Everyone else? Let me divert your attention to a past post you might have missed: NLP Trainings and Shakespeare

Now, back to AWeber.

Have you met Wendy Cholbi yet? She has the amazing super-power of being able to explain technology to people so that they really get it, without all of the overwhelm. She helped me understand a few things in just minutes, when I’d been putting them off for days weeks months. She also plays a mean game of Scrabble.

Not too long ago, we were chatting about using email service provider AWeber for our various lists, and how we've both noticed that many of the people we’ve talked to are intimidated by the technological process of setting up an email list and using it — and at the same time they often feel kind of icky about doing email marketing at all. It’s no wonder that they get stuck and end up paying for a service they aren’t using.

Wonder Twin Powers Activate!

So we put our heads together and came up with a one-hour teleclass and a four-week workshop to help you get past the overwhelm and the ick, and learn to love AWeber. It’s a magical combination of Wendy’s genius step-by-step tech-teaching style and my ability to help people reframe difficult situations. We believe we can help you overcome both the technological and the emotional barriers to happily using email marketing in your business.

If those feelings of intimidation and ick are familiar to you, then check out our free teleclass, Love Your List: Three ways to get more out of your AWeber investment.

Free Teleclass details

Date: Tuesday, May 18
Time: 10am Pacific (what’s this in your time zone?)

Yes, we will be recording the call and sending the mp3 to everyone who signs up.

Cost: Your email address so we can send you the phone number and access code, and the mp3 afterward

This call is for you if: You have an AWeber account but don’t know how to get started using it, or you’re planning on signing up for a new AWeber account in the near future.

We’ll give you three steps you can take immediately to start using AWeber’s powers (for good, of course!), and we’ll address that “ick — email marketing is yucky” feeling with a dose of my perception-shifting mojo.

We’re also holding a four-week workshop in June to delve into these topics more deeply, and we do plan to mention the workshop briefly on the free call. But our intention with this call is to give you good solid action steps and a perception-shifting exercise that you can use again and again, not spend a lot of time giving you a sales pitch.

Ready to sign up?

Just head over to Love Your List and fill out the cute little AWeber form and we’ll send you the dial-in number, plus the call recording afterward. Hope to see you on the call!

The view from my window at the retreat. Complete with deer (in the middle of the photo).

It's a crazy, twisted little trick.

It's so easy to get in that mode, and push, Push, PUSH. Sure, stuff gets done, but so do you. Cooked. Burnt-out. Deflated. Sick.

I have an extra lot on the to-do list today. See I pretty much took all of last week off. I took the time to attend Havi Brook's Destuckification Retreat at the last minute.

Am I glad I did. Today was going to be busy before I rearranged things, and put stuff off until this week. Now it's just extra busy. And, instead of feeling overwhelmed it's going smoothly. Had I not taken the time to really relax, explore what I need and get re-inspired by my business (and boy am I re-inspired!) it would have been gerbil wheel central around here.

Every so often it's great to retreat.

I know it's not always possible to get away, so I want to tell you about a really cool opportunity to retreat in the comfort of your own home, live or on a schedule that works for you.

Jen Louden's Virtual Retreat

She's the Comfort Queen, and her book, The Woman's Retreat Book was featured on Oprah. I've retreated with her, and she knows what she's doing! The whole set-up is pretty great. There are 13 mini-retreats, a workbook, support and structure to help you get the most out of it.

If you're on the gerbil wheel, please take a moment to relax and breathe and explore how to find a little more calm in your life.

One of the things I noticed is that I was following these systems, but they weren't quite right for me. I was doing what I thought I should be doing, not what I wanted to do.

For example, every year I'd come up with something around money. But I'd never want to be so crude as to actually use the word MONEY. That would be too base. So, I came up with schmancy names, like financial wisdom or life wealth or a gazillion forms of abundance. But you know what? I never really felt connected to the resolutions or goals, and the results were what you'd expect. Completely variable.

As opposed to the times where I really connected with what I wanted. Like when my goal of being active wasn't getting me to the gym or on the trail, but training to climb Mt. Hood, got me out every day. And now, more than a year later the basic goal still gets me to the gym and on the trail, even after reaching that particular summit. I've just keep changing the name of the summit!

So this year, as I was reflecting on 2009 and looking forward to 2010, I happened to read one of Michael Neill's Coaching Tips, "What's Your Impossible Dream for 2010?"

In it, he talked about setting up a big challenge for yourself, something that is hard to believe can happen, but you'd love it if it did. The example he gave was, "a 90 day game where "winning" was defined as earning more than [he] had earned in the previous 12 months."

