the “What I Trust List”. why you need one, and how to do it.

Before a big gig or juicy-charged op moment I do this trust exercise. I started doing it on airplanes en route to what I thought would be my destiny (even tho’ I don’t believe in destiny.) After my strategic wheels have been torqued, and I’ve imagined what the ideal outcome might feel like, I drill into my soul foundation, to what feels so true and solid that I just might bet my life on it. Unwaivering. Multi-dimensionally verifiable. Or close as I can get to it. The point: cool my mind and warm my heart. When that's my state of being, I can respond to pretty much anything.

Often we’re so busy trying to get our endorphins fired up to go get ‘em!, we forget that feeling comforted is a very, very powerful state of being.

Create a “What I Trust List”. Whenever you need it.

FOCUS ON THE PRESENT. The whole point of this exercise is to access the trust that already lives in your being. It’s not about generating new trust, or visualizing outcomes, or affirming your way into positive thinking. Those techniques are useful, but they can also turn into mind tricks. We’re concentrating on presence here.

Sometimes, the fact of the matter is that you don’t fully trust that something will work out in you’re favour. You have doubts, you’re anxious, you have reason to be cautious – and you’re going for it anyway. This is the definition of courage: Regardless of concerns, I’m givin’ 'er! It’ll be easier to give 'er if you’re anchored to what’s already working in your life.

WRITE IT OUT. It’s important that your What I Trust List be written, out. The movement, hand to vision, will help your psyche take in the comfort. Imagine that your mind is like a lung, inhaling and exhaling as you account for all that you know to be true. Ahhhh.

SPEAK IT OUT. If you’re an audio-learner, speak it out. Leave yourself a voicemail, or a voice-memo on your mobile, or talk to yourself. Kindly.

STREAM YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS. Just let it pour out – but, again, don’t include things that you don’t fully have trust in. It’s okay if your list is short. Brevity is better than bravado. It could be one word if that’s what feels true. It could be six pages in your daytimer if that’s real.

I trust my love for… I trust my integrity. I trust how much my mama loves me. … I trust that my guides are watching out for me. … I trust that she’ll be there when I call. … I trust that there’s always another idea. … I trust that I can always get a job. …

GO “OBVIOUS” IF YOU NEED TO. Nothing is too great or too small to put your trust in. Sometimes the most basic and primal things will give you a boost, especially if you’re finding it difficult to think of things that you fully trust in.

I trust my next breath will keep coming. … I trust the sun will rise tomorrow. … I trust Sparky will be wagging his tail when I walk in the door. … I trust that the snow will melt. …

Trust now. Trust in The Now. Consciously access what you know to be positively, life-affirmingly true. And that sureness will become a bridge to what’s possible.

←   read all current inspiration articles

The Subtle & Abiding Sense of Failure Angel. Know her?

Ry Cooder is considered to be one of the greatest bluesmen of all time. Yet, on more than one occasion, with a sold out concert and multiple encores, he asked promoters to refund the audience their money because he felt, "I could have been better."

I have a painter friend whose art sells for $10,000 a painting. She routinely paints over pieces that are for sale in her gallery. It could have been better, she says.

I’ve gotten standing ovations for speaking gigs. “Meh, I give myself a B. Coulda been better."

Here's the confession: I always feel like I'm failing. And succeeding. And failing. And succeeding. And failing.

I'm not masochistic. My glass is not 'half full', it is oceanic. I feel sturdy and ripe. But The Subtle & Abiding Sense of Failure Thing.... it's as steady as the green of my eyes.

If you're committed to the sacred strive, The Subtle & Abiding Sense of Failure Thing will always be along for the ride.

... In your speech, your craft, your work. Pleasing your lover, planting your garden, dispensing your accumulated knowledge. You can make masterpieces. Daily. You can please some people, get a raise, fire up your kundalini, you can hit it out of the park and sleep like a satiated baby that night. And then in she glides, to sit in the chair in the corner of your room: The Subtle & Abiding Sense of Failure Thing.

She's an angel, I tell you. An angel.
You are not insecure, neurotic, defective, obsessive, or unappreciative.
(Well, maybe you are, but not because you experience The Subtle & Abiding Sense of Failure Angel.)
Coexisting with The Subtle & Abiding Sense of Failure Angel is part of making art.
She is as reliable as your creative impulses.
She comes bearing invitations. To more.

The Subtle & Abiding Sense of Failure Angel is able to enter because you left your heart open.
Leave it open.
You have to.
To make more stuff.
To make it better, so that we evolve and bring one another along for the ride.
Where demons get to be angels if you look at them the right way.

←   read all current inspiration articles

10 antidotes to assumptions + the dark beauty of internships

I sent out an email looking for a free intern. Holy smokers. Sound the alarms. This is the range of responses:

My perception of your integrity has plummeted. Slave driver. Who do you think you are? Unsubscribed. What an unloving tone. Tacky. What a great opportunity. I was just thinking of offering my services for an exchange. Sounds incredible. I can't work for free, but what could we work out? I'd love to learn from you. Could be a magical trade. I'll make this work. I'm in. I'd pay YOU to be your intern!

