Want inspiration for making your Big Vision real? Check out these two quick videos with highlights from recent webinars featuring Right-Brain Entrepreneurs who shared how they brought their Big Visions to life.

In this first video you’ll be inspired by:

• Rebecca Villarreal an author who published her first novel
• Maria Caruso who launched her first e-Course
• Lindy Stockton who retired from corporate life and opened a retail/studio space
• Lisa DeYoung who launched 3rd edition of her fun and popular printed Daily Musings Journal

• Carrie Hensley who leads a thriving online yoga community
• Jennifer Blair-Cockrum a fine artist who produced her first calendar
• Katherine Carey a hat designer who recently launched an online magazine
• Jennyann Carthern an artist who launched a coloring book, and e-Course, and more!

By the way, that screenshot is of Jennyann showing how she manifested her goal from a few years ago to finally be a panelist on one of my live video classes! Love how that works.



And if you want help creating your own Right-Brain Business Plan® like these awesome entrepreneurs have shared, join our self-paced Home Study.

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Guest post by by Cass Mullane, Accountability Coach, Right-Brain Business Plan® Licensed Facilitator, Prosper Creatively, LLC

I’m sure by now you’ve hit your stride for 2016. You’re crystal clear on your direction, you know exactly the action steps you need to take to get there and you’re moving along at a good crisp clip.

Right! … No?

You’re not totally clear on your direction? You have a good idea of your direction, but not sure which action steps you need to take? You know the action steps, but just cannot seem to get moving?

If you’re having difficulty, you’re not alone. I can tell you that many, many businesses experience this challenge at the beginning of the year. Of course the reasons vary, but here are a couple of things that may be tripping you up:

1. You’re distracted by all the BSOs that are inherent in any new year.
2. You forgot to plan for success in 2016 while you were in 2015

So let’s take a look at these two whoops moments.

It’s 2016 and everything is bright, shiny and new. You’ve got new energy, new resolve, new ideas. You’ve also got an email box full of everyone else’s bright, shiny new things. “Look at the newest version of my great program!” “Look at my awesome organizing system that you cannot live without!” “Look at a brand new way to market your stuff that is guaranteed to bring in six figures this month!”

So you’re distracted. You’re diving down rabbit holes checking out all the things that might make your day more productive or your time more managed or your webinars more marketable. Now, one of these BSOs could be a perfect solution for you. You know you need a new Fill-in-the-Blank, but you don’t know what kind of Fill-in-the-Blank to look for because you don’t know where you’re going this year. You have no filters.

So let’s look at the second whoops.

If you forgot to plan for 2016 during 2015 that typically means you lose the first 6-8 weeks of the new year. You spend the first couple of weeks of January settling in from the holidays, then you start thinking about what you want to do, then you spend the rest of January into February figuring out how to do it and laying the groundwork to do it, before you can actually even get around to launching at the end of February. That’s 6-8 weeks that are simply flushed.

If that’s where you are, don’t beat yourself up about it. Instead, decide now to lift your head up, look around then take an intentional, proactive step and make your plan. What do you want to accomplish this year? What impact do you want to have? What resources do you need to get there? What is the result you’d like to see when you get there? Where do you start? How do you measure your progress along the way?

These are all questions you need to answer in order to get going now.

When you take a longer look, and get clear on where you want to go, this serves as a built in filter for BSOs. You tend to get rid of the distractions and focus more intently on what’s really important. You pay attention to what will help you get to where you want to go and you jettison the extra stuff that’s distracting you and holding you back.
So, make your plan for 2016 now with no regrets and no apologies. Go after what you really want. Be sure to include in your plan, for the fourth quarter, plenty of time to make an awesome plan for 2017. Then you’ll clear away all the noise and sail right into the coming year with ease!

