Announcements Archives - Page 12 of 13 - Melissa Dinwiddie | Create the Impossible™

October 22, 2010

Your turn (but only if you’re a TAP insider…)

Just a quick little note to let you know that if you’re at all interested in the Thriving Artists Project, I want to hear from you.

(Don’t know about the Thriving Artists Project? In short, it’s a cool course I’m creating, the heart of which is interviews with a bunch of successful artists and creatives in a variety of different fields, all of whom are making a living from their creative thing. Want more info? Just click on the Thriving Artists Project link for a full explanation.)

I’ve been working hard on this course, and want to make it the best it can be, but I need your help. In order to make the Thriving Artists Project a course that will help inspire and motivate you to live your dreams, I need to hear directly from you what speaks to you, and what would help you most.

So here’s the deal: sign up on the ground floor inner circle advance notification list (if you haven’t already), and in the next few days I’ll send all ground floor inner circle peeps a link to a short questionnaire.

Not only will your answers help me create the best course possible, but everyone who fills out the questionnaire will automatically be entered in a drawing to win the full version of the Thriving Artists Project when it’s done!

Sound cool?

If you haven’t signed up yet, do it right now so you don’t forget. Then watch your mailbox for the link to the questionnaire.

~Melissa

PS – All ground floor insiders also get a free bonus interview, just for signing up on the advance notification list.

October 6, 2010

What do you think?

Dear loyal readers,

Just a quick post today.

Anyone who’s been here before will notice the site looks different. No, this isn’t the major site overhaul I’ve been itching to do, but changing my WordPress theme from Thesis to Headway allowed me to make some temporary changes, and while I was at it I threw in a new header.

So, question: whaddya think? If you had your druthers, would I keep this new header (with my photo) for the time being, or switch back to the old one (below, with dancing woman logo instead of photo)?

Weekly Review #27: The Sandbox (plus a secret announcement)

So how am I doing in my quest to re-invent my life, follow my evolving Blisses and create the life I really, really want?

Newsflash: I love my life.

Which is something of a miracle, really, when I think of where I was 6 months ago.

In fact, I started this blog just over 6 months ago precisely because I was pretty unhappy with how my life was set up, and I was determined to change that. I made a commitment to create the life I really, really wanted, and I postulated that writing about my journey publicly would keep me on track toward my goals, and maybe help someone else out there in a similar spot.

Now here I am, half a year later, loving my life.

Not that I’ve achieved nirvana, and I’m really not happy with my bank balance at the moment (working on that…) But just Monday, in a session with Susan, my life coach (check out her website, which I recently designed), these words popped out of my mouth:

“I am exactly where I want to be in my creative life.”

Wow.

Now, to be clear, this does not mean that I’ve achieved the level of mastery I’d like, or that I’ve garnered the kind of recognition and response to my work that I aspire to, or a whole bunch of other markers of “success.” But those things are not what happiness is about.

Whatever level of mastery you achieve, there’s always another level just beyond it. And external validation, while it makes you feel great for a moment, does not create lasting happiness.

That can only come from inside, from figuring out what really makes you happy and creating it in your life.

What I’ve figured out

I just re-read that initial post, Living A Creative Life: The Start of the Journey, and it was cool to see where I was 6 months ago, compared to where I am now.

Here’s what I’d figured out I wanted back then:

I want to create. On my terms. What I want to make, not what a client wants me to make.

Good stuff, and still true, but I’ve refined it a bit in the intervening half a year. I’ve since figured out that my optimal happiness rests on 2 foundations:

Being my fully creative self and following my passion(s) (the three main ones at the moment being writing, making art and making music, not necessarily in that order)
Helping others, especially helping others to be their fully creative selves, find their passion and live the lives they really, really want

When I’m doing these things – writing regularly, making art regularly, making music regularly, and regularly interacting with other people in a way that’s useful and helpful – life is really, really good.

The Sandbox

What I’ve also figured out is that for optimal happiness, I need regular time in which I’m creating with no rules. Experimenting. Playing. Getting my hands dirty (both literally and figuratively). Just trying things, and seeing where they lead me.

I call this being in the Creative Sandbox.

Being in the Sandbox is what puts me in the Zone, in Flow, where I lose track of time and my ego starts – just a little – to disappear.

This is where I want to be.

Did I mention that for years the only time I created any artwork that wasn’t for clients was once a year at my annual calligraphy retreat? A few days once a year in the sandbox, people, is simply not enough.

Here’s what’s amazing: after years of wanting, but failing, to get there on any regular basis, I’m spending more time in the Sandbox than I ever thought I would.

Why now, when I’ve wanted to be there for so long? Apparently the timing was right. Apparently getting whalloped upside the head by the universe was exactly what I needed to put me in the right space. Apparently I was ready.

Full disclosure

I’ll be honest (as if I’m ever otherwise here!), I don’t feel blissful every moment of every day. Sometimes I don’t like what I make in the Sandbox, and my inner demons tell me I’m a talentless hack. Some days I don’t even make it into the Sandbox. Sometimes I still get sucked into a black hole of inertia and it feels like I’ll never move forward.

