CONNECTION + COMMUNICATION Page 12 of 27

Why creativity is so important (and how to unleash yours) + last chance to join the DWYL e-course – starts today!

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A very pregnant me hosting a discussion on passion, connection and community with Lilla Rogers and Kelly Rae Roberts

Wow, what a week. Here at DWYL HQ we are recovering from an incredible few days of being ‘lovebombed’ by creative women from across the world. We hosted our first live event since the original Do What You Love retreat, and it was such an uplifting, energising experience.

‘Make Art That Sells: The Global Art Gathering’ brought together creative women (and one creative man!) from around the world – as far away as Australia, New Zealand, the US and right across Europe – to our city of Brighton to learn how to make art that is more commercially viable whilst staying true to themselves. It was a live version of the wildly popular ‘Make Art That Sells’ online courses we produce for top art agent Lilla Rogers, and was special in many ways.

Firstly, it brought together some of my favourite women, a number of whom are business partners and all of whom are dear friends, including Lilla, Kelly Rae Roberts, Rachael Taylor, Margo Tantau and more. It was life-affirming to spend so much time, and have so many rich conversations with them all.

Secondly, it made me so proud of our awesome team, who worked so well together to make it a really magical experience.

And last but not least, it became the catalyst for many creative journeys that are only just unfolding, as it brought together a new community of creatives who bonded over shared dreams and values, laughter and generosity of spirit.

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Although the majority of our work is delivered online, and that very valuable communities are built there, it is impossible to deny the power of bringing together like-minded people to discuss, share and learn. Friendships blossom, business ideas burst into life and people really start to glow. It’s as if they suddenly got permission to be creative, to want to make a career from that, and to be proud of what they do. And why not? Creativity is what makes the world interesting, ever-changing, beautiful and unexpected.

How about you? Are you being as creative as you could in your life? We are all on a creative journey. For each of us, that journey probably began earlier than we realise, and runs deeper than we know. Along the way, we discover new mediums of expression, and new parts of ourselves.

Creativity isn’t just about painting, or writing, or taking lovely photographs. It’s about the way that you interpret the world, how you think, and what you do with that information. Discovering and pursuing what you want to do and be and feel in your life is one of the greatest creative adventures you could ever undertake.

If you are under the impression that there are two types of people, ‘creative’ and ‘not creative’, I can assure you that is a myth. We all have creative capacities, but some people use them more than others. At different times, different sides of our brain are dominant; but they’re interconnected, and we use both sides at any one time. It is possible to develop our creative capacities over time – sometimes this happens through need, and sometimes through desire – and with practice, we may become more in tune with our creativity. Don’t be fooled into thinking creativity is something that has to be learned. It doesn’t. It is in you already. All you need to do is to feed your creative soul.

To me, creativity is all about ideation and the creation of something that did not exist in a particular form before you made it that way. Creativity is proactive – it is about making things, and making things happen.

Creativity is exciting – it is about making decisions which are not necessarily the same decisions others would make, and which may invite the unknown. Creativity is imagination – it is about beauty, possibility, and wonder.

How do you unleash that creativity? Here are a few ideas which you can get started on straight away:

  • Give yourself permission to spend time bring creative, and silence the voice that tells you it’s a waste of time
  • Surround yourself with people who also value creativity – sign up for a workshop, join an online forum, get involved in a local group
  • Tackle the normal, routine parts of your day from a creative perspective. Make your to-do list beautiful, do a photo walk on your way to work and post it on Instagram, cook a delicious meal and consider the colours on the plate, write a letter to an old friend… anything goes.

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Discovering a need for more creativity, and choosing to pursue that, is one of the most frequent outcomes of our flagship e-course ‘Do What You Love’  (which starts TODAY). If you feel that the time is right to explore your own creativity and general life direction further, why not join us? This is the LAST TIME this course will run this year, as I am heading off on maternity leave soon, and have several creative projects of my own in the pipeline for that treasured time off (not to mention welcoming a new baby into the world in a few weeks’ time!).

This week we challenge you to be more creative in your everyday routine. Share your ideas on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t be shy about it!

Have a great week

Beth

Learn a new language: 10 steps to success

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There’s no doubt about it, it takes courage to step out of your comfort zone and learn a new language. Emotional ups and downs come with the territory and feelings of exhilaration are often followed by moments of frustration. But one thing is for sure, if you can stick with it you’ll be so proud of yourself — and who knows what doors your new-found skill might open.

