How to Go All In

Up to a certain point, I wasn’t really ever committed to my own success.

Sounds crazy but it’s absolutely true and I’d love to tell you why.

One of my favorite sayings is: 

“The way to know life is to love many things." -Van Gogh

It goes so well with my many passions!

I designed and sold jewelry all over Kansas City for around 6 years.

And then I decided to pursue life coaching and became a certified coach with a blossiming practice of clients.

And there were several other fun pursuits in between all that...

But here’s the truth: 

I wasn’t ready, or willing to make any of these successful.

Even the jewelry business which hit over 1,000 sales on etsy and likely had equal that in local Kansas City sales.

Even the life coaching, where my clients paid me quite well and the speaking gigs paid even more….

Despite all of that, it’s absolutely true that I was not “ALL IN" with either of those. 

I was not completely committed and now I am, and I want to tell you why.

The reason I (subconsciously) did not want any of my other businesses to become successful was because it would’ve meant MORE work and MORE time and MORE energy and MORE everything than I had to give.

And more success would’ve meant more work and more of ME than I was willing to give. 

I had set up my business in a time for dollars sort of way. And I did not want to give so much of my time or energy.

Success, then, was this illusive wish.

I wanted to sell more, gain more exposure, etc. etc.

But, then... I didn’t, actually.

And, now… amazingly, things are different.

Massive success is not only welcome, but it’s also planned for.

My businesses, Lifted Naturals and Honeypot Publishing were both built in ways that none of my other businesses have been built. 

They’re scalable. 

They’re not reliant on me and me alone.

And if you’re interested in more information on this concept, Robert Kiyosaki’s book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" is a GREAT starting point and his book "Cashflow Quadrant” is great read, too.

Now, more sales does not mean more work for me. 

Instead, more sales means… YESSSS! I can help more people. And that’s the really fun part. 

Is it possible that you are blocking your own success as well because what it would mean for your life as a whole? 

And here’s one other favorite quote that has been a guiding light: 

"Success without fulfillment is failure.” -Tony Robbins

 xo,

Sylvia

Confidence, Creativity & Abundance

Why Most People Won't Succeed? (Two Reasons)

There seem to be two common reason why most people won’t ‘succeed’ to create what they want…

Here they are:

Because they won't start...

And they really don't wanna fail...

A lot of people talk about success, but very few people achieve it.

Why? Because most people won't even start.

They're afraid of failure, so they stay in their comfort zones where they know they can't fail.

But success requires taking risks. It requires getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things.

It means putting yourself out there, even if you might fail.

So if you want to be successful, you have to be willing to start and willing to fail.

You have to be willing to put yourself out there and take risks.

So ask yourself: are you willing to look a little silly?

Are you willing to prioritize your dreams and goals OVER the guaranteed state of looking ‘cool’ and having it ‘all together?’

For instance, when I start a new business idea…. I know there’s always a chance that it migh tnot work out.

I often ask myself: what would it look like if I DIDN’T pursue this dream?

In the game of life, there are no guarantees.

But if you are willing to start and willing to fail, then you just might achieve the success you've always dreamed of.

Cheers to pursuing our dreams…

xo,

Sylvia

Creativity & Abundance.

Getting Started with A Creative Life

When it comes to being creative and starting a business, where you can BOTH: make a positive impact in the world and make a positive impact for your family/self…

One of the most important things I haveis the power of just getting started on your own.

I’ve learned that there are massive payoffs when you bet on yourself, and embrace the idea that the mistakes you make along the way are some of the best learning experiences you can get!

It reminds me a little bit of my junior year of high school.

I had decided to stop playing basketball and start playing softball.

Many of my friends had been playing softball their entire life (much like I had been doing with basketball!).

So when I decided to join them that ‘late’ in my adolescent sports career, no one really knew what to expect.

But I trusted my athleticism and put in the hard work and was able to play fairly competitively with my peers.

It was fun because I was willing to be a beginner.

I’ve always said that I transferred my competitive nature away from sports and towards business, and that one single move has made all the difference in my success with my other company, Lifted Naturals.

And the even better move I made, was competing with myself. Not other brands or businesses. But instead I’m only competing with who I was yesterday.

When it comes to living a creative, abundant life, you have to hold a vision for what you really want and who you really want to become.

Never underestimate the power of visualizaion when it comes to creating the life you want to life. See it in your mind’s eye and act as if you are already there.

Keep believing in a future reality that lights you up.

