Michelle Ward at When I Grow Up Coach is a high energy Gen Y'r focused on getting people to their best career.

: Hiro Boga is a masterful intuitive. Not a coach or business developer, but gifted at surfacing the issues that may be blocking success. I recently had a session with her and it was stunning.

If you're a coach and you want to say so here in the comments, feel free to do some self-promo. Today, I welcome it.

If it's apropos, take a page from my book. What do you value and what's the value you give? How can your career support your life? Are you pointed in the direction you want to go?

With much Love,
Danielle
xo

 

the secret to self promotion: radiance and the facts, jack

Dear Danielle,

"Can I ask a question? I love working for myself and don't want it any other way, but it seems that when you work for yourself you have to be a salesperson. I'm not a huge fan of sales people and hate feeling like I'm pushing something on someone. If you have any opinions on that I'd love to hear them!"
- Dani Griffin (via Facebook)

Dear Dani and the leagues of people who hate self promotion:

I never really understood people who are loathe to sell themselves or the stuff they make. But then again, my whole twenties (okay, and thirties) was solar-powered by the rays of my seduction. From boys to gigs to new age notions, I had a deal for you! "I got what you want and you don't even know you want it. And I make house calls."

Now? Meh. I've got what I've got, which is a lot. If that warms your cockles, let's talk. If not, my engine is running, and I trust that your tribe is waiting for you elsewhere. Meep meep.

Do I sell my self? Damn straight I do. Everyday, all day. I'm doing it right now. I'll do it on Twitter, CBC TV, Facebook, this week's speaking gig for the Travel & Media Association of Canada, and when the waiter asks me what I do for a living. But I'm no longer TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU TO BELIEVE AND BUY. Rather, (and this has been one of my most gnarly, redeeming spiritual journeys) I radiate and state the facts. That's it. And it's a helluva lot more efficient than sales.

So, why do you hate self-promotion?

1. Because...it makes you feel like you're pushing something on someone?
Passion is a force - and an essential one at that. If you're not passionate about your service or your product, you shouldn't be selling it in the first place. If you're not passionate you have to fake it, and that'll just make you feel like a sleazeball.

But let's assume you are fully and truly turned on, and you're offering the world something that you wholeheartedly believe in. Repeat: you're anchored with integrity to purpose and meaning. That being the case, and the premise for everything I'm about to say after this, let's proceed:

Don't burn energy trying to assume how people will perceive you. What some people will read as enthusiastic stamina, others will interpret as pushy intruder. It's your job to show up as you, passion and all, and let the right customers make up their mind about you.

2. Because...you're shy?
You have three choices here: a) Get over it. Nothing like motivation to put food on the table or achieve your life dreams to cure shyness. It happens all the time. b) Let someone else do the selling for you - a writer, a rep, an agent, a virtual assistant-type. c) Pray that your good intentions and the high quality or originality of your offering will attract customers and prosperity. This tact, on it's own, never ever works.

3. Because it's not a "strength" of yours?
see #2.

4. Because you're afraid that people will think less of you? That you'll be less of an artist, social steward or true professional if you're hawking your wares or blowing your own horn.

Then I have bad news for you: everything you do is promotion, so you may as well do it with aplomb. The good news? Everything you do is promotion You are always radiating. From the personalized note that you tuck into your product shipment, to what you say at a party when someone asks you what you do, to how you pitch the art gallery or the corporation to get the big account -- to the message you leave on a Facebook page.

HAPPY SELF PROMOTION =
RADIATE your passion + STATE THE FACTS of what that passion generates - the results it brings for you and your customers.

I'll go first: I'm really passionate about the practical applications of love and consciousness in life and entrepreneurship. I write and speak about it in every way possible. I ran a think tank without any formal education, I wrote a book that got the attention of Oprah producers, and now, in my current incarnation, I'm booked four to six weeks in advance with clients - many of them say they got enough love 'n strategy in one hour to blow their circuits. I'm writing my next two books now, and will launch them online this year.

That's the passion, backed by the facts. Sometimes, at the start of your journey, all you may have in your inventory to "sell" is passion. And sometimes, that's enough to open doors.

If you're loving what you do and believing that it's going to make a positive difference in people's lives - whether it's your wedding photography, your coaching methodology, or your zero point energy invention, then, you my friend, are ahead of the game. You're light years down the path from the sorry sods who are grinning and bearing it in soul-sucking j-o-b-s.

So please, don't devalue your currency. I'm so emphatic about this, I'm willing to get all Hallmark on you: a gift isn't a gift until you give it away. Put a bow on it.

With much Love,
Danielle
xo

P.S.

Tune in Tuesday for Part 2: A Meditation for Self Promotion