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Here are our top 10 tips for successful language learning…

1. Get comfortable with being a beginner. As adults we are often afraid of being beginners. We don’t like not having all the answers, looking silly, or messing up. When it comes to learning a language, admitting that you don’t know everything (and being okay with that) is the key to freedom,  growth, and success. Let go of your grown-up inhibitions and remember, everyone is a beginner at some point: everyone starting a new job; every new parent; every brave person starting up a business; and everyone voted in as Prime Minister. So [Tweet “embrace new beginnings and enjoy the process of diving into a fresh new learning experience”] knowing that tomorrow you will know more than you do today.

2. Understand your motivation and make your mission public: It might seem obvious, but without a strong desire or good reason to learn a new language, you might struggle to stay motivated long-term. Ask yourself why you want to learn this new language. Write down your reasons and stick them somewhere you can see them everyday. Also, if you tell friends and family about your mission, or make it public on your website, blog, social media, or anywhere else, it confirms your commitment and you’ll be more determined to keep going.

3. Just start! It really is that easy! First, learn to say ‘hello’. And then, when you’ve done that, learn to say ‘my name is… And then learn to say ‘nice to meet you’. And go on like that. By learning ready-made answers, and also how to ask questions, such as ‘where are you from?’ and ‘what do you do?’ you’ll build your vocabulary quickly and before long you’ll feel comfortable holding a simple conversation. Another good tip is to learn the filler words. These are the words and phrases people say then all the time between sentences but have no real meaning (like alors, which means then/so/in that case in French) which can buy you extra thinking time while you’re chatting!

4. Welcome your new language into your every day life. The more you immerse yourself in the new language the more your brain will consider it something worth caring about so invite it in!

  • label every object in your house in your chosen language
  • read kids’ books written in it
  • watch subtitled TED and TEDx talks in it
  • watch subtitled movies in it
  • listen to an online radio station in your language as you perform other tasks to familiarize yourself with different intonations, pacing and pronunciations
  • live-narrate parts of your day to a pet or imaginary foreign friend!
  • go to ethnic restaurants and test your language skills with the staff

5. Keep it relevant: In addition to the fact that it’s fun and a challenge, most of us will be learning a new language for travel or work so we can communicate easily and effectively.  So when you’re learning think about the kind of things you’re most likely to want to say, or write, in everyday life. Learning words and phrases which help explain your background, situation, interests, as well as current events is a great way to expand your vocabulary.

Learning a new language means learning hundreds of thousands of new words. And that’s no mean feat. The thing is, most languages don’t use the vast majority of their words. Most sit in dictionaries waiting for the day they are plucked out for use in a conference speech or technical paper. In English for example, 65% of written material is composed of just 300 words! To help you concentrate on learning the most frequently used words in a language invest in flashcards  or download an app like Anki or Flashcards.

6. Take a free online class or download an audio book. There are free online classes for just about every subject these days, and foreign languages are no different. For example Open Culture boasts a huge collection of free language learning resources, including audiobooks, websites, textbooks. Another great site is LiveMocha, a language learning community which provides instructional materials in 38 languages as well as a platform for speakers to interact with and help each other learn new languages.

7. Turn web browsing time into language learning time. The Language Immersion extension for Chrome helps you build your vocabulary and language knowledge by translating parts of the web page you’re on into your target language. Similar is Readlang which also creates flashcards for you and offers other study tools. You can also read newspaper sites written in your target language for extra more practice.

8. Get appy! Who needs expensive lessons when there are so many great smartphone apps for free! Some of the best include: Duolingo, Memrise, busuu, HiNative, MindSnacks, and Babbel.

9. Make new friends. Interacting in the new language is key — it will teach you to intuitively express your thoughts, instead of mentally translating each sentence before you say it. You can find local conversation groups and language cafés in libraries and community centres. If you live near a university, the international student community is another hot spot for language exchanges and events. Many foreigners in your city will be happy to meet you and hold a language exchange, where you offer mutual support to each other by helping your partner learn your language. Alternatively you could find a foreign pen pal or try The Mixxer, a free educational site designed to connect language learners around the world so that everyone is both student and teacher. The How to learn any language forum is another great source of support. It’s filled with tips and tricks for learning a language from people in the same boat, or who have already done it so it’s a great place to find a mentor.

