Name: Micheline Courtemanche
Company Name: Betty and Bing
Website: www.BettyandBing.com

Note from Jenn: I adore letterpress and I adore Micheline Courtemanche of Betty and Bing. It was so cool to have Micheline in one of my Right-Brain Business Plan e-Courses and then seeing the launch of her Betty and Bing website. As Micheline shares below, she really put her heart and soul into her business plan and her dedication and passion has paid off! I’m sure you’ll be inspired reading about her creative journey and seeing how she surrounds herself with her colorful and functional visual plan. (All photos courtesy of Micheline Courtemanche.)

Over the past two years I have been putting together a letterpress business. I have three antique letterpresses that I primarily use to print commissioned work such as business cards, invitations and promotional material. My next step is to put together some of my own ideas to print and sell on-line, in stores and at craft fairs.

That last paragraph seems pretty simple and straight-forward but it took me a really long time to get there. In the beginning, my ideas were all over the place. There were too many oh-I-could-do-thats to ever do them successfully at the same time. As a result, it became very difficult to talk about my business without sounding scattered. I lacked vision and focus but I wanted to succeed. I needed a business plan.

I sat down to do a traditional business plan more than once. Each time I stopped it was because I felt uninspired to make it work and I turned into a drop-out before even getting started. I found the traditional plan started me on the outside of the business circle. There were lists and lists of obstacles that I was supposed to overcome and other competition that I need to elbow out of my way if I had any hope of success. And I had such a hard time with the static approach to the information and the research. The graphic designer in me rebels against spreadsheets, graphs and business jargon. This approach just didn’t work for me and I stopped trying.

But I wasn’t ready to give up. I fell in love with letterpress and the person I was when I was doing it. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else and couldn’t deny the need for a business plan any longer. I came across the Right Brain Business Plan (rbbp) completely by accident one day. I was avoiding my traditional plan with a fury and was aimlessly surfing the internet. I was immediately inspired by their approach. What I was doing clearly wasn’t working and I was desperate to try something new.

When the rbbp began, I was blown away by the difference in the approach. Instead of trying to thrust my business into a world that didn’t want any newcomers, it started with me and my vision for my business and then examined what we had to offer. There was a real feeling of there being a spot for me in the big world of business. One that I would have to work really hard to keep but not one that I would have to elbow anyone to get. It was refreshing.

The course turned out to be challenging on every level. It was emotionally difficult, there was a lot of research to do and organizing it took a lot of time but I was always excited to work on it. I looked forward to new assignments and threw myself into each one. Translating all of my notes that I kept in a workbook into visuals was by far the most rewarding part of the class. It turned my business plan into a living element of my business. It hangs on the walls of my office but it’s so much more than a series of pictures. I move things around, change them and re-evaluate them all the time.

There are five key elements on my wall. All of them have been put together with magazine cutouts, printer paper, cardboard from cereal boxes, printouts of some of my photographs, my trusty black pen and a roll of tape. There are a million ways to put together a visual plan (as you can see from touring this website) but this is the way that best reflects me and my talents. It was a completely natural solution which is why I think it works so well for me.

I have a vision board so full of images, ideas and colour that six months after making it I’m still inspired by it. I have some character sketches of my ideal clients made of magazine images and words. I have a money-in and a money-out chart (revenue and expenses in traditional terms) so I can keep my eye on the finances in a glance. I created lists of people who are always there to help me for different reasons. I’ve worked from home for fifteen years so to be able to have a list of people I know will help, share their knowledge or just listen to my ideas when I need to get them out is an invaluable resource. Having them there on the wall is a nice reminder that I’m not in this alone. The largest element on the wall is my calendar and I would be lost without it. It’s my main organizer. It’s my motivator. It’s the hub of my business. I post all of the things that need to get done in regards to all aspects of the business. Every day I’m reminded of what needs doing and what’s coming up. Since it’s just taped to the wall it’s also not set in stone. I can easily add, move or remove any of the parts. I love when form and function comes together like this. In the short time this calendar has been up, it has helped me to organize and photograph my portfolio, create and activate my website, get my finances organized, develop some promotional ideas and get my shop closer to completion. Simply by working with this calendar on a regular basis, I’ve gained so much more confidence in myself in regards to my business and business in general. It was an unexpected but very welcome side-effect.

If I had any advice to give anyone starting a business it would be to keep one foot in front of the other. If you constantly do something for your business, no matter how small or big, you can’t help but move forward. It might not always feel like it but that’s why it’s so important to take a moment every now and again to look back. You will have undoubtedly moved closer to your goals. That alone is worth celebrating.