It is absolutely in your reach to create it.

xo,

Sylvia

Creativity & Abundance

Never Enough Time In The Day To Pursue Your Dreams? Read This.

What We Do And Don't Have Time For

We don't have time to swarm in mind-drama about how much stuff we have to do, how much yard work or laundry there always is to do, and how 'behind' we are on all of it …and still do the creative thing we really want to do.

We don't have time to stress out over how much continuous work it is to run a business and wear all the hats in our business and learn all the things there is to learn in a business …and still do the necessary work. 

We don't have time to obsess over all the things that 'need to be done' …and still actually do and enjoy the things we are going to do.

Catch That Pattern!

There's a pattern here. Did you catch it?  Our time and our energy are limited. Mind drama is LIMITLESS and will eat up our every bit of our precious time and energy. But, then, we are left empty-handed. We are left with the ache of our unfulfilled desires.

The time has passed and we have little to show for it. This is what some people call “dying with your dreams still inside of you.” Don’t let this happen to you!

Your Desire to Create Something Matters

Whether you want to create plans for a new side-business. ... or you want to create time for more home cooked meals. ...or you simply crave some extra time "playing" with your item of choice... That desire matters.

It really IS up to you to decide what you want to do and then decide for yourself that it matters JUST as much as all those things other things you think feel like you "have" to do.

The Easy Way Out: I’m Busy

I have always been inspired by the beauty and intricacy of jewelry. As a young girl, I loved exploring both of my grandmother's jewelry boxes, admiring all of the delicate and intricate things.

But as I grew older and became focused on creating a business that would really make an impact in the world.

I knew that adding beauty through the world with jewelry was FUN. But was it impactful enough?

Plus, I was struggling to feel like myself and my ‘Eureka!’ moment involving the gut-brain connection was what led me to start my company, Lifted Naturals.

From there, making time for my passion project became much harder. Between long hours spent working on Lifted, and family responsibilities, it often felt like there were never enough hours in the day for pursuing my dreams. However, I was determined not to let that stop me.

It wasn’t careful planning or creative scheduling that finally helped me to make the leap into my own fine jewelry brand. Nope. Instead, the real catalyst that inspired me to start my own fine jewelry brand was that the idea would NOT go away. It popped into my mind when I was meditating. It popped onto the page when I was journaling. It was always right there, tugging at me.

First, I decided to carve out time each week to focus on designing new ring designs— just for the fun of it. And it was worth every ounce of effort; this project gives me so much joy and satisfaction and it makes me feel more like the ME I want to be in the world:

Creative. Expressive. Abundant. And filled with enough presence to prioritize beauty and style.

A Three Step Process For Busy People

I like it when people make things simple for me, so allow me to try and do the same for you...

1. Figure out what you REALLY WANT TO DO

2. Call BLUFF on the DRAINING story about ALL the other stuff being MORE IMPORTANT

3. DO THE THING YOU FEEL PULLED TO DO

The Unique Trick To Creating More Energy

It's funny because the old story of 'not enough time' really does fade away when you MAKE time to do things that fill you up. When you honor what you feel pulled to explore, you become energized and those other "obligations" are significantly less exhausting. It sounds crazy, but it's oh-so-true.

Really. Try it out...

Do you struggle finding making time for the topics that tug at you?

I would love to hear about what you want to do/make/build/create/become/START in the comments below.

xo,

Sylvia

Creativity & Abundance

The Power of Journaling for Perspective + Possibility

Perspective Shift

I was journaling the other day when I started to realize: the most potent thing I can offer myself in this moment is a fresh perspective.

When we take the time to step back and look at our world with a fresh perspective, the possibilities are endless.

This is the power of perspective - the power to see the world in a different light, the ability to shift our way of thinking and open ourselves up to new ideas and perspectives. It can be as simple as changing the way you view an everyday problem or challenge, or it can be something more profound, like revisiting your assumptions about someone or something that you previously thought you knew.

Starting a fine jewelry business from scratch certainly has its challenges, but being able to manage my mind around the thoughts I have about it, and also being able to shift my perspective in any given moment is of exceptional value.

In fact, this one quality (of being able to shift your own perspective) may be one of the most important qualities an entrepreneur can work towards.

