Breaking News: Personalized Help is On the Way (To read comments from your fellow dreamers, click here)
Happy New Year!
This is a repeat of the Fast Track Your Dream update I sent yesterday to everybody on the Priority Notification List.
Now that I’ve (kind of) gotten over my technophobia about using a blog (yes, lots of people with online businesses are rather technically-impaired) I had Lisa set up a blog just for these Fast Track Updates. I figured that way you’d have a place to add any comments or questions.
In case you missed the updated I emailed to you yesterday, here it is again with a NEW UPDATED p.s…
Hi Everybody,
I was going to wait until after the New Year to send this update
about the new Fast Track Your Dream project. But as they say,
timing is everything. And once you hear this news I think you’re
going to be glad I didn’t wait.
I’m not one to toot my own horn. But after seeing all of
the pieces of this project finally come together this week I’m
prepared to make a pretty bold claim. And here it is…
I am 100 PERCENT CONFIDENT that Fast Track will address every
need, every concern, and every question you ever had about what
it takes to go from where you are now to where you want to be.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. How can I make such a huge
claim?
Well, for one I spent over two years making sure Fast Track
covered all the bases. It’s basically a complete brain dump of
everything I know from…how to discover the work you were born
to do to creative ways to turn your interests into income… to
managing fears and nagging self-doubts… to how to start and
market a small business… to dealing with the emotional and
practical aspects of ‘money angst’ (including getting health
insurance)… to making money on-line… to how to get other
people to support your ‘crazy’ dream… and that’s just for
starters.
The other reason I’m so confident that all of your questions
will be answered is I’ve managed to build in a simple way for
you to actually ask questions — and get a personalized answer
– in 48 hours or less.
That’s because, back in September I started certifying a group of
professionals from the US and Canada in how to become Outside
the Box Career Consultants like me. They were already an
amazingly creative and resourceful bunch of people.
Each one of them brought to the training program a genuine
gift for helping people like you to come up with creative ways
to make a living without a job. All they needed were some specific tools
to be able to help their own clients find their life mission and
live it.
So I spent four months teaching this group of coaches and aspiring
coaches literally everything I know…
I taught them my formula for finding hidden ideas for income
streams. I shared the four questions their client’s absolutely
have to ask themselves before they even *think* about taking the
leap. And I sent them all a big box of materials so they’d have
a head start studying and absorbing everything that’s going to
be included when Fast Track is finally available to the general public.
Personally I thought getting the graduates of a creative career
consultant certification program to log into a
password-protected Q&A forum and answer your individual
questions was a pretty cool idea… if I do say so myself :>)
But honestly, I wasn’t sure how many of them would a) be
interested or b) have the time. I mean, between their own
coaching practices and workshop schedules these folks are
already pretty busy.
Obviously I didn’t want to make any promises to anybody that I
couldn’t keep. So I picked up the phone and called each and
every one of these coaches. I wanted to hear with my own ears
that they were 100% committed to being there when you need them.
Well, I’m thrilled to report that every single member of this
Dream Team as I like to think of them agreed to clear
time in their schedule to read and respond to your individual
questions about how you too can turn your interests into income.
Barbara Sher¡¦s mantra is, ‘Isolation is the dream killer.’
The reason I decided to break my big news about the Q&A forum
today is that I know a lot of you will be taking some time today
and tomorrow to ponder your New Year’s Resolution.
So, as you think about the question: ‘How do I want my life to
be different in the coming year?’ — take a minute too to think
about what kinds of support and information you need to turn
that vision into reality. Then while it’s fresh in your mind,
take a few minutes to jot down any questions you might have for
this team of Outside the Box Career Consultants.
I actually have one more piece of exciting news to share but
this email has already gotten a lot longer than I’d planned. So
I promise to be in touch soon.
In the meantime, I wish your New Year brings good health, love,
prosperity, and the delightful audacity to make 2007 the year
you pursue the life you really want!
To your dreams,
Valerie Young
Dreamer in Residence
ChangingCourse.com
p.s. When I wrote yesterday I asked you to hit the reply button and send me your questions to pass along to the “Dream Team.” Well, I had no idea what I was in for! My inbox is overflowing with questions from people hoping for an immediate answer! So let me kind of back up and modify my original “p.s.” just a bit…
What I probably *should* have made clear is that Fast Track Q&A Forum isn’t actually up yet. The “doors” will formally open sometime in early January (I promise to keep you posted as soon as I have an exact date.)
