Comments on: The Very Best Way to Close the Gap http://joyfullyjobless.com/blog/2009/12/the-very-best-way-to-close-the-gap/ Barbara Winter's Joyfully Jobless Journal Mon, 21 May 2012 04:33:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jen http://joyfullyjobless.com/blog/2009/12/the-very-best-way-to-close-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-1631 Jen Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:39:04 +0000 http://joyfullyjobless.com/blog/?p=2586#comment-1631 Barbara - This post really spoke to my heart and confirmed something I've been toying with over the past couple months. I am Joyfully Jobless and love it! It's been over 2 years since I left the corporate world and to tell you the truth, I wouldn't go back. I struggled over the past year doing what I "should" be doing to grow my business such as large group networking and cold calling. What I found as I looked at the end of the year was that all the business tactics that I thought I "should" be doing brought in prospects, but no new clients. When I indulged myself and did the things I loved such as writing, facilitating workshops, enhancing my website, the prospects (who turned into clients) showed up. The validation I took from your post was that it's okay to follow your passions (rather than the "should's), but still engage. That is my plan for 2010. Thank you! Barbara – This post really spoke to my heart and confirmed something I’ve been toying with over the past couple months. I am Joyfully Jobless and love it! It’s been over 2 years since I left the corporate world and to tell you the truth, I wouldn’t go back.

I struggled over the past year doing what I “should” be doing to grow my business such as large group networking and cold calling. What I found as I looked at the end of the year was that all the business tactics that I thought I “should” be doing brought in prospects, but no new clients. When I indulged myself and did the things I loved such as writing, facilitating workshops, enhancing my website, the prospects (who turned into clients) showed up.

The validation I took from your post was that it’s okay to follow your passions (rather than the “should’s), but still engage. That is my plan for 2010. Thank you!

]]> By: Jennifer http://joyfullyjobless.com/blog/2009/12/the-very-best-way-to-close-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-1616 Jennifer Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:45:33 +0000 http://joyfullyjobless.com/blog/?p=2586#comment-1616 Thank you for such a quick response, Barbara! And you are right - really, I need to get better about using my lists. I don't know how to keep up with so many people! I admit I also need to reframe my view of online interaction; experience as an employee where it was mostly "naughty" has spilled over too much. Figuring out what I am doing will help as well; it won't do to go though life feeling like an impostor any longer! Thank you for such a quick response, Barbara! And you are right – really, I need to get better about using my lists. I don’t know how to keep up with so many people! I admit I also need to reframe my view of online interaction; experience as an employee where it was mostly “naughty” has spilled over too much. Figuring out what I am doing will help as well; it won’t do to go though life feeling like an impostor any longer!

]]> By: Barbara Winter http://joyfullyjobless.com/blog/2009/12/the-very-best-way-to-close-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-1615 Barbara Winter Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:31:23 +0000 http://joyfullyjobless.com/blog/?p=2586#comment-1615 Yes, of course, Jennifer, paying attention is part of it. But so is passing along things that you find valuable. Twitter is just another tool for building relationships. The great thing is that we can build them with people we might never meet in real life. If you follow people who are in the conversation, responding from time to time is a way of showing gratitude and acknowledgment...two building blocks of healthy relationships. By the way, unfollowing the noise makers also creates a Twitter stream that's a lot more inviting. Yes, of course, Jennifer, paying attention is part of it. But so is passing along things that you find valuable. Twitter is just another tool for building relationships. The great thing is that we can build them with people we might never meet in real life. If you follow people who are in the conversation, responding from time to time is a way of showing gratitude and acknowledgment…two building blocks of healthy relationships. By the way, unfollowing the noise makers also creates a Twitter stream that’s a lot more inviting.

]]> By: Jennifer http://joyfullyjobless.com/blog/2009/12/the-very-best-way-to-close-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-1614 Jennifer Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:18:37 +0000 http://joyfullyjobless.com/blog/?p=2586#comment-1614 I've been on Twitter for a little while (semi-actively for a few months now) and I find myself leery of chattering for the sake of just making noise - there is so much noise out there it can be quite overwhelming! I retweet when something touches me; I guess I don't want to be obsequious simply to gain attention. Maybe I just don't "get it" in the way the successful people do. Perhaps my case can be rationalized by the last year or so - I was on disability for depression and anxiety for most of it and have lost confidence in my value as a professional. However, I was an employee who felt very undervalued, and now am exploring ways that I might deliver value and make a (joyfully jobless!) living. And, I suppose, healing and regaining the courage to venture forth into what felt for so long like a very critical world. Isn't it possible to be at a stage where one is present by paying attention? We can't always listen while our mouths are moving, can we? I’ve been on Twitter for a little while (semi-actively for a few months now) and I find myself leery of chattering for the sake of just making noise – there is so much noise out there it can be quite overwhelming! I retweet when something touches me; I guess I don’t want to be obsequious simply to gain attention. Maybe I just don’t “get it” in the way the successful people do. Perhaps my case can be rationalized by the last year or so – I was on disability for depression and anxiety for most of it and have lost confidence in my value as a professional. However, I was an employee who felt very undervalued, and now am exploring ways that I might deliver value and make a (joyfully jobless!) living. And, I suppose, healing and regaining the courage to venture forth into what felt for so long like a very critical world.

Isn’t it possible to be at a stage where one is present by paying attention? We can’t always listen while our mouths are moving, can we?

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