The Power of Daily Doing

The Power of Daily Doing When I speak about second acts, I often ask people what they might like to do after leaving their full-time jobs. Inevitably, I get a variety of responses: Id like to paint Id  like  to be a photographer Id  like  to write a book Id  like  to do something with baking. Its always fun to hear about peoples plans and dreams. But what I really love is when people tell me how they actually turned their dreams into reality: I sold my first painting I photographed a wedding I self-published my memoirs Im selling my key lime pies at our local farmers market Its always exciting to see their dreams take flight. Of course, the gap between dreaming and doing is a big one. And when youre just starting the transition into retirement, that leap can feel insurmountable. After a lifetime of being an accountant a doctor or a full-time mom its hard to adjust to seeing yourself in a different role. You may love to paint, but you dont identify as a painter. You enjoy woodworking, but you dont call yourself a crafter.  Thats why when asked that dreaded cocktail party starter, And what do you do? most new retirees are likely to default to, Well, I used to be a So how can you make the shift to your second act more real? Like any habit, developing a new identity works best when you chip away at it in small pieces. Exercise the power of daily doing. By taking small mini-actions every day (or if not every, consistently) youll create change: Want to be an author?  Journal for 15 minutes a day. Every day. Want to be a photographer? Spend a half-hour each day taking shots in your neighborhood. Film is cheap these days. There are no shortcuts to success.  It takes time and daily doing to test things out, build skills, and get comfortable in your new skin. To see the power of daily doing in action, I encourage you to watch David Litchfields TEDX video, How Doing a Drawing a Day Changed My life (posted above, with thanks to Magdalena Hurwitz for alerting me to this on LinkedIn). Its a wonderful story about how by drawing every day, 365 days a year, David was able to go from enjoying drawing  to seeing himself as an illustrator. When questioned about how he found the time and discipline to do this on a daily basis, he replied, You find time. If youre passionate about something you find time. I couldnt agree more. I hope youll take ten minutes to watch the video, and then ask,  What am I  willing to commit to doing this year to move closer to my  dream second act? No related posts at this time.

How I Juggled a Full-Time Job While Pursuing My MBA

How I Juggled a Full-Time Job While Pursuing My MBA In 2008,  I made the decision to get my MBA while I juggled  a full-time consulting job and starting my business. Even though those two years of my MBA program  were a major  whirlwind, I am very happy I made the choice to continue my education. Through my education, this blog was born and I determined that I wanted to become an entrepreneur. Going back to school was crucial in helping me determine my direction and my potential. This article will share some tips with you about how I juggled it all and how you can make it through too. I realized that since I chose to attend school while still working a full-time job,  I immediately started performing better at work and I also quickly found new opportunities that better matched my interests and skills at work. I was really glad I could  keep my income from my day job, still pursue my education and then not have to worry about finding a new job immediately when I graduated. Before starting school at The Rady School of Management at University of California, San Diego, I tried to mentally prepare myself for this juggling act. But, the truth was I really had no idea what to expect and I just had to figure it all out  as I juggled. Here is what I wish someone would have told me before I juggled work, school and growing this business all at the same time: 1. Learn to say no. You do not have to attend every personal and business networking event. Just go to as many as possible. Pick your favorites and go to the ones that sound the most interesting. You dont have to go where all your friends are going.  Make a point to go to the ones that will allow you to meet the people who have the jobs you want when you graduate. 2. Make time for your close family and friends. You will have to work extra hard to maintain your social life and previous friendships. But, the important friendships are worth it to maintain even if you only have an hour of free time every week. 3. Prepare to juggle new opportunities in your day job. Your management and team will take notice of how hard you are working and the knowledge that you are bringing to your job. I was promoted in my current company after only a few weeks  in business school. 