Creative Resources

Click here for more information about Micheline Courtemanche

Click here for Right-Brain Business Plan™ e-Course and the Right-Brain Business Plan e-Book.

Over the holiday, my addiction to the iPhone app Instagram reached an all time high! 😉 One of the cool things I saw some Instagrammers doing was they took pictures of their New Year’s Resolutions. For example, they would snap a shot of their running shoes and write a caption about exercising. What a fun way to create a visual reminder of your goals and get community support. BTW, I’m @jennlee on Instagram if you wanna help fuel my addiction.

Michelle Ward (her fantabulous RBBP Spotlight is here) and Jessica Swift put together an awesome e-Course called The Declaration of You (affiliate adoration), which I took part in last year. These savvy gals are enthusiastic and encouraging and I love how they shared their personal journeys to living their creative dreams. Registration for their next course is open now. They released an e-Book version, too, so you can do your declaring on your own time.

Jennifer Louden’s post “Why Having Your Best Year Ever Is a No Good Horrible Very Bad Idea” raises some interesting perspectives on New Year’s Resolutions and invites us to be gentler with ourselves.

Goddess Leonie’s Goddess Workbook and Planner (affiliate adoration) is a colorful and inspiring resource for doing goal-setting.

I’m having a New Year’s sale on my Unfolding Your Life Vision portable vision board kit. It’s a fun way to envision your goals and dreams for the new year. Use coupon code VISION2011 to get 15% off. Sale ends Saturday January 8th 9pm Pacific.

Feeling action overload and not sure where to start?

Prioritize your goals, and focus first on the ones that are most critical. At any given time, have at least one simple goal and one difficult goal. The simple one will give you confidence and keep you motivated, and the difficult one will keep you challenged and on your game.

Take one dose of Left-Brain Chill Pill as needed to quiet your judging mind.

NOTE: This post originally appeared in my Musepreneur column on the Wishstudio.

Dear Right-Brain Entrepreneur,

What do you envision for your business in the next year or two?

In January 2007, I wrote a letter dated December 31, 2007.  I described in detail what I accomplished as if it had already happened. I chronicled building my brand and my business, developing products, getting myself out there and enjoying a very fulfilling life.

Periodically, I’d pull the letter out and read it (in despair!).  “What was I thinking?! How could I define a unique brand when I’m now on month eight of my darn branding process?!  How am I supposed to complete and sell products when I’m overwhelmed by all my ideas and feel completely stuck?!”

After nearly two years had passed, I re-read the letter and realized how much had actually manifested.  Sure, a lot of it took longer than a year, but I was surprised that 85-90% had come true or was coming true in some form or another.

When I reflected on my future letter experience, I discovered three “P’s” that are key to visioning for your business (or your life).

Patience — Although some things happened for me on schedule or even faster than anticipated, the majority of it took time.  Sometimes the bigger vision has a delay.  You need to give your vision space to gain momentum.

Persistence — Thinking that the vision will progress in a specific sequence can lead to frustration when things don’t go as planned.  However by staying with it, you can start to see connections between various parts of your vision. So, forge ahead while holding your intention lightly.  You’ll be open to synchronicity and surprised by what unfolds.

Presence — Have a physical presence.  Build a website, set up an Etsy store, post flyers up for your workshop, go to an event and meet new people, dialogue on Twitter, have a booth at a show.  People won’t know about you if you don’t show up.  Showing up also means being fully present in the moment.  When you’re present, you’ll engage with people in a much more authentic way.  Ultimately, it’s YOU, not your marketing materials, who will enroll people.

So, I invite you to pick up a pen and paper, date it one year from now, and start crafting your future letter (or check out this nifty site FutureMe.org where you can write an e-mail to your future self!).  Include how it feels to have accomplished your goals and all of the steps it took to get you there (now that’s a fun way of doing an action plan!). Dream big and remember the three “P’s” of patience, persistence and presence.

Sincerely,

Check in with your gut and your heart.

Make sure your vision, goals, and plans deeply resonate with you.

Take one dose of Right-Brain Booster as needed to enhance your creative intuition.

Name: Bobbie Legg
Company Name: Inspired Journeys

Note from Jenn: Happy New Year everyone! If your resolutions include being more creative and adventurous, going on a retreat, or focusing on self-discovery, Bobbie Legg of Inspired Journeys has just the thing for you. Bobbie is a woman after my own heart – she combines yoga, expressive arts, psychotherapy, and outdoor adventures into life changing experiences. And her Right-Brain Business Plan is inside of a sparkly gold paint bucket adorned with a feather boa. What fun! I can’t wait for Bobbie to offer her first weekend trip. It sounds amazing. (All images courtesy of Bobbie Legg.)