* BSOs = Bright Shiny Objects

Cass Mullane is an artist with an MBA. Cass’ calm, comfortable approach consistently yields positive results for clients. Her business and personal coaching practice, www.ProsperCreatively.com, specializes in delivering solid left brain business skills to right brainers and creatives in a fun, visual way. She’s a best selling author, textile and mixed media artist and creator of the Cool Stuff Jar™ coaching program. You can also visit Cass on Facebook!

If you’ve ever watched me broadcast video from my office, you’ve probably seen my giant wall calendar adorned with colorful sticky notes in the background. I’m basically surrounded by my Right-Brain Business Plan (also see my 2016 Big Vision collage in the bottom right-hand corner) and I think that’s a pretty cool way to stay inspired.

People are always asking me “What’s with the calendar?”  So, I figured I’d geek out and highlight my calendaring process and favorite resources here in hopes that it will spur you to plan what action you need to take to make your Big Visions real.

I first started to use what I call my “Sticky Note Project Plan” in 2008 when I was working on my first tangible product. At that time I only had the back of a closet door to work with and boring (but quite functional!) flip chart paper. Even though it wasn’t pretty, it got the job done.

I wrote each task on a sticky note as it came to mind and used different colors to categorize. Then I started to arrange the notes on the flip chart paper. Since I didn’t have a nifty calendar, I just drew rows on the paper to show weeks, and then start sequencing the notes on a time line.

I find it’s helpful to work backward from the goal. So if launching your new product by the end of March is your goal, what happens right before the launch?

Keep working backward until you get to the first step. The cool thing about using sticky notes is that your plan isn’t set in stone. You can easily move the notes around as you gain more clarity about what’s next.

And here’s a pic from 2009 when I was working on my book proposal. I included stickies for when I would get draft chapters to my book coach and when I would finalize content. The pink stickies were some big milestone but it’s so long ago I don’t remember what they were!

Oh, and can you see the big fat check marks? It was so satisfying to check off each task as I completed it.

In 2010 I discovered Paper Source’s giant wall calendar (if the link doesn’t take you directly to the product, then search for “Big Calendar” on their site) and I was thrilled to have something way more aesthetically pleasing with dates already printed on it!

I hung each month up using two small 3M hooks. It’s better to use the hooks because you can move the calendars around as the months pass. Plus, tape just doesn’t hold them up for long.

In my old office I was only able to pin up 3 months at a time. (By the way if you are short on space, Paper Source now has a dry erase style large calendar with the entire year on it that’s a bit more compact.) Seeing the calendar quarterly worked for me for awhile. But things really changed when I was able to get a full-year perspective. I’m able to take a more strategic, longer-term view at how all of the launches and milestones fit into and support my Big Vision. I’m also able to see if there are too many sticky notes bunched up in a certain week and then make adjustments to timing or choose to let go of a project.

Once I was able to have a year-view, I stopped being as granular with mapping out specific tasks and opted for just noting my key offerings (each program or product launch is a different color). Each offering has stickies for key promotion dates and events like live classes or calls. I also use sticky notes or washi tape to block my vacation time (very important to calendar time off!).

Last year I started to use these cool Magnetic Notes that use static to stick. They work pretty well and are less likely to fly off your calendar if there’s a breeze from a fan or the heater.

Once the high-level dates are in place on the visual wall calendar, my team and I use the online system asana.com to manage all of our projects and detailed tasks. We’re able to break the projects down into smaller action steps plus assign the tasks due dates, owners, and track our progress. This tool has been a life-saver and it doesn’t cost a penny. Yay! Plus it has a fun unicorn and rainbows graphic that flies across your screen when you mark a task complete. Very gratifying!

I also use Google calendar to block off time on my daily schedule to actually do the actions needed to bring the Big Vision to life. All the Big Visions and planning (no matter how pretty) don’t mean a thing if you aren’t taking action in the real world.

So that’s my “Sticky Note Project Plan” in a nutshell. I hope you’re inspired to map out your actions. I’d love to see a pic! You can tag me on Instagram (I’m @jennlee) and use the hashtag #rbbiz.