10. Practice makes perfect: Once you’ve made your pledge, commit and practice, practice, practice! Make it part of your daily routine. Devoting just twenty minutes a day to developing your skill will keep you motivated and you’ll be more successful than if you cram for an hour or two only sporadically.

Of course completely immersing yourself in a country’s culture, by taking a holiday, an extended trip or a sabbatical, is a fantastic way to improve your language skills. It allows you to experience a place on a more intimate level, mingle with the locals and forge lasting friendships and memories, especially if you’ve learnt the basics before you go. Remember that native speakers are like doting parents: any attempt from you to communicate in their language is objective proof that you are a gifted genius.

Do What You Love interview – Jessica Nazarali

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Imagine feeling creatively fulfilled in your work, having plenty of time to spend with your loved ones, travelling all over the world and earning a six figure salary, all while making a real and lasting difference to other people’s lives…  Well for Sydney-based Jessica Nazarali, this is no longer a dream, it’s reality.

Just 12 months after quitting her day job, hiring a business coach, and going all in on her business as a Divine Living Coach, she gained the reputation as the next big ‘it girl coach’ and earned over $250,000. Four years on, aged 27, she runs a thriving business helping new women coaches create successful coaching businesses and build beautiful, personal brands.

“I always knew I wanted to do something “big” in the world,” Jessica says. “I’ve never wanted to lead an ordinary life, just scraping by only taking holidays once a year, only eating at my favourite restaurants on ‘special’ occasions, buying a new outfit only if I could justify the spend. As scary as it was to take the leap and be a full-time Divine Living Coach and entrepreneur, the thought of looking back in five, 10 or 20 years time and thinking “what if” seemed MUCH more scary. I’ve always believed that the world is better place when women do work they love and I am passionate about helping them to fulfil their true potential. It feels so good knowing that in some way I’m making a lasting difference.” Enjoy the interview. ~Rachel

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1. How did starting a blog inspire you to become an entrepreneur?

I started out with a blog in 2011 on healthy living and eating, and over time, it grew to have a big following. Even though I thought I was terrible at writing when I first got started, I grew to love the process of writing and photo-documenting. Of course, I loved my readers too! From here other bloggers started asking me for tips on how to make their blogs as widely followed as mine was and eventually, that turned into coaching. A new business was born. I thought I would be a healthy eating coach, since that was the topic of my blog. It felt like a natural shift. But that wasn’t what I loved, which was helping women change their lives by starting their own coaching businesses. At first, I was trading my coaching services for beauty therapy, so I’ve come a long way since then.

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2. You can help women turn their dreams of creating a six figure coaching business into a reality… how?

I take my clients through every step of the process, from the ‘big stuff’ such as getting over the fears that are holding you back to the tiny details like using Facebook ads and the importance of beautiful web design. Many women come to me with no coaching business at all – just a dream they’ve been thinking about – and after going through coaching with me or one of my programs, they are booking high end, one-on-one clients.

3. As women we all live busy lives so what advice would you give to help us find the time to step outside our routine, dream and get a vision for our next phase?

I love this question! I do a few things. First, I try to fit in at least a bit of yoga everyday. That really keeps me grounded and focused. Also, I have music on almost always, but especially when I’m masterminding or daydreaming. It really sets the tone for the positivity I want in my life and my business. Last but not least, travel always does this for me. I usually return from a trip with a huge, new plan to get started on.

4. You talk a lot about wow factors – ways we can all ‘up-level’ and keep improving ourselves personally and professionally. Why is it so important to learn, grow and keep developing ourselves and how can we all start doing this today?

Well, no one is going to make your dreams happen but you. I decided I was going to make my dreams come true No. Matter. What. I keep that in mind with every decision I make and every leap I need to take. It makes the fear of failure less scary because even if I don’t succeed at one little thing, it’s part of a larger success story. So it’s important not to let one potential mistake stop you in your tracks.

Beyond that, if you’re not continuing to improve all the time, it gets boring, right? No one wants a boring coach. So I like to keep things interesting for myself and for my clients.

5. Tell us about your business courses… what do they involve and how do we know which is right for us?

Your First Leap is everything you need to launch a coaching business and say goodbye to the day job that is holding you back from so much more. You’ll build a quit plan that makes sense for you and your life and get started building your dream business.

