The Successful Dilettante
November 5, 2007 - Issue 33 - 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 - Jelly: Cure for Work at Home Alone Blues
3) Featured guest: Matt Perelstein
Read how this master juggler has created a wonderful life for himself helping others through his writings on his blog, his websites and 20 years of weekend workshops guiding people to healthier and happier emotional intelligence.
=====================================================
Greetings/News
A great big warm welcome to both old and new subscribers. I hope you find some useful nuggets to help you in your quest to honor your many gifts, interests, and entrepreneurial spirit. We strive to affirm the upside of being a successful dilettante. If you know of others who might enjoy what is offered here or on my web site, please share this ezine with them.
=====================================================
Susan's Musings - Jelly: Cure for Work at Home Alone Blues
With the advent of so many freelancers, solo professionals, coaches, consultants, and yes, creative multipreneurs working from home alone, we can all get a little wiggy in our isolation. Althouth we don't miss the office politics, the instant access to brainstorming, sharing, and camaraderie found in a traditional office can be a wistful little memory we yearn for in our otherwise wonderful world of working for ourselves.
Two guys in New York City decided to do something to fill that gap. In 2006, roommates Luke and Amir started inviting friends over one day a week to work from their home. They named this casual coworking group Jelly because, it is reported, they were eating jelly beans at the time. (http://www.workatjelly.com)
Soon friends invited friends and the idea spread. Usually, there are 10-12 people with laptops, or whatever else they need to do their work, sitting around on couches and at the table in the relative quiet livingroom space. Socializing is done in the kitchen and people needing to take or make private phone calls can duck into a bedroom. It's true that if you need to power through a big project, you're probably better off staying in your home office, but these regular gatherings meet that need for sharing ideas, perhaps collaborating with other people, and socializing.
Now groups like Jelly are popping up in other cities and you can check their website to see if there might be one near you or if you want to start your own, you can email Amir for more information. Here are a few guidelines in setting up your own group:
- Recruit friends or friends of friends
- Similar fields of work, but mixing it up a bit works, too
- Lay out some ground rules
- No more than 10-12 people
- WiFi connection for all those laptops
In the next issue, I will talk more about the importance of connection and community and how it positively impacts your work and your life.
Hugs,
Susan
=====================================================
Featured Guest: Matt Perelstein
Today's guest and I recently became acquainted when he called to inquire about my mastermnd groups program. He crackled with enthusiastic energy and was a joy to talk with. I invited him to try out my free coaching session the next day. We were just five minutes into that call when I recognized a wildly creative multipreneur and couldn't help but get caught up in his joy of life and all that he wishes to bring to the world. He has done so much and helped so many people through his New Directions workshops, but isn't content to stop there. He is in the process of birthing an amazing program through his websites (see links below) that will give help with relationships, money, career, parenting, health, love and life
SH: Matt, how have you come to enjoy your life as a creative multipreneur?
MP: Out of survival! I've been 'juggling' as fast as I can for so many years now, I've gotten pretty good at it. Being totally self-taught, I used to desperately get, and hang on to, computer clients in order to pay the bills while I: a) grew up as a person; and, b) learned the trade.
My favorite line was "Well, I pulled it off again." It gets old after a while, living in fear and chaos, but we adapt. Now, after doing it for a while, I can juggle like crazy and have come to enjoy the variety and treasure the freedom I have in my life.
SH: When did you realize you would be happiest engaged in a multitude of interests?
MP: When I found myself juggling multiple jobs and clients over and over again. I haven't had "just one job" at a time in almost 20 years now.
SH: What systems, tools, or practices work best for you in juggling your life as a creative multipreneur?
MP: Outlook is my #1 organizational tool, for sure. I keep my appointments (and reminders to myself) diligently. I file emails in properly named folders and I keep all my contacts there and up-to-date. I'd be lost without Outlook (my .PST file is over 3Gb).
I write notes, lists and ideas in separate email messages (that I don't necessarily mail to anyone). I keep a "log" file of my thoughts, ideas, actions and To Dos—my current log-file is over 18,000 lines long. And I keep lists of stuff like cool websites, ID/Passwords, To Do's, Links, Quotes, etc. all in emails, filed properly and backed-up regularly.
SH: How do you manage your time? Do you make a plan?
MP: I stink at planning (the #1 area I'm working on these days). I've been incredibly lucky over the years to always have enough work, without ever having too much work, so I've been blessed that way--something I can't really explain, but I REALLY like and appreciate.
As for planning the future, I have some pictures in my head of where I want to go, and in some cases, how to get there. But for the most part, I truly ride the energy in the direction I need to go. I used to fight that energy more and try to force my direction, but that got very old and it was extremely painful. Have you ever heard the saying: "Since I gave up hope, I feel much better"? That's me.
SH: Have you had any mentors, books or people, who have influenced you?
