Last week I did a live video chat with Yael Duncan our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® facilitator from Cape Town, South Africa! It was so cool to connect with her from across the globe and hear about her personal journey to following her passions. I’m sure you’ll be inspired about how she listened to her intuition.

Yael also gave us a peek at her own RBBP including her Big Vision collage, her Perfect Customer Portraits, and more. We had some tech difficulties mid-stream but Yael was able to pop on from her iPhone – how cool is that? Enjoy!

Catch this inspiring interview with me and author/creative coach Cynthia Morris of Original Impulse for a lively and inspiring discussion on writing and creativity.

Cynthia just published her debut novel Chasing Sylvia Beach which brings to life the world of the Shakespeare and Company bookstore founder Sylvia Beach and the streets of Paris pre-World War II.

Have a dream to write a book? (Come on, I know you do!) Find out Cynthia’s secrets to writing and finishing her book (hint – it’s a combo of left and right-brainess) and how she used her art to help fund many trips to France. Plus Cynthia shows us some peeks into her super innovative and fun artwork for her book launch and her delightful visual journals.

We also discuss a bit about how to move past the inner critic and how to find your authentic voice. All great tips for writers, creative spirits, and right-brain entrepreneurs. You can see the chat log here.

Join me again for a live video chat on August 7th at 12noon PT for a Livestream interview with Right-Brain Business Plan® licensed facilitator Yael Duncan from Capetown, South Africa. It’s going to be fabulous!

Want to get unstuck? Make sure to catch the free Livestream class I did with Right-Brain Business Plan® licensed facilitator Amy Egenberger and find out about the next offering of the Right-Brain Business Plan® e-Course which starts next week! This is the only time a facilitated version of this course will be offered in 2012.

I’m looking forward to Chris Guillebeau’s World Domination Summit in Portland this weekend (that’s us at his SF book signing for The $100 Startup – it’s a fantastic read, BTW).

I know I need constant reminders though about how to make the most out of an event whether it’s a jam-packed convention, a local professional networking meeting, or a virtual event from home.

One of the first conferences I attended as a newly minted entrepreneur had about 2,000 attendees (the following year had 3,000!). For this highly sensitive introvert that was quite a shock to the system. I also shared a hotel room to save money but learned very quickly, that for me it’s well worth the extra expense to have a quiet, private sanctuary to slip off to in the middle of the day to recharge. Really, it’s okay if you need to hide under the covers for a bit!

Here are some of my other tips on making events work for you:

• Set an intention. What is the one thing you really want to walk away with from the experience? Is it a certain knowledge or information? A fresh perspective on an issue you’ve been wrestling with? New creative cohorts? Deeper connections with existing friends? Or just to have plenty of rip-roaring fun? Align your decisions and actions around this intention.
• Conscious connection. Make a mental note of who you want to connect with and in what way. For me, I prefer deeper, more intimate conversations than feeling the need to meet as many people as I can. Knowing that helps take the pressure off.
• Practice self-care. Usually when I’ve invested time and money into an event, I make up that I need to “milk it” for all it’s worth and I force myself to cram everything into the schedule. However, that just ends up draining me and I stop retaining anything useful (and I get cranky). So pay attention to what you need and tend to that so you can stay present.
• Shake things up. For example, if you tend to sit in the same place, mix it up after a break. You’ll shift your energy and experience a new perspective. If you’re in a virtual event try interacting in a different way. Are you always providing answers or solutions to other people? Why not ask a question and let yourself simply receive.
• Make learning fun. Take pictures for visual reminders. Draw mind maps of key points. Doodle in your notes. Last year at WDS writer and coach Cynthia Morris documented her conference experience in a colorful illustrated journal (love!)
• And of course just be open. You never know what you’ll learn, who you’re going to hit it off with, or what fun adventure you’ll find yourself in.
• Build in recovery time. Don’t forget to give yourself some cushion after the event to recoup and integrate your learnings.