When the Fast Track Forum does officially launch, it will be open to members of the Fast Track Your Dream Community only. (I’ll be updating you on what the “community” part is all about soon — trust me, it very cool.)
Now that that’s cleared up, here’s what I suggest… Think about a question you would ask a team of creative career coaches if you could. You can either save it for when Fast Track is available or post it here. If you post it here I’ll pass it along to the “Dream Team” in advance of the Fast Track Forum launch.
Just to be clear though, since the coaches are not technically “on the job,” yet, I can’t promise that your specific question will be answered here. But if any of the coaches do have time to answer a couple of pre-Fast Track Forum questions now I’ll do one of three things. I’ll either send the answers out in a separate email update, post their answers here, or include them in a future issue of the newsletter. Fair enough?
p.s.s. Selfishly, what I’d really love to hear from you is this…
What do you think about the idea of having Fast Track Your Dream Q&A Forum staffed by trained Outside the Box Career Consultants?
Do you hate the idea? Like the idea? Love the idea? The whole thing about creating a community of dreamers is to be able to bat around ideas and get input. So… tell me what you think!
To your dreams,
Valerie
Dreamer in Residence
ChangingCourse.com
p.s.s. Being on the Priority List means you get advanced notice of when Fast Track becomes available (ahead of the 23k people on the general Changing Course Newsletter list) plus a jumpstart on getting one of a limited number of very cool bonuses.
If you’re not already on the Fast Track Updates Priority Notification List sign up now at:
www.changingcourse.com/fasttracksignup.htm
January 1, 2007 at 11:54 pm
This is so exciting to be able to network with other like minded individuals AND receive answers to those hard-felt questions. I have been reading ChangingCourse since 1998, and it has been wonderful.
It has taken me a while to learn that “think out of the box” opportunist thinking, but it is starting to pay off. I know that 2007 WILL be my year thanks to your different income streams teaching.
Bless you, Valerie.
January 2, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Valerie,
Very excited about your online community. For a similar very successful one on the topic of travel, see http://www.slowtrav.com, which is a very warm and supportive community. The message boards there are very accessible. That website is supported by Google and other ads and by message board membership fees.
I have some questions about motivation, insurance and time management. I’d love to get some help from experts.
Thanks for your new venture! Betsy
January 2, 2007 at 10:42 pm
I feel the tepidation of stepping out into an entirely new way of living in mid-life, but also the excitement and promise of doing so. Finding my way in new fields that I haven’t worked in before but definately have the expertise and education for seems tricky-so I am looking for ways into organizational leadership, teaching and consulting for the first time. Any advise about doing this would be appreciated.
January 4, 2007 at 11:18 am
I love the idea of having Outside The Box Career Consultants there to answer all my questions about changing track.
I am at the moment at a point in my life where I have just left my job, cushioned by a nice compensation, and I have now time to think properly about what I really want to do. I have many ideas, but can’t wait to have some of my questions answered.
Thanks for providing all these great resources!
Also, I was wondering, wouldn’t it be useful for you to include some Law of Attraction resources (e.g. http://www.wealthbeyondreason.com or other similar websites are very helpful)? If we learn to use the universal Law of Attraction properly, I am confident we can fulfill our dreams very quickly. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions about this.
There is still a need for all your other resources, in particular in order to uncover what we really want to do, and I am looking forward to discovering what you have put together.
January 4, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Wow! “Juicy” and overflowing are the words that spring to mind when I read all that this program will offer. I’ve been dreaming…day dreaming of course, for too many years about what I want to do. 2007 is here, it’s time. Can’t wait!
January 4, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Hi Valerie,
I’ve been reading Changing Course for the last 3 years and love it. You are so helpful and encouraging, and I love your newsletter. Your latest venture sounds so exciting and I can’t wait to get in on it. Like so many others that have contacted you, I want 2007 to be the year that changes my life. I’m 51 and time is moving on whether I like it or not. I am tired of working in a job that doesn’t fulfill me. I have some ideas about what I want to do and want to take the leap in 2007.
Can’t wait to hear more from you!