Wow, talk about big.

As I was reading, it hit me. I wanted to do the same thing. And I wanted to do it around money. Not wealth, financial security or abundance. But money. (Cue The Apprentice theme song.)

He gives lots of good information about why creating an impossible dream like this works. All good, important stuff. But the thing that struck me was the use of the word money. I realized that I had some fear that if I used the word money, rather than one of the nicer, P.C. terms, I'd turn into some kind of money grubbing huckster, who'll do anything for a buck.

Ha. Not likely.

Suddenly I can trust myself to say what I really want out of this particular challenge. Money. Because behind that word is so much more… Helping people tame their fears. Igniting inspiration. Supporting other little people's businesses. Having fun and laughing along the way.

And boy, when I set up my own Big Ass Money Challenge, the energy and excitement around it is game-changing. A little something magic happens when you trust yourself, even when it means using a word that can seem crude.

* * *

Are you feeling stuck with resolution-making or goal-setting? Check out the teleclass I'm co-teaching with Janine Adams of Peace of Mind Organizing, called Why Resolutions Don't Work (and how to get what you want anyway).

(statistics from 2008 survey by Opinion Corporation of Princeton, NJ)

If you fall in that big middle group (or have drifted into the no resolutions group due to disappointment) this could be the year for something different.

Janine Adams and I teamed up again (we co-created the Declutter Happy Hour course) to teach this teleclass.  We share with you the reasons resolutions don't work, and more importantly what to do instead. We give you tips and strategies, and guide you through helpful exercises so you can experience a new way of approaching your resolutions and goals.

Perhaps you'd like to declutter and get organized this year, or maybe you want to make changes for your health, creativity or finances. Our approach is terrific for whatever set your sights on.

This year is going to be different.

Why Resolutions Don't Work

(and How To Get What You Want Anyway)

The teleclass is over, but you can still get the immensely helpful recording.  It's great to listen to any time you want to re-vamp a resolution that isn't working, create a new habit or establish a goal that really works for you.

Details:

• We talk for about an hour and then open it up for questions.

• During the call we talk about the common reasons that setting resolutions doesn't work, and we explain and guide you through exercises that help you get what you want.

• This is for anyone who has been frustrated by resolutions or goals, and wants to learn a new way to approach it.

• The cost? Just 19 bucks.

• Special bonus. Everyone who signs up will get a coupon for $20 off any product or service offered by me or Janine.

Are you in? Yes? Just click the "Add to Cart" button:

You'll get a link to the recording in moments.

Here's to getting what you really want!

After writing nearly 33,000 words I realized the tingling and numbness in my hands and pain in my wrists that started around 20,000 words, wasn't getting any better.  I bought Speech Recognition software and I wrote another 1000 words or so, but the learning curve for the software was steep. I still had to do a fair amount of mousing and typing.

Ultimately, I decided that meeting the deadline wasn't worth the pain. It wasn't easy, tears were shed. Once I'm healed I'll continue to work on the novel at a slower pace. After all, I'm anxious to find out what happens!

2. I miss being online. A lot.

To rest my paws, I went on a computer fast for four days.I glanced at e-mail on my Blackberry and responded only to urgent stuff. Other than that, no Twitter, no Facebook, no Kitchen Table, no Google searches, no reading my favorite blogs. Virtually no computer time until yesterday. I found myself wondering, a little too frequently perhaps, what was going on online, what my friends, colleagues and clients were doing.

The good news is I picked up the phone to connect with people, read some great books, watched some interesting movies, spent time with friends and family, and went on a couple of beautiful walks.  And now, I can poke my nose in online for a few minutes a day.  As long as I use a timer and pay attention to my wrists.

I'm also getting the hang of Bixby, which apparently is the name of the voice recognition software, because every time I say, MacSpeech, it types Bixby. I wrote this post with it.  Blame any typos, weird words or odd punctuation on Bixby.

3. I lived in the land of frustration for far too long.

As I mentioned in the post about my carpal tunnel coaching special, I'm just about ready to release my first product. I'm super excited about it, and can't wait to let you all know more. But there's a certain amount of typing and mousing that needs to occur before it's ready  to go.  So,  it's on the back burner for now. And then of course the novel, also on the back burner. And then there's e-mail, filling the library of the Tuscan villa that is my inbox.

All of this equals mucho frustration. Plus the pain. Did I mention tears were shed?

And then, my mastermind buddy suggested I use my own product. It was a  forehead slapping moment, hello I'm my own best client! I listened to the Boring Change recording, went through the process, and let my unconscious mind takeover. It's been so much easier than struggling.  The angst and emotional pain are gone, and the physical pain is definitely decreasing.

