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                       WORKIN' MY WAY NEWSLETTER 
                           November, 2008 

Welcome to my new subscribers this month.  The mission of this
newsletter is to provide you with inspiration, suggest some helpful
resources, and to nudge each of you to move one more step toward
your dream. 

An important correction:  If you are part of the Over 50 Crowd
already subscribed to this newsletter and would like a copy of my
e-book, For Mature Audiences Only: How to redesign life and work in
the second half of our lives, send me an e-mail to
jane@lifeandworkbydesign.com and put e-book request in the subject
line. I'll send you a link to the download. You cannot sign up on
the newsletter form twice as directed last month. 
 
As I write this, the interminable political campaign in the US is
finally over and the holiday season is now looming ahead.  All the
changes that are going on in our economy this year are only going
to increase everyone's stress level.

My advice is this - the old standby - K.I.S.S.  Keep It Simple
Stupid.   That Thanksgiving meal doesn't have to be a Martha
Stewart showcase, and true holiday gifts are togetherness and
family fun.   

And remember Victor Frankl's words, 

    "The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitude 
                in any given set of circumstances." 

  **************************************************************

  Self-Study Course Coming in 2009

As a result of the workshops I held this year, I realize that many
of my clients have great ideas about their dream project, but they
get bogged down once they go back home to real life. 

I am working on a new self-study course to help dream-seekers get
to their goal.  It will be a combination audioCD/workbook set that
you can work on at your own speed. Right now, the planned sections
include:
         
          Part I     Plan, Organize and Prioritize
          Part II    Find the Time
          Part III   Find the Money
          Part IV   Find the Courage
          Part V    Resources

Each part will contain lots of tips and ideas for success along
with recommended resources to help you along the path.  A couple of
30 minute coaching sessions will also be included in the package. 

Now here's the question - what are your biggest hurdles in getting
your dream project off the ground?  I want this to be a valuable
tool that addresses your real concerns and problems.

So, let me hear it. If we were having coffee in a café together
right now, what would you ask me?   If I said, "where did you get
stuck" what would you answer? Tell me what's keeping you from that
next action. Send me an e-mail to jane@lifeandworkbydesign.com 

*****************************************************************  

 Create Your Own Discipline 

I just finished listening to a podcast by Sheila Bender, an author
and writing coach whom I admire very much.  One sentence right at
the beginning really struck me. She was talking about how writers
can work their writing into their lives but her comment applies to
working on any project such as your dream.
   
She said, "we have discipline, but it doesn't match our
expectations of what we think discipline is."   I actually stopped
the tape and listened to that line again.  How true this is. 
 
I frequently feel like I have wasted a lot of a day doing things
that are part of my life but not part of my work.  Whether you work
at home with interruptions, or try to squeeze your project into
your "spare" time around work and family, you probably also feel
frazzled or even guilty that you aren't more "organized" or able to
carve out bigger chunks of time.   Maybe you are even putting off
working on your dream until you "have the time." 
 
We often assume that we should be sitting at our desk "working" in
order to move ahead.  But, in her
example, she shows how you can work anytime.  Her client was a
retired gentleman who spent much of his newfound freedom
chauffeuring his wife around, waiting for her in Dr.'s offices,
stores, etc.  He felt he never had time to work on his book project. 
 Sheila suggested that he take "field notes" while he was waiting -
jotting down those nuggets of ideas or articles or game plans that
occur to you at unlikely times. 

 Keep a small notebook or some index cards handy in your purse,
pocket or glove compartment for this purpose.  You can continue to
add to that card at another time, or take it out when you are at
your desk or computer and complete the idea by writing the article,
outlining the plan or making the phone call.
    
Just jotting down notes is not what most of us would call
discipline, but done on a regular basis, it becomes your own
discipline and way of getting things done.
  
I realized that one of my disciplines is always listening to a
tele-class or podcast while I walk my 2 miles each day.   I also
carry my little pocket tape recorder everywhere so I can record my
brilliant thoughts when the universe inspires me.  Somehow, that
happens a lot more in places away from my desk.
  
If this happens to you, play attention and take advantage of it. 
Make it your discipline to use those nuggets of time to take just
one more step toward your dream. 

******************************************************************
BOOK REVIEW 

While doing research for the self-study course, I am reviewing many
of the books on my shelf and I came across one of my favorite gems.
 This Year I Will... by M.J. Ryan.   This is a general "just do it"
book that addresses all those things we resolve to do. Things like
getting out of debt, changing jobs, losing weight, working less,
exercising more or getting organized.  
Finding the time, saving the money and accomplishing your next
action steps requires an understanding of what holds you back and
what motivates you to move forward.  If you are having trouble
keeping your promises to yourself around your dream project, Ryan
just might be able to help you understand why.  She explores the
human psyche from a practical, common sense viewpoint that gives
the reader a lot of Aha moments.  It's available from the book page
on my website.