My 2013 Plans For My Biz & Life
Filed Under Audio Blog Posts, Featured Articles, Focus, Personal Growth
If Everything Was Taken Away From You How Would You Start Over?
This is a very real blog post from the very depths of my heart. I share with you so that you can take it and move forward with your life and your business in a way that compliments your life well.
It is my joy to see things grow from nothing to something pretty darn spectacular.
Luke 16:10
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
I’d like to take you back to my 16 year old self for a moment.
I found myself pregnant at 16 years old walking to my high school knowing that the decisions I made lead me to this moment.
It didn’t just “happen” to me, I chose to put myself in the potential position of being a parent at 16 years old.
Yes I was pregnant at 16.
The one thing I’ve discovered from speaking with one of my Pastors at Relate Church is that this beautiful baby girl that was brought into my life would have been a gift given to me regardless of the situation.
She was born with a purpose on this planet earth I hope she fulfills every single one of her dreams in this life.
But going back when she was born, it was a desperate time for me. I was already living on my own and attending high school. I wasn’t a bad kid by any means, just had “life” happen to me and I was on a journey.
I chose to stay in school and continued to graduation.
I was awarded with 4 bursaries to continue my education, which the school never gave to me. I gather they mailed it out but because I moved a few times it was never received. I didn’t find out until years later in my late twenties that they even existed.
I was proud, sad and motivated when I heard that I was resourced with them. However they were expired so there was no going back.
I worked hard for those, I stayed in high school and studied all the while having my precious little baby girl gift from God.
I bring you back to this time because I knew after high school that things were going to be different. I couldn’t afford college and had NO idea about the bursaries.
The company I worked with (PCA International) promoted me right after high school, I was made a manager within 7 weeks of graduation and then promoted to District Manager within a few months.
My income went from almost nothing to something pretty darn decent + commissions.
I was District Manager of 24 Kmart portrait studios in BC and Alberta and had an instant BIG staff under me. You may wonder why I received this promotion.
In a nutshell…. I get things done, period.
Throw in some sales talent and an eye for photography it was a natural fit for them. My district was #1 in Canada every single week in sales and we pretty much blew everyone else out of the water. We also were in the top 10 of the entire company of over 300 districts, every… single…. week.
One of my favourite moments was when the company issued a challenge to sell these HUGE photos. Like bigger than poster size, probably double. For the life of me I can’t remember the exact size, I wish I did because they were bigger than HUGE.
I motivated my team to bring in the most for that week, it was a one week challenge. We sold 35 of them in one week.
I wasn’t thrilled with the number and felt that we could do much better than that until I heard what others brought in.
I think the next closest district to us sold about 7.
Seriously, we sold the most by a land slide.
So how did my team do this? Do you think we had some unfair advantage?
Nope. in a nutshell, we got things done. Period.
We offered the product with enthusiasm and excitement!
But there was one more key ingredient that I sprinkled into the lives of my team. Every single morning I would pick up the phone to call each studio manager.
Now this wasn’t incredibly special because I called them every day regardless but my over the top excitement about these new photos and the little challenge we were given really got us all hopping on it.
I told them how wonderful they were as a person, how incredibly proud I was of their work and I knew that every person they talked to that day would desperately want the large photo. I encouraged them to call me every single time they sold one so I could celebrate their accomplishment.
I wish I could remember the dimensions of this photo, it was huge (no one thought anyone would want them).
At the end of the week we celebrated how we came first again and also celebrated everyone who was in the challenge.
It does not matter what happens to you in this life —
there is always hope for your future!
I knew that as I was bringing in all these sales that I could do better doing it all for myself and run my own business. So by the time I was 21 years old, I was opening up my first store with my husband. I continued working with PCA International until I was 24 until I let that go.
It was sad, I cried, my staff cried and there was a definitely empty spot in my heart for the job, I did it from the time I was 16 to 24.
In the next year I went from 1 store to 5 store locations.
That’s what happens when you get things done.
Being an entrepreneur isn’t something magical that others have and you don’t. You just need to pull up your socks and get going.
Just get some things done.
You don’t have to know the outcome, you don’t have to know every little thing you need in place.
You just take ONE step….
and then another
and then another
and a few more
and one last big step
and you’re
almost
there
at the end
until
you
get
it
DONE
and
FINISH
Until before you realize it, you are at a place where you can look around and know you did it. You are making a living doing what YOU love.
