The first of which is I had the honor of MCing TEDxFidiWomen 2013!

This is me introducing 9yr old speaker, Vivienne Harr, who has raised
over $100,000 with her Make A Stand Lemon Aid to help end child slavery!

2011
I had first attended TEDxFidiWomen, in 2011, which synchronistically led to this post about Jennifer Sherman’s inspiring talk, my launching my “Ladypreneur: Women Winning at Work” tumblr, that was then featured in Glamour! Not to mention all of the amazing women I met, and whose words and wisdom impacted me that day.

One of them being the ever-awesome SARK, who I’d met & spent time with way back in ’97 (which is also when/how I met Andrea Scher!), and I was able to relay to her that – inspired by her bio in Creative Companion, that I read while I was living in Boulder – I too now “live in a Magic Cottage with my cat in San Francisco!” :p

2012
The next TEDxFidiWomen I attended (2012), I contributed by designing an animated timeline of ‘Key Events in the Women’s Right’s Movement,’ that played throughout the day in the gallery:

2013
As you can see, I’m a big fan, so I was honored to support and contribute again by MCing the event! All of the speakers were *amazing* (you can watch all of their talks here!), not the least of which was the fabulous 9-yo Vivienne who’s on stage with me in that photo above.

In fact, super cool is that I know Vivienne’s parents from way back before they were even married! We were friends in 1998, when Eric was speaking at the Learning Annex, and I was the Events Coordinator there. It was so awesome reconnecting with him & (his now wife!) Alex, and meet their super cool kiddos! So neat how life works that way, huh?

On December 5th I was not only on stage all day MC’ing TEDxFidiWomen, but after dinner I hopped in a cab & cruised over to the Brava Theatre where I hopped on stage and delivered my first Ignite talk! I’ll post about that, with the video of my talk, when it’s published. It was two exciting events in one jam-packed-with-awesome day!

2014
I already have 4 exciting speaking events lined up this year, not to mention my own events/retreats (details coming soon!)… and, yes, I’m definitely planning on delivering my own talk at TEDx as well. Considering how much joy, knowledge and opportunity* they’ve brought my way, it’s about time, huh?

*In 2012 I also supported sweet Tanya Geisler by designing keynote slides to accompany her brilliant words of wisdom, and we’ve been working together ever since!

Big thanks & kudos to my awesome friends Michelle Fetsch & Gretchen Sweet, for putting on another great year, and here’s to an awesome year ahead!

The post MCing TEDxFidiWomen 2013 appeared first on WilloLovesYou.

Click here to view the full course details »

The seedlings of this idea came to me almost a year ago, and since then it’s been slowly taking shape. It’s morphed, evolved, and become what it is today in a way that has me totally dumbfounded and humbled at the wonders of the creative process. I was actually feeling pretty stuck with it at one point. Not even totally realizing I was stuck, because I was so busy running my other ecourses, putting on YxYY, traveling, and feeling *completely over the moon* in my growing coaching business.

But this one kept knocking at my door.

I’d have new ideas for it all the time. I’d write them down, share them with friends, and get super excited. I’d make some progress here and there. I’d record a video, write some emails, schedule some plans… but somehow it just wasn’t coming together. Then recently – actually just a short 30 days ago! – it all came to me like a lightning bolt. WOW is that a cool feeling.

Couldn’t be more fitting really, because it literally felt like the door blew open, and the crisp fall air brought in leaves of clarity and guidance. It was like finding the last few pieces of the puzzle, and having the whole picture finally come together. Huzzah!

What a gift…  This year I’ve taken to calling myself a Doula for Hatching Big Ideas. Not only is it more interesting than saying I’m a Coach & Creative Business Consultant, but it really holds such a deep resonance for me. I help birth beautiful ideas. Ideas that light up people’s hearts!

I love that I get to work with so many brilliant souls, coaching them through untangling their fears, experiencing major shifts, and supporting them as they make big, bold leaps in their lives, artistic passions and careers. I also love that I get to experience this process in my own life & business, with my own creations, and that the two are so closely married.

Feel all that love and celebration? 
I think that’s why I’m so excited to share Harvest & Thrive with you today.
This is me taking the next step on my path. This is my calling. This incarnation has been calling me for almost a year, and I listened. I listened and let it guide me, and here we are. It’s here!!

It’s also my gift to you. My way of serving the world. My way of sharing and giving all that I have learned in coaching others, and coaching myself through my own creative process. It feels like a gift to me to be able to share it with you! I think that’s what they call a win-win, which is pretty much my favorite way of doing business. 😉

I would love to have you join me for this experience. If not the entire course, then whichever one of the modules feels right for you (yes, they’re available individually)! It’s a grand experiment, and it’s going to be really fun to see what comes of it.

