Right Livelihood or Soul Work Secrets? questions for you . . .

Dear Readers,

I know I'm not the only person out there who wants to make an abundant living doing the work they love. Most of you know that my life changed pretty dramatically this past year, as I made the change from doing my "heart & soul work" part-time to doing it full-time. I have a fabulous coach in Elizabeth Genco Purvis, and I've studied marketing and business techniques from other teachers as well.

I believe that each of us has a unique gift to share with the world. I know from first-hand experience how frustrating it can be to not have enough time or energy to put into your soul work because you're too busy making a living at a "real" job.  (Of course there's many of us who love our "real" jobs.  I'm just talking to the folks who'd like to try their hand at being a "spirit-rich entrepreneur," as Elizabeth says.)

So I'm in the midst of creating an e-course on "Right Livelihood" for those of you who either have a dream about pursuing your soul-work as a business, or who are already doing it part-time and want to take it full-time. 

If this is something you're interested in, I'd love it if you could help me create the curriculum for this course by answering a few questions in the comments section.

• Do you need help clarifying the vision for your soul-centered business?
• Are you clear about the kind of work you are called to do, but don't know how to start getting your business off the ground?
• What do you see as the biggest obstacle(s) to moving into your soul work full-time?
• What is the biggest challenge you have in taking your business to the next level?
• What do you most need help with?
• Do you like the name "Right Livelihood" for the course? How about "Soul Work Secrets"? Any other ideas?

Thank you! I appreciate your help so much.

Comments

[Barbara Brandt]

* Do you need help clarifying the vision for your soul-centered business?
yes.
* Are you clear about the kind of work you are called to do, but don't know how to start getting your business off the ground?
yes
* What do you see as the biggest obstacle(s) to moving into your soul work full-time?
Time/money. Time to earn a living and time to grow a business. Both need full time and attention.
* What is the biggest challenge you have in taking your business to the next level? again, time
* What do you most need help with? A plan broken down into tiny steps so I can move forward regardless of financial pressures.
* Do you like the name "Right Livelihood" for the course? How about "Soul Work Secrets"? Any other ideas?
I don't like Right Livelihood. How about Right Living? Soul Work Secrets is better but not really good. There are lots of marketing companies online now just selling marketing tips for Twitter that have great inspirational names...it is hard to stand out from the crowd.

[joanna]

Barbara, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I hear what you're saying about time and money — it's what held me back for years. Decades really. I've finally broken through. Thanks for the feedback on the name too. So far, "Right Livelihood" is winning out 2 to 1 over "Soul Work Secrets" among the folks who responded to the questions from my newsletter. But maybe I'll come up with something else. :-)

[Bonnie]

I like "Right Livelihood" because it suggests alignment and purposeful connections between people and the planet as an extension of Right Relationship.

The questions you pose about course content are excellent and right to the point. I am retired now, but a course such as the one you are planning would have helped me enormously in years past. Best wishes in this endeavor, and to all participants!

[Tarotexplorer]

Do you need help clarifying the vision No
Are you clear about the kind of work you are called to do, but don't know how to start getting your business off the ground? No
What do you see as the biggest obstacle(s) to moving into your soul work full-time? Replacing one income with another
What is the biggest challenge you have in taking your business to the next level? Time, oh time.
What do you most need help with? Prioritizing.
Do you like the name "Right Livelihood" for the course? How about "Soul Work Secrets"? Right Livelihood sounds good.

[Jean]

*Do you need help clarifying the vision for your soul-centered business?

Certainly. I wonder if it really be a "business" since it is unquantifiable and because I suspect that one or two "clients" over a number of years would be many.

*Are you clear about the kind of work you are called to do, but don't know how to start getting your business off the ground?
*What do you see as the biggest obstacle(s) to moving into your soul work full-time?

Right now, the only obstacle is also the-way-there: this wonderful time when I get to study and nurture my own spiritual growth. I don't know *exactly* what the work will look like, but I feel as if I'll know when the time is right. (Maybe I should push myself a bit?) I would definitely need help with the practical and intimidating task of "getting a business off the ground."

(OMG! Joanna that's a term I didn't put the mocu-dictionary of 2,000 Business Speak Terms that I created during my time in the Silicon Valley!)

*What is the biggest challenge you have in taking your business to "the next level?"

That one *is* in my dictionary. ;-p

*What do you most need help with?

Right now, I guess I need some encouragement to keep one eye on my goal as I study here: someone to talk to about how what I'm learning now could be "useful" in the future.

*Do you like the name "Right Livelihood" for the course? How about "Soul Work Secrets"? Any other ideas?

People might have other assumptions about what Soul Work Secrets means. I like the name "Right Livelihood" because I know what it means; it's a phrase that I've heard frequently for many years. The association of "right" and "lively" and "hood" appeal to me. (You've chosen to do right, you're truly involved in it, and instead of a "job" you have a role.)