MP: YES! My #1 biggest "mentor" was the late great 'coach t' (aka Thomas Leonard). Thomas was the most amazing man I've ever met. He was unbelievably prolific, organized, light, fun, real, powerful, interesting, wise, open, etc. etc.
Some of my biggest lessons learned from Thomas include:
a) You can make a difference.
b) You don't have to have a big company or a fancy office to do so.
c) Say what's real for you and if it jives with people, they will follow you.
d) You can have a profit model where everyone wins.
e) Don't 'sell coaching', sell solutions to people's problems.
f) Coaching is a viable, wonderful business and it can be done profitably.
In fact, coach t gave me the biggest idea I've ever had, which I'm working on now. I hope/plan to build the biggest, baddest emotional support site on the net!
In my 20 years of teaching intensive, breakthrough emotional intelligence workshops, I have discovered two things: a) when people really need help, they need it Now, not later; and, b) people not only want to Get help, they also want to Give help to others, however that works for them to give.
Therefore, I plan to network together two areas--2GetHelp, which is for clients, along with 2GiveHelp for both volunteers and helping pros (coaches, therapists, etc.) If all goes as planned, soon we'll be a membership-based, non-profit operation providing online, live emotional support 24x7x365 in a way where everyone wins!
SH: What advice or tips would you share with our readers in their quest to become successful dilettantes?
MP: HANG ON! If you're going to go at it with multiple projects at once, it's sure to be a wild ride--frustrating at times, but fun, too! Stay organized. Write stuff down. Be open to abundance and prosperity. Deal with your feelings (both past and present). Love yourself, your family and your life and everyone around you wins!
****************
Matt Perelstein and his wife Paula have been teaching a super-powerful, emotional intelligence workshop that has received the most amazing reviews and results. They have turned lives around, brought families together, released rage, anger, grief, fear and shame, helped heal chronic depression, and more, all using simple, practical, natural emotional tools, techniques and attitudes.
Matt also has a teaching blog called EI101.com with over 600 posts, mostly tips and tricks on how EQ > IQ when it comes to happiness and success.
Matt and Paula live in a small town in the redwood forest on the coast of Northern California where there are virtually no work opportunities, so Matt, by necessity, has become an avid creative multipreneur telecommuting, driving, flying, and working online in order to make a buck and, even more importantly, to make a difference.
=====================================================
2006-2010 Susan Henderson, All rights reserved.
November 5, 2007 - Issue 33 - 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 - Jelly: Cure for Work at Home Alone Blues
3) Featured guest: Matt Perelstein
Read how this master juggler has created a wonderful life for himself helping others through his writings on his blog, his websites and 20 years of weekend workshops guiding people to healthier and happier emotional intelligence.
=====================================================
Greetings/News
A great big warm welcome to both old and new subscribers. I hope you find some useful nuggets to help you in your quest to honor your many gifts, interests, and entrepreneurial spirit. We strive to affirm the upside of being a successful dilettante. If you know of others who might enjoy what is offered here or on my web site, please share this ezine with them.
=====================================================
Susan's Musings - Jelly: Cure for Work at Home Alone Blues
With the advent of so many freelancers, solo professionals, coaches, consultants, and yes, creative multipreneurs working from home alone, we can all get a little wiggy in our isolation. Althouth we don't miss the office politics, the instant access to brainstorming, sharing, and camaraderie found in a traditional office can be a wistful little memory we yearn for in our otherwise wonderful world of working for ourselves.
Two guys in New York City decided to do something to fill that gap. In 2006, roommates Luke and Amir started inviting friends over one day a week to work from their home. They named this casual coworking group Jelly because, it is reported, they were eating jelly beans at the time. (http://www.workatjelly.com)
Soon friends invited friends and the idea spread. Usually, there are 10-12 people with laptops, or whatever else they need to do their work, sitting around on couches and at the table in the relative quiet livingroom space. Socializing is done in the kitchen and people needing to take or make private phone calls can duck into a bedroom. It's true that if you need to power through a big project, you're probably better off staying in your home office, but these regular gatherings meet that need for sharing ideas, perhaps collaborating with other people, and socializing.
Now groups like Jelly are popping up in other cities and you can check their website to see if there might be one near you or if you want to start your own, you can email Amir for more information. Here are a few guidelines in setting up your own group:
- Recruit friends or friends of friends
- Similar fields of work, but mixing it up a bit works, too
- Lay out some ground rules
- No more than 10-12 people
- WiFi connection for all those laptops
In the next issue, I will talk more about the importance of connection and community and how it positively impacts your work and your life.
