September 2008
musepreneur :: action planning for right brainers
by jennifer lee
Last month we looked at creating a Right-Brain Business Plan. So, now that you have a big vision for your idea or business, you may be wondering, “okay, what’s next?!” Well, in order to move forward, you’ll need a plan of action. As a creative person, structure or planning may not be in your vocabulary.
Don’t worry! There are some simple tools you can use to bring in a bit of left-brain thinking for more details and structure.
Here are a few suggestions to help you develop your plan:
*Mind Maps: Mind maps are a great right-brain/left-brain way to plan. This method is perfect for brainstorming goals and organizing related ideas. Start with an idea, concept or goal in the middle of your diagram and then create branches of related ideas or action steps. You can group related ideas together in circles and connect them with others with arrows or lines. Use colors, images and words to help you visualize your plan. See example above.
*Quarterly Goal One-Sheet: I use this sheet to get a snapshot of my year. Download the quarterly one-sheet template. In the goals section, list out 3-5 goals for each quarter. For each month of the quarter list out your major milestones, including exact dates. Print out the page and hang it up on a bulletin board or somewhere where you can view it regularly. And make sure to revisit your goals at least once a quarter. The OCD part of my likes to check everything off once I’ve accomplished it!
*Action Plan: Take your quarterly goals one step further. Download the action plan template. For
each of your quarterly goals, detail out your plan of action. What steps do you need to take to reach each goal? What resources might you need to tap into? Often times we need help from other people or require additional information or skills, so don’t overlook the importance of support.
*Also, check out my 10 tips for creative entrepreneurs on the Ladies Who Launch website for additional ideas (including the post-it note project plan) to keep your creative business flowing.
While you might be a right-brain gal, know that you can tap into your left-brain, too, in a fun, creative way that only a musepreneur can. The above suggestions are just some ways to structure your creative ideas to help you take action and move forward. Try one or two of them and see what shifts in your business.
What are your tips for planning? I invite you to share with your fellow musepreneurs what works for you.
Happy planning!
P.S. — Fellow wishstudioblogzine columnist Kimberly Wilson of Hip Tranquil Chick led an awesome Yoga and Creativity workshop in San Francisco last month! What fun to meet her in person.
Certified coach Jennifer Lee, of Artizen Coaching, is the creator of the Right-Brain Business Plan. She blogs at Life Unfolds.
Read more >>the creative compass :: a creative living companion
by jamie ridler
Think back to a time when you felt really inspired, full of creativity, absorbed in a project. It doesn’t have to be an art project. Maybe you were planning the best birthday party ever. Maybe you were madly writing down ideas for a book in your journal. Maybe you were cooking a scrumptious holiday meal. Maybe you were jotting down a poem on a napkin in a coffee shop. Maybe you were 6. Maybe it was yesterday.
Take a moment to really remember that time.
Where were you?
What could you see around you?
What could you hear?
What were you doing?
Who was with you or around you?
What time of day was it?
What were you wearing?
What were you feeling?
What did you love about being here and doing this?
Understanding our own personal muse allows us to invite him/her to come out and play more often. It’s not about recreating a past situation. It’s about discovering all of the little things that support your creativity. If you were alone, see if you can invite more “me time” into your week. If you were barefoot, take off your shoes. If you were on stage, where can you perform today?
What supports your creative muse and how can you invite that into your life today?
Jamie is a professional life coach and leads Circe’s Circle, a weekly coaching circle supporting creative bloggers in moving their creative dreams forward. A new group starts September 15th. For more information, visit http://www.openthedoor.ca/ or email jamie@openthedoor.ca.
quick, creative ideas to do with the beans (or by yourself)
*put some globs of fingerpaint on some pieces of cardboard from your recycling. lay them on the grass outside. step on the paint. put your hands in it. make designs on fresh pieces of paper. wash off with the garden hose afterward. then cut up the dried artwork and adhere it to the front of notecards. bundle the notecards into sets, tie them with twine, and give them away as thoughtful just-because-i-love-you gifts
*give a child (or yourself) a camera and give them permission to shoot away at whatever they want and see what they come up with*bring a magnifying glass into the forest with you on a walk. see what you find. document it in a journal.
*shake your booty to your favorite song to get your creative juices flowing
*arrange pencils/markers/crayons/colored pencils/paint brushes in assorted cups or containers from your recycling bin. seeing things arranged in a different way can spark creativity and inspiration
*when all else fails, play “interview” with your child. ask them some basic questions about themselves (“what’s your favorite type of ice cream?”) and then let them ask you questions. designate a special notebook to “play interview” in. go to it when boredom strikes or when you feel like chatting it up with your bean
so i ask you, dear friends, what is your favorite thing to do with your beans when boredom strikes?
January :: Begin
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