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© Copyright 2006 Susan Henderson Coaching
360-265-2838
coach@susanhenderson.com
coach@susanhenderson.com
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The Successful Dilettante
June 5, 2007 - Issue 23 - ISSN 1935-4886
Editor: Susan Henderson, coach@susanhenderson.com
Visit our website at: www.susanhenderson.com
In This Issue
1) Greetings/News
2) Susan's Musings - Spring Cleaning
3) Featured guest: Charles McCool
Read how this creative multipreneur has parlayed his passion for travel and teaching into a nicely balanced lifestyle that allows him the freedom to be a big part of his children's daily lives. How cool is that?
=====================================================
Greetings/News
A warm, sunny welcome to you all. Those lazy, crazy days of summer are almost upon us. We have been experiencing plenty of gorgeous weather here in the Pacific Northwest. Who says it rains all the time in Seattle? I have gone a little nuts planting containers of flowers and herbs all over my deck. Life is delicious.
If you haven't had a chance yet to sign up for my new ecourse, Five Secrets to Making a Living as a Creative Multipreneur, hop on over to www.creativemultipreneurs.com to learn more. Note: If you use the same email address you did to subscribe to this ezine, you will not receive duplicate copies.
=====================================================
Susan's Musings - Spring Cleaning
Springtime is a great time to clean up your life in all areas. April showers brought May flowers, the days are longer, and energy seems to be running higher. Some of us just naturally feel urges to clean our nests at this time. Possibly it was a family ritual in your childhood to open your home to fresh air and sunshine, polishing up the windows and clearing out the winter's accumulation of dust bunnies and clutter.
While this time of high energy and Spring renewal is a great time to clean up your homes, yards, and messy cars, it is also a good time to extend this clean-up process to all areas of your life. Putting up with, or tolerating, the messy areas are a huge drain on your energy and, are a noisy distraction from fully enjoying the good things happening in your life and sometimes can cause missed opportunities.
First identify all that you have been tolerating in your life. If you are a normal, red-blooded human being, your list will be really long. Don't just think about it; write them down. Besides the obvious--home, car, garage, yard/garden, equipment, and office, take a close look at your work, job, or business. Also write down what you are tolerating about your spouse or partner's behaviors and habits, as well as your own behaviors and habits. Everything. Big and small. If it annoys you, trips you up, or nags at you, write it down.
Study your list carefully, and this may sound odd, but note the benefits of having and maintaining these tolerations. List at least one benefit for each toleration and then list the costs of keeping that toleration in place. What damage does it cause you? Is it worth it?
Now pick the costliest toleration on your list and completely eliminate it. Or, if you have to work up to the biggest one, choose ten smaller tolerations and wipe them out first. You will be amazed at the energy you gain by plugging up these leaks.
Just remember that when dealing with other people you cannot necessarily change them, but you can enlighten them that you are changing and you will not be tolerating some things you may have put up with in the past. Be very clear what boundaries you have put in place. No need to go on the attack. Be kind, but firm. You may want to invite them to join you in becoming toleration free. It is a very attractive and authentic way live your life.
Hugs,
Susan
=====================================================
Featured Guest: Charles McCool
I am tickled to introduce today's guest, Charles McCool, who resides in the beautiful state of Virginia and is a travel consultant specializing in helping consumers and businesses save money, time, and stress on all aspects of travel. He is the author of "Winning the Airfare Game" and operates LowerAirfares.com. Having visited several dozen countries on five continents and all 50 U.S. states, he has gained the hands-on knowledge and expertise he shares in his book, articles, speaking engagements, classes and seminars on do-it-yourself travel topics and is available to help you travel more effectively.
SH: Charles, how have you come to enjoy the successful dilettante
life you live today?
CM: It evolved. None of us have the ideal situation from the get-go, especially in hindsight. After college, when professional baseball did not work out for me, I worked in high tech for almost 15 years. I had several mini-sabbaticals, voluntary and involuntary (layoffs), which enabled me to travel extensively. I wrote travel articles and guides, planned trips for others, and even made presentations to work colleagues. I was stuck in a plateau at work for many years but dreamed of the travel life. It kept me going until I had the guts to quit in October 1999.
I had been working on a manuscript for several years--a comprehensive guide to air travel. I completed that work, fine tuned it, and released the title "Winning the Airfare Game" in summer of 2001. My true goal was to lead seminars and teach people how to travel more effectively--save money, time, and stress. All at once, I became an author, editor, publisher, small business owner, travel consultant, and instructor--and loved it. Even though the disasters of 9/11/2001 curtailed all travel business (my first seminar was three days prior), I still teach adult education classes--not only several travel classes, but also self-publishing, using eBay, and genealogy.
My wife is the primary bread winner and I am the stay-at-home dad. I am fortunate to have the flexibility to explore many different interests and be available for our children, before and after school, coach their teams, and so forth.
SH: When did you realize you would be happiest engaged in a multitude of interests?
