Update 18: Why Being Stuck is Very, Very GOOD

By Andrea Schroeder / March 28, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life

I set a big goal for my business for 2014: to welcome 800 dreamers into my Creative Dream Circle. And to do this not by getting super pushy about selling – but to do this with heart and soul and creativity and joy and LOVE.

(you can read my original post about this here)

At this point though, it?s less about the numbers and more about growing my capacity to serve dreamers everywhere in bringing their dreams to life.

In support of this goal, I am writing weekly updates on Fridays, for all of 2014. This is where I’ll share the story of all the ups and downs of bringing a big dream to life.

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A part of me is frustrated that this is not happening faster.? She reminds me that my goal was to stop doing one-on-one sessions and have the Circle be my main income and that I should be there by now.

And also: I know more than anyone about bringing a dream to life, so why am I taking so long with this?? This is so stupid.

This part of me wonders if? making this journey so public is messing with my ju-ju and wants me to stop posting these updates.

I send this part of me a lot of love and a teeny tiny little reminder that I know it feels like it, but it isn’t really taking “so long”.

Which she tries to brush off.? I don’t need love, and I sure-as-fuck do not need patience!? What I need is for you to get your shit together and get this done. NOW.

I put her in a sound-proof bubble of love and compassion and gentleness.? Slowly, she starts to mellow out.

The truth is, if all I cared about was reaching my goal – I would be there by now.

I have learned so much about online marketing and sales, I know if I was doing certain things I would have more sales.

That is not how I want to get there.

How I do this is way more important to me than how fast I do it.

I spent two years developing the Circle while it was relatively hidden.? What if it takes me two more years to get it to optimum capacity?

Right now, the Circle feels absolutely blissful to me.

When I look at what it offers people, what happens for them when they join, what happens as they work with the tools over time… bliss.? I am so proud of what I have built and the impact it is having on the people who choose to join.

The relief they feel that now they have a place where they can go any time they feel scared, stressed, angry, stuck, unsure… and transform that feeling, and leave feeling connected and bright and happy and knowing what to do next next.
The amazement they feel at discovering aspects to their creative genius they didn’t know where there.
The miracles and adventures they find as they use these tools to excavate and transform their inner worlds.

What happens inside the Circle is delicate and vulnerable – that’s the nature of TRUE healing and transformation.

So even though outside of the Circle – my blog and social media streams – is not the same kind of container for transformation, it needs to be somewhat in alignment with the deep magic of inside the Circle.

I mean, that only makes sense, right?? I can’t use standard internet sales & marketing approaches to push more people into the Circle then suddenly demand that they get vulnerable enough to do the work.

Trust, safety and sovereignty have to be a part of this EVERYWHERE.

But just because I don’t want to go the traditional sales & marketing route does not mean I don’t do ANYTHING about sales & marketing.

For every strategy and tactic that I am saying no to – I need to find something to say yes to.

What I’m doing is exploring the essence and looking at where the essence of the marketing tactic meets the essence of my work and then exploring what I can do with that.

Much, much longer process than simply following proven tactics.

Also: richer.

Frustrated little me in the sound-proof bubble has found a deck of index cards and a marker and she’s sending me a message:

Yes, I like this.? I see that this is what you have been doing but you’ve been doing it a bit haphazardly.? Let’s make a list of tactics and strategies that are effective, put it in Evernote, and make a plan in your calendar to work with one every week.

“Working with” meaning: doing that journal thing you do where you draw out the essence of the thing, put it beside the essence of the Circle and then find the places where they overlap.? Then brainstorm ways to work with the essence in ways that are in alignment with the Circle.? This probably won’t take more than an hour.? And then of course you have to implement what you learn.

See what happened there?

I started by giving some space to the frustration I was feeling.

Rather than try to pretend it’s not there or bury it in positive thinking, I listened to what it has to say, and what it wants me to do.

Then I made space for my centered myself, to listen to what I have to say when I’m not listening to my frustration.

Then I showed my frustrated self what I want.

Then my frustrated self and I were able to work together to create a plan that makes us both happy.

This is the essence of healing and transformation. It doesn’t obliterate the parts of you who are afraid, it embraces your inherent wholeness and wisdom.

This is what I teach, in step-by-step detail, in the Un-Sticking Station in the Creative Dream Circle which is basically, a recipe for a miracle.

Nothing, EVER, has to stay stuck.

Having an Un-Sticking Station is soooo important because getting stuck is part of creative dreaming.

The whole concept of stuck = bad is a muggle concept.

But when you’re a creative dreamer you’re working with the unknown so of course you’re going to get stuck.? That’s just a natural part of it.

Learning how to recognize a stuck, and then un-stick it quickly and effectively is a necessary skill for creative dreamers.

And more importantly – it’s in the stucks where you find the gifts – the gifts you use to build your unique & gorgeous path.? That’s where the magic is!

Update 18: Why Being Stuck is Very, Very GOOD Read More »

Spotlight!

By Andrea Schroeder / March 27, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life

One of my favourite parts of my job is supporting amazing people in bringing amazing (often IMPOSSIBLE) dreams to life.

My clients and Circle members are brilliant bright stars who are making a big difference in the world.