Find Your First Paying Coaching Clients is for women who are ready to go from no paying clients to successful coaching business that consistently get high end clients using premium packages. You’ll learn all of the steps to put your business together and create a brand that feels uniquely personal. While there are many business programs out there, there are not so many that focus solely on coaches AND specifically helping them find coaching clients. It’s important for new coaches to focus on finding clients because when you find your first paying clients, your confidence and belief in yourself really sky rockets.

Then, my new program, The Next It Girl Coach is about making a huge impact with your unique message to become the next ‘big thing’ in the coaching industry. What I love about It Girl is that it gives you permission to want fame and fortune along with reaching more people through your coaching career.

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6. Your book, Leaping from the ladder, is written for women with big dreams who want to do what they love everyday. How does it help women figure out whether they are ready to be their own boss and get started?

Leaping From the Ladder is part memoir of my own experience going from corporate career girl to coaching queen, and part how to guide, walking you through everything you need to know about working for yourself and transitioning from reliable paychecks to earning your own income. It’s perfect for you if you want to start building your dream business with your eyes wide open about what it means to be your own boss and how to make it happen.

7. Mindvalley has asked you to create a coaching program for their new company Evercoach, how did this come about, what’s the program about, and what is involved?

Yes! This is really exciting, isn’t it? It’s a lesson in not underestimating yourself, for sure. A couple of months ago my husband mentioned that he thought Mindvalley would “love to partner with me” (being the very supportive husband that he is!) and I went into, “Well, maybe in five years when I’m more established, blah, blah.” Not a month later, I got a call from Mindvalley, based on a referral from Gina DeVee, asking me to create a course for them! So, my course will be coming out next month and it’s called Thrive.

8. How does it feel to see your business dreams come to life? 

It feels amazing! Back when I was working in corporate, if you had told me I would be where I am right now – running my own 6-figure business, traveling the globe (as I write this from the south of France!), working with amazing clients to help them build their dream coaching businesses – I think I would have fainted!

9. What’s the key to getting balance? 

I actually find it’s easier to balance it all now than it was back when I was working in my day job and running a business on the side. I don’t take it for granted that I can go to lunch with friends when I want, start my work day as early or as late as I need to, and work from anywhere in the world as long as I have my laptop.

10. What are the next steps in your business dream? What’s your ultimate dream?

Big question! I’m working on a couple of new projects right now, including the Mindvalley course, that are really expanding my vision of what’s possible in the very near future. Ultimately, I would love to have a huge platform for sharing my message with the world.

Jessica’s snapshot

Happiest place: Anywhere with my husband!

Quickest way to find clarity: Take a break and leave the house

Yoga position you love: Pigeon. I hated it when I first started yoga but now I really love it.

Mantra of the moment: I’m a millionaire

Most inspiring book you’ve read:  I love Leveraging the Universe by Mike Dooley

Biggest ‘ah-ha’ moment in the last year: Anyone can be a millionaire within three years. Think about how empowering that is!

Three words that describe you: Determined, fun, love

Quote you live by: “Done is better than perfect”

Wish for the world: A ton of healing can come from accepting who you are, flaws and all. If everyone could do that, the world would be a happier, healthier place.

For more information about Jessica and the fascinating work she does visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

He can make you whole again… spotlight on Andres Roberts

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“I have really tried to be the change many of us want to see.” ~ Andres Roberts

Today’s world is more complex and challenging than ever before. Many of us find ourselves meandering aimlessly through life paying little attention to how we feel or where we’re heading. It’s no wonder that we find ourselves feeling lost and disconnected. When we don’t really know or understand our true authentic selves, how can we truly connect with others, and the world around us?

Andres Roberts, co-founder of Way of Nature UK, is a leading expert in positive revolution. As a guide, a facilitator and a leadership and change advisor he is dedicated to helping people find wholeness, purpose and balance in life. The concept of “wholeness” is at the centre of all his projects – understanding that we are a part of something bigger can allow us to let go of the smaller things that hold us back in life (“our everyday bonds”) and focus on the bigger picture.

img_4408A group retreat in nature, led by Andres

“For some reason we’ve come to a place in life where it’s normal to wear masks, and play roles,” Andres explains. “It’s  intriguing for me that for so many people life begins at five o’clock or at the weekend, when they start doing things they really love. That’s a form of separation for me. What we’re doing is separating ourselves from our beliefs, from each other, and from our true selves. I believe that all this is happening because we act to feed unhealthy aspects of our ego, that small self that can be so misguiding. It’s how many of us end up working in jobs we don’t like, feeding consumer culture, but not really meeting our deepest needs and passions.

