DIY Designer Health Vol1

This, of course, is made to be viewed in conjunction with the blog of the same name, and this week's radio program http://tobtr.com/s/938765 --which didn't go quite as it was expected, due some weird technical thing, that wouldn't allow my switchboard page to fully load. Go figure! The Chat room did...and I even had a guest! lol

Consequently, the show is ALL me...not even any music except the default intro, as there were no 'play' buttons! Isn't life is a fun surprise!

So, we'll have Ingrid back another time...in the mean time, enjoy Good DIY Designer Health!

Lisa in Oz

DIY Designer Recording

Here's a video of me recording with John Morrison (drums), Matt Baker (piano)and John Conley (bass) in the new james Morrison Studios , Warriewood Aug 08


Find more videos like this on The Boundless Living Challenge

DIY Designer Breakthroughs Vol 1

DIY Designer Health with CTT

DIY Designer Health

Now, when it comes to health, as with any other area of my life, I work from the inside out.

There’s a scripture that reads

“Fear the Lord and shun evil,

this will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Pr 3:7b-8

Now, even tho I think this is a poor translation, I believe the sentiment behind this verse to be VERY apt. Basically, it’s saying that when you’re aligned to the Source from which you spring...you will reap the benefits of that alignment. Health.

There is only a stream of well being. Abraham-Hicks will tell you all about it. You are either in the flow of it, or pinching it off. You determine which it is through the ‘stories’ you tell yourself about yourselfhttp://abrahamhicks.com

Now, I’m going to tell you about how I discovered getting into the flow of this wellbeing, in the places where it had been trained out of me. I will tell you my own stories that will show you the power you have resident in you for total spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wholeness.

Spiritual Health

Spiritual health is about believing you are the incredible creator God/Source birthed you to be. In fact, in being one with Source in your core, it was a joint decision to come into this physical realm and create the range of physical experiences you chose to have. Through this vast range of experiences, you wanted to know yourself in the fullness of your nature...your god nature.

Spiritual health is basically being ‘aligned’. Remember “DIY Designer Alignment”? That is spiritual well being. It is what Abraham-Hicks terms as ‘being in the Vortex’. It is what I call being the ‘Secret Place’, or the ‘Garden’, or ‘in the space between’. Ultimately, it is being in conscious connection with All-That-Is and at the very least it is feeling in harmony with your most intimate circle.

It is BEING IN LOVE.

In this place of Love, where you know your own wholeness, there is no fear, no lack, no judgment nor any unmet desire. Here, ‘all things are yours’...and you know it. As one whose job it was to lead people into this ‘state’ through my singing/music, I was well practiced in being there.

I can tell you this: it is the sweetest addiction you will ever know.

Joy, peace, appreciation, love without demands, doing what lights your fire...this is being aligned. This is when you are closest to being all you are, and that’s also why it is SO important that you take time to DO what you love. It will re-adjust your compass to north, and keep you on the right path for you.

I have countless ways to enter into this state. I live there mostly. Soon, I’ll post some more content on this subject on my sites. All other forms of health, in my opinion, stem from this one flow. I’ve lived my life by this belief and freed myself repeatedly of various potential ills.

Mental Health.

What is mental health? Well, for the sake of this blog and this week’s theme, I’m going to say mental health is the ability to think clearly and make decisions soundly. Not necessarily only logically, because intuition is equally essential...sometimes even more so. Intuition is sharpened through alignment, which is why so few feel confident with theirs. I have my spent my entire life cultivating the confidence in this Inner Voice.

That doesn’t mean I haven’t had opportunity to doubt it. In fact, In wanting to know myself utterly connected with that core part of me, I’ve had many challenges to grow by. Eating disorders , body image issues, and an emotional breakdown that led to Alopecea ( stress induced baldness) basically meant that I had lot of ‘self’ perceptions that needed adjusting and aligning.

Funny thing is, we can KNOW what we need, and still not do it. I think that’s because we doubt our ability to see it through. But the incredible thing is, once we DO come to that point of heart-felt decision, we find a power abiding in us, that we KNEW was there, but refused to believe in. It lives in all but is activated by those who believe and act.

After three years of nightmares about being completely bald, being pregnant four times, miscarrying one and losing almost 2/3 of my circulating blood supply, something inside me stood up. I knew I was doing these things to myself. I knew only I could change it. I also believed that if I could turn it around, I could do anything.

