LEARNING Archives – JS CREATIVE

Get the Gist: A Book Summary of “The Introvert Entrepreneur” by Beth L. Buelow

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The book, “The Introvert Entrepreneur” by Beth L. Buelow, is a guide for introverts who wish to start their own businesses. The book begins by explaining the characteristics of introverts and how they differ from extroverts in terms of their communication, social skills, and energy levels.

Buelow then provides practical tips and strategies for introverts to overcome the challenges they may face when it comes to networking, marketing, and promoting their businesses. She emphasizes the importance of finding one’s own style of networking and building relationships instead of trying to conform to the extroverted norm.

The author also discusses the benefits of introverts’ strengths such as their ability to listen, analyze, and focus deeply. She encourages introverts to leverage these strengths to create unique and successful businesses.

Throughout the book, Buelow shares stories and insights from successful introverted entrepreneurs to illustrate her points. She also includes exercises and journal prompts to help readers identify their strengths, values, and goals.

Overall, “The Introvert Entrepreneur” is a valuable resource for introverts who are interested in entrepreneurship. It offers practical advice, inspiration, and guidance on how to start and grow a successful business while staying true to one’s introverted nature.

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Fuelling Your Personal Growth: 10 Must-Read Nonfiction Books for Success Seekers

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Are you ready to supercharge your personal growth and unleash your full potential? Well, get ready to dive into the world of nonfiction books that will inspire, motivate, and empower you on your journey to success. From career advice to self-development, here are 10 must-read nonfiction books that will fuel your personal growth and help you conquer the world.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I could receive a commission if you purchase something using my link, at no extra cost to you. See Terms for more details.

“Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg: This groundbreaking book by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg encourages women to embrace their ambitions, challenge the status quo, and strive for leadership positions. It’s a powerful call to action that will inspire you to lean in and shatter glass ceilings.
“Becoming” by Michelle Obama: In this memoir, former First Lady Michelle Obama shares her journey from the South Side of Chicago to the White House. Her story is a testament to the power of resilience, authenticity, and the importance of finding your voice.
“You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero: Prepare to unleash your inner badass with this witty and inspiring guide to personal transformation. Jen Sincero’s book will help you identify self-limiting beliefs, cultivate self-love, and embrace your awesomeness.
“Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown: Dive into the world of vulnerability and courage with Brené Brown’s transformative book. It explores the power of embracing vulnerability, daring to be authentic, and how vulnerability can lead to a more fulfilling and connected life.
“The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz: This spiritual guide offers four simple agreements to live by—be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, and always do your best. These agreements can help you create a life of love, joy, and personal freedom.
“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert: If you’re seeking inspiration and creativity, this book is a must-read. Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of “Eat Pray Love,” shares her insights on living a creative life and embracing curiosity, fearlessness, and the joy of creating.
“Grit” by Angela Duckworth: Discover the power of passion and perseverance with psychologist Angela Duckworth. In this book, she explores how resilience, determination, and a growth mindset can lead to extraordinary achievements.
“Presence” by Amy Cuddy: Unleash the power of body language and personal presence with Amy Cuddy’s research-backed book. It offers practical advice on how to project confidence, overcome self-doubt, and create a lasting impression.
“Originals” by Adam Grant: A thought-provoking exploration of the power of non-conformity and creative thinking. Through captivating stories and insightful research, Grant inspires readers to challenge the status quo and embrace their unique ideas, encouraging Millennial women to make a positive impact by being original.
“Option B” by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant: In this book, Sheryl Sandberg shares her personal journey of resilience and finding joy after the sudden loss of her husband. It’s a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, we can find strength, hope, and the courage to build a new life.

Grab a cozy blanket & a cup of your favorite beverage, and dive into these empowering nonfiction books. They will nourish your mind, ignite your passion, and fuel your personal growth as you strive for success. Happy reading and may you continue to shine brightly on your path to greatness!

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW — How many of these books have you already read? Do you have any others you’d add to this list?

