Did you know that the wildly popular Right-Brainers in Business Video Summit is back for it’s 4th year?

If you’ve been with us before, you know how much learning and action happens during this innovative virtual event. If you’re new ’round these parts, I do hope you’ll join us live April 7th-18th. It’s FREE and it’s an amazing way to connect with thousands of creative entrepreneurs from around the world.

PLUS this year we’re celebrating the launch of my 2nd book, Building Your Business the Right-Brain Way. Wooohooo! I can’t wait to share inside peeks into the book with you and highlight some of the latest teachings to help you grow your creative business.

And even before it all begins in a few days I’ve got a special somethin’ for ya!

When you grab your no-cost video summit ticket, you’ll instantly receive an audio download of a conversation with my business mentor Andrea J. Lee and me.

This exclusive info-packed interview is almost like eavesdropping in on one of our private coaching calls! Plus you’ll get healthy doses of expert teachings and case-studies, plus lots of laughs.

We cover the following and so much more in this 30-min audio:

• We explore the 3 different phases of business growth and give you tips to identify where you are.
• Andrea even puts me in the hot seat a bit to look at my growth from 6-figures to multiple 6-figures.
• I ask Andrea about her latest venture into the non-profit foundation arm of her enterprise. You’ll be inspired by how her successful business has helped to free her up to contribute to a cause that has a special place in her heart. We right-brainers want to be making a difference in the world, right?
• Why it’s important to have strong pillars (a.k.a. moola-making methods) to support growth over the long-term.
• Some of our top secrets to sustainable success.

Want to win a prize??

Listen to our interview and then tweet your takeaways using the hashtags #rbbiz AND #jennandrea now through Sunday, April 6th. And you’ll be entered to win a bundle of Right-Brain Business goodies including a personally signed copy each of Building Your Business the Right-Brain Way and The Right-Brain Business Plan, plus my RBBP Kit, AND a Booster Pass to the Summit.

I’d love to hear what our discussion sparked for you as we head into the summit! Tweet out your learnings to me at @artizencoaching and Andrea at @andreajlee with hashtag #rbbiz

Even before we dive into the creative feast that is the 10-day summit, you can whet your entrepreneurial appetite with this inspiring and informative interview. It’s yours to listen to again and again, no matter if you’re able to make it to the live event or not.

So, make sure to grab your no-cost ticket today and get a head start on the summit wisdom by listening to your special instant bonus audio.

I can’t wait to see you LIVE in a next week!

Guest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Ho’omalamalama Brown

Doodlers are free to swirl, dot, zig-zag and add color. No one has to see your design because it’s meant for your eyes only. Some of these miniature creations end up on napkins, envelopes or your hand. A simple way to express yourself, but what if someone told you that your not good at it?

I helped in a kindergarten class once and there was a little girl who always doodled. She was brilliant and regularly smiled as she embellished her pages. Then one day she stopped. I asked her why and she replied, “Because I’m not good at it.” Then with a puzzled look I said, “Who told you that?” (It was another school mate, who couldn’t write his name.)

Instead of marching over to that little boy I turned back to her and asked, “Is he right?” She looked at me as if I was dumb and scrunched her nose to answer, “NO!” Her tiny five year old mind had a true “Aha-moment.” Then she turned away from me, picked out her crayons and started to draw.

Isn’t it interesting how we allow others to dictate our worth… but are they right? The opinionated relative, friend or coworker telling you that you’re not good is the same person who never dared to dream. As creatives we dare to dream in color and dream out loud.

BOTTOM LINE
It’s true, everything you need to know about life you’ll learn in Kindergarten. May we all be as resilient as this little girl and challenge the boundaries of mediocrity one doodle at a time.

Enlighten and brighten is the Hawaiian translation of Ho’omalamalama. As a performing artist and instructor of Polynesian culture Ho’o (ho-Oh) found her calling in the health and wellness realm. Today she extends that light into creative coaching utilizing the RBBP method, an effective way to help other creative entrepreneurs succeed. You can find Ho’o here: http://www.hoomalamalama.com/
Ho’o is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.

