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I Built A Worldwide Business From Broke.

Carol Jones

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I focus on the things that I lost

Hi Carol,
Thanks for your incredible post and inspirational story! When I read your story, it reminded me a bit of what happened to me. But the difference is, that I focus on the things that I lost. Here's my situation: I used live in the US, I had everything I dreamed of. I had my bachelor and masters degrees in design. When I finished everything, I wanted to work on my own, but the immigration laws are super strict. Even worse my depressed father was literally destroying our family business and my mother's life. So I had to return and leave behind what I have built for 16 years. My two brothers did the same thing, in order to save a sinking ship. Also, we were extremely worried about our mother's well being. For 4 years we fought our dad and saved the company from bankruptcy. Also, we were happy to see our mom finally healthy and become independent from our father. But we wasted so much time trying to fix something that my dad was never going to let go. So my two brothers left the country one after the other. Even, If I wanted to go with them, I couldn't. We did everything in phases. My older brother already had a job, so he could go. My younger brother had to go, he was getting depressed (he has a sensitive health history) by my father behavior. So I made sure to push him out the door, before me. As I was the last one on the ship, I had the time to think on what I wanted to do with my future. I quickly knew, that I had to get back to my love for vintage design and hand painted items. I started to post on my instagram again and reopened my Etsy shop. Things started to move forward, but it was a slow process. My problem is to stay focused on my work. My father is till around being mean and that bothers me. I don't see him much, but when I do...I get really angry. I hope one day, I can t be bothered by him anymore. Do you have any advice on how to stay more focused? and stay motivated when the sales aren't as good as last month?
Sorry for the long paragraph, I feel that if I shared my story I could help someone else too.

Thanks,

Mac

I focus on the things that I lost. My problem is to stay focused on my work.

G'day @Mackenzie from Oz,

It's a privilege to hear from you.

What a story.

Family relationships are the most complicated relationships of all. Especially when some of the relationships become toxic. They affect your welfare. And your well-being.

Your father is part of your life. His depression affects how he responds to those around him. That doesn't make him your responsibility.

How we respond to external pressures decides how we will progress in life.

We can't control. Or change. Many circumstances.

But we can control how we respond.

And that takes self-discipline.

How self-disciplined we are is determined by how badly we want to seek peace in our life.

We all run into turbulence. No one is immune. But if we don't want that turbulence to cause havoc. We have to remove ourselves from it.

Or. If that's not possible.

Change the way we respond to it.

My goals are very clear.

I want to be happy. I want to keep loving the way I run my business. I want to have meaningful relationships with selected people.

My partner, Victor, lost his father in 1998. His father was a very charismatic man. His mother was totally dependent on his father.

When it was obvious that she couldn't live on her own. We invited her to live with us on our rural property. In her own house. That Victor, an architect, designed for her.

She accepted.

But it was clear from the day she moved in, that she expected to be treated like a Russian princess. That we were to drop everything. To cater to her every whim.

Which was a dilemma for us.

We invited her to be part of our life. Without having set boundaries before she agreed to uproot herself. And make the move to our rural property.

It was an oversight. It never occurred to us that her expectations would be so onerous.

She lived on our property with us for 14 years. And we never shirked our obligation to look after her.

We made significant changes to the way we ran our business. And to the way we lived. To accommodate her.

But. In the last 7 years of her life with us. I had to remove myself from the picture. She became so negative. So demanding. So gloomy. That it affected me in a very personal way.

And. She also made me very angry about the waste of time she became in our life.

Although she only lived 400 metres away from our home. I made the decision to only visit her three times a year.

On her birthday. Christmas Day. And the Russian Easter.

Victor was very adept at keeping his mother at bay. So she wasn't the problem to him that she was to me.

I couldn't control her. Or change her. But I could control my response to her.

Once you change. In a positive way. How you respond to your father. Your anger towards him. And what you feel that you've lost.

Your focus in life will change too.

Victor's mother is only one instance of annoyance in my life.

As with all of us. There are many. And I always choose to remove myself from the source.

If I can't do that. I then teach myself to ignore my anger. And replace it with something more positive.

This is all self-discipline, Mac. And how good you become at it depends on how badly you want peace in your life.

And on how badly you really do want to focus on your business. And to get it moving forward.

I'm very good at distracting myself.

I love music. And when I'm really feeling hemmed in by people who are irritating me, I listen to music that I love. While I'm working.

Or I'll listen to a podcast from someone I admire.

Or watch an inspiring video from someone who is teaching me something.

The internet gives us many avenues for escape. I'm sure you'll find something that will lift your mood when you're really feeling like you've hit a wall with your father. Or with your progress.

Sometimes. I just sit in the sunshine. By myself. And enjoy being quiet.

In the beginning of a business. Sales are up. Then down. For several years. Not just months.

It's just the way most businesses start.

Very few businesses are handed clients/customers on a silver platter. They have to be earned. One client/customer. At. A. Time.

The secret is this. Do something EVERY day. That moves you one step closer to your goal. If you don't feel like taking one particular step. Find a step that you like that day that will move you closer. No matter how small. Even if it's just writing down the telephone number of someone you want to ring to discuss your business with.