But overall, I’m making forward progress. Sometimes just little baby steps, but with enough baby steps you could climb Everest (though believe me, that kind of climbing is that last thing you’ll ever find me signing up for!)

And overall, despite the huge mountain of debt, despite the various stresses and annoyances that pester me or make me temporarily blue, I’m really happy.

And a secret announcement (which obviously isn’t really secret, since I’m announcing it…)

The Dalai Lama has said, “I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy.” What this looks like is different for everybody, though some universal principles apply.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about happiness – why I’m happy now, why I wasn’t happy at other times in my life – and learned a lot of stuff in my time on the planet that is too good not to share.

To that end, I’m in the process of creating a free e-course of bite-sized tips (sent in periodic emails), to help you on your journey toward greater happiness. Universal principles that have worked in my own life, things I’ve learned that I think would help anyone live a happier life.

I’m calling it the Living A Creative Life Guide to Happiness.

No, I don’t guarantee that it will take you to nirvana (in fact it probably won’t), but it may inspire you. It may help you see something in a new way, and push you over the edge to trying something new. It may make you think. It may make you smile.

In any case, it will be free, and if you’re interested in getting the course when I’m done with it (target date: I’ll just say sometime in 2010), sign up using the form below and my magical email fairies will make sure it lands in your email box when it’s fully baked.

That’s it for this round, kiddos. Comments and stories from your own journey are welcome, as usual.

May 31, 2010

Thriving Artists Project: your input needed

Newsflash: Today I got to pretend to be Terry Gross, one of my heroes, as I interviewed my friend, freelance writer, Fawn Fitter. Fawn graciously offered to be my first guinea pig for my Thriving Artists Project interviews, and what fun it was!

Over the weekend I researched conference call recording options, and after signing up for two (FreeConferenceCall and AudioAcrobat – because I’m a true believer in redundant redundancy, and did I mention I like backups?), I did a dry run with my land line and my cell phone.

(“Hello Melissa-on-cell-phone, how are you today?” “Just fine, Melissa-on-land-line. Thanks for asking!”)

This for some reason made me incredibly anxious (press what button, when??). New technology learning curves under pressure tend to do that I guess. But I’m glad to say that during the interview today, all systems were go — the conference call worked, the recording worked — hurray!

And best of all, I can now add “Interviewer” to my list of titles. (Who knows, maybe soon I’ll pretend to be Ira Glass, and “Radio Producer” will be next. I am Multi-Passionate, remember?)

The Thriving Artists Project in lift-off

A week from today I interview painter Ann Rea (whose artist business and coaching service is appropriately called ArtistsWhoTHRIVE). The Thriving Artists Project, my tool kit for anyone who’s curious about what it takes to make a sustainable living from their creative thing, is moving forward!

I’m excited, and yes, I’ll admit I’m also a bit nervous:

What if the conference call recording doesn’t work?

What if the interviews don’t go very well?

What if nobody else on the planet is interested in this stuff?

What if I land on my face with this thing?

Who do I think I am and who am I kidding?

Those, of course, are the niggling monster voices (as Havi might call them), which don’t want me to take on this big project, but I’m charging forward despite them.

In fact, the project keeps growing in my head, and in my journal notes. In addition to the interviews that I’m lining up with artists and creatives of all sorts (painters, calligraphers, photographers, writers, musicians — you name it!), I’ve been thinking about what else I can include to make this thing kick butt!

Which is where you come in.

If you could ask any question, or get any specific piece of info related to taking your creative thing to the next level, to even making a sustainable income from doing your creative thing, what would it be?

What are you dying to know or learn about? What would inspire you? What would help you move your dreams forward?

I know my imaginary audience isn’t entirely imaginary anymore, so write your questions in the comments section. Tell me what you want to know, and I’ll seek it out for you!

But if you’re shy, it’s okay. I’m doing this thing because it thrills and excites me, and I’m curious to see where it will lead. If you join me on the journey, I’d be delighted, but traveling solo has its perks as well.

And I’ll send postcards along the way.

May 29, 2010

Weekly Review #9: making art, making mistakes, but moving forward

So how am I doing in my quest to re-invent my life, follow my evolving Blisses and create the life I really, really want?

Moving toward balance

Overwhelm continues to be my theme song, and I’ll admit I’m working long, intense hours. BUT, at the same time I’m happy to say I’m feeling more balanced in my work life than I have in maybe forever.

What made the difference?

Making art!

First of all, ever since my first life coaching session with Susan, I’ve been making art every day.

This is huge, people!

Sometimes it’s only for 20 minutes (which does leave me frustrated). Sometimes, because of an urgent client phone call or other unscheduled event, it’s not the first thing I do after feeding the kitty-monsters (which now makes me cranky — making art first-thing has already become a habit that I’m starting to feel very protective about!)

