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Weill folks, I finally did it…I took the big leap. I submitted my letter of resignation and effective June 12th, 2009, I will be “self-employed” once again. I was working as a tax accountant. It wasn’t a bad job, it wasn’t a bad company. Actually it was a good job, with a good company that paid well. It just wasn’t me.
I tend to not play well with others, so it didn’t suprise anyone who knows me well that this didn’t work out for long. This was actually one of my longer stints, lasting almost 19 months. I guess at some point in my life, hopefully now, I will come to the realization that the only boss I can really stand is myself, and that is sketchy some days.
I am one of those people who is on constant motion. I always have to have something to do, but I don’t sit well, so I can’t do the same thing for long. I had a beautiful office, a corner one with windows and a big screen TV! I had dual monitors on my computer and some pretty cool artwork on the walls, but I was dying a bit inside each day. Sitting was making me insane. I waited patiently each day for the time when I could leave and go to teach yoga or go for a walk. I longed to be outside, or reading a book or spending time with friends.
This job has taught me several things about myself. I am a born teacher. It is what I am meant to do, and I need to foster that. BUT, I would not be a good teacher in a confined setting, such as a school. I need to teach different stuff. I love to teach yoga and am going to do my pilates certfication and teach that. I love to coach people to fitness and plan to do more of that. I am thinking about teaching violin lessons to little students, as I really enjoy music. I am also looking at putting together a bootcamp and a holistic health course for community ed.
A classroom would bore me just like a job does, so I have to be cognisant of what I am good at and what I love to do, and build a business and a life around those loves.
So, here I am, unemployed yet again, but very hopeful about the future! I can help people get fit, I can help them learn new skills and I can enjoy myself doing it…it is a big leap, but a leap I think will ultimately lead to a really cool business!!
Have a great weekend!
yogajen
Hello All,
After a week off of work, and many hours of research and typing, the paper is done, and turned in! It was a 4 section process, starting with a research component and ending with an exercise in networking.
The research part had been started months ago, but at an hour here, an hour there, it just wasn’t going anywhere. The committed time was wonderful and gave me the opportunity to “just do it”. All I am waiting on now is grades on the last three sections (I got a 4 out of 4 on the first section!!) and then I need to do the oral defense, which is basically a 1/2 hour discussion with several professors to defend what I wrote in my paper! THEN, I can officially put MBA behind my name….
I was amazed at the amount of information out there regarding values-based business leadership models. More and more business owners are wanting to create a business that works well not just for them, but for their employees, suppliers and customers also. We want to create businesses that are sustainable without us, as that is what truly makes a business.
Do you know these people who say they have a business, but they are working 100 hours a week, never take a vacation and don’t delegate tasks? What do you really have then, but a glorified job with a really low salary?
We need to make something happen that would go on without us…that is bigger than us, and that works to IMPROVE the lives of us and others…..
So, I rant again, eh?? It is important though, if you start a business, to incorporate several things:
1. A great idea or product
2. A business plan
3. Professional outside help, including an accountant , an attorney and a business coach.
4. The will to succeed and the humility to take direction from others.
So, what are you waiting for??
yogajen
p.s. on to the CPA exam now….always gotta have something going on!!
This last weekend, Dan, our friend Lisa and myself drove almost 7 hours to northern Minnesota to complete a trail marathon.
Dan and I shared the marathon in a relay, with me completing the first 13.1 miles and him the second. It was a fun experience, and for me, a challenge. I am not much into trails, as my fear of falling and twisting an ankle is just to great. I tend to slow down tremendously in order to make sure I am safe!
During the second half of the run, Lisa, who was completing the full marathon independently, ran into an 82 year old man who was completing his 299th marathon. He is scheduled to do Twin Cities in a couple of weeks to round out his 300!! He didn’t start running them until he was 57 years old.
Lisa ran with him for a while to chat and hear stories. She said it was an awesome experience! She crossed the finish line, and we were standing around waiting on those still finishing, and here comes Bert, the 82 year old man. Lisa yells to him “good luck at 300 in a couple of weeks” and he yelled back “WE MAKE OUR OWN LUCK!!”
How TRUE and what a profound statement! It has stuck with me all week, and I felt compelled enough to blog about it. I hear so much complaining these days. From I don’t have enough money, to I can’t lose weight, to my life just generally sucks…..so, ok, what are you doing to change that?
You can lose weight, you can change jobs and you can acquire more money! Even if you don’t do any of those things tomorrow, just living in this country you enjoy one of the most affluent lifestyles in the entire world! Be thankful…we are lucky!!
If you would like to change your path, take steps to do it, don’t complain about it! Do you need to lose weight or get fit? Find a plan you can work with, or a diet coach to help you and do it! Watch “The Biggest Loser” every week for motivation. Last night one guy said he came in taking 9 different medications for everything from high blood pressure to diabetes and within 2 weeks of good workouts and good food he was off all of them!
Do you hate your job? Find a new one! Get out there, send your resume and pound the pavement. OR start your own business, whether brick and mortar or homebased, find that thing you truly enjoy doing and make a business out of it!
Basically, if you don’t like your lot in life the way it is, change your thinking….positive thinking, positive doing….stop complaining and make it better….YOU MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK!!
Call me if you want help on weight loss, reaching your fitness goals or finding that perfect home based business!
have a great Wednesday!
yogajen
(now there is the perfect place to start on your fitness quest!! Click above, pick a program and get started!!)
