Barbara Winter is back as a pioneering self-employment advocate, writer, and teacher who has spent the last thirty years pondering the question, “Why aren’t we all self-employed?” Helping others discover a Joyfully Jobless life is her favorite occupation.
Barbara says, “nine out of ten of us in the 1900s grew up in entrepreneurial homes. Now, the numbers are reversed; nine out of ten people are employed.” One way to promote your entrepreneurial spirit is by becoming an idea detective.
Barbara and I hear clients on two separate sides of the idea spectrum. The first side is, “I have too many ideas and don’t know what to do with them all.” The second side is not having enough ideas or a strategy to gather ideas to explore opportunities. I asked Barbara to share three of her six steps to becoming an idea detective so whichever side of the idea spectrum you are on, you can advance your ideas with a strategic approach.
We discuss three of six steps to becoming an idea detective. The other three will arrive next Monday.
- Find your curiosity.
We discuss where our curiosity might have gotten snuffed out and how to bring ideas to life. We are born curious. Many quiet the curiosity voice growing up. Pondering life keeps our imagination fed. You can make friends with your curiosity again. Stay on alert and keep searching for new ideas. Be deliberate.
- Invite ideas. “Think of your business as a laboratory and not an assembly line,” says Barbara. Pay attention to ways you can capture new ideas. Barbara wakes up with this brain-engaging activity every morning. She asks herself, what’s missing? And, what do I want to change today? You can keep your ideas moving with questions.
We discuss how to solve inertia. You will hear what effect 19 months of isolation have had on Barbara and her creativity. She has solid strategies that help her move forward and discover new things. She even offers Brainstorming sessions, which I took her up on, to keep moving my book ideas forward.
- Audition Your Ideas. Auditioning my ideas has given me a structure to rolling out new ideas. A way to test them out on audiences to see if they are worthy for the next steps.
Barbara is one of the wisest and most fun idea detectives I have ever met. I always pick up new ideas and strategies in being joyfully jobless. Let me know how implementing these three steps go. DOWNLOAD
Please do the Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring (C.A.L.M.) Activities, below.
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After listening, do the following three C.A.L.M. Activities:
- Take this risk or do this adventurous task: Implement the three steps in becoming an idea detective this week. Find your curiosity if you buried it. Invite ideas by asking yourself two questions Barbara asks herself each morning, what’s missing? And, What do I want to change today? Audition your ideas by finding an audience to test out ideas. See what happens. I’ll have three more steps for you next Monday.
- Apply Self-Compassion: Acknowledge the enthusiasm building within as you implement your first three steps as an idea detective.
- Welcome Appreciation: “I appreciate the joy and enthusiasm Barbara infuses into our conversations. Her delight in life and passion for helping others live a joyfully jobless life inspires me to action. I am becoming a better idea detective, especially with auditioning ideas. I am having more fun rolling out new ideas because I have a process making it easier to let go of idea attachment. Thank you, Barbara, for rocking our world of ideas.”
Your Turn. Start with, “I appreciate what I heard from today’s Guest Mentor, Barbara Winter. I appreciate this week’s adventurous task because….”
“Most of the problems in our lives and world are caused by relational dysfunction, a dysfunction in how we relate: as social groups, as individuals, to animals and the environment, and even to ourselves. Therefore, developing relational literacy—the understanding of and ability to practice healthy ways of relating—is essential for personal, social, and ecological transformation.” —Melanie Joy, psychologist, author, theorist, educator
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Podcast Guest Mentor
Barbara J. Winter. Barbara is a pioneering self-employment advocate, writer, and teacher who has spent the last thirty years pondering the question, “Why aren’t we all self-employed?” Helping others discover a Joyfully Jobless life is her favorite occupation. To readers of Winning Ways newsletter, the longest-running self-employment publication of its kind, she is editor/publisher.
Readers of Making a Living Without a Job, a book that’s been in print since 1993, know her as the author.
Participants in Barbara’s seminar of the same name, along with others including Establish Yourself as an Expert and How to Support Your Wanderlust, know her as a passionate teacher.
She also leads retreats to help small business owners bring creative thinking and fresh ideas into their work. She is convinced that small is still beautiful and loves working with one-person enterprises. Barbara is also an intrepid world traveler and a curious lifelong learner.
She also leads retreats to help small business owners bring creative thinking and fresh ideas into their work. She is convinced that small is still beautiful and loves working with one-person enterprises. You can work with her one-on-one for Brainstorming Sessions online at JoyfullyJobless.com.
Episode 290: 3 Steps to Becoming An Idea Detective with Barbara Winter
Author: Nancy A. Meyer, M.A.
Nancy A. Meyer, M.A., is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader, business and life mentor/coach/teacher, podcaster, author, and certified mindfulness yoga and meditation integrator (she integrates those skill sets into everything). Nancy’s compassionate and collaborative approach reinforces resilience while maintaining accountable conversations supporting how you redefine your lead while redesigning your business. Nancy calls this “Dual Innovation Leadership.” Nancy founded WeMentor, inc. in 1992 to change the leadership in our country by providing emerging and existing business owners with mentoring in Dual Innovation Leadership. She has mentored thousands and is eager to work with you! Assert self-leadership and get started today! Clients say, “Nancy is a compelling, engaging, and ‘decipher the trees from the forest’ kind of mentor, speaker, and leader. A dedicated entrepreneurial leader and mentor who role models what she preaches. Her style and candor enrich the content she delivers and the results clients experience.” Nancy accepts people where they are while inspiring them to breakthrough into new dimensions: As an Entrepreneurial Leader (Innovator), As a Competent Business Owner (Practitioner) As a Mentor (Role Model) As a Spiritual Being and Self-Leadership Master! Start by subscribing to WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST. Join your peers and...
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