Thank you for reading my shmoopy post. I wish this feeling for everyone! 🙂

Big love & hugs,

The post Celebrating the launch of Harvest & Thrive! appeared first on WilloLovesYou.

I am crazy honored to have my Octohug drawing nestled on a page near awesome illustrations by some of my favorite artists: Gary Baseman, Keith Haring, Kozyndan, Ryan Junell, Ryan McGinness, Saelee Oh, Shepard Fairey, Souther Salazar, and so many more!

~ Buy on Amazon ~
OutsidetheLinesBook.com

For those who are unfamiliar with my history, Octohug was one of my first illustrations I had embroidered on baby onesies, and gocco printed on greeting cards when I launched my WilloToons product line in 2007!

I am so over the moon excited that this sweet illustration lives on in OTL, and will be colored by kiddos all over the land!!

Outside the Lines has been receiving a ton of amazing press, too. Check it out:

• Huffpo Arts & Culture: Coloring Book Geared Towards Art-Loving Adults Might Be The Best Thing We’ve Ever Seen
• Gizmodo: An Artist-Designed Coloring Book For Budding Creative Types
• Cool Hunting: Over 100 works of art by over 100 contemporary artists, for creatives of all ages
• Hello Giggles: Item of the Day
• Boing Boing: Kids’ coloring book of contemporary art
• Daily Candy: A Modern Take on the Coloring Book
• USAToday, Nylon Mag and many more! (Souris’ Pinterest board)

She even had a huge Book Launch party at MOCA that I wish soooo badly I could have been there for!  (I was in Oslo, Norway at the time.) LA Weekly covered it and published some great photos:

Souris Hong-Porretta & Shepard Fairey

The beautiful MOCA, which all artists received a membership to… I’m so excited to go!

View all OTL Book Launch photos by Nanette Gonzales, LA Weekly

I’ve even started receiving shout-outs from friends who are coloring my page!

This coloring book is truly SUCH a super cool creation. A perfect gift for kids AND art-loving adults, too. Gigantic thanks to Souris for including me!  

The post My Octohug illustration has been published in a coloring book! appeared first on WilloLovesYou.

Exercise has shifted for me in the last 5 years…

I had been a runner back in 2008, even completing a 5K during a 5-month period when I was enrolled in BootcampSF. However, while I was working out really hard over those months, it was actually a bit too extreme. I was spreading myself really thin time/energy wise and, despite all my working out, I still wasn’t feeling comfortable in or connected to my body.

So, after years of making myself workout, I ended up doing an experiment…I completely allowed myself to stop having that expectation of myself entirely. I figured there were plenty of people I knew who didn’t workout at all, and I thought that sounded pretty nice, and I wanted to try it. On a deeper level, however, it was about coming back to listening to my body. Not having external expectations on myself about what I should do, but instead reprograming my desire to move to come from a place within myself. Spoiler alert: it worked.

I started taking walks and hikes with friends, and I fell in love with yoga. I even developed a lovely home practice, thanks to Marianne Elliott’s fabulous 30 Days of Yoga. (I also had Marianne on my Creative Sustainability video series!) I had even started running again a little bit, using Couch25K (a great starter app, available on iPhone & Android), but I didn’t stick with it.

Clarifying my Commitment to my Self

In the last year I’ve put out two ecourses centered around clarifying intention, reconnecting to your body and feeling alive.

In ReConnect, Week 2 is all about ReConnecting with Your Body, and our Feel Alive course dives even deeper into it, with a full 30-Day program.

If this sounds of interest, you can instantly download the 2 free intro calls we did, both of which have guided meditations and walk you through a very helpful self-discovery process!

Through experiencing and facilitating that work, I was clearer than ever about the commitments I wanted to make for myself and my body. In particular, I recognized that breaking a good sweat makes me feel totally alive & connected.  And you know what’s a fast, easy & fun way to break a good sweat? Running!

Getting back on the horse

It all started back in April when I had a 9am meeting, and after lagging on getting my butt out the door, I had only 10-15 minutes to get in a sweat before a day of meetings started. So I went for a quick run around my neighborhood! I was surprised at how easy it was, and how great I felt. So I kept doing the same 1-mile loop, eventually adding a block… and then another block here & there to increase my time & distance.

Here’s a little motivational board I had up in my house during the first few weeks:

Then some friends & I did the Roses to Rosé 5k (yes, it helped we got served rosé at the end – ha!), and that marked the longest I had run since the 5K in 2008!

