Upside Down Cats

Wondering what NaBloPoMo is? Read this to learn all about it and why (and how) I'm participating!

What a difference a year makes - #21

2009: I am a natural writer. I am not a natural networker. The thought of needing to "hawk my talents" was the most unappealing part of my new career. It almost incited me to anger that I had to possess the ability not only to creatively and compellingly tell stories with words - but to also broadcast that fact to the world. It felt foreign and uncomfortable whenever I tried, like I was performing some unnatural act against my very nature.

When it came right down to it, however, networking and marketing must absolutely be a component of what I do. If I don't sell my abilities, who will? I knew I had to find a comfortable way to deal with this problem or my writing business was never going to get off the ground.

2010: With some admitted hesitancy, I embarked on some marketing exercises with my career coach. At first she tried to convince me to attend networking get-togethers and make appointments to pick the brains of champion networkers like Realtors. Nuh-uh...that wasn't gonna happen. If I was already feeling uncomfortable, putting me in an awkward situation like that was not going to bring out the best in me. And that in turn wasn't going to present a good image for my business. No, I needed to find a more natural way for me to talk to people about my burgeoning business.

The first real success I encountered was in completing my coach's assignment to articulate my business' offerings into an "elevator pitch." In other words, describe my business in the number of words I would have time to say during a typical elevator ride. That really helped me conceptualize my business, which made putting words to it much easier. Basically it got the words from the "writing" half of my brain to the "speaking" part of my brain.

Now that it comes more freely out of my mouth, you can barely get me to shut up about my business! It all came down to getting the concepts that were in my head - out of my head. The best part is that now the ability to promote my business does feel natural because it is natural - it came from me in my own words and in my own way. As my confidence in my abilities and in my business increases, so does my ability to talk about it with authenticity and authority.

I am very different in the department of self-promotion than I was just one year ago. Who knows, maybe there's a "networking event" in my future yet... (pssst...don't hold your breath!)

This entry could be considered part deux to my continuing saga of reinventing myself...
(You may want to read part one from earlier this week for some background...)

Although I've always been self-employed as a child care provider, there has always been a writer living inside me, awaiting the opportunity to be realized. In my case, life happened and squashed my ability to pursue writing as a career. In fact, English was my first choice as a college major. Upon considering my choices for careers with that degree, however, I changed my mind as a high school senior and studied human development instead. Through the years the writing urge has survived. People have often told me I had a "way with words" - an ability to clearly and compellingly express ideas. I have always felt I could express myself in writing much better than I could verbally.

Okay, so thanks to our economic climate, I find myself with a nearly non-existent daycare business. For the first time, I actually have the chance to seriously pursue writing...but making a living at it...that's the rub for me. I've proven I can make a living at child care...provided I have actual clients - which I don't at present. It is very scary to step into an untried field after twenty years and truly believe I can make a living at something completely new - even if it would fulfill a lifelong dream. While I am trying to see this as the opportunity (or kick in the pants) I've been waiting for all these years, I feel that I'm literally starting my life over from scratch. This pursuit of my heart's desire will also exercise completely different "working muscles" than I've ever used. While my husband is as supportive as humanly possible, I feel this decision and its consequences are on me. I have no safety net - emotional or financial, no Plan B...this is all I've got.

Continue reading "When I Grow Up To Be A Writer" »

If I were in therapy right now the theme of my sessions would center around the issue of being - or at least feeling - insignificant. It's a touchy subject for me and I'll tell you why...

I am the youngest of seven children in my family - born 12 years after my youngest sister and 21 years after my oldest. I was born into a house full of adults with adult needs, issues and concerns. Once I ceased being the cute little novelty baby, I graduated into a kid with kid needs, issues and concerns. There wasn't a lot of energy spent doting on my emotional needs because that adult life buzzed incessantly throughout the house. While love abounded, patience for trivial matters was slim. It was made clear to me that my emotions were of the "childish" type and simply didn't carry as much weight as those of the adults. No one intended to belittle me with this attitude - it's just the way things worked in my big, busy family.