I want to share more of their stories here because they are so super inspiring, and today I am super excited to share Corie Weaver‘s story about her “impossible dream”.

?Tell us about yourself!

I didn?t grow up planning to be a writer. I was never one of those kids scribbling stories in a notebook, or submitting to the school paper. But I?ve always been a voracious reader.

A few years ago, I realized I had some of my own stories to tell. I?ve been lucky enough to have participated in some fabulous crit groups, and to have attended the Taos Toolbox Workshop.

I love reading. I love stories of adventure, stories that grab me and won?t let me go. Stories that will stay with me for years. Old and new, paper books, digital and comics ? anything with a good story is fair game. And I love writing, telling stories, creating worlds and people and histories? and then doing terrible things to them!

My background is in medieval history (Spanish manuscripts of the apocalypse, if you were wondering), but as I?m fond of being able to pay the bills, I work at our local university, as well some freelance work as a web designer. I live in Las Vegas, New Mexico (the smaller, older, and much quieter one) with my husband and our two cats and two dogs. We travel as much as possible, and are active with our local animal rescue group.

Tell us about your dream!

To write stories full time, reach young people and their parents, and to create a platform for more stories than I can personally write to reach more young people!

Dreaming Robot Press focuses on publishing science fiction and fantasy novels for a Young Adult and Middle Grade audience.

We believe stories shape our reality.
We believe this is especially important for stories that we are exposed to growing up.
We believe novels can be excellent in both their stories and in the effects they have.

In order to ensure that all children can find models to identify with, we?re committed to publishing stories about a diverse range of characters and situations.

Today there are more options than ever for a writer to explore. If you have a great young adult or middle grade science fiction or fantasy manuscript and you?re considering going indie vs a small press, we?d love to talk with you.

Right now we?re very interested in receiving young adult/middle grade novels featuring strong female heroines, without a romantic subplot.

How has the Circle helped you with your dream? What are you doing now that you are in the Circle that you weren’t doing before you joined?

I never really believed I could make a living from my writing.

As I’ve been working deeper and deeper into the heart of my dream, I’ve realized that I’ve been telling stories to myself as a younger girl. And then with the help of LOTS of dreaming and journaling, and talks with friends, I uncovered something deeper that had bothered me.

In the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy, there aren’t a lot of young adult and middle grade books for girls that don’t have a romantic sub-plot. Its as if we’re telling girls that sure, they can go off on adventures, they can have a ‘hero’s journey’ – but its not complete until they find true love, or something like it. Even great books, with totally kick-ass heroines seemed to always have some level of romantic tension.

And I thought… I can do something about that.

Years ago I worked at a small press, and now in the world of digital publishing, a lot of the gates are opening for writers to bring their work out. I’ve started a small, electronic first, publishing house to focus on girl-positive young adult and middle grade science fiction and fantasy. Self-publishing is great, but there’s a number of hurdles that are easier tackled in a group 🙂

What’s your favourite part of the Circle?

The playdates!! I seldom have a chance to listen in realtime, but I love going back and making that special time for myself and my dream to get closer and reconnect.

I feel like I’m glowing for days after.

I’ve been known to run through the recordings again when I need a pick-me-up mid-month, and I’ll get a whole different set of insights.

I hope you go visit Corie nd check out her?Dreaming Robot Press – she is a gorgeous soul and great person to know!

Spotlight! Read More »

Creative Dream TV: The Truth about Money and Creative Self-Employment

By Andrea Schroeder / March 25, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life, money, Vintage Creative Dream TV

Some days it feels like the only people who talk openly about money are the people who are making millions.? And it starts to feel like more money = more success. Which is not true.

Being successful with money is about having what’s right for you.

Being successful with life is about living in a way that lights you up with joy.? For me, this has to include being my own boss so that I can be doing the work that is the most inspiring and fulfilling to me.

While I’m feeling a little uncomfortable about sharing this today because it’s just more personal than what I am used to sharing publicly, I also feel like it’s really important that I do share it.

We need more not-millionaires sharing their happy money stories.

So today I’m sharing my actual story about money and being a creative entrepreneur.

I am 100% self-employed. I am single and don’t have anyone helping with the bills.? Of course, this story changes from day to day and week to week, but this is where I am right now:

If you want to become a more conscious, empowered and deliberate creator of your money story, join me for the Creative with Money e-Course.

This course is deeply healing and magically transformational.

You can get it inside the Creative Dream Circle.

Creative Dream TV: The Truth about Money and Creative Self-Employment Read More »

Update #17. Timing: Perfect Timing & Time for Magic & NO MORE WAITING.

By Andrea Schroeder / March 21, 2014

(you can read my original post about this here)

At this point though, it?s less about the numbers and more about growing my capacity to serve dreamers everywhere in bringing their dreams to life.

In support of this goal, I am writing weekly updates on Fridays, for all of 2014. This is where I'll share the story of all the ups and downs of bringing a big dream to life.

***************************************************
I feel like I am settling into this routine now, of taking some time on Thursday afternoons to connect with my dream and look at what's happened with it over the past week and what it needs next and sort out what I want to share about it here.

I like this.

