Quote for the Day....

"There's no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love. There is only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen. "

Last night, I had my quarterly "telephone chat" with my roommate from college. It's always one of those "gee, I wish you lived closer" things when we have our talk.

One of the things that we talked about was "pursuing your passion." My ex-roomie really does do a job that she pretty much loves (it "has its ups and downs" but she's done it now for over 20 years -- wow, how did we get that old! (laugh)). She also has some "hobbies" that she now is good enough at (Shiatsu Massage and photography) that she enjoys, and also gets paid to do! :-)

I have always, since college, had a job -- I have always "paid my own way." But, except for one brief instant, I have never really had a job that I just "loved." (The job that I "loved" was being an athlete agent's assistant at Advantage International, where I helped with the 1988 Olympians. That was the greatest job...unfortunately, as with all jobs dealing with "stars," it paid a pittance and when I asked for a much-deserved raise, they basically said "hey, we have people writing us daily who want to do what you do for FREE" (which they did!). I quit -- I couldn't really "afford" to stay -- but I am always sad when I think about it.)

My ex-roommate (let's call her Leia, which would make her laugh -- inside joke) constantly reminds me that I have a "habit" of landing on my feet (e.g., "making enough money"), regardless of what job I do. Even when I was "downsized" with "nowhere to go" unexpectedly in 2002, I never had to "put my mortgage on credit cards" as they say -- I downsized my life, worked like crazy, and started my own business immediately (doing what I had been "downsized from"), with the result that I did indeed land on my feet. I've even moved across country (and to another country), and as Leia always points out, I have actually never, ever, had to "beg" -- I have always found some way to land on my feet.

The thing that we were talking about, though, is that my "passion and dream" is to quit all the other jobs that I currently have going on, and concentrate on Building Bond Grrls. That is my passion and my dream, period. I love, eat, breathe and sleep this stuff. The only problem that I have had is that when I have to teach AND fill the classes, I find I am great at the first, and terrible at the second! Filling seminars, if you ask me, is like "herding cats"!

So what I really need is a manager -- and "faith" I guess. As I said, this was a large portion of our conversation last night -- and today when she got in, her boss's "inspirational email" for the day was the quote above. Pretty appropriate, huh?

I am in the middle of "ordering" my life, after moving in with my James...trying to rent out my house, find some folks that want to take care of my horses, etc. In short, paring down on expenses. But at the same time, I have been trying to get out of running my own law firm, because though I'm good at it, it's just not that much fun. I actually got my real estate license, but I think that was a mistake -- it's a LOT more expensive than you would think (thousands to pay for your "desk fee," insurance, etc.), and to paraphrase that book "He's Just Not That Into You," well, "I'm Just Not That Into It." Part of that might be the fact I don't have any active buyers or sellers -- and keeping up on the market just isn't something I'm "passionate" about. Leia and I last night spoke about our mothers -- each is an inveterate "Lookie-Loo" when it comes to houses, going around to all the Opens, etc. I don't have that sort of curiosity. I think that the idea of the real estate license was to work doing something I do like (meeting people, sales) while combining my legal background, and also on the "back burner," ultimately finding a house for my James and me to move into in a few years' time.

So I do those things, I also still have some massage clients, I also do the sex education/Passion Parties as part, really, of the fEmpowerment "thing." Again though, of all of those things, I love the education/Parties the best -- but I fall down on the job of booking them. I need a manager! :-))

This year, I need to concentrate on doing the things that I'm passionate about. I do think I made a mistake with the real estate thing, and so it's hard to get "excited" about it. What I probably need to do is get a deal going, to get me back "excited" about it. I do want to roll up the law stuff, and need something to "replace" it -- at least, to replace the "new blood" I need each month to keep things going. I have my "stable" clients that need me (just not enough!) If I could keep them and have a real estate deal now and again -- and not WORRY -- that would be great.

It's interesting -- I got a bunch of folks together with the idea of doing a Seniors Seminar (real estate-related issues for people over 55). I got a great group together, there were great ideas -- then I'm expected to pay for the whole thing, plus "design the post card" etc. etc. I just can't be bothered, frankly. It's such a shame. I'm a fantastic public speaker, but make me put TOGETHER the "engagement," do the post card, mail out all the lists, get the hotel, get the coffee and danish.....pay pay pay for the "possibility" of some business....even the paying part isn't as odious to me as just the "putting it all together" responsibility. Makes me sad -- I have great ideas, and they fall to the wayside because -- Surprise!!! -- I need a manager! (laugh)

I'm glad that I'm finally on my way in writing the book. (How? I got a manager! Yes, really, I hired someone to help me. Finally, I figured it out....(laugh).) I got a bit of a scare from Paul Kyriazi (who forwarded me the reporter -- see the previous post)...he said he thought she was writing a book, NOT an article. If that's the case, I certainly need to hop to it! I think that the bones and most of the "flesh" are there -- it's just pounding it out.

Yesterday before my call with "Leia," I had a real "stop short and smell the coffee" moment. A very very good but "new" girlfriend (we've known one another for about a year or so) and I used to see one another every other week at a social thing, which I stopped going to because I moved. We "vowed" to stay in touch, because I really DO like her and she was the main reason I kept going as long as I did. Anyway -- she called me on the 17th, leaving a message to give her a ring. I'm not very good at returning messages (much better with email, which she doesn't have). I also had surgery, then I had seminars for a week, then my James and I did a "get-away" to Carmel for his birthday. So suddenly it was almost 10 days later, and I called her back for a "chat."

Well, she told me yesterday that on the 17th she found out she had breast cancer -- and she's going in for surgery on Monday. It might be bad -- they can't tell until they are "in." She's like me -- very small breasted -- I just am so shocked, as is she (we teased once that we would "never have this problem" because the cancer would never "find" our breasts!). As soon as I spoke with her, I of course dropped everything and drove on over to see her -- a LONG drive (about 1.5 hours, give or take, each way). She wanted to go pick up some wine that we each get quarterly at a wine club in the Wine County -- so we drove on up there, picked up the wine, giggled some (the tasting room gal we like was there, which was super fun -- we got there just as she was closing and she "let us in, but just this once..")....then I drove her back home. We talked about it in the car, but it was kinda "easier" than if we were just sitting there on the couch. Lots of driving for me....lots of talking (and giggling and a lot of crying).....I still can't believe that she had called 10 days before and there I was, not calling back. I mean - you never KNOW why someone calls - but that was such a shock. (I also can't believe I was out driving yesterday -- the rain, wind, and HAIL was so bad, that I was driving about 25 on the highway with my wipers on full blast -- nasty, nasty.)

The worst bit (or maybe the BEST bit) is that yesterday is the only day in the foreseeable future that I could fairly easily do what I did. For the next couple weeks, I am totally slammed with actual "meetings" and such. Yesterday I just had "work to do" but no "people to see" -- so I saw my friend, had my chat with "Leia," and then worked late and finished up what I had to do. I wasn't able to tell my friend I could "come to see her after the surgery" -- because I am not sure that I really can. This makes me a little crazy. For the next 2-3 weeks, I am scheduled down to the minute in "chunks" of the day -- e.g., a massage client 1-2, or a seminar from 2-3, things like that -- so I can't just take a big "chunk" and drive back over there. I'm sure glad I called when I did.

So, the two things that I learned yesterday are (a) life is WAY SHORTER and WAY MORE SURPRISING than you might think, be ready....and (b) I gotta really get my head around "doing what I'm passionate about" -- and believe (like Leia says she already knows) that the "money will be there."

OK OK, THREE things....and.....that I need a manager!!!!

Solitaire