Firestarter Sessions....

I started the Firestarter Sessions this week and I LOVE it. So many great things to take away and be inspired by. Here's my fave bits so far:

• People's reputations are made in the bad times more than the good times.
• If you want to make lots of really good stuff happen, then that's really exciting-for all of us. If you want to earn a living by doing meaningful things-then that's exceptional.
• "Entrepreneurs have this real belief that their lives are about service and leadership" - Anita Roddick (founder of The Body Shop).
• The act of beginning something is powerful.
• Stopping doing some things = more time for what matters most.
• Doing truly great work stems from simplicity: a simple home, a simple schedule and a simple frame for work.
• "Make your life a creative work of art".
• Think of resentment as a blaring mega-watt STOP sign.
• "Begin anywhere" - John Cage.
• Knowing how you actually want to feel is the most potent form of clarity that you can have. Acting on generating those feelings is the most creative thing you can do with your life.
• When you pick up the phone, when you ship your product, when you walk into your store or when you post your article, how do you want to feel?
• Be anchored into the emotion that is driving you.
• Strategy: Know how you want to feel and do whatever it takes to feel that way.
• Aiming for power gets your power circuits firing.
• Enough with feeling guilty for wanting to feel the way you want to feel. Follow your desired emotion. Don't analyse it too deeply. Just let it roll and rumble a bit. It may be there to humble you, expand you, heal, surprise or reinvent you. Anywhere it leads is there for a divine reason.
• When you're focused on the feelings, the form and the timing of how things come into your life are less important.
• "Feelings first" is really the essence of simplified living - a focus on what matters most.
• If an opportunity comes my way and it isn't going to make me feel the way I know I want to, then its "No thanks". - Danielle LaPorte.
• "Never sing in chorus if you want to be heard" - Jules Archibald.
• Your brand is your reputation, your character, the impression you make. Its who you are.
• Integrity brands are:

1). Self referencing: ie they begin with their offering and then look for their audience. The starting point is "Who am I?" not "What will I sell?".

2). Rooted in genuine strengths + passions: Because you can't fake passion and passion persuades.

3). Consistent: Authenticity is efficient. Consistency builds velocity. People know what to expect from you and that is a beautiful thing.

4). Proud: Your most pronounced qualities are the through line of your story and they articulate your gifts and challenges.

5). Transparent: Show me who you are even if its a bit risky. Risk=momentum.

6). Emotive: If you don't emote, you're remote. Integrity brands express their feelings - psychological, political, spiritual and material. We stand up and say things. We lean forward. We risk. We laugh out loud, show our true colours and speak our minds. We make declarations.

This is only a small taste of what you get out of the Firestarter Sessions - there are also worksheets, videos, interviews etc. So if this appeals to you in any way shape or form you should definitely pop over to Danielle LaPorte's website Whitehot Truth to learn more and join in the fun!