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Unlocking the Benefits of Reading: How it Enhances Your Quality of Life

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Hey there! In this fast-paced world full of distractions, reading is like a sanctuary for our minds and souls. Let’s explore the wonderful world of books together and see how they can benefit us.

How Reading Enhances Your Quality of Life

Escaping into Other Worlds

Reading takes us to different places, introduces us to interesting characters, and lets us be part of exciting stories. It’s like escaping reality for a while and giving our minds a break.

Igniting the Spark of Creativity

Books also boost our creativity and imagination. When we read, we can imagine amazing things and come up with new ideas. It encourages us to think creatively and find innovative solutions in our lives.

Expanding the Boundaries of Knowledge

Moreover, reading opens up a whole world of knowledge. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, every page has something to teach us. It broadens our horizons, challenges our thinking, and encourages us to keep learning throughout life.

Nurturing Empathy and Understanding

Books also help us understand and empathize with others. Through diverse stories, we connect with people from different backgrounds, and it teaches us to be compassionate and open-minded.

Cultivating Mindfulness and Relaxation

And don’t forget, reading is an excellent way to relax and be mindful. It’s a peaceful escape from the noise around us, and it can reduce stress and bring a sense of calm to our lives.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

So, , grab a book, dive into its pages, and experience the magic of reading to enhance your life.

LEAVE A COMMENT: What’s your favorite benefit of reading?

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The Necessity of Creative Constraints

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Have you ever imagined what it would be like to take on a project where the sky’s the limit? No budget, no timeline, no logistical factors to worry about. You could do anything! And while it’s fun to dream big, the reality is that taking away all of those constraints might not help your creativity as much as you think.

Constraints and limits don’t hurt our creativity—they actually help it.

With no limits, it’s too tempting to take the easiest way out or to imitate something that’s been done before. But when we work within boundaries, we’re forced to get creative and think outside the box. We’re challenged to stretch our imaginations, to come up with workarounds, and find new ways of thinking.

Sometimes, constraints are what we need to get the project done in the first place. Most of us have had the experience of pushing something off until right before the deadline, feeling like we have all the time in the world to get to it. But then when time is almost up, we get to work—and are incredibly productive and creative in just a small amount of time, getting more done in the last few hours than we did in all the days (or weeks) leading up to the deadline. The freedom of having all the time in the world means we feel no urgency–the time limit pushes us to actually do the work.

Limits force us to think of new ideas. If you’ve ever participated in a low ropes course as part of a team-building exercise, you can probably think back and remember the facilitator telling you the limits. For example, your group might be on one side of a spiderweb-shaped rope. Your goal: to get everyone through the spiderweb. Easy enough—everyone can just crawl through, right? But then you hear the rest of the instructions: if anyone touches the ropes, you have to start over. And—each opening in the spiderweb can only be used once. Once your group has learned the constraints, the creative ideas start flowing.

How many companies said they couldn’t make remote work a reality for their workforce—until a pandemic hit, and coming into the office as usual wasn’t an option anymore?

Innovation happens within the framework of constraints.

If you are feeling stuck on a project, consider adding some limitations to jump-start your creativity. Set a timer for ten minutes and write down as many ideas as you can in that time period. Find three random objects around your house and challenge yourself to incorporate them into your project. Think of a rule that would make things more difficult, and spend twenty minutes thinking of ways to get around it. You might not solve all your problems by adding limitations, but you will unlock your creativity—which might be exactly what you need!

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4 Truths About Those Ideas You Don’t Act On

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Do you have half-full notebooks or Google docs full of ideas gathering dust? Don’t be discouraged: not every idea is meant to be acted on. Brainstorming is valuable, whether or not you end up acting on all of the ideas, because creativity begets creativity. The more ideas you come up with, the better chance you’ll land on one (or more) that will work for you!

It can be hard to determine which ideas to act on and which to leave for someone else. Here are a few reasons it’s okay to leave an idea alone.