This week my main struggle has been in being frustrated about SLOWNESS.

And then remembering to trust in perfect timing. (Perfect Timing being Diving Timing being not under your control)

It's pretty much impossible to trust in perfect timing when you're not doing your part, though.

So being frustrated that it's taking too long is often a sign that there's something you are not doing, that you could be doing. Hello, resistance.

I happily received that message this week. Along with some really gorgeous inspiration about what to do about it.

This is coming together with the work I've been doing around marketing.

I want my marketing to change the way you think about your dreams.

See, when you make your dream your spiritual practice – you step into deep, deep magic. You step beyond fear, excuses and resistance. You step into the land of possibility RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT.

No more waiting for something to change first before you can go after your dream.

No more figuring out HOW to make your dream real.

No more not being sure about what your dream even is.

Just magic, right now. ALL the magic... This is what people experience when they start working with the tools inside the Creative Dream Circle.

What I am doing now is creating a free program so people can get the basic tools to do this as an introduction to my work.

I teach cutting-edge CREATIVE energy processes, that go way beyond the law of attraction or positive thinking. It's not like other things you've tried. That makes it really hard for me to describe it. Plus, I can help you do things that you think are impossible, but your brain is telling you that that's impossible.

This is where I've been stuck in trying to describe my work.

So, I'm creating a new free class so that instead of explaining how out of this world amazing my classes are, I'm just going to show you what I can do – more importantly, show you what YOU can do with these tools.

When I first took my in-person creativity workshops online, I grew my audience with just that – a free e-course about using creativity as fuel for creating positive change in your life.

Since then, my work has evolved. A lot.

So much so that I deleted that free course and started offering my Creative Dream Start Kit but the Starter Kit no longer feels in alignment with the fullness of the magic I can offer you.

So this feels like my next step.

I'm creating the course right now, and working on a promotional plan for it.

I'm thinking back to when I did my first free e-course and had pretty good success advertising it. I quickly grew my email list to about 2,400 people and had enough sign-ups for my paid courses that I felt confident leaving my job.

Right now my email list is at 4,000. So I'm thinking because I'm starting from a larger base, I can double it, especially considering that this free course is AMAZING and there is nothing else like it out there.

I am imagining that word of mouth is going to work for me and I am willing to work hard promoting it.

And the most important part is that having this free course feels like the exact introduction I want to give people to my business. This makes me very happy, to think about being able to give this to people.

With 8,000 people taking this course – will 700 of them want to come into the Circle this year to get me to my goal?

That's the question I'm playing with now.

One thing that is REALLY cool about this question is that the thought of 8,000 people on my email list doesn't freak me out like it did just a short time ago. Progress!

If you like exploring business from a creative/spiritual perspective:

I do have a whole Creative Business Incubator inside the Creative Dream Circle with EVERYTHING I have learned about building a business with heart and soul.

And I recommend Hiro Boga's Become Your Own Business Adviser, though a much larger investment, Hiro has 30 years experience and a stunning depth of knowledge. It's starting on March 28 and I'll be taking it again this round.

Update #17. Timing: Perfect Timing & Time for Magic & NO MORE WAITING. Read More »

Spotlight!

By Andrea Schroeder / March 20, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, journaling, Manifest Your Dream Life

One of my favourite parts of my job is supporting amazing people in bringing amazing (often IMPOSSIBLE) dreams to life.

My clients and Circle members are brilliant bright stars who are making a big difference in the world.

I want to share more of their stories here because they are so super inspiring, so I’m starting today with Angel Sullivan, who generously shares her story and some LUSCIOUS pages from her creative journals.

?Tell us about yourself!

hey gorgeous, i’m angel… and i’m a beauty, meaning, and depth junkie {all-together now “hi, angel”}.

i’m always looking for the light in the depths & for the deeper connection. i talk a lot about connection to self, Self, Mama & others… and have little to no patience for small talk & surface interactions.

i’ve been creating simple & soulful websites for solopreneurs for the last three years & before that worked for various companies in IT Support/Training roles.

now, i’m gearing up to shift my focus to bringing more soul to solopreneur. in other words, i want solopreneurs (everyone, really) to step back from all the marketing messages & ‘expert advice’ we’re being spoon fed… and instead to remember how to tap into our own inner gurus for the answers we seek & for the decisions that need made (this is what i love about Andrea’s work. she consistently points us back to ourselves, and that’s where the real answers are).

the primary way i’m going to do this right now is by creating a way for us to do luminous communion together (you & me = serious magick!). we’ll spend the day (plus some follow up time) bringing *you* back into your business so that it’s drenched in heart + soul *and* supports you financially. if you’re interested in hearing more, you can get the details here.

i believe that doing this will create a shift in the consciousness of our species that leads to a more just, peaceful, and equitable world for all of us (humans, plants, and animals alike… not to mention all of our living waterways etc… as well).

Tell us about your dream!

before this year, my dream has been to figure out my dream!

now, my dream (since i’ve gotten more clarity) is to help solopreneurs remember how to access the magickal & luminescent parts of themselves & bring that into their businesses so that their depth (their big truth) can spread out from their businesses into the larger world (and feed their souls and their bank accounts at the same time!).