Not working for someone else, not being told when you can take vacations, not having to ask to take time off to see your children’s Christmas play.
If you don’t claim your life and claim your skills, abilities and talents – someone else will do it for you.
I’d like to ask you this question today –
If everything was taken away from you, how would you start over?
I ask you because I’m kind of in that place. I’m building something here from the ground up. I’ve done this many times before but this is the closest I’ve been to my 16 year old self.
What I mean by that is this…
Starting over and building a business from the start over again is a vulnerable place to be. Even though I have the experience under my belt and being an entrepreneur since age 20, it’s still a scary place to be.
You see, although I’ve had many accomplishments in my offline and now online career (I sold a website for under $50,000.00 among many other things) …
I gave everything up & you know,
it doesn’t mean anything anyhow.
I gave it all up … about 2 years ago so I could focus on my relationship with God and focus on my life and what I’m called here to do.
At the end of the day what matters to me most is that I’m touching lives and helping others have a true solid income for their own lives and from there be able to bless others in this life.
I didn’t want my life to equal my business any longer.
I had a steady, lovely big income from the internet and I sold it all away. I knew that after my daughter went through cancer (twice) that it was time for me to step UP and step INTO what God was calling me to do.
I’m still discovering His call over my life — one little baby step at a time.
I have walked away from projects now (money) so that I can have PEACE in my life. I am literally creating a business with 2 major things in mind first.
1) Does it align with my Faith?
2) Does it add value to my life and to others?
If it doesn’t then it’s out, plain and simple.
No amount of money will keep me from God’s call on my life, none. This last summer I started a self love journey as I started to build up this very site you are reading this on and started to build up my business again.
I did some travel, met new friends, explored possibilities, enjoyed time on the beach, relaxed in the pool. I relaxed & swam in a pool by myself for about 4 hours.
No kidding. At least 4 hours!
I listened to the sounds of the people around me, I prayed and spent time with God, I started to dream again for my future.
I needed that time and I hope to do it again very soon.
Here’s a picture of that very day, I was very happy that morning to throw on my swim suit and just be who I am.
Nothing required, no expectations of my life, just to be ME.
I have learned at church that God does not require anything of me, I’m loved for who I am.
No work performance needed.
I spent hours under this umbrella, reading, visiting with friends and just soaking in the sun and the beautiful breeze.
This really did mark the first time in my life where I actually took care of myself. I enjoyed a nice massage and a facial and enjoyed fresh beautiful salad for lunch.
In the evenings I looked out across the ocean and imagined the life God was leading me to. Did he want me to stay in business for myself and if I did, what would that look like?
I knew that God created me to be an entrepreneur, I have done it since being a child and I will continue to do so for the rest of my life. I gained so much clarity on this visit and I have never felt such complete peace ever.
There’s also something you need to know about me personally, I have a lot of subscribers and customers who have known and followed my online work since 2004.
It’s a long time I’ve been with you.
After the cancer with my daughter I went through a separation and a divorce. This is the first time I’ve mentioned this and I won’t say much more about this but to say that…
Those 2 events in my life only heighten my resolve to do the BEST I can for God and the BEST I can for my family and the BEST I can for myself and others around me.
I’m building my business to be the BEST heart centered experience I’ve ever had being an entrepreneur.
I’m adding God to my entrepreneurial path for the first time EVER.
Not on my strength any longer.
There is no more time to just “do business.” To me it’s about opening up my life to God, new experiences and to inspire you to do the same.
My life will be one of great service to many.
Life is meant to be enjoyed, lived to the fullest, blessed and hopeful for the future. Don’t ever give up on your dreams, there is ALWAYS hope.
Phillipians 4: 6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
So here’s how things look for me today
#1 – Tithing
I am tithing 10% of my income to my church since January 2012 — I’ve given to the church in the past but this was the marked month that I started.
Luke 16:10
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
It all starts with being faithful with the little. I’m sure I’ve been faithful with the little but when I really looked at it, I wasn’t.
The odd time I would throw a pop can into the recycling — that’s not faithful with the little. I started to look at things differently this year, I want to be faithful with the little. I want to give my 10% or maybe even more but it starts with the first tenth of my increase.
Malachi 3:10
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
I tithe a tenth because I’m told to. It helps to build my church so that not only my family will benefit from this blessing but so that future generations will also.
