New Year, New Venture

How many people want to start their own business?  Many do.

How many actually open their own business?  Some do.

How many succeed in small business. Few do.

After many years of creating business plans, buying business cards, “talking” about starting a business I’m finally going to open a brick and mortar business. It’s not just any building, it’s the same building that my father ran a local barber shop for 40 years. It’s like a dream come true. Walking in the building after all these years was magical for me.

As I sit here over the holiday’s I can still hear my father telling me: “If you know what you want, it’s already there.”   I know that building is it; I know that local artisan concept is it; I know that giving back to the local community is it. It’s almost like there is a pent-up need and the timing is right.  Time will tell.  No matter.  It will be a place that I want to go, a place I want to create and shop and be.  I’ll more than likely be documenting my journey on this blog as I transition to a business owner.

The Richardson’s 512 E. Mercury Blvd. Hampton, VA

Creative Space and Gift Shop

How the space looks today 12/16

Never Say Never

Never say never because you don’t know what the future holds.

Case in point: I’m back in purchasing, but with a twist.  I’m combining purchasing and training by working in procurement compliance.  It pretty fascinating because I can blend one thing I have years of experience in with the thing I do naturally. Although I thought I’d never want to go back into purchasing I feel like I’m at home with the purchasing discipline.  It’s been like riding a bicycle and a skill that I’ve missed using over the years.

So, never say never.  Don’t shut the door on your opportunities because you think you know what is best.  

What was best years ago, may not be best for today.

What was wrong for you years ago, may be just right for you today.

Just be open to all the universe has to offer.

Let go of what you will “never ever do” again.

Just be open and surprising things will come your way.

BE OPEN.

The Secret Is Letting Go

 

Letting go is a secret to a happy life.

Letting go means you’re okay with what happens.

It is being okay with the results…whatever they are.

It is allowing things to work themselves out and being okay with HOW they work out.

Letting go is the opposite of holding on. But in order to learn the art of letting go you have to go through knowing what it feels like to hold on to what you want, what you desire, how you think things should go…then…let go of all of that.

It is not easy.  It is actually hard to let go, but the older you get the more you understand it’s one of the keys to the mystery of how to enjoy your life.

 

Do Your Art. Get Unstuck.

Art doesn’t mean one thing.  It can be many things.

Being an artist is not just for some of us,  it is for all of us. 

We were created to create.  We were not created to consume. 

Create something. Create anything. Especially if you are miserable at work.  It will help you cope.

My son brought me an artist set for Christmas and even though I “do art”; “make art”;”sale art” I never really thought of myself as an artist, but I guess he did.  

I kept thinking that artist draw things, and I never understood how to draw, seemed too much like geometry (and it is).

Well…all it took was to learn some techniques and wa-lah I can draw.  

I keep this on the table in my studio to remind me that this is the result of a couple of hours of practice back in December when I got the kit.  

It reminds me that I  can do anything I put my mind to…and so can you.  I am not stuck.  You are not stuck.  

We create our world.   

So…do your art. Look for it.  Find it.  Create something.  

We are only stuck if think we are. 

 

It's Not About What You Do, But How You Think About What You Do

After reading the “Just Quit” your job survey results it has occurred to me that people in most every profession is and/or could be miserable doing what they are doing.

It’s not about the profession.

It’s about the mindset while working in that profession.

This makes me think of Tolstoy’s three questions:

Here people are in lives where they have to work for a living.  They are the wage earners. Most people are miserable going to work everyday. It doesn’t seem to matter how much they are paid.  Doesn’t seem to matter the title. Still, they are miserable.  

So, then what are the answers to Tolstoy’s questions?

It does NOT matter what you are doing.  It matters what you THINK about what you are doing NOW.  

Get beyond wanting to leave.  Get beyond wanting to be in another/different profession.  Just be okay with what is right now.  

Yep, you are miserable. GET OVER IT. Until you can get over it, it will continue, no matter if you leave where you are, go someplace else…you’ll end up miserable again.  

Challenge: be happy in your misery…embrace the suck.  If you can do that you can move on…until then…misery will follow you where ever you go.

