What Shape Waits In The Seed Of You?

On this day that commemorates a special birth for many, a poem that celebrates you.

 

With love and admiration, happy holidays and best wishes for 2009!

 

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 What To Remember When Waking
 by: David Whyte
 
 In that first
 hardly noticed
 moment
 in which you wake,
 coming back
 to this life
 from the other
 more secret,
 moveable
 and frighteningly
 honest
 world
 where everything
 began,
 there is a small
 opening
 into the day
 which closes
 the moment
 you begin
 your plans.
 
 What you can plan
 is too small
 for you to live.
 
 What you can live
 wholeheartedly
 will make plans
 enough
 for the vitality
 hidden in your sleep.
 
 To be human
 is to become visible
 while carrying
 what is hidden
 as a gift to others.
 
 To remember
 the other world
 in this world
 is to live in your
 true inheritance.
 
 You are not
 a troubled guest
 on this earth,
 you are not
 an accident
 amidst other accidents
 you were invited
 from another and greater
 night
 than the one
 from which
 you have just emerged.
 
 Now, looking through
 the slanting light
 of the morning
 window toward
 the mountain
 presence
 of everything
 that can be,
 what urgency
 calls you to your
 one love? What shape
 waits in the seed
 of you to grow
 and spread
 its branches
 against a future sky?
 
 Is it waiting
 in the fertile sea?
 In the trees
 beyond the house?
 In the life
 you can imagine
 for yourself?
 In the open
 and lovely
 white page
 on the waiting desk?

Why You Should Bother Doing What You Do, A Quote from Martha Graham

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time. This expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.

No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

from The Life and Work of Martha Graham

Whether you are an artist or not, I daresay this quote will ring through some of your cells. Note too, her use of the word business, what she describes as your business and what she distinctly says is NOT your business. Entrepreneurs, take note.

A Parable: Kindness in the Holidays

With the hustle and bustle of the end of the year, I notice it’s usually the littler things things that last in my memory.  So at the beginning of the busiest season, I was touched to read the below parable sent by the class act that is Coach 
Diane Krause-Stetson. Thanks for sharing it, my dear.

And, forewarned is forearmed, as Diane puts it.  This one is a heart tugger.

The Passenger

I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. Just a minute answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware..

Read more

Book Lovers Widget: Shelfari.com from Kathy

Hi All,

Let me introduce myself, I’m Kathy and I am Andrea’s new personal assistant. I looked around in my own office the other day, and realized my bookcases are bulging at the seams. A good friend posted her virtual bookshelf on her blog one day, and I instantly added it to my personal blog.

Upon visiting my blog, Andrea emailed me and said “That is an awesome widget Kathy, can you install one of those and post at the blog about it?? Very fun.” So virtual book networking is blossoming. Shelfari calls itself “the premier social network for people who love books.”

I hope you enjoy having a look at some of the books on Andrea’s new virtual bookshelf and maybe adding a shelf or two to your site as well.

Advanced Strategies for Multiple Streams of Coaching Income

In sharing the Multiple Streams of Coaching Income book last week I was reminded of how far we’ve come in what seems like such a short time! (I can’t believe it’s been over 4 years since the first edition of the book).

And in that time there have been lots of advancements in technology.  Lately, the economy has forced some evolution.  And more than anything, our capacity as coaches to apply rigor and sophisticated thinking has grown. Quite simply, we’ve come a long way, baby. 

What would I do differently, myself, in applying Multiple Streams to my business today, as compared to say 4 years ago? How does this, the current economic climate, etc. provide us with even greater opportunities to build multiple streams in a way that uniquely suits you?

Join me for a lively and sometimes deeper, more thoughtful conversation about Multiple Streams in 2009 and forward.  Time permitting, I’ll also cover advanced strategies that normally are reserved for 1-on-1 coaching clients; they’ve done so well with them it’s time to share more widely.   

And, if you haven’t already, do take some time before the call to review the Multiple Streams book itself. Whether you prefer the print copy or the downloadable you grabbed last week…dip your toe in just a little won’t you?  And then join the thought-stream…

To listen to the recording from this live call just click the “Play” button below:

Here is a sneak peek of the 5 Advanced Strategies discussed on the call

• Strategy #1: Infrastructure Vs Information
• Strategy #2: Beginning, Middle and End, Vs an Infinite Open-Ended Burden
• Strategy #3: Fewer Big Ideas Vs a Lot of Little Ideas
• Strategy #4: Making the Rules Vs Looking for the Rules
• Strategy #5: Escape Plans Vs Balls and Chains

Could a Direct Selling Model Support Coaching and Coaches in a New Way?