Once I believed I could run 3.2 miles, I went for 3.5, and started running those regularly. Now I’m up to 4, and I’ve shaved a whole minute off my average time!

4 miles nonstop, baby!!!! I started out running 10 minutes just a short 5 months ago. Feels so amazing to consistently level it up! #badass

— Willo Sana (@WilloLovesYou) September 27, 2013

What makes you feel alive in your body?

It doesn’t have to be running… it could be walking, hiking, yoga, pilates, boxing, or simply stretching and meditating. Bottom line is when we’re out of the habit, it can feel like it’s a million miles away, and a very tall horse to climb back onto.

When you’re out of the habit, or disconnected from your body, you forget what you want and why you want it. All of a sudden emails become more important, work, kids, etc.

Do you find yourself putting your work or family ahead of your own needs?
Do you find yourself thinking about working out, but then not doing it?

What tapes are playing?

Do you have loud tapes playing around this topic? By tapes I mean your thoughts, conscious or unconscious, that either get you out the door, or keep you cozied up all safe in bed or on the couch.

Yours may be playing very mean, impatient, interrogative thoughts. Maybe one that tells you how fat you are, or how much you suck? (So mean!) Or maybe it’s more of a small voice within you, that is so tired from the whipcracking, that the justifications for not moving have become really loud and convincing. I mean really, why would anyone want to listen to a mean, bossy Inner Critic when there’s chocolate and mindnumbing TV to consume?

What are the other tapes that are playing about how you want to feel?
What are you longing to experience?

I want to feel connected to my body. 
I want trying on clothes to feel great. 
I want to feel comfortable in my skin.
I want to look in the mirror and love what I see.
I want to know I’m taking care of myself.
I wish I was a runner.
I wish I could do more yoga.
I wish I was more flexible.
I want to feel healthy and alive!

What are your ‘if-onlys’ saying to you?

Compassion is the key

It may seem backwards that compassion can actually help us get moving, but after all my years of having my inner WhipCracker whip me into shape, developing a healthy, compassionate relationship with myself and my body was precisely what helped me find my way back to running.

Being compassionate with yourself doesn’t mean giving up and eating bon-bons on the couch all day. It means that when it feels hard, you listen. You don’t abandon yourself. You don’t beat yourself up. You take your own hand, and lovingly talk yourself through it like you would a dear friend or loved one.

For example, when I was just getting back into the habit and didn’t feel like going for a run, I’d have a dialogue with myself about it that went something like this:

“I get it. I understand that this feels challenging. And that make sense… you’re out of the habit, so of course this feels hard! It probably feels scary… but I also know how much you love a good sweat. And we’ve made a commitment to ourselves, remember? This helps us feel connected and grounded in our bodies. This makes us feel alive. Let’s just put one foot in front of the other and get out the door and see what happens.”

I am no longer motivated by fear or illusion around what I should be doing. Instead I have made a commitment to myself to be in relationship WITH myself. That means love, respect and communication.

We need compassion for ourselves in all areas of our lives. Developing a healthy, loving relationship with yourself is the best gift you can give yourself for designing a happy, fulfilled life.

Don’t break the chain

Somewhere along the line I discovered this lifehacker productivity post by Jerry Seinfeld, all about marking your progress down on a calendar every day, to log that you’ve kept your commitment to yourself. It’s excellent. If you’re into this idea, grab a calendar or print one out for yourself and start doing it. You can also do it online by using DontBreakTheChain.com. I have been using it on my phone, and it’s fun to see the progress visually. Here’s my last 5 months:

Mind you, it’s technically supposed to be an every day thing, which you can absolutely do. Even if it means you count stretching, or meditating. Whatever one small thing you do for yourself in a day that can count towards your chain, go for it.

It’s all about staying in integrity with the commitment you’ve made to yourself.

I’ve also been using Nike+, which connects with Path, where many of my other friends are running, too. I actually saw my friend Timoni‘s posts this spring & was so inspired, it was one of the big motivators that got me running!

Since then I’ve logged many miles in the app, increased my time, distance*, and hold regular challenges with my friends. I’m clocking a consistent 10 miles a week now, and am even going out for runs while traveling. Here are a few more photos.

There are still days I find myself not wanting to go, but I remind myself of my commitment, and I talk myself through with compassion. I put my running clothes on, my shoes on, my armband and my headphones, and I get myself out on the street.

The post How I Found My Way Back to Running appeared first on WilloLovesYou.

As a Creative Business Consultant & Coach, I am a Doula for Hatching Big Ideas. My superpower is inspiration & implementation. (There’s also a great bit of refining/strategy geekery in between that glues it all together!) I love great ideas, but even more I love bringing big ideas into reality!

