Happy New Year! 2006 holds many great things for QueenPower.com, and I hope you'll join us. If this issue is any indication, it's going to be one exciting ride!

First, QueenPower founder Allyn Evans is back--encouraging us all to jump into the new year. Then we have the first part of an article by Marie Boyum, all about "Queendom in the Kingdom of Business". For all you authors or wannabes out there, we also have the first in our ongoing series, "Affecting Words" by Carolyn Howard-Johnson.

Finally, we're announcing the first offering from QueenPower Institute!

Here's to a royally successful new year!

It's Time to Jump

It’s Time to Jump

by QueenPower founder, Allyn Evans

 

 

A bit of advice given to a young Native American at the time of his initiation: "As you go the way of life, you will see a great chasm.  Jump.  It’s not as wide as you think."”

—Joseph Campbell

So, with a new year comes the inevitable question: “What’s next?”  Oh, I have ideas about the next three, six, and ten months, but after that, well, I’ve still got some thinking to do.  But before looking ahead, it is important to peer backwards—review what’s been done.  Maybe it’s only to see how many times I have jumped. 

Those of you Crown Me Club subscribers who have read the free ebook, Catch Your Dream: And Live It, know of the challenges I faced while finding my way out of the confusion about my life’s work.  Throughout my twenties and most of my thirties, I tried unsuccessfully to reduce my pain and find solutions.  In Grab the Queen Power, I share what caused much of my sorrow and the steps I took to “come to grips” with myself.  It took me four years to complete the “Project,” as I initially called it, but in June 2005, my “baby” was born.  With the birth of the book, I had accomplished something that had only seemed an impossible dream. 

My first leap of faith toward that dream involved trusting my intuition.  Initially, doing so was very easy; my intuition worked hard to get my attention!  And I most certainly heard it.  I recognized unhappiness, disappointment and frustration as clues that my life wasn’t working. 

About seven years ago, I found I had had enough.  Although both my title and salary had become impressive, the actual job was robbing me of my spirit, enthusiasm, and joy.  So despite tremendous fears, I jumped.  The chasm looked wide—too wide for me make it—but I reached a point of not caring.  I felt numb.  I jumped.  And within a short period of time I landed safely, heading in the right direction.

Within weeks, I took back a part-time job and used the remaining hours of my day to start a résumé writing business.  I had been dreaming about starting a home-based business for 10 years!  To overcome my fears, I latched on to a more experienced woman who became my partner and together we moved forward.  She led the way and I took small, doable steps each day.  Eventually I generated enough income to replace my formerly impressive salary.  But that was just a transitory step toward my true goal and I eventually jumped towards it again.  If I had realized what I was getting myself into when I first began working on the “Project” in 2001, I might have hesitated or maybe not moved forward at all.  But I trusted my intuitive messages and hunches—that I needed to interview women and write about the experience.  What saved me from being overwhelmed and afraid was my small focus and vision.  Yes, I could do the small stuff.  I could write an essay or schedule an interview with a friend.  I could read books.  I could hire a web-designer. 

With each small step I took, the next step unfolded.  My intuition guided me and most of my steps were made fully trusting that I would be supported simply for doing.  Although, I had no concrete evidence to rely on, I sensed on a deeper level that all would be fine.  I completely understood my job was to take action on my hunches, but more importantly my job was to trust.  From my current perspective, reaching my goals was effortless.  Whatever pain I experienced most certainly was self-made and as I moved toward my dreams, the Universe stepped up to meet me—resources and help were always provided. 

Oh, so what’s next?  For me, it’s my new project—a trilogy of books for and about adolescent girls.  What about you?  I bet it’s time to JUMP.  The chasm isn’t as wide as you think.  The good news is … it will take the smallest of steps to begin.  And it will take small steps to continue.  And the even better news is that it will take only small steps to reach your destination.  Go for it!  Jump.

 

Queendom in the Kingdom of Business

Ways to Improve Queendom in the Kingdom of Business:  Following Your Reigning Spirit

First in a two-part series by Marie Boyum

Many women have more self-doubt than men, which in the world of business can slow you down. The reasons can be as varied as our wardrobes. For some it may be lack of skills, education, or just not having been in the work force for a while. For others, it may be self-doubt.

Will and desire can win out over many obstacles, even not having an extended education. For without will and desire, all the education in the world will get you nowhere. Underneath your tiara are there negative thoughts? Remember, our heads are filled with both positive and negative thoughts.  Why should the negative be more commanding? Let the creative, empowered side reign and listen to your woman’s intuition. I recently took a self-defense class and the male police officer acknowledged that woman’s intuition has saved more women from harm than all the self- defense techniques combined.

