Discovering Your Inner Samurai Blog

Be a Clickable Email Sender

We all have a Mike in our lives. You know; the weekly mass-email-sender friend. I actually have two such friends. The difference between them is that Mike sends out meaningful mass emails . . . the kind that get my attention.

Here's his latest:

To all my friends, who in 2007 sent me "best wishes," chain letters, angel card messages, or other promises of good luck when I forwarded something:

NONE OF THEM WORKED!!!!

For 2008, could you please just send money, chocolate, or gasoline vouchers.

Thank you!

I smiled when I read this. Did you? If so, do you know what it is about this message that made you smile? Was it that, truth be told, you, too, would rather receive money, chocolate, or gasoline vouchers in the mail instead of those pesky mass emails? I know I would! Send me chocolate, any time. Good Belgium chocolate!

Could another reason be that you, like me, are tired of receiving bland-blah email? You know the kind: nothing of consequence, easily glossed over, no reply required. Just a spewing forth of bland and boring blah.

As Accidental Pren-hers, this is just the kind of email you want to avoid sending. Thinking like the smart business woman that you are; you know that many of us receive over 100 emails a day. To get your email read, you'll need to be like my friend Mike -- he's a clickable email sender.

Next time you send an email to a client, customer, or even a friend, be like Mike by remembering to send money, chocolate, or gas vouchers. By that I mean, send something of value. To do that, make sure that your email:

1. Has something in your subject line that gets your reader to click it open.
2. Contains meaningful information.
3. Requires a confirmation or call to action.
4. Generates and deepens your connection to and relationship with your reader.

What are some other ways you would suggest to make email clickable? What about humor? Could that make an email clickable? Share your thoughts.

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life

The subtitle to this interesting little book is: The Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life. And that's just what this book is all about. The Diamond Cutter is written by ordained (there is certainly some controversy around whether he is still ordained) Buddhist monk, Michael Roach.

Written from the perspective of both a Buddhist and a business man who worked in New York City as a director of Andin International Diamond Corporation for many years, this book contains applied wisdom seldom found in other Buddhist business books.

The Diamond Cutter is not only the name of the book, it also refers to an ancient book of Buddhist wisdom called by the same name. Roach goes into great detail about this in his book.

I found the beginning of the book fascinating, the middle ponderous, and the ending interesting. The beginning revolves around the inner workings of the diamond industry, which I had known nothing about until I read this book. The second section consists of 46 solutions to common business problems. I found this  section, as I said, rather ponderous. Though to be fair and balanced, some reviewers over at Amazon were down-right enthusiastic.

The final section includes several interesting and helpful practices. One called "The Circle," is one that would be beneficial to every entrepreneurial woman . . . it involves taking one day off a week, just to be. The first half of the Circle day, up until 2p is to be spent by yourself, alone, in silence. Here's how it goes:

1. Create a quite place.
2. Sit in silence there for an hour to an hour and a half.
3. Afterward, do some light exercise.
4. Before you eat your first meal, sit quietly for a time and read some kind of thoughtful book about the higher meaning of your life.
5. After a light lunch, take a nap, if you feel like it.
6. Later in the afternoon, do some kind of practical study such as learning photograph or gardening to be exposed to creativity and excellence.
7. In the evening, make a conscious effort to get out and help somebody, at anything.
8. At the end of the day, as you get close to going to bed, head back to your quiet place for more silent time.

I love the concept of weekly Circle days. I can certainly see the benefit in doing them and can just imagine the renewal it would bring to me and my business. However, Circle days certainly do require commitment and conviction. Well worth doing, no doubt. Maybe this will become my 2009 New Year's Resolution.

Have you read this little gem of a book? Or do you have another book you've read regarding Buddhism and business? Let us know!

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

 

Are You Free from Ego?

Today . . . I am thinking about the ego.

