Do you hate asking for help? Well you’re not alone! I ran a Right-Brain Business Plan® workshop this past weekend and when I asked participants their biggest challenges are as an entrepreneur, most everyone answered asking for help. And, yep, I’m right there, with ‘em.

Whether it’s because we think we’re bugging people, or we should be able to figure it out on our own, or we’ll be a burden, or we’ll look needy/stupid/selfish/fill-in-the blank, or we don’t deserve the support, or we can’t afford it, the list goes on and on as to why we refrain from making requests.

So in hopes of inspiring you to exercise your own asking-for-help muscles, I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and asking for your help here. Yikes!

As you may know my book The Right-Brain Business Plan has been nominated for a Small Business Book Award in the category of Startup.  Woohoo!

The book that receives the most votes wins and you can vote every 24 hours until Feb. 16^th.

Thanks to all of you who have been voting already. We had a super strong start but, alas, now we’re trailing.  Probably because I’ve been shy about consistently asking for help ;)!

So here’s an impassioned plea to all you right brainers out there….

Here’s our chance to get our creative voices heard and speak out against the boring and the blah in business! If you look at the other titles and covers in the Startup category, you can see that the RBBP certainly takes a stand for creativity, color, and innovation!  And you know the world of business certainly needs more of that.

Please show your support of the RBBP.

Vote every day from now until Feb. 16^th

And please ask your creative cohorts to vote, too!

Let’s give those traditional biz books a run for their money and show them that we right brainers mean business, too!

Thanks!!

Ever wonder what’s with all those sticky notes on the wall behind me in my videos? I’ve been asked about it a lot and I’ve turned several people on to using the system as well, so I thought I’d share my tips in a Livestream video chat.

Below is a recording of a session I did recently where I share more details of how I use my colorful wall calendar and how it helps me plan my business.

And in the same video session I also interviewed Ane Axford of sensitive + thriving who is a licensed facilitator for my Right-Brain Business Plan® and Unfolding Your Life Vision® licensing programs. Since both Ane and I are highly sensitive people, we chat a bit about her approach to thriving as a sensitive soul and about how to be a highly sensitive entrepreneur.

You can read through the accompanying chat log here.

Announcement: Right-Brain Business Plan® Workshop Simulcast – Feb. 4th-5th

Not in the Bay Area, but still want to take the upcoming Right-Brain Business Plan weekend workshop with RBBP author and creator Jennifer Lee? We’ve just announced an option for you to participate remotely from the comfort of you own home!

Jumpstart your business plan in a weekend by joining us on the live workshop simulcast February 4th-5th. You can find out details here.

Name:  Addie May Hirschten
Company Name:  Fantastic Fables
Website: www.fantasticfables.net
Blog: http://fantasticfableswithaddiemay.blogspot.com/

Note from Jenn: We received a lovely e-mail from Addie May Hirschten letting us know about how the Right-Brain Business Plan book helped her see the bigger picture of her business more clearly. Addie is a creative soul and storyteller and I was delighted to hear how having her colorful and visual plan all in one place has helped her prioritize and accomplish her goals. Thanks for sharing your story with us, Addie!

What is your business and what makes your business unique?

Addie Hirschten is a painter, writer and professional storyteller. She began her storytelling career as a children’s librarian.  After moving to Indiana, Addie started the company Fantastic Fables as a creative outlet for her theatrical programs.  She now performs throughout the state of Indiana in libraries, schools and camps.

Painting and drawing have always been of interest to Addie.  Fresh paintings are posted every few days on her blog and website. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Art from Appalachian State University and currently teaches for the ArtReach program of the Indianapolis Art Center.

Behind all of Addie’s artwork and performances is a message of celebration for the world we live in.  By passing on paintings and stories, she hopes to plant seeds of inspiration, hope and healing for others.

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?

In the past I have jotted down ideas on little scraps of paper or in journals.  After reading the Right-Brain Business Plan I decided to create a vision board on the wall of my studio.

By cutting pictures and layering post-it notes I made a concrete collage of my hopes and dreams.  The process of creating this visual business plan helped me to see more clearly where I want to go.  I was able to see how different projects overlapped, understand the purpose behind them and connect the projects to the correct audience.  This will help with my marketing efforts.

The best part of creating this business plan is that now my ideas are all in one place.  From that spot in my studio I can interact with the plan every day.  I can add to it and change it (without turning on my computer!)  Like a friend the plan taps me on the shoulder as I am sitting at my desk and reminds me to keep my projects in perspective.