Writing your post to me is a step closer to your goal.

I'm a great believer in baby steps. We first learn to crawl. Then we learn to walk. With baby steps. As our legs grow. We take bigger steps. When we reach adulthood. We can take giant leaps.

Big bangs. Come from an accumulation of little bangs.

This is how most businesses grow.

I'm also addicted to my 'Morning Pages'.

A concept developed by artist Julia Cameron. There are pages of information about this concept on Google.

It's a simple concept.

Every morning. Before you read the news. Or get started in your business. Before your brain becomes cluttered with the trivia of the day.

You do a brain dump.

On paper.

Some people do it in longhand.

I do it on my computer. On a tab in Microsoft OneNote.

I use it to have a dialogue with myself.

Whatever is bothering me. I discuss it on OneNote. With myself. In detail.

I've solved more problems using my Morning Pages than I've ever solved talking to another person.

I have a business friend who's written two books from her Morning Pages.

It's also a form of self-discipline.

As well as a form of getting things off your chest. Without dragging in another person.

If you're not someone who has good keyboard or handwritten skills. Or is friends with the written word. It may not be for you. But perhaps you could try doing it in voice mode.

I refer back to my Morning Pages often. And when I've gathered more information that will help me solve a problem. I add it to the page.

And voila! I have a solution.

Always.

It just takes self-discipline. And patience. And the knowledge that there is always a solution. You just need to identify the problem. And then go looking for alternatives.

More proof. That. Big bangs. Come from an accumulation of little bangs.

But one point though. The operative word is writing your Morning Pages. EVERY. Morning.

I hope this helps you, Mac. If I can help you further, please let know. And do keep me in the loop of your progress. ~Carol❤
 
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Genius01

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Wow Carol!
I wish I could like this your last response over and over like a hundred times!
Such a beautiful response, with so much wisdom embedded on coping with the things you can't change.

Double thumbs up!!!
 

Carol Jones

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Wow Carol!
I wish I could like this your last response over and over like a hundred times!
Such a beautiful response, with so much wisdom embedded on coping with the things you can't change.

Double thumbs up!!!

G 'day @Genius01 from Oz,

Thank you so much!

This is what's so wonderful about The Fastlane Forum. Someone asks a question. And another person finds the answer that they're looking for.

There's so much in life we can't change.

And many of us are held hostage because of it.

But always remember. YOU! Are always in control of how you respond.

You will have a better. And a more meaningful life. When you respond to friction and chaos in a way that's positive for you.

In that process. You will also be releasing all those happy hormones in your brain. That enhance your mood. And your outlook on life.

It's always a pleasure to hear from you! ~Carol❤
 

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Your story is nothing short of amazing @Carol Jones . You and your husband rose from the ashes like the mythical bird.

My phone wallpaper is a phrase from Gary Vaynerchuk that says 'KINDNESS ALWAYS WINS'.

I see that Kindness when you reply to everyone on this thread.

Thank you for being here and sharing the lessons you learned from 23 years of your business journey.
 
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Carol Jones

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Your story is nothing short of amazing @Carol Jones . You and your husband rose from the ashes like the mythical bird.

My phone wallpaper is a phrase from Gary Vaynerchuk that says 'KINDNESS ALWAYS WINS'.

I see that Kindness when you reply to everyone on this thread.

Thank you for being here and sharing the lessons you learned from 23 years of your business journey.

G'day @Roz from Oz,

Thank you so much!

When I joined The Fastlane Forum. It was with the intention to share my experiences in business with anyone who asked me a question. It's the only way I can give back to those who helped us on our journey from ashes to success.

Kindness opens doors for other people. As it did for us.

I think everyone in business has a moral obligation to be kind to others. In any way they can.

This is why Gary Vaynerchuk is so loved by his followers.

I also notice. Roz. That you're one of my biggest cheerleaders! I always love seeing your name at the bottom of my posts. It's forever appreciated! ~Carol❤
 

lunga ngcobo

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G'day Against All Odds.

Thank you for your compliment.

I've been writing since I was 8 years old. When I was at uni, I took a creative writing course. After submitting my first story, my professor asked me to stop taking the class. She said I had a natural gift for writing. And the course would destroy that. So I dropped out.

I took chemistry instead. After two weeks, my professor asked me to drop out of the course. I was hopeless, he said. And he didn't want me in his class.

So I dropped out. And signed up for an ethics course. Which I loved. And I was very happy.

So I can't offer any advice about writing.

We generate sales from 4 sources. Cold calling. Google. Referrals. Reorders.

37% of my sales are reorders. 18% of sales are referrals. 33% of sales are from Google. And 12% are from cold calling.

Much has changed.

When we first started out, we wanted to stay out of retail. And had no money to advertise. So we had to look at other options. We chose the route of attending field days. Home shows. And other live events. Where we could set up a microphone and demonstrate our product. And how well it worked.

We did this for 14 years. Drove 60K per year. And collected names and addresses for a database.

Once a year we mailed out a catalogue. The first year we mailed out 260 catalogues.

When the internet came to our rural village in 2001, we were ready with a website. Rudimentary. But ready.

That changed the way we received business. And over the years, the internet started to become more important than the live events.

