There are times when a shift in your thinking occurs and you KNOW without a doubt that your life has changed. Not just an ah-ha moment, but a real life-changing revolutionizing experience!
What in the world does this have to do with internet marketing?
Nothing.
And Everything.
For me, this happened a couple of weeks ago during a meeting with marketing strategist Craig Perrine. Craig has been coaching me for several months in the ways of “inspired” marketing. To say he is the leader in that field is an understatement. He literally wrote the book! He is co-author with Dr. Joe Vitale of the best seller, Inspired Marketing. (yes, you can get it on this site)
Because of my work with Craig, I have made a conscious effort to have an inspired business and to live an inspired LIFE!
At a recent meeting, one in which I originally thought was going to be about copywriting, I began to share with Craig some of my personal stumbling blocks that I thought were hindering me from growing my business faster. Just some personal beliefs I had about myself. Yes, when you have one-on-one coaching, you look at your business from all angles (at least with Craig!)
We were attending Pat O’Bryan’s Unseminar7 and Craig was a scheduled speaker.
As I began my little lament about blocks I was experiencing, he started writing. And drawing.
He told me to keep talking and he kept saying “thank you” under his breath as he continued what he was doing. Not really to me, well, sorta to me, but more to the universe or some other entity. I kept talking and he kept scribbling and drawing.
All of a sudden, I looked at what he was sketching. It was a hot air balloon. Still tied to the ground and held down with the sandbags. The resistance to the balloon floating into the sky was not coming from above (outside forces) but from within (the sand bags).
I suddenly got it.
He was drawing my LIFE!
Not kidding here.
The sandbags represented baggage I was carrying around on the inside and the ropes that held them in place represented my own resistance to letting them go. I had to cut the ropes to the baggage in order to take off! To sail away to unlimited possibilities.
Even now, when I think about how all this transpired, it brings tears to my eyes. Why? Because I realized that the only thing holding me back in business and in LIFE was my own self!!
In that moment, I let go of self-doubt. I released insecurities. In my mind, I cut the ropes to those heavy sandbags and began my journey upward. To unlimited possibilites for my business. And my life.
It is an experience I will never forget and one that the words on this page just can’t do justice. But I’m writing about it because it’s BIG.
And I want you to “get it!”
Whatever is holding you back, let it go. Cut the ropes. Self-doubt, control, pre-conceived ideas, organizational problems, insecurities, whatever. Let it go. And watch your business grow and your life expand!
Yes, Craig Perrine is a masterful internet marketer. But he is so much more. He is an example of living an inspired life. Every moment. When he was inspired to begin writing and drawing, there was nothing in the way. No thoughts of what our meeting was “supposed” to be about. No thought about time. No thoughts about judging the idea. Just going with inspiration.
The experience was life changing for me. In so many ways. I know now that there are NO limits on my business and there are no limits on me and where I will go!
Your business and your life are entertwined. If your business came out of something you are passionate about (and I sincerely hope that is the case!) then your business IS your passion!
There is so much more I could write about my dear coach-turned-friend but I have something better in store for you.
Craig agreed to be interviewed about inspired marketing. Inspired businesses. Inspired lives.
I will have that available for you very soon. And the best part? He was inspired to give it to you! Yes, it will be free 
To your inspired success,
-Martha
p.s. I need to add that when Craig spoke at the seminar, later that day, he scratched what he had originally intended to talk about and told the attendees about the hot air balloon. They all “got it.” Check him out at http://CraigPerrine.com
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, what a great story and a great experience… hot air balloons indeed!
I’ve been a big fan and believer in Inspired Marketing even before Craig & Joe wrote the book… and even more so after it.
Here’s a review I wrote a few months back:
http://effortlessenterprises.com/update0709/#bookreview
Martha~
Those Ah-Ha moments really make a difference in our lives, don’t they. I happy for you that you have the gift of Craig Perrine, a truly inspired human being. You are reminding me to look at what bags I need to cut free from. Hmmmmm.
Juho,
Yes, hot air balloons indeed
Thanks for the comment and the review!
Tam,
Go ahead. . . . cut them!
Unfortunately most of our blocks are actually internal. Many of them developed as safety mechanisms when we were just children, so we don’t even notice that we don’t need them anymore. It’s like leaving the bumpers up at the bowling alley… yes you can’t throw gutter balls, but you aren’t taking risks and bettering your skills in a more natural way.
I am very thankful that I was at Unseminar 7 and heard Craig speak… for the 3rd time actually. But he speaks from the heart in EVERYTHING he does and hope one day to tell him how much I admire that. And how many times I recall him talking to me at un5 when I was still learning to be brave. ♥ Live ♥ Laugh ♥ Love ♥ MJ
Sometimes we all have some kind of baggage in the way of our success. All we need is the ability to recognize it as such to move on.
Congrats on your milestone.
Thanks, Martha, for the inspiration and encouragement to let go of what is keeping us from attaining our goals and dreams.
I loved reading your post and came away with a willingness to “let stuff go.”
Mary Ann
Good post, Martha! Enjoyable to read with a good message. You are fortunate to have Craig as a coach. Let’s stay inspired as we let go of the sandbags that have kept us from soaring. And now we’ll go ever higher!
When I was providing marketing consulting, I realized people needed coaching on their blocks about self-promotion, especially introverts.
So I am now a marketing coach/consultant and I bring both my coach and consultant hat to every meeting. It’s the best decision I ever made. Your story illustrates why this business/personal connection is so important. Thank you.
Thanks Val! I so agree. I’m not an introvert by any stretch of the imagination, but I did need help seeing the “whole picture!” Thanks for your comments!