Journaling Benefits

At its core, journaling is all about finding fresh, new ways of looking at the world. Whether we're simply jotting down our thoughts for reflection later on or actively working through an issue on the page, journaling gives us the space and freedom to think differently and explore different approaches. By encouraging others to try journaling for themselves, we are helping them tap into the power of perspective and discover new insights in their lives. So if there's one thing I can inspire others to do, it's this: embrace the transformative power of perspective and see the world anew.

Here's the thing: we all have blind spots. We all have areas of our lives that we mistakingly take at "face value." We all have sneaky gremlin thoughts hiding in our subconscious. Oftentimes, we are unaware of the negative dialogue that is running in the background. Seeing these thoughts on the page (and questioning them ruthlessly) gives us a mega advantage when moving forward with our dreams and goals.

Maybe you've heard this Einstein quote:

"No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it."

Once a new perspective is considered, we can allow in a whole 'nother level of badassery. Once we let go of the idea that we're stuck, or that we've already tried everything, or that 'our problem is different from other people's problems' ...we can step away from our problem-focused mentality and step (blissfully) into a solution-focused mentality.

The Power of Possibility With Journaling

That leads me to the next amazing realization I had: once we are open to the idea of a new way to look at things, things begin to change. Once we have allowed in a new perspective, and once we've begun to tackle our doubts head-on, we are opening the flood gates for all kinds of FRESH POSSIBILITY.

Try asking yourself:

'What would be POSSIBLE for me, if I didn't keep getting in my own way?'

How often do you allow yourself to swim in possibility? How often do you allow yourself the creative liberty to think outside the box of the way you've been doing things? How often do you ask yourself: what kind of life do I really want to be living?

Possibility is fun. Possibility is exciting. Possibility is where dreams are created.

 xo,

- Sylvia

Creativity & Abundance

Daring to Express Your Creativity

To The People Who identify as 'Not-At-All-Creative'

Let me know say.... I know there are people who readily and easily identify themselves as creative. And, there are others who identify as not-at-all-creative. I have to say: I think it's nonsense.

I think we are all creators of our life experience, and the most daring and happiest of souls recognize this as fact.

Daring to recognize your personal areas of creativity gives you the energetic space you need to create a life that's juicy and full.

So Much To Do, So Many Ideas, And Just The Right Amount of Time

So, the big dilemma becomes: with so many things that need to be done for our kids, and our family, and our house, and our lives... how do we make time to create amongst the chaos?  Not everything will 'get done' and that's ok. You did not come here to get it all done.

What will matter is the love you gave and the courage you showed by following your own dreams.

Creativity is NOT A Frivolous Pursuit

Creativity can sometimes be seen as a frivolous pursuit, something that is nice to have but not essential. However, creativity plays an important role in our lives in many ways. For example, creativity can be a primary form of self-expression, a way to FINALLY, safely communicate our innermost thoughts and feelings.

Creativity can also be a key source of joy and satisfaction, something we do simply because we enjoy it. In a world that is often busy and demanding, making time for creative pursuits can be a way to relax and recharge. It can also help us to connect with our passions and pursue projects that are truly meaningful to us… giving our mind ‘free space’ to daydream and remember our true essence. Creativity is an essential part of who we are and how we express ourselves.

For me, fine jewelry design has been a key way to CONNECT BACK to who I am, and how to be in the present moment.

Creativity is at The Core of Who We Are

You are creative. Whether you like it or not. Whether you choose to proclaim it, or not.

If you say you are not creative or you are denying your creative impulses, then you are wasting your personal magic.

"Any talent that you have but do not use becomes a burden." -Liz Gilbert

I invite you to take a closer look at your personal areas of creativity. Which of YOUR talents are lying dormant, creating a burden in YOUR life?

xo,

Sylvia

Creativity & Abundance

Just for The Fun of It

Just for the fun of it, I started sketching book covers.

I wasn’t sure where it would lead, or what would come of it.

I only followed the nudge.

My other business, Lifted Naturals all started with a nudge.

And when the idea struck to begin designing gratitude journals and minimalist coloring books…

I felt my heart flutter.

Enter: Honeypot Publishing.

Can you imagine starting an entire business just for the fun of it?

With no need for approval.

No need for acceptance.

Simply….

Fun.

Beauty.

Enjoyment.

Can you imagine?

And the best part of starting over— starting a new passion project business— is that I am not really starting over.

There’s no such thing.

I’m taking everything I’ve learned from Lifted Naturals with me.

It’s such a delight and I am having so much fun.

Thanks for joining me on this journey.

xo,

Sylvia

Creativity & Abundance