Don’t believe me….below are the professions of folks who are miserable enough to complete the “Just Quit” your job survey… just this month:

Accreditation	Yesterday, 6:19PM
Writer	Yesterday, 5:15PM
Manager	Yesterday, 3:44AM
Manufacturing	Friday, Jun 17th 2:31PM
Claims adjudicator	Friday, Jun 17th 8:41AM
casino job	Thursday, Jun 16th 7:41PM
casino job	Thursday, Jun 16th 7:41PM
Part time Cashier and Caterer	Thursday, Jun 16th 6:38PM
Project Manager Engineer/Microelectronics/technology	Thursday, Jun 16th 11:20AM
customer care specialist	Thursday, Jun 16th 12:33AM
Accounting	Wednesday, Jun 15th 11:40AM
Slot tech	Wednesday, Jun 15th 11:46AM
Slot tech	Wednesday, Jun 15th 11:46AM
Public servant	Wednesday, Jun 15th 7:22AM
Musician	Wednesday, Jun 15th 4:17AM
Development assistant	Tuesday, Jun 14th 7:46PM
Retail mamanagement	Tuesday, Jun 14th 3:12PM
Garbo truck driver	Tuesday, Jun 14th 9:04AM
Dentist	Tuesday, Jun 14th 1:59AM
mental health	Monday, Jun 13th 6:05PM
Accountant	Monday, Jun 13th 5:31PM
Telecom Engineer	Monday, Jun 13th 3:26PM
Assistant Account Manager/Retail/Design	Monday, Jun 13th 11:39AM
Retail	Sunday, Jun 12th 2:38PM
IT	Sunday, Jun 12th 1:06PM
Accounting	Sunday, Jun 12th 9:27AM
receptionist	Sunday, Jun 12th 8:56AM
Design engineer	Saturday, Jun 11th 3:19AM
Human resource director	Saturday, Jun 11th 1:38AM
attorney	Friday, Jun 10th 11:11PM
Training & Development	Thursday, Jun 9th 11:35PM
Museum/Arts/Education	Thursday, Jun 9th 11:02PM
Customer Service	Thursday, Jun 9th 10:34PM
Nonprofit	Thursday, Jun 9th 5:29PM
Food safety officer	Thursday, Jun 9th 5:45PM
Hospitality	Thursday, Jun 9th 4:49PM
Sales	Thursday, Jun 9th 11:23AM
engineering	Thursday, Jun 9th 9:24AM
engineer	Thursday, Jun 9th 6:53AM
disability support worker	Thursday, Jun 9th 3:57AM
Accountant	Thursday, Jun 9th 12:03AM
Insurance	Wednesday, Jun 8th 11:54PM
Banking	Wednesday, Jun 8th 11:34PM
Finance	Wednesday, Jun 8th 9:40PM
Retail	Wednesday, Jun 8th 5:32PM
E commerce	Wednesday, Jun 8th 3:53PM
Admin PR	Wednesday, Jun 8th 3:17PM
Software Consultant	Wednesday, Jun 8th 1:49PM
Resturant management	Wednesday, Jun 8th 12:39PM
Pharmaceutical Industry	Tuesday, Jun 7th 9:55PM
Export	Tuesday, Jun 7th 2:32PM
i am on dis ability	Tuesday, Jun 7th 11:09AM
Email marketing	Tuesday, Jun 7th 6:41AM
recruit	Monday, Jun 6th 5:17PM
Superintendent	Monday, Jun 6th 2:16PM
administrative assistant	Monday, Jun 6th 1:36PM
Manufacturing	Monday, Jun 6th 10:41AM
Education	Sunday, Jun 5th 9:58PM
Designer	Sunday, Jun 5th 8:35PM
Cashier/supervisor	Sunday, Jun 5th 3:32AM
CNA	Sunday, Jun 5th 3:29AM
Oil	Saturday, Jun 4th 6:02PM
journalist	Saturday, Jun 4th 11:11AM
Banker; Team Lead Financial Literacy	Saturday, Jun 4th 10:27AM
Pharmacy student assistant job	Friday, Jun 3rd 6:30AM
Logistics	Friday, Jun 3rd 5:50AM
Director of Patient Experience	Thursday, Jun 2nd 5:30PM
Purchasing	Thursday, Jun 2nd 3:25PM
Accountant	Thursday, Jun 2nd 10:11AM
Assistant Director of Guest Experience	Wednesday, Jun 1st 11:11PM
Investor Relations	Wednesday, Jun 1st 8:37PM
Retail	Wednesday, Jun 1st 8:55PM
7th grade ELA teacher	Wednesday, Jun 1st 6:52PM
Personal Assistant	Wednesday, Jun 1st 4:52AM