CM: As a child, I loved every school subject, enjoyed sports, and participated in many activities. I was that type of person that knew nearly every student and teacher in school but not anyone too closely. To this day, I cannot devote myself to one thing because I do not want to miss out on any interest or would-be interest. I have way too many unfinished projects!
SH: What skills, or systems, do you have that enable you to
live the life of a creative multipreneur?
CM: I consider myself self-sufficient, so I want to figure things out for myself. However, many books and people, along with trial and error, have helped me determine what I want to do and how to best take action. When you are simultaneously interested in many things, it is difficult to simply take action.
Barbara Sher's books helped me figure out that I am a scanner (I like multipreneur, for networking events) and provides methods for harnessing all of these interests into manageable tasks--such as binders for each project or a huge wall chart with project timelines.
To help me get through the last few months of my last real job in 1999, I hired a career coach. She helped me understand that what I really am passionate about is learning, mastering, and teaching--the subject does not matter. It was very enlightening and emotionally lightening.
SH: How do you manage your time? Do you make a plan?
CM: With a traditional job, there is never enough time to do many enjoyable things. When you can make your own schedule, the pitfall is getting too involved in one thing, often unrelated to the work at hand. It is easy to get sidetracked with errands, house-work, and TV/computer. My best plan is to devote some time to fun or errands, allowing me to focus when work has to be done.
SH: What books or people have influenced you in your life?
CM: "A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative" by Roger Van Oech was one of the first books that made an impact. I enjoy most self-help and career advice books, especially those by Les Brown and Barbara Sher. An exercise in "Life 101" by Peter McWilliams really helped me see the light, regarding what is important in my life.
I attended a couple of travel seminars by Suzanne Hogsett in the early 1990s that ignited my passion to do the same.
Dan Poynter's books showed that self-publishing a book is a rewarding process.
My 9th grade geometry teacher, Heather Ortega, told me I can be anything I want to and would be a millionaire one day. I am working on both, Ms. Ortega.
SH: What advice would you share with our readers in their quest to become successful dilettantes?
Take time to enjoy the people, places, and things that bring you joy. If you can do what you love for work, it will not seem like work. Determine your lifestyle and what excites you and do not fit into someone else's ideal. If you cannot figure it out, then do something, anything. Doors will open, actions lead to opportunities.
Get rid of physical and emotional clutter, so that you can concentrate on those things that bring you joy. Enthusiasm is the most powerful force.
********************************************
Charles McCool teaches classes and seminars on do-it-yourself travel topics and is available to help you travel more effectively. Visit his website at www.LowerAirfares.com for more information.
=====================================================
2006-07 Susan Henderson, All rights reserved.
June 5, 2007 - Issue 23 - ISSN 1935-4886
Editor: Susan Henderson, coach@susanhenderson.com
Visit our website at: www.susanhenderson.com
In This Issue
1) Greetings/News
2) Susan's Musings - Spring Cleaning
3) Featured guest: Charles McCool
Read how this creative multipreneur has parlayed his passion for travel and teaching into a nicely balanced lifestyle that allows him the freedom to be a big part of his children's daily lives. How cool is that?
=====================================================
Greetings/News
A warm, sunny welcome to you all. Those lazy, crazy days of summer are almost upon us. We have been experiencing plenty of gorgeous weather here in the Pacific Northwest. Who says it rains all the time in Seattle? I have gone a little nuts planting containers of flowers and herbs all over my deck. Life is delicious.
If you haven't had a chance yet to sign up for my new ecourse, Five Secrets to Making a Living as a Creative Multipreneur, hop on over to www.creativemultipreneurs.com to learn more. Note: If you use the same email address you did to subscribe to this ezine, you will not receive duplicate copies.
=====================================================
Susan's Musings - Spring Cleaning
Springtime is a great time to clean up your life in all areas. April showers brought May flowers, the days are longer, and energy seems to be running higher. Some of us just naturally feel urges to clean our nests at this time. Possibly it was a family ritual in your childhood to open your home to fresh air and sunshine, polishing up the windows and clearing out the winter's accumulation of dust bunnies and clutter.
While this time of high energy and Spring renewal is a great time to clean up your homes, yards, and messy cars, it is also a good time to extend this clean-up process to all areas of your life. Putting up with, or tolerating, the messy areas are a huge drain on your energy and, are a noisy distraction from fully enjoying the good things happening in your life and sometimes can cause missed opportunities.
First identify all that you have been tolerating in your life. If you are a normal, red-blooded human being, your list will be really long. Don't just think about it; write them down. Besides the obvious--home, car, garage, yard/garden, equipment, and office, take a close look at your work, job, or business. Also write down what you are tolerating about your spouse or partner's behaviors and habits, as well as your own behaviors and habits. Everything. Big and small. If it annoys you, trips you up, or nags at you, write it down.
Study your list carefully, and this may sound odd, but note the benefits of having and maintaining these tolerations. List at least one benefit for each toleration and then list the costs of keeping that toleration in place. What damage does it cause you? Is it worth it?