Open House Call: Thursday, December 18, 2008

If there’s one thing I think we can agree on, it’s that coaching is a gift in all its forms. Whether it’s the pivotal coaching question on your page-a-day desk calendar, an intense half-day workshop with 500 others, in an online environment with people around the world, or, in a small intimate group in front of your fireplace, a coaching approach delivered well has the power to change lives.

You might not be surprised by how often I’ve asked myself, in the privacy of my own mind, what models or approaches have we not yet adopted or adapted, that would prove excellent vehicles for coaching?

When approached by Kim George, author of The Abundance Quotient and Kim Fulcher, author of Remodel Your Reality with the business model for Compass, I was intrigued by what this might mean for coaching, and excited by the possibilities for yet another way coaching can spread through the world.

Join me along with the two Kims, to learn more about how you can:

• Build a new income stream using Compass’ coaching business system.
• Expand your influence using their unique web-based platform.
• Increase your client base by connecting with an audience that is pre-qualified.
• Offer affordable coaching programs that especially meet the needs of clients today, and support them to make improvements in their lives.

Especially if you are new to business building, and are frustrated with the lack of traction you’ve been getting working solo, this call may be the thing for you. More than anything, whether advanced or new as a coach, what I think you’ll find is that the Compass team is truly a first-class team with the courage and heart to forge new ground, and I look forward to learning a great deal in this call.

To listen to the recording from this live call just click the “Play” button below:

Interested in “Making 2009 Your Banner Year” through Speaking?

*TIMELY* Open House Call: Thursday December 11, 2008

There is nothing more powerful than speaking to a live audience – especially in this online world we are all so accustomed to! Despite the most powerful tools out there, making a face-to-face connection with an interested room full of people is the best way to boost sales and create long-term customers.

Seems easy, right? Well, it can be. But as with most things, there is an easy way and a hard way to go about it. I’m delighted that my friend and platform building expert Suzanne Falter Barns and sales conversion expert Lisa Sasevich have put together this class to show you the ropes. 

>> Register Now

In a freebie call this Thursday, December 11, at 1PM Eastern/10AM Pacific, you will learn to spread your mission, build your platform, get more publicity and sell well, through your authentic voice, directly from the stage.

Specifically, you’ll cover:

• Common mistakes every newbie speaker makes …
• How to use your speaking gigs to build platform-o-rama
• Why speaking is your secret weapon with publishers … and audiences
• Anatomy of the perfect hook – for sales and talk titles
• Why the Invisible Close is the only way to sell in a recession
• Why speaking beats out social networking every time for sales and results 

>> Register Now

For inquiring minds: the tree we planted at our wedding

I finally found this lovely inquiry from Sandy from back in August. Thanks for the inquiring mind, Sandy.   See below for the wee answer…

From: Sandy
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 4:28 PM
Subject: Re: 2 timely invites, and more…

Andrea,

Thank your for sharing about your anniversary celebration. It took a few times looking back at your wedding photo to realize that the two of you are planting what looks like a tree together in a shiny silver pot. Can you share your story about that? It seems so lovely and wondering if you could share a little about that. Is it a Canadian tradition or just and ajl created thing?

Cheers,
Sandy

Well, your eyes have served you well, Sandy, you deduced right; we planted a tree sapling at our wedding, and actually had a small sapling as wedding gift for each guest.  They were small white pine trees which are our favorite trees ever.  With their soft, soft pine needles and arching glorious tallness when fully grown, white pines are the essence of Canada, or at least the province of Ontario, especially when lining a lake with the call of a loon to boot. 

It’s not a Canadian thing at all, as far as I know, just a little thing Mike and I did for fun.  We know of at least three of the saplings which are growing, two in Quebec and one in British Columbia. So I guess it’s our spin on that other touching idea for weddings: having the roses from the wedding grafted and planted so that at one’s 20th anniversary, the glorious rose bushes can be part of the celebration.

Kinda fun remembering how we made meaning in our day – I wonder what we’ll think up for our 15th, coming soon, maybe we’ll have to resurrect something tree-ish! Thanks for inquiring…

our planetary generosity: if not now, when?