Yes, so I passed the last test in my MBA program! Last Thursday I took it, and found out Monday that it had been a successful completion! I have a paper on Marketing sitting out to be graded. It is driving me nuts, and I check the site every couple of hours! Typically, it only takes a day or two, and we are on day 3 now, so I am starting to get frustrated.
Now, I am down to the thesis!! I have changed my mind on the topic after some research, and have decided to do it on “Can a business be both socially responsible and profitable?”. Again, basing it on the yoga studio startup as well as my other online business ventures. Is it possible to be honest and make money? I have found some excellent resources and will keep this site updated as I progress through the paper!
until later…
yogajen
I read a quote today that really struck home with me. “A formal education will make you a living, but self education will make you a fortune”. (by Jim Rohn). When we attend school, we learn that we should follow the rules, do what they say, learn what they teach us, so that we can go out and get a good job with a big company and make a comfortable living.
Are you happy with a comfortable living? Do you have time to enjoy that which you do make, or are you trying to fit your real life around your job? Are you looking for something different than, or something in addition to, your current employment?
I have been into personal development for many years. I have a great deal of information and have read a great deal of books, but I have never seen so much great information in one place until I found Success University Literally, there are hundreds of courses on many, many topics, and the cost is a reasonable $49.95 per month. You can learn as much as you want to become successful in whatever area of life you choose to focus on!
In a previous post, I talked about the 12 Pillars of Success. As I am getting deeper into the program, I am even more intrigued with what will be coming next. Matt Morris, who is the founder of Success University sums up his personal development tips:
1. Post your goals where you will see them and review them weekly!
2. Plan your work and work your plan. Daily, prioritize what is important and focus.
3. Stay in a peak emotional state.
4. Learn every day!!
5. Dream Big!!
Dream really big! In Matt’s words “A life worth living is a life worth fighting for your dreams. Too many people tiptoe through life quietly so they can arrive at their grave safely. My belief is that at the end of your life, when you finish your journey through this world, you will feel at peace and fulfilled by having pursued your dreams. At the end of one’s life, no one ever said they were glad they played it safe. We were all created equal; we all have the ability to achieve greatness. Never let anyone steal your dreams….” (Matt Morris)
So, please take a minute to peek at Success University I think you will be glad you did! If you have any questions, or would like more information from me, just let me know….
Last Friday I took the second to last test I need to pass before finishing my MBA. It always takes a couple of days to get the results, which can be a real nervewracking time! I felt pretty confident that I had done well, but you never know, as those multiple choice tests can trick you. The topics covered on this exam were Managerial Accounting, Finance, Operations, Strategy and Human Resources. I would have thought, since I am an Accountant, I would have done best on the accounting section, but mysteriously the HR section went much better.
I found out on Tuesday that I had successfully completed that portion of the program, and could move on! I am scheduled for yet another test on July 3rd. The hardest may be yet to come, since I need to come up with an idea for my thesis, and then actually commit to completing it! With the new yoga studio in the works, I am thinking that it might be a good idea to do my thesis project on marketing a new business. This seems to be the area that I lack skills in the most, so maybe a project based on marketing will help me to build a great business! Are there any marketing gurus out there who want to help me develop a marketing plan for my new venture?? I would appreciate the help!!
sincerely
yogajen….
I am all signed up and ready to go! I downloaded the first week’s workbook information for the Success Plan and it is a very interesting read. I wanted to update you on what the 12 month plan includes, as if you are looking for a way to reach your goals in the next year, this guide looks to be an outstanding resource!
Month 1- Personal Development
Month 2- Goal Setting
Month 3- Health
Month 4- Money
Month 5-Relationships
Month 6-Time Management
Month 7- Networking/Referrals
Month 8- Selling/Negotiating
Month 9-Communication/Presentation
Month 10-Leadership
Month 11-Accelerated learning
Month 12-Legacy/Contribution
These are called the 12 PILLARS OF SUCCESS and rightly so! Each month includes written resources, conference calls and special bonus books, audios and conference calls from premier trainers. It looks as if once I complete year one, there is another year! I am really excited about this program, as I am really “into” developing personally and professionally. Would you like to join me on this journey? Please visit http://128364.successuniversity.com/specialoffer for a 14 day trial for $2 (the $2 is a donation). Or visit http://128364.successuniversity.com and you can look over the offerings including trainers and courses available. I am signed up for several courses right now and will keep you updated as I go through the process. I would love to go through this with some people, so if you join in the next few days, we can travel the success highway together!!
join me on the path….
yogajen
http://128364.successuniversity.com/specialoffer/
http://128364.successuniversity.com/
The links above are to Success University. It is a pretty cool concept really. They utilize the power of the internet to offer online courses in personal development. I really like stuff that will improve my health, wealth or outlook on life! I have taken bunches of online courses, but this is a different deal. The initial 14 days cost $2, then for $49.95/ month, you can continue to be a student of Success University and have access to hundreds of online courses. They also have a year long plan where each month focuses on a different topic, such as financial health, wellness, succeeding in your job, and a myriad of other topics.
There is also a money-making component to Success University. For each person who signs up under you, you receive a commission! So you can build some income along with personal improvement! What a great concept!
I am going to try it for a bit and see how it goes. I would love it if you would try it with me! Wouldn’t it be great if we all got a little wiser and a little richer?
Again, the link to the 14 day free trial is: http://128364.successuniversity.com/specialoffer/
And the link to the corporate website is: http://128364.successuniversity.com
If you have any questions, please email me at arkjmv@aol.com
Thanks and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
yogajen