We hung up the car keys in 2008. And the wheels of our car did a little jig in celebration.

Today, we don't mail out catalogues. But email our customers several times a year to stay in touch.

We also started to receive attention from the press.

In 2002, The Sydney Morning Herald did an article about our ironing board cover. We sold $25K worth of product from that one article!

Which led to more interest from the media. Which gave us a presence we didn't expect.

And it was the first indication we had that our story of how we built a worldwide business from broke was important to our customers. And potential customers.

We grow every year. Because we pay attention to our business. But I have higher ambitions. Which is why I'm here. ~Carol❤
Most in my country would say you had bad luck. Professors asking you to drop out of school? that's overwhelming!!! but then all these events and set
backs are what led you to where you are.

You are strong. probably the strongest person I've read about. You inspire me. keep rocking it!!:smile2::smile2:
 

Carol Jones

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Most in my country would say you had bad luck. Professors asking you to drop out of school? that's overwhelming!!! but then all these events and set
backs are what led you to where you are.

You are strong. probably the strongest person I've read about. You inspire me. keep rocking it!!:smile2::smile2:

G'day @lunga ngcobo from Oz,

Thank you so much for such a lovely comment. I appreciate it so much!

I am a very serious premature baby. No one at the hospital where I was born in New York City thought I had a chance of survival.

But my mother says I popped out of her womb. Fighting for my place in the world. Which earned me a mention, by my birth doctor, in The Lancet.

Blessed with robust health, I am very fortunate that. From the minute I was born. I have always considered setbacks as part of life. Hurdles to be jumped over. Rather than roadblocks to impede my progress.

Everyone in business needs to be strong. To stay in business.

The actress Lauren Bacall said of old age - "It ain't for the fainthearted!"

The same is true for being in business. It truly takes grit. Courage. Blind belief in yourself. And so many other character-building traits. To stay in business.

Thank you for dropping in! And I hope we stay in touch. ~Carol❤
 
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Good morning @MJ DeMarco from rural Australia,

Thank you for your kind words. The pleasure is all mine. And for me, it's an honour to be here.

For me and my partner, success came in very small steps. It seems we spent a long time in the wilderness before we saw a beam of sunlight.

It wasn't until we took our noses away from the coalface to reflect on where we were that we realised we had hundreds of thousands of customers. In 30 countries! That our story and our products had been written about in every major publication in Australia. That we had very high profile customers who were appreciative of our efforts. And that the best business decision we made was to have our products made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability.

The second best business decision we made was to listen to our customers instead of the gurus. Our customers gave us incredible feedback. And every bit of constructive criticism was used to change our business. And because customers cared enough to give us advice, we have a better business - and website - because of the changes we made to please them.

All of the above happened one. at. a. time. Over several years. There was no big burst of success. And I think this is where most of us get derailed. We're so busy trying to get from A to B. That we don't reflect often enough along the journey.

I do pinch myself when I realise how far we've come. We purchased the run-down 54 hectare rural sheep property we were renting. And turned it into a wildlife sanctuary. We removed the sheep and let the native trees and grasses regenerate. Which attracted birds. 120 species so far. And still counting.

We converted the barren hectare of paddock that surrounds the farmhouse into a stunning garden. We planted 110 trees to give us shade from the hot Australian sun. Planted thousands of fragrant shrubs as understory and habitat for small birds. Planted over 200 fragrant roses to ramble along the fences. And smothered the farmhouse with honeysuckle that scrambles along the roofline that not only shades the verandas. But permeates the air with its intense fragrance in summer.

We started this garden 20 years ago. Only planting tubestock and cuttings from friends and neighbours. Which was all we could afford. We could barely see the plants 20 years ago. They were the size of toothpicks when we planted them.

We've lost half the garden twice to severe drought. And when we replanted, we used only those plants that survived the extreme and harsh weather conditions we have here.

Today, we have a mature garden that is the envy of our friends. And customers.

Again, all of this is done one thing at a time. And it's been traumatic losing plantings to severe weather conditions. But we wanted a big country garden. So kept replanting until we have the showpiece garden of today.

And it's only on reflection that we become aware of how far we've travelled. The journey has been exceptional. And worth making.

And I'm looking forward to the next phase. As a member of The Fastlane Forum.

Again, MJ, thank you for your very kind words. They are truly appreciated. ~Carol❤


Wow. Your story is so inspiring and motivating. Exactly what I needed today. Thanks for sharing.

I love this forum for the community that was build here. So many great insights and likeminded people.
 

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Wow. Your story is so inspiring and motivating. Exactly what I needed today. Thanks for sharing.

I love this forum for the community that was build here. So many great insights and likeminded people.

G'day @MπR from Oz,

Welcome to The Fastlane Forum!

And thank you for dropping in.

Inspiration. And help. Is found everywhere on this forum. I hope you take advantage of all the opportunities to learn from people who have been there. Done that.

And best wishes on your journey. I hope all your dreams come true! ~Carol❤
 
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Carol Jones

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So inspiring!!! Ahhh... the commandment of Need.
G'day @prettysmartone from Oz,

"The commandment of Need". I love that!

It cuts through all the fluffing around so many people do. Trying to discover their 'Why'!

