Fly Away! DaVinci's Parachute & The Starters' Project

Hello Friends,

Did you know that Leonardo DaVinci invented a pyramid-shaped parachute more that 500 years ago? The design was largely ignored over the centuries--until 2000 when daredevil Adrian Nichols proved that it worked. According to Nichols, even with its heavy medieval materials, the original DaVinci design provided "a smoother ride" than the modern umbrella parachute.

So what does DaVinci's Pyramid Parachute have to do with the Starters Project? Here's the Bad News, the Good News and the Great News.

The Bad News: They said it couldn't be done. Today marks the end of our team's first crowd-funding attempt, and unfortunately, The Starters' Project did not reach its fixed-funding goal.

 The Good News: They tried it--and it worked! The whole team and I have learned an incredible amount. In fact, what we didn't know about what we didn't know at the outset of this adventure could fill volumes. Here's just a sample of what we learned--and also the next steps we're taking to act on that valuable learning so we can fly away to the next stage of our adventure.

• The Starters' Project was too complex for a concise crowd-funding message; it also lacked the urgency, emotion, or sensationalism of most successful campaigns. Next steps: We will simplify the message and put me out front as the voice of TBA.
• Most people didn't understand crowd-funding's intersection between investing, giving to a cause, and pre-purchasing a new product. Next: Any future crowd-funding efforts will focus on our non-profit Starter efforts so people receive a charitable deduction.
• I did not realize how many wonderful people I've lost touch with over the years--and that I did not have the infrastructure in place to contact them. Next: I will continue reaching out to friends and clients so we can stay in regular communication, build lasting community, keep updated on news.
• There is so much "white noise" in social media that people are overwhelmed by the volume, and it is hard to be heard. Next: I will build a steady (but not intrusive) social media campaign in which I "sing" this beautiful work so it pierces through surrounding noise for anyone who wants to listen.

The Great News: This odd-looking invention provided a smooth, safe ride. The Starters project opened some unexpected new doors for us. Indeed, I think we can confidently say that the outcomes listed below make the project a resounding success.  It certainly was not the outcome we anticipated--but we may actually be better off in the long run.  For example:

• The Balancing Act eBook is being released in a couple weeks. 
• I launched The Balancing Act blog. (And what a surprise! I love doing it.)
• Fred and I completed the Career Changers' Guidebook v2. (It's beautiful!) 
• I started work on a series of short eBooks that address specific applications of TBA.
• We made our first videos & now know how to create videos for the Guidebooks.
• We generated enough buzz so we decided to charge ahead on the Starters' GB v1. 
• We have an invitation to offer the Starters GB at a large entrepreneurial school. 
• The GBs will become the platform for CLSI's "Opportunity Knocking" programs. 
• Theses GBs will also help us train trainers & coaches + maintain quality-control. 
• The Starters' Strengths Report is being considered for a prestigious coaching firm.
• We will be opening our on-line commercial store sometime later this fall.

And the last bit of Good News: Fly Away!! So, as it turns out, we don't have a lot of time to sit around and mope.  In fact, the team is already moving into swift action so it won't take 500 years for people to realize that the complex-looking contraption of the Starters Guidebook really can help many people fly away smoothly and make safe landings in whole new lives.

If you want to help us during this next stage of development, you can make a tax-deductible charitable donation to Core Learning Services' exciting Starter programs for ex-offenders or First Peoples, OR you can purchase a Guidebook or coaching services by contacting me directly.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Best wishes, Sharon
(SSeivert@thecoreporation.com)

The Blues Brothers, The Balancing Act, and You

Hello Friends, 

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Blues Brothers. I often recommend this music-filled classic comedy to clients so they can see, in a highly-entertaining format, how the steps of The Balancing Act fit together and can lead to a successful outcome. (If you haven't had the pleasure of watching this 1980 film, that's the first order of business.)

Here's how the Blues Brothers succeeded on their "mission from God" by instinctively following the Balancing Act process....