“When we think and act from a small ego we lose sight of the fact that we are part of a much bigger ecology and to me this is really interesting. I believe that we feel that ecology all of the time. We need to spend time outdoors. We need to spend time in nature. As soon as the sun is out we all want to be out there, we all feel heavy and tired and we sense our energy draining if we sit behind the computer all the time. We evolved in the wild with trees, birds and grasses, so when we go for a walk in nature, it’s about going back home. Being outside in nature can lead to deep relaxation and opening of the heart and that it is an antidote to what contemporary work and life, fuelled by a consumer culture, is all about.”

me-group-crestoneAndres leading a group in Crestone, Colorado

A few years ago Andres’ work investigating playfulness, or the lack of it, in our working lives opened the door to nature. He started taking groups of people to Spain to experience solos in the wilderness – on their own for a day or two – to help them to reconnect with themselves and nature. He also organizes retreats and workshops to get more connected with nature and recently spent 28 days alone in the Colorado mountains.

He explains: “When people spend significant immersive amounts of time in nature their sense of self shifts. The boundaries within the walls of their body and mind begin to move. They feel present and connected, and they begin to flow more easily as part of a world, a bigger world. It’s like growing a family; your sense of self expands. You see outside yourself and realize that life is not just about you anymore.  You are connected. You are all one. We are all one. It’s very natural to want to spend more time in nature because we miss that connection to something bigger, the wider whole.”

Do you feel lost or disconnected? Do you want to live a more whole and balanced life? [Tweet “Are there things about the way you work, live and play that you want to change but don’t know how?”] Do you dream of spending more time in nature? Andres can help you figure out the answers here. And for more information about Andres, visit his website.

“I know Andres well both professionally and personally. He is an absolute pleasure to work with and to be with. His motivation for systemic change is tangible and his energy is abundant and infectious. I think this comes from his alignment with the natural world and the purity of his motivation. He is a genuine inspiration.” ~ Steve Waygood, Chief Responsible Investment Officer, Aviva Investors

Life according to Mr K: Is doing what you love selfish?

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Recently Beth was on a panel at a debate in London, talking about whether Doing What You Love being good advice is ‘an urban myth’. As you can imagine, she was on the side arguing that it is important, valuable advice. During the lively debate, hosted by Barclays at the Royal Institute, a number of interesting points were raised by the audience. Due to time constraints, not all of these were discussed, but I wanted to pick up on one in particular that we hear quite often ourselves: the idea that doing what you love is selfish.

Personally I couldn’t disagree with this more. I think that the exact opposite is true. Of course, in the beginning when you are exploring your interests and your passions and realising your hopes and dreams, it may feel like you are being a little self-indulgent, especially if you aren’t used to spending time doing things that you enjoy and care about. But as soon as you open your heart and mind to doing what you love, through conversations, by being pro-active, or even starting a new business, you find that what you love starts to matter to other people too.

A personal journey towards doing what you love begins with asking yourself some really deep and thought-provoking questions. Questions that are all about you, your life and how you want it to be. But to perceive this as you being self-absorbed or even selfish is very short-sighted. Once you start to find the answers amazing things can happen. You start interacting with like-minded people who share your ideas, your passions and your interests, you open your heart and mind to exciting new opportunities that make help you learn and grow; you discover a greater charity and a willingness to share and collaborate, and you strive to be your best self.

Let me give you two very good examples based on two people featured in our recent Alchemy Series.

Dave Cornthwaite: a Graphic Designer who at 26 had everything that society had implied he needed to be successful. However he was far from happy. 10 years ago he left it all behind and set out on a journey to find some answers. His adventures since then have been very inspiring. His ‘Say Yes More’ campaign is helping transform the mindset of thousands and his newest project is helping plant a huge number of trees. His personal journey has ultimately allowed him to inspire many others to follow their own passions and do what they love.

Emily Penn: after University Emily was offered a job as an architect in Australia but because she was so committed to protecting the environment she refused to fly. Instead, she sailed there from the UK. It was on this journey that she discovered a deep love and respect for both the ocean and the communities she met along the way. Rather than taking the job, she became an ocean advocate and she is now passionate about eliminating plastics from the sea.