But no matter. The point is, after spending most of my time in the past several years not making new art, I’ve been making new art (for me, not just for a client) every day.

I know I’m repeating myself, but I cannot begin to impress on you how significant this is.

Why is this so important?

It makes me feel like I’m living in accordance with my true self
I’m building a body of work (instead of just thinking about it)! (See new Irresistible Yogini below)
Because I AM doing my art, instead of feeling badly about myself for not doing my art and resenting the time I spend doing the stuff I have to do, I’m actually able to kind of enjoy doing the stuff I have to do.

How would that feel in your life? It feels amazing in mine!

Moving ahead on exciting new projects!

This week marked the official start of my new Thriving Artists Project (the working title, which may change prior to launch). I’ve moved from just thinking about this project, to actually starting to make it happen!

Not only have I scheduled my first artist interview, but I’ve emailed several other potential interviewees, and (big thing) this morning I signed up for and tested my conference call recording system.

(I don’t know why, but that left me totally drained. Something about technology + nervousness about it working + pressure to get this thing right = total exhaustion.)

I even scheduled an interview with my friend Fawn, a professional writer, who has agreed to be my first interviewee guinea pig.

Am I scared about this project? Hell yeah! There’s a voice inside my head screaming “Postpone! Postpone! You’re not ready! Do it in a couple of months!” But I know that’s just fear talking. If I were to postpone, it would be two months later and I’d be just as scared.

So onward we go!

And some new tools…

Goody goody! New tools! I love new tools!

In fact, the decision to buy new tools is fraught with huge money-crunch fraughtness right now, but I bit the bullet and got some new stuff that I’m pretty darn excited about:

Scribe SEO
This amazing tool, which can be used as a WordPress plugin or as standalone web-based software, is exactly what it says it is: SEO copywriting made simple. Depending on which subscription level you go for ($17-$97 monthly), you can do anywhere from 15-300 evaluations of website content per month. No more guessing!
AND, if you sign up before June 4 (which is what I just did), you can get the Advanced, $97 subscription for only $27/month by using the code PROMO27 (or – shhh! here’s a secret! – pay for a full year for only $259!)
Sorry if I sound a little hype-y about this product. I’m just really excited about how easy it suddenly is to do SEO copywriting!
The Third Tribe
Okay, I’ll admit it, although I’ve been thinking about subscribing to the Third Tribe for a few weeks, I did in fact finally make the jump because the prices are about to go up. At $47/month (only through the end of May, then it will become $97/month), this is not an insignificant ongoing expense.
However, I’m looking at it as an investment. Plus I can cancel anytime during the first month and get my money back.
But I doubt I will cancel. There’s so much info on this site, plus a user forum with bloggers of all levels – from beginner to top-shelf pro – that I expect I’ll get much more than my money’s worth.
The Third Tribe was founded by blog superstars Brian Clark, Sonia Simone, Chris Brogan and Darren Rowse, and now includes other biggies (John Jantsch, Leo Babauta, Pam Slim, Johnny Truant, Chris Garrett, Dave Navarro, Jonathan Fields, Hugh MacLeod, Laura Roeder, Mark McGuinness, Aaron Wall, and many more), and little guys like me, all interacting and helping each other.
Now tell me that isn’t cool?

I’ll write more extensive reviews of both of these purchases after I’ve had more time to use them, but if you want to get in on the deals you might check them out now before the prices go up.

(And yes, those are affiliate links, which means that I’ll make some money on the sale if you click through and buy, and of course you’ll have my eternal gratitude. But don’t feel compelled to use my links; I’ll never know the difference! From my brief experience with these purchases so far, I think they’re pretty awesome, but don’t just take my word for it. Check them out for yourself.)

Learning from mistakes

This was a big week for mistakes, starting with a post that didn’t express what I really wanted to express, and hurt some people as a result. Ugh. They felt bad, I felt terrible. Big mistake.

Lessons learned:

Regardless of how urgent you feel about getting a post published, when a little niggling voice says “um, why don’t you sleep on this and read it again in the morning before publishing?” PAY ATTENTION!
Everything boils down to relationships. On the internet, as in personal and work relationships, if there’s an issue, bring it up directly, don’t just complain about it to someone else.
Think carefully about what you want to say, and make sure your writing says that, and not something else instead.
Excellent customer service can turn a disappointed customer into a raving fan for life.

Still a long way to go…

My list of things to do has only gotten longer, and with a trip to Vegas this coming week for a marketing seminar for independent music artists, the time to get it all done in is dramatically shorter.

Plus with the sudden revelation that I can market my web installation, design and copywriting services to my fellow musicians (doh!), I’ve got even more things to do before I leave. Like flyers, and a sales page on the website. Yikes!

But the upshot is, things are going well, and moving forward. What more can you really ask for?

And now, only 8 hours after I initially planned to go, I’m headed out for a walk by the SF Bay to visit “my” goslings.

Happy Weekend!