No one could beat that truth out of me today. No matter where I may appear to be on the journey in any one else’s eyes, I know this truth: “All things are mine”

That is a sound mind.

A sound mind thinks clearly, finds creative solutions easily and frequently, takes risks confidently and improvises competently...not to mention houses a great sense of humour! J When you start agreeing with these truths, and write your stories by them...you will know the Peace that is far beyond understanding.

A note** When washing your brain...keep the water clean. Allow NO ACCESS to any story that is NOT aligned to your desires. When those things present themselves, you will find creative ways to address them, but you needn’t focus on them in between. When you’re working with life and death, you learn this well!

Emotional Health

I taught my kids to sing songs or love and joy and to 'turn the day around' that way. I taught them little tricks that came to me, in the moment, that stayed with them through the growing years and became part of who they are. They never questioned whether they were ‘right’...they saw me live by the same principles, they knew I loved them , and only wanted them happy, and they saw how they worked for me.

My youngest son when he was very little, maybe 4, used to get migraines and vomit, then sleep it off. As he grew a few years older I could see how emotionally ‘worked up’ he would get. I could see I needed to find a way to teach him how to diffuse the triggers before he was on the spiral down. Before he’d left Lower primary school, I had taught him how to detach from whatever was ‘stringing him out’ with one VERY simple technique.

I told him he could tell me all about the ‘problem’ (which, by the way, keeps the emotional charge building), but in 5 minutes (This time was extended each time). I took him out to my balcony, overlooking the back yard, where there were very tall gums, well grown palms ringing the perimeter, and smaller hedge type trees. When the wind blew, you could distinctly hear it hit each level of different greenery, creating a different song. It only took a few seconds to completely distract him, and in doing so, detach from the negative energy, and bring equilibrium to his emotions, completely bypassing resistance.

He felt so good, he took the practice on easily and would take himself out for de-stressing when he needed to. He even learned to avert the migraines altogether. Alignment is the answer to all health issues in my book.

Today, we still do this and other things, but I also really love EFT, for when you just GOTTA ‘spill it’! EFT is the great ‘diffuser’ if you’re struggling with resistance. If EFT were a man, he’d be my hero!

Listen to my Blog Talk Radio Show with Brad Yates for more on EFT http://tobtr.com/s/926420

Physical Health.

Ok, now what I share may be hard for some people to agree with, and it’s not my job to tell anyone else what to do with their bodies...but I will tell you of my experience with mine.

After having Alopecea and seeing first hand the chemical effect I could make on my body to bring about physical change, no one will EVER be able to tell me I have no control over such things. I have absolute control over my life-every facet. Not the details, but the desired outcomes. And even if I struggle to come to terms with some aspect of it, you will never hear me say otherwise, because I will never believe otherwise. I know that as soon as I entertain the idea of not having control I yield it, by default, to all manner of harsh task masters. But in retaining conscious control, I will eventually find the core of the cause, correct the misalignment and be well.

I can give you COUNTLESS stories of this at work in my life, but I think the most amazing one is the one concerning the miscarriage. I can’t give all the details here, but I carried a “suspended” foetus in my womb for 6 weeks whilst I learnt about what it meant to have the power of life and death in my own hands.

I was supposed to be 13 weeks, but from 5 weeks, I felt something was wrong. I didn’t know what to do, afraid to speak it out, but wanted to understand. (I am my favourite guinea pig) from 7 weeks, that baby ‘waited’. Usually, after 2 weeks poisoning of the system would kick in.

Part of learning that was to ‘let go’ of the life-I made the conscious choice. But I recovered from all that blood loss in two weeks and was pregnant again in four and back with a baby in 10 months-as I told them I would be.

But here’s the interesting part: At 10 weeks, I had a widespread abruption in the placenta-where it comes away from the uterine wall, and the growing baby starves to death. I didn’t go through all I had just done, to not learn. I knew I could decide what would happen here. Three doctors said ‘not good’. Two said ‘the pregnancy’s terminated, she needs a curette’, and after 5 hours of deliberating, that last report just got my back up, and I decided to keep this baby.

They made all the preparations, and I started telling a different story to myself-literally. I was absolutely convinced that life and death were in my hands, with regard to my body.