And gets down to the nitty-gritty of taking action. And getting from A to B.

Thank you for those wise words. I'll remember them always. ~Carol❤
 

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G'day @MπR from Oz,

Inspiration. And help. Is found everywhere on this forum. I hope you take advantage of all the opportunities to learn from people who have been there. Done that.

And best wishes on your journey. I hope all your dreams come true! ~Carol❤

Thank you! My goal is to have a few acres of land with a nice garden, permaculture and being as self-sufficient as possible.
Working in and with nature is grounding.
 

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Thank you! My goal is to have a few acres of land with a nice garden, permaculture and being as self-sufficient as possible.
Working in and with nature is grounding.

G'day again @MπR from Oz,

I was born in New York City. And grew up in New York City.

Until 1970, I lived all but 4 years in big American cities.

I immigrated to Australia in 1970. And lived in a very trendy inner-city suburb of Sydney Australia until 1992.

When circumstances beyond our control forced us to escape the city life. For a rural life.

It's been a wonderful experience.

From October 1992 to December 2018. We lived on a beautiful 54 hectare (135 acre) property in the picturesque Central Tablelands of NSW, Australia.

We transformed an overgrazed. Over cleared sheep property. Into a rural showpiece.

We now live in an even more picturesque area. This time in the state of Victoria. At the foothills of the Victorian Alps. Where we've purchased a 40 hectare (100 acre) mountain. With 360 degree uninterrupted, spectacular views of a valley below. And the surrounding mountain ranges.

My partner, Victor Pleshev, is an architect. And is designing the house we'll build at the very top of the mountain.

We're very remote. We'll be living completely off the grid. Tank water. Which we're used to. Grocery shopping is a 2-hour drive away. Internet connection is via rural mobile wireless. So it's not great. Or reliable. But we'll manage.

This is an unloved grazing property. With huge potential to transform into another rural showpiece. Utilising masses of TLC. Combined with plenty of energy and physical grunt.

On the plus side. Our lifestyle is the envy of all our friends. And my customers.

The property is abuzz with wildlife. Wild deer. Wombats. Rabbits. Kangaroos. Foxes. Emus.

And abundant birdlife. With a resident eagle. Who perches in a tree. Exactly where we're building our home.

It's quiet. We love the isolation. And I love how the hills change with the time of day. As the sun casts its shadow over them. As it progresses from east to west.

Keep your dream alive. When you're ready to make the move. You will never look back!

Thank you for sharing your vision with me. ~Carol❤
 
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I focus on the things that I lost
@Carol Jones
First, Carol, I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart! Sorry for being a little late, I was away for a few days.
I always had a hard time talking about my situation to friends and family didn't believe me. They only see the money that our family business is making. Money is worth nothing if there's no real life behind it. Your reply made me feel less weird, especially when you gave the example of your family. I always felt that I'm living the strangest life on earth! Now, I understand that I make my situation worse in my head. It's a bad situation for sure, but I know that I can do better if I move my butt more and feel less like I'm losing control. It's a vicious circle and I'm ready to step out of it step by step, like you said.
I like your advice about writing every morning. I used to record myself everyday and talk about everything to start my day. It was awesome! But I lost the habit, because whenever something crappy happens I have a hard time getting back on track.
You talked about discipline so well, I feel it's the part that I miss the most. I often daydream that some Japanese Sensei would come and knock on my door to teach me the secret of DISCIPLINE, while being tortured into learning Aikido or something, far in the mountain ( I have a wild imagination, like any other artist I guess). But I understand, if I don't do it myself, nothing is going to happen. I know that I'm super disciplined if I give my word or work for someone. I always want my work to be impeccable for people...but when it comes to me... it's so hard! I know now, that I need to make my discipline training a priority and cut the rest.
I'm thinking a lot at this second...I wanna give you my word into writing or recording something every morning. I want everyone to see that I made a conscience decision. It's time for me to move forward, step by step! :) It's time for me to get out of my head and start doing EVERY day something to move forward! It's also time to put my father in a box and keep him away from ever making me angry. (I've already made some great changes on that aspect). But my goal is to never ever be bothered by what he ever say. I wanna be at peace too and that will take time. I know from my experience that the more anxious you are the less peace you feel. Trust me, I'm working on it. I'm talking to someone and get my acupuncture done too, because it relaxes me deeply!
Finally, I wanted to say, that I LOVE, LOVE my work! It's like a beautiful time machine that takes me to a time where clothes were made differently. I love to take that trip each time to celebrate vintage designs! I know I have something special! My brand needs more of my love, energy and focus to blossom! Writing this reminds me how much I love what I do! I totally must write more often! Jee...
Carol, thanks again for your incredible answer. You are so far away, on the other side of the planet, yet you made me feel like I was there in Australia with you. Thanks again!
I will give you some updates, of course, that's the least I can do. Plus, this is a great place for me to feel really good and human too. I'm no alien, everyone had overcome something in their lives. Finally, like you said there's always a solution, when we try!

Thank you so much!
Mac :)
 
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Carol Jones

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@Carol Jones

there's always a solution, when we try!
Mac :)

G'day again Mac @Mackenzie from Oz,

I LOVE your reply.