Step 1. Elwood Blues picks up his brother Jake when he's released on parole. The Blues Brothers stop by to visit the Orphanage of Perpetual Delinquency, where they grew up. The head nun there (aka "the Penguin") asks them to save the school from imminent foreclosure. Because the brothers' CORE Identity & Values are aligned with their old home that has helped them and so many other children, they agree to take on this cause.  And this is how our unlikely heroes start their great adventure.

Step 2.  But the brothers don't have any idea what to do. Looking for inspiration, they go to church. There Jake "sees the light" and has a VISION of giving a concert to save the Orphanage. (This Vision comes naturally from their Core Gifts as musicians; they're not just delinquents, you know).

Step 3. The Blues Brothers now declare they are "on a MISSION from God" and move into strong action. Their incredible determination and focus keep them on track throughout this whole saga, despite obstacles such as the State Police, a nasty rival C&W band called the Good Ol' Boys, a really dangerous mystery woman, AND the Illinois Nazis!!! (Whew! And you thought you had problems.)

Step 4. Now that they have the clear Mission of giving a concert, Jake and Elwood need to put their band back together. (The INTERACTIONS stage is all about getting the right people to help us achieve our Missions.) In the movie we are treated to performances by many Blues legends, including Aretha Franklin who insists on R-E-S-P-E-C-T--which of course, is vital for all our Interactions. Additionally, once the band is finally together, everyone in the group has to broadcast the word so people come to the concert.

Step 5. The Blues Brothers concert is a wild, rocking success. (In this last TBA step, we implement the STRUCTURE that make all the prior steps a reality.) The band reserves the hall, fills the seats, collects the money, puts on a concert that shakes the rafters, and then dodges roadblocks and bullets to bring the money back in the nick of time to save the Orphanage. YEA!!

SYNERGY: At the end of this story, the Blues Brothers are in jail. HOWEVER, the closing scene shows them giving a Jailhouse Rock concert to their captive audience. So who's to say?--maybe this outcome is actually "synergy" for them. It certainly is for anyone who loves the Blues and a terrific movie.

________________________________________________________________

And a reminder: You can get a Balancing Act Interactive Career or Starter Guidebook to help you through your own life and work adventures by going to the Starters' project today. (Note: The project's special low prices will be in effect only until noon on September 19th.) 

By participating in this project you are not only helping yourself; you are also helping Starters everywhere succeed in their own adventures. 

Thank you and best wishes! - Sharon
For more information, go to:
www.Indiegogo.com/starters
www.thecoreporation.com

Take a Tour of New Career Changers' Guidebook

Hello friends,

Here is my very first PowerPoint Voice-Over iMovie AND my very first YouTube video upload.  I've been learning about all these great media tools while being Team Lead of the Starter's Guidebook & Community crowd-funding project.  Don't expect me to be nominated for an Academy Award anytime soon--but I have to say that I'm rather proud of myself for managing to navigate these basics.

To learn more about the new Career Changers' Guidebook, just click on our video below &/or go to the Starters site where you can grab a guidebook for yourself or someone you love. (The project's low special-prices are only in effect until September 19th @ noon.)

If you get one of our Guidebooks, we will be in e-mail contact to make sure it serves your needs and all your questions are answered so you get off to a great START yourself.

Best wishes, 
Sharon

Is It Time to Leave Your Job?

If you've been wondering whether you should leave or stay in your job, the short quiz below could provide a new lens for a more objective analysis of your situation. The categories are based on The Balancing Act's Elements of Success. As you will see, each element is vital to your job satisfaction. 

Try it out! Put a check by all those items that describe you in your current job. Your scores will help you decide if your job is really not so bad (stop complaining!)--or if you need to bail out of it ASAP. You can also use this checklist to: a) address specific items that could make your job more satisfying; and b) underscore what you must have in your next job.