I wasn’t scared or over wrought, or stressed out, but simply requested an ultrasound before they took me in. It was granted, and we found a live baby, and a placenta that had already started clotting (reconnecting) That baby is Paul, and he’s 21 in September.

My Prognosis

I’ve been diagnosing and treating my own ailments this way for a LONG time. I have powerful documented experiences that no one could ever take away. I live this way. And I have overcome MANY traumas through the principle of aligning myself within. Every symptom, thought, feeling is an indicator that mirrors to me where the real issue lies, and I do my best to address it swiftly.

Some things take longer, and have complex layers, and if needed medical assistance in the interim, I'd take it, but as a bridge, not a cure. I want to know WHY/What I'm creating etc.

I am addicted to the feelings, thoughts and outcomes of being in a state of ALIGNMENT. From there, if I need to take action, I am shown where/how. Sometimes, I do. Other times, I just needed to shift my focus, or adjust my ‘antenna’. I expect to receive the necessary wisdom, and if it doesn’t come immediately, I know there are layers masking it, and I’ll always know what to do next if I keep myself aligned.

I will continue to live this way, and I’m glad I’ve taught my children this. They may still have their own paths to learn by, but they have heard and seen what I believe. I’ve had miraculous ‘healings’ and slow steady recoveries that took diligence of mind-but the strength gained through the process was needed...even wanted. So many more accounts to tell... :-)

Today, I am strong. Open, vulnerable, trusting...and strong.

I am HEALTHY-spirit, mind, emotions and body.

My radio show guest Ingrid Arna has had to deal with a similar range of experiences, but she is also a wellness coach, into fitness and nutrition and healthy body image.

Join us on Tuesday, Mar 30, for DIY Designer Health at 9 a.m. ( GMT +10)

I realise this is a very extended blog...but I wanted it to have substance.

Love to all you groovers and groovettes!

Lisa In Oz

[HOW TO] Make Money in your Underwear

[HOW TO] Make Money in your Underwear

I really like Cory, and I love what he shares in this Blog!

check it out! :-)

Reality Creation 101 Book review

I just read and reviewed this book by Christopher Pinckley, and if you love the idea of designing your life on purpose, and living intentionally, you will LOVE this book. Chris is real , fresh, transparent and easy to learn through.

http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Creation-101-Mastering-Manifestation/dp/1439200041/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268246997&sr=8-1

Just Breathe

Just Breathe

My beautiful girl!

Join me LIVE on my DIY Designer Vision with guest Sarah Shah show on #BlogTalkRadio at http://tobtr.com/s/917149 or call (347) 857-3368

Daughter #1 On radio with me this morning and daughter #2 on Utube this evening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFVGZqZMnHA

cut and paste if it isn't live :-)

DIY Designer Breakthroughs

DIY Designer Breakthroughs

This week, as the title implies, I want to look at ‘breakthroughs’.

Firstly, I’d like to ‘demystify’ the notion of breakthroughs. Contrary to popular opinion, I don't believe they are the freak, ‘lucky break’ or the extraordinary miracle. Like ‘strokes of genius’, breakthroughs are much more within our ‘intentional grasp’ than many realise. They are the result of certain characteristic processes

Breakthroughs, like anything in life, follow a traceable pattern and can be designed and pre-determined, to a degree. Whilst the specific details of any situation are best NOT under your control ( the Universe is the Master Orchestrator), the desired outcome you have in mind definitely is!

“In his heart, a man plots his course, but the Lord determines his steps” Proverbs 16

My paraphrase: I decide where I want to go, and God opens the way, leading me a step at a time. I decide the ‘what and why’, Source energy works the ‘how’. When we allow ourselves to yield and to create our daily lives this way, we become open to fantastic opportunities that we may otherwise miss in trying to control everything or dictate the delivery method of our freedom.

I guess the major difference between achieving a goal, and experiencing a breakthrough refers to the level of conflict we’ve known in trying to get past a certain point and moving into a NEW position. Eg new income bracket, healthier lifestyle, relationship status, vocational shift.

Process #1-what do I want?

As with everything else, the path to a breakthrough begins with...’what do I want?’