Chris Brogan had similar "comments/concerns/accusations" when he put a call out for an intern. My take-away from the response is essentially this:

Assumptions kill courage and creativity.

Assumptions squash opportunities before they fully present themselves. Assumptions hurt your chances, people's feelings, and your pride. Assumptions will keep you right where you are. If you avoid assumptions, you can make more amazing things happen.

10 ANTIDOTES TO ASSUMPTIONS

(like most things, this applies to livelihood and love):

1. Inquire. Is this 2 hours a week or 20 hours a week? (It's up to you.)
2. Assert your genuine self. I'd love to do XYZ. (Great! I only want you to do what you love. It's better for everybody.)
3. Make declarations. I'm in! (Excellent. Enthusiasm is gorgeous.)
4. Ask for access. May I sit in on your tele-meetings with Random House? (Absolutely. That team will blow your mind!) Can I read that plan? (Already sent you the password.)
5. Ask for money. Can I get paid? (Of course. I was wondering if you'd ask.)
6. Have bigger vision. It doesn't help a potential mentor or love-match for you to say, "I'm all these great qualities." You need to demonstrate your understanding of the brand/the person, and some forward thinking. Be the entrepreneur, the woo'er. Bigger vision shakes you out of small thinking and magnetizes people to you.
7. Think long term. Love upfront pays off later.
8. Be generous. Generous people attract generosity.
9. Be obsessed with improving everything you touch.
10. Use trust as a strength. I trust that if I give, I'll get.
11. Pour it ON. As my own mentor always says, "It's 'Give and take.' Not, 'Take, then give.'"
12. Live from a place of possibility. Possibility thinking is the singular most powerful weapon against limiting assumptions. And more is possible if you think it is.

This is the price of admission to something great. It's almost always worth it. And you never stop doling out your admission fees, no matter how successful you are.

Charlie Hoehn does a great job of selling "free."

. . . . . .

subject line: I'm looking for an intern

you will: work for free until June 1. work could range from grunt tech uploading, to bartending, to high level marketing maneuvers, to styling.

I will: teach you how to make a lot of big, meaningful, profitable stuff happen.

If you think you're the one, tell me -- or show me -- what you'd do to help me get where you think I should go.
email: [email protected] by Thursday January 19. please: no further questions, no DM's, no Facebook messages.

I'll announce if the position has been filled by Friday January 27 via my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
cheers,
Danielle

. . . . . .

CHECK IT OUT!
Your Big Beautiful Book Plan Teleseminar + Twitter Party
Wednesday, January 18th, 2011 at 9pm EST/ 6pm PST
Sponsored by Karl from PartyBizConnect.com
5 copies of YBBBP ($150 each) will be gifted to happy tweeters.

CLICK HERE FOR SIGN UP INFO.

And yep -- it's free.

this wednesday, jan 18 : publishing telejamjam

Attention beautiful book dreamers, blossoming writers, bestseller brewers...

Your Big Beautiful Book Plan Teleseminar + Twitter Party Wednesday, January 18th, 2011 at 9pm EST/ 6pm PST
Sponsored by Karl from PartyBizConnect.com

It's free. And there will be prizes! 5 copies of YBBBP!

We'll be jamming on how to get an agent, how to cull your content into gorgeousness, creative fuel, and platform-building. All of it. You ask (via Twitter!) and we answer. Beautiful.

Here's how to hop on the party bus:

Step 1: RSVP right HERE

Step 2: Make sure you're following @daniellelaporte, @lindasivertsen and @partybizconnect (our party host) on Twitter.

Step 3: Setup Hootsuite or TweetDeck (if you haven't already). This will be the easiest way to view the chat. When you've finished the download, add a search column for #BookPlan. When everything gets going, this is where you'll see the chat happening.

Step 4: On Wednesday, January 18th, 2011 at 9pm EST/6pm PST, phone: 712-432-0900 and enter access code: 758266.

We'll be on the line, waiting for...you. How join the rabble: At 9pm ET/6pm PST, hop onto HootSuite or TweetDeck and keep an eye out for Karl's (@partybizconnect) tweets. He's the emcee. He'll be posing questions about books, proposals and experiences, and....announcing prizes.

Tag your tweets with #BookPlan.

Or...just call and listen. And let your dreams stretch and your strategic wheels turn, turn, turn.

xo
Danielle + Linda...
and honourbale tele-tweeter emcee, Karl from PartyBizConnect.com

PS...
To up your chances for a winning a copy of YBBBP ($150), spread the word on Twitter. Grab a tweet or compose your own. The biggest rabble-rousers are the winners.