3 1/2. I love the song, Cum on Feel the Noize by Quiet Riot.

I'm only giving this a half, because it's not nearly as embarrassing to admit now as it was in the mid-80s when my zippered cassette case was full of Depeche Mode, INXS and Pet Shop Boys tapes. But still.

This is going to be quick.

It seems with all the novel writing and the hanging out in the Tuscan Villa that is my email and the finishing up of a new product, Boring Change, I have overtaxed my hands and wrists and have major pain from carpal tunnel and tendinitis. My days now consist of ice baths for my arms, ugly wrist braces, and long, frustrating chats with my new friend Bixby, the speech recognition software program.  At least that's what he said his name was when I tried to get him to type MacSpeech for me.

While I have to severely limit the use of my hands and wrists over the next two weeks, there's no reason I can't talk on the phone.

That's good news for you!

Normally I only have a few hours a week available for telephone coaching, but suddenly, all the time I had allotted to finish up that product is now wide open. So, I'm having a carpal tunnel coaching special!

If you ever wanted to try coaching but didn't want to make a big commitment, now's your chance. Between now and Friday, December 4, I'm going to be doing single coaching sessions (an hour-long) for just $99 each.  That's practically half my normal session fee.

Usually, we'd exchange emails, chat for 10 minutes or so, then schedule a session.  To try and limit the amount of typing required, I've put an add to cart button below. Once you buy a session you'll get an automatic e-mail to schedule it. Since this bypasses the normal get to know you process, if during the first 15 minutes of the session either of us decides this isn't the right thing, I'll cheerfully refund your money immediately.

Sound good?

And remember, you're not just getting a coaching session for a really great price, you'll also help me stay sane while I'm healing my hands and wrists.  And that's a good thing.

I'm in! (Click the "add to cart" button below)

Sorry, this extra-special offer has expired.
Learn how we can work together here.

For the last six years I've fully embraced the working at a distance mode. Working with clients over the phone and with email allows so much flexibility with scheduling, location, travel, clothing and personal grooming. But a few weeks ago, while I was enjoying dinner with the lovely Hiro Boga I had an epiphany. She was asking me about my business, and as we were talking it struck me, I want to work with people in-person.

Big wow for me. I didn't realize how much I'd been wanting to do it, and pretending like I didn't because of the whole work over the phone and from home thing I mentioned before.

I found some convenient office space that's comfortable and doesn't cause me to amp up my overhead expenses too much, and started working with clients face-to-face. I love it! It's so fun to get to see people in-person, actually watch their amazing transformations. And the totally awesome surprise? It has enlivened my phone coaching too.

Yes, yes, yes, I'm still phone coaching, and that will continue to be the primary way that I work with clients. However, I have created space to work with a very limited number of clients in person.

And to help kick off this new opportunity I'm offering a very special introductory package for the two spots I have available: Six Sessions for $837 (That's 25% off of the price you'd pay for single sessions!)

There are a couple of things you need to do to get this bargain price:
1. Pay for the package in advance.
2. Use all the sessions by January 31, 2010.
3. Be able to attend sessions in NE or N Portland between the hours of 9 and 3pm Monday through Thursday.
4. Be ready to work through your stuck stuff and have some fun while you're at it.

Interested? Fill out the form here on my Services page.

And, by "in" Wikipedia I mean that I was part of the "group of climbers" that aided an injured climber in one of the listed accidents. It remains one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

Tidbit #2 – I'm writing a novel in November.

Don't you love that conviction? November means National Novel Writing Month. I first learned about NaNoWriMo in November 2004. My friend and Declutter Happy Hour co-teacher, Janine Adams told me about it and somehow convinced me to do it with her.

The conversations went something like this:

Janine: "It's National Novel Writing Month! It's too late to join the official one, but I want to do it in December."

Me: "Cool."

Janine: "You should do it too."

Me: "Okay."

I must have been weakened by all the arm twisting, because that was an insane idea.

I had no experience writing fiction, unless you count poorly researched college term papers and that play my friends and I wrote in six grade. (It was a modern re-telling of the Cinderella story. But instead of a gown and glass slippers Cyndi wore San Francisco Riding Gear and Sbiccas, and went to a disco and danced to music from Saturday Night Fever.)

Besides the extreme lack of fiction writing experience, I didn't have a story idea or even a character in mind for my novel in 2004. All things Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo claims to not be a problem. In fact, that's what he called his manifesto and novel writing guidebook, No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days.

He was right. At the end of December, I had a novel. Parts of it were barely readable, but some parts were actually kind of good. I was surprised that quantity over quality didn't entirely eliminate quality.

