I was six or seven when I wrote (and illustrated) my first book. It was about the first Thanksgiving and had a bright pink laminated cardstock cover. I think I was in my Strawberry Shortcake phase at the time, so pink was my favorite color. My teacher entered it in some contest, and I won. I don’t remember much more than that about it, but it was likely what fueled my early ambitions to be a writer. Around that same age, I also remember saying I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. These dreams lasted until my teenage years when various circumstances made me pack them away, along with my dreams of being an artist. But these dreams never really died. I’ve added a few more to the box they’re stored in: life coach, librarian, used bookstore owner, professional cosplayer, fashion designer, world traveler, and a handful of half-formed thoughts of “wouldn’t it be cool if…” and other vague ideas.
It’s time to unpack the box.
From KinkySpot on Etsy
I’ve always been a big proponent of following your dreams and working to make them come true. While many of my dreams have had to be put on the back burner for health or financial reasons, they’re still simmering. I’ve talked about my mental health issues a few times as well as my belief that if I can follow my dreams in the face of them, anyone can. So I’ve decided to unpack five dreams from the box: writer, teacher, life coach, world traveler, and Director of the Rewondered Creativity Center (more on that later, since I apparently deleted the original post about it).
From VinylMasterpieces on Etsy
I’m writing a book to teach other creative solopreneurs like myself how to use strategic planning for their very small businesses. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks looking over my notes and finding a few more resources to explore. As the book has started to take shape in my mind, I’ve realized that it’s not just a business planning book but also a life planning book. Which is fitting, as I believe most artists, especially those operating a one-person business, have difficulty separating themselves from their work. We put pieces of ourselves into our art and our business and personal brands are irrevocably intertwined. So our dreams for our business are also our dreams for ourselves.
From StandardStamp on Etsy
Now, those who know me well and/or have been reading my blog all along know that the universe loves to laugh at me when I make plans. So me writing a book about planning might seem a bit oxymoronic (or just plain moronic). But strategic planning is a bit different (in my not so humble opinion, at least) than just “making plans.”
From SoulfulSayings on Etsy
Don’t let the term “strategic planning” scare you. The title of my book is Painting the Big Picture of Your Creative Business because that is what you’ll be doing while you create your strategic plan. I had also considered calling it Dreaming Your Plan, Planning Your Dream as that is another apt description. Strategic planning is a process of dreaming big, deciding what you really want and care about, creating a vision for the future of your business (and your life), and then figuring out how you’re going to make it all happen.
From WallDecalsAndQuotes on Etsy
November is National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo. While this book is not a novel, I do want to use the idea behind NaNoWriMo and make a pledge to write every day this month. This will include blog posts like this one as well as the updates for those who choose the In the Loop perk from my Indiegogo campaign. I want to have the first part of the book done before the end of the year so that you will be able to use it when you do your planning for 2016.
From ATArtDigital on Etsy
That tells you a little bit about my dreams of writing and teaching. Life coaching appeals to my cheerleader side, sharing my positivity and enthusiasm while helping you to ignite yours. So I’ve included perks where I will personally help you work through the material I’ll be providing. Perhaps I’ll even dress as a cheerleader for those that choose the Face Time perk. 😛
From SonnetDreamArt on Etsy
I’ll be expanding on my idea for the Rewondered Creativity Center in a future post, as it is part of my own strategic plan and big picture vision for my business. So that leaves world traveler. I’ve never been outside the United States, though I’ve been to 80% of the states and lived in eight different ones. Thanks to The Cape Radio, I have friends from all over the world, and I’ve always dreamed of visiting them. I don’t even have a passport yet, but I have looked into what it would take for me to travel to Australia and will be putting a portion of my product sales and proceeds from my Indiegogo campaign into a savings account for that trip.
From FebruaryLane on Etsy
Which dreams would you like to reawaken? Which dreams are you living right now? Have you even figured out what your dreams are?
It’s time to wake up, and start dreaming.
From maybesparrowphoto on Etsy
Rewondered Blog 
Leslie
/ November 3, 2015Wow thank you for writing that… those are my thoughts, my dreams and reading your words was like you saying what has been in my head all these years. I was callec the thinker in school mostly i because i thought to much about things. I too wrote a book at a very young age and was sought out by a young authors company when i was just in high school….long story short my writing dreams diminished due to constant criticizing of my work not for the better it was always centered on mechanics and not substance…over the years i let that manifest in my head because all i hear is negativity…yet in my professional life I’m required to be this positive being light when I’m constantly critiqued in a negative way. There is a constant creative battle going on in my mind to do what i love but scared to let out out. So last year i put my dream of designer out there to see what would happen…i launched my greeting card business on etsy. So it hasn’t been as great as i hope but they are varying degrees of success locally i am starting to get my name out there and I’m still chasing more possibilities of where and how to”DO” my business as a very educated person i have all the tools to succeed but i think what’s missing is mentoring, partnership and direction and really believing in myself that i can do it and keep the Nay Sayers out of my head! Creative minds unite i look forward to seeing where your dreams take you and maybe i can leatn something aling the way that i can apply to my own dreams!😃