There may be other business using the term, but you have several advantages:

- word of mouth from many folks who know you personally and people who know you via the Gaian Tarot; you might even have a "few" ;-) former clients who might say a nice thing or two about your work
- a lot of talent; what other Right Livelihood site will be as visually attractive or as interesting as yours?
- you're an example of the possibility of success outside the "real" business world (Did you *really* have medical insurance all those years? Nawwww.)
- and that fantastic quote you use in the forum, which made me think, "If that's true, then it wouldn't be selfish to do what I want most, because it would be good for other people...?...!..."

Best of luck, Joanna!

בהצלחה
Jean

[Jean]

Unsolicited advice you probably don't need, but I can't help myself:

When trying to reserve a business name, if one day the Secretary of State of whatever state(s) you're incorporating in says, "that name is taken," call (or e-mail, depending on the state) again the next day. The next person may not think that other company's name is really much like yours.

[joanna]

Bonnie - thanks! I appreciate your input. Nancy - excellent feedback. Time and prioritizing, uh huh!!

Jean - yes, I love that quote so much! "Vocation is the place where your deep gladness meets the world's deep need." (Frederick Buechner) I actually first heard that quote from Oprah, years and years ago, and have taken it to heart as one of the core beliefs and practices of my life.

Following your soul's calling is most definitely NOT selfish! Because the world needs what you have to offer, even if you haven't quite figured out what it is just yet.

And I actually have always had medical insurance through all these years of self-employment (since 1993). I have paid it right after the mortgage every single month. (It's because I have personal experience with high medical bills -- in 1986, my lengthy hospital stay topped $100K which was luckily paid by my then-husband's insurance. Since I have a chronic condition, I can't risk my home and livelihood by skipping out on health insurance, as expensive as it is - right now I pay over $600/month just for me, not counting Craig.)

I don't think I need to register the name of a course - I already have a business name (JPC Artworks / Gaian Design). Thanks Jean.

[Lost Awareness]

* Do you need help clarifying the vision for your soul-centered business?

Beyond the shadow of a doubt.

* Are you clear about the kind of work you are called to do, but don't know how to start getting your business off the ground?

No. I am unable to define exactly what it is I do. There's no word in the American English language that I'm familiar with for what I think I do.

* What do you see as the biggest obstacle(s) to moving into your soul work full-time?

Defining it. Then since it's an intangible talent, figuring out how to tell others what it is.

* What is the biggest challenge you have in taking your business to the next level?

Getting the business in the first place.

* What do you most need help with?

Self Esteem, and releasing the need to please others.

* Do you like the name "Right Livelihood" for the course?

No. Right Livelihood speaks to an attitude of there being one way or a right way ... giving an inherent badness/wrongness or if I may, left-ness (as in left alone, left behind, left in the dust) to the course. I perceive you wanting to facilitate and encourage rather than create a stumbling block in others' awareness.

* How about "Soul Work Secrets"?

I'm not thrilled with the term 'Secrets'. Reminds me too much of folks who use a lot of marketing hype -- it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

* Any other ideas?
Nourishing Work? Working for Self, Soul and Sensibility? Soul Nourishment and Mundane Abundance? SNAP (Soul Nourishment and Peacefulness)? Work/Soul Balance?

Nothing is truly clicking for making a great suggestion to you, but thank you for the opportunity to express.

[mama p]

* Do you need help clarifying the vision for your soul-centered business?
--especially with the practical details: how to do exactly what, how to make sure all my bases are covered, how to find out the info I need to make sure I set myself up properly.

* Are you clear about the kind of work you are called to do, but don't know how to start getting your business off the ground?
--that sums it up nicely!

* What do you see as the biggest obstacle(s) to moving into your soul work full-time?
-- my other full-time job ;) i'm a SAHM... i think any ~real~ movement is going to have to wait another year, unfortunately.

* What is the biggest challenge you have in taking your business to the next level?
-- believing in myself

* What do you most need help with?
--believing in myself! and, the "practical details"

* Do you like the name "Right Livelihood" for the course?
--yes, I really do!!

[Lunaea]

Robert Frost said it for me:

But yield who will to their separation,
My object in living is to unite
My avocation and my vocation
As my two eyes make one in sight.
Only where love and need are one,
And the work is play for mortal stakes,
Is the deed ever really done
For Heaven and the future's sakes.

[joanna]

Lost Awareness, thanks so much for your responses. One thing I discovered this weekend is that many people don't know that "right livelihood" is a Buddhist term. It's part of the "Noble Eightfold Path" - the 8 precepts all begin with the word "Right." I think it's partially a problem with the translation, as it really indicates an ideal, rather than right vs. wrong. The connotation of Right Livelihood, especially to those of us who came of age in the 60's, is about earning your living while being of service to the world. But I am learning through this survey that this meaning has been somewhat lost or diluted. Very enlightening to me.

Mama P, you'll be happy to know that one of the first practical steps to building a viable online business is to blog and create a community of readers. So you've already begun!

L - beautiful poem!