NUMBER 41 February 17, 2004

Suc^cess Strategies for Creative Souls Series

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Welcome Subscribers
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This free newsletter goes to subscribers only and is sent out the middle of
each month. If you have missed any issues, you can have them sent to you by
following the instructions at my website
http://www.creativesuccess.com/info/new.html at the bottom of the page. We
just discovered that several Spam filters are blocking the word "success" so
if you have not been receiving this newsletter regularly, check your filter.
Please forward this newsletter in its entirety to other like-minded friends
and colleagues who might enjoy it. We appreciate your support.

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Contest Winner
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We just sent out our workshop-on-tape Positive Choices: From Stress to
Serenity to our website contest winner, Amy Tonkonogy, who is an Executive
Producer at WGBH in Boston. Thank you, Amy, for your creative ideas and watch
for them on our new site which will be launched this spring.

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Free Goal Achievement CD
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We see our new website as a co-creative process and will be offering you a
number of opportunities to give your input over the next two months. Thanks to
my new web designer, Amanda Trombley, creator of Beeliner Surveys, you will
have a chance to answer one fascinating question on transformation and be
entered in our new contest. For the best answer, we will send you a free copy
of the Goal Achievement Real Audio CD, which is a one hour discussion of goal
success essentials from my dynamic January teleclass. The people in the class
keep e-mailing me about their accomplishments so far, so join us in this 2004
Success Program. Amanda also decided to include one of my new tile paintings
in her beautiful survey form, so check it out. To take our quickie survey,
click on:
http://tinyurl.com/2et5q

Enjoy!

To get your own free trial of Amanda's online survey software Beeliner and
consider using it in your business, click on:
http://www.beelinersurveys.com .

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Strategy for Creative Souls #16: Get Grounded
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I heard from many of you that you really resonated with my last newsletter on
Extreme Measures, and the Power of Subtraction in your life. While I've been
on a Subtracting tear since December and have made great progress, more layers
keep appearing. But I now have files in the right places, empty drawers, and
art supplies in one location, as well as a new Treasure Map of my future.
Progress is energizing! Once we clear out the old, the outgrown, and the
dysfunctional, then we can examine the systems and practices which support our
well-being and our creative inspirations and thus, create our foundation. As
always, you must first identify the essence of what you truly desire, and then
make it happen. Take an inventory in the following categories: work space,
idea generation, administrative support, and creative time commitments.

1) How do you feel in your office or home spaces? Are you comfortable and
inspired or overwhelmed and distracted? If your current office is Starbucks,
are you bringing along what you need? I've had two clients this week commit to
carving out a creativity corner or a create-wherever-you-go basket, so they
can work effectively. As creative people, our work space is very important to
our process. If you don't have a supportive space, find one, and if you have
one, improve it.

2) Are you "cooking" creatively or stuck? If you are in the flow, make a note
of what's working. If you are stuck, change your medium to shake up your
process. I often draw to jump-start my writing. I have a client who
choreographs her business challenges and comes up with great new solutions.
Allow your intuition to guide you. There is always a gateway if you look for
it.

3) Do you know where your money is? Do you know your quarterly income and
expenses? Are you investing in your business or your creative self? Do you
need to hire a numbers person to keep you on track or barter your gifts for
theirs? I know from my clients and myself, that this is often an unappealing
area of focus. Yet, without the facts, our decisions can be uneducated.
Quickbooks is now on my computer, in addition to a new accounting system with
my VA. Knowledge is truly power. While I am the first to support people in
pursuing their dreams, and adore watching the universe support targeted action
plans, we need to be clear that we can take care of ourselves. People often
come to me who want to write a book or start a business and "forget" that they
have to invest in their learning whether it's classes or coaching or raw
materials. Give yourself a sum of money to support your goals.

4) Find your ideal creative time and make a commitment to use it. If two hours
on Saturday AM or Thursday night is the target and you miss your time this
week, schedule it again. When you don't engage with your process or project,
you lose significant ground. Set your time as a priority in your organizer and
tell everyone you know that this is sacred time and that you need their
support to keep your promises to yourself.

Lastly, identify what other strategies serve to keep you grounded and inspired
and round them up to support you in feeling centered and focused this year.
Good luck.

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Limited Edition:
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We are getting ready to create a new Positive Choices Package product. In the
meantime, this is your last chance to purchase the Limited Edition of my
acclaimed 90-minute personal workshop on audio including a mini-workbook and
three musical guided visualizations: Positive Choices: From Stress to Serenity
which has been featured in The Improper Bostonian, Human Resources Executive,
and sold nation-wide at training conferences. There are only 130 tapes left
being sold at this special price of $14.95 for the next 60 days.

Need to review your life goals? Feeling stressed and burned out? This tape can
help you change your life in the privacy of your own home and then you can re-
experience the workshop whenever you need a tune-up. As Mary S. of Los Angeles
told me, "This workshop is incredible and keeps me on track. I now know what I
want and you have given me a model that will get me there, quickly and step-
by-step. Thank you. This tape should cost 10 times as much as it does–it has
that much value. I'm so grateful. I'm ordering 15 more for my employees and my
friends." For more information, Blog, and to order your Limited
Edition before we run out, click on:
http://www.creativesuccess.com/store/store.html

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Creative Acts and Resources
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We are honored that my book The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women was the
featured book review in the recent email newsletter of Self-Growth.com. To
view this issue and read about this great newsletter, click on:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/

I'm happy to announce a special offer for you, my subscribers. I've made a
wonderful connection with a fellow creativity coach and writer, Cynthia Morris
from Colorado, who has just written an excellent book called "Create Your
Writer's Life: A Guide to Writing with Joy and Ease." This beautifully
designed book will help you to meet your 2004 writing goals and develop a
structure to support your work. She offers valuable practical suggestions and
identifies many writing pitfalls and coaches you through them. From now until
March 5th, Cynthia is offering us a discount price of $19.97 for the book
download and attached bonuses. To take advantage of this Creative Success
offer, click on http://www.createyourwriterslife.com.

Another new colleague, Peggy McColl of Destinies.com in Canada, author of
three books and a marketing dynamo, has also extended a deal offer to you.
Peggy's famous Smart Success eLearning Course is available for a limited time
only at $44.00 (regularly priced at $397.00) and is designed to accelerate
your goal achievement and includes copies of her books. To read all about it,
click on http://www.destinies.com/8proven_promo.html.

My friends, Brenda Michaels and Rob Spears, founders of Conscious Talk Radio,
which is an exceptional radio program featuring enlightened guests, wellness,
and a positive world consciousness, have expanded their show and are now
broadcasting live everyday from 4-5 PM PST. Click on:
http://www.conscioustalk.net/ and click on Listen Live. In Seattle, the show
is on 1150 AM and they are now in Boston on WBNW 1120 AM and WPLM 1390 AM in
Plymouth, MA and Cape Cod. I have been a guest and it's a powerful program for
change.

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In-person workshops with Gail
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April 2, 2004

"Recreate Your Life with Positive Choices" Workshop–New England Reiki
Conference and Expo, Holiday Inn, Boxborough, MA at 7 PM
Special program with fellow Red Wheel/Weiser author Christopher Penczak
http://www.commongroundcenter.com

June 2, 2004

Women's Success Network, Boston, MA

July 3-9, 2004
Rancho La Puerta, Mexico

Creatively yours,
Gail McMeekin