January 4, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Hey Valerie-
I’ve been reading your newletter and website for at least 2 years now. I get very excited whenever I read your material, but then I get very frustrated when I try to figure out what I should do and feel like I’m constantly going in circles. I’ve examined my interests, my memories, etc. but I don’t know how to take a solid step forward. I am confused, fearful and generally unable to strike out in one direction. No direction seems exactly right so I do nothing at all. I get filled with self doubt and make no progress. Please help those of us stuck in endless self examination get out and make it happen.
Thanks for all you do!!!
January 5, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Hi, Valerie,
I just discovered your site and newsletter. I am thrilled. My wife and I have found our life mission and are joyfully building to tools that couples need to have happy marriages that last.
We love working from home, and going at our own pace. We especially love the work we do and following our dream. It is however, lonely work. None of our friends or neighbors understand what we do every day.
Your idea of a community of like minded people is terrific. We can’t wait to join.
If there is anything we can to help, feel free to ask. Best wishes on your launch.
January 5, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Valerie, I just thought I’d drop you a line to let you know that **I THINK YOUR AWESOME!!!!!!** I know you already know that but I figure it’s always nice to hear. I get soooo much personal development crap through my e-mail and I am constantly amazed by the cheesiness of it all. In short it goes right to the trash, but your stuff is always fantastic and always well worth taking the time to read it.
Just a personal note, I am in the process of creating a school for swordsmanship here on Long Island. Everyone I know says I’m nuts but hey, “It’s my dream not theirs” and “fortune favors the brave”. Take care and God bless, Jason
Comfortin the Disturbed, and
Disturbin the Comfortable.
Take Care, Jason
January 6, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Valerie,
I’ve been reading your news letter for I think over 4 years now, I purchased your tapes of the first Dare to Live Your Dreams workshop last August and have listened to them 5 times – I love them! I have read a couple of Barbara Sher’s books and am in the middle of Refuse to Choose right now which is answering a lot of questions.
I’ve been wishing that there was some kind of talk radio show or something around here that was dedicated to Entrepreneurial type people, small businesses, local and national stories on Jobless Jobs and ideas ( Hoping that you and Barbar Sher and Barbara Winters and other like you could be guests.). You would think in the Greater LA area there would be something close to that but I can’t even find on show dedicated to it.
Your Fast Track Your Dreams program sounds wonderful and I can’t wait to see it all up and running. The community support you are talking about sounds just like what I need along with all your other materials. I am commited to going out there into the world and finding other income streams this year and hopefully leaving my J O B by the end of the year.
I am very excited for you and this project and eager to see what happens. I would love to say let me know if I can help you in any way but I truely don’t know what that would be, but if there is any way I can help please drop me a line.
Eagerly waiting to see what’s next.
Kat
January 10, 2007 at 3:22 pm
I can honestly relate to what Linda commented about — going around in circles. I have many interests and have narrowed things down, but again haven’t made the jump into true entrepreneurialship because lack of resources and knowledge, but mostly because I have trouble deciding “what” to do. I continually dream of pursuing my own dreams and seeing them blossom into more than just a hobby and a true income-generating, self-supporting venture. Interestingly, I realized that I’ve been approached by no less than 5 entrepreneurs (since subscribing to your newsletter in 09/04) to help them in their particular growing business. They saw me as a multi-talented, creative, intelligent and determined individual to help them over the hump of growing bigger than than they could handle alone. Not one could pay me though. I wasn’t in a place to make an investment in someone else as I’m a single mom, and besides, I’d rather put that energy into my own dreams. So, having said all that, I can’t wait to see what Fast Track has to offer including becoming involved with this community of dreamers and doers!
Hats off to you Valerie and thank you for your passionate pursuit!
Cari
August 6, 2007 at 1:43 am
Valerie,
I have similiar feelings to Bob – as I read your information about the seminar I felt I was listening to a car salesperson. It felt long winded – I kept scrolling down to get to the point. It was a big turn off to me plus way way too long.
It did feel like one of those info commercials. Just wait buy now and we will sell you this item for not $39.99 , not $29.99 but $9.99 and wait there is more – if you buy within the next fifteen minutes we will give you not only one buy two for $9.99.
I felt manipulated – and it turned me off.
August 6, 2007 at 1:46 am
Valerie,
p.s. I have attended one of your seminars and I too find you very informative and inspirational. I walked away with a toolbox full of goodies.
Deborah