Continue reading "Shedding My Invisibility Cloak" »

It was recently brought to my attention by Jer at upsidedowndogs.com that there weren't enough photos of upside down cats here on upsidedowncats.com. Accepting the comment as a challenge, real or imagined, I scoured through photos today and discovered this gem of our dear Penny.

Could she look more comfy? Absolute bliss...



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personally, I believe there to be an abundance of cats "assuming the position" to see here. Just click on the "cat-a-gory" called "upside down" to view a plethora of upside down feline friends!

I've always considered my blog to be more conceptual than literal. I embrace the upside down cat as a symbol of the peace and contentment I seek in my own life.

Not that the sight of an upside down cat doesn't in and of itself bring a certain sense of contentment...

I have a confession to make.

I've been unfaithful.

Yep, two-timing even.

Continue reading "I Am A Rich Woman" »

While meandering around on the internet I have come across a very inspirational blog called Insights For Life. In the most recent post, Make Friends With Uncertainty, the author discusses the subject of dealing with the inescapable fact that life is uncertain.

I have been thoroughly inspired to share my thoughts on dealing with uncertainty in life.

I'm a fairly optimistic person - most of the time. I'm sure just about everyone can relate, though, to the times when no matter what you do, you can't seem to catch a break. You begin to think that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. The chance of anything good happening seems less and less likely. This is a dark and scary vortex where it's difficult to keep your inner Pollyanna alive.

That's when I try to remind myself that life is no more certain to be miserable than it is to be delightful. This is the uncertain nature of it all...

Remaining mindful of the very fact that life is uncertain is the path out of the depression that can overtake you when your outlook turns negative. It is just as likely that something good could happen as it is that something bad could happen. It's not easy to think positively when it seems things are falling apart all around you, but misery is not a certainty. After all, who knows today who will have a tomorrow...? Who can predict when or how circumstances will turn, and to what effect?

These are times when it feels we've lost control of our life. But in all honesty, how much control do we ever really have, even when things are going our way...?

Continue reading "Life Is Like A Box Of...Playing Cards" »

I took the day off yesterday.

Sure, it was Sunday, but I had things I felt obliged to do...grocery shopping, laundry folding and putting away, pan scrubbing, bill paying, blogging...you know, the essentials to life as we know it... These are also chores I find it difficult to do during the week when my days are busy and my hours run late.

And sure, it was freaking freezing here in Midwest Paradise...The high temperature here was 14 degrees. That's not really inspiring weather to leave the house!

Continue reading "Oh Great...Now I Have Guilt!" »

Our two-year-old cat, Cooper, is one of those cats who retrieves things for his people. He is fond of bringing me a sock, a sweatshirt, (clean or dirty...doesn't seem to matter to him) a shoe or a slipper. He also has an affinity for stuffed animals, which exist in great abundance at this daycare home. It is a common occurrence to awake to find that a Beanie Babies gorilla has mysteriously appeared in the middle of the living room floor...Not particularly harmonious with the rest of our decorating scheme!

Lately, he has become obsessed with a little stuffed blue bear wearing a red sweater. It is a decorative bear that is part of my Winter decor. Or, rather, that's what I thought. Apparently, Cooper has an entirely different idea of where the bear belongs...Several times a day, no matter how many times I return the bear to his basket of pine cones, Cooper drags him out! Sometimes he carries the bear to the middle of the living room, sometimes to the bottom of the stairs and sometimes all the way down to the daycare! One night in the dark my foot brushed against something soft in the middle of the upstairs hallway...the blue bear, of course!

Continue reading "Pondering Life's Mysteries..." »

I figure it's more productive to begin a new project or year with some goals in mind...

So rather than simply wishing for generic happiness in the New Year, I've come up with a list of more concrete aspirations to hope for this year...

Continue reading "My Wishes For The New Year" »

Wow, we've reached day 28 of the 30 days of NaBloPoMo! I've almost accomplished my goal of posting about things for which I am thankful every day during the month of November. Today I want to write about a pursuit that is decidedly less goal-oriented...

I am thankful for yoga.

Continue reading "Yoga Bear" »