We live in one universe. Cyberspace. Which means we're never more than a post apart from anyone else.

Everything takes time.

Even though you've said you're putting your father in a box. That doesn't mean he still won't make you angry. But the more you get used to him being in a box. And distancing yourself from him. The less angry you will become.

Over. Time.

The internet is awash with stories from people just like you. Who have family members. Or friends. Or business partners. Who impede their progress.

But who succeed in spite of it all.

I belong to a number of closed Facebook business forums. Membership is by invitation only.

In my observation, family interference is the most common reason people feel under stress about their business. Is the primary reason people can't focus on their dream. And is the primary reason people give up on their dream.

And family is the hardest group of people to shrug off.

You're definitely not alone. Neither are you weird. Or out of step.

My difficulties with my partner's mother's outlook on life. And on what we were trying to achieve. Are not unusual.

I'm fortunate that my family has never interfered in my goals. They've always been supportive of everything I wanted to do. Including moving 10,000 miles away from them! From the USA to Australia. Without knowing a soul in my new country.

My father was a huge hands-on influence in my life. In an age when fathers barely knew the names of their children. And was one of my earliest teachers in the art of self-discipline.

Dan Kennedy. One of the most respected men from the old guard of business. A brilliant copywriter. And one of my earliest mentors when I embarked on this yellow brick road of 'building a worldwide business from broke'. Taught me everything my father didn't about self-discipline. And the art of moving ahead one step at a time.

I have laminated onto an A5 sheet of paper two quotes of his. Which inspire me every day. And which I use as a bookmark in my diary.

"Self Discipline Is The Magic Power That Makes You Virtually Unstoppable. "

And

"To Judge How Well A Person Is Doing, Look At How Much They Do In A Week."

I've read. And reread. All of Dan's books. He has a clear message. You are what you think about the most. And you are only as successful as the amount of effort you put into getting from A to B.

Jim Rohn also says. "If you want change in your life. You must change yourself first."

Mastering self-discipline. And changing yourself to achieve your dreams. Are probably two of the hardest things you will ever do in your business and personal life.

But.

It's like riding a bike. Or driving a car.

Once you master those skills. They're your friends for life.

Regarding Morning Pages. Or whatever you want to call them. Never hold back letting off steam about whatever you've experienced that destroys your day. It's absolutely a therapeutic way to cleanse yourself of your disappointment. Believe me. The more you talk about it to yourself. The more you will find a resolution to what upset you.

Loving your work is such a plus. So many people don't.

Combine your love of your work. With mastering self-discipline. And moving forward one step at a time. And you'll not recognise where you are in a few years time.

But. Remember. This all takes time! There is no instant road to lasting success.

As opposed to being a one-hit-wonder. And never being heard of again.

One last pithy statement from me! This time a Chinese proverb attributed to Laozi. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Please drop in, Mac, whenever you feel like you've hit a wall. And need an independent third party to talk to. You're always welcome. ~Carol❤
 

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@Carol Jones
Thanks again Carol for your prompt reply. Also, thank you for loving my reply!

I read your answer this morning and kept thinking about it all day. First, your reply came at a perfect time, because I was having an argument with my so called father...I usually don't face him about anything, but it was really important for me to tell him not do something stupid again. He really annoyed me! So I was walking back and forth like a lion ready to kill someone, then I saw a red new notebook. I remembered my promise about writing my morning pages. So I took my pen and went on a real ink war! lol I was angry for two pages, as I sincerely wrote what I was truly feeling, with no filter or fear! I was surprised how much stuff I had to say and it really helped. On the third page, I wrote about my cats and later moved to work. Finally, I wrote the quotes you wrote in your reply. I thought they made so much sense and I don't want to forget them!

About Dan Kennedy, do you advice any of his books? they are so many on amazon. Right now, I'm reading The Millionaire Fastlane . I promised myself to read 30 min a day.

Tomorrow is Monday, my goal is to take a few small steps forward on each part of my life that needs improvement. I'm totally focusing on discipline.

I have a lot of work to do, especially I'm opening my own online store on my .com site. I'm currently on Etsy, but I feel it's time for me to have my own store. I won't remove my Etsy store until things will be big enough. But having my own store gives me more room to showcase my work process. Etsy is cool, but I can't do that. Finally, I have to make/add new items to my new store and Etsy.
Now that I think about it...I have a lot to do and I get really overwhelmed on what to do first or second. Do you get that problem too as a business owner? Do you divide your day in chunks? for example: creation time, marketing and so on. I feel that's the hardest part. Again, that's discipline and being truly organized I guess.

I will keep on writing every morning, with music on for sure! Music is the best medicine! I'm a huge fan of Studio Ghibli animated movies. So, I often listen to the soundtracks by the famous composer: Joe Hisaishi. Later, I jump to the 1930's and 40's music with classics from the war era. I love those! :)

Thanks again,
Have a super day :)
Mac
 
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Carol Jones

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G'day again Mac @Mackenzie from Oz,

I love the story about your red notebook.

The reason this writing format works is because of two things you said.

" I sincerely wrote what I was truly feeling, with no filter or fear! I was surprised how much stuff I had to say and it really helped."

