New word for the Convivial Lexicon: Experimenteurship + My Adventures in Life Coaching

“View everything you do as an experiment. The purpose of an experiment is to gather data, to learn something you didn’t know before. The beauty of viewing everything you do as an experiment is that you can never fail. There is no such thing as failure, only opportunity to learn, grow, and renew your determination.” -Susan Page

Recently, entrepreneurial rocker chica, Sally Hope gave credit to @tmfproject on facebook and twitter for saying, “Entrepreneurship should be called “Experimenteurship,” since that’s really what it is.” When I read that line, I could totally relate, because I’m an entrepreneur in my soul and am constantly experimenting. It’s not always easy to give something new a try, let alone tell the masses, “Hey! I’m going to do this,” and then after some time dabbling in it, change your mind.

This new word in my convivial lexicon, Experimenteurship, sparks a memory of the day my cousin told my husband and I, with much conviction in her voice, “I know what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

With a powerful statement like that, it felt like a fierce wind swept over the table. We were anxious to know! Her answer came, “I’m going to be a hypnotist.” And she did. She got certified, took on clients, and had every reason to continue, but…she didn’t.

As an entrepreneur, I understood her choice and didn’t judge her. She gave it a shot and simply chose a different path.

I know many of us experience the feeling that we ought to know what we are doing with the rest of our lives the moment we graduate high school, college, or turn a certain age, that we should always have it all together. But if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s the fact that shit’s always changing! And if you’re not, then there’s a definite problem.

Life certainly gets busy, material goods and the bills that accompany them add up, someone else’s agenda is made priority over your personal sovereignty whether at a job or academically, children require immense attention, the house needs to be cleaned, but when you’re committed to your personal growth and enlightenment, there’s room to create, because beneath it all, we’re still children at play if we allow ourselves to be. That’s it. Just as children try something new, they also decide to move onto something new without a fuss. Free will, baby. No pun intended.

Experimenting…how about those times when you try something new because someone proposes the idea to you? Like when my aunt once recommended I become a translator. Nothing good comes from just doing it for the money. You may try (I know I have!), but you can’t confuse someone else’s passion for your own.

Funny Business

Recently, I decided to phase out the 1 on 1 strategizing sessions for The Convivial Woman. Poof! That page is gone! I waste no time. After a few calls and introducing my newest creation, The Convivial Supper Club (see retreats & workshops page), I’m taking my efforts and talents from a one person show to a group one.

I was always resistant to calling myself a “life coach,” so I gave it a different name. But guess what? That didn’t change the fact that I was aspiring to do the same damn thing!

I experienced life coaching for myself and got great benefit out of it. After my first month, I was called “the perfect client,” but I simply showed up with a burning commitment to do the work.

I have friends who think life coaching is a bunch of BS. Even Showtime’s program, “Bullshit” covered the industry and called it so, but who wouldn’t agree that there’s some bullshit to every industry? Everyone’s got an opinion (BKA judgment), but ultimately, any and every experience IS what YOU make it. I’m glad to say mine was well worth all the epiphanies.

Any change you seek results in YOU being the boss of YOU, in you taking charge of your life. It’s up to you to redeem yourself from what you want to change. No one can do it for you.

As a woman who wants to take as much personal responsibility for her life as possible,

of course, it’s normal for me to want to constantly improve, but I’m learning to surrender more, to not resist so much, to live and let live and find peace with the imperfections.

So, my latest “experiment” with life coaching (although I did not call it that) was short-lived and is now over. Ahhh…it feels good to say. The lessons I take feel even better.

I’m newly reminded that the core of my business is in writing, because that’s what I’ve always known I am. I’m a writer who is also focused on creating opportunities for women to come together to see and treat themselves as living works of art, as a masterpiece, and to discover ways they can live accordingly.

I’m not the one to convince anyone to recognize themselves as anything different than what they wish, but I can certainly pose thought-provoking questions as I’m known for and provide the space for them to consider a new vision for themselves and perhaps for their lives.

Experimenteurship…I’m an emotional, ever-changing creature.

Convivially yours,

See where The Convivial Supper Club is headed to this month and get in on this dare to be great situation! Learn more and put your name on the list here.

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