Three reasons you shouldn’t act on an idea:

ONE // The idea requires more than you have to give right now. Knowing your capacity will help prevent you from getting overwhelmed. If you love an idea, but the thought of all the work it will take to make it happen fills you with a sense of dread instead of a feeling of anticipation—pay attention. This might be a sign that you are close to the limits of the capacity you have to give right now.

TWO // You’ve had an even better idea! It might be a brilliant idea: that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the idea for you. If you’ve thought of something incredible, but you know that it doesn’t fit your skill set, it’s okay to let that idea go—or to pass it on to someone else who does have the needed skill set.

THREE // Some ideas need a long time to germinate. A seed of an idea planted now may need time to grow before it’s time for you to act on it. If an idea isn’t right for this moment, that doesn’t mean it won’t come back to you later, at a better time. Allow space to see what takes root and what blows away on the wind.

And, one reason you should act on an idea:

Don’t let fear hold you back. Sometimes we have THE idea and we know it—but we are too paralyzed by fear to move forward. Ask yourself what’s holding you back. Be brutally honest: journal or mind-map the details of your idea and write down all your fears. Then talk yourself through them—and run with your big idea!

Before you toss your ideas aside, ask yourself these four questions:

Do I have the capacity?
Is this my skill set?
Does this idea need time to grow?
Is fear holding me back?

Your answers will help you determine which ideas to let go of and which to move forward with.

And when you are feeling stuck and looking for a new idea? Flip back through those notebooks and scroll through those Google docs—maybe you’ll stumble back across an idea that wasn’t right then, but is perfect right now.

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Top 5 Books for Multi-Passionate Creatives

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Do you have stacks of books waiting to be read piled around your home? Do your stacks range wildly in subject because there are so many different things you are interested in and want to learn about? Books are a great way to expand your horizons but it’s not uncommon for multi-passionate creatives to get overwhelmed by their many interests, ideas, and passions.

If you are an overwhelmed creative, consider moving these five books to the top of your TBR pile. Written by authors who understand multi-passionate personalities, these books will give you better insight into your personality type, as well as advice and inspiration from authors who are a little further along in their journey.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

THE RENAISSANCE SOUL by Margaret Lobenstine

Subtitled “Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One” this book defines a Renaissance Soul as someone who is constantly seeking new challenges and has expressed interest in a wide variety of areas. In other words: a multi-passionate creative! Packed full of tips, you’ll get fresh advice for those who don’t do well with standard time-management advice and career ideas to help you discover your own unique path. Plus, there are exercises to help you learn to narrow your focus and give higher quality attention to your current top interests. This book lives up to its promise to help you design a life you love!

REFUSE TO CHOOSE by Barbara Sher

Barbara Sher coined the term “Scanners”–a personality type of people who want to do it all and have trouble focusing on just one thing at a time. In this book, she walks through the nine different types of scanners, devoting a chapter to each type. The book also includes career ideas for each scanner type and practical tips and tools to help you explore your interests. If you need validation that it’s okay to have multiple interests and feel like you could use an instruction manual to live your life the way you want, this thought-provoking book should be your next read!

HOW TO BE EVERYTHING by Emilie Wapnick

Subtitled “A guide for those who (still) don’t know what they want to be when they grow up,” this is the book for those who have never been able to answer the question of what, exactly, they want to do with their life. Based on the author’s TED talk, the book is full of advice and activities to help you build a framework that allows you to design your life and career around all your skills and interests. Tackling everything from dealing with insecurity to establishing a career, this book is sure to give you a boost of confidence as you pursue your unique path.

EVERYTHING IS FIGUREOUTABLE by Marie Forleo

If you are in need of a pep talk to tell you that you can figure out how to live the life you want, start reading this book immediately! Both engaging and entertaining, this book will help you shift your mindset to one of confidence. If you feel stuck, the author shares strategies to help you “retrain your brain” and get moving again. Writing prompts throughout the book will help you as you figure things out so you can start achieving your goals.

A LIFE AT WORK by Thomas Moore

This book serves as a guide to discovering your purpose and understanding how all of the work you do throughout your life shapes your journey. If you are feeling a disconnect between your job and your calling, this book will help you discover how to close that gap. If you are considering making big changes in your life, read this book first to gain perspective and find tools for uncovering what really matters to you.