[Tweet ““Individually we are one drop, together we are the ocean” ~ Ryunosuke Satoro”]

These personal quests were pivotal to finding clarity and purpose and they highlight just what can be achieved when you follow your true passion. Maybe when you are the best ‘you’ that you can be, you can create the most opportunities to help and inspire others.

If you are struggling with the idea of doing what you love, or feel that it is selfish, or that it is hard to focus on your own plans and dreams when you have so many obligations to others, then I would encourage you to consider joining us for the Do What You Love e-course beginning on June 15, 2015. It will completely change your perspective, and help you understand why the world actually needs you to do what you love.

Either way, this month I’d like to challenge you to think about someone who inspires you. How they have followed their own passions? How have they ended up having a greater impact in the world as a result? Then think about what that could look like for you.

Until next time,

Mr K

 

Ideal environments

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Our environment has a huge effect on not only how we feel, but how we live our lives. When was the last time you thought about where you want to be as opposed to what you want to be?

When have you last been aware of what kind of environment makes you feel alive and gives you a sense of possibility? Is it in a bustling town centre or is it in a cottage overlooking a dramatic sea landscape? Week 1 of the Do What You Love e-course encourages you to explore what changes you want to see happen by visualizing your ideal life, and that includes where you feel the happiest.

As we go through some of the Do What You Love exercises this month, we have asked Vickie to go through the “Ideal Environment” exercise. This is her mood board below.

All images courtesy of @vickieinwonderland

“The way a certain environment can make you feel is very powerful and finding a place where I can be happy and feel alive is as important to me as finding my “crowd”. When I travel, I often get somewhere, look around, sink in the atmosphere and think “I could live here”. It’s always a combination of things that makes me feel that way, but if I break it down, my ideal environment would have to include these three elements: water, gardens & markets.

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Water is calming and invigorating at the same time and it’s ever changing. You never look at water twice and see the exact same thing. Whether it’s the sea or a small stream at the bottom of a garden, water is in constant movement and it reassures me to know that something in constant movement can still be calming and permanent.

Gardens

For me, gardens are havens of peace. It is important for me to have even a tiny patch of garden somewhere. When I lived in a small London flat, I converted a little corner of my kitchen into a garden, with fake grass and pots with different plants and flowers. I had less space for cooking but I could have breakfast in my “garden” and nothing would make me happier than seeing the sun come through the window onto my plants after a tiring day at the office.

Markets

As much as I love the peacefulness of water and gardens, I also love a bustling marketplace. They make me feel like I am a part of a community of great people, even if I don’t know anyone there. Markets are friendly and happy places and although they can get a bit hectic, to me they are always rather comforting. They are like huge street parties where strangers come, share things and go away with a sense of belonging and a smile on their face.”

The Do What You Love e-course will help you understand that you can choose the kind of life you want and gives you the tools to explore what your ideal life would look like so that you can start building it for yourself.

“This course has been very important for me to understand myself in a deeper way, and make the right choices.” Cinzia R., Do What You Love participant

Join us this June for the experience of a lifetime.

 

Do What You Love HQ Update – May 2015

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The long summer evenings have brought with them a renewed sense of relaxation and calm after an incredibly busy few months at DWYL HQ. After almost a year of new content creation and recruitment our team has clicked with everyone fitting into the right roles, finding autonomy and feeling assured. The sheer volume of work that the team has got through since January is astounding. I take my hat off to each and every one of them, from Beth downwards. It is a pleasure and a privilege to work with so many people who are motivated by purpose, and who work with humour and a smile to such incredibly high standards.

Fast on the back of her appearance at The Barclays Debate #barclaysdebate Beth was proud to talk at the recent Mumsnet conference in London. She was there as part of a panel providing business and lifestyle advice about how to start up on your own. I know she thoroughly enjoyed herself as she came back with a spring in her step after mingling with so many other aspiring and driven mothers.

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The Business Soul Sessions opened its classroom doors (digitally speaking) on May 11 to a new group of individuals. This revolutionary course offers a thought-provoking, perspective-shifting, mind-opening approach to business growth for entrepreneurs who want greater impact, explosive growth and serious profits they can be proud of. Without blowing our own trumpet, I wish we could have taken The Business Soul Sessions at the start of our journey!

