I am putting together a list of the three steps that everyone needs to take to launch a successful creative business.
After I quit my full-time job two years ago I was able to start working on my Etsy shop right away without worrying about not being able to pay the rent!
Within the last couple of days I stumbled upon something that really changed my thinking.
I came across this Google (video is below) talk from Bea Johnson of the Zero Waste Home.
Whenever I am working posting items on my Etsy shop or working online in other projects I like to listen to a talk online, I love searching for Bell Hooks Q & As.
I don't remember exactly how I landed on this Zero Waste talk by Bea Johnson, but I did, and when I saw her lifestyle I was blown away.
Johnson lives in a home that hardly produces any trash, all of her family's trash for a year fits within a large mason jar.
I consider myself an environmentalist, and lately I have become disillusioned with recycling, since learning that only 20% of plastics ever get recycled, and how ineffective and expensive recycling programs in most cities are.
Now, besides this lifestyle being Earth friendly it is also very affordable. The affordability of this amazes me. Lately I have gained more control of my spending, and I have come to see money as the valuable resource that it is.
I trade my valuable time and non-renewable resources in order to earn money, and I want that money to last and last.
I have always been aware of packaging, but oh boy watching this talk makes me realize how packaging is everywhere! My fridge is full of packaged food.
All of this packing is doing is:
1. ruining the environment by being tossed and most likely not recycled
2. making products cost more
So, I have decided that for the month of January I will go Waste Free. These are the rules I have set for myself:
1. Use up everything you already have (shampoo, conditioner, dish soap, etc)
2. When it is time to replace an item I need: try to make item or buy in bulk.
This is going to be fun and I will share my steps in this blog!
Have you ever heard of Zero Waste Living? If so, let me know your thoughts.
I was listening to the latest Tim Ferriss Podcast where he interviewed Derek Sivers who I learned was the creator of CDBaby.com.
I have never heard of Sivers or his website, but I found his interview fascinating, it was one of my favorite ones by far. He had an amazing monologue where he discussed an actionable list he created after reading over 200 books in the past few years. He is creating these lists because he has tons of friends that don't read all the books he recommends but still want to know 'the meat' of the book.
I really enjoyed this, so I typed it up and am now posting it on my blog.
How To Be Useful To Others
by Derek Sivers
1. Get Famous
Do everything in public and for the public. The more people you reach the more useful you are. The opposite is hiding which is of no use to anyone.
2. Get Rich
Money is neutral proof that you're adding value to people's lives. So by getting rich you're being useful as a side effect. Once rich spend the money in ways which are more useful to others. Then getting rich is double useful.
3. Share Strong Opinions
Strong opinions are very useful to others. Those who are undecided or ambivalent can just adopt your stance. But those who disagree can solidify their stance by arguing against yours. So even if you invent an opinion for the sole sake of argument boldly sharing a strong opinion is very useful to others.
4. Be Expensive
People given a placebo pill were twice as likely to have their pain disappear when told that the pill was expensive. People who pay more for tickets are more likely to show up to events. So people who spend more for a product or service value it more and get more use out of it. So be expensive.
