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               WORKIN' MY WAY NEWSLETTER January 2009
 WELCOME!

Wintry greetings to all, especially my new subscribers including
one from New Zealand! With that one exception, I think it's safe to
assume that most of you are sipping tea or lattes to keep warm
right now.  If you are not - be grateful.  I'm looking out at about
7" of fluffy soft snow that is beautiful to look at, but I wish
some good Samaritan would dig out my car!

So it's February.   How are you doing on those New Year's promises?
  
Last month I mentioned working on your goals and suggested some
ways to get started. 

Now I am pleased to announce a new 4-part e-mail self-study course
to keep you on track to reach at least one of those goals.  In
keeping with my motto, it's called JUST DO IT! 

You'll get one lesson each week for a month along with some
templates and worksheets to keep you focused and lots of resources.
 
You'll also get immediate e-mail access for answers to your
questions, an occasional nudge or personalized resources.  You can
start today and get the first lesson tomorrow.  It's just $19.95
and you can use your Paypal account or any credit card.     
                    
                      C'mon -JUST DO IT! 

If you can't see the Paypal button, e-mail me and I can
send you an invoice.  

Also, the Dreamer's Dialogue - a 90 minute consulting session to
help you find your passion is still being offered for $100 if you
call before February 15th. Check my web-site for a description of
this session and my other services at
http://www.lifeandworkbydesign.com 

 

*************************Response-Ability*************************

Responsibility and Response-Ability 
   
Many of you are feeling the weight of responsibility a lot more
lately.  Downsizing, lay-offs and investment and savings losses may
be keeping you awake at night. You may be wondering how you can
shoulder your responsibilities like paying bills, supporting your
children, and keeping your home or job.  

These are not easy times
and apparently the picture is not going to improve very soon.   
The problem is that almost everyone reading this has never known
tough times. Anyone born after 1950 has had a pretty good life
compared to previous generations of Americans.  

And there is no comparison between our lives and those of millions
of people around the world.  We've all had basic shelter, clothing
and food and the ability to take care of ourselves under control. 

But recently, the control seems to be out of our hands.  Other
people, whom we don't know, are making decisions that erode our
livelihoods and financial security.  It has come time for us to
learn Response-Ability.   

Here are the elements of Response-Ability.  
-Focus on the immediate problem TODAY.  No worrying about possible
catastrophes down the road.
 
-Ask the right questions.  Not "what am I going to do?" but "how
can I solve this problem?" 

-Consider all the options.  Brainstorm without judging - list all
the possible solutions you can think of - even the silly or far-out
ones.
  
-Ask for help - responsibility does not have to be shouldered
alone. 

-Make a plan - list the practical steps that will lead to the
solution. 

-Enlist friends and family in making the plan work.

-Stop and check results as you proceed.  Make adjustments as
needed.
 
-Believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. 
 
There are lots of ways to work to support ourselves and our
families that don't include an employer and a 40-hour workweek. 
It's time to get creative and figure out how to work for ourselves
to insure our future.
   
My web-site and blog have articles and resources that suggest lots
of alternatives.  I can recommend books, web-sites and mentors to
cover a host of possibilities. 

Don't spend your time worrying and fretting  - be pro-active.  Take
control and start to move forward.    We're all in this together
and I believe that we will be better off for having to learn how to
sort out what's truly important, and to find new ways to develop
our Response-Ability muscles. 

**************************Books of Ideas *************************

 If part of your plan includes finding ways to earn more income
part-time or to start a tiny small business that can grow, here are
some great idea starters!  

    Odd Jobs: 101 Ways to Make an Extra Buck - Abigail Gehring

    Weekend Entrepreneur: 101 Ways to Earn Extra - Michelle   
              Anton

    The Everything Alternative Careers Book - James Mannion

    120 Jobs that Won't Chain You to Your Desk - Princeton Review
                 Staff

The BOOKS TAB on my web-site will take you to my bookstore on
Amazon.com.   You will find all these titles there along with lots
of other recommended books in 4 categories.

You can purchase directly from that page for the same price and
no-shipping policy of the main Amazon site - but I get a small
commission -so you can help me while you help yourself. I
appreciate the support!  
 
But, if you are being frugal, please go check your local library
for these and other similar titles.  They'll be glad to help you
also. 

************************A Little Inspiration**********************

Larry Winget, author of Shut Up, Stop Whining and Get a Life,
offers this tidbit: 
 
     "What you think about, talk about and do something about is
what comes about."  
 
Don't focus your energy on the worst outcome or the possibly bad
scenario - put all your effort into creating the results you want
for your life.  It really does work.  
 

    Some misfortunes we bring upon ourselves; others are completely
    beyond our control.  But no matter what happens to us, we always
    have some control over what we do about it.     ~ Suzy Szasz 
    

        My e-mail box is always open if you just need to chat..
                        lifeworkdesigner at me dot com