How has the Circle helped you with your dream? What are you doing now that you are in the Circle that you weren’t doing before you joined?

my dream is pretty freaking big.

so it needs some pretty solid structures & foundations to support it.

two of the ways i build those structures are to create maps & collages. i never really did anything like either of these (at least in the ways that i do now!) before joining Andrea’s Circle.

i never would’ve thought that activities that seemed so simple would lead to the insights and clarity that they do. but it never fails. they always do.

what i find most helpful about The Circle is that the group calls (the Playdates & the HOLYdays) always have this amazingly luscious energy about them. this energy that i just cannot seem to conjure on my own. and when i listen in on the calls, i become part of that energy. i feed into it, it feeds me, and we have this gorgeous regenerative & interactive cycle that transports me to a place within me, where the magick just freely flows.

What’s your favourite part of the Circle?

that’s not an easy question given all the luscious resources & connections available!

i think when it comes right down to it, though, my very favorite part of the circle is knowing that i can participate as much or as little as i am able / would like to… and that regardless of my participation level, i always feel included and welcomed.. and i always benefit.

so if i’m able to be on a call live, rock on. if i’m not, i can look forward to the recording & playsheets. either way, i feel like i’m part of the circle, and never feel slighted for not participating in the way someone else would like me to.

(this is such a big deal to me because so many other group facilitators {in my experience} tend to be so concerned that folks participate in the way that *they* want to happen, that i end up feeling guilty or otherwise less-than if i don’t connect in the way that i’m expected to. blegh.)

Let’s peek inside Angel’s journals!!

I am so grateful that Angel was open to sharing some photos of her creative journals.? We go pretty darn DEEP and PERSONAL with our work in the Circle, and most members (understandably!) prefer not to share such delicate work in a public space.

So it’s always a special treat when we get to take a peek….

I hope you go visit Angel and check out her new luminous communion – she is a gorgeous soul and great person to know!

Spotlight! Read More »

Creative Journal Prompts for Abundance and Possibility

By Andrea Schroeder / March 18, 2014 / Journal Prompts, journaling, money, Vintage Creative Dream TV

Journal Prompts for growing money, abundance and possibility

Your journal is a powerful tool for working on your relationship with money.

By spending some time exploring in your journal, you open up new possibilities for how you can use money.

The truth is, you are MUCH MORE POWERFUL than money.

And you're smarter than money.

And you're more creative than money.

Money is just a tool and you've got what it takes to use money as a tool for growing your dreams, instead of experiencing it as a pain in your ass.

These journal prompts for growing money, abundance and possibility will help you get started.

These prompts are for playing with. Use them as little diving boards to dive off into other things to explore - the aim is to explore the rabbit holes that come up, not to answer every prompt perfectly.

Even when you're not sure about your answers or if it gets frustrating - stay in the process. Write out whatever comes to mind, follow your creative impulse.

You may have to dig through some crap before you get to the gold.

Creative Journal Prompts for Growing Money, Abundance + Possibility:

So far, my experience of money has been _____________.

I wish that money was _______________.

My soul believes that money is ______________.

If I could write a new story about money it would be all about ______________.

Writing a new story about money feels ___________.

Being EMPOWERED about money would mean __________________.

Being HAPPY about money would mean _____________________.

Being CREATIVE with money would mean __________________.

What am I willing to do, to work on my relationship with money?

There is a LOT to explore here!

My Creative With Money course is available as a bonus when you join the Creative Dream Incubator Coaching Membership.

I know money is one of the biggest obstacles to bringing dreams to life - but when you start to work with money in the way I teach in this class that can change.

The soul of money is the soul of support, nourishment and possibility. It's purpose is to serve you in the unfoldment of your purpose - to help you grow into who you really are.

We live in a world that has a deeply broken relationship with money.

Greed and corruption and injustice are the manifestations of this broken relationship.

Unfortunately, when we are born into a world where money functions in these ways it's easy for us to wind up with all sorts of "issues" with money.

That's why my money class is actually a group healing.

I spent five years developing this class because money is such a sensitive topic. I wanted this class to be creative and expansive and supportive and above all - healing.

So we can go into those places where our own relationship with money is broken, and heal it.

So that we can get back to our rightful connection with the soul of money.

It's not about "getting rich quick" or "busting through your money blocks".

It's about deep healing which brings: delight and expansion and possibility.

A celebration of the abundance that already lives within you, an opportunity to use your inner gifts in new ways and an invitation for more to come find you.

Which actually DOES bust through your money blocks so you are free to create whatever you want.

I created Creative With Money in 2015 and now it's available as a free bonus when you join the Creative Dream Incubator Coaching Membership.

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Creative Journal Prompts for Abundance and Possibility Read More »

Update #16: Energy Attunements

By Andrea Schroeder / March 14, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, intention

(you can read my original post about this here)

At this point though, it?s less about the numbers and more about growing my capacity to serve dreamers everywhere in bringing their dreams to life.

In support of this goal, I am writing weekly updates on Fridays, for all of 2014. This is where I’ll share the story of all the ups and downs of bringing a big dream to life.