#2 – Who I Allow To Speak Into My Life
I’m being faithful with my life and my time. It’s bumpy, not perfect but it’s a journey.
I choose to live my life around those who fully support, love and encourage me. I spend my time very wisely and even wrote this post on it, “Choosing Exactly How To Live Your Life & Run Your Business.”
I have wonderful friends & family now that support my efforts and the other day my sweet sister told me, “Vera I’m glad you’re doing what you love.”
I almost could have cried, that meant sooo much to me. I love my sister.
She has seen first hand the stress that business has caused in my life. Years lost.
#3 – I’m Building From The Ground Up
Selling my entire retail business of 5 stores was a major decision but selling my online biz was just as tough maybe even tougher.
It was my livelihood.
It provided all I needed and I sold it all off.
Yes, you can make good money selling off your web properties but at the same time once you sell it, you are starting right from the ground up all over again.
Unless you go ahead and buy an already established online business that will bring in income right away.
This was a pretty scary place for me but after seeing my baby girl FIGHT to live, I knew that it all had to go. I knew that God would bless my future and that any skill I had under my belt could be re-created and put together for the best business there is, the one God was leading.
I’m financially able to care for myself, my children and even took some trips this year but I’m not perfect at it. As I’m on my own now it’s definitely taking time for me to truly take care of my finances in a proper fashion.
Creating income is much different than “taking care” of it responsibly.
I have big goals one being that I want to purchase a new home within a year with at least half of it paid off.
So 2013 will be very limited in travel and more focus on building.
If you are just starting in a business as well, it will be great for you to follow along with what I’m doing.
I have had much and I’ve had little.
Right now I’m somewhere in the beginning starting up again. The nice thing for me is that I do happen to have a decent list of subscribers and previous customers that I can communicate with.
So you may wonder what it is that I’m going to do.
Well, I plan to sell products here on the site, coaching with true direction on which way to lead my clients, affiliate marketing (if you didn’t hear the podcast I did with my friend Lynn Terry on this then you’ve got to listen), possibly advertising but probably not.
Advertising is a super way to generate income (seriously!) on your blog but I don’t know if I want to give up that valuable virtual real estate.
Plus, plus and plus.
You’ll have to follow me along to see all my creative ideas.
Then I’m going to market the heck out of it all — in a nice, loving, happy, beautiful way.
#4 – I Dream BIG About My Future
I’ve always been a big day dreamer.
I grew up with no television as my Dad told us how it was “garbage for our minds.”
Now we did have a television until I was about 7 or something like that, then it got chucked.
After that when I was around 10 we had a small wee little tv in the basement that only got 2 channels that were super duper fuzzy. Plus we were not even allowed to watch it unless we snuck a show when dad left the house.
So most of my days I would get lost in my room within a book.
If anyone asked, “Where’s Vera?” my family knew to point them to my room where I was reading. I was a quiet child who absolutely loved to day dream and think of interesting things.
I would often open up the window and let the breeze blow in.
I’m not sure what I used to dream about as a child but I do remember how much I loved to read.
Today I have satellite but I only use the tv when I want to listen to some music while I’m cleaning up. My youngest daughter laughs because when she comes over to my place from her dad’s the channel is always on the same one she left it on.
My lovely little Olivia says, “Mommy, all you do is read, clean and work on the computer.”
Well yes and no.
It shows me that I have a lot of life to live in this new year 2013.
I’m still a big dreamer but today my dreams are ones of complete independence. Earlier in 2012 (I think around April) I opened up an office.
It was soooo beautiful and I even had custom furniture made for it. I took pictures and just loved being in there…. for the first week.
I leased this office space not far from my home, got it all set up and then realized that it wasn’t something I was enjoying.
It was a quiet spot and the others who were leasing in the same office kept different hours.
Totally lonely.
As each day passed I felt this pit in my stomach, I really didn’t like it at all.
So by October 2012, I closed up shop.
That’s what I mean when I dream of independence. I want to be able to just take my laptop and away I go, nothing holding me back, nothing holding back my beautiful future in this life.
As independent a person that I am, I don’t want to be alone all the time.
What a feeling to be able to get up in the morning, do some laundry and let the sunshine stream through the open windows and get to work.
My ultimate dream would be to live right on the beach.
Peaceful, lovely and pure joy.
One day I will, one day soon I know I will.
