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Welcome to ... The Lounge, A Place Where Ideas Live
DO YOUR DREAM
Our World Books is a dream made real. But dreams don't happen out of thin air, they happen because we believe in them, see them, and work until they're real. And, at least in my case, because of the many, many muses and angels I met along the way. In this spirit, I hope that I can use this dream to inspire you to pursue yours and once you have realized that one, even greater ones. The following excerpt comes from an article in Essence magazine (March 9, 2007). May it ignite the greatest passion of purpose in you!
Finding the Pathway to Your Purpose
15 WAYS TO JUMP START YOUR DREAM
1. Name it and claim it. Affirm your heart's desire as rightfully yours. Speak of the accomplishment in the present tense " I am the best person for the job. The position is mine."
2. Put yourself in the picture. Imagine a day immersed in the role you hope to play, Be it wife, mother, CEO, pastor or opera singer. Sketch or collage a story board of yourself doing those activities. Psychologists say visualization keeps us on track.
3. Create a timeline for action. A dream is just a dream--until it has a due date. Work backward from that date to map out when interim goals will be met. Even if you have to adjust along the way, your timeline will keep you motivated.
4. Forge ahead full steam--for 15 minutes. You don't have to wait for "someday" to begin that dream project. Put it on your list as the first task you'll handle tomorrow morning, and do just 15 minutes of whatever it takes to get it going. The following day, do another 15 minutes worth, and so on.
5. Ring up your role model. Is there someone doing what you hope to accomplish? Locate her contact info today, and write down ten questions about her path to success. Tomorrow reach out and ask for 15 to 30 minutes of her time for an informational interview.
6. Join the club--or start it. Whether you want to buy a home, lose 40 pounds, enter a triathlon, or learn to invest, there are likely others in your community with similar goals. Why not support one another?
7. Keep score. Chart your progress in a daily log: How many cold calls made, chapters studied, miles run, personal ads answered, calories consumed, whatever. At the end of the day, you'll either have something to celebrate or a powerful incentive to get going tomorrow.
8. Don't play by others' rules. Someone else's path to success may inspire you, but remember that your unique gifts equip you to make things happen on your own terms.
9. Lunch and learn. Too busy with work, your children and other responsibilities to go back to school? Sign up for an online course that you can tackle during your lunch break.
10. Make a big switch one step at a time. Hoping for a new career at a different company? Try seeing if you can transfer into a related department at your current employer first. Or seek a job similar to your current one at your target firm, then look for opportunities to switch gears.
11. Use a setback as a stepping stone. So the loan wasn't approved or the grant proposal was rejected. Don't beat yourself up about it. Look for the lesson in what went wrong, and apply this to get it right next time around.
12. Reframe your roadblocks. Create a gut-honest list of what you feel is getting in your way. Then make a plan to address it. For instance, if your obstacle is no money for grad school, list five or more funding sources you're willing to investigate: loans, scholarships, a second job, tuition reimbursement and so on.
13. Be a squeaky wheel. Don't sit on your hands when you're confronted with a hiring freeze, a waiting list or some other type of delay. Stay in frequent touch with those in a position to influence things in your behalf.
14. Be your own best supporter. Use positive self-talk to get through a period of transition or uncertainty. Tell yourself, No effort I make will be wasted and Doors will open.
15. Ask for help. Would a few hours of babysitting, a weekend of peace and quiet, or assistance installing that new operating system advance your objectives? Get friends and family to buy into your goal and request their support. Say, "This means a lot to me, and here's what I'd love from you."
TURN YOUR DREAMS INTO YOUR REALITY
It's time to get clear about your dream and what it takes to make it real. Find some quiet time and consider the following:
If I knew I couldn't fail, I would ______________________________________ . This would mean giving up __________________ and ____________________, but it would be worth it to be able to __________________________________ and to give ______________________ the gift of ___________________________. It would be such a great fit for who I am. I can just see myself _____________________ each morning as i begin _________________________ in my new ________________________. In the afternoons I would focus on __ ________________ and I would always make sure to ___________________ before the end of the day. The best part of each day would be using my _________________ to connect to ______________________, and helping them to __________________ and ____________________. I've got everything it takes to make this happen. People often tell me I'm ______________________ and that I have a special knack for ______________________. On the other hand, ____________________ was never my strong suit. But at least I'm aware of it, so I'll be sure to _____________________ so that I won't get in my own way. And even though I may not be in a position today to ___________________. I'm not afraid to ___________________ if that's what it takes. What I am afraid of is _________________. What if I do this and ______________________? The worst that can happen is _________________________________. If it comes to that, I can always _______________________. Another door will open for me. I can reach out to ____________________ for moral support. I know I can make this happen. I can get started by _____________________. And in __________ weeks' time I"ll have _________________ to show for it. In _____________ months I'll be able to _____________________. I"ll celebrate by treating myself to __________________.