Fellow multi-passionates, I’d love to know: have you read any of these? Are there any other books that should be on this list?

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Book Review: Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher

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See if you can you relate to any of these:

you don’t want to specialize in any of the things you love
you’re endlessly inquisitive
you have an intense curiosity about numerous unrelated subjects
you’re always curious to know ‘what’s out there’
you spend much time scanning the horizon & thinking about your next move
you continually move from one idea to the next

If so, you’re probably what Barbara Sher calls a “Scanner”.

SCANNER: (noun) someone for whom every single thing they see or think sparkles with potential and pulls their attention; they want to do it all!

Also known as: Renaissance person; Jack-of-all-trades; multi-passionate; multipotentialite; polymath; hummingbird person; multipod; squirrel-brain.

Barbara’s passion for helping Scanners (multi-passionates) is evident throughout this book. Here are a few of the quotes I loved most:

…not all Scanners are the same! You still need to find the tips, tools, techniques & life-design models that are right for you.
Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher, page xxvii

…she feels a familiar sense of apprehension that if she doesn’t do something about it right away, she’ll forget it like all the other good ideas she keeps having.
Refuse to Choose, pg.4

If Scanners didn’t think they should limit themselves to one field, 90% of their problems would cease to exist!
Refuse to Choose, pg.5

One of my favorite takeaways from this book was the idea of the “Scanner Daybook“. This is a plain-paper notebook or journal where you write down everything related to being a Scanner — capture your best ideas, and tangents that pull you off those ideas . . . it is meant to be “delightfully out-of-order, impulsive, and unrestrained”.

The best part about this Daybook, though, is that you are not required to DO anything with these thoughts & ideas! You simply notice & write them… no follow-through required!

The very act of considering your explorations worth keeping track of begins changing everything you ever thought about yourself… you’ll find a growing respect for how your mind works.
Refuse to Choose, pg. 13

Barbara writes: “There is zero obligation to act on anything in your Daybook. You simply capture ideas & “play them out on the pages, to see where they go!“

“Your Daybook lets you go into planning an idea without having to actually produce it… if you never take another step, you’ve had a good time, and risked nothing.” (p.14)

There are a handful of great and practical tools, just like this one, throughout the book.

Barbara also dedicates a chapter to each of the nine (9) types of Scanners she has identified, and gives options for possible career paths for each type (some of which you may never have considered on your own!).

Overall, this is a fantastic book, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! It should be on every Scanner’s bookshelf.

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Changing Things Up for 2022

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It has been a long time since I’ve written a blog post. But I plan to write many more in the months & weeks to come! First, to give you a bit of the backstory…

TIRED OF THE “NOISE”

For quite a while now, social media has really been getting under my skin. I’ve longed for the simpler days of blogging, where communities formed in the comments, and we weren’t all controlled by an algorithm.

I’ve been saying to people, for a couple of years, that I wanted to return to blogging (I’d spent eight years as a book blogger, prior to 2013), but hadn’t yet made the leap. But things really were pushing me to the limit.

RESET

Over the final two weeks of December 2021, I decided to take a break from posting on social media. And it ended up being really insightful. The pause helped me to see how much “pressure” I’d felt around trying to adhere to some unspoken standard there. It felt great to escape.

And, to be honest, I’m still not ready to go back.

I am, however, excited to begin blogging, again!

LOOKING FORWARD

One of the main things you can expect to see here, over the next little while, is more book-related content. Reason being, I love to read and to learn. Yet, in the last several years, I’ve not made as much time for reading as I’d have liked. As such, I’m attempting to remedy that, going forward!

I also want to share what I have been learning (and have yet to learn) about being a solopreneur, and about finding your life’s purpose.

Because so much of our life is spent working, I believe it’s critical that we enjoy what we do. Work shouldn’t be some drudgery that we have to force ourselves to attend to, week after week — that’s no way to live! Instead, I’m all about helping you discover your purpose and your true identity, so you can love what you do, and live life to the fullest!

COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE!

I do hope you’ll join me. I would love to gather a community, here, of creatives who are living out their purpose, and who consider themselves to be lifelong learners, like me.

Feel free to get my blog posts delivered straight to your Inbox every week, by [c licking here].

I can’t wait to see what this new year brings!

– – – – – – – – –

TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS: What are your thoughts about social media, these days? Are you tired of the noise, too?

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We Are All Students

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Back in 2015, author Elizabeth Gilbert shared this on Facebook, and it was so good, I felt I needed to pass it along. She wrote . . .

Dear ones,

My friend, pastor Rob Bell, once gave me this beautiful piece of advice, which I will now pass on to you.

He said that, whenever he starts to beat himself up for not being good enough at life, he simply writes this on his hand — STUDENT — and reminds himself to look at that word several times a day, and to meditate upon it.

He said that that one word — STUDENT — is his best defense against self-abuse, shame, perfectionism, failure, and regret. Whenever he fails himself, or falls short of his ideals, or doesn’t know how to handle a complicated situation, he just looks at that word — STUDENT — and then gently allows for self-forgiveness. Because we are all just students, after all.

We are all new at this.

We’ve never been here before — in these bodies, in this lifetime, in this world. We don’t always know how to handle things in the best way. We don’t want to suffer, but we don’t always know how to avoid it. We long for closeness and peace in our relationships, but we haven’t necessarily learned, yet, how to find it. We want meaning, but lose sight of it. We want revelation and transcendence, but don’t always know how to reach for it.

But we are learning.

We are always in the process of learning — and it’s not fair to expect that people who are in the process of learning should automatically always get things right. Nobody always gets things right during the learning process.
Elizabeth Gilbert

That’s okay.

We are merely students, after all, and students –by definition– are not masters. We will be students for as long as we live. We wake up every day, and take a deep breath, and go back to school in the world all over again. That’s what dedicated students do. Every. Single. Day.

This morning, I felt like I really needed the reminder.

So, I got out a Sharpie, and wrote the word across the palm of my right hand — my stronger hand — which I can then lay across my heart throughout the day, with hopes that the message will sink in: “It’s okay. You’re doing your best. You’re still learning.”

Onward,

Liz Gilbert

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Renewing My Creativity

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When I was a little girl, I wanted to be an Artist when I grew up. I loved to draw, to color, to paint, and to make up stories. My Dad was a sketch artist for the local police department, and my Mom always loved to do crafts, doodle, and design, too. So, I came by this creative spark naturally.

However, when I was in grade eleven, I took an independent learning course in Graphic Design. And when I handed in a particular drawing project, my teacher sent it back with the comment that I “draw like a 2-year-old“. Being insecure enough already, I took that comment to heart, and I let it squash all of my dreams of pursuing a career in the arts.

I went on to take Office Administration in college, then got married and had kids, very shortly thereafter. As such, my art got pushed mostly into the background. I still liked to doodle, but it was no longer my focus (my kids filled that role).

Around 2015, with my kids getting older — both in their teens — I started finding more time for myself, and I decided I should start seeking out others who also love to be creative.

I ended up seeing a flyer at the local library, advertising an upcoming Art Journaling class for women, and I decided that’d be a good place to start. So, I signed up.

At first, I’d thought it was going to only be the one class — a 2-hour gathering. As it turned out, however, the class was once-a-month for the entire year!

My creativity was going to be renewed!

Through that Art Journaling class, I discovered that I love sitting down to be creative — painting, drawing, doodling … even Zentangling! I can lose myself for hours in my creative messes.

Each month in the class, we had a “theme” word — for example, Magical, Courage, Imagine…

I really enjoyed that class, and loved getting to know the artsy ladies in the group, as well. I even got invited, by one of them, to go speak on creativity to her quilter’s group! So fun!

I would love to know . . .

DO YOU MAKE TIME FOR YOUR CREATIVITY? HOW SO? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEDIUM, SO FAR?

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