Like hundreds of thousands of people, I've been tuning in and listening to Oprah's worldwide, groundbreaking web event on Monday evenings (9p eastern). Over the course of 10 weeks, spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle and Oprah will be co-teaching a 10-week free course on Eckhart's newest book A New Earth, on Oprah.com. For Oprah, it’s a step forward in her mission "to lead people to their highest selves." For Eckhart, it's a humanizing way to broadcast his message to the world.

This week, Oprah asked Eckhart if he was free from ego. To my surprise, he replied, "yes." I had to pause a moment and think about what he was saying. He wasn't saying that he was devoid of thought or that his mind was no longer thinking. What we was saying was that he is no longer attaches to the outcome that thought forms can create.

Ego is defined as: a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance. By saying that he is free from ego, Eckhart is saying that his sense of self is not attached to what he thinks. Eckhart isn't attached to what he thinks about himself or how others think about him. He isn't attached to what he says or how what he says is perceived. I find this concept amazingly freeing and exciting!

How does he do this? Eckhart does this simply by being present. By being focused in the moment, giving his full attention to the moment, and just allowing it to be. He doesn't label it. He doesn't judge it. He just allows. Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nat Hahn calls this mindfulness. Contemporary spiritual teacher Ram Dass calls it. being here now. 

What do you call it? Are you free from ego? Have you ever experienced moments when you are or have been? Weigh in. Share your thoughts.

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Light, Seeking Light, Doth Light of Light Beguile

The other day I came across this quotation from Love's Labour's Lost by Shakespeare. I was intrigued because I wasn't sure what it really meant, though certainly liked the reference to light.

So, I went 'splorin'.

Seems that this phrase is but part of a longer quotation that Michael Macrone explains, quite well. I'll let you click the link and read it for yourself.

Here is what I took away from this quotation. Indeed, it is an Inner Samurai quotation because it speaks against placing too much importance on seeking truth from outside yourself. Instead, turn inward for guidance. Inward for guidance and outward for support. Not the other way around.

Read Michael Marcone's explanation and see what you glean from this oft bandied about quotation from Love's Labour's Lost. What's your interpretation of this quotation? Think it's an Inner Samurai quotation or not?

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Happy Accidental Pren-her Day

Easter is about new beginnings, and Accidental Pren-hers know all about new beginnings.

An Accidental Pren-her is a woman who finds herself starting up a business, perhaps for the very first time. She probably has had no, or very little experience starting up a business, though she may have exhibited early entrepreneurial leanings as a child. It is most likely that she has a dream . . . ” something she has been thinking about for a very long time . . . ” although she has taken no significant action to foster that dream's development.

The "accidental€" part comes in because most women, when facing starting up a business for the very first time, say that they never anticipated doing so. They may have been happily working in corporate, academic, or other traditional work places for most of their adult lives until something happened. What happened? Some kind of activating event . . . something big enough that it required them to view life differently from that point on.

With the start of spring just a couple of days ago and Easter just yesterday, today is the perfect day to wish all my entrepreneurial women friend, clients, and colleagues, Happy Accidental Pren-her Day!

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

 

The "accidental€" part comes in because most women, when facing starting up a business for the very first time, say that they never anticipated doing so. They may have been happily working in corporate, academic, or other traditional work places for most of their adult lives until something happened. What happened? Some kind of activating event . . . something big enough that it required them to view life differently from that point on.

With the start of spring just a couple of days ago and Easter just yesterday, today is the perfect day to wish all my entrepreneurial women friend, clients, and colleagues, Happy Accidental Pren-her Day!

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

 

The Diamond Cutter

The subtitle to this interesting little book is: The Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life. And that's just what this book is all about. The Diamond Cutter is written by ordained (there is certainly some controversy around whether he is still ordained) Buddhist monk, Michael Roach.

Written from the perspective of both a Buddhist and a business man who worked in New York City as a director of Andin International Diamond Corporation for many years, this book contains applied wisdom seldom found in other Buddhist business books.

The Diamond Cutter is not only the name of the book, it also refers to an ancient book of Buddhist wisdom called by the same name. Roach goes into great detail about this in his book.