And I don’t mean ‘what do I kinda want?’ or ‘it might be nice if I had..’ . I’m talking ‘what do I REALLY want?’ Why waste time or any other resource on something you aren’t really crazy to have? Of course, sometimes, we find out along the way what we really want, and the process of heading out was needed to define and refine our goal or even just practice the skills of applying ourselves and our focus. No effort is ever wasted.

My suggestion would be this: think of some of the things that you’ve often heard yourself say “I’ve always wanted to be/do/have/give that, or go there.” Time to take hold of one of those types of desires.

So-given where you are TODAY, where would you like to enjoy a breakthrough? This is your first step toward freedom. CHOOSE...then write a statement outlining your desired outcome. Eg. I desire to be earning $50 000 a year in my chosen field of composing jingles.

Process #2-How Does My New Life look?

Design the details of your new found freedom, as far as you can ‘see’ it from here. NOT how you’re going to do it, but how it looks to be LIVING it. Imagine you are already earning $50 000 a year writing jingles. How do you think your life would look to support this outcome? What would a day/week/month look like? Would you be attending any seminars/courses? Who would you be networking with? How many items would you be producing? Who would buy and for how much? What level of royalties and residual income would you expect?

Also...what other liberties and opportunities do you feel it might make available for you in other areas of your life? How would your personal life be affected? What new kinds of relationships and activities would you be able to enjoy?

This is GREAT fun! And Absolutely CRUCIAL. This process is a MAJOR component of creating an energy resonance with what you’re desiring, and if you follow the process laid out in “MY Designer Calendar” you will set your inner antennae so sharply and so effortlessly that you will surprise yourself.

It’s important not to rush this. It doesn’t matter that it takes a long time. The longer, the better actually, as it sustains a healthy and active connection with your desire.

THIS IS NOT WASTED OR UNIMPORTANT INDULGENCE. Change the way you view FUN. Life doesn’t have to be HARD. Change is easy when you ENJOY it!

Process #3-The Path Of Zero Resistance

This is probably the part that people struggle with most-Resistance.

Chances are you will come across it, otherwise you would already be living out your dream. When addressing resistance, you must first recognise it. It can be insidiously covert or obviously ‘impassable’, but there are ways to ‘read the signs’ in your life so that it becomes clear. One thing about making a decision about what you want...it will bring many things to the surface immediately. Watch and take note of your responses, reactions and day to day thoughts/feelings and encounters. They will reveal MUCH. Your life is a perfect mirror of where your energy and focus have been.

Once you’ve acknowledged levels and areas of resistance, there are a number of ways you can address it. I have two favourite ways that I use individually and in conjunction with each other.

One is quite simply to use whatever abilities I have to re-focus my energy and align it to my desire. I draw/write/collage/sing/speak about my desired outcome. This harmonises me with my dreams, diminishing any sense of lack and makes me feel fantastic, coz creativity just feels SO GOOD!

The other process I use a lot is EFT. Emotional Freedom Technique. And my absolute favourite facilitator of EFT is the EFT Wizard himself...Mr Brad Yateshttp://bradyates.net http://youtube.com/eftwizard This delightfully humourous and insightful practitioner is on my radio show on Tues Mar 23, 2010 at 9 am. (GMT +10) and we will be looking into how to help people design some breakthroughs for themselves. Tune in here http://blogtalkradio.com/lisa-shah I will post a direct link once the show is done for people that want to listen or download the archived version.

You can go to Brad’s site to learn more about EFT, but what I particularly love about it, is how it frees me from the ‘feelings’ that might otherwise disable me. I’ve used EFT to release Fear, Resistance, Stress, physical conditions caused by these things...and I LOVE it!!

I also use EFT in conjunction with the images and text that are part of my ‘designer’ life. I refer to my collages etc , whilst doing EFT, using positive statements. You don’t have to wait to feel resistance to make good use of EFT! J

A note on this ** if you’ve not done a lot of personal work this way, you could find more negative emotions come up. Just keep going through the ‘clearing’ processes, but if you want assistance to transition these times, get in touch! **

Also, Christopher Pinckley’s book Reality Creation 101 outlines other techniques he’s found useful. Here’s a linkhttp://www.amazon.com/Reality-Creation-101-Mastering-Manifestation/dp/1439200041/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268246997&sr=8-1.

We’ll cover more of this on Mar 23, please go tohttp://blogtalkradio.com/lisa-shah and send any questions, call in or chat with us live.