Investment = Commitment

I’ve had the honor of working with ridiculously talented, successful, creative business owners, and while it humbles me every time, I’m proud to consider it one of my specialties. The reason for this is simple: whatever stage you’re at, I have been there. 

Over the last decade I’ve launched several creative businesses, served as a co-founder for two successful startups, and helped thousands of people just like you through my one-on-one coaching & creative-business consulting, online courses, speaking and leading retreats & events around the country.

Here’s what I know:

1. Change takes time. Not always, as sometimes small changes can make a big difference fast! But, for the most part, I work with my clients a minimum of 3 months, and often 6 months to a year, depending on the project and their needs.
2. There’s never one solution to a problem. This is where it gets complicated, and if there’s anything you want to try to avoid in business it’s COMPLEXITY. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and sidetracked researching all the 1000′s of different options, ideas, and avenues. For weeks. Months. Years. Sound familiar? This is why we hire coaches/consultants, who have gone down this path before. I will support you in creating ease, focus and movement (aka save you time, money and anguish)!
3. Unused creativity manifests as grief in our body. (Inspired by Brené Brown) Oof. I know that feeling. I also know the incredible, liberating, exalted pride & joy that comes from giving birth to an idea. Many people have no problem coming up with lots of great ideas, but when all those ideas just live in notebooks on your shelves, gathering dust, you’re not serving you or the world. This is why this work is just as much about taking big jumps as it is about Gathering the Courage. You can do this. We can do this together.
4. We need love & support.  The investment you make in your self and your business is in direct correlation to how successful you will be. Just as a plant needs water and sunshine… we need love & support. It’s totally normal, and having an experienced, supportive coach will empower you to grow and blossom in ways you never thought possible.

Bottom line is I love doing this work. I love co-creating, collaborating and supporting individuals and teams to get their great ideas out into the world; to find more balance and supreme joy in their lives, and to start living – TRULY LIVING – knowing they are not alone, and they can create the lives and businesses they desire.

Are you ready to get your big ideas out into the world?

Would you like to move past your mean inner critic voices that are trying to convince you that you don’t have what it takes? Would you like support in clarifying the vision for your business or new product. Are you ready to take your life & business to the next level? Let’s talk.

The post Launching Your Ideas Into Reality appeared first on WilloLovesYou.

This change has been in the works for a few years now, but today [March 2, 2013] marks the OFFICIAL closure of an amazing chapter in my life: Designing, launching, and selling my gift line of products, “WilloToons – where geek meets rock ‘n roll!” And I’m officially announcing my NEW online moniker: WilloLovesYou!

I’ll share more about this new name in a minute, but first, a little history…

History of WilloToons

I registered WilloToons.com on March 28, 2000 – exactly 13 years ago this month! – the name playing off my cartoon-style illustration.

Mind you, back then, we didn’t have vector graphics, and everything was so much smaller (resolution- and file-size wise). My first website was hosted on Homestead, back in ’98, and I wish I had screenshots of that one! I do, however, have this screenshot of my website in 2002. This is when I was still employed as a FT Web/Flash Designer at a boutique design/development studio in Potrero Hill (San Francisco). 

In 2003, the bubble had burst, and as a result, I was (fortuitously) laid off from my job.

I had already been doing freelance animation & design on the side and had been craving to dive more back into my illustration work, so I immediately launched a business offering “Custom Wall Painting for Nurseries and Playrooms.” I figured, surely I could get some wealthy parents in Marin to pay me a thousand bucks every week for that & I’d be set!

I did get a few of those jobs, which was fun. But being the avid blogger that I was (and having a large following of friends & fans), it wasn’t long before web & graphic design + custom illustration jobs started coming my way, and my freelance career was launched!

Launching the WilloToons Gift Line in 2007

After 4 years doing freelance Design, Illustration, and Animation for others, I finally followed my heart and launched my dream of my own product line in 2007, featuring my designs & illustrations on tees for men & women and a baby line for all the kiddos of the geeks & rockers!

It should be noted here that starting in 2003, especially after I no longer had a job I had to show up for every day, I went to live music shows several times a week! I was doing freelance tech design & development work and rockin’ out in my free time in between. Hence the “geek meets rock ‘n roll” theme! 

Celebrating the Awesomeness

Over the next 3 years, my line evolved into different colors and styles. I had a designer t-shirt line for men & women + onesies, bibs, and tees for babies and kiddos + tote bags, greeting cards, jewelry, and more! (Note from the future, where on-demand printing is available: This was back in the day when I had to purchase all the blanks & get them silkscreened myself!)