And check out this series that my creative cohort Jamie Ridler (who I can’t wait to see in Portland) put together after attending WDS last year. There are two posts featuring tips from several guest contributors (including me) on How to Get the Most Out of a Conference When You’re an Introvert or HSP (highly sensitive person) Part 1 and Part 2.

And if you’re heading to WDS, I look forward to seeing you. If they have the hammock lounge again, you can be sure I’ll mozy on over there at some point during the day! I’ve heard from some of you that you’ll be in my Right-Brain Business Plan breakout session on Sunday. I can’t wait to play with you!

Recently I chatted with licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® facilitator Megan Peters of MoKoPo Creations and Inspired Snail, a wonderland of resources for creative entrepreneurs.

Megan exudes positive energy! I know you’ll find her exuberance very contagious. Megan shared with us so many great ideas for running a creative business including a fun show and tell of her business organizing system, the importance of having an accountability buddy, and even how to juggle more than one business. Plus, if you’ve been thinking about getting on Etsy, Megan gives some helpful tips and shares a bit about her journey.

You can access the chat log from the session with Megan Peters here.

If you’re in the Ohio or Kentucky area, join Megan live and in-person for a fun Right-Brain Business Plan® Workshop on Saturday, June 9th. Early-bird rates end on May 26th!

The other week I interviewed my intuitive painting teacher Chris Zydel live on location at her Creative Juices Arts painting studio.

I know you’ll be inspired by this delightful chat about the creative process, how to manage your inner critic, and how to start painting right from your own home! Chris is full of so much wisdom. Plus I share a bit about how the intuitive painting process helped me write my book and grow my business.

You can access the chat log from the session with Chris Zydel here.

Enjoy!

If you’re interested in participating in upcoming live video chats with me, you can sign-up to get notified here.

If you had the opportunity to speak on stage for 1 minute in front of a live studio audience (and simulcast viewers from around the world), what would you say? How would you prepare? What would you want people to know?

Well, at the Wealthy Thought Leader event in Vancouver last month, my mentor Andrea J. Lee gave each conference participant a chance to get up and do what she called an “Open Mic Throw Down.” What a cool way to experience in your bones what it’s like to stand powerfully in your message.

What I found most interesting about this exercise was that many of the learnings actually came in the time leading up to the throw down. I procrastinated. I worried more about what I was going to wear than about writing out a word-for-word script. I waffled between wanting to play it safe and just talk generically about stuff I already do versus taking a risk and actually announcing a new class I was launching (one that I was feeling not 100% sure about quite yet).

One of the things that helped me stretch myself was taking on the perspective that this was not my one and only minute. That I would have plenty of other opportunities to share my message. This was not the be all and end all and it didn’t need to be perfect (good thing given I said the wrong URL!).

So, at the very last minute I raised my hand, got up on stage without practicing or prepping, and spoke from my heart. I focused on being present with the audience. And I went out on a limb and did invite people to participate in my new video class Assessing Your Left-Brain Business Know-How.

I’m so glad I got to experience the process leading up to and doing the open mic throw down. And it was awesome to be witness to a room full of brave souls vulnerably taking the stage, too.

How can you “take the stage” today and share your message?

Remember, this is not your one and only shot. It’s about putting yourself out there time and time again and taking each 1-minute “throw down” as they come. Whether it be how you introduce yourself at an upcoming networking event or PTA meeting, the next tweet you write, or actually standing in the spotlight with a mic in hand. Each time you practice using your voice, you’ll get clearer and clearer on your message.

The other take-away I had from attending Wealthy Thought Leader was remembering how creating experiences and using the senses enhances learning. I played with that in the video class I did last week.

So, if you’re wondering what Greek and a chef’s hat have to do with left-brain details in your business? We’ll you just have to watch my free 75-min. video class to find out!

As a follow-up to my 75 min. class, I’ll also be doing a free live video chat Q&A today, Wednesday May 9th at 12noon PT on my Right-Brain Business Plan Livestream channel. I had received so many great questions ahead of time that there was no way to fit them all in, so I wanted to gather the circle again and answer some of them.