I found the beginning of the book fascinating, the middle ponderous, and the ending interesting. The beginning revolves around the inner workings of the diamond industry, which I had known nothing about until I read this book. The second section consists of 46 solutions to common business problems. I found this  section, as I said, rather ponderous. Though to be fair and balanced, some reviewers over at Amazon were down-right enthusiastic.

The final section includes several interesting and helpful practices. One called "The Circle," is one that would be beneficial to every entrepreneurial woman . . . it involves taking one day off a week, just to be. The first half of the Circle day, up until 2p is to be spent by yourself, alone, in silence. Here's how it goes:

1. Create a quite place.
2. Sit in silence there for an hour to an hour and a half.
3. Afterward, do some light exercise.
4. Before you eat your first meal, sit quietly for a time and read some kind of thoughtful book about the higher meaning of your life.
5. After a light lunch, take a nap, if you feel like it.
6. Later in the afternoon, do some kind of practical study such as learning photograph or gardening to be exposed to creativity and excellence.
7. In the evening, make a conscious effort to get out and help somebody, at anything.
8. At the end of the day, as you get close to going to bed, head back to your quiet place for more silent time.

I love the concept of weekly Circle days. I can certainly see the benefit in doing them and can just imagine the renewal it would bring to me and my business. However, Circle days certainly do require commitment and conviction. Well worth doing, no doubt. Maybe this will become my 2009 New Year's Resolution.

Have you read this little gem of a book? Or do you have another book you've read regarding Buddhism and business? Let us know!

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

 

If You are an Accidental Pren-her; You Need a Promotion Plan

Last month, I had the opportunity to write a guest blog for The Mindset of Success. I wrote about a topic that new Accidental Pren-hers generally overlook when starting up their business - promotion plans.

What the heck's a promotion plan, you ask?

A promotion plan covers all phases of communication between you and your potential customers. Especially useful when you are rolling out a new product, establishing or changing your company image, or when you want to promote special services or events to your customers. A promotion plan can do many things for you, including positioning you as an expert and leader in your industry, cultivating new markets, and enhancing your reputation.

When done right, a promotion plan helps you focus on your market, streamlines your advertising activities, and ensures that a consistent, high quality image is portrayed and maintained.

When done wrong, a promotion plan will keep you awake at night, not net you the results you expect, and drain your human and financial resources.

7 Affordable Things to Jump Start Your Promotion Plan

• In 25 words or less, identify and describe the number one thing you want your prospects to know about what you do and how it will be of benefit to them.
• Come up with a unique sale proposition that is clear, concise and compelling.
• Call or e-mail everyone you know and bring them up to date on what you are doing! Leave no family member, friend, colleague, or customer in the dark.
• A killer inventory of 5-10 well-written articles, reports, or tips sheets, authored by you, that addresses a specific solution to your target market’s challenge. Aim to inform and educate, rather than sell.
• Make your 30-mile sphere of influence list. Record the name, contact person, address, email, phone number, and website of every business, organization, and media that would be beneficial to your promotion plan.
• Join a professional business networking organization, and go.
• My favorite: Have lots of one-on-one breakfasts throughout the year. As Jim McCraigh says, “Breakfast means business.”

If you'd like to read more, check out the entire post, Jump Start Your Promotion Plan, published as a guest post at The Mindset of Success.

Then, weigh in and let us know your thoughts on promotion plans. Have you written a promo plan for your business? Can you see yourself writing one in the new future?

Oprah and Tolle Together At Last

I've been a fan of contemporary spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle ever since his first book, The Power of Now, came out. Granted, it took me nearly a year to read that book, three more years to fully get what he was saying, and another two years to take it in; though fully integrate it and his teachings, I have.

So when A New Earth came out a couple of years ago, I pounced on it.

Now, so has Oprah, and all I have to say is . . . 'bout time!