4. Technology makes the juggling act easier. Having access to my school email on my phone while I worked allowed me to stay connected with my group and make changes to projects at the last minute. With all of my classmates juggling so many responsibilities, it was almost impossible to get us all together in one location. Fortunately, Skype allowed us to hold group meetings virtually even though we were all in the same city. Also, dont worry if you have to travel frequently for your job. Professors are very understanding of work travel and my school even videotaped classes for us so we could watch them online when we returned. [RELATED: 8 Steps to Completing the Grad School Application] 5. Schedule break times and fun vacations. You will need this! Schedule time out for a break because your to-do list will never end. Dont be afraid to take a day off from work or skip a class if you have to. It is impossible to get an A+ at both work and school so focus on just doing the best you can. Schedule a vacation, a day with no work or even a night to just enjoy a movie with your family. 6.  Understand that not everyone is like you. Grad school consists of way too many group projects. I learned that other people juggled their responsibilities differently than I do. I tried to get work done as early as possible but other people in my group waited until an hour before a paper was due to finish. I finally learned to respect other peoples juggling habits which allowed me to be a better manager. 7. Make networking a top priority always. If your goal after school is to find another job, you will have a hard time fitting  job searching and networking  into your already busy schedule. It takes a lot of time to do informational interviews, meet with career advisors, apply for jobs and make your resume look great. But, if you make these things a top priority and plan them into your schedule, you should be able to find a great job once graduation rolls around. Just dont wait until the very end. 8. Organize like your life depends on it. Before you go to bed at night, figure out your plan for the next day. Look at your schedule and figure out what meetings you have, what is due and where you need to be when. For me, this meant making sure I had all my school books and a change of clothes with me when I left for work in the morning. I also scheduled some time each Sunday night to review my plan for the week. This helped me prioritize and be prepared when other tasks popped up at the last minute. 9. Keep your workout schedule. Dont let your responsibilities knock working out off your schedule. Working out will ease your stress and help you stay focused when you study. I trained for a marathon while going to school and working full-time. You might be surprised to know that it was actually the most productive quarter of my life because I was so organized  and energized! 10. Keep calm. You will make it through. As crazy as life gets and when you have no idea how you will make it through the quarter, you will survive. It may be one of the hardest things you will ever do in your life but it will be over before you know it. If you can succeed working and going to school at the same time, you really can succeed in anything. Everything is possible for me now  that I juggled grad school and a full-time job.  I know that I can build a million dollar business, be an awesome mom and travel the world all at the same time. Theres nothing stopping me and there is nothing stopping you either! I hope this information has helped you see the benefits and struggles of going back to school while keeping your day job. It may be tough but I encourage you to take the leap because it can make a huge difference for your professional success. Have you thought about heading back to school to further your career development?

Extreme commuting is delusional

Extreme commuting is delusional According to Newsweek, more than 3.4 million people have a daily commute that is longer than 90 minutes. Insane. I know its insane because I used to do it Los Angeles to Orange County and I went nuts. My whole life was organized around getting up at 4am to beat traffic and getting to sleep in time to get up the next morning. I took the job because it was much better than any offer I had in LA, but I didnt want to lose the life I had in LA. The thing is, I didnt have a life anyway with my commute. I left that job after a little less than a year. To be honest, the job was great and enabled me to land future jobs in Los Angeles, near my home. But what blows my mind is the people who think an extreme commute is a long-term solution. Its not. Your life starts rotting away. Your friends and family dont see you, you have no personal time that is not in the car, and perhaps most importantly, theres no time for sex. Take this last point seriously. David Blanchflower, professor of economics, found that the most important factor in ones happiness is not money, its sex. And the two are not related, according to him. On top of that he found that the thing people do that makes them the most unhappy isdrumrollthe commute. So stop rationalizing that a long commute will get you something you need. And stop living in denial about the true cost of those hours spent in the car: Its your happiness, and good money or a big house in the suburbs will not improve things.