I’ll also be answering a few questions about my new year-long Right-Brain Entrepreneur Mentorship program that starts on May 21st. We sold out of the 1:1 Shining Star level (we have a wait list), but there’s still room for you in the Cohort Circle! One of the special early-bird payment plans expires tomorrow, May 10th, so if you want a cash-flow friendly way to invest in one of the most affordable ways to coach with me, act now. Find out more details about the mentorship program here.

Note from Jenn: Since launching the Right-Brain Business Plan® licensing program at the end of last year, our facilitators have been using this creative and visual approach in live workshops and with individual clients throughout the world.

We have more than 40 licensed facilitators throughout the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia and it’s been so exciting to see them taking this work to their communities and helping people launch and grow their creative businesses. It’s so exciting that we wanted to give you a peek into their workshops here and in future posts.

In this post you get to meet facilitators Amy Egenberger from Minnesota and Michelle Rumney from London and hear a little bit about how their workshops are helping their clients get more focus and take more action.

Meet licensed facilitator, Amy Egenberger of Spirit Out!

Amy Egengerber: “Leading the workshops has been very rewarding. I especially love seeing people get to know and love their businesses in a deeper way. Like one participant said at the end, ‘I came as an artist, and now I’m a focused artist with a business plan!’ I’ve been surprised by how a playful day can generate such serious progress. For example, participants were able to take a look at parts of the plan that they had never dared or thought to consider. It sometimes gets very quiet during the moola mapping, and scoping out the biz landscape together leads to lively discussions that inevitably broaden the horizons of what’s both possible and plausible.”

“Another thing that surprised me was when one woman had been so sure-fired full-speed ahead with the idea of her business, that slowing down and taking a look the left-brain details was sobering in a good way. She realized where some of her blinds spots had been, opened her eyes and got grounded and re-energized to get into real action.”

“A favorite across the board is naming Creative Cohorts and Helping Hands. Yes! We are not alone! One participant came to the process feeling a bit burned out from going it alone in her business for several years. Several weeks later, she wrote to say, ‘I am working on 2 proposals to engage 2 interns to help me do some product development. I’m sure some of this stems from our work together at your workshop!'”

Here are some other exciting words from participants of Amy Egenberger’s workshop:

“Great class to gather all my ideas and a fun way to document a business plan. It was a wonderful feeling to leave with an action plan!” —Tanya Love, www.Passport2creativity.com

“It was all valuable! A great place to start to flesh out the business stuff for new businesses and established.” – Jodi Reeb-Myers, www.jodireebmyers.com

And you can see an interview I did with Amy on Livestream to hear her great tips for adding creativity into your business.

Meet licensed facilitator Michelle Rumney of Room on the Edge

Michelle Rumney: “My favourite part about leading the workshop was seeing people unfold during the day. At the beginning, a few people were unsure of what was in store and said things like “I’ve never done anything like this (collage) before” and “I’m no good at this sort of thing”. Of course, they were the ones who once they got into it and started enjoying it, wouldn’t stop collaging – it was hard to get them to leave at the end of the day!”

“The other thing I loved was the way people eased into trusting each other as they settled into the workshop – it reminded me that I had brought them together and created the space for them to be here and do this – I felt tremendously honoured and humble about lighting these fires.”

“One participant has just started teaching a 14 part course at her local art gallery for MIND, a mental health charity. She has a full class already and sees it as her first step in her Big Vision of bridging art and mental health. She told me “I’m feeling I’m on the right path… the workshop has given me a lot of confidence – I have a waiting list for the next course!”

“Another participant told me today that the workshop helped her gain clarity in herself and stop trying to run two businesses at the same time. She was spreading herself too thin, and has since been focusing 100% on her radio show “DreamCorner” and now has four shows a week (she had two per week at the time of the workshop) and is seeking sponsorship to take it to the next level.”

Wow! Pretty cool results and outcomes from these fun workshops!

If you want to have new clarity, focus, and passion when it comes to your business, consider working with a licensed facilitator in your area, check out our directory and find upcoming workshops on our events page.