It has been nearly three years since the previous class ran and I can’t wait for all the wonderful eureka moments that I know our students will have. So many great things come out of this course for so many people, and it’s wonderful to watch our students grow and transform their approach and their businesses before our eyes. This is what some of our past students have said…

“This course was pivotal for me. It helped me gain a professional confidence and business identity that I didn’t know I was even missing.” ~ Noelle Rollins

“My business has grown at least 300% and my network and knowledge have expanded exponentially because of this course.” ~ Sandra Dumais

“The Business Soul Sessions changed my entire approach to everything I did. It changed how I thought about business and living the life of a business person. I taught myself to value my talents, my time and my efforts. I would tell anyone who is in a business that relies on creativity, imagination and ingenuity that they really need to do this course. It will pay for itself and you’ll look back in time and be so grateful that you invested in your soul work”. ~ Kass Hall

And there’s lots more exciting news to report…

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1. Registration is open for the next DWYL e-course, starting June 15. We’re proud to say that the powerful yet practical content contained in this transformative course continues to surprise people. It’s all about helping you find the answers to your questions and then taking the right actions for you. If you are wondering about the true power of the course, well it doesn’t come much bigger than a Marriage Proposal… and just wait until you find out how he popped the question!

2. We launched our brave stranger campaign to celebrate bravery in all shapes and sizes, by every day people. Get involved on Facebook or Twitter next week for a chance to WIN a place for you and a friend on the DWYL e-course.

[Tweet “Change your life! WIN a place for you and a friend on the next DWYL e-course”]

3. We’ve had some brilliant applications for Little Beach Hut of Dreams and we can’t wait to share how our beach hut residents spend their days by the sea. UPDATE: The Little Beach Hut of Dreams has been sold as we no longer live in Brighton and only residents are permitted to own beach huts there. This post has been archived for reference but we are no longer accepting applications for Dreamer-in-Residence. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Dreamers-in-Residence for being part of our adventure, and to Towergate Insurance for awarding The Little Beach Hut of Dreams runner up position in Beach Hut of the Year 2015. She was very proud!

4. Our Webinar Series – Alchemy – has certainly got people inspired and thinking. The feedback and comments have been great. Alchemy is constantly available and now takes pride of place in amongst our other FREE Resources – Sign up today and listen to some of the most interesting and potentially important conversations you will hear all year.

5. Our blog continues to be galvanised by our guest bloggers who are all leading all experts in their field. They include: Alastair Humphreys, Ben Keene, Frances Booth, Louise Armstrong and Lara Tabatznik.

6. What do you think about our new look? Last month our new website launched. We want it to be a place you can trust to find all the inspiration, tools, resources and support you need. At the end of the day all of this is for you. So we’d love to hear you thoughts. Please get in touch and let us what works, what doesn’t and most importantly, tell us if something is missing, or if there are any features you’d find helpful. We really do value your feedback.

An update on our collaborations

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Make Art That Sells (MATS):

1. The LIVE event is SOLD OUT! Make Art That Sells: The Global Art Gathering will take place in Brighton, UK, on Friday, June 12, 2015. It promises to be a fun-filled, action-packed day with all the energy, passion and magic you’d expect from Make Art That Sells. We’ll be welcoming a host of acclaimed speakers and panelists from the international art industry to advise and inspire you.

2. MATS: Creating Collections for Home Decor has been hugely in demand since we announced its launch last month. Lilla and Beth have teamed up with Top Art Director Margo Tantau – to run the fantastic course that Margo has described as a GAME CHANGER! To ensure you don’t miss out before it sells out Register here.

3. MATS: Assignment Bootcamp has entered in its final month. I can honestly say that I will miss the buzz in the Bootcamp Community when it draws to a close but I know there will only be a short interlude before attention turns to this year’s Global Talent Search. Don’t miss out on what could be one of the biggest and best opportunities for your career… join the waiting list here.

4. Our gorgeous new Make Art That Sells website continues to turn heads! It’s bursting with free resources, industry insight and motivational videos to help the artists among you make leaps forward with your career. Be sure to check it out.

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Make It In Design (MIID)

Since our sister site, Make It In Design, announced Printsource New York as their Official Trade Show Partner energy levels have been sky high. As one of the world’s most prestigious shows for the surface pattern design and textile industry, this partnership will provide exclusive content, behind the scenes access, and top tips to help designers build their brand through trade shows.