How to Ask Your Boss for a More Flexible Work Schedule in 5 Steps - Classy Career Girl

How to Ask Your Boss for a More Flexible Work Schedule in 5 Steps How many minutes do you spend commuting to and from work each day? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average commute is 26 minutes each way. That’s nearly an hour round-trip! And of course, if you’re like my friends in Los Angeles, you’re lucky if your commute is under two hours each day. There’s only so many Serial Podcasts and Kanye West you can listen to before the commute gets old, amirite?! I have friends who tell me their work schedule and commute really affect their productivity, mood, and overall lifestyle. I know this because I once experienced the hour-long traffic commute, too. By month three, I was over it but never admitted it to my partner because I knew he would say I told you so. So, day in and day out I went on with a happy face, even though I was absolutely drained, cringing every time I checked my mileage meter creeping up and sighing at the gas pump I filled once a week. When to Bring Up Your Flexible Work Schedule Request There isn’t a hard rule to follow when it comes to asking for flexibility in your commute or work schedule. If I had to pinpoint one moment of your career though, I would say immediately after a positive performance evaluation. Hopefully, before you make any type of request, you prove your worth, dedication, and work ethic to your employer. If you just accepted a job and already find yourself frustrated, your boss might wonder, “Did you move? Did anything change since accepting the job? Didn’t you know where we were located?” They might judge your request as short-sighted and wonder who you think you are making these types of special demands so early on. Plus, you’ll want to make sure you build up their trust first before asking for special accommodations. I’ve Shown My Worth and Value, Now What? Now that you’ve shown your indispensable value, there are four steps to follow. How to Ask Your Boss for a More Flexible Work Schedule in 5 Steps 1. Set Up a Formal Meeting With Your Boss Its best to have a meeting without any distractions. If it’s in your company’s culture, you may want to ask if you can take a walk outside or set up a meeting in a conference room. You want to feel as comfortable as possible without any interruptions from emails, phone calls, or knocks on the door. 2.  Reiterate Your Interest in Your Role and The Company Before asking for this request, it’s important to let them know you love your work, your teammates, your company’s mission and culture, etc. Emphasize that no matter what, you’re committed to growing with the company for the long haul! [RELATED: Sit Up Straight and Relax! Productivity Tips for Digital Nomads] 3.  Share What’s Really Coming Up Without bringing in emotions, let your boss know you want to have an open and honest conversation. Let them know how your commute is affecting your overall lifestyle. For example, if you find yourself commuting in heavy traffic that is doubling your average commute time, let them know you feel you can respond to all emails before you leave the house and that way you not only clear out your inbox, but you also become more energized and focused when you reach the office. 4.  Propose a Few Options as a Trial Run Remember, if you’re making the request, it’s your responsibility to present some possible solutions. Let your boss know you’ve brainstormed a few ideas that might work out well, and you’d like to see if s/he would allow a trial run. Be specific about how long this trial is so you know when to re-evaluate. Some possible options could be working remotely once a week when there are no scheduled meetings, or come in earlier/leave earlier or come later/stay later to avoid the rush hour traffic. 5. Emphasize The Benefits Emphasize again how this solution will benefit the company. Let them know you believe your productivity and energy will increase thus resolving some of the specific issues you may be encountering.   What If My Boss Says No? Some positions and companies may have a strict policy just due to the nature of the business. If this is the case, don’t feel disappointed. You tried, you asked, and now you know your answer. It’s important to remain positive and upbeat, “No problem, boss. I just wanted to ask and I appreciate you letting me know your decision so quickly. I look forward to continuing working everything out and providing the best results.” What If My Boss Says Yes? Woohoo. Now that you passed the trial run, this is your chance to work harder and produce better results. Take proactive action to reach out to your boss before you are almost ending your day to see if there is anything else they may need help with. Once they see your work quality and productivity through the roof, it would be impossible for them to say, “Sorry, this isn’t working out.” You can then create a longer and more permanent arrangement. Remember, you got this! Follow the five steps and you can confidently lead an open conversation which hopefully results in increased motivation and sanity! Good Luck!