This year I'm starting with an idea. It came to me at the Taos Writers' Retreat. I also have at least one writing buddy, Janine's doing it again too (read her great post about it). And maybe most importantly, I fired that mean-ass inner critic and hired my dead uncle.

Tidbit #3 – November also means Thanksgiving

November isn't just National Novel Writing Month, it's also time for Thanksgiving, and the beginning of the holiday season. It's also the perfect time to get 28 days of tips, techniques and insightful inspiration to help you clear the clutter from your home. We're offering a $20 discount on Declutter Happy Hourthrough Thursday, 10/29.

Even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving and just want a unique and inspired way to declutter your space, it's a great program. See for yourself what's possible. There's also a link for free help when you're having a clutter emergency.

Looking towards the Taos Mountains in the main courtyard at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House.

Last November I signed up for Jennifer Louden's Writer's Retreat. At the time, I was fired up to work on that novel that needs rewriting. Here I am months and months later, not feeling like the novel is such a priority anymore. Not really knowing exactly why I'm here. Just knowing that sometimes it's great to get out of your normal day-to-day routine, yet still have some structure.

I've met 27 amazing other women. A few I already knew in person, a few I know from the internets. It's fun to connect with them all. Listen to their stories, get to know them, why they decided to take a week out of their life to come to the middle of New Mexico.

I'm exploring this week. Curious about how this will open up new ideas. What I can embrace, what I can shed.

As I'm writing this, I'm realizing that a big reason why I'm here is because I want to sow the seed of a writing habit. All it takes to be a writer, is to write. So that's why I'm here. To stop worrying about anything or anyone else, and have time dedicated to write. Resources to help me when I'm stuck.

And to take parts of that home with me. To spend time here on this blog. To give voice to some of these characters that hang out in my head. To check in with myself a lot. See what it is that I want. Notice how I'm feeling. Take care of myself. At least for today. Oh and to write. I don't really care what it is, just to spend time writing.

When you want to do your thing, or even just spend some time figuring it out, does other stuff get in the way? Sometimes it's "stuff" (picture big finger quotes) like a crammed schedule, tight finances or family responsibilities. Other times, it's actual stuff, as in physical clutter.

It can show up in different ways. Maybe you'd love to get started on an artsy-craftsy thing, but the spare bedroom, which would make a perfect studio, is full. Or you'd like to sit at your desk and write, but the stacks of papers threaten to fall in on you. Maybe you really want to experiment in the kitchen more, but finding the utensils you need is a nightmare.

Not only does clutter create these physical barriers, it can be physically draining. It can suck your energy until you don't have any extra left to fan that small spark of creativity you're protecting inside you.

Clutter Is Surprisingly Complex

Professional Organizer Janine Adams and I have been talking a lot about clutter lately. It seems like it shouldn't be such a big deal. Pick up the stuff, put it away or get rid of it.

But it's often not that easy.

Janine works with people and their clutter every day and for most of the people she works with, there's a lot more going on. It's not unusual for there to be tears shed in her decluttering sessions. Why should decluttering make someone cry?

Janine explains it like this: The emotions behind the clutter are what that make things so complicated. For many chronically disorganized people, their stuff represents so much more than just stuff. Hanging on to things (or acquiring things) can have emotional roots. It might stem from what they were told when they
were brought up. Or maybe they got in trouble as a child for throwing something valuable away. It might be a finely honed sense of responsibility that prevents them from discarding something. Or it might be what the items in question represent to them. There are many emotional sources of clutter.

Practice

When you think about the stuff that is preventing you from embracing your thing, is clutter on the list? If it is, try these steps to help you understand clutter and gently ease it from your life.

1. Ask yourself, how does clutter block you from your thing.

2. What would you be able to do if you didn't have this clutter?

3. Choose a physical area where you'd like to focus your attention; it should be large/important enough that you'll see a difference, but not so big as to become overwhelming.

4. Start with one thing. Ask yourself if you want to keep it or discard it. If the answer's discard, move on to the next item. If it's keep, then continue with the questions.

5. If you want to keep it, does it have a home? If it does, put it away. If it doesn't, yep, that's right stick with the questions.

6. What's important to you about this particular thing, what does it represent?

7. Knowing that, is it still important to keep it?

8. Remind yourself of #2 above as often as you need to.

I'd love it if you'd try this and let me know how it goes, or share your favorite way to take care of clutter.

If you'd like more help with decluttering, take a look at this new teleclass that starts March 31, Declutter Happy Hour. The early bird discount ends March 21!