Here we are in the middle of summer. Most of us don't want to think at all. However, I had a valuable lesson the other day that I wanted to share with you. It's all about thinking big.

A publisher's note:  there will be no August issue of SOS Monthly, since I'll be moving across the country smack in the middle of the month.  The September issue will come to you from my new office in California, complete with photos.

Speaking of moving, Allyn Evans shares an article with us this month about finding the good in the upheaval of her own recent move. Is Mercury out of retrograde yet?

P.S. If you need an SOS fix before September, head on over to my blog. I'll be chronicling all the juicy bits of moving myself and my business 3,000 miles!

Think Big:  Don't Sell Yourself Short

I was meeting a friend and colleague for lunch. We were going to continue a previous discussion about how we might work together, once I was back in California. I thought I was so prepared. I had outlined a really cool workshop we could deliver together. Target audiences, key messages, logistics, the whole shebang.

She read it through, put down my masterpiece, and said, “That’s it?” I was crestfallen. This woman and I have literally been talking for years about how we could work together to empower women to change the world.

“That’s it?” I was crushed. “What do you mean?” I asked.

“This is good. But I was thinking we could create a whole program—not just a workshop.”

Oh…she wanted more! She was thinking big; I was thinking small. We spent the next half hour brainstorming what a program might look like, and who our ideal clients would be. We were both excited about our prospects, and had clear next steps to research our market. We are now putting the finishing touches on our program description, and getting it ready to present to potential partners. And I’ve discovered that any program can be broken down into smaller workshops or other products, which doubles our revenue possibilities!

This experience really challenged me to look at my goals and objectives, and my plans for my life and my business. Was I thinking too small about everything? Possibly. But my brain was beginning to hurt. I couldn’t handle thinking bigger about every aspect of my business and my life. But I could deal with a little mind expansion in one area at a time. So, I’m focusing my efforts on this new program (more about this in future issues), and on the Fall 2006 SOS Teleclass Catalog.

The “small” version of the teleclass catalog was simply a list of classes I’ve done before, scheduled at new dates and times. The “big” version is a wide variety of options:  single session classes, multiple session programs, exciting new offerings, new dates and times for tried-and-true standards, live sessions, downloadable recordings, no-cost “trial” sessions, fee-based resource- and content- rich programs.

The “small” teleclass catalog forced clients into my schedule. The “big” version is more flexible so more people can find an option that’s right for them. Yes, thinking big created a bit more work on my end. But thinking big also created a lot more opportunities—not only for my clients to find the training that works for them, their budgets and their schedules—but for me too. More opportunities to work with women who want to transform their lives and their world; more opportunities to diversify and expand my business. Everybody wins.

Is there an area of your life or your career/business that you’re thinking too small about? Drop me an email and tell me about it, or post a comment over at my blog.

Don't be afraid to take one large step because you can't cross a chasm in two small leaps.

--David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister (1863-1945)

Finding the Good in Upheaval

by Allyn Evans, QueenPower.com Founder

When in the middle of experience we don’t always understand why something is happening. To add to our discomfort, we simply don’t understand how in the world the event or circumstances could actually be good for us. Well, currently I’m in the middle of one of those situations. 

My husband and I have been thinking about moving to another house for over a year.  We needed more space, and also desired a pool. Luckily, without any effort, we found the perfect home with the right price tag in March. It wasn’t for sale yet, but the sellers had recently discovered they were being transferred to Ireland. In a perfect world, we had time to sell our house and make an offer. We put our house on the market. It sold within 23 days for our asking price! Of course, we were thrilled. As a condition, we had to move out by May 25th. No big deal. The sellers of our new house needed to move. Remember, they were headed to Ireland. As soon as the offer was confirmed, we contacted the homeowners of our prospective home. Oops, their plans had changed. They were no longer interested in selling us our perfect home. Although the news stung, we were hopeful. Perfect house surely wasn’t the only house in our town. We started looking.  Nothing worked. All we felt was disappointment. 

After looking at house after house, we turned again to the seller of our dream home. They still needed to sell. They were still going somewhere. They simply needed more time. Reluctantly, we agreed to their terms. Our move in date is scheduled for August 15th.

So here I am—in the middle of an experience I don’t understand. Why did I need to be homeless for two months (actually more)? And why couldn’t I have access to our pool NOW. Worst of all, my dogs are caught in the middle of this transition. Thank goodness for my sister! In late May, we stored all our belongings (except for a few necessities) and off we drove.

At first, I struggled. I fussed at the Universe for messing everything up, especially the timing of it all. Not only was I displaced, but also I couldn’t seem to find time to work—to write, promote and speak. While pleading to no one in particular about getting the Deck Chairs (as we now affectionately call them) out of our house, I was continually frustrated by my inability to be productive. Nothing I did seemed to fix our situation. Nothing. And believe me I tried. Eventually I gave up. I simply stopped struggling and decided there was nothing to be done.

Since throwing up my hands, I’ve traveled to Mississippi, Florida, Texas and the Ozarks. I have played, played and played. I have spent countless hours with my daughter—riding horses, swimming, skiing and sitting. We have been having so much fun I almost missed the deadline for this article!

Okay, so not all is well. Not having a permanent place to be is unsettling. Yes, I still yearn for home, and look forward to the day when life will return to normal. But you know what? As I sit here at a makeshift desk with still another month to go, I clearly see the beauty of it all. My homeless summer is perfectly ordered.

QueenPower.com founder and author, Allyn Evans, is an emerging voice in the examination of how cultural messages influence a woman’s choices. Her first book, Grab the Queen Power:  Live Your Best Life! is available on QueenPower.com and where most books are sold. Currently, working on her next project about the socialization of adolescent girls, Evans is actively seeking interviews. Recently, Evans and four award-winning authors have collaborated to produce a 30-series audio course for writers produced by Double Dragon Publishing, Inc. For more information, please visit www.queenpower.com/Evans/author.html.

Fall 2006 SOS Teleclass Catalog

Check out the "big version" of the Fall 2006 SOS Teleclass Catalog. This season's offerings focus on getting comfortable with change, creating a successful season, and learning how to use our leadership abilities to create the life we truly deserve.

Leap into the next, and possibly greatest, phase of your life with an SOS Teleclass!

Peruse the catalog...

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If you’re interested in exploring more about life transformation, personal power, and cage rattling, or just about tiaras and the really cool women who wear them, here are just some of the ways for you to connect.

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The mission of SOS Monthly is to inspire and empower you to lead the big life you want--right now! Comments, feedback and ideas for stories are always welcome.  Also, please feel free to forward this along to anyone who might be interested and/or benefit from its contents. All story ideas, comments and suggestions are most welcome.  Send me your input!

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©2006 by Barbara Bellissimo. All rights reserved.