Discovering Your Inner Samurai Blog

Rilke Knew His Inner Samurai

This inspiration for this blog comes from painter, Robert Genn. He writes "Twice-Weekly Letters" for his Painter’s Key blog that I find quite interesting, inspiring, and fresh. He graciously gave his permission for me to share his musings on Rilke with you. Rilke’s words are very much at the heart of the Inner Samurai. Enjoy!

Letters to a Young Poet

In 1903, the poet Rainer Maria Rilke responded by letter to a young man seeking his advice. Rilke eventually wrote ten letters now collectively known and much published as Letters to a Young Poet. They are heartfelt advice from a successful (though still struggling) artist to another who was deeply mired in self-doubt. The classic language of these letters soars in beauty as well as lofty good sense. His idealism is applicable today to all who might pursue any sort of creative activity. Here, partly in direct quotation and partly in condensed summation, are some of Rilke's ideas:

• Your work needs to be independent of others' work.
• You must not compare yourself to others.
• No one can help you. You have to help yourself.
• Criticism leads to misunderstandings and defeatism.
• Work from necessity and your compulsion to do it.
• Work on what you know and what you are sure you love.
• Don't observe yourself too closely, just let it happen.
• Don't let yourself be controlled by too much irony.
• Live in and love the activity of your work.
• Be free of thoughts of sin, guilt and misgiving.
• Be touched by the beautiful anxiety of life.
• Be patient with the unresolved in your heart.
• Try to be in love with the questions themselves.
• Love your solitude and try to sing with its pain.
• Be gentle to all of those who stay behind.
• Your inner self is worth your entire concentration.
• Allow your art to make extraordinary demands on you.
• Bear your sadness with greater trust than your joy.
• Do not persecute yourself with how things are going.
• It's good to be solitary, because solitude is difficult.
• It's good to love, because love is difficult.
• You are not a prisoner of anything or anyone.

Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) was born in Czechoslovakia and died in Switzerland. Dogged by fragile health and the constant search for inexpensive and healthful accommodation, he anxiously moved from one climate to another. Considered the greatest modern poet in the German language, Rilke counseled the young poet, known only as Mr. Kappus, over a five-year period. No evidence exists that they ever met.

Are you as much a fan of Rilke as I am? Were you inspired by his advice to the young poet? Let us know.

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Sheri Schmelzer and Her Crocs

This Accidental Pren-her story was sent to me by my wonderful business manager, Carolyn Freeman. I liked it so much, I just had to post it for all to read.

This is a Reader's Digest story about Sheri Schmelzer and her crocs.

Read it an let me know what you think of her story. Are you as moved and inspired as Carolyn and I?

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Discovering Your Inner Samurai Video

Explore the world of the woman entrepreneur. Find out what inspires her, drives her, and is the key to her success. Watch this short, 3-minute, video and discover how important discovering your Inner Samurai is to building your business from the inside out.

The Power of a Plan

Today . . . I am thinking about the ease of One Page Business Plans.

I've been a small business owner for awhile now, and I, like most business owners I know, wrote a business plan when I first started up my business.

Having a business plan is a strategic and financial asset. Not only does a business plan strategically guide your business, it is also invaluable for obtaining financial support and backing.

The only problem is . . . the traditional business plans are a long, arduous, and sometimes costly process filled with hours of crunching numbers, lots of grinding teeth, and struggle.

Since starting to use the One Page Business Plan books several years ago, I have met with nothing by rave reviews from my clients. They love the ease, the simplicity, and how quickly they can get their business plan done -- usually in 3 weeks time. Hats off to forward thinker Jim Horan, for making business planning a breeze.

If you are interested in creating a business plan for your new or existing company, let me know!

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

 

How to Access Your Inner Samurai

Have you ever wondered about how to access your Inner Samurai? What kind of questions to ask? How your Inner Samurai will respond?

Well, the first thing to know is that your Inner Samurai will always answer you. However, you do need to know what to listen for, because the difference between how the voice inside your head answers you and the way your wise inner voice -- your Inner Samurai -- answers you is the difference between night and day.

First . . . how to ask your Inner Samurai a question. The best way is to frame a question in this manner, "Is this (what ever you want to know about) in my highest good and greatest wellbeing right now." Since your Inner Samurai only exists in the now, this type of question is the perfect way to get in touch with your Inner Samurai response. Asking questions in the future will get you a response from the voice inside your head. So stay in the now with how you frame your questions.

Second . . . the response you are waiting to experience is a pulse from within. Unlike the voice inside your head, which will rationalize, explain, convince, cajole, criticize, and chew on things over and over, your Inner Samurai voice will simply pulse "yes" or "no." That's it. No chatter. No erudite reasoning. No verbose discourse.

Just an inner pulse of "yes" or "no."

Let's try this out with these three pictures.

Ask: "Is it in my highest good and greatest wellbeing to pursue a career as a ballerina, right now?"

Listen or feel for the pulse. Did you get a "yes" or "no?"

Ask: "Is it in my highest good and greatest wellbeing to take that fire fighter job offer, right now?"

Listen or feel for your Inner Samurai pulse. What did you get?

Ask: "Is what I am currently doing for a living in my highest good and greatest wellbeing, right now."