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I’m writing this on Thursday afternoon and I am all floaty because yesterday I spent the day at the mineral spa with a friend – celebrating our 40th birthdays.? Hers was 6 weeks ago, mine is 6 weeks from now.? In my bubble of post-spa bliss I have to say that things are going very, very well.? Here I am:

Besides the spa, I am super happy because I’ve been doing intense creative soul alchemy work, every day, three times a day.

This is working with my energy body and the energy of the essence of what I want to create – and aligning the two.

I’m running the energy of the essence of my dream through my own energy body which is ridiculously happy-making and it attunes me to my dream.? I’ve been doing this all along, but now I’m doing it more often and I’m noticing it’s making a big difference.

It changes how I see things.

It opens up new channels of inspiration.

It helps me grow into the me who lives my bigger dream. And it makes me very happy.

This is fueling my work right now.

I’ve got a very full schedule these days and could not be happier about that.? Working with one-on-one clients to get their dreams sparkling and shining, creating my new courses for 2014 and exploring the ways that my business needs to change to accommodate more dreamers in the Creative Dream Circle.

I’ve got some ideas for that that last part that are inspiring me like crazy.

Like about how to describe my work in a different context that will speak to people more clearly and I’m thinking about creating a new free e-course that will change the way people think about their dreams.

Very, very inspired.

But my brain is still a little mushy from a full day of mineral spa-ing and my arms are a little sore from a 90 minute massage that helped counter the effects of too much typing and so… this week’s update is short & sweet.

Update #16: Energy Attunements Read More »

Too many soulful creative beings are STUCK when it comes to money. It’s time to change this.

By Andrea Schroeder / March 13, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life, money

Money is an energy.

You are either using money to nurture your dreams or you are using money in ways that sabotage your dreams.?

There is no grey area.

It’s not about how much you have.? It’s about how you’re using what you’ve got.

I repeated that because the idea that If I had MORE money it would be easier to have what I want is keeping you from using what you’ve got to grow your dream NOW.

I’ve never heard of anyone saying “If I had MORE money it would be easier to have what I want” and then going out and GETTING more money and *pouf* dream life achieved, happily ever after.

I’ve heard TONS of people say “If I had MORE money it would be easier to have what I want” and then be annoyed and frustrated and stuck about it.? Myself included.

Money is a tool.? How you use that tool is everything.

Do you spend money every month on things that support you in living your best light and light you up with joy?

Or does that seem frivolous?

Do you feel like you have CHOICE when it comes to what you spend your money on, or is it all gone as soon as you get it?

That’s an ENERGY MANAGEMENT problem.? You do NOT have to wait until you have more money coming in to solve it.

In fact making more money won’t solve this one at all – the more money you’ve got coming in the faster it will be gone.

How does money FUNCTION in your world?

Money can either support DREAMS and GROWTH or it can support STUCKNESS.

We all have fear around money.

We live in a culture that is completely fucked up about money.? You don’t grow up in this world and magically end up with a healthy relationship with money.

It’s something you have to work on.

It’s something you have to consciously choose to create for yourself.

You absolutely have the ability to have a healthy and happy relationship with money – it’s in your nature.

You can start by getting out your journal and answering the three questions I asked in this post.? Next week I’ll share a whole bunch of creative journal prompts for exploring your relationship with money.

In the Creative With Money e-Course we use creativity, imagination and PLAY to make working on your relationship with money accessible and interesting and even (gasp!) FUN.

Too many soulful creative beings are STUCK when it comes to money. It’s time to change this. Read More »

Creative Dream TV: When you resist structure, you sabotage your dreams.

By Andrea Schroeder / March 11, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life, Vintage Creative Dream TV

Today I’m talking about structures, plans and systems that nurture and grow your dreams.

Creatives tend to resist this stuff – but without it your dream WILL wither and die.? So let’s build structures!

Creative Dream TV: When you resist structure, you sabotage your dreams. Read More »

Update #15: BREAKTHROUGH. Living gorgeously with my dreams.

By Andrea Schroeder / March 7, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life

(you can read my original post about this here)

At this point though, it?s less about the numbers and more about growing my capacity to serve dreamers everywhere in living gorgeously with their dreams – gorgeously meaning in alignment with their inner truth.

In support of this goal, I am writing weekly updates on Fridays, for all of 2014. This is where I’ll share the story of all the ups and downs of bringing a big dream to life.

***************************************************

So the last month or so this has felt stupidly complicated.

I’ve been exploring, and ultimately decided to totally recreate, my marketing plan.

This kind of stems back to the question I was asking when I first started this journey: To get a different result, do I have to do something different than I’ve been doing, or do I just have to do MORE of what I’ve been doing?

I’m not a marketing expert.? I’m really happy that I’ve learned enough about it to make a living doing the work that lights me up.? But my marketing has always felt a little murky.

Marketing is essentially being clear about who you help and how you help them and explaining that in a way that they can understand.? I’ve got a Bernina sewing machine.? When I run into trouble with it, I go to the Bernina authorized dealer & repair shop.? I know that they are the ones to solve my problem.? They help Bernina machine owners keep their machine running happily.

It’s never been that cut and dried for me to say WHO I help or even HOW I help.