@daniellelaporte + @lindasivertsen are throwing a YBBBP Twitter soirée! Use the #BookPlan tag to join http://bit.ly/ybptwi, 1/18

Totally amped for #BookPlan tweetchat w/ @daniellelaporte + @lindasivertsen on 1/18! Be thereh: http://bit.ly/ybptwi

@lindasivertsen + @daniellelaporte + you + amazing prizes = #BookPlan tele-twitter jam. 1/18, 9PM ET. Learn more http://bit.ly/ybptwi

I'll be riffin w/ @daniellelaporte @lindasivertsen on all things #BookPlan on 1/18 Love + goodies abound! Be there http://bit.ly/ybptwi

success is a surprise party

My idea was : I'll do a Pay What You Can Day to retire The Spark Kit and kick-off THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS pre-order party.

My presumption was: I'll sell enough Spark Kits to pay for a family vacation. Clear the energy for new things to come in.

What happened was: We made an Amazon Bestseller happen. That day, as I was helping a friend move, in between emails and an acupuncture treatment, my agent emailed me and said, "You're #114 on Amazon." It took me a minute to compute. It hadn't occurred to me to even check. You see, the day before the book ranked #390,460 in overall books on Amazon.com. And then...

This is what happened in the US:

And this happened in Canada:

My friend Jonathan Fields did a video post about my apparently brill tactical moves. And, yep, when God was handing out gold stars for promotional savvy, I campaigned for more. But here's the thing...this early success was a complete surprise. It wasn't what I planned. When it was clear that we were climbing the charts I thought to myself, "This 'giving up expectations' shit really works." I got all teary and taken aback.

Because here's what I think when really fantastic awesome things happen in my own little world: God really does want for me what I want for me. And that, yep, cosmic intelligence is the hostess with the mostest.

In summary:

Give it your all. Give it away. Your desires are being held in the hand of the cosmos with incredibly sturdy care. Life is not testing you. She is rooting for you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

There's more in store. Soon. Very soon.

P.S.
I'm changing my site name to DanielleLaPorte.com. WhiteHotTruth has had it's run. Death. Life. You know. I'll explain. Tomorrow.

today! get hot + pay what you can! it’s a fire sale!

It’s a double-special-day with a twist.

My new book, THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS: A SOULFUL + PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CREATING SUCCESS ON YOUR OWN TERMS is now available for pre-order! In hardcover! All gorgeous n' new! (Read more about it at the bottom of this post.) In the coming weeks I’ll be rolling out a campaign that will sizzle with bestseller-light-up-your-life LOVE.

pay what you can day is now closed. The Spark Kit is going to digital heaven. more to report very, very soon. xoxo (more...)

how to love the inevitable pain of getting focused. it hurts so good.

Being focused -- on your goal, your task, your purpose -- is a key ingredient of success. We know this.

If focusing was easy, everyone would being doing it.

This is where a lot of motivational ra-rah fails us: "Just focus. Zero in, prioritize, it's easy when you ...just focus." True, things do get exponentially easier when you hone in on your objective. But the actual choosing of what to focus on can be excruciating. It sucks to delay great projects. Pacing yourself is a drag. It can feel downright masochistic to say no to juicy opportunities.

When we recognize the fact that focusing can hurt, then we can face it directly, make better decisions about where we're directing our energy, and move on more quickly toward success. The act of focusing requires contraction, ruthlessness, and deafening resolve. Wince. And then come the sweet relief.

Medicine tastes bad. Swig it back.
It hurts to say goodbye. Your plane is leaving.
Focusing can be painful. Make your choices.

focus.

1. Grieve for your ideas, the ones that will never see the light of day. Pruned. Aborted. Not meant to be. Under-resourced. Not as shiny as all your other ideas. Bye bye idea. You made me feel more creative, sassy, sexy. Thanks for passing through. Some ideas are only meant to flirt with you -- quick confidence boosts on your way to lasting passion.
2. Bow respectfully to time, like it's your honorable Jujitsu partner. Einstein said, "Time exists so that everything doesn't happen at once." What a beautiful, agonizing truth. Because when you're on fire with ideas and things to make-do-build, don't you wish it could all just happen at once? Time and gravity. Part of the human deal. Inescapable, really. Thankfully. Sometimes.
3. Put some ideas in escrow. They will wait for you. Patiently ripening.
4. Trust your muse. She may like to blurt stuff out at you at 4am, muses tend to be impulsive. But she also knows that one nuked idea will lead to another that is destined to be manifested.
5. Get off on the pain. As in it hurts so good to focus. When it sucks to set ten ideas aside and choose only one, relish in the agony, like an athlete loves the burn. You are getting ahead.

focus.
essential.
friction.
infinitely illuminating.

←   read all current inspiration articles

save the date: this tuesday, january 10…

... there will be a Pay What You Can Day ...and something else happening 'round here.
crazy town. xo

quick brilliance, ecstatic sex, fear extinguishing + a prayer for great expectations: my december round-up

Here's my best from the twelfth month of 2011:

How to accomplish great things quickly: when quick n’ dirty is totally genius: fast can make something that lasts. Don’t censor your passion in the name of practicality. Believe. Trust. Lock into your deadlines, SET THAT BAR HIGHER AND FOCUS… (more...)

←   read all current inspiration articles

READ MORE