8 writing lessons I learnt after writing 500 articles - Debut

8 writing lessons I learnt after writing 500 articles - Debut Hey there folks. So, Ive written a lot of words. Enough words to fill up more than ten dissertations, in fact. Not to say that the quantity of my work has any bearing on how good my writing lessons or advice would be, of course. However, over the past few years as an employed content editor, I may have picked up a few tricks. 1. Youll be battling impostor syndrome all your career When I started my career, I wasnt a writer. I was a marketing executive. I had my nose in a variety of Microsoft Excel sheets, and the only writing I was doing were brief emails to my manager. Through circumstances too long to fit in this section without boring you, I accidentally ended up in the editorial department. In a sense, Ive been there ever since. Its almost laughably stereotypical for me to tell you this, but anxiety and impostor syndrome is a standard writers affliction. With something so subjective, its difficult to understand how to improve. So yes, youll constantly feel like what youre writing may not be good enough. Friend, there are two things to keep in mind. Firstly, belief in yourself will ebb and flow. Youre only human. Secondly, the most important thing about being an artist is the chase for perfection. With emphasis, of course, on the chase reflecting and taking stock of your writing ability is key to your improvement. You are a writer. Own it. 2. Sometimes, you have to game yourself into your writing mode In this day and age, open-plan offices are de rigeur. Which is, of course, means itll be a fairly collaborative space, with plenty of conversations and activity happening all the time. Some of us thrive in environments like this, the thrill of it all. Others may find these kinds of places  excruciatingly distracting. You have to figure out what puts you in the best frame of mind to write. Is it silence? Natural light? Stormzys G.S.A.P. album? Whatever it is, identify what triggers your writing mode, and switch it on when you can. If necessary, you should speak to your manager about stepping out of the office, or setting office hours in your calendar so they and your colleagues know when youre available to chat. Those articles arent going to write themselves. If youre one of those lucky ones who are allowed to work from home, however, dont lie to yourself. If you know that being on your couch in your pyjamas leads to a Netflix marathon rather than an afternoon of productivity, go to the office. You have to understand what circumstances allow you to be the best writer you can be. 3. Finding your voice is the hardest part, and itll constantly evolve When I first started writing content,  my copy was drier than the tundra. It was factual, to the point, and lacking in personality. Hey, it happens. Youre trying to learn all the rules before you can start breaking them. Figuring out how to insert yourself into your writing can only be done by one way: writing a LOT. For different publications. On different topics. Experimenting with your style. The more you throw at a wall, the easier it will be to figure out what sticks. Eventually youll come to know your various writing idiosyncrasies. Trust me, you have them. Theyre probably just lying dormant within you. 4. Dont think of yourself as just a writer If you view yourself as just a writer, you deny the fact that you, and your readers, contain multitudes. Youre not just a writer. Potentially, youre also an entertainer, a storyteller, an educator and an activist. Heres my point: whatever you choose to write about, you have to work at being an authority on that said subject. The vast majority of my writing lately has been about careers (naturally). In the beginning, I found this to be an uncomfortable position. You may have heard the phrase, write what you know, As Im still at the very early stages of my careers, dispensing careers advice felt fraudulent. The only remedy for a lack of confidence is the pursuit of knowledge. I threw myself into research, asked a ton of questions, and drafted and re-drafted pieces. Also, it is common for writers to forget about one important thing. Their audience. Thats when I realised I couldnt just write about careers (I mean, how boring would that be?) It was necessary for me to understand how to engage and entertain the readers that landed on my pieces. As a writer, youll have to tick a lot more boxes than you might expect. 5. The content landscape is changing radically The pen is no longer mightier than the sword. The pen now has to contend with the keyboard, and its arguably even stronger companion, the smartphone. Becoming digitally savvy will be your key to a successful career as a writer. See, even authors like J.K. Rowling and Matt Haig are avid Twitter users. More than ever, your writing will be intrinsically tied to your personal brand. This is perhaps alarming to some who want their work to stand apart from themselves, but hey. Take your social media presence and treat it like an extension of your portfolio. Beyond that, youll have to consider your contents distribution strategy with importance. Social media and SEO (search engine optimisation) will be your tools for getting your writing read. Pushing out an article on WordPress and leaving it there simply isnt enough anymore. 