The last few years my marketing message has been that I can help creative, spiritual people make their dreams real.

And that’s changing.? Sort of.

My job is to hold the space of where you want to be, give you the tools that help you build a path that leads to where you want to be, and hold the space for you to complete the construction.

That’s what I do in the Creative Dream Circle.

And that’s what I’m going to do in my marketing now.

So this is my new plan:

I’m going to talk about living gorgeously with your dreams instead of talking about how to get your dream.

Which is still talking about the same thing but with a different vibe.? It floats above resistance.? It’s more inspiring and encouraging.

People who believe that their dream is impossible are probably not going to want to listen.? People who are living gorgeously with their dreams, like the people in the Circle, are going to be inspired to listen more closely.

Until now, when I’ve tried to really dig down and get clearer on my marketing…? Blah blah fucking blah.? That is all I can think when I try to focus on it which is why I have not focused on it very much at all.

I want to admit here that when I first started taking business classes, when I was still doing my classes in-person and just thinking about moving it online, I cried, A LOT, about how hard it was to nail this stuff down.

But now, here I am on the other side of it.? These past few months I’ve spent a whole ton of time and energy focused on exactly this thing? – who do I really want to serve and how – and yes it was really frustrating at times but my results are INSPIRING.

My heart is actually sparkling with joy about the to-do list I put together for this week.? I want to EXPLODE with happiness about having a 2014 class calendar all set up (more on that below).

I want to sing and dance about how I feel about promoting the upcoming Creative With Money course I’m doing in the Circle.

Things are shifting, big time.

You have to be wiling to shift through the muck to get to clarity.? They’re both necessary parts of the process.

I also simplified & updated my website to align with how I’m feeling about this now, and added a welcoming new home page.? (I do plan to record a new video for it – hopefully soon)

The new header is one of my dream-bots, and let me tell you: he is THRILLED to sit at the top of the page and be able to welcome you here.

This is one of the robots that keeps the dream factory humming happily.

He invokes ease, support & delight.

Another result of that digging is that I created a course calendar… FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

I’m going to create SIX new courses and run a few of my old favourites.

The new classes are very much about living gorgeously with your dreams and LOVING LOVING LOVING the deliciousness of creative soulful exploration.? Lots of journaling and magic-making.? Deep, transformative processes and playful healing work.

And I feel amazing, having a solid schedule mapped out for the whole year. It’s an incredible relief to know what I’m going to be doing all year.? (Though it’s also spacious enough to accommodate change)

And the work I’ve set up for myself to do is inspiring the heck out of me!

Though the numbers are still small.

In terms of numbers, so far this year I’m not getting more sign-ups than I used to when I ran all of my courses separately.

The Circle is just over 80 members now, growing slowly.? I’m accepting that it may not grow fast enough for me to stop doing one-on-one sessions completely, but/and I’m feeling really optimistic and happy with it.

I love what I’ve built.? I love the people that have joined.? It is growing slower than I’d hoped but that seems so small in comparison to how happy I am.

And I do anticipate an upswing in new members as we get closer to Creative With Money (starting April 3) which is a really fantastically awesome class, if I do say so myself.

One thing I do need to do more of that I’ve been totally stuck on is SHARING PEOPLE’S STORIES.

Miracles are happening all the time inside the Circle and I know if more people knew about it they’d want to be a part of it.? I know that sharing these stories is fun and inspiring and the best selling tool I’ve got and I haven’t been doing it.

So that’s what I’m exploring now.? Not so much “why am I not doing this?” but more “how can I find a way to start doing this that I feel comfortable with?”.? There has got to be a creative, soulful, EASY entry point to doing that, and I’m going to find it.

Update #15: BREAKTHROUGH. Living gorgeously with my dreams. Read More »

Creative Dream TV: On Impossible Dreams

By Andrea Schroeder / March 4, 2014 / Manifest Your Dream Life, Vintage Creative Dream TV

I’m still exploring what I want the new Creative Dream TV series to be like – I’m feeling like I’d like it to be a weekly conversation, as though you just dropped into the Dream Loft for tea and we’re chatting about living with our dreams.

You can catch the old episodes I was talking about right here.

And if you missed it yesterday – check out the 2014 Course Calendar. It?s a bright & happy smorgasbord of inspiration, magic & transformation.? Wheeee! We’re going to have the best year ever!

Creative Dream TV: On Impossible Dreams Read More »

The 2014 Course Calendar. It’s a bright & happy smorgasbord of inspiration, magic & transformation.

By Andrea Schroeder / March 2, 2014 / journaling

Ohmigosh.? So much magic in store this year!

I can’t wait to share it all with you.

Since I’m offering all of this for one low price when you join the Creative Dream Circle, you can take small bites from here or there, focusing only on the parts that inspire you right now.? Or you can totally pig out on creative awesomeness – your choice.

Creative Dream Incubator, Creative With Money and Treasure-Mapping all have links to their description pages because these are all classes I have run before.? The other classes listed here are brand sparklin’ new, with longer descriptions to come…

January 28 – March 11: Creative Dream Incubator

My master-class in the art of bringing ANY dream to life – with creativity, sparkle and joy.? (This is almost over, but you’ll still get all the course material whenever you join, so you can grow your dreams at your own pace.)

