Okay- here I go. So many things to say write about! This is going to be a rough post and I’m not even sure how long it will be, but it’s imperative that you understand where I’m coming from and where I intend to go. When 2010 began, I could feel this amazing energy surging inside of me. The only way I can explain that energy is by telling you that the Lord was working through me and He told me, “2010 is going to blow my mind!” I could feel it! I agreed. For some odd reason, I had more ideas running through my mind by the end of 2009 than I had all year long! Creatively, I felt like I was growing and I was getting a better handle on where I wanted to take my business. All I needed was to research research research the paths that I would need to take to get it there. There was this fire inside of me that was like, “Whatever it is- let’s do it! Whatever is within my power to change- let’s change it!” My husband was feeling the same way. We have both made various commitments to ourselves, our family, and to our businesses for 2010 and with every last bit of gumption- we will carry those commitments out. I am thankful for my husband and for being able to share this energy and the love of our creative work with him. He is my rock and it is because he believes in every single thing I do- no matter what the risk, no matter what we stand to lose- that I love him. And though it is fabulous to have this kind of support system, I feel like I need more out of people. I feel like I need to make more valid and serious connections with like-minded “set-this-year-on-fire” type of people.
Do you know how difficult it is to feel this way and feel so much positive energy and to have no one to share it with? No one to bounce your ideas off of? I know there are others who feel as passionately about their lives and their businesses as I do, but I am currently, not privy to having them as close colleagues and friends. I WILL make those connections this year! I am putting my intentions and my actions behind this and I am going to make those connections. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have plenty of family members and friends who will sit there and listen to me excitedly go on and on about all the plans I have in store and the fire of change I feel that is afoot, but I don’t need someone who is just going to listen and be my cheerleader. I need people who will feed off of my energy and are willing to take the leap in their own lives, no matter how hard or how scary it seems- so that I can, in turn- be inspired by them, as well.
So my first step to making those connections? I will be attending Making Things Happen 2010 in Las Vegas in March. It will be led by Lara Casey, whose blog I follow religiously. She’s such an inspiration, a God-sent- if you will. Her life is amazing and because she’s so real and so honest, you can’t help but feel like you’re making a connection with her, personally- when you read her blog. I can’t imagine what it would be like- to be in her presence and in the presence of others- who have decided to Make Things Happen this year. The energy in the room is going to be staggering!
When I found out about the Making Things Happen Tour, I practiced my speech about investing in myself and in my family’s future- in order to convince my husband about the investment that it would take to get me to Las Vegas, for the intensive- Making Things Happen. Here’s what was said:
Me: I want to go to this intensive that Lara Casey is putting on in Vegas and I believe that it’s worth the investment and we have to take a risk on our success as a creative team…
Interrupting, he said: Let’s do it. What do you need to do and when do you need to go? Whatever we need to do to get you there- let’s get you there. We can’t expect others to invest in you and your work if you don’t invest in yourself, right?
Then my heart melted and I remembered why I married him after vowing that I’d never ever ever marry again. He’s so ridiculously supportive that I sometimes wonder if he is crazy, too? Then this is the part where he’d say, “Of course, I’m crazy. I’m crazy about you.” Sweet, sappy, and sickening, I know, but that really is my reality.
So in the meantime, while I patiently await my time to go to Las Vegas and meet with all the brilliant minds that will be on this tour. I’m working on my branding (Did you see the new logo? What are your thoughts?), a real business plan on paper instead of thinking about the one in my head, and figuring out the steps I need to take to take it from a sole proprietor to a limited liability corporation (LLC). I will soon be moving my home base to San Diego, California and we look forward to opening up shop there. On that note, allow me to announce that we now have a satellite office in Pago Pago, American Samoa and will continue to operate a satellite office in the San Francisco Bay Area because well- this is home- where my business and I were born. Imagine that! In February of 2009, we had the San Francisco Bay Area and now, by the summer, we will have grown to 3 locations total. It all happens so fast when you put passion and action behind the life that you believe you can have and intend to live.
I am also in the process of changing all of my sites and business information to reflect our eco-conscious practices. We have started with this new blog. I host it with Fat Cow, which is a web hosting company that is powered by 100% wind energy, which means that this blog is powered by 100% wind energy! And I didn’t stop there! I am an avid follower of Dana with the Broke Ass Bride. I was reading her blog and stepped away for a few minutes to make a sandwich and when I came back, there was a black screen that read, “Energy-Saving Mode. Move your mouse to go back to the page.” This is how I found that Dana was using Online Leaf, a company that is dedicated to, “Changing the standards of websites’ energy consumption.” It’s a simple and free code that you can add to your website or blog and it will help to make your website greener! Super flippin’ exciting! You can read more about the antecedent for my going green on my profile page. Here’s to making it a greener 2010!
Now, you may remember in my previous post that I was going to introduce my business partner. Well, plans fell through and she will no longer be coming on board. This saddens me, but it’s okay. This business is my baby and the work and talent that my husband and I put into it- I can’t expect others to care for it, the way that we do. I can’t expect others to care for my clients, the way that I do. My plan is to take this business as far as I possibly can, until it becomes an eco-chic monster to be reckoned with. I have decided to bring on a consultant who will be working out of the San Francisco Bay Area office and quickly, I’d like you to meet Melody Cachola Braganza, my sister-in-law. She definitely has an eye for design, is extremely organized when it comes to wedding and event planning management, and she cares about her client and their events like they’re her own. She’s up-front and honest about her level of dedication and that is why she’s on the team.
I’ve also started another blog, which is calling for my attention. I’ve been spending so much time on getting this blog ready that I haven’t had time to put in my progress and I’m proud to report my progress, indeed. Check it out when you get the chance. I promise to load it up with updates tomorrow. As 2009 came to a close, I started to pay closer attention to myself and to my health, but I felt another busted New Year’s Resolution coming on. With all the positive goin’ on, I didn’t have enough time for any negative feelings that would come about from my failure to get in shape for 2010. So I opted to participate in Seth Simonds Primal Stride challenges. I needed a way to be held accountable so that I could lose the weight I need to lose so that people could see me for the talented individual that I am. After all, how can they truly trust me to take care of their event if I can’t take care of myself? I want my outside to reflect the way I feel on the inside. This is the year, ya’ll! This is the year!
I hope you’ll join me on this journey of enlightenment, self-improvement, eco-consciousness and endless inspiration.