Leveling up in 2009, I launched an Organic & Eco-Friendly line

In 2009* I went to great lengths to find the best & brightest, silky-soft organic cotton, and the most sustainable and eco-conscious silkscreening, and launched an eco-friendly line of baby tees, onesies, pants & caps. They were a huge hit!

*Mind you, this was amidst a massive recession. Oof, quite the challenging year!

Grateful for an Amazing Community of Support

One thing is for sure: I absolutely could not have done ANY of this without the amazing support of my awesome friends!!

They modeled for me, bought some of my very first tees when the website went live, came out and supported me at shows, and a few of them even helped me man my booth!

I am eternally grateful for the guidance, support, and love of the brilliant geeks & rockers in my life – THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Through all of this, I developed a community of WilloToons fans around the world! I met amazing people while traveling around the country, garnered notable press, had the opportunity of speaking, teaching, consulting and inspiring fellow creative entrepreneurs, and learned SO much in the process!!

I’m ridiculously proud of what I created with this business. I followed my heart and made it happen, and the experience was truly life-changing in more ways than one!

End of a WilloToons Era

When I said this change has been in the works for a while, it’s because I actually first announced letting go of my line in January 2011, and shortly after, redesigned & relaunched my site with my “Inspiring Creative Sustainability” tagline and WilloToons Connect video series. However, I had kept the shop open to sell the last of the inventory.

Today I am announcing, I have officially closed up the WilloToons shop! This isn’t really that big of news, but for me – after almost 6 years of having it, and 2 years in liquidating limbo – it feels both weird and fabulous all at the same time.

The Story of a Heart-Centered Entrepreneur

WilloToons became my brand, but I’ve outgrown it, and it doesn’t fit the work I’m doing now. So, in thinking of what I wanted my URL and handle to be on all the zillions of online networks, I wanted to have something that communicates the thread of compassion and purpose I have infused in my life & business. And here we are… Introducing WilloLovesYou!

My new online moniker, WilloLovesYou, is a fun name that emanates the love I have for people, life, and the message I want to share with the world.

It’s been so exciting to see friends celebrating with me. So much LOVE! <3 

Massive thanks to all of you who supported me over all these years, both in my design/illustration business and in growing (and saying goodbye) to this product line. Forever grateful!

Evolving at the Speed of Life

So here we are, my WilloToons shop has officially closed, and I have rebranded to WilloLovesYou. Big updates, but this is hardly a ‘What next?’ moment since the “next” has already been in full swing for a couple of years now… at a rapid rate!

If you’re just tuning in, here’s what’s been happening:

• 2009: Started to feel like I needed to let go of my product line
• 2010: Served as Co-Founder/Chief Creative Officer at Storenvy [for 6 months]
• 2011: Premiered WilloToons Connect: Creative Sustainability video series
• 2011-2012: Served as Co-Founder/VP Marketing at Stitch Labs [for 1 year]
• Aug 2012: Launched my first online course, RE:CONNECT
• Dec 2012: Launched “Feel ALIVE!” online coaching program
• NOW: Speaking, Teaching, Coaching/Consulting, and Writing!

When you get clear on what you want, change happens fast!

*Cheers!* Here’s to evolving, growing, and changing!

I have some very exciting developments rolling out over the next few weeks, and I’m super excited to share them with you! Please subscribe, if you haven’t already, and you’ll be the first to know.

I hope this finds you well and following your heart!
I can testify it’s damn well worth it every step of the way.

UPDATE: Here’s another website screenshot from 2014, marking the next evolution of my work as a Heart-Centered Business Coach… which is the beautiful work I’ve been doing ever since!

In ‘always evolving’ fashion, you’ll notice I legally changed my last name a few years later. 

The post The end of a ‘geek meets rock ‘n roll’ era! appeared first on WilloLovesYou.

I’m not pregnant, nor planning to be any time soon, but as a creative business owner, I resonate quite deeply with the process: a seed is planted, there is a gestation period, and a new idea is born into the world.

Exactly nine months and four days ago, my dear friend Mati and I started talking about collaborating on a project together. She first emailed me (on a day that turned out to be a major turning point in her life), and our first meeting was over a delicious brunch at Boogaloos. We had two other brainstorming sessions over the next few months, but it had to be put on hold, as come mid-April, I was knee deep rockin’ it at Stitch – leading webinars and speaking at conferences around the country – and Mati was busy with her Get Your Paint On ecourse and preparing for the launch of her first book, A Daring Adventure in Paint. Busy ladies!

RE:CONNECT is born
Fast forward to now, where last week I announced my bold decision to dive back into my heart’s calling, and Mati and I have finally had the opportunity to put the finishing touches on our brainchild: a 5-week ecourse, called RE:CONNECT – Get Unstuck & Find Your Magic!