THAT'S A PROMISE TO ME!
THE BLOG!
Can you believe how widespread blogging is? All you ever hear about is how so-and-so is blogging for such-and-such! It's shameless really, people just pandering their thoughts on just about anything you can think of, with no regard to .... Hey, did I tell you about my blog? It's sooo cool! I got asked to write about what it's like to be a start-up entrepreneur, and I'm sooo good! I get the best reviews! Okay, at least you know that I can laugh at my own self-aggrandizement, right along with you. But hey, if you'd like to know what rolls of the top o' my tongue - and - check out a very cool site for women starting their own businesses, do check out my small business owner's blog at http://bizwomen.typepad.com/weblog/tracy_watson.
Tracy
RECENT EVENTS
March 8, 2008 - OWB hosts her first International Women's Day Party!
This Year we are inaugurating a new tradition called "It's Our Thang! A Sweet Soiree". In honor of International Women's Day, a movement started in the first decade of the past century by brave women willing to risk life and the comforts of conformity to bring the right to vote, to obtain livable wages, and to enter the halls of male power to their fellow-women, we at OWB thought we'd invite a few business women friends and our dear customers to get up, to get lifted, and to get our dreams on! The affair will be the first of many, so look out for your invite in 2009! A Special Thanks to:
Erica at EVarize Apparel(Berkeley) Kim Le of Nurturing Spa for Wellness(San Francisco) Elizabeth of Magnificent Quiche (Oakland) Hanna Lu (San Francisco) Margo of Functional Fitness (Alameda) LaNeisha of Nathan Ryleau Clothing Co. (Oakland) and all our wonderful customers!
March 8, 2008 - The MyKaroo Web Review
OWB is interviewed by this unique website review service on "Green 960" AM. The interview was fun and very informative. To hear the Publisher's take on starting a business: the good, the bad, and the ugly, please visit the site, via: http://mykaroowebreview.com/archives_o.php.
December 20, 2007 - Give Me The Mike!
Thank you Justina and Julieta! of Women's Initiative (WI) for getting us on More Public Radio (88.1 FM). We shared the mike with Dania of Fluffy Jo, another WI graduate, to share our experiences with WI and how we're using them to build businesses that thrive! We hope you enjoyed the show and don't forget to look here for announcements of future media appearances - WE LOVE the spotlight!
October 9, 2007 - Taking It To The Streets
Every year Women's Initiative for Self-Employment (WISE) hosts an all-day entrepreneur boot camp, complete with breakfast, luncheon and trade show. The seminars and workshops are led by female entrepreneurial giants and community leaders and the trade show is a showcase of WISE graduates, women with a dream and the will to make it a reality ... and, of course, Our World Book will be there, launching titles that make you wanna go home and pour yourself a warm hot bath! Please join us! For more info: www.womensintiative.org
September 18, 2007 - AtMP's Reception at Femina Poten's Art Gallery
Our World Books is hosting the Single/Unmarried Event of the Year in conjunction with Alternatives to Marriage Project (AtMP) in honor of Unmarried and Single Americans Week (September 16 - 22). Didn't you know, there's a week just for us! Next year. Valentine's Day Cards for singles! What? It could happen! If you'll be in San Francisco, please join us for a provocative evening of discourse and cocktails at the Femina Poten's Art Gallery, 2199 Market Street, SF, CA from 6 - 8p.m.
COMING TO A STORE NEAR YOU...
Can you believe it? We have cracked the retail barrier and are carried by local stores!!!! Whoo-hoo! It's only a matter of time before we are everywhere, just like savoire faire!!!
Ask for YOUR copy of "be seduced! (the cheeky guide to being happily single)" at:
Spectator Books 4163 Piedmont Avenue Oakland, California 94611 • (510) 653-7300
Walden Pond Books 3316 Grand Avenue, Oakland, California, 94610 • (510) 832-4438
Pendragon Books 5560 College Ave (between Forest St & Lawton Ave) Oakland, CA 94618 • (510) 652-6259
Sweet Dreams 2921 College Avenue Berkeley, CA 94705 • (510) 549-1211
Help us make it to your neighborhood - ask your local bookseller to carry be seduced! And Thank You, in advance!
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