Making a decision to be generous can be an easy one; it just takes thinking about it. Since releasing the PDF downloadable of ‘Multiple Streams of Coaching Income’ this 300+ page ‘Rosetta Stone of Coaching’ has ping ponged its way around the planet more than 3500 times.

I hope that anyone, anywhere on the planet who could benefit from transforming what coaching can look like, takes just 2 minutes to get their eco-friendly and 100% free copy now from this link.

At 6pm pacific/ 9pm eastern today, Monday December 8, the link will be taken down so our servers can take a breath before our next piece of great news, intended to be even more fun than this one was!

Technically speaking, the download gift puts more than $24.95 in your pocket, since there will be no shipping costs to you, but neither will there be fuel, printing or other energy costs to the planet either. All the more reason to send this invite to your networks if you see fit. (Use text from this link if preferred)

But what’s more heartening by far than the download is the wave of generosity-based thinking that has come back to us here at Multiple Streams headquarters, as people (just like you?) think about how you can craft your own vision for planetary generosity. (Can’t say I didn’t hope for this.)

To that end, some questions you might productively ask:

What do you have that would be of most service to give to the world right now? How can you shape something that allows you to do the utmost good, and do well at the same time?

In future issues of the Creating What Matters newsletter, I look forward to getting your opinion about this highly instructive quote of Hillel’s. (Most of us are familiar with only the last part – a shame.)

“If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?”

Remember – in a world of noise, sometimes it’s the simplest things that are the freshest. When the world is glutted with me-too-ism, the original stands out even more. At a crowded cocktail party, don’t you focus most on the whisper in your ear?

Until 6pm pst/9pm est today, here is the link again to get or send out news of the no-fee Multiple Streams
downloadable.

Wisdom of Youth

We start them early here on the Multiple Streams Team…have a look at the cute Sammie G Forsyth (my business partner’s daughter) reading the Multiple Streams Book!

Tina tells me this was not posed, but the cherry red cover attracted Sam all by itself.  What a sweet thing.

To download a copy of the very same book in PDF/eco format, no-fee right now for just a few more days, click here. (Expires Monday December 8, 2008.)

Hey if Sammie can do it, so can you.

Time for a reality check?

Just wanted to let you know about a Tele Call with Guy Kawasaki Venture Capitalist, Business Evangelist and Author.

Hear Guy discuss his new book, “Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition“.

Find Out Why Your Company Needs a “Reality Check” and a New Approach To Business.

On Wednesday December 10th, 12 noon pm Pacific Time (3 pm ET), you’ll have the opportunity to hear from best-selling author Guy Kawasaki and learn about his newest book Reality Check – a compilation of his best wit, wisdom and contrarian opinion.

In this entertaining, insightful and practical interview Guy reveals how to make things simpler, more effective and efficient in your business and life. Plus, you’ll get to hear Bill Baren share how he has applied some of Guy’s advice from Reality Check and the success he’s had.

Click here to sign up for this great opportunity to hear Guy Kawasaki

A free copy of Multiple Streams

The 300+ page book ‘Multiple Streams of Coaching Income, The Future of Coaching Is Now’

Available to Anyone, Anywhere on the planet by PDF Download >>> Completely F’REE-OF-CHARGE <<< for the next 5 days.

(But why?? Why this, Andrea, out of the clear blue, you may ask? Well…I have a secret hope to start a domino-effect of generosity, but more on that in future.

For now, I hope – dearly hope! you’ll (1) download a copy of the book and dive in, or, if you’re already in possession of a well-worn copy (2) pass the link along to someone you feel would benefit. Make it YOUR gift to THEM…just because you thought of them. And why not?)

A few kind things have been said about Multiple Streams over the years:

“I don’t read many books, but this one is really good.”

- David Wood | CEO, SolutionBox.com

“the most avant-garde and straight-forward book on coaching I’ve seen so far!”

- Milana Leshinsky | Founder, ACCPOW.com

“the be-all, end-all to turning your desire to help others into products that help you make money”

- Michael Port | Author, BookYourselfSolid.com

“…just one idea could triple your income this year”

- Chris Knight | Founder EzineArticles.com

“A must for any coach”

- Steve Stockton | CEO, 24-7coaching.com

“…I couldn’t put it down.”