Yup, that’s right… the band is back together. The WilloToons Connect band, that is!

All three of the remarkable women I had inspiring conversations with last summer will be contributing their magic to this course. Mati being my co-creator, and incredible contributions by my two other guests, and dear friends, Marianne Elliott and Helen Jane Hearn. Additionally, we have incredible contributions by the veritable Jen Louden, Rachel W. Cole, Laurie Wagner, Flora Bowley, Molly Graves, and more!

Meet the Contributors 

Click here to learn more about the course, and more behind how it came to be from my perspective, as well as Mati’s story, too.

Here’s to 9 months in the works, and giving birth to me & Mati’s first major collaboration together! We hope you’ll join us, and our amazing guest contributors, for this 5-week course, supporting you on your path to reconnect, get unstuck and find your magic.

The post A lot can happen in 9 short months appeared first on WilloLovesYou.

I am completely thrilled and honored to report that I will be joining a handful of other amazing ladies for this year’s Mighty Summit! It’s next weekend up in Guerneville, CA (my 3rd time up there this summer – lucky me!) and I’m SO incredibly excited about all the fun things we’ll be doing, and all the fabulous ladies I’ll be meeting!

If any of you know the word *Mighty* like I do, it basically sums up the fabulous Maggie Mason, aka Mighty Girl and the creator of Mighty Events, Mighty Goods, Mighty Junior and Mighty Haus, just to name a few. She’s also pioneered a huge movement around creating a Mighty Life List: 100 things you want to do before you die.

I’ve had a list rolling around in my head for years, but only got serious about writing them down this year. With Mighty Summit, it’s essentially required, so that really got my butt in gear! It’s nowhere near the full 100 things yet, but here it is:

My Mighty Life List: Things I want to do before I go

Last updated Aug 4, 2018 (hadn’t been updated since 10/23/13 before that!)

• be debt free & flourishing
  – I got there and now have some debt again. Life of an entrepreneur!
• write and publish a book (non-fiction)
  – my first book is coming soon OMG!
• write & illustrate a children’s book
  – this is also closer than ever
• speak at TED
  – I have now MC’d 3 major TEDx events… which is close! Still holding out for TED main stage. 
• be featured on the cover of a magazine (about me, my work, creativity, my message)
• create/illustrate an iPhone/iPad app
• take singing lessons
  – so funny… I’m JUST starting this now, Aug 2018! I’ve had this dream for SO long
• go skydiving
• fly first class
  – can you believe I still haven’t done this!?
• own a home
• have a big living room with a big, comfy sectional couch
  – kind of achieved this in HK, but the couch wasn’t comfy, so I’m leaving it here. Somewhat not as important as a goal anymore, but for Past Willo, we’ll see if I get there.
• have a dual- or triple-head shower in my home
• make 500K+/year
• get a new car
  – less important now, but will be fun
• get married to my love & have a fabulous celebration, surrounded by everyone we love!
• take my mom on a European vacation + have her visit me in Asia!
  //
  New Goals added in 2018: 
• Go scuba diving more regularly (at least 2 trips/year)
• Become more fluent in Spanish
  //
• Travel Goals – original list:
  • Yosemite
  • Vancouver
  • Grand Canyon
  • Greece
  • Brazil
  • Tokyo
    – went to Osaka/Kyoto in 2017! But have yet to experience Tokyo
  • Safari in Africa
  • Iceland or Alaska to see an aurora borealis
  • have a romantic weekend in Paris
  • go on a shopping spree in New York City
  • dive Turks & Caicos
  • dive the Great Barrier Reef
    //
    Added in 2018:
  • Live in South America for a while (i.e. Mexico, Columbia)
  • Peru
  • Costa Rica
  • Istanbul
  • India

DONE (or no longer a goal)! 

