The Successful Dilettante
September 20, 2007 - Issue 30 - ISSN 1935-48866
Editor: Susan Henderson, coach@susanhenderson.com
Visit our website at: www.susanhenderson.com
In This Issue
1) Greetings/News
2) Susan's Musings - The Irresistable Surge
3) Featured guest: Linda Vanderbilt
This creative multipreneur managed an escape from the clutches of the high tech corporate world to create a business that fits her like a glove. And, it allows her the pleasure of pursuing her creative interests on her own time schedule. Life is sweet.
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Greetings/News
A very warm welcome to both old and new subscribers on this fine big-bite-of-a-crisp-juicy-apple September day. I appreciate you allowing me space in your inbox. If you know of anyone who might enjoy reading about successful dilettantes, please share this ezine with them. The more the merrier!
Isn't it time you quit working in isolation? Nothing beats the support, accountibility, and brain-storming you get in a small mastermind group. Do yourself a favor and act now. Take the assessment and download an application to see if a Power of Five Mastermind Group is right for you. Groups forming now. http://www.susanhenderson.com/mastermind.html
Also, if you haven't had a chance yet to sign up for my ecourse, Five Secrets to Making a Living as a Creative Multipreneur, hop on over to www.creativemultipreneurs.com to learn more and read some great testimonials. Click Here to take an assessment to see if you fit the profile of a creative multipreneur.
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Susan's Musings - The Irresistable Surge
"Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistable surge of will and energy to execute your ideas." ~ Henry Ford
I just got off a scheduled teleconference call with one of the mastermind groups that I facilitate. By the end of that call, the energy was running high and the participants were overflowing with enthusiasm. It didn't start out that way.
The group meets every other week for 90 minutes by phone and have the option to communicate on the private group message board between calls. There wasn't a whole lot of posting between this call and the last. For all the members of this group, life was dishing out some pretty big challenges that knocked those goals promised at the last meeting to the back of the line.
Today's call, which was the fourth for this group, started out on a lower energy plane with confessions that intended goals didn't get done and so on. But within a short time, a member asked for brainstorming and everyone just lit up. The ideas were flying, words were tripping over each other, and it was quite exciting for me to witness this group come to that point where they were strangers no more. There was laughter, caring, sharing, and electric energy for the rest of the call. That enthusiasm was highly contagious and I wish all that for you.
Hugs,
Susan
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Featured Guest: Linda Vanderbilt
With over twenty years of professional project management and administrative experience in the high tech corporate world while trying to fit in her creative interests on the side, Linda left in 2006 to found her own virtual assistance business where she believed her skills and talent could be best utilized assisting clients with their business needs. Her days are interesting and challenging, but now she has time for the creative projects she enjoys so much.
SH: Linda, how have you come to enjoy your life as a creative multipreneur?
LV: Even while I was working as a technology project manager, I found that I would always find time to pursue other interests that were of a more creative nature. By day, my work was very stressful as a project manager for large corporate projects. At night, I would find my escape by creating web sites, writing content and creating graphics.
My work in the high tech corporate world took me to places in the world I would never have had a chance to see. But living and working in as many as ten or twelve places a year came at the expense of trying to juggle my many interests while living in hotels in Europe, Central America and the United States, never knowing where my next assignment would take me.
Finally, after years of being a corporate citizen by day and pursuing creative interests after work, I realized that my creative interests had become more compelling than my interest in a high-paying, secure corporate career. When I finally took the big step to leave my career, I realized that I could have made the same decision years before and found as much, or maybe even greater, success as I had found in my corporate job.
SH: When did you realize you would be happiest engaged in a multitude of interests?
LV: When didn’t I realize I’d be happiest engaged in a multitude of interests! Ever since I was very young, I was always pursuing multiple interests. When I was a student, teachers would often try to catch me not paying attention in class, knowing that I was often reading from two textbooks at once, jumping back and forth from one to the other!
I have always been curious about almost everything, giving me the nickname of “George” from the character “Curious George.” My interests have ranged from science to art to music to writing --- and more! I have been fortunate to be able to pursue many of my interests as part of my careers.
The experience I gained while working in my technological careers has given me the experience and skills to employ the use of technology to create a company of virtual assistants who are able to assist clients throughout the country from the comfort of their home offices. The benefit to their clients is to receive some of the most experienced, professional assistance they can find at a cost that is far less than if they were to hire a full time employee. The variety of assignments is enough to keep even the most curious individual intrigued! In addition, as a bonus, I sometimes have time during the day to pick up my camera or work on one of my writing projects!
SH: What systems, tools, or practices work best for you in juggling your life as a creative multipreneur?
LV: Well, Susan, probably the first thing I turn to is humor! I find that it’s best to look at the lighter side of everything and things go so much smoother!
Probably what helps me most, though, would be my years of experience as a project manager. In that role a person is always looking at what needs to happen to make something happen on time and on budget. It truly does become second nature.
I also believe it’s very helpful to get enough exercise and follow good nutritional habits. Also, I have the benefit of having a loving and supportive family and community. Good family and good friends make the good times even better and certainly ease the pain during the difficult times.
SH: How do you manage your time? Do you make a plan?
LV: A plan?!?! Remember, I was a project manager. Of course, there is a plan. But, I also have what I call a “flow chart” plan. In other words, I believe it’s important to remain flexible, so that if “A” happens, we do this, but if “B” happens, we have an alternate plan. It’s much less disappointing if there is an alternative plan to pursue when something doesn’t go exactly as we’d like.
SH: Have you had any mentors, books or people, who have influenced you?
LV: I’ve been very fortunate to have grown up in a family and community that encouraged individualism. Everyone in my life, every experience I’ve had and every book I’ve read has influenced me and shaped the direction of my life.
SH: What advice or tips would you share with our readers in their quest to become successful dilettantes?
LV: Believe in yourself and what you know in your heart you can achieve. Don’t let other people try to mold you into the person they think you should be. Trust in yourself. You know yourself better than anyone else!
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Linda Vanderbilt is the owner/manager of Northwest Assistant LLC, a virtual assistance business based in eastern Oregon. She has authored eBooks relating to technology and business, as well as horticulture, landscaping and gardening. Visit her website at: http://www.nwassistant.com.
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2006-07 Susan Henderson, All rights reserved.