Are you following your heart’s desire, listening to the integrity of your spirit? When you do, your will and desire kick in enough that the hours devoted are not a chore but rewarding and welcome time spent.

I know what some of you might be saying, “Yeah, great for those that really are living a queen’s life, but I’m a single mom,” or “We need two incomes to survive.” Trust me, I have been there too. Unless there is a coup (and we all know those happen even less frequently than winning the lottery) we will not make it to the throne overnight. All good things take time and effort to make happen. (If you are like me you just threw something at your computer screen!  The princess in me wants it NOW!)

The good news is you can start right away little by little as long as you have set goals. Want royal riches in your pocket? Start by building your castle one brick at a time with writing out specifics of what you want and where you want to go. It’s ok to daydream (building your castles in the air, so to speak) but you need to write it all down.

Once you see it on paper you can decide what you can realistically make happen and when. Do not disregard the things that seem to be a fantasy right now, for if that is your goal and you believe in it, you will find a way in the future to make it happen. Life has an amazing way of working with us when we are following our true path.

Does that mean life will be as we plan? Well, that is living in a fantasy world, but embarking on three simple steps will begin your journey to achieving your dream of Queendom.

Ah, but you'll have to wait until the next issue of the Queen-zine to find out what those steps are...

Marie Boyum has authored non-fiction books, and numerous articles. She has taught at universities throughout Wisconsin and works with Milwaukee Public Libraries as a Literacy Instructor. Formerly a Children’s Librarian and bookstore owner, writing and books are always part of her life. Visit Marie’s website or check out her blog.

 

Affecting Words™:  A Writer's Vocabulary

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Queen of Frugal Promotions

Aphorism

My mother called aphorisms “tried and true sayings.” However, in order to be an aphorism a saying must be more than tried and true. It must be concise and have a zing to it. Some, like Oscar Wilde, are masters at it.  I chose aphorism as an affecting word for this first column for QueenPower, because aphorism was chosen as the theme of for a recent spring catalog for UCLA’s Extension Division where I teach. Emblazoned in a faltering typeface reminiscent of the ones that decrepit typewriters produce is:

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

Those are the words of John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach who obviously has a knack for writing tight and pithy. Perhaps he took notes during half-time.

Most writers know the value of aphorisms but we often do not recognize our own when we come up with them. We should try to identify our  own, note them and send them off to publishers of books of quotations and websites that specialize in helping writers. Many allow you to post your own in an appropriate category. Getting quoted is a wonderful way to promote your book!

Evie Grossfield, host of KTLA’s Talk of the Town with Evie, says Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s first novel, This is the Place, is “…fascinating…I highly recommend it to everyone.” Receive the first chapter FREE by sending an email to: carolynhowardjohnson@sendfree.com,. Carolyn loves promotion almost as much as writing and her book The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won’t is available in paperback at Amazon and as an e-book on http://ebookad.com. Visit the author’s website at: www.tlt.com/authors/carolynhowardjohnson.htm,

 

QueenPower Institute

Announcing the first offering from QueenPower Institute...

The Joys of Journaling

E-course with Erica Miner, Journaling Queen

This 6-session e-course is packed with information about journaling, and how it can help transform your life. You'll learn:

• Why journaling is such a powerful, life-altering tool
• How self-dialogue can help you (and others) heal
• How you can find the inspiration to journal--and keep it going
• How journaling can help you recognize and defeat self-defeating patterns

This powerful, 6-session e-course is valued at $129. However, we'd like to make it accessible to as many of you as possible. So we're offering it through the QueenPower Institute at $59--over half off! And, if you are a Crown Me Club member, you'll receive an additional $10 off, for a total cost of $49.

To give you an idea of what this e-course is all about, and to introduce you to Erica Miner, Journaling Queen, we're offering a special, one-time preview teleclass on Tuesday, February 7 at 1PM Eastern. There is no charge for this preview teleclass, but seating is limited. So reserve your space today.

Sign me up for the preview teleclass!

Finally, you'll receive a downloadable recording of this preview teleclass when you sign up for the e-course.

Sign me up for the Joys of Journaling e-course!

Note:  if you sign up for the e-course today, your lessons will not begin until February 7, the official launch date for the e-course. If you sign up for the e-course after February 7, you'll receive your first lesson immediately.

Please pass this newsletter to sisters, mothers, grandmothers, daughters, nieces, and aunts—any Queen that you know. Well, you get my drift...

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Tap into Your Queen Power!

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©2006 Barbara Bellissimo. All rights reserved.