Do you need a fire started under your (lovely, metaphorical) ass?

Over the last few months I've had various friends tell me that I seem to be "on fire" at the moment.

Between finishing the book, signing with an agent, launching the new 30 days of yoga course, piloting the Off the Mat: Yoga in Action course in New Zealand, growing my regular yoga classes and running a series of restorative yoga workshops here in Wellington, I also have a few really exciting human rights contracts on the boil. One of them could see me traveling to Indonesia to talk to police about human rights. Sounds like my kind of contract. I love me some human rights and policing.

So yeah, I reckon my friends are right.

Right now, I am on fire.

This isn't exactly an overnight phenomenon. I've been laying the groundwork for all of these things for years. But, I have no doubt that the spark that lit my particular fire was a conversation with Danielle LaPorte.

In January this year I booked myself in for a Fire Starter Session with Danielle. Ever since, I've been recommending a session with Danielle to anyone who is a conscious, spirit-fueled entrepreneur.

If you are anything like me, and I know many of you are, then you might have some discomfort around words like "marketing" or "brand". I'm even a little queazy about the idea of money, even though I recognise that I need some of it to do the things I want to do with my life.

As someone who was stepping away from the comfort (and constraints) of a decade of salaried roles in the not-for-profit sector and into the exciting and scary new space of running my own business, I knew that I needed to learn about money, marketing and - yes - even brand.

I also knew that I needed to learn about those things from someone who understood my values, who was mindful and soulful and - most importantly of all - who was impeccably bullshit-free. Danielle was that person.

Here's what Danielle says about the sessions:

I’m going to help you see what’s possible ... and laser in on the wisest course of action. Wisdom = meaningfulness and efficiency; doing what brings you joy and considering what the market will respond to. Jam sessions could generate a new product or service, your next book plot, insight into repeating lessons, a decision about what you need to stop doing, a better tagline, or a gazillion dollar idea. We may deepen your connection to your truest vocation, overhaul your website, or rev up your mojo to take action.

She certainly lit a fire under me. She showed me the places where I had everything I needed to take the next step and encouraged me to move in the direction of my enthusiasm and joy with both grace and ease. While there was no marketing bullshit in sight, she did challenge me to look at my own discomfort with the idea of making money and promoting myself.

Danielle called me out on the fact that this website, at the time, had buttons and banners linking to products from a wonderful list of seriously good people BUT no button for my own 30 day yoga course. That sad fact continues to be true. But I promise to rectify it on my new website, launching soon.

It's not hard to see why I would be recommending a Fire Starter Session to everyone I know who has or is in the process of launching a creative or soulful business. But Danielle can only do so many one-on-one sessions, and the price (although worth every penny) isn't right for everyone.

So I am even more thrilled to be able to share with you Danielle's latest offering - the Fire Starter Sessions digital book! Please, watch Danielle tell you about her book, in only two minutes.

The Fire Starter Sessions: Spark Your Genius. Ingite Your Business. Make It Matter. from Danielle LaPorte on Vimeo.

For only $150 we can all have access to Danielle's razor-sharp insight and generous truth. Pre-order your copy by clicking through the link in the banner below.

(NB: This is an affiliate link. That means I get a share of any sales Danielle makes through this link. It's my first foray into the world of being an affiliate and there is a very good reason why I chose Danielle's book as the first product I would endorse. Because it aligns with a Zen Peacekeeper view of the world and values, and because it is that good.)

8 Comments

Thanks for putting it out there, Marianne, much appreciated.

Posted by: Di | April 09, 2010 at 08:17 PM

thank you for sharing this. its wonderful to hear how inspired you are about all your fabulous work -- we all benefit from your brightly burning fire!

Posted by: amy | April 09, 2010 at 08:30 PM

I am so happy to know you are getting the encouragement you need to expand in all ways possible...the world is going to be better for it, because you will always find a way to share whatever abundance you create. I am so proud of you!!

Posted by: Swirly | April 10, 2010 at 02:52 AM