6. You dont have to write about serious things to be a serious writer If what youre passionate about is vegan food, the best highlighters from Superdrug, or the Champions League, so be it! It is not every writers responsibility to change the world. If thats not your aspiration, you shouldnt force it. In a year where writing may feel pointless if youre not talking about politics, you may feel like theres no point to your content. Quieten that doubtful voice- your piece on 5 quick and easy breakfasts for your commute is just as useful as any party manifesto breakdown.  Once you find purpose in your content, the words will flow. 7. A second pair of eyes over your writing is crucial Your writing needs editing. Fact. I dont publish any Debut pieces without either getting my trusty colleague Alex to proof it, and vice versa. Beyond sub-editing, a good editor will also help you shape your ideas, and either bring you back down to Earth if your ideas need refining, or encourage you to take a bigger leap with your writing. No writer is an island. Your second pair of eyes doesnt  need to be a fellow writer. What you need is someone who will take the time and care to nurture your talent. Ask a friend, or someone you look up to (nicely) to be your editing buddy. This will also help you learn how to receive and react to feedback. 8. Writers block or stagnation can only be solved by an active decision to refresh your circumstances Its normal for writers to experience stagnation, or writers block. One of the best writing lessons Ive ever learnt was to embrace that sinking feeling, and tackle it head on. Ive explored the cafés and workspaces of London. Tried every variant of green tea there is to consume. Sometimes, the once tried and tested methods to get me into my writing zone simply become ineffective. Instead of wallowing, I find that even simply making the active decision to get out of that funk will help to push me back on the bandwagon. Reader, I have  one more piece of advice. Write lots. The old adage practice makes perfect will always apply, especially to something like writing. If youre interested in writing for Debut, Id love to hear from you! Pitch us @DebutCareers. Go on. You know you want to. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Summary Sunday Be Exceptional

Summary Sunday Be Exceptional In this post, you will find links to articles Ive shared this week (mostly on Twitter). There is usually a theme or message that Im trying to reinforce in this selection I share here and I hope you find the information helpful! On a personal note, one of the highlights this week was meeting Jodi Glickman, (@greatonthejob), Founder and President of Great On the Job and author, speaker, and consultant on communicating and being great on the job!   If you arent familiar with Jodi, you can check out her site and of course her book, Great on the Job. Jodi presented at the Simon School of Business on how to be great in your first days in a new job!  And the secret ismake people love you!  Throughout the presentation/discussion, Jodi explored the different ways someone new to the job can develop relationships and create a reputation of excellence. Her four key points were: Generosity Initiative Forward Momentum Transparency Now, on to what I want you to know! Act Like A Leader Before You Are One from Harvard Business Review Not everyone wants to actually LEAD. But, you dont need to lead others in order to be seen as a leader! This post covers the proactive steps you should/could take if you are serious about managing your career and reputation! Knock your responsibilities out of the park Help your boss succeed Seize leadership opportunities, no matter how small Look for the white space Dont be a jerk Be cautious when sharing your ambitions Find role models Build relationships The Difference Between I Cant  and I Wont  from Lead Today This quote from the post sums it up pretty well: Your success really begins with an understanding of the difference between “I Can’t” and “I Won’t.” The world is full of mediocre employees. You know, because you worked along side them. What companies want and crave are exceptional employees! Be that!

The Exceptions to The Rules

The Exceptions to The Rules Ruled by Passions by 3 Lamb Illustrations Ive had it up to here, I tell ya! Up to HERE (yes, I am putting my hand way above my head, which without that visual youd have no idea about where I am in the up-to-here scale) with But Im supposed to be doing X and So-and-so does Y so I need to, too and I know I should be doing Z, but. It enrages me each and every time, so please dont mind the enpassioned (thats not a word, but I dont care) lady as she steps on her soapbox to bring home the point that there is no right (or wrong!) when it comes to working on or in your creative business. For every Rule, theres at least (at least!) one exception. Theres totally more exceptions, but honestly, I worked on this post for something like 3 hours and I just cant bring myself to find and link to any more people. You understand. The Rule: Im interested in so many things the thought of just picking one makes me feel like Im in jail but Im told I cant have a successful businesses unless I do just that! The Exception:  Tracy Matthews. Head on over to her site and youll see it right away: Bespoke Jewelry, Grounding Yoga, and Inspiring Offerings. Yup, all 3 of her offerings live on one site, together