#119: It’s Not Too Late

“The truth that sets you free is that you can experience in imagination what you desire to experience in reality, and by maintaining this experience in imagination, your desire will become an actuality.”
–Neville, The Power of Awareness

In This Issue:

It’s Not Too Late
by Krista Jones

Last Thursday evening I sat in a darkened room as 15 children filed by, each with a candle to light the way. Second in line was my 10-year-old nephew, Jordan.

I was at his school to witness his induction into the Jr. Beta Club. A club that recognizes academic achievement and good citizenship skills in children grades 5 through 9. Some of the club’s more famous former members include: President Bill Clinton, Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller, anchorwoman Diane Sawyer, football great Herschel Walker and country music star Trisha Yearwood.

I am so proud of Jordan. Not only is he acknowledged as an exceptional student and leader in his school, but he’s also a star athlete who is regularly called out by coaches, umpires, and referees around the county as a kid with a terrific attitude.

To be around him, you’d never know that this kid has endured the toughest year of his life: his parents are going through a protracted divorce; he moved into a new house; and he had to change schools. In spite of all these changes, Jordan continues to excel.

After the ceremony, I asked Jordan what he wants to be when he grows up. He thought for a moment before saying, “A baseball player. A writer. Or a policeman.”

Then his friend chimed in, “I want to be a lawyer. No, I want to create video games. Yeah Jordan, let’s do that!”

It was electrifying to watch them use their imaginations to see all kinds of wonderful possibilities for their lives. Wouldn’t it be nice to still feel that kind of enthusiasm about your future? To still know more about the word “can” than the word “can’t.”

As I mentioned last week, I haven’t performed at my best over the past year. I allowed myself to get stuck in a place where I focused on things I thought I couldn’t do or I thought it was too late to do. And it was driving me nuts because that kind of thinking goes completely against my grain.

But the buck stops here.

Starting next Monday, I’ll be working with 14 coaches for 56 straight days. These are coaches with expertise in all areas of life—business, health, relationships, and more. The short-term goal is not only to learn how they became so good at what they do, but also to do some serious work for and on myself.

This process will teach me how to stay focused on the possibilities of life rather than on my past or present experience.

Ultimately, it will show me how to turn who I am at my core into a lifestyle.

One of my current mentors encouraged me to start looking at the circumstances in my life that could be improved and ask “What if?” It’s one of the most empowering exercises I’ve ever done.

I encourage you to join me in questioning the conditions that stand between you and your best life.

Ask questions like…

When you ask yourself those kinds of questions, in many ways, you start to feel like a kid again. And that’s one of the best ways I know to stop accepting the status quo and start swinging for the fence again.

Resource Referral: Use Your Skills To Become Self-Sufficient

Are you concerned about finding enough clients to keep you busy as a freelance copywriter?

I honestly believe there’s more than enough work out there for good freelancers; however, there is another attractive option if you’d rather not deal with having to find clients. You can start your own online information products business.

There are several programs out there to help you get started, but the simplest and least expensive one I’ve found is The Internet Marketing Retirement Plan by Bob Bly.

Instead of making it complicated, Bob shows you how to run your entire information products business in three simple steps.

Bob actually followed these three steps to start his own part-time information products business last year. He was bringing in figures with this side business in six months.

The Internet Marketing Retirement Plan costs less than $100 and it comes with a 90-day guarantee. Following Bob’s three-step process, you can be bringing in enough money within two years that can eliminate the need to ever work for an employer or client again. Sound interesting? Give it a shot—you’ve got three months to preview it with no risk.

Reader Feedback: What Would You Do?

Mindy, a lady in our mentoring program, sent me this question last week:

“I am wondering what the etiquette is when meeting a client at a restaurant. Last Friday I met the fellow I’m writing web copy for. We met at a Starbucks, and I beat him there so I already had a coffee. I offered to buy him one as well, thinking this was appropriate etiquette since I’m the service provider in a relationship where I receive payment from him. Is this correct, or do I have it backwards?”

From my corporate days, I’m aware of a few restrictions for when a service provider can buy something for a client. But I don’t know where—or if—those lines are drawn as a freelancer.

If I were in Mindy’s shoes, I would have done the same thing she did. But I’m no Emily Post, so I might be way off base.

Please let me know if you’re aware of any etiquette guideline that precludes offering to buy a client a cup of coffee or lunch. I’d love to share your insights with our readers since other freelancers might find themselves in a similar position as Mindy. Thanks!