In many ways, A New Earth was an easier book for me to read then The Power of Now. Maybe because I understand Eckhart's concepts, or, perhaps, I read it at a time when I was ready to resonate fully with it. Regardless, A New Earth further expands upon Eckhart's teaching and is a reflection of his greater clarity and understanding about how the ego functions, the role of personality, and how consciousness plays such an important part in the whole awakening to ourselves process. The book's inside cover reads:

Eckhart Tolle takes us beyond our own lives to show that we now have an opportunity to birth a new, more loving world. This involves a radical inner leap of consciousness from the current identification with our ego to an entirely new way of thinking about who we are.

Eckhart and Oprah have teamed up to bring this message to the world by offering a series of free webcasts. If you'd like to sign up for these free webcasts . . . then do so here. More than 700,000 people have signed up to date.

We are living in very exciting times. If you feel your Inner Samurai pulse "yes!" to join the growing hundreds of thousands listening in, then come, join in.

Have you been listening to the Oprah-Tolle webcast? What do you think?

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

I'm a Twitter, You're a Twitter, Wouldn't You Like to be a Twitter, too?

Today . . . I am thinking about Twitter.

What brought this topic up? Well, a couple of days ago I was having an issue with Firefox on my new MacBook Pro and could not find a solution to my problem either at Apple, Firefox, or at the usual online discussion boards. I even had Tom, Yvonne, and Karin over at WME Books troubleshooting for me. Then out of the blue, after nothing we tried seemed to work, Yvonne said, "I'm going to put this out on Twitter and see what comes back."

Twitter?
What's Twitter?

Intrigued; I went online to find out about Twitter. One of the things I found out was that twittering wasn't just for Millennials. The second thing I found out is that Twitter is a micro-blogging service that focuses in on one simple question.

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

And the third thing I found out is that there are lot of people who Twitter.

Hillary Clinton twitters!
So does Barack Obama!
Even John McCain twitters!

Now I Twitter, too. And if you'd like to see what I'm twittering about, you can click on follow me on twitter, under 'Twitter Updates' in the upper left-hand corner.

Want to know more about Twitter and see if it's right for you? The folks over at CommonCraft have put together this easy to understand 2.5 minute video that explains it well.

After watching it, let me know what you think. I'm a twitter, you're a twitter, wouldn't you like to be a twitter, too? (Sing to the ever popular Dr. Pepper tune to get the full affect).

What Purpose Does Life Have For You?

Like hundreds of thousands of people, I tuned in to listen to Oprah's worldwide, groundbreaking web event last Monday. For the next nine weeks, spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle is co-teaching a 10-week free course on his newest book, A New Earth, on Oprah.com with none other than Oprah herself. For Oprah, it’s a step forward in her mission "to lead people to their highest selves." For Eckhart, it's a humanizing way to broadcast his message to the world.

One of the things that most struck me while watching the web cast -- besides the fact that Eckhart was the most animated I've ever seen him, and that's not saying much -- was the statement they focused on from his book: Ask life . . . what purpose does it have for you.

With so many people struggling with the answers to the questions: who are you and what is your purpose, I found Eckhart's approach to finding those answers quite fascinating.

Asking life what purpose it has for you is the same as going inward to access the inner knowing voice we all have, what I like to call your Inner Samurai, with the question: what is in my highest good and greatest well being to do now.

When I ask my Inner Samurai: What purpose does life have for me, I feel the same expansive opening in my heart chakra. I feel the same wideness, vastness, and greater connection to an inner, greater knowing. I experience the bypassing of my mental processing to a direct link with my inner knower.

Try it for yourself.

Sit, take a couple of deep breaths to center yourself, then ask, What purpose does life have for me? Then wait and see what comes to you. You may immediately know an answer to your question. Then again, you may need to wait a period of time as the answer comes to you. Either way you will know the answer by the infusion of clarity and knowing that comes to you.

So what was your experience when you asked the question? What came to you?

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

The Heroine's Journey, Stage Three

Last month, we began exploring the Heroine's Journey as it relates to today's Accidental Pren-her. And we've been using Joseph Campbell's own research into the Hero's Journey as our model, adapting it specifically to a woman's journey as she travels from Accidental Pren-her to entrepreneurial women.