Category
I. Core		Job doesn't "fit" (use your gifts, talents, experience).
		You are stressed, dispirited, depressed, have low morale.
		Not acting as the best person you know yourself to be.
		Have ethical/values conflicts with boss or colleagues.
		Unclear how to articulate your special career gifts/talents.
		Too easily thrown off-balance and out-of-sorts at work.
II. Vision		Job is no longer fun or challenging; feel apathetic.
		Little opportunity for creativity and innovation.
		Don't see much of a future/not optimistic about this job.
		People here don’t have much sense of humor.
		Fear is prevalent in organization; you often feel anxious.
		You've stopped learning/growing in this job--are bored.
III. Mission		You feel overwhelmed, burned out.
		You lack feedback about what you're doing right in job.
		You've constantly being micromanaged.
		Have conflicting &/or too many priorities.
		Don't feel this job makes a difference – what's the point?
		Have a lack of pride in job or company.
IV. Interactions		You do not particularly like/respect boss or colleagues.
		Feel isolated, lack community, collegiality.
		You can't serve your customers the way you want to.
		There are poor communications in general.
		You feel treated disrespectfully, thoughtlessly.
		You do not feel seen or heard.
V. Structure		You have inadequate pay and/or benefits.
		There are insufficient resources to do the job.
		Have gotten into poor work habits.
		Have health problems; feel exhausted, strained.
		This is an unhealthy work space.
		Much rework, wasted effort from inefficient processes.
VI. Synergy		Experiencing adverse effects from economy/industry.
		Company itself is in trouble–adversely affecting your job.
		Systems here are uncoordinated, create rework & waste.
		Departments and people do not coordinate efforts.
		It's too hard to get things done; work at cross-purposes.
		People are in silos, don't understand each other’s efforts.

Write the number of checks per category below to see where you are having problems in your current job. 

Category	I. Core	II.  Vision	III. Mission	IV. Interactions	V. Structure	VI. Synergy
Number of Checks (TOTAL: ______)

SCORING:  Our clients have found this quiz to be very useful in evaluating their current job situation. If you have 12 or more total checks in all categories (1/3 of possible total 36 points), you should seriously consider finding or creating a new career. The higher your self-score, the more likely that this job is a hazard to your health.

If you have fewer than 6 checks, you can use this feedback to improve these items at your current job.  If that does not work, then keep your eyes out for a better position and use this criteria as part of the evaluation process.

NOTE OF CAUTION: Because this quiz does not reflect the strength of each item, you may find upon reflection that just one particular check is sufficient reason to move on (for example, if you are so dispirited that you are becoming ill; you can't stand your boss; or, your pay does not meet your needs.)

TAKING ACTION: Use this quiz to make an objective decision and move into action. What's most important is to take full responsibility for changing your work situation--whether you stay in this job or move on to another one. You can click here to learn more about the Elements of Success and how they can improve your work life.

WE CAN HELP! Go to the Starters' Guidebook & Community project and select The Balancing Act's Career Changers' Interactive Guidebook if you want to start a new job (or the Starters Guidebook if you want to start your own business). And, if you want to make really short work of moving on to a better career, you can call us to find a professional guide to help you through this process.

Coming Next: A Look at the new CAREER CHANGERS' GUIDEBOOK

Starting The Balancing Act Blog & Launching the Starters' Guidebook and Community Project

Greetings!  I am very happy to announce that The Balancing Act community has decided to start our own blog--in part because we feel it is long overdue, AND in part to support our new Starters' Guidebook and Community crowd-funding project (which is designed to help people anywhere in the world "start a new business, project or job.")

This blog will have many contributors who have worked with The Balancing Act to help students, professionals, leaders, teams and businesses successfully navigate major life, work, relationship, and organizational changes.

It is our intention to create a lively exchange among clients, coaches, consultants, teachers and other interested parties who have benefitted from, and/or who want to learn more about, the many practical uses of The Balancing Act's 5 Elements of Success process (see image to the left).

To find out more about us right away, go to: 

• The Starters' Guidebook and Community (new project)
• The Coreporation, Inc. (consulting & coaching services)
• Core Learning Services, Inc. (our non-profit affiliate).

We will get back to you very soon.

Best wishes, 

Sharon Seivert

Coming Next: How do you know if it's time to leave your job? (A short quiz you'll enjoy sharing with friends, family--and maybe even some colleagues!)