November 25th 2009

If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes. - Andrew Carnegie

Dear Roaring Women Reader,

If you are reading this newsletter, I am assuming that you have your own business, or are working at something that ignites the fires of passion within you - even if it is for a company you have a vested interest in but do not own.

Many people find it easy to share why they are passionate about their businesses.  Although it may be easy to share how passionate we are about what we do, sometimes it can be very difficult to share the vision you have with others.

Visions of where we want to go, things we want to accomplish and contributions we wish to make are harder to share with others because for many of us it is deep, heartfelt and emotional place.  But it is very important that we do learn to share our visions with others. You will be amazed at how similar many of them are.

I learned this the hard way.  My vision for making huge changes in the business community, and contributing to the growth, self esteem and success of women around me remained a secret except to the few who really knew me.  Why?

I was afraid to fail.  I was afraid the vision was too big.  I was terrified that I might not fail.  And finally, I was worried that people would think I was "too big for my britches" and that I thought too highly of myself to even consider such an audacious goal.

But I was wrong.  In the last six months, as I have shared my vision with others, one by one, people I did not expect to do so - stepped up and offered to help.  My vision was either part of their vision as well, or they wanted to help me to help others.

Are you sharing your passions with others?  Or are you too afraid of the same things I was afraid of?

This week on our 2nd monthly member coaching call - we will be talking about finding your passion - or the passion in what you do.  How can you make money at doing what you love - and how can you enlist others?  If you missed the first call - don't worry - you may still join this call.  Members attend for free, non members pay only $15.95.    Don't miss out!  Our last call was phenomenal - and everyone was touched by the call.  Register here - there are limited lines available.

Don't be afraid of learning your passion and sharing it with others.  You will make the world a better place.  Besides, sharing something like this is much more exciting than talking about the weather!

Here's to following your dreams!   Remember - it is never crowded on the extra mile!

It is the souls  duty to be loyal to its own  desires.  it must abandon itself to its master passion. - Dame Rebecca West

When I was in policing, we often talked about the administration ‘dangling the carrot’. Many who left the corporate rat race behind, will recognize the term – that described the actions of a supervisor or boss who kept reminding us of rewards we would receive if we reached a certain level of sales or accomplished something specific – on their agenda and timeline. But before we accomplished the task or reached the level we aspired to the rules of the game would change and we would have to work even harder to get the reward.

The term “chasing the carrot” originated from farmers or cart drivers who would tie a carrot on a string to a long stick and dangle it in front of the donkey, just out of its reach. As the donkey moved forward to get the carrot, it pulled the cart and but the carrot would always remain out of reach.

The problem is obvious – the donkey never gets the carrot – but the cart gets pulled. This is often the case when we work for others. We chase a reward and do what it takes to get the reward – for the sake of the reward.