in harmony, allowing the visitor to get a real 360 degree view of who Tracy is and what she offers custom ready-to-wear jewelry plus  yoga classes (workshops, group classes, and private lessons)  plus  coming-soon curation services. And, um, Tracy makes $30,000/month. So there. How to adapt:  If you saw your Renaissance Soul-ness as a blessing instead of a curse, what would your business look like? If you could do the type of work you love each and every day/week, what type of work would you love to do? If its tough to differentiate the its-fun-now-but-might-not-be-in-6-months work from the ones thatll stick (thats a classic Renaissance Soul trait, by the way), think back to the type of stuff that has held your interest for at least a couple of years. Dont forget, everything counts: your love of dogs, your fabric obsession, your mastery of calligraphy. Start thinking of how they interact, and/or let my workbook or Emilies help ya along your way. The Rule:  It wont be worthwhile to have an offering unless I have at least 1,000 newsletter subscribers. The Exception:  Emilie from Puttylike. She talked to Srini about making $4K with a list of  only 500 people, and has done a bang-up job on putting out products and services that are super valuable since she started her biz. And ya know what? Offering things with value that put your perspective/process out into the world is just the thing to do in order to attract your audience/clients/customers to yousure, its a bit of a Catch-22, but dont let not having A Big List stop you from offering what you know you rock at. How to adapt:  You probably have an idea of what you wanna offer, and it probably is Big. Maybe Too Big. What would Phase 1 of that offer look like? Thats what you wanna be working on and getting out into the world as soon as youd like. Dont forget without people knowing who you are, what you stand for and what you offer, they wont know why they need what youre selling. The Rule:  If I want to grow my business, I have to be on Facebook and Twitter and blog and be on Pinterest and host a podcast and. The Exception:  Alexandra Franzen.  Man oh man, does this lady break all the rules in the best way possible. Do ya notice how she only has 1 social media link on her site?  Twitter.  Thats it. Thats all. No Pinterest. No Instagram. No YouTube. No LinkedIn. No Facebook, even. No Facebook! She loves Twitter, so thats what she sticks with. End of story. And, um, can we say  shes booked til Sept 2013?! Sept 2013. Let that sink in. How to adapt:  The bottom line is that you have to be engaged in whatever social media site you commit yourself to. If youre not sure what platform you want to be your significant other (yes, I still call twitter my boyfriend), then dont be afraid to play around -its time well spent. Spend 2 weeks on Twitter,  learning the ropes  and see how/if ya like being there. Then move on to  how Pinterest can help your biz  and play around there for a bit and so on and so forth. If you know in your gut where you enjoy being lets say by vlogging and Facebooking then cut out the rest of the noise and just do that for a month. See what happens. And if you wanna take a quiz as to which social media platform would be best for your targeted audience  and  your personality,  sign on up for my newsletter  and crack open the Business Building That Brings You Bliss exercise thats included in the VIP Library you get when you subscribe. The Rule:  If youre really serious about your biz, just take the plunge and start working in/on it now. The Exception: Me! Is that allowed? OK, since Im the writer, Ill allow it. The first thing I did when I decided to make a go of this whole life coach business was to get a new job as an Executive Assistant. Yup a 9-to-6 assistants job with a financial consultancy company. The job I held prior was too draining (aka a boss who made me psychosomatic), too all-consuming (aka expected to answer emails on my Blackberry at midnight), too soul-sucking (aka see above) to allow me to work on getting certified and build my business and I knew the biggest way to fail fast was to give up my steady job and jump into coaching full-time right away. I shudder to think what that wouldve done to me. How to adapt:  But now that I think of it, this Rule is a Rule that needs to stand just not in the way that some people see it. You dont need to quit your job and take the leap right now but you do need to keep putting one foot in front of the other as best you can, as often as you can. It took me 2 years and 7 months from the time I started that assistant job to the time I was able to quit and that was only because I spent the vast majority of my nights, weekends, and downtime at work getting certified, coaching, and doing other business building-y things. So, think of whatll make you comfortable and confident with diving in and whatll make the leap to being an entrepreneur feel more like a large step and break it down into daily or thrice-weekly tasks (any less time than that and youre losing momentumand/or might not really wanna launch this business). This can help. The Rule:  You must have a niche if you want people to understand what youre offering and see themselves in. The Exception:  Kate Swoboda.  