Guest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Amy Egenberger

Ever been walking along, minding your own creative business when a sharp turn appears?

The other-than-linear path of an artistic entrepreneur (like other human beings, too) can be a challenge to navigate. Do you feel like you are forging a brand new path, making your way one step at a time like trudging through the jungle with a machete? Or, do you believe you are on a pre-destined or pre-paved trail and your job is to stay on track?

It’s important to recognize a wise turn when you see one.

While hiking in the hills around Sedona, Arizona early Sunday morning, the trail upward took several sharp bends back and forth. Heading east, then the trail would flip back west. But was still progressing forward? My feet knew this. Even my mind knew this, but my heart needed to be reminded that this was not “one-step-forward-two-steps back.” The dream is still ahead, and despite the series of flip-turns, the path would lead toward it.

Lately in my business I’ve been heeding the switchbacks. I felt a call not long ago, clear as a bell, to step into a new aspect of my business, to lead and develop a whole new division. With energy and quite a remarkable measure of certainty, I moved ahead into new territory, co-creating with others, and we seemed to be on a roll. Then, rather suddenly, I knew I needed to change directions. To step back and shift trajectory is not always easy or expected, and to others can appear to be a downright about-face. Now I’m learning to identify and appreciate what is merely a switchback.

How do you know the difference between a switchback and a setback?

First, a setback may be a tumble backwards down the very same road you just traveled. A switchback, however, is not the very same road you just stepped; it’s up a level and you are still headed the way you were going: up.

Secondly, it may just be a matter of perspective.

Lesson reminder? Don’t panic. When projects or efforts toward your dream seem to take a 180° turn, or seem to set you back, check it out. From a broader vista of the whole proverbial mountain, are you simply on a switchback? Such a winding line ultimately makes the climb easier, less steep, less dangerous and definitely more doable.

I encourage you to pause and take note. Is it time to switch back…

• to your core vision and values?
• to an earlier passion or project?
• to re-gather your skills and talents?

Any such turn just may be a natural and necessary bend in the road toward your goals.

If you are one who likes the steep slopes with intense scrambling and white-knuckled experiences of traversing nearly vertical ascents in building your business, then I say go for it! But, if you are seeking the peace of mind of a more steady, sure-footed way, you can opt for a switchback any day.

Making way for creative action, Amy Egenberger, MEd., CPCC, is proud to be a Licensed Facilitator of the Right Brain Business Plan®. She is a seasoned educator, life coach, artist and founder of Spirit Out! Coaching. Amy helps people find the courage and clarity to get moving on their creative path. A book, a business, a project, a change… your creative spirit gets out! Amy is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.

Name: Lauren Brownstein
Company Name: PITCH: Fundraising and Philanthropy Consulting
Website: www.pitchconsulting.com
Blog: Blog
Twitter handle: @LJBrownstein

Note from Jenn:Pretty much every year since 2009, I get a note from Lauren Brownstein with fun pics of her latest RBBP. And they always bring a smile to my face. Since my first little e-book came out Lauren’s been using this process for her annual goal-setting. I just love how committed she is to the RBBP approach, how creative she gets each time, and that she is so passionate about helping others. Go, Lauren! Plus, I’m grateful that I to got to finally meet her in person a few years ago when I led a dream box workshop in D.C. at Kimberly Wilson’s place. Read on to get inspired and to see links to some of Lauren’s past RBBPs (one of which is featured in my first book).

What is your business and what makes your business unique?

As a philanthropy consultant, I help nonprofits raise funds more effectively, and I help make matches between donors and great causes.

I provide nonprofits with top-notch fundraising services (focused on grant writing and related activities) that let the nonprofits focus on their mission-driven work. At the same time, by helping my nonprofit clients clarify their thinking about their goals and implementation plans, I help them work smarter, deeper, and better.

I also work with individual donors and with groups of donors ensure that they are giving in a way that reflects their interests, passions, and values. Ultimately, I want to make philanthropy part of our everyday conversation, and I want everyone to feel like a philanthropist, whether they are giving $50, $500, or $50,000.