There are three stages to every Heroine's Journey. They are:

• Departure
• Initiation
• Return

So far, we've covered the first two stages.

Today, we'll focus on: RETURN

The last part of the Heroine’s Journey is the return home. Before returning home, however, there is usually some sacrifice required of the heroine—something that she must leave behind. Quite often, it is some aspect of the heroine’s ego that must be sacrificed; other times it is something physical.
Regardless, the sacrifice is always some part of us that needs to be transformed. Some part of us that is holding us back from becoming who we are and from achieving what we most desire.

When I was a teenager, I remember reading Hinds’ Feet on High Places by English author Hannah Hurnard. This beautifully written allegorical book had a great impact on me. It was my first encounter with the feminine version of The Hero’s Journey. It is the story of a young woman named Much Afraid, and her spiritual journey away from her Fearing family and into the High Places of the Shepherd, accompanied by her two companions Sorrow and Suffering.

Together the young heroine and her allies pass through many dangers and fears as they mount to the High Places. One by one, Much Afraid faces and overcomes her doubts, turning her weaknesses into strengths and her fears into faith. At the top, she is required to sacrifice something very dear to her — her heart. And when she does, she is transformed, given a new name, and returned to the valley with truth, new awareness, and a deep knowing. She returns with gladness in her step, a smile on her face, and a new willingness to be of service to humankind.

(Excerpt from Chapter 6 of my book)

This is the kind of transformation that takes place along The Heroine's Journey. What gifts have come your way, once you let go of something? What new awareness did you have as a result? What new opening occurred?

Grand Obsession: A Piano Odyssey

I just finished reading Grand Obsession by Perry Knize. This book was given to me by my friend, Linda Childs, who knew of my love of piano. She gave it to me when she heard of my sad news that my 1897 Knabe grand piano, the one I had played on since I was a child, had been needlessly damaged, beyond repair.

The inside jack of this book reads:

A fascinating, lyrical memoir about one woman's obsessive search for the perfect piano and about finding and pursuing passion at any age.

I found both of these to be true . . . especially the obsessive part. Truly, Perry Knize was obsessed with first finding the perfect piano for herself and exponentially obsessive about discovering the perfect tuning for her piano. Even I, a pianist, found her search for the perfect tone well above over-the-top, bordering on unsatisfiably compulsive.

However, she also garnered my respect. In the middle of her 40s, Perry decided to honor her musical passion by taking piano lessons again, after 20 years away from the piano. Instead of being disheartened at the skill lost from years on non-playing, she became determined to regain it. Rather than feeling embarrassed about playing adult-beginner pieces in front of other advanced players, she reaches beyond her fear to something more and played anyway. (Very Inner Samurai of her, I might add).  Instead of being intimidated by others more advanced than she, Perry sat at their feet and soaked in their beautiful playing.

This book is a wonderful book about a midlife woman pursuing her passion. One warning . . . unless you are a pianist or are interested in learning about the intricacies of pianos, tuning, and voicing, there may be technical parts of this book that will cause you to page ahead. Page ahead, yes. Not read the book, no. Grand Obsession is well worth the read. It will inspire you and remind you of how important it is to follow your passion.

Had you read this book? If so, do tell us what you thought of it!

Happy reading,

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

My, Aren't You Ambitious

Today . . . I am thinking about the word ambitious. This word came up the other day when a colleague of mine said to me, "My, aren't you ambitious!" This was said in response to my answer, "My book is launching me onto the world platform."

Up until I said that, we were having a great discussion about women entrepreneurs and about the success vision that each of us holds for ourself and our business. We were brainstorming ideas in support of each other's vision, ramping up a whole lot of energy toward that support, and then suddenly it all changed when I said world stage and she judged that as ambitious.

Ambitious.

As in, ambition is a bad word and being ambitious is a bad thing.

According to the dictionary, ambition is having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed.