When we discuss anger and disappointment with someone else, we expose ourselves to their judgement.

We often fear what the reaction may be of the other person.

So we subconsciously filter what we will share.

Writing to yourself gets it off your chest. In its raw state. Examining it for what it is. And. As you say. Being surprised at how much there is to say.

And. In the process. Diluting some of the anger and frustration you feel.

Another and.

And. In the process. When you're finished venting your anger. You divert your attention to more positive things.

Your cats.

Your business.

Which segues you into a more positive mood.

It works this way. Every. Time.

I hope you keep this up for as long as your father is an issue in your life.

Regarding overwhelm.

We all feel it.

I'm in the process of creating a new shopping cart for my website. It's a massive project.

While doing this. I also have to process online orders for parcel despatch. Handle phone calls from people who want to place telephone orders. Or make enquiries. Pay accounts. Bank revenue. Create new posts and slideshows every day for my website. To make it relevant for visitors. Send emails to customers to stay in touch. Make phone calls to customers to stay in touch. Manage the making of our products by our sewing company who is now in another state. Now that we've moved from NSW to Victoria.

It's all overwhelming.

I manage it by doing what you say. I crunch everything down into manageable bits.

I plan ahead for the month. There are certain tasks that need to be done on specific days every month.

And I plan in detail for every day.

I use Trello. The free version. As well as my desk diary.

This way. I know if I've scheduled too much to do in a day.

If I've discovered I have. Which is often. I break it down again into smaller bits. Until I know that without a doubt. It's doable.

If it's not doable in my given time frame. It's a given that it will never get done by me.

As my objective is to move from A to B. Every day. I spend at least an hour each day planning what I will do.

And my greatest achievement is checking off the things I've done on Trello.

Your business. And personal life. Is always a work in progress. It changes over time. As you gain more life experiences. Which comes with age. You adjust and adapt to your new knowledge.

Your learning curve is always infinite. There's always more to learn. More to experience. It's the wonder of life itself.

My observation of you, Mac, is that you're well on your way to achieving what you want. You have the tools you need. You know where you want to go. You are aware of the problems you need to resolve. All you have to do is . . . start doing!

Please keep me in the loop! ~Carol❤
 

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Today first thing in the morning I have read this a second time. Thanks for telling your host Carol! I am very admired of your persistence and consistency, because many, including me, cannot stand much time doing hard and focused work. This is something I have to work on.

Greetings from Lima, Peru.
 

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G'day again Mac @Mackenzie from Oz,

I love the story about your red notebook.

The reason this writing format works is because of two things you said.

" I sincerely wrote what I was truly feeling, with no filter or fear! I was surprised how much stuff I had to say and it really helped."

When we discuss anger and disappointment with someone else, we expose ourselves to their judgement.

We often fear what the reaction may be of the other person.

So we subconsciously filter what we will share.

Writing to yourself gets it off your chest. In its raw state. Examining it for what it is. And. As you say. Being surprised at how much there is to say.

And. In the process. Diluting some of the anger and frustration you feel.

Another and.

And. In the process. When you're finished venting your anger. You divert your attention to more positive things.

Your cats.

Your business.

Which segues you into a more positive mood.

It works this way. Every. Time.

I hope you keep this up for as long as your father is an issue in your life.

Regarding overwhelm.

We all feel it.

I'm in the process of creating a new shopping cart for my website. It's a massive project.

While doing this. I also have to process online orders for parcel despatch. Handle phone calls from people who want to place telephone orders. Or make enquiries. Pay accounts. Bank revenue. Create new posts and slideshows every day for my website. To make it relevant for visitors. Send emails to customers to stay in touch. Make phone calls to customers to stay in touch. Manage the making of our products by our sewing company who is now in another state. Now that we've moved from NSW to Victoria.

It's all overwhelming.

I manage it by doing what you say. I crunch everything down into manageable bits.

I plan ahead for the month. There are certain tasks that need to be done on specific days every month.

And I plan in detail for every day.

I use Trello. The free version. As well as my desk diary.

De esta manera. Sé si he programado demasiado para hacer en un día.

Si he descubierto que tengo. Que es a menudo. Lo descompongo nuevamente en pedazos más pequeños. Hasta que lo sepa sin lugar a dudas. Es factible

Si no es factible en mi marco de tiempo dado. Es un hecho que nunca lo haré por mí.

Como mi objetivo es pasar de A a B. Todos los días. Paso al menos una hora cada día planeando lo que haré.

Y mi mayor logro es marcar las cosas que he hecho en Trello.

Tu negocio. Y vida personal. Siempre es un trabajo en progreso. Cambia con el tiempo. A medida que ganes más experiencias de vida. Lo que viene con la edad. Se ajusta y se adapta a su nuevo conocimiento.

Tu curva de aprendizaje es siempre infinita. Siempre hay más para aprender. Más para experimentar. Es la maravilla de la vida misma.

Mi observación de ti, Mac, es que estás en camino de lograr lo que quieres. Tienes las herramientas que necesitas. Sabes a dónde quieres ir. Usted es consciente de los problemas que necesita resolver. Todo lo que tienes que hacer es . . . ¡empezar a hacer!