Process #4-Stay Aligned

Basically, just keep doing processes 2 and 3! Lol

Live your life and be happy, knowing that “...the Universe is conspiring with you for your success...” Be open to follow leading that comes and feels right. Stay aligned and act on prompts and ideas that come. Stay aligned...I’ll say it again-Stay aligned!!

You’re aligned when you FEEL GOOD, remember? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2_1qRUL5Iw&feature=player_embedded

Process #5

Please let us know of the progress you make. Share your stories and outcomes with us. I am the Queen of Show’n’Tell! I love to hear people’s tales of victory and fun. Even more if I can have been a tiny part of it! J

Create an Incredible Designer Week, and I hope to hear from you soon!

p.s. BTR gues Mar 16, my daughter Sarah :her story ( and music) of changing her vision to be free of Anorexia, and

Mar 23, Brad Yates, EFT Wizard...don’t Miss it! J

DIY Designer Vision with Creative Thinking Technology

I took this photo on the left a couple of weeks ago. Up till today all the photos I've taken have been at 'sand level'. If you're familiar with my Facebook page, you'll know I've taken hundreds in the space of the 3 &1/2 weeks that I've been doing this daily walk!

As the title implies, I want to get you thinking about the way you see things.

In fact, I'd even go as far as saying that the purpose of my life is to help people learn HOW to see again...by conscious choice.

The functions of generating ideas and creating alternatives, or even the punch line for a joke-are right brain, creative thinking processes. Logic and reason...are the legalistic left brain lawyers that forever try to 'anchor' that wayward dreamer we call Imagination.

Yet the skills developed along this line are what set apart the outstanding from the ordinary, and are most highly sought after in every field. Innovation. Improvisation. Whether a home duties full-time mum, or a corporate CEO...creativity will make you SHINE.

Life isn't the way you see it-that's just the way you see it.

Creativity isn't being artistic, it is 'seeing' differently.

I don't want to get technical here and discuss the brain and its functions. This blog just doesn't go into those details. I just want to look out how we can effectively make it work for us, without even having to KNOW. And I have known and seen far too many people who know the theory but never have mastered having the experience.

I want aid with the experience!

We each have so many different ways of looking at things. Even within one individual, the capacity to conceive multiple perspectives on any and every matter, is endless. How can it be then, that anyone would ever conclude anything impossible?

We choose HOW we see our lives. Our beliefs, emotions and experiences cause us to decide what and how we'll see. Are your filters by your design, or by default? If you wonder what filters the perspective you have on your life, then simply 'consider and give thought to your ways'. Your life is a perfect mirror.

Process #1- back to Picasso

If you've read my stuff before , you'll have heard of what I call the Picasso Principle. Practice developing alternate view points by looking at images from the side, or upside down, or back to front. Play "Mr Squiggle" with random lines drawn by another for you, and do it from every way up. See how turning the squiggles changes what you can 'see' to draw. Life is the same.

Look at photos from magazines or books and make up characters and stories about them. Write who/what/where/when/why and how...and do three different versions. if you do this, when you need to create alternatives in your life, you will be practised.

Process #2-Break the Pattern

If you're really serious about seeing a situation differently. You will need to DO something different. Decide that no matter what, you are not going to do what you always have done before. This is a very literal thing. I wanted to demonstrate it by taking a photo of the beach from another point.

To do that I had to change where I parked my car, and the way that I usually do my routine walk. I had to embrace all the inconvenience and discomfort of change-and as simplistic as this example might be, it's surprising how swiftly we 'take' to a pattern, and don't want to change it.

I was excited about my plan, but I was still very aware of having to do something another way.

I met unfamiliar faces, many more were running , not walking. I had to wear shoes, and go up a STEEP hill. MY enthusiasm wasn't daunted at all, coz I knew what I wanted and why-but was all the same, keenly aware of the newness.

But getting to my new vantage point was well worth it. I got a BIGGER picture. I had a much broader perspective. I could see BEYOND my usual setting, north and south. I could see the distance that I walk each day, where I enter onto the beach usually.

And I could see my new friend-Harriet, just coming up to the bottom of the headland, at the halfway point of her walk! :-)

The first image is taken from in front of the tall apartments (top right)

so...MOVE yourself by doing something DIFFERENTLY. If you normally have breakfast and then a shower. Do it the other way around. Go out for breakfast. Take fruit salad and eat in a park. Eat it in a different part of the house-in the garden, on the balcony, preferably somewhere where you can see some nature.