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

One element I love is the “sticky-note project plan.”  I created a schedule section in which the “action” elements are broken up into monthly sections for the next two years.  Before creating my plan my future projects extended only into the next few months.  By pushing my projects further into the future I realized that they can be larger.  I then looked back at my “business vision” and the list of my wildest dreams.  From that I recognized that I should have the larger projects be of higher priority.  I have begun to tackle those larger projects.  These goals now take precedence over the more immediate day-to-day problems.

How do you use your creative intuition in your work?

While I love planning, scheduling and having my ducks in a row, my favorite work days are ones when I can just follow my nose, paint, record a storytelling podcast or just read.  It is wonderful to relax into the creative process.

The challenge is to create balance between the artistic play that produces our best work and the focus that is needed for success in business.  Taking the time to create a business plan helps.

What’s your big vision for your business?

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:
“Success is to laugh often and much,
to appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others,
to leave the world a bit better,
to know that even one life has breathed easier because you lived.”

It is my hope that my work reflects Emerson’s message.  When I paint I am honoring the beauty of the natural world. When I share stories I am passing on passion to others.  My vision is that I can share my message of hope with anyone who needs to hear it.

What advice do you have for other creative entrepreneurs?

Don’t stop!  Don’t ever stop creating and celebrating life. Award winning illustrator, Ashley Bryan wrote, “I never gave up.  Many were more gifted than I but they gave up.”

One simple secret to success is to take your art supplies out of the closet.  In the past year I moved to a new house where I now have a studio room.  I can sit down at any moment and continue with my creative projects.  Whether you devote a room to your art or a desk in the corner of the kitchen make your supplies easily accessible.  Create space and time for your work.  It makes it easier to keep going with your vision.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I share new paintings, stories and projects every few days on my blog.  I welcome your thoughts and comments.

Thanks again Jennifer Lee for writing the Right-Brain Business Plan!  It was not only a fun read, but it is helping me to form my future in a whole new way.

Creative Resources

Click here for more information about Addie May Hirschten. See her blog post about her Right-Brain Business Plan®.

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.

For more support with developing your RBBP, check out the Right-Brain Business Plan® Home Study program.

A note from Jenn: Tonight I have the pleasure of attending my friend Christine Mason Miller’s Desire to Inspire book launch in Santa Monica, CA. I can’t wait to celebrate with her and so many of the fellow contributors to this amazing book. I loved Christine’s book Ordinary Sparkling Moments and am now thrilled that she has a new bundle of joy and inspiration to share with the world. Please read on to find out how you can win some of her beautiful artwork!

Christine Mason Miller’s latest book – Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World – is a collection of stories, exercises, images, quotes, and anecdotes from twenty extraordinary contributors, all sharing insights and experiences of how they create a meaningful life and, in turn, make a positive impact on the world. Each chapter discusses a different aspect of living a passion-fueled life, and this month Christine is offering a 60-Second Snapshot of each chapter as part of her Desire to Inspire Virtual Book Tour. Click here for all her online book tour dates!

Today Christine discusses Chapter 7 ~ Plenty of Room for Everyone

“My work is not to try to determine what I think the rest of the world will like, buy, celebrate or approve of. My work is to do my own work…That is the first and most important step toward finding my place in the world – the place where what I have to offer walks hand in hand with what the world needs, a place that exists for everyone.” ~Desire to Inspire

There is no one on earth like you.

End of lesson.

Leave a comment today through December 20th and be entered to win one of the three wall art pieces pictured below!

Christine Mason Miller is a Santa Monica-based artist, writer, and explorer. Her next book – Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World – is now available at bookstores everywhere and Amazon.com. Follow her adventures at www.christinemasonmiller.com.

With the end of the year, fast approaching, make sure you carve out some time to reflect all that’s happened these past 12 months.

This afternoon I shared some creative ways to conduct your Year in Review, including one of my favorite visual tools – the Exploding Box, with a fabulous group of inspiring creative souls and entrepreneurs. Watch the video below for lots of prompts and ideas to help jump start your reflection and celebration of 2011. It’s like having your own mini-workshop with me!

It was exciting to hear participants’ a-has, acknowledgements of accomplishments, and dreams for the new year. You’re sure to be inspired!

For more close-up pictures of my previous Year in Review Exploding Boxes you can visit my 2011, 2010, 2009 part 1 and part 2, and 2008 posts.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Amy Egenberger of Spirit Out! Amy is a licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® facilitator and she is leading a workshop in Minnesota on December 10th. Watch to find out about Amy’s “Bucket List” and to hear about an upcoming new free Livestream I’ll be doing next month.