We have a big discussion on this  here, but I love that shes able to differentiate that her niche is actually her  perspective. Anyone is her client as long as they want to live a more courageous life. OK, its a bit of a niche because shes shutting out (in a loose terms) those who dont want that for themselves, but its not as if shes  only  working with artists or Moms or insert-demographic-here. How to adapt:  Tanya and I have been digging into this over at  Golden Ticket  this week, and what we found needs to part of your business foundation is  message, not niche. Fill in the blank: I want people to know _________. What goes in that blank is what you wanna make sure is absolutely clear in your communications and relationships and then your niche will find you (you gotta be proactive about it, but still). The Rule:  Dont put more than 1 type of work in your online shop itll just confuse people. The Exception:   Jessica Swift. There are 19 different product categories in her shop currently, and they run the gamut from accessories to stationary to artwork to apparel to sea elves (!). Shes been doing this full-time for years, and her work has been licensed by Big Deal Companies like Casemate, Pier 1, and Hallmark not to mention she raised $25,000 on Kickstarter to help produce her rainboots. Oh, she also has a lil ole book coming out this summer. How to adapt:  Tying it in with the rule above, latch on to your message/mission/style and be rest assured that you can put pretty much whatever you want under that umbrella.  I know youll agree with me that Jess work is uber-distinctive, and the fact that its all cohesive and a direct result of her tagline, Live Color to the Max, makes it all work together. The Rule:  But my blog has to have a niche, and I can never stray from talking about that one thing! The Exception:  Yes Yes. With the tagline Yes is more fun than No, Sarah gives us True Stories from all over the spectrum (examples:  I Dated a Transman  and  Im a Grocery Store Sample Lady  and  I Gave Up On My Dream) + weekly  Web Time Wasters  +  Style Icons  +  travel posts  OK, you get the point. If it has to do with Yes, its here and that obviously takes a lot of different forms. How to adapt:  If the thought of Only Writing About 1 Thing gives you a case of the no-fun face, think of your blog as a magazine or a curated store instead. What would be inside? What do you wanna showcase? How/what do you wanna share? And yes, this is another Rule that ties into message. Damn that message is important! The Rule:  When you set the terms of something, you better abide by them. The Exception:  Me again! OK, sorry, but once permission was granted, I couldnt help myself. Ya know Ive been telling everyone everywhere that my Clubhouse was closing after 50 sign-ups or on Dec 5th at 6p Eastern, whatever came first? Well, at around 2p Eastern, only 16 people had signed up. The last time I opened up the doors, in June, the spots went way faster so this low number was unexpected. I wavered, knowing  that we have room to accomodate more members without feeling crowded/overwhelmed in there, and that more brains in the Clubhouse = more knowledge and support. Because of that, I decided to keep the Clubhouse doors open for the next 34  29 people to walk on throughor close em earlier if I wanna. Im the President, after all. How to adapt:  Its always sticky to go back on your word, but when somethings not quite sitting right, dont ignore your gut. As long as its not detracting value from what youve promised and feels like an ethically sound decision to you, then its fair game. If you feel anythings being compromised, ask yourself what you can do to make it up to your client/customer. When I first launched my Clubhouse, some people opted in to get a free seat in a virtual workshop I promised to host every 4-8 weeks. I  realized after the first one that I totally super overcommitted myself, so I pushed out the timeline to every 12 weeks and gave them each a free 30-minute private session. Everyone was happy. The Rule:  You cant make a living selling pizza out of a firetruck! The Exception:  Company 77. So successful they brought it to a new location. Also led to the best wedding food/activities ever  (thanks Kelly Dave!). How to adapt:  Stop thinking Cant and start thinking How. This video can help you communicate that to your loved ones (including yourself!). I say it to my clients and Ill say it here: its a blessing and a curse to be building a creative business in 2012, since there are soooooooo many ways to do things nowadays. Sure, a Magic Formula might give ya some guarantees, but just because somethings worked for someone else doesnt mean its right/itll work for you. So, embrace the unknown, filter out the noise, live in the questions, and make the decisions thatll be best for you based on what your heart/gut says (and know its always funner to break the rules and run your biz/project your way instead of how so-and-so tells ya and be successful but miserable/inauthentic). Then, let me know, and Ill feature you as An Exception to the Rule. Did I miss any other rules? Any exceptions? Despite the time it took putting this together (thanks to everyone who answered my call on Twitter and Facebook with their Rules!), Im thinking of making this a feature if there are more Rules to break. Let me know in the comments!  Stacy Kathryn is another exception to the rule, and in the best way possible. She works in collage, illustration, and paintings, which you can see (and buy!) right here.