Change SOMETHING and just watch what happens. Your eyes will begin to open-and so will your heart.

{this is another view from just south of the surf club looking up to the look out where I was just standing, in the above shot}

Process#3- Prepare for a Different Path

If you decide that you are going to do something differently, you may have to do ready yourself somehow.

I knew I would want shoes to walk to the top but I don't usually take any. So,I put the shoes out where I literally tripped over them!

Give yourself tangible, visual prompts.

I turned left instead of right at the Esplanade, so I could park right at the northern end. I made all these mental adjustments before I even set foot on the new 'way of seeing', because I thought about doing things differently so I could share another vision of Burleigh.

The same process is at work whenever we wish to take an alternate position in relation to something. Break the pattern and give yourself prompts to help you on the alternate route.

Process#3-Plan to Empower

This is really part of the mental preparation and motivation, but it comes into play when you take the first step. There is a reason for scaling a hill to get a better view. You can see where you are, where you wish to be and maybe even an obvious path to get there.

It takes effort to climb a mountain. More effort than to walk the sandy shore. But your desire to want to see the extensive view it promises will give you energy and strength to deal with any resistance that comes through discomfort-whether internal or external.

Focus on what you will gain-fresh insights into your life and how to make it more like the Vision you have of it in your dreams.

When we first begin to make changes, it can feel VERY uphill...contrary to the flow we'd established. Eventually though, you will learn to implement ideas for change that spring from your core, like me doing the beach walk, and these will be easy, once you decide, and reap manifold ongoing and lasting rewards.

For now, just experiment with changing little things...and see how this opens your imagination to more.

Process#4 Put on New Glasses

What's really funny about my trek to the top of North Burleigh Rock is that in my descent, I lost one of the lens from my sunnies! I literally had an altered view! :-)

And that brings me to this point: which glasses are you wearing? Some people talk about 'rose coloured' glasses as if they are unrealistic "La Vie en rose" (French for "Life through rose-coloured glasses," literally "Life in pink"), but since is literally whatever we determine to see, it seems to me that looking through rose coloured glasses is a smart thing to do.

You choose the tint of your shades. You determine what will be highlighted and what will be minimalized. You do this by what you are open to believe.

An anorexic sees themselves as fat, no matter how bony they get, because that's what they believe they are.

A constantly sick person doesn't see themselves well and whole, and for some reason thinks that to be well and whole will conflict with something else they believe. This isn't often conscious, but the 'mirrors' of our lives don't lie.

You can change what you believe, once you understand how it's creating your life. You can harmonise beliefs to your desires, and build your Designer Life. You can be free of the shackles and millstones of old ghosts that come haunting and drag you ever back into dungeons of your own psyche.

You can be FREE. And it starts with you painting a picture of yourself and your life as you wish them to be. Only you can do this for you.

How do you want your life to look? DIY Designer Vision.

And now I've climbed one headland...I'm gonna do the other and present yet another set of perspectives! lol (see the video!)

DIY Designer Networking with Creative Thinking Technology

hi everyone...this is the video that supplements the blog of the same name.

A few more snippets of my "designer life".

O! and the radio show that aired to day too... http://blogtalkradio.com/lisa-shah

Create an awesome Designer Week!!

BIG love,

Lisa in Oz

For Blase...

Well, here's the ones you've missed... you can see them anytime on my Utube Channel, along with others...that is, if this deluge doesn't overwhelm you! lol

http://youtube.com/lisashahscape

Hey Dude, thanks for reading and watching. :-)

FYI, I post a short video on FB http://facebook.com/lisashah from tue-fri, then compile them into one unit for uploading onto UTube. Sometimes, I forget to come back and post them here.

You can subscribe to the utube channel if you want to-

DIY DeSigner Networking with Creative Thinking Technology (CTT)

DIY Designer Networking with Creative Thinking Technology (CTT)

Now...don’t get confused...I’m not talking about ‘network marketing’ in the old MLM (Multi Level Marketing) sense.

I AM talking more specifically about the kind of business (and life!) that gets done through the organic growth of regular relationships. What does this mean? Let me explain...

Where it began... once upon a time...ha! No...