Why?
Because I’m dreaming for this.
Interestingly enough last night I couldn’t sleep so I remembered a Pastor that came to our church Leon Fontaine, he has a good word for people who are in business and I will be definitely be studying his work this next year.
Anyhow, I listened to this podcast lastnight, “Beliefs and Imagination.” Just scroll down a few podcasts down and you can download it by clicking on the link.
Leon says, “What is Faith? Faith is projecting what you believe into your future. Faith believes your marriage will make it through when the storm is saying, No Way. Faith believes that God will never leave you, even when things seem to be falling apart.”
I love using my imagination and dreaming huge for my life.
There are many other things that I dream for, mostly for the futures of my children. I want them to find their own way in this life but my Mommy heart still wants to take care of them.
I’m discovering how to let go of my 20 year old baby girl. She’s living her own life now and I’m just a part of it, not all of it anymore.
I dream about all the things I want to accomplish and the hope that I have for my life now is HUGE!
Proverbs 13: 12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
This is the very scripture that my daughter chose as her own while she was going through fighting for her life. It’s a gooder.
It is my goal to be hopeful in everything that I do in this life.
Hope is everything, hope is life.
I joined up and jumped into helping my good friend Bill De Groot with his website so he could raise money for The Ride To Conquer Cancer.
I sponsored the team and bought their jackets last year, I have some hanging up in my closet and it’s a lovely reminder of how I’ve been opening up my heart.
I had this printed on the left front side of the jacket, right over top of the heart.
For My Beauty Tori, Desire + Hope = Life.
I call her my “beauty” because my daughter is so incredibly beautiful to me.
It felt so incredible that each person of the team that I was writing about over at the site OneEpicJourney.com would have that over their heart as they rode from Vancouver BC to Seattle WA.
Beautiful, Lovely, Hopeful.
Some other missions I’ve been so blessed to be a part of and help out with from the bottom of my heart.
It’s a year long project that ends with us donating hampers and Christmas presents to local schools who have children & families that really need a helping hand, they need us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It’s a blessing to me in my life to be very active on this project.
I’m part of the marketing team that meets at Pastor Loretta’s house throughout the year. I’m learning some new things and also able to bring my experience to the table.
But mostly I’m helping because it’s truly my heart to be a part of it.
Other sites I have helped launch is SheLovesMagazine.com which is women sharing what they are doing on the earth to make a difference. I did some personal blogging over there and came across this particular one, my one word I chose for 2012, “hands.”
Here’s what I said in that post… “There was no way to continue and do God’s work without sharing and opening up my heart.”
This exact blog post is what lead me to start greeting people at the door at my church every single Sunday morning. I’ve done it all year long and I’m going to pray about it if I should continue for next year or move into serving in a different area at church.
I’m all about helping to build the church in any way that I can but at the same time I’m learning to not go crazy with it and actually take time for myself and relax.
Matthew 16:25-28
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
So Let’s Get Down To My Biz & How I Plan To Help You This Next Year
- I thank God for my blessings every single day
- I will read my Bible every day and pray for wisdom
- I’ll be creating products to show you exactly how to make a full time living off the internet just like I am
- I’ll be coaching some very beautiful women
- I will be having a biz retreat that will bless everyone involved
- My first book outline will be drafted by the end of January, I will start writing it Jan 1st, 2013
- I will focus on my home here on the internet but also bless others virtual spots around the net
- I’ve been writing my heart out – it’s not perfect yet it is, perfect just the way I am
- I will spend more time with my photography
- I will study more on the subconscious mind and what it does to us as business owners
- I will take a monthly break to rest, relax and plan
- I want to be faithful with every single part of my life
Here’s a picture of where we are having the business retreat next year, I’m excited!
I’ll leave you with this today,
- What is one positive task can you do to get the word out about your biz today?
- Who in your life will help push you forward?
- What is your vision for your life?
I’ve shared a bit of my own vision for my life and biz in this next year with you. I hope it blesses & encourages you to do the same.
Life is meant to be lived, enjoyed and in service to others.
Let’s make 2013 the BEST year for our lives EVER!
Vera Raposo – Your Creative Biz Coach
PS. If you haven’t started planning your biz for 2013 don’t you think it’s time? Write it out and plan for things to happen today, I know I am.
PPS. When I’m not around the blog you know this is exactly what I’m up to