What sets me apart? I infuse my work, and work products, with a sense of creativity and FUN!

How has the Right-Brain Business Plan® helped you? What is different for you and your business after approaching planning in a creative, visual way?

The RBBP has guided me towards asking myself some questions about my business that I would not otherwise ask. The creative approach has made business planning something I look forward to! It has refreshed my thinking and sparked new ideas and insights.

What goals (big or small) on your business plan have you already accomplished or have made progress on?

This quarter, I’m working on growing my client base and further establishing my thought leadership in my field. Ramping up my networking activities and my social media presence are some of the goals I’ve articulated in my RBBP, and I’m making progress!

How do you use your creative intuition in your work?

As a grant writer, creativity is absolutely CRITICAL! If a foundation’s program officer is comparing a stack of 25 grant proposals, how can I make mine stand out from the pack, while still adhering to the strict structural guidelines that many foundation’s require? I do it by telling the organization’s story in a compelling, memorable, creative way. Fresh language, unexpected narratives, and personal stories of lives that have been changed through the nonprofit’s work all can help the reader to remember my proposal and my organization.

I’ve created a product called Grant Writing for Creative Souls that blends grant writing tips, creative writing exercises, and fun music to unleash grant writers’ creative flow. It’s a great example of my creative approach to my work. http://www.pitchconsulting.com/PITCH_LLC/Tips_and_Resources.html

Is there anything you’d like to share about your Right-Brain Business Plan® in terms of what it’s made out of or how you made it?

Creating a RBBP has become an annual tradition for me. I’ve made accordion books, mobiles, and more. This year, I wanted to do something more modular, where I’d be able to add in new info and ideas, update old info, remove stuff as needed, etc. as the year went on.

I found this little mini file folder for index cards, and I combined that with my love of lettering to create a series of cards that address many of the questions in the RBBP book. I’m putting my specific action list for each quarter on the back side of the translucent file folder, so I can easily see it. The front side of the file folder has a pocket on it, so I decided to use that for a mini-collage that expresses my major goals for each quarter (growing my client base and establishing my thought leadership in my field).

What’s your big vision for your business?

Nonprofits work more effectively.

People are educated, housed, fed, inspired, etc. due, in part, to my work with nonprofits.

I help other fundraisers to do their jobs better.

I inspire people to live generously.

What advice do you have for other creative entrepreneurs?

Take breaks a few times per year to review your goals and vision.

Find a support team of other entrepreneurs who can be your sounding boards, critics, and cheerleaders.

Don’t be afraid to try new things and fail.

Ask for more money – if nobody ever turns you down, you’re not charging enough.

Invest in a good computer, a good accountant, and good health insurance. You need and deserve it.

If things feel “rote,” take a break and shake things up. Go to a museum. Listen to new music. Doodle. Just do something to get your creative mojo back!

Want to create your own Right-Brain Business Plan®? The Right-Brain Business Plan® Kit includes supplies to make your own accordion book style visual business plan.

Guest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Cass Mullane

I have an awful lot of fun things going on these days between clients, workshops and webinars, my studio and all the art related work, writing a chapter for a new media book to be published this summer, creating material for my own publication, Cool Stuff Jar, working on the Butterflies & Friends project, creating new business products and services, and on and on and on. Oh, and did I mention taking care of myself and my family in all this?!

I’m sure you have the same issues with your business. There are so many details that need to be attended to and often not enough hours in the day to really do them justice. There’s the blog, the website, the social media, the emails, the phone calls, the bookkeeping, the content development, the scheduling, the reading and research, the creative work, the client prep, the meetings… sigh. I’m getting tired just listing them! But people who know me know that I am a force to be reckoned with and that I will get them done!

So when I need to produce, being able to laser focus is an absolute necessity. It’s also a key trait of many successful people. Here are couple of suggestions to help you bring some laser focus to your world and to become your own force to be reckoned with.