Last year, in April, I decided that it was time I became familiar with other business people on the Gold Coast. I wanted to become visually known as that ‘creative person’-or something like that! J I had already recognised that simply by ‘turning up’ and being a familiar face at places, people would soon begin to feel that they know you. Any people, any places-it always works. This, in turn, leads to opportunities to get to know them, build a genuine relationship and sincerely connect.

I went to a luncheon at a fancy hotel, and it was a large group that sat tables of ten. It was supposed to be a Mastermind Group as well. This particular network, was quite expensive to join, and I wasn’t sure it was necessary. It wasn’t...but it did give me something to get the ‘networking’ ball rolling, at least, in my thinking!

And this is my first point: I’ve said it before too.

Start where you are!

Align yourself with what you want.

For me, that ALWAYS means ‘aligning myself, my focus, my energy...with what I want. How do I want my life to look and with what kinds of people do I wish to connect?

I like to use current examples of what’s happening in my life, so I will draw from my recent aligning with my desire to be living beachside and certain elements that I think would be part of that lifestyle-namely, daily exercise on the beach! Whilst doing that, I’ve also been designing how I want my work/life/relationships to be. You can find almost everything in my life, included in my collages and detailed descriptions of how I want my life to look...My Designer Calendar at work. (see Facebook Album of same name)

This part of creating is the perfect place to learn and master some Creative Thinking Technology processes. They are necessary all along, but they are invaluable here.

The Universe rearranges our realities, taking into account ALL that we are putting forth in our ‘energy DNA’. All our desires work together. So, even though the beach walk seems like a more personal thing, it is so much a part of how I want to live my life, that it opened opportunities and ideas and other behaviours with that ONE “inspired action”. It led to the daily videos.

CHOOSE ONE THING NOW THAT YOU KNOW YOU’VE GIVEN SO MUCH THOUGHT TO, BUT TAKEN NO ACTION UPON. One significant desire. Imagine yourself being/doing/having/ giving it. Describe all the detail that of how it looks, feels, tastes...and how ecstatically happy it makes you feel. Review the “DIY Designer Alignment Vol 1” http://youtube.com/lisashahescape

Do this and be attentive to what comes to you, who you meet, what you see, and any random ideas to explore the possibilities.

This is the beginning of ‘DIY Designer Networking’, because the Universe works with and through people. And it’s always to deliver to each one involved whatever it is they have been focussed upon. Sometimes, it’s the connections that come out of other connections that contribute to your fulfilment.

Life is about Turning Up!

One of the single most powerful forces I’ve witnessed is ‘Consistency’.

Both in the business networking circles that began to ‘find’ me and the myriad of subsequent secondary/tertiary connections, as well as on my beach walk, I noticed how people warmed to me, the more they saw more.

E.g. Each morning, as I walk, I see familiar faces. Initially, people simply passed by. As the recognition process went to work, there’d be “morning”s exchanged, or smiles and nods. As they days slipped by, warmer greetings from further away, and ‘see you tomorrow’ s. Quick conversations, names get exchanged and we start feeling like we’ve found a ‘friend’. Someone who obviously shares a common interest, because we see them every day, doing the same thing we’re doing. Then , we learn a little of each other’s lives. People like to be recognised, and feel known.

There’s a stability in consistency that breeds trust like nothing else I’ve seen. And I’m starting to see it everywhere. I’ve watched restaurants die and go bankrupt because proprietors didn’t grasp the necessity to deliver hours and service with reliable consistency. The kind of trust this breeds doesn’t break down easily. It builds organically. It may take a year to build an effective network of clients/customers this way, but they will be great friends.

When I meet people, I genuinely am not thinking about how to convert their ‘need’ into money for me. In fact, I like reminding people of all their personal power. I LOVE connecting with people. I’m fascinated by their stories, and I long to see them live their own version of their DIY Designer Lives.

SO, turn up for life! You don’t know who is watching and being drawn to you. You don’t know whose path is being divinely set to intersect with yours. Even if your “inspired action” doesn’t seem to reap immediate rewards, if it’s taking you into quality relationships, or improving others just because you feel better for it-it’s good.

I call this “Organic Networking”...and I aspire to be the “Queen of Organic Networking”

Networking-a Dirty Word?

