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Dr. Debbie Danowski, a professor at Sacred Heart University, is a friend of mine and also a former client. We were in a writers group for several years and have stayed connected since. Over a year ago Debbie wanted to work with me on her vision for her dream house. She had found this poster image which, she said, captured exactly what she was looking for–a log cabin on a large country property with a water view. My business is all about helping people reach their visions.
So, it was not a surprise when I got a call from Debbie saying, “I did it!”
Last Sunday I went to visit Debbie in her dream house–a log cabin on a large country property on the side of a large pond. Debbie had followed the recommended course of action which includes looking at your vision daily and taking action steps along the way. She did it all herself, and it was an arduous journey. But, sitting on the front porch and looking out on a divine summer afternoon made it all worth it. There were plenty of glitches along the way–there always are–but, Debbie’s perseverance, powerful vision and hard work turned her dream into her reality.
That’s the title atop page 68 in The War of Art, a volume I recently listened to on CD and also own in paperback. The author, Steven Pressfield, likens being an artist to being in the Marine Corps.
“The Marine Corps teaches you how to be miserable.
This is invaluable for an artist. [My note - You can substitute business owner for artist here.]
…He will be dining for the duration of a diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation…
Because this is war, baby. And war is hell.”
There’s something perversely heart-warming about how Pressfield states this. I want to say, “Yeah! I’m fighting for my life every day!”
If you’re reading this, and you’re and artist/entrepreneur, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. As promised in the subtitle: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles.
I don’t know an entrepreneur out there who doesn’t face the challenges of, what the author calls, resistances and coaches call gremlins. This book arms you for that battle and makes you proud to show your scars.
I’ve been enjoying listening to podcasts of National Public Radio’s (NPR) This American Life via mp3 downloads. On my walk this morning I heard a recent program called Million Dollar Ideas. During one segment there was a discussion about the good old elevator pitch. They talked about venture capitalists meeting with students at MIT who are learning this important communications skill.
I’ve learned and taught several variations of the elevator pitch, aka 30-second commercial. One of my favorite renditions is by Mark LeBlanc who refers to this as a defining statement for your business. One of the elements for success, according to Mark, is that it should be in language that an 8th grader would understand.
While listening to the NPR podcast, this was slightly altered. What the university advised the students pitching the investors was that it be in language that your grandparents would understand.
Anybody else taken aback by that?