So, what's wrong with that?

Dr.Debra Condren over at Ambition is Not a Dirty Word blog has some answers. In fact, she's written a book about it. Here is what she has to say.

We women aren’t advancing in our careers the way we should. We’re not making the money we deserve or getting the fulfillment we desire. And this time it’s not men who are holding us back. This time we’re doing it to ourselves, because ambition—for us—is still a dirty word.

She goes on to say that women entrepreneurs possesses the same fear: if she goes after her dream, she’ll be seen as selfish, bitchy, a bad wife, or bad mother. But it’s exactly this fear of ambition that has forced women to leave the best part of themselves—their dreams, their great talents—by the roadside, rendering them less able to be the whole people they should be in every area of their lives.

Debra ends by saying that ambition isn't about greed; it's about using your talents and making the contribution you were born to make.

This is all very much in line with the Inner Samurai way of creating business from the inside out. From a place women intuitively know and understand, and best yet, can do something about.

What are your thoughts on ambition? Is it a dirty word? Are you the ambitious sort, wanting to succeed?

 

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Twentieth century Irish poet and storyteller James Stephens really gets it. He knows the value and importance of listening to your heart, to your inner voice . . . to what I call, your Inner Samurai.

The head does not hear anything until the heart has listened, and what the heart knows today the head will understand tomorrow.   

What do you think about this quotation? Agree? Disagree? Does it resonate within you?

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Interview with Accidental Pren-her Lauren Sullivan

Today's special guest on The Accidental Pren-her Show, Stories of the Unexpected is Accidental Pren-her Lauren Sullivan. This 12-minute interview talks about how Lauren reinvented herself.

In 2000, after a harrowing experience dealing with her ex-husband's crystal meth addiction, a SWAT team intervention, and the ending of her corporate life working as a marketing executive in Silicon Vally, Lauren was suffering from extreme burnout.

Today, Lauren is an author, life coach, and retreat facilitator. She is a successful small business owner and founder of Inspired Life Design and Life Choice Retreats of Santa Barbara. Her new book, Give Wings to Your Dreams: Reawaken Your Joy and Passion for Life offers inspiration and tools for women standing at the precipice of change who want to take charge of their lives.

You can listen to Lauren's fascinating interview from your computer by clicking on the play button, download the MP3 file and listening on your iPod or other MP3 listening device, or read it in full below.

Enjoy!

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

S:    Welcome to another episode of the Accidental Pren-her Show: Stories of the Unexpected. I am your host, Susan Reid, and today we have with us as a very special guest Lauren Sullivan. She is the founder of Inspired Life Design and Life Choice Retreats of Santa Barbara. Welcome, Lauren.

L:    Hi Susan!

S:    Let’s talk a little bit about your journey into the entrepreneurial lifestyle. At one time, I know you were traditionally employed as a marketing executive in the big Silicon Valley. Now, after many years of transitions, you are an author, a life coach, and a retreat facilitator. Best of all, you’ve just written a book that gives wings to your dreams and reawakens your joy and passion for life that I just finished reading yesterday. Let me tell you, Lauren, I so enjoyed your book. The best part of the book was the Seven Stepping Stones that you wrote about that will transform people’s lives. And the cool thing about those stepping stones is that they are based on your life experience – the life experience you’ve had that has molded that into wisdom and strength and turned you into this successful author, life coach, and retreat facilitator that you are.  Congratulations on your book, and let’s begin our journey. When did your entrepreneurial journey begin?

L:    Thank you, Susan. My journey began in the year 2000, actually. It was a big year for a lot of people, and it was a big year for me, too. I was literally recovering from such extreme burnout and stress-related illness that I had taken a medical leave of absence from my job. I had been dealing with the Silicon Valley fast lane, which in and of itself can do some people in. But I also was dealing with a massive personal crisis with my husband at the time, but we were separated – his crystal meth addiction. And, let me tell you, it just turned my life completely inside out and upside down. I became a single mother of two children at the time, as well.