April 3: Creative With Money

Harness the superpowers of your creativity, imagination and sense of PLAY to help you bring more ease, flow and freedom into your relationship with money.

This class has been called “*so* full of brilliant I?m still seeing stars and glitter, hours later!”

Bringing your creative magic into how you do money changes EVERYTHING.? You’re going to love how this class opens up new possibilities – right before your eyes.

May 13: Make Your Own Creative Genius Inspiration Cards

Inspiration cards are the bomb but your very own unique-and-just-for-you inspiration cards? Pure genius.? I made this short video about this for the Creative Dream Circle:

In this class I’ll lead you through the whole process of creating gorgeous inspiring cards, including how to find the Exact Perfect Thing for your cards to say by exploring the essential qualities of Living An Inspired Life.?

You’ll create a deck of deeply inspiration cards that speaks the language of your soul.

June 5: Love Your Life Creative Journal Course

A Book Of Inspiration, made just for you.

In this class you’ll call in and activate Inspiration, Joy, Enthusiasm and Delight.? I thought about calling this one Creative Journal Your Way To Happiness or Creative JOYnaling.

July 15: Treasure-Mapping.?

A treasure-map is like a vision board on 100% organic super good for you steroids.? We map out how to get from where you are to where you want to be – using meditation, intuition and creative magic.

August 5: The Magic Journal Creative Journal Course

A Book of Magic, made just for you.

In this class you’ll be diving deeper into unique and powerful journaling processes for healing and transformation.

September 15: The Mandala Journal

My How To Draw Mandalas blog post is one of the most popular and well-loved things I’ve ever written.? In this class we’ll dive deeper into the magic, joy & healing potential of playing with mandalas.

You’ll get 30 unique & insightful prompts for working with Mandalas in your journal.

October 23: The Superhero Journal Creative Journal Course

In this class you’ll be exploring your own Superhero nature AKA your Creative Genius.

You’re not going to learn to leap buildings in a single bound or grow strange new body parts or anything.? You will learn about courage, transcending fear, kicking obstacles to the curb and getting yourself un-stuck faster than a speeding bullet.

November 26: Peaceful Happy Holiday Season

Every day, for 30 days, you’ll get a 10 minute meditation. Easy-peasy, creative and fun meditations that help bring more authentic peace and joy into your holiday season.

You’ll get 30 10-minute guided meditation audios – 1 per day for 30 days.

It’s a total feast.

Of course, you’ll also get: The Creative Business Incubator, The Un-Sticking Station, the Creative Genius Mojo-Dojo, The Advanced Creative Badassery Resource Library and everything else included in the Creative Dream Circle.

Looking forward to playing with YOU.

The 2014 Course Calendar. It’s a bright & happy smorgasbord of inspiration, magic & transformation. Read More »

Update #14: I’m Still Kinda Worried About This

By Andrea Schroeder / February 28, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life

(you can read my original post about this here)

At this point though, it?s less about the numbers and more about growing my capacity to serve dreamers everywhere in bringing their dreams to life.

In support of this goal, I am writing weekly updates on Fridays, for all of 2014. This is where I’ll share the story of all the ups and downs of bringing a big dream to life.

Last week I talked about how I am re-building my marketing plan.? As I’ve been exploring the world of my business I’ve been creating this wall of business planning stuff…

Being able to see it all in front of me helps me be clear about what I want to do next.

Last week I shared that I unlocked a whole new level of believing in myself, which was awesome.

This week started a little rocky, I needed extra space & gentleness to get comfortable in this new space.? This is normal any time you shift or heal anything inside of you – you need time to adjust to living as this new version of you.? Sometimes the adjustment is hard because you’re letting go of old ways of being.

Even if your old ways of being were not really serving you, they were familiar.? And humans sure like the familiar!

So letting them go is more complicated than just brushing them off – it takes some work to fully adjust.

So I’ve been adjusting.

Which, this week at least, has meant spending a lot of time becoming irritated with myself!

Like – new me, me who believes in herself more than ever, has these new ways of being that are important to her that I don’t actually know about yet.? I just find out when she gets irritated that I am not doing them.

If this sounds hard to understand – imagine how hard it is so BE in it!

Like, she really doesn’t want to relax in the evening by watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and eating popcorn.? So when I kept doing that she would freak out but I didn’t know what was happening, I was just feeling really annoyed with myself and wishing I was doing something else but not knowing what that something else is.

This is the process of growing into your Dream Self – the You Who Lives Your Dream.

(We learn all about how to do this with grace & ease in Module 6 of the Creative Dream Incubator e-course)

Once I understood what was happening it was so much easier to deal with.? I really like living as the me who believes in herself more.? I like that she would rather sew adorable clothes than watch Buffy.? And it’s really fun to learn more about who and how she wants to be in the world.

A dream come true (on the outside) happens after a million tiny changes (on the inside).

I’m struggling with putting my 2014 class calendar together.

I know what I want to do, it’s just when I try to nail down the dates I get all procrastination-y and weird about it.