Due to its association with MLM, networking did have a rather tainted reputation. Some, I know, still haven’t removed those connotations. Networking, like anything, is a neutral process. It’s what we do with it, how and why, that makes it beneficial or not. But in the Small Business world of today’s Gold Coast, it has begun to be appreciated for what it really can, and should be-about people.

The biggest distinguishing characteristic of “Organic Networking” is that it is ALL about the people, whereas many have felt the previous style of networking to be ALL about the money.

Today’s networker is much more socially inclined. We’re actually starting to really ENJOY our regular get togethers. So much so, that they are even contributing validly to our work/life balance in bringing up the social side. Last Sunday, one of the ‘heads’ of a local business network, who has become my friend, came to my gig. We’ve done some business together too, but it grew out of a very genuine friendship that we have begun to form. We really like each other!

Business is so much better when you share like values, have complimentary personalities, and you just plain LIKE EACH OTHER!

I believe that ‘organic networkers’ create a real affection and respect for one another. It’s never ‘just business’. It’s never just about the money. Clear boundaries regarding the handling and exchange of money are established from the start so that it never has to become an issue. There’s no expectation for ‘mates rates’, but always welcomed, if offered. The freedom to give, or not give them, is always there. And if they are given...they are just that-GIVEN...unconditional, no strings, no obligation to return the same.

The important thing is you know your networking friend is going to do their BEST for you, and their best is worth their fee. If it isn’t, you are friends and can give them feed back, but you never use their service out of obligation. That serves no one.

Competitors, Creators and Allies

As an Organic networker, I don’t believe in having ‘Competitors’. Yeah, yeah, I know this goes against everything they teach you in business, but maybe some things just should never have been taught. Are the other members of your family competitors with you for a place in the household? No! We are family. Everyone has THEIR OWN PLACE. Business is no different. Each has something unique to bring to the market place. AT least, it should be! If not in what they bring, then HOW they bring it. Different people will be drawn, or not, accordingly.

You determine your attraction factor. Not your so called ‘competition’. To compete is to imply lack and ‘not enough’, so that’s what you’ll get. Abundance is the order of our day. I am a Creator, not a Competitor. I carve out my own ‘organic niche’.

And I have dubbed those who would be considered ‘competitors’, as my “Allies”. They help me see what could be good for my business. They show some things I shouldn’t do. They give me ideas, and they encourage me to maintain a high standard for myself. We have a lot in common too. They are obviously friends/mentors to be doing all this! lol

Spoken like a TRUE organic networker! J

But seriously, when you change this mindset, you’ll not only NOT attract people that you need to be ‘afraid of’ in business, but you will cease to even see competition as a motivating factor in anyone. And when it doesn’t get your energy, it won’t be in your reality. I’ve had the most unexpected experiences along this line. But you’ll have to call in to my Blog talk Radio on Mar 9 to ask about that! No room here! Lol http://blogtalkradio.com/lisa-shah (QLD ) Tues 9 am GMT+10

Pie in the Sky-Rose Coloured Glasses

Oh, I know a lot of people would think me unrealistic, ‘head-in-the-sand’, wearing ‘rose coloured glasses’ and the like. People are often so afraid of being ‘screwed over’ by those they trust, that they keep trusting more people that will screw them over! They keep creating what they don’t want!

WE CREATE OUR REALITIES.

There are still lots of people that DO think it’s all about the money. Being adequately recompensed for your skills, talents, labour etc. is to be expected, but ultimately, it’s not the money we want. We want the freedom to live our Designer Dreams that we think having such money will bring. That’s why we end up with our focus aligned to all the wrong things. Our antenna is set 2 Degrees off our own Truth and on money instead. This brings conflict. This is why we need to start with aligning to our deepest desires and highest values.

I think our ‘natural’ sight is rosy. I believe we are authentically connectors and lovers. We had to ‘learn’ to focus on the negative. Fear fuels our resistance to those things feared, but ‘what we resists, persists’.

It’s time to don the ‘rose coloured’ glasses again.

Focus on the beauty. Focus on the best in people. Believe the love within. When you become convinced of it, the light of love in you will help them to see themselves by it. People will love being around you, coz it FEELS GOOD to be around you. You help them to remember who they are: Connected to Source and co-creators of their own DIY Designer Lives.

When your networking is love based, and not money chasing, all that you need to live the life of your dreams, will come to you.