Today and everyday when you wake up don’t think about how miserable you are.  Even if you want to be doing something difference (and especially if you don’t know what that something different is) think about how you COULD be happy doing what you’re doing, right where you are with the people you are with….why?….because it will help you move on.  

You WILL move on.  Why?  Life is about change. Eventually things will change, don’t delay change by NOT learning the lesson of how to sing while walking in the storm. SING, SMILE. RISE ABOUT IT.

Be Grateful When Things Don't Work Out

Why? 

Because what you had planned was TOO SMALL. 

• If you are stressing right now about your job..STOP STRESSING.
• If you are desperate to get out of your job situation…STOP BEING DESPERATE.
• If you don’t think you can go another day working where you are working…STOP TRIPPING.

STOP.

Things could be horrible where you work, but going to another job does not mean it’s going to be ANY better. JUST QUIT is NOT about a JOB.  JUST QUIT is NOT about a CAREER…or a PROFESSION…IT IS ABOUT YOUR LIFE. It’s about planning your life.

So if you have been looking for a job, not getting interviews or even if you are getting interviews and you are not getting the jobs…STOP STRESSING, BEING DESPERATE and TRIPPING.

Ask yourself the below three questions?

1. Today, if you had all the money that you needed to live for the REST OF YOUR LIFE what would you do?
2. Today, if you went to the doctors and they told you that you had five more years to live what would you do?
3. Today, if you went to the doctors and they told you that you only had 24 hours to live, what would you have WISHED you would have done with your life?

I can bet you that GET ANOTHER JOB is not the answer to any of those questions. IF you do still have a job…be grateful…some people don’t and can’t find one. So first be grateful that you have a job and if you have a job with a decent salary, benefits and a 401K/pension you should be getting down on your knees and praying to God or whoever you pray to because you are doing better than most people.  This is sad, but this the world we live in.

Change your perspective about your life and start planning to do those things you WANT to do.  Figure that out.  What do you want to do? What do you want to accomplish? While you are miserable in your job, figure it out.  Nobody can get inside of your head and make you STRESS about your job, EXCEPT you.  If you take control of your mind (your thoughts) then you can manage to get up, go in and be THINKING about what you want to do and DOING something about it in your free time. What is that you say?  You’re depressed? You’re drained after your job?  Well JOIN THE CLUB.  It’s a worldwide problem, people.  It’s not just you. Know that this is a worldwide phenomena, of people working in meaningless stressful jobs.  

So, if your mediocre plans aren’t working out…GREAT…you’ve been spared…because…you’re supposed to do something BIGGER, BETTER, BOLDER with your life.

NOW….GET UP and GET STARTED

 

Take Off Your Mask

Leaving the library to get Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s The Miracle of Mindfulness book I looked to my left and saw an art gallery that was new.  It was pouring down raining, but I circled back around and decided to check it out. What a find it was.  Beautiful gallery, shop, artwork and owner.

The below is a piece that I brought. 

He called it ZERO, because that is how the artist was feeling in his job. He was smiling on the outside but miserable inside. If you look closely you will see the Zero on his chest, and the hand removing the smiling mask.

The artist said the flames on the left is how he felt in his life and at that job and the bubbles on the right is where he knew his life could be if he followed his passions and love of art.

Well today, this gentleman owns a fabulous and beautiful art gallery, shop and studio. No longer a ZERO.  What about you?  Are you smiling on the outside but sad on the inside? Take off your mask. Be honest with yourself. Move to the right, set sail and soar.