Now pick the costliest toleration on your list and completely eliminate it. Or, if you have to work up to the biggest one, choose ten smaller tolerations and wipe them out first. You will be amazed at the energy you gain by plugging up these leaks.
Just remember that when dealing with other people you cannot necessarily change them, but you can enlighten them that you are changing and you will not be tolerating some things you may have put up with in the past. Be very clear what boundaries you have put in place. No need to go on the attack. Be kind, but firm. You may want to invite them to join you in becoming toleration free. It is a very attractive and authentic way live your life.
Hugs,
Susan
=====================================================
Featured Guest: Charles McCool
I am tickled to introduce today's guest, Charles McCool, who resides in the beautiful state of Virginia and is a travel consultant specializing in helping consumers and businesses save money, time, and stress on all aspects of travel. He is the author of "Winning the Airfare Game" and operates LowerAirfares.com. Having visited several dozen countries on five continents and all 50 U.S. states, he has gained the hands-on knowledge and expertise he shares in his book, articles, speaking engagements, classes and seminars on do-it-yourself travel topics and is available to help you travel more effectively.
SH: Charles, how have you come to enjoy the successful dilettante
life you live today?
CM: It evolved. None of us have the ideal situation from the get-go, especially in hindsight. After college, when professional baseball did not work out for me, I worked in high tech for almost 15 years. I had several mini-sabbaticals, voluntary and involuntary (layoffs), which enabled me to travel extensively. I wrote travel articles and guides, planned trips for others, and even made presentations to work colleagues. I was stuck in a plateau at work for many years but dreamed of the travel life. It kept me going until I had the guts to quit in October 1999.
I had been working on a manuscript for several years--a comprehensive guide to air travel. I completed that work, fine tuned it, and released the title "Winning the Airfare Game" in summer of 2001. My true goal was to lead seminars and teach people how to travel more effectively--save money, time, and stress. All at once, I became an author, editor, publisher, small business owner, travel consultant, and instructor--and loved it. Even though the disasters of 9/11/2001 curtailed all travel business (my first seminar was three days prior), I still teach adult education classes--not only several travel classes, but also self-publishing, using eBay, and genealogy.
My wife is the primary bread winner and I am the stay-at-home dad. I am fortunate to have the flexibility to explore many different interests and be available for our children, before and after school, coach their teams, and so forth.
SH: When did you realize you would be happiest engaged in a multitude of interests?
CM: As a child, I loved every school subject, enjoyed sports, and participated in many activities. I was that type of person that knew nearly every student and teacher in school but not anyone too closely. To this day, I cannot devote myself to one thing because I do not want to miss out on any interest or would-be interest. I have way too many unfinished projects!
SH: What skills, or systems, do you have that enable you to
live the life of a creative multipreneur?
CM: I consider myself self-sufficient, so I want to figure things out for myself. However, many books and people, along with trial and error, have helped me determine what I want to do and how to best take action. When you are simultaneously interested in many things, it is difficult to simply take action.
Barbara Sher's books helped me figure out that I am a scanner (I like multipreneur, for networking events) and provides methods for harnessing all of these interests into manageable tasks--such as binders for each project or a huge wall chart with project timelines.
To help me get through the last few months of my last real job in 1999, I hired a career coach. She helped me understand that what I really am passionate about is learning, mastering, and teaching--the subject does not matter. It was very enlightening and emotionally lightening.
SH: How do you manage your time? Do you make a plan?
CM: With a traditional job, there is never enough time to do many enjoyable things. When you can make your own schedule, the pitfall is getting too involved in one thing, often unrelated to the work at hand. It is easy to get sidetracked with errands, house-work, and TV/computer. My best plan is to devote some time to fun or errands, allowing me to focus when work has to be done.
SH: What books or people have influenced you in your life?
CM: "A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative" by Roger Van Oech was one of the first books that made an impact. I enjoy most self-help and career advice books, especially those by Les Brown and Barbara Sher. An exercise in "Life 101" by Peter McWilliams really helped me see the light, regarding what is important in my life.
I attended a couple of travel seminars by Suzanne Hogsett in the early 1990s that ignited my passion to do the same.
Dan Poynter's books showed that self-publishing a book is a rewarding process.
My 9th grade geometry teacher, Heather Ortega, told me I can be anything I want to and would be a millionaire one day. I am working on both, Ms. Ortega.
SH: What advice would you share with our readers in their quest to become successful dilettantes?
Take time to enjoy the people, places, and things that bring you joy. If you can do what you love for work, it will not seem like work. Determine your lifestyle and what excites you and do not fit into someone else's ideal. If you cannot figure it out, then do something, anything. Doors will open, actions lead to opportunities.
Get rid of physical and emotional clutter, so that you can concentrate on those things that bring you joy. Enthusiasm is the most powerful force.
********************************************
Charles McCool teaches classes and seminars on do-it-yourself travel topics and is available to help you travel more effectively. Visit his website at www.LowerAirfares.com for more information.
=====================================================
2006-07 Susan Henderson, All rights reserved.