Updated: If all this wasn’t enough for you, here’s a Facebook Live video where I showed how I use my calendar system.

And if you want more help clarifying your Big Vision and goals, check out the Right-Brain Business Plan Home Study.

Guest post by by Cass Mullane, Accountability Coach, Right-Brain Business Plan® Licensed Facilitator, Prosper Creatively, LLC

We all have moments when we hold back. Sometimes it’s holding back from doing a big or important thing. Sometimes it’s because it feels like ego and we don’t want to stand out. Sometimes it’s ignoring the little voice that says, “Go ahead, be curious.” The problem is repeating this behavior over time makes it a bad habit that can result in keeping us from growing into our wonderful, delicious selves.

Permission Granted!

Sometimes we just need simple permission to do the things we need to do to make ourselves happy, to get unstuck, to dream, and to grow. Since 2008, I’ve created handmade permission slips to give to clients, colleagues, friends (and myself!).

I started out with permission slips relating specifically to my artist friends. They were made out of hang tags that I inked, painted, printed and tied with fibers.

They said things like:

You are hereby granted permission to:

1. Call Yourself An Artist
2. Embellish
3. Be Fearless
4. Break The Rules
5. Try Something New
6. Pillage The Dragon’s Hoard (this means actually using the special stuff you’ve been carefully protecting!)

Then, they morphed into customized hang tags for clients and colleagues. People loved them and I made it a practice to create at least one for almost every client. They said a variety of things such as:

You are hereby granted permission to:

1. Own Your Money
2. ROAR!
3. Know You Are Enough
4. Pick Your Perfect Clients
5. Dream YOUR Dreams
6. Take Care of Yourself First
7. Reclaim Your Joy
8. Celebrate!
9. Have FUN!

• Smile the Big Smile
• Wink
• Go After The BIG Stuff!

I keep a supply of them handy and just fill in the appropriate words for a given situation. Sometimes they’re fully decorated, sometimes they’re done spur of the moment and handed over immediately.

The current permission slip on my own wall is “You Are Hereby Granted Permission to Use the Good Stuff” and it relates to me tapping into what’s so good about me and bringing that to the forefront as often as possible.

So, write yourself a permission slip and tap into your delicious, juicy self! Then write one for at least two other people so they can also share the joy.

P.S. I realized, when writing this post, that I had not written any permission slips in a while… I hereby grant myself permission to write a plethora of permission slips by the end of the year. Would you like one? Just let me know!

Cass Mullane is an artist with an MBA. Cass’ calm, comfortable approach consistently yields positive results for clients. Her business and personal coaching practice, www.ProsperCreatively.com, specializes in delivering solid left brain business skills to right brainers and creatives in a fun, visual way. She’s a best selling author, textile and mixed media artist and creator of the Cool Stuff Jar™ coaching program. You can also visit Cass on Facebook!

As you know the end of the year is a great time to reflect on the year and celebrate successes and learnings. Perhaps you’ve started your reflection process already?

I admit that in past years I (well, actually my ego!!!) would get so eager to document all of my external accomplishments and milestones. When you’re a driven, creative entrepreneur it can be easy to fall into that trap of out-doing your last year, your last launch, your last big-hairy goal, you name it.

But I need to remind myself (and in the process gently remind you, too, my friend) that your year-in-review doesn’t need to always be “bigger and better” than the year before.

In fact, the Shining and Shooting Stars in my Mentorship Program and I have been recently exploring the inquiries “When is enough enough?” and “What does success really look like for you and are you really honoring that through your actions?”

Our heartfelt conversations revealed that success doesn’t always have to equate to hitting a major moola milestone, launching new products, or increasing your marketing reach. Yes, achieving those goals can be great, if you’re consciously choosing them (rather than merely keeping up with the Jones’.) And there can be room for other things that can be just as fulfilling, if not more so.