¡Por favor mantenme al tanto! ~ Carol❤
[/CITAR]

wowww, I love how you teach with your experience.
I will start using trello.
To start just DO.
That life is a continuous learning.
 
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Today first thing in the morning I have read this a second time. Thanks for telling your host Carol! I am very admired of your persistence and consistency, because many, including me, cannot stand much time doing hard and focused work. This is something I have to work on.

Greetings from Lima, Peru.

G'day Lenin @Lenin from Oz,

It's a pleasure to meet you. And thank you for your comment.

Lack of focus. The inability to complete a project. And wanting major results instantly. From minimal output.

Is the price the world has paid for distracting us with bright shiny objects such as the internet. Mobile phones.

Facebook. Instagram. Portray life as we'd like to live it. Rather than as it's actually lived.

Most of the stories behind the photos are really about the hard grunt needed to prepare that Instagram worthy photo of a mouthwatering meal.

Or that girl sitting on top of a waterfall. Pretending that her life of travel to exotic locations is bliss. When in actuality. She's had to negotiate with any number of brands to finance her lifestyle. And in some cases. Sell her soul to accomplish this.

As a Baby Boomer. I didn't grow up with these digital toys. But did grow up with a profound work ethic. As my father always told me. I can be. Or have. Anything I want. Provided I'm prepared to do whatever hard work is required to get it.

Nothing has changed. No one. Is at the top of anywhere. Without working hard to be there.

Facebook. Instagram. Are illusions. Just like the celebrity who you think has it all. But then commits suicide. Because. They don't. Have. It all.

I've mentioned it here before. I'm a fan of Dan Kennedy. The business author. And world-class marketing legend. I've read all his books.

Two of his pithy statements rule my life.

"Self-Discipline Is The Magic Power That Makes You Virtually Unstoppable ."

" To Judge How Well A Person Is Doing, Look At How Much They Do In A Week."


Simple statements.

But self-discipline. And the ethic of hard work. Are not easy to attain.

Whether you succeed. Or not. Depends upon how badly you want anything.

Best wishes, Lenin. And please drop in again. ~Carol❤
 

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wowww, I love how you teach with your experience.
I will start using trello.
To start just DO.
That life is a continuous learning.

G'day Lenin @Lenin from Oz,

I hope you like Trello. I use it all the time. But if you don't like it. Go onto Google and key in 'Trello or'. All the platforms that compete with Trello should be listed.

If you don't take action. Nothing happens. All your plans stay up in the clouds. Just pie-in-the-sky dreams.

To make those dreams come true. You have. To do! Something.

Once you start doing. You will be amazed at where your actions will take you.

The highs. The lows. They make up the exhilarating tapestry of your journey.

As opposed to doing nothing. Which leads to a life of boredom. Blandness. And regret.

Life is a journey. And once you get into the habit of taking action. It's a given that you won't be stuck where you are today.

Best wishes, Lenin. ~Carol❤
 
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This is great! So many motivational and inspiring stories to read and to learn from.

G'day @GadAI from Oz,

Welcome to The Fastlane Forum.

I hope you love it here. There are so many wonderful stories to give you inspiration.

And fabulous people who will do whatever they can to help you on your journey to wherever you want to be.

I wish you every success. And thank you for dropping in. ~Carol❤
 

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G'day Lenin @Lenin from Oz,

It's a pleasure to meet you. And thank you for your comment.

Lack of focus. The inability to complete a project. And wanting major results instantly. From minimal output.

Is the price the world has paid for distracting us with bright shiny objects such as the internet. Mobile phones.

Facebook. Instagram. Portray life as we'd like to live it. Rather than as it's actually lived.

Most of the stories behind the photos are really about the hard grunt needed to prepare that Instagram worthy photo of a mouthwatering meal.

Or that girl sitting on top of a waterfall. Pretending that her life of travel to exotic locations is bliss. When in actuality. She's had to negotiate with any number of brands to finance her lifestyle. And in some cases. Sell her soul to accomplish this.

As a Baby Boomer. I didn't grow up with these digital toys. But did grow up with a profound work ethic. As my father always told me. I can be. Or have. Anything I want. Provided I'm prepared to do whatever hard work is required to get it.

Nothing has changed. No one. Is at the top of anywhere. Without working hard to be there.

Facebook. Instagram. Are illusions. Just like the celebrity who you think has it all. But then commits suicide. Because. They don't. Have. It all.

I've mentioned it here before. I'm a fan of Dan Kennedy. The business author. And world-class marketing legend. I've read all his books.

Two of his pithy statements rule my life.

"Self-Discipline Is The Magic Power That Makes You Virtually Unstoppable ."

" To Judge How Well A Person Is Doing, Look At How Much They Do In A Week."


Simple statements.

But self-discipline. And the ethic of hard work. Are not easy to attain.

Whether you succeed. Or not. Depends upon how badly you want anything.