1. Trade show video series – over 1,000 people tuned in from around the world last week to watch our latest Trade Show video series hosted by Rachael Taylor and Massimo Iacoboni, the owner of Printsource New York. The feedback has been amazing with many people letting the team know how many great ideas they’ve picked up and how grateful they were for all the free inside know-how to trade show success. Rachael shared years of trade show trial and error to help others avoid the steep learning curve. The videos are still available to watch until May 31, 2015. Sign up here.

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2. Make it in Design are on the countdown to one of the most exciting and powerful courses in the world of surface pattern design – ‘The Ultimate Portfolio Builder in association with Printsource‘. This advanced 7-week course will give you all the tools and advice you need to grow your body of commercially viable work, refine and strengthen your professional design portfolio, make your designs more sellable and give you the fast-track to trade show success. Class starts on May 25, 2015, there’s still time to join us.

3. Uppercase launched an exciting competition to win a place on the upcoming ‘The Ultimate Portfolio Builder’ course. To date there have been over 70 entries which you can read on the blog here.

4. Summer School dates are out! Last July hundreds of people joined Make it in Design for some creative fun for all the family. Check out the Summer School Lookbook featuring some of their favourite designs and join the waiting list to get more details soon.

5. We are also thrilled to tell you that a number of Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design students exhibited at Surtex in New York last week. You can see their latest work right here on the Make it in Design blog.

Thought of the month…

Just last week Beth (Mrs. K) and I sat down to work through the ‘Core Values’ section of The Business Soul Session course for our business (yes, we use our own resources!) and it couldn’t have been better timed. In the midst of all the ideas, an ever-growing team, increasing commitments and working at 100 mph to get everything done, we needed to ensure that we were still being true to the soul of our business. The outcome was really insightful; it reminded us that we must never lose sight of the ‘WHY’ behind our business. It is the beating heart of Do What You Love.

Make time for the important things and stay true to yourself.

Until next time,

Mr. K

Child’s play

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We’re a week closer to the beginning of the next Do What You Love e-course, and this week we’ve been doing one of the many exercises designed to help you excavate your story. We asked Rose to take a trip down memory lane and draw a picture of what ‘play’ looked like for her as a child. Here’s what she came up with.

“My initial reaction was an all too common one – ‘I can’t draw’. I like to think of myself as artistic in other ways, but drawing, especially from memory, definitely isn’t my forte.

 But, as Vickie pointed out, this isn’t a drawing competition. So I set to work. As a child I remember playing with baby dolls, making dens, running shops and holding tea parties for my toys. My strongest memories are of those tea parties, so I started drawing. As I drew, that carefree feeling of being surrounded by my much-loved toys crept back up on me, and I started to really enjoy it. I began to remember seating my toys next to their ‘best friends’ and serving them from my miniature polka dot teapot and stripey tea cups. If I was lucky, my mum would help me bake miniature cupcakes for the occasion, too.

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Doing the exercise got me thinking about how that early love of entertaining stuck with me as I grew up. I spent ten years in the hospitality and events industry, and although I left it behind me in favour of more regular, sociable hours, I look back so fondly on the days of working in a team to make those big birthdays and wedding receptions completely unforgettable. It’s clear that I’ve always loved making those special occasions happen, for both toys and humans, and I know I always will.”

The Do What You Love e-course will encourage you to reconnect to the real you, deep inside, in order to uncover what you really love. Understanding yourself and your passions will help you map out your perfect road ahead.

“This course is like pressing a pause button on your life – to take stock and help realise your potential.” Course participant, January 2015

Join us this June for the experience of a lifetime.

Do What You Love interview – James Scipioni

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Do you dream of jungle adventures with playful orangutans and indigenous tribes in Borneo? Or of crossing Kyrgyzstan on horseback and staying with shepherd families in their yurts? Or of going back in time and learning Mayan traditions whilst discovering the secret archaeological sites, cenotes, caves, and beaches in Mexico? Today we bring you a fascinating interview with a guy who makes these kinds of life-enriching experiences possible for anyone.

James Scipioni is so passionate about travelling deeper, and travelling differently, that he started his own sustainable travel enterprise, Go Barefoot, which works globally, from policy to the grassroots, to ensure that tourism contributes positively to places and their people. Read on to find out more about the incredible travel experiences Go Barefoot offers, and get a special summer discount on your next big adventure… ~Rachel

IMG_0173Safari with Go Barefoot’s host family and friends in Rwanda

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