• Travel To/Visit:
  • Thailand
    – have been traveling here every year since 2014, and been living here off & on since Dec 2017!
    //
    Adding some I’ve been to now, so I can cross them off:
  • Oslo, Norway
  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • Berlin, Germany
  • Hong Kong
    – lived here 3.5 years!
  • KL & Perhentian Islands, Malaysia
  • Teipei, Taiwan
  • Seoul, Korea
  • Cebu & Siargao, Phillipines
  • Hanoi & Saigon, Vietnam 
  • Bali
    – been living here for 6 months!
  • Singapore
  • Toronto & Ontario, Canada
• get a completely new bed (mattress/frame) and all new linens Got this when I moved to HK!
• fall in love again
  – Fell in love & moved 1/2 way around the world to HK in 2014
• do editorial illustrations for a magazine
  – technically I’ve done editorial illustrations for websites & blogs
  – not exactly any of the above, BUT my illustration was published in a cool coloring book!
  – no longer a goal, as illustration isn’t my primary form of expression any more
• hold a creative retreat
  – Co-founding/Co-producing Yes And Yes Yes for 5 years most definitely qualifies! Not to mention I’ve co-created & contributed to several other retreats & events!
• speak to audience of 500+ (again) and rock it
  – Proud to report I’ve done this several times over!! See my Speaking & Events page
• be featured in 7×7 – no longer a goal 
• have an inspiring office/art studio outside of my house, shared with creative, fun, nurturing, inspiring friends
  – moved in January, 2013!
• take the Hendrick’s Foundation Seminar, Conscious Living 5-Day Advanced Training
  – Happened February, 2013 & I took several more trainings. I’m a Certified Big Leap Coach!
• go through the Hendrick’s Leadership and Transformation Program – no longer a goal
• get really good at making fresh salsa – sounds delicious, but no longer a goal
• go on a yoga retreat – basically did this with SUP Yoga in HK! Also no longer a goal
• take a painting class
  – took an acrylics painting class from Mati!
  – Now I want to do a watercolor class.– no longer a goal
• take a writing class
  – started taking Wild Writing in Nov. 2012!
• take a pottery class & have my illustrations on pottery – no longer a goal
• grow wheatgrass – no longer a goal
• own a really nice DSLR camera
  – I’ve had & have a great camera now, and never use it :p
• have my own gallery show
  – I participated in the loving you gallery show
• catch up on all the wedding gifts I’ve yet to give
  – finally did this in 2012!
• stomp grapes – no longer a goal
• put together my own baby book/photo album (I never had one of me)
  – I basically created one online
• go horseback riding on the beach
  – I feel like I did this at some point a long time ago. If not, no longer a goal
• go visit my grandma in Colorado Springs
  – I finally did this in 2014, a reunion with all the O’Brien women!
• have a different home and/or live somewhere else for a portion of the year
  – Ya… moved to HK, Thailand, Bali & am totally living like this FT now!!
• have a large walk-in closet
  – basically had this in HK, no longer a major goal
• get massages on a monthly basis for a year – pretty much
• shop at Rainbow Grocery or Whole Food Grocery without looking at the prices

Continued Original Post from 2011…

I will update this as more come to mind, which – after reading, meeting and dreaming big with all the other ladies at the Summit – no doubt I’ll have a few to add!

Doing this was so fun. I’m sure there are things on my list you have already done, right? As I was going through other lists, I also couldn’t help but revel in some of the awesome things I’ve already done. Too many to name, obviously, but some big dreams I have already accomplished thus far are:

• learn to play the drums
• swim with dolphins
• bungee jump (from a hot air balloon!)
• become a certified scuba diver
• have my own kitty
• create my own product line with my illustrations and designs on them
• travel to Spain, London, Prague, Berlin, Toronto (many more, but those are the big’n’s)
• make six figures
• fall in love
• start a video series
• and more recently, everything on this list.

What’s on your life list?

Lastly, I wrote a post documenting all the awesomeness that went down! Check it out here: My weekend at the mighty Mighty Summit! – photos, links & more! So fun.

The post My Mighty Life List appeared first on WilloLovesYou.

Back in May, I blogged all about the fabulous speakers I’m honored to be rubbing elbows with while speaking at next month’s Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs (August 5th – 7th). Now that we’re finally firming up the schedule and the session descriptions, I wanted to fill you in on how I’ll be contributing to this epic 3-day inspiration-fest:

Advanced Social Strategies and Analytics with Willo O’Brien

So, you’ve had your business for a little while. You’ve got your Facebook Page, your blog and your Twitter profile, and maybe you’ve even managed to amass a fairly humble little community. What next?

In this session we won’t be covering the basics. Nope. Instead, this session is going to speak to those who have been doing this for awhile, and discuss ways you can engage and leverage your community to take your brand to the next level. More importantly, we’ll be discussing how to quantify and qualify the ROI (Return on Investment) of your efforts utilizing these powerful (and free) social media marketing tools. Creating and implementing a social media marketing campaign based on concrete data and analysis will help you optimize your communications and get the results you’re looking for.

DIY is Overrated: How to Sustainably Grow Your Business While Keeping Your Sanity with Willo O’Brien

While being an independent entrepreneur is exhilarating, there is a considerable amount of responsibility that comes with having to manage all sides of your small business. DIY (Do It Yourself) is empowering, but there’s a point when Doing it ALL Yourself gets downright overwhelming and exhausting.