Hugs,
Susan
=====================================================
Featured Guest: Matt Perelstein
Today's guest and I recently became acquainted when he called to inquire about my mastermnd groups program. He crackled with enthusiastic energy and was a joy to talk with. I invited him to try out my free coaching session the next day. We were just five minutes into that call when I recognized a wildly creative multipreneur and couldn't help but get caught up in his joy of life and all that he wishes to bring to the world. He has done so much and helped so many people through his New Directions workshops, but isn't content to stop there. He is in the process of birthing an amazing program through his websites (see links below) that will give help with relationships, money, career, parenting, health, love and life
SH: Matt, how have you come to enjoy your life as a creative multipreneur?
MP: Out of survival! I've been 'juggling' as fast as I can for so many years now, I've gotten pretty good at it. Being totally self-taught, I used to desperately get, and hang on to, computer clients in order to pay the bills while I: a) grew up as a person; and, b) learned the trade.
My favorite line was "Well, I pulled it off again." It gets old after a while, living in fear and chaos, but we adapt. Now, after doing it for a while, I can juggle like crazy and have come to enjoy the variety and treasure the freedom I have in my life.
SH: When did you realize you would be happiest engaged in a multitude of interests?
MP: When I found myself juggling multiple jobs and clients over and over again. I haven't had "just one job" at a time in almost 20 years now.
SH: What systems, tools, or practices work best for you in juggling your life as a creative multipreneur?
MP: Outlook is my #1 organizational tool, for sure. I keep my appointments (and reminders to myself) diligently. I file emails in properly named folders and I keep all my contacts there and up-to-date. I'd be lost without Outlook (my .PST file is over 3Gb).
I write notes, lists and ideas in separate email messages (that I don't necessarily mail to anyone). I keep a "log" file of my thoughts, ideas, actions and To Dos—my current log-file is over 18,000 lines long. And I keep lists of stuff like cool websites, ID/Passwords, To Do's, Links, Quotes, etc. all in emails, filed properly and backed-up regularly.
SH: How do you manage your time? Do you make a plan?
MP: I stink at planning (the #1 area I'm working on these days). I've been incredibly lucky over the years to always have enough work, without ever having too much work, so I've been blessed that way--something I can't really explain, but I REALLY like and appreciate.
As for planning the future, I have some pictures in my head of where I want to go, and in some cases, how to get there. But for the most part, I truly ride the energy in the direction I need to go. I used to fight that energy more and try to force my direction, but that got very old and it was extremely painful. Have you ever heard the saying: "Since I gave up hope, I feel much better"? That's me.
SH: Have you had any mentors, books or people, who have influenced you?
MP: YES! My #1 biggest "mentor" was the late great 'coach t' (aka Thomas Leonard). Thomas was the most amazing man I've ever met. He was unbelievably prolific, organized, light, fun, real, powerful, interesting, wise, open, etc. etc.
Some of my biggest lessons learned from Thomas include:
a) You can make a difference.
b) You don't have to have a big company or a fancy office to do so.
c) Say what's real for you and if it jives with people, they will follow you.
d) You can have a profit model where everyone wins.
e) Don't 'sell coaching', sell solutions to people's problems.
f) Coaching is a viable, wonderful business and it can be done profitably.
In fact, coach t gave me the biggest idea I've ever had, which I'm working on now. I hope/plan to build the biggest, baddest emotional support site on the net!
In my 20 years of teaching intensive, breakthrough emotional intelligence workshops, I have discovered two things: a) when people really need help, they need it Now, not later; and, b) people not only want to Get help, they also want to Give help to others, however that works for them to give.
Therefore, I plan to network together two areas--2GetHelp, which is for clients, along with 2GiveHelp for both volunteers and helping pros (coaches, therapists, etc.) If all goes as planned, soon we'll be a membership-based, non-profit operation providing online, live emotional support 24x7x365 in a way where everyone wins!
SH: What advice or tips would you share with our readers in their quest to become successful dilettantes?
MP: HANG ON! If you're going to go at it with multiple projects at once, it's sure to be a wild ride--frustrating at times, but fun, too! Stay organized. Write stuff down. Be open to abundance and prosperity. Deal with your feelings (both past and present). Love yourself, your family and your life and everyone around you wins!
****************
Matt Perelstein and his wife Paula have been teaching a super-powerful, emotional intelligence workshop that has received the most amazing reviews and results. They have turned lives around, brought families together, released rage, anger, grief, fear and shame, helped heal chronic depression, and more, all using simple, practical, natural emotional tools, techniques and attitudes.
Matt also has a teaching blog called EI101.com with over 600 posts, mostly tips and tricks on how EQ > IQ when it comes to happiness and success.
Matt and Paula live in a small town in the redwood forest on the coast of Northern California where there are virtually no work opportunities, so Matt, by necessity, has become an avid creative multipreneur telecommuting, driving, flying, and working online in order to make a buck and, even more importantly, to make a difference.
=====================================================
2006-2010 Susan Henderson, All rights reserved.