What is your business and what makes your business unique?

I am opening Inspired Journeys, a small business that combines outdoor adventure, psychotherapy, yoga, and the expressive arts for self-discovery and personal growth.  Inspired Journeys includes elements that I have found to be most instrumental for positive life change.  With my unique background and professional training, I’m able to offer an amazing blend of services catered to each client.

Inspired Journeys will offer day and weekend trips for individuals and small groups.  These trips combine yoga & self-discovery with outdoor adventures such as, horseback riding, canoeing, white-water rafting, surfing, skiing/snowboarding, and camping.  During the upcoming years, Inspired Journeys will also offer international trips that include cross-cultural immersion and exploration.

Each session will be tailored to the individual’s specific needs. An example of a day with Inspired Journeys might look like this:
9:00  Private Morning Yoga Session
10:00  Visual Journaling- focused on identifying current life strengths and struggles
11:00 Therapeutic Writing-focused on exploring desired motion and change in current life struggle.
11:30  Outdoor Hike through a wilderness sanctuary, this includes lunch; hike time can include discussion on personal struggles and desired growth.
2:30  Therapeutic Writing & Visual Journaling-adjustments are made to morning work to align with current growth and change
3:00  Restorative Yoga
4:00 Goal Setting, Letter to Self
4:30 Final Reflection and Relaxation
5:00 Return to the world restored, renewed, & regenerated

For the price of a day at a spa, Inspired Journeys offers a life-changing, transformative experience.

I am a PhD Psychotherapist, a Certified Yoga Instructor and a trained outdoor leader. I believe in creating a sacred space for each person to feel safe while facing difficult emotions and memories.  Every session is infused with warmth, acceptance, and compassion, and each person will receive the highest level of individual care.

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?

I love using the Right-Brain Business Plan!  It helped me tackle difficult, but important business concepts such as a competitive market analysis, with depth and honesty.  Of course, it was fun and creative, but more importantly the assignments helped me begin charting my own course in the sea of competitors.

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

I made great business connections within my e-course.  By meeting professionals with different skills, I was able to develop a circle of inner advisors to give me feedback on my branding and marketing ideas.  I’m in the beginning stages of turning my business idea into a reality.  Completing the RBBP helped me develop a road map to follow on this journey.

How do you use your creative intuition in your work?

I’m intelligent.  I’m an amazingly hard worker.  I’m compassionate and kind.

As much as I adore these traits, it is my creativity and insight that has brought me great success in the business world.  It is what I’ve been told by my supervisees and my supervisors is irreplaceable.  By not limiting myself to left-brain logic, I’m able to creatively solve difficult problems.  The RBBP helped me to see that this talent will also be irreplaceable as I open my own business.

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?

I wanted to create my RBBP in a bucket for two reasons.  First, I like the imagery of a paint bucket; I’m ready to paint my new business canvas!  Second, I wanted a format that could hold letter-size folders and my business materials.  I painted it with gold sparkles-it’s my pot of gold to support my business success!

My most important facet of my plan is my special goal box.  I think setting weekly, monthly, seasonal and yearly goals is crucial for my success.  I took a gold satin lined box that I received as a gift and wrote each of my goals on origami paper that snuggles within the box.  The goal box is placed on top of my RBBP bucket.  It is soooo visual, and I need that!  Out of sight > out of mind.  Right?

Inside my bucket is my vision, marketing plan, information regarding my team of supporters and collaborators, legal information, percolating ideas, my $$$ plan, and random resources that I may want to use in the future.

What’s your vision for your business?

I want to provide people the opportunity to experience the outdoors as part of their healing journey.  I want to provide people the opportunity to use the creative arts as part of their healing journey.  I want to develop a community of whole-hearted women and men that are able to embrace change and flourish.

I would like Inspired Journeys to offer day, weekend, and two-week trips that combine yoga, travel, the outdoors, and the creative arts to provoke personal growth and self discovery.

What advice do you have for other creative entrepreneurs?
For years I repeatedly stated that I only wanted to work for a non-profit and had no interest in pursuing entrepreneurship.  I realize that it was my own fears that limited my vision.  Perhaps Marianne Williamson’s quote is my best advice to myself and others:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Thanks to Jenn for creating a dynamic space for each of us to grow as creative leaders : )

Creative Resources

Click here for Right-Brain Business Plan™ e-Course and the Right-Brain Business Plan e-Book.