So I took my journal out for a latte.? (That’s what I do when I am resisting something.? If I stay home it’s too easy to jump up and do something else.? If I go to a coffee shop with a specific intention, 9 times out of 10 I actually do the thing.)

I started writing about what I wanted to do, listing the classes, then listing the months of the year and it seemed fairly simple to just match them all up…

Except it wasn’t simple, at all.

I had all these inner critics and fears pop up about choosing the wrong classes.

So, using the Un-Sticking Station inside the Creative Dream Circle, I met with EVERY inner critic and fear I had about this.? And I brought in healing for EVERY inner critic and fear I had about this.

When you HEAL an inner critic or fear there is a huge gift.? The essence of these parts of you are powerful and helpful – they’re just all tangled up in some bullshit story.? When you un-tangle the story and heal the pain around it – you can access the essence.

This time in healing my inner critics and fears I was able to access the essences of Steadiness and Presence.

The inner critics and fears that are the most vocal always hold the qualities that you need most.

Steadiness and Presence feel like the most amazing Superpowers that ever superpowered.

And now I trust myself to create the schedule now, I’m not all tangly and frustrated about it.

I’m also looking at how bringing more stability and presence into my daily routines, weekly schedule and business plans can help.

See, I’ve still got fears about growing the Circle.

I worry it will get too big too fast and I won’t know how to handle it.

I worry I’ll get overwhelmed.

But then – I look at what happens in the Circle.

?I?ve actually accomplished more and received more clarity in the 4 weeks I?ve been in the Creative Dream Circle than I have in the past 4 years going it alone.?

Carrie Anspach, www.dirtygirlpottery.wordpress.com

“I?m one of those people who used to think that I didn?t have enough time or money to participate in the Creative Dream Circle.

I realize now that thinking I didn?t have enough time or money was just an excuse. It was kind of tied into not believing in my own self worth, like I shouldn?t spend the money or take time away from my kids to do this because it was silly and it wasn?t going to cause a change in my life so what?s the point.

That was just my inner critic talking, I realize now, and boy was my inner critic wrong!

These resources and the daily practice of connecting with my creativity has changed my life! It has impacted my relationships and my outlook?in such a positive profound way in such a short period of time that there is no way I would ever stop playing in the Creative Dream Circle.”

Melody Flurry

LIVES ARE CHANGING, powered by creativity and spirit and joy and play.

When I remember that, when I look at how AMAZING all the members are, how supportive and kind and creative and smart they are – well why wouldn’t I want MORE of them to play with?

Every morning I wake up and find tiny miracles happening in the Circle.

I love what we are doing there.

Update #14: I’m Still Kinda Worried About This Read More »

I Want To Do Creative Journaling But I Don’t Want To Have To Get a Whole Bunch Of Materials!

By Andrea Schroeder / February 26, 2014 / journaling

This post is a part of the Dreamtastic Creative Journals ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing. The courses is full of videos, stories, photos, prompts and creative journaling processes that will help you discover the magic within.? Click here to check out what’s happened in the course so far.

Today’s question:

What keeps me from art journaling is my notion that it requires me to carry around huge amounts of materials, or to do wild shit while at home and I really don’t have the time energy and money for that. So if you could?address that, I’d love it.

Good news!? You absolutely don’t have to get any materials you don’t want and you DEFINITELY do not have to do any wild shit.

Creative Dream Journaling is NOT Art Journaling.

Art Journaling is not wrong or anything, it’s just not what I teach.

This is about spending QUALITY time with yourself (like, actually being present with what’s going on inside of you) and with your dream.

That’s it.

It doesn’t matter what it looks like.

It only matters what it FEELS like.

How do YOU want your creative journal practice to feel?

For me, it’s important that it be: expansive, supportive, nurturing, inspiring, playful and transformative.? You get to pick how your practice will be for you.

Some of us looooove having a whole ton of art supplies to play with. Some of us prefer to keep things simple.

At home, I like to play with paints and tons of different art supplies.? But I also like to journal on the go, with just a few markers.?? Neither is better, they’re just different.

The only rule is: don’t do anything you don’t want to do!

Part of what you’re doing with this work is meeting and transforming those inner voices that say you have to do things “the right way”.

Another part of what you’re doing is learning more about YOUR way.? This is how you activate your inner superpowers.

So – get ONLY the art supplies you actually want to play with.? And do ONLY the things you actually want to do.

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I Want To Do Creative Journaling But I Don’t Want To Have To Get a Whole Bunch Of Materials! Read More »

Creative Dream TV: How To STOP Spinning Your Wheels

By Andrea Schroeder / February 25, 2014 / healing, Manifest Your Dream Life, Vintage Creative Dream TV

Spinning your wheels is so frustrating!? You’re working so hard but getting nowhere.

When you’re in it, it seems so complicated, but really it’s quite simple: you need traction.

In the video I said I would link to some resources for helping with this.

I’ve got this free class where you can learn more about this “inner approach” I talked about. ?And you can check out this video about How to handle limiting beliefs, fears, doubts & shame.

And, of course, the tools inside the Creative Dream Circle will get your wheels un-spun in no time.

Creative Dream TV: How To STOP Spinning Your Wheels Read More »