Create a Good Environment

Your environment also needs to be conducive to helping you focus. Whether you choose a restaurant or coffee shop with the buzz of patrons acting as white noise for you or you choose a fabulous professional office or studio space, make sure your physical environment suits you and enhances your ability to focus.

Clear your workspace so that the materials you need to do your task are readily accessible and the other extraneous stuff is either put away or at least moved out of your work area. In my case, I like to have a few things around me that make me feel good (like my goofy faced stress ball, awesome writing instruments, a timer and my fav beverages) that help me stay relaxed, focused and productive. While I may not be a squeaky clean desk girl, I definitely understand the value in eliminating the things that do not belong with a given project while I’m working on that project.

Eliminate Distractions

Do your best to manage kids, coworkers, pets, friends and other distractions.  Perhaps you can work out a signal like a closed door, to indicate that you’re focused and not to be interrupted. If long periods of dedicated time are not an option, then set a timer to carve out a specific amount of time for you to focus and get to work. Also, ignore the incoming emails until you have a more appropriate time to go through them efficiently.

And speaking of interruptions… turn off the phone (gasp!). Remember that our phones are specifically designed to grab our attention, it’s all marketing. The last thing we need when we’re trying to focus on what’s in front of us is to be constantly interrupted by chirping, dinging and ring-toning of the ever-present phone. The truth is, it always makes good sense to be offline for a while in order to get something important taken care of. Clear your head and give yourself a chance to breathe.

Be Fully Present

When you set up a good environment and eliminate as many distractions as you can, you invite calm and focus into your world. This enables you to be fully present for whatever needs to be accomplished. And when you’re fully present, you’re more effective.

Think about what it feels like when you’re looking directly into someone’s eyes and listening intently… that’s being fully present.  And that’s exactly how you need to be with your work in order to stay on top of all the things that are demanding your attention.

When your mind is laser focused, you are applying all your energy and power into resolving whatever is at hand. And that makes you a force to be reckoned with!

Cass Mullane’s 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 the author of Cool Stuff Jar which is slated for publication in Spring 2014. You can also visit Cass on Facebook. Cass is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.

Guest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Ho’omalamalama Brown

(12 Months of Balance)

Once upon a time a wife/mom/entrepreneur woke up and screamed, “I need Balance!”As her cry echoed in her room a portal opened up to reveal the Balance Fairy. With the flick of the Fairy’s wrist and the swish of her Swarovski crystal wand the young woman’s life came into complete harmony. NOT!

Reality check! Doubt, negative words, negative ideas, lack & need are still present. Don’t forget to add family, friends, daily schedules, deadlines, health and sleep into the mix of life also known as chaos.

HOW CAN I REMAIN IN ABUNDANCE even when the world is falling apart?

YOU NEED A BUBBLE!

Okay, not a physical bubble but if you can imagine yourself being surrounded by support and love. That feeling creates an emotion that will vibrate through you. It comes from deep within and is a combination of thoughts and ideas you choose to perpetuate. My bubble (affirmation) is simple and I say three sentences as often as I can. I’d like to share it with you because it’s so simple that my children are now saying it…

I Love Myself

I Love the skin that I’m In

I Love What I Do

Of course this will not work for someone who’s self centered but in my realm I meet a lot of givers. They put everyone’s needs before their own and care about the community. Some are healers, teachers, parents, coaches and dreamers. Keep your bubble simple or borrow mine until you create your own. Say it often and especially when you’re stressed. Eventually your environment will match your words and you’ll be standing in a place of abundance. I’d like to leave you with a famous quote, “May the bubble be with you.” Maybe it’s not so famous, yet!

Enlighten and brighten is the Hawaiian translation of Ho’omalamalama. As a performing artist and instructor of Polynesian culture Ho’o (ho-Oh) found her calling in the health and wellness realm. Today she extends that light into creative coaching utilizing the RBBP method, an effective way to help other creative entrepreneurs succeed. You can find Ho’o here: http://www.hoomalamalama.com/
Ho’o is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.