What was your Inner Samurai pulse on that one? Good question, isn't it, for all you would be Accidental Pren-hers!

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Interview with Accidental Pren-her Carol McClelland

Business podcast with Carol McClelland - subscribe now via iTunes.

I had a great visit with Carol McClelland about her impressive 16 year journey from solo-prenher to founder and managing editor of Green Career Central. The inspiring part of this interview is that Carol never gave up. She kept pursuing her dream, living her passion, and following her Inner Samurai.

• Listen to the interview. (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download)
• Read the transcript.

This episode of Accidental Pren-her: Stories of the Unexpected podcast is brought to you by Creative Team Solutions. Bring us a group . . . we'll make you a team.

Inner Samurai Book Trailer

Explore the world of the woman entrepreneur. Find out what inspires her, drives her, and is the key to her success. Watch this short, 3-minute, video and discover how important discovering your Inner Samurai is to building your business from the inside out.

What Word Do You Own?

Today . . . I am grinning. I've just finished watching this short video on word ownership by Scott Ginsberg. In it, he talks about the benefit of owning a word. This is particularly important when considering the name of your business, product, or book.

I own Accidental Pren-her - as in registered and trademarked.
I own Inner Samurai - the concept.
And Alkamae - the business.

What word do you own?

One of the best parts of this video is that it is about Yvonne DiVita, my book publisher and friend over at WME Books. Find out what's so special about Yvonne's word . . . Dickless. Yep, I said dickless. Now you've got to watch the video!

Discovering Your Inner Samurai Book Trailer

Are you an Accidental Entrepreneur? What we call an Accidental Pren-her, starting up a business for the very first time? Help is on its way! Watching this video and find out how.

Interview with Accidental Pren-hers Karen Eschebach and Jennifer Weaver

Business podcast with Karen Eschebach & Jennifer Weaver - subscribe now via iTunes.

I had a great visit with Karen Eschebach & Jennifer Weaver about their fabulous company, for this episode of the Accidental Pren-her podcast. Clever Container is all about organizing, functionality, ideas, and fun! Learn why these women decided to start-up a company together and what's up for their future.

• Listen to the interview. (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download)
• Read the transcript.

This episode of Accidental Pren-her: Stories of the Unexpected podcast is brought to you by Creative Team Solutions. Bring us a group . . . we'll make you a team.

Inner Samurai Video

Explore the world of the woman entrepreneur. Find out what inspires her, drives her, and is the key to her success. Watch this short, 3-minute, video and discover how important discovering your Inner Samurai is to building your business from the inside out.

Discovering Your Inner Samurai Video

Today . . . I am unveiling my Discovering Your Inner Samurai video.
Watch and let me know what you think.
And if you like it . . . pass it on!

Quote from Money and the Law of Attraction

Many of you, I know, are reading the latest Abraham-Hicks book, Money and the Law of Attraction. I thought this quotation was particularly powerful when considered from an Inner Samurai perspective:

To see your world through the eyes of Source is truly the most spectacular view of life, for from that vibrational vantage point, you are in alignment with - and therefore in the process of attracting - only what you would consider to be the very best of your world.

What do you think? Great reminder, yes?

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Interview with Accidental Pren-her Dana Weekley

Business podcast with Dana Weekley - subscribe now via iTunes.

I had a great visit with Dana Weekley about her interesting transition from being a traditionally employed accountant to how she recognized her inner artist and founded her successful small business, Nine Tomatoes. Dana is an artist who specializes in entertainment for the third eye and her unique business features everything from fabric, to cards, to pure energy tees.

• Listen to the interview. (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download)
• Read the transcript.

This episode of Accidental Pren-her: Stories of the Unexpected podcast is brought to you by Creative Team Solutions. Bring us a group . . . we'll make you a team.

Five Qualities that Make a Niche Good

Today . . . I am thinking about what makes a niche good. What started me thinking about this topic was a conversation I had with one of my niche clarity program clients. What I found in answering was that it was easier for me to tell her how to figure out if she had a good niche (quantitative analysis), then what makes a niche good.

Five Good Niche Qualities

1. You are passionate about it.
2. You are knowledgeable about it.
3. You have a sustaining interest in it.
4. You know you can make a meaningful contribution to it.
   
5. You are able to make good money at it.

Are there any other qualities you'd like to this list?

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Orison Swett Marden Knew His Inner Samurai

Orison Swett Marden, founder of Success magazine - one of my favorite business magazines, btw - knew his Inner Samurai. This quotation perfectly reflects the inner knowing and strong action steps that are hallmark characteristics of our Inner Samurai.

"Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them."

What do you think? Do you like that bold statement? Or, find it too strong?

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Interview with Accidental Pren-her Jennifer Albin

Business podcast with Jennifer Albin - subscribe now via iTunes.

I had a great visit with Jennifer Albin about her unique business and specialty product, for this episode of the Accidental Pren-her podcast. Sass And Fras is the home of the Baby Bloak, and Jennifer is the inspiration and creative genius behind this unique, patent-pending product that allows you to put your baby in a car seat without having to take off their outerwear.

• Listen to the interview. (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download)
• Read the transcript.

This episode of Accidental Pren-her: Stories of the Unexpected podcast is brought to you by Creative Team Solutions. Bring us a group . . . we'll make you a team.