When you’ve been in business for a while, you’ll notice that you’ll probably have some years or periods that feel more active and outward as you focus on growth, visibility, and the like and other phases when you feel more introspective and low-key as you let new ideas slowly percolate, you emphasize self-care, or work on solidifying your foundation. This is all a natural part of the creative process and seasoned business owners will know how to strategically make the ebb and flow work for them.

So please, don’t discount a “quieter” year.

Just because on the surface your year may not feel like it was as epic or prolific or exciting as past years (or your expectations) that doesn’t mean there aren’t juicy gems to mine.

In fact, the more intangible (and less sexy) aspects such as deep internal work, investing in infrastructure and foundation, moving through transition, and the like are hugely valuable learning opportunities that may make all the difference for you and your business in years to come.

Here are some prompts to help you with your gentler year-in-review:

• How have you lived and worked in alignment with your values and vision?
• What were your most valuable learnings or take-aways?
• Where did you show self-compassion, courage, and commitment (especially in the face of challenge)?
• How did you surprise yourself?
• What impact (big or small) have you made through your work?
• How have you evolved as a business owner and as a human being?
• What did you enjoy doing that you want to do more of? AND how did you enjoy simply being?
• What do you need to stop doing or let go of?
• What three words would you use to describe how you felt in 2015? What three words describe how you want to feel in 2016?

As for me, in many ways this year has looked a lot different than my “bigger” years of book launches, new moola milestones, new house, and such. Even so, I’d say this year may have taught me the most about what I’m made of and that experience will serve me incredibly well in the future. I set out to focus on health, home, and happiness and I’m proud to say that I’ve made conscious choices and aligned my actions around those intentions. I’m celebrating keeping things steady eddy and sustainable in 2015 and making more space for my own creative process and embracing ease.

I’d really love to hear your year-in-review take-aways! Feel free to share your reflections with us at info @ artizencoaching.com that I can celebrate 2015 with you.

Our biggest sale of the year starts today, November 27th!

You can save between 10-50% on some of my most popular offerings including my autographed books, my kits, our Associate Coaching package (get individualized support to kick off the new year), and my licensing programs.

Simply enter the code HAPPYHOLIDAYS2015 at checkout.

New Items

We also just launched a few new offers including the Product Development Playground Home Studywhere I share all of my secrets for making your own information products (like all of these goodies for sale).

And two short, super-affordable courses on Pinterest and on DIY Graphics with Canva and PicMonkey.

So grab that creative resource you’ve been eyeing for yourself or get a unique gift for a cohort.

RBBP e-Course Lowest Price Offered

You also have the chance to grab a pass to the facilitated version of my flagship Right-Brain Business Plan e-Course that starts in January for only $97 during the Holiday Sale only.

Besides, I’ll let you in on a little secret… RBBP e-Course grads automatically get access to the home study, so in way it’s like getting two for one. Here’s the thing, though, if you get during the Holiday Sale, you’ll get the facilitated version of the course AND the home study for a mere $97 (which is like saving nearly $200 if you were to buy both separately!).

All Sale Items come with $97-value Bonus Gift

PLUS, when you purchase a sale item through Dec. 3rd, you’ll receive a special BONUS GIFT – my Right-Brainers in Business Video Summit Greatest Hits (valued at $97).

This awesome bundle features a popular session from each year including Danielle LaPorte, Jen Louden, Dan Pink, Michael Port, and SARK!

So to recap: When you purchase any Holiday Sale item not only will you save up to 50% off the regular price, you’ll also get a valuable bonus gift!For example, you can get my latest book Building Your Business the Right-Brain Way for just under $18 AND you’ll get access to a bundle of 5 super awesome video summit interviews (valued at $97). Pretty sweet deal, right?

The Holiday Sale ends on Thursday December 3rd, so make sure to act now.

Quantities are limited on tangible products. Please note that discounts or bonus gift cannot be applied to previous purchases.