Do you like the idea of working with a partner or a team, but don’t know how or where to find them? What if you know you need help, but don’t have the extra funds to pay for an employee? Is it impossible to think that someone would actually believe in your idea enough to volunteer their time to grow your vision?

All of these are common stumbling blocks that keep many independents from asking for help. This session will arm you with the inspiration and know-how to stop doing it all yourself and build a team that will support you as you grow your business.

Creative Collaboration: Don’t DIY Alone with Willo O’Brien, Kelly Wilkinson and Jaime Zollars

Connecting with other creatives online, or in your local community, is a great way to kick-start your ideas or support the launch and growth of your business. This session will give you the inspiration and direction to think strategically about collaboration.

In this session you’ll learn:

• When does 1+1 really equal more than 2?
• How to size up and approach potential collaborators for new skills and support
• Easy ways to start a community or collaboration, online or off
• Plus, local groups and organizations to get involved with right now
• BONUS: We’ll be doing a little ‘speed-collabodating’ exercise to connect you with complementary creatives

Whether you’re a wanna-be creative or a full-time entrepreneur, join us and let’s create something awesome!

Building a Successful Online Shop
with Kelly Lynn Jones, Christiana Coop, Janette Crawford and Willo O’Brien

Learn how to launch (or improve) your own online shop from this panel filled with seasoned e-commerce veterans.  We’ll discuss issues like increasing traffic, managing inventory, accepting credit cards and integrating your shop with your blog or social media accounts.

Getting More Done with Lauren Smith, Derek Fagerstrom and Andrew Venell (moderated by Willo O’Brien)

Most of us wish there were more hours in a day.  Learn how to make the most of the ones you’ve got while reducing stress ulcers in this panel moderated by Willo O’Brien.  We’ll discuss ways to manage your correspondence, to-dos, and finances that get the busy work done faster and leave you with more free time.  We’ll also discuss ways to organize your workspace, projects and paperwork so that you never miss deadlines or misplace important items.

Chock full of awesome, right? I’m so excited for this conference!

View the full schedule and register before it sells out. I look forward to seeing you there!

UPDATE: Click here to see how you could win a free pass to the conference!

The post The Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs is coming up! appeared first on WilloLovesYou.

An interesting awareness that I got in writing all of this out — effectively, curious listening — made me realize that all of my stress/escape messages are all about diving within to be with my body and spirit, vs. outward distractions, e.g. partying or fleeing the scene (not that I haven’t done that or dreamed about that at some point, too). This is awesome, because I truly believe we have so much wisdom, strength and creativity within each and every one of us. It can take courage to harness it, but man, it is SO worth the journey.

The life you want starts right here. Right now.
In the last month I have been listening, and I have heard over and over, “Wake up, Draw, Paint, Write.” I’ll get into some of the fears and such that have come up a bit later, but for now I’m proud to report that since I’ve made a commitment to listen and act on these dreams, I am doing just that: I am seeking an art studio/office space for drawing/painting/creating!

As most of you know, I’ve been a full time artist for the last 7 years, running two small businesses. I worked out of my home for the first 5 years – which I loved, but was also delighted to have my home be just my home again. Then I was fortunate to have offices downtown in the last 2 years, but they’ve all been very corporate settings. Meaning, not space to paint & get messy.

In this same vein of making space, in June I started doing some major clearing in home: I got rid of my TV (gasp, I know!), which helped clear out an entire piece of furniture, and then some (see my post with photos). Since then, my purging and spring cleaning has barely slowed down: I’ve gotten a new couch, continued to clear out my drawers and closets and have another fun home project in the works.

So as much as I’ve been loving cultivating space in my little home, in advance of not waiting around for the perfect art studio, on New Years Eve I rearranged my living room to make it a temporary office/art studio! I am excited about eventually moving it out to a larger space, with other artists, but for now I’m thrilled about it being here and *ready*. Come on in, creativity, there is space for you here!

Mind you, my living room is also going to be my yoga studio for the next 30 days.
It’s a small room, but I’ve made it feel big, so I think it’s just right for now.

Blank Canvas
Another super fun painting adventure I’m embarking upon is this awesome course by my friends — and two of my favorite painters! — Mati Rose and Lisa Congdon, called Get Your Paint On! You can even see one of Mati’s paintings sitting to the right of my monitor in the photo above.

I’m suuuuuper excited for this class, as I really haven’t taken a painting class, ever, I don’t think (how is that possible?). I was daunted at first, but I gotta say, I’ve been doing really good at wrangling my inner critic lately, so now I’m mostly just giddily excited.

Wahoooo! This year is going to be awesome.

The post Making the space and inviting change in appeared first on WilloLovesYou.