On Monday, I had a fantastic, insightful, girly conversation with chum and life coach extraordinaire Lisa Gates. Before I go further, I highly recommend you make quick over to her website and join her amazing new Life Balance Blueprint Clinic 2010. It will change your life, and your work, for the better. Seriously.
So Lisa and I were doing what we love doing best – getting into those esoteric, philosophical discussions about life and road blocks and all things that make us nuts and happy at the same time. I was gabbing on about some idea or another and she said, “You need to be famous.” I laughed. She said, “Seriously, you have these terrific new twists and perspectives.” I sloughed it off at the time, as we females tend to do when faced with compliments, but I couldn’t shake it. Why did she think so? And more importantly, why wasn’t I famous?
I read somewhere: If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right. We have a lot more control over our careers and our direction than we give ourselves credit for. So the obvious answer to Lisa’s ponderance is this: I’m not famous because I’ve not tried to be.
Did you ever notice those friends or relatives who have lives that just suck? They’re the ones who are always in the middle of another drama – financial, health, kids, family feuds, whatever. It seems each time they get over one hump an even bigger one awaits them. How much of that is actual bad luck and how much of that is negative energy drawing in the bad stuff?
I’ve always believed we create our own realities from our perceptions. I was married once to someone who was afraid of losing me. His perceptions led to his protective behavior, which led to tension and argument, which led to divorce and loss. Sure, there was more to it than that, but at the core, his reality played out because he bought into it.
So, do you want to be famous? Me too. For me, my fame would be building a community, building an expertise, building a lucrative, satisfying career from what I’ve learned and what I can teach. Okay, goal defined. Now, how am I getting there? For me, it’s reaching out and starting online courses, maybe an e-book, and certainly some one-on-one teaching opportunities with new writers or writers wanting to improve their business techniques.
So what about you? What does famous look like to you? How are you getting there?
What a great post, Lori. So much of what we achieve is accomplished because we believe in ourselves and maintain a positive attitude.
I just finished reading Steven Van Yoder's book "Get Slightly Famous" which outlines ways to position yourself as an expert and become a 'celebrity' in your field. This past year I started two blogs, began teaching online courses, and authored a book (which will be released in February). Already in the works for 2010 is another book, additional online classes and a redesigned teaching platform (that will also allow other writing teachers to host classes), a professional book trailer, and a blog tour (to help boost traffic to my blogs). Whew… lots of plans!
Back when I was a high school teacher, I observed that many students who insisted that they were in the "bad luck / trouble keeps finding me" category were actually suffering from a lack of coping skills — in other words, as soon as they encountered the slightest obstacle or resistance, they were overwhelmed, & any plans or goals they had were shot.
As you've noted here, this same phenomenon applies to many adults, too. None of us are immune to setbacks, frustrations & other negative experiences — but we shape our realities by how we respond to these challenges.
This is a great post & a valuable reminder for the start of another new year. Thanks for all you do here on Words on the Page, Lori — when you finally do achieve worldwide fame & fortune, it's gonna be an honor to say I knew ya when … š
Great post Lori, lots of food for thought. I can honestly say that I don't want to be famous. Too much change goes with it. However, I do want to be accomplished in a field I love i.e., writing. Hopefully a positive attitude and lots of hard work will bring me closer to my goals.
Best wishes
An inspiring post and the comments add to it. Dropped in via EC. Happy New Year and all the best in achieving your goals as you continue to inspire others.
I adore you, as you know. You never know when a slip of the tongue will turn into a shift in awareness and direction. My take away: always be listening. We're more "daily brilliant" than we know. Thank you for your consistent support, BTW.
Wink
Laura, that sounds fantastic! Good for you for taking such decisive action. I'm getting that book!
Hugh, I'll say the same about you when you're famous. Remember us little folk, okay? :)) But it's so obvious it's freaky – negative energy attracts negativity. Allowing the small stuff to get to us allows outside forces to define us. I guess I'm just too stubborn to let that happen. š
Andrea, I think famous can be whatever you want it to be. You can be famous in your family for being a successful business owner. You can be famous for your chocolate chip cookies (ask Mrs. Field). You can be famous in your particular genre by shaping a career of accomplishments and thought pieces that make you so. It doesn't mean you'll be on Celebrity Cribs or E! News, but that you'll be respected and known for your accomplishments. That's do-able, right?
Mama Shujaa, thank you for stopping in. The door's always open.
Lisa, adoration duly noted and doubly returned. š Your slips of the tongue always get me thinking, which I love about you. You're right – always be listening. ACTIVE awareness, not just presence, works for me. And you're welcome. It's a small price for all you've done for me.
I would have loved to be part of that conversation – right up my alley!
Love.
Lori,
when you present fame
in that context, it is absolutely doable…
As always, I enjoy participating in your posts.
Best
There you go, Andrea! I knew you'd be famous. š
Carrie, I thought of you. Aquarian and sanguine conversations are the best. š
I spent over 20 years in film and theatre, watching how fame destroys the majority of people it touches.
No thanks.
I don't want fame. I want my work to be respected and well-received, and well-paid. "Fame" doesn't have to feed into the equation. There's a difference between fame and respect for good work.
I'm building my career and recognition slowly under various names so that my life remains MINE,while my work is out in the public sphere.
My sentiments exactly Devon Ellington.
Devon, to me, that's a beautiful picture of what famous is – respected, well received, and well paid. That's the fame I want. š
I'm with Devon on this one. There's nothing like knowing your clients respect you (and pay you what you're worth).
Talking to friends in the 9-5 game always serves as a nice reminder. Many of those folks don't get the respect, or the decent pay. They hate their jobs. Their company's CEO wouldn't know them if they fell over them. No one asks for their input or insights.
In my work I get to wake up every day loving what I do, enjoying immense freedom, making good money, and working with everyone from high level execs to smaller entrepreneurs who come to me specifically because they value what I bring to the table.
I'm happy enough to be moderately known within my client base. I write the e-books. I run the blogs. I'm going to be launching a series of online courses this year. And I'm working on a nonfiction book. If "fame" comes from that, that's fine. But while visibility in my market is an objective, fame really isn't. It just seems like another set of hassles to worry about.
Sounds like you're already famous, Jenn. š