- Leesa Barnes | Author, PodcastingforProfit.com

“…generated $30,000 in profit in 10 days.”

- Chris Barrow | CoachBarrow.com

Best news of all? I have it on good authority – hundreds of readers to date – that this is the easiest read you’ll experience in a long time, and almost as easy to begin implementing. A tall cool drink of water, in fact. Perfect for when you’re in need of refreshment. Ready for that refreshment?

>> Click here to get your no-fee PDF copy of Multiple Streams of Coaching Income by Andrea J. Lee

*Available by download until 9pm eastern/6 pm pacific on Monday December 8, 2008.

Great News in Not-So-Great Times?

A wee rant from Planet Andrea…

With all the talk in the world, my question for us, this tribe of forward-thinking coaches, is this:

“If during good times we talk all about harnessing the law of attraction, tapping into the ‘Secret’ and so on, why during not-so-good times do we mostly conveniently forget? Where are the creators of the Secret now? If we really are the creators of our own reality, which one of us created THIS?”

It would be funny to imagine the collective us looking around the room, accusingly – was it YOU? Except that it’s for real. So in light of our current reality, here’s a second line of questioning:

“If we manifested this, what purpose does it serve, because it must serve some. For what reason might we be having this economic downturn? How could this be ‘perfect.’ actually? Really.”

It may seem rude to ask this kind of question, and I mean no disrespect. I have a client whose stock portfolio has left his marriage bruised if not broken, and working with him is my starkest connection to the reality. No, I ask these questions because I hope they are useful.

“When hard times strike on an individual basis, what happens as a result? Let’s say the household budget in your world was cut in half, right now. What would you do? What could you do? What would/wouldn’t you eat? What (different) choices might you make for the coming holidays? Why wouldn’t you make those choices anyway?

What does it say about what’s important to you, the difference in the choices you’d make?”

Tough times, while not actively sought by most, do serve a purpose, they must, or dare we say it? They wouldn’t exist. We might not put it on the nose like that to our clients, I’ll give you that. But like the natural environment around us that is also under siege, tough times are ‘nature’s way’ of recalibrating a system that’s unbalanced, too complex to be sustainable.

Instead of fighting it, I say take the simple route and ask a final set of questions – at least for this rant. It’s what I’ll be savoring for the next 30 days because I have a spidey sense that the answers might be the truly great news, if I am/you are/we are — willing.

“How can I use this time of change to recalibrate for myself? ‘Live’ off less – use fewer resources to live an even richer life. Become more efficient and effective at achieving what I want for our world. A lean mean coaching and change-making machine? How can my life become pared down, more simple?”

Post your thoughts below, if you so desire. And stay tuned for a future issue of Creating What Matters, for more thoughts on this topic.

Trapped in a box?

A rerun of an oldie but goodie from 15 months ago, just because the time is right…

Question: “Has the Multiple Streams model become just another ‘box’ we’re trapped in? Is it time to reinvent all over again, Andrea?”

– from A Coach That Wonders

Great question, Wonders, and I genuinely mean that. Here’s the thing. It’s not that Multiple Streams is bad, or doesn’t work, or isn’t worth considering. Or that creating products is passé in this glutted me-too market. Or even that membership sites are last year’s news – too complicated and a waste of your effort. 

It’s just that Multiple Streams isn’t the only thing. 1-on-1 coaching ALONE was never the answer, and a passive income strategy based on the product funnel on its OWN has never been the answer in isolation. 

No, the cutting edge is always innovating, and usually a unique combination of bunch of things. So what works for Coach Sally down the road won’t be right for you.

Take a look around with me. The view is always changing and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

More than ever before, there’s “building a boutique coaching firm”…NOT out of reach for your ‘average’ coach with a good brand. There’s designing the legacy you’ll leave after you retire from coaching – much more than ‘who do I leave money to?’ There’s coaching via the mass media. Coaching departments in universities and other coaching ‘jobs’ that pull down six figures. 

So the answer is yes, it’s always time to reinvent. Yes, multiple streams is just another box if you blindly follow the model without questioning if it’s right for you, or if you’re the kind of assertively creative coach-type who’s ready to push the forward edge.

We create our own reality, but not when our head is down succumbing to what others tell us we’re supposed to do. 

There is no magic pill, Keanu. All I’m here to say is Think For Yourself, because you’re the only one who will.