Best wishes, Lenin. And please drop in again. ~Carol❤
I read your message almost after you wrote it, I didn't answer you before because I wanted to internalize and prove what you advised me. The result? Now I am less distracted and more concentrated. I use my cell phone a little for social networks, I am more aware, I have read many important threads from this forum.
NOW I HAVE TO INTERIORATE ON HARD WORK AND CONSTANT EFFORT TO BUILD MY FAST LINE BUSINESS :)
Thank you very much CAROL !!
I would like to continue talking with you and learn from your philosophy.
(Sorry for my bad English, since my native language is Spanish)
 

Carol Jones

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I read your message almost after you wrote it, I didn't answer you before because I wanted to internalize and prove what you advised me. The result? Now I am less distracted and more concentrated. I use my cell phone a little for social networks, I am more aware, I have read many important threads from this forum.
NOW I HAVE TO INTERIORATE ON HARD WORK AND CONSTANT EFFORT TO BUILD MY FAST LINE BUSINESS :)
Thank you very much CAROL !!
I would like to continue talking with you and learn from your philosophy.
(Sorry for my bad English, since my native language is Spanish)

G'day again Lenin @Lenin from Oz,

I can't speak Spanish. So 'bad' English is superior to what I can produce in your native language!

And. You should be aware. That. You speak better English. Than many people who are born into the language.

We become more motivated by hard work when it produces an outcome that we want.

But.

If we don't put in the hard work first. There are no positive outcomes.

This is where self-discipline plays an important role.

Many years ago I met a most charming man, Martin. In his late 20's. He was a very hard worker. In an era when most men and women his age were looking for instant results.

He told me his mother - a single mom - brought him up with this guiding principle.

That.

The only time success comes before work. Is in the dictionary.

Once you put together meaningful guiding principles. Which you collect along the way on your journey in life. You will find your motivation for hard work. And your path.

But there is one overriding rule.

Whatever it is that you want. You have to really want it. And want it so badly. You will willingly walk over broken glass. Or hot coals. To get it.

I've built my business on these guiding principles. But only because. I really wanted to make it successful. And walked over hot coals. And broken glass. To get to where I am.

My partner and I turned an over cleared. Over grazed. 54-hectare (135 acre) sheep property. Into a rural showpiece. Over a period of 27 years.

The hard work that went into that. Was. In the beginning. Just grunt work. Sheer. Hard. Physical. Work.

Rural properties where we lived don't readily sell. Some take many years to find a buyer.

But when we put it on the market in October 2018. It sold in 10 days. With two buyers vying for it.

All the effort we put into making it the best rural property in our locale paid off. We got both the benefit of enjoying the fruits of our labour for many years. Plus. Making it the most desirable property for sale at the time.

We've relocated to the foothills of the Victorian Alps. Have purchased an unloved 40 hectare (100 acre) mountain. With spectacular views.

And will do. All over again. What we did 27 years ago. Begin to turn this property into another rural showpiece.

Even knowing beforehand. How much hard work is needed to do that.

We're all different.

Some people like living off the fruits of other people's labours. And buy established businesses. Already renovated homes. Improved rural properties.

Others like to be the ones who are creative. Do the hard labour. To establish something from scratch. To be in control of the outcome.

Everything you do in life is a choice, Lenin. How you make those choices in fully in your control.

Always drop in. Frequently. It would be a privilege to hear from you. ~Carol❤
 
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Carol Jones

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Oi Oi Oi.

G'day Mark @Mark Trade from rural Victoria!

Welcome to The Fastlane Forum.

I can't tell you how much I loved seeing that 'Oi Oi Oi'. So beautifully Australian!

I can also see by your profile that you're definitely indulging in what The Fastlane Forum has to offer. I hope you find everything you're looking for here. There are so many people to inspire you. Who engage in different facets of getting from A to B. This forum is a smorgasbord of everything you could possibly want to know.

I hope you drop in again! ~Carol❤
 

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G'day Mark @Mark Trade from rural Victoria!

Welcome to The Fastlane Forum.

I can't tell you how much I loved seeing that 'Oi Oi Oi'. So beautifully Australian!

I can also see by your profile that you're definitely indulging in what The Fastlane Forum has to offer. I hope you find everything you're looking for here. There are so many people to inspire you. Who engage in different facets of getting from A to B. This forum is a smorgasbord of everything you could possibly want to know.

I hope you drop in again! ~Carol❤

I had good inspiration from many people at Brambles, years ago, including my Father In Law and Gary Pemberton, who was the Australian "Boss". My goal was attained many many years ago, so am now quite comfortable. The wallet drainer and myself reside at Burraneer Bay in the Shire. Our kids are grown up and there are a couple of their dirt magnets that frequent our house often, like when baking is going on, so life is ok.

It's an interesting site, with some weird and wonderful things happening. We'll see how things plan out.
 
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I had good inspiration from many people at Brambles, years ago, including my Father In Law and Gary Pemberton, who was the Australian "Boss". My goal was attained many many years ago, so am now quite comfortable. The wallet drainer and myself reside at Burraneer Bay in the Shire. Our kids are grown up and there are a couple of their dirt magnets that frequent our house often, like when baking is going on, so life is ok.

It's an interesting site, with some weird and wonderful things happening. We'll see how things plan out.

G'day again Mark @Mark Trade,

I see a mentor for the less experienced members of this forum.

Lucky those who take advantage of your expertise. And inspiration. ~Carol❤
 

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