Secrets to Success: Rule #2

Its not always easy to start a business, build a blog readership, or quit your desk job to pursue your hand sewn line of womens clothing full-time. In fact, its almost always quite challenging at times. So, I started a series that tells it like it is”¦the good, the bad, and the completely “˜Girl, I cant believe you went there.” Secrets to success that have been learned along the way. Today, Tiffany will pick up where we left off last week…

This contributor post was written by Tiffany (Moore) Han.

Have you ever looked at someone’s life through the lens of facebook or a blog and thought, “Ooh, look how much fun she is having. If only I was a (mixed media artist/life coach/writer/jewelry designer), my life might be that amazing too.”

I’ve been there, been that person. I started reading blogs back when I had my day job and was convinced that if only I could become a food blogger (thanks, Smitten Kitchen!),I would have a dream life. Never mind that I’d never taken a serious photograph in my life – food blogging was the path for me.

Until I started following Kendi Everyday and realized that I should be a fashion blogger. Never mind that I’m a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, and that my collection of solid-colored cardigans would likely not cut in in the scope of fashion bloggers. So I kept looking.

But I knew that there was something, something out there for me that didn’t involve sitting at a desk at some office every day, doing work that wasn’t self-directed. I knew that I was destined for something else, something bigger than what I could comprehend. And I knew that it involved creativity of some sort – being creative was what made me come alive.

So I started blogging. And took a risk and left my day job (with a healthy savings account) to work retail and figure out what I wanted for myself. At first, I blogged about anything and everything: clothes, furniture, style, inspiration, cooking. I included my terrible photographs. I wrote things that were silly and things that were thoughtful. And I kept showing up on the blog, writing about what interested me in the moment.

As time went on, I refined my writing. I started painting and making stationery. I opened an art studio. I went through training and certification to become a life coach. The refinement continued throughout. I stopped making cards and focused on my coaching.

Throughout all of the experimentation, something else happened: I found my voice. And I found the work that makes me feel most alive…at least, for now.

This is a secret that most people don’t realize: when you’re starting out, you don’t need to know the specific outcome that you’re working towards. You only need to know what the very next step will be. Yes, a vision is helpful. A picture of what you want your life to look like doesn’t hurt. But being attached to a specific outcome can become a limitation.

Secrets to Success Rule #2:

Find the kind of work that resonates with you and do more of it. Let joy dictate how you spend your time, and if the idea of doing something leaves you paralyzed with fear, maybe it’s not the right thing for you. Just be sure that you don’t stop looking. You will get there – trust that.

New to this series? Read Secrets to Success Rule #1 right here.

Tiffany (Moore) Han, CPCC is a life & business coach for highly-creative people who arent living the highly-creative lives they want. Just yet. With provocative questions & hard-edged encouragement, Tiffany helps skittish someday-ers become fiercely focused creators “” and proves that dreams do come true. But only when you demand it.

*image by Ian Coyle

33 comments | Click here to reply

RT @Helen__H: Super post that I resonated with by @papernstitch :: Secrets to Success: Rule #2 http://t.co/qPVCjZa2

(@LenMarciano) (@LenMarciano)

Super post that I resonated with by @papernstitch :: Secrets to Success: Rule #2 http://t.co/qPVCjZa2

Helen Hung (@Helen__H)

Awesome post Tiffany – this really resonates with what I’m going through right now and throughout the past year, I have realised that slowly I am finding my voice and the niche for my blog. I still don’t think I’m there yet but I’m on my way. Thanks so much for this article, it was a pleasure to read and ponder about!

Helen

Secrets to Success: Rule #2 | This one really resonated with me http://t.co/TdDMc08R via @papernstitch

(@LilyEmme) (@LilyEmme)

Secret to Success #2: Find the kind of work that resonates with you and do more of it. via @papernstitch http://t.co/DecIkokE

(@savvyjulie) (@savvyjulie)

[…] believe you went there.â€Â Secrets to success that have been learned along the way. This is where we left off last […]

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[…] morning that features 15 awesome gifts to give from Etsy this year. See you tomorrow with a new secrets to success. var linkwithin_div_class="linkwithin_hook";var linkwithin_site_id=124971; This entry is filed […]

A Happy Home | papernstitch

Secrets to Success: Rule #2 http://t.co/qlYqusUO

Veronica (@Veronicatheblog)

RT @papernstitch: Secrets to Success: Rule #2: It’s not always easy to start a business, build a blog… http://t.co/MZ9u66ix

Nicole DNMOT (@dustinnikki)

RT @papernstitch: Secrets to Success: Rule #2: It’s not always easy to start a business, build a blog… http://t.co/MZ9u66ix

(@AndreeaAyers) (@AndreeaAyers)

Secrets to Success: Rule #2. http://t.co/x6qE0Air “Find the kind of work that resonates with you and do more of it.”

(@Laura_C_George) (@Laura_C_George)

What a great article/series! I can definitely say I do not know what life looks like next year, but through my year of blogging and creating items for my shop, I have definitely grown and become more confident. I have also taken steps to grown as an artist and those are the steps that are truly excited!

Vicki

Secrets to success Rule #2: http://t.co/i0aytMB8

Bev F. (@Linkouture)

Encouragement from @papernstitch: Secrets to Success: Rule #2: It’s not always easy to start a business, build a blog… http://t.co/xdPcINYl

(@CWBusiness) (@CWBusiness)

Great post today on @papernstitch! Secrets to Success: Rule #2 http://t.co/yxTRYvqX via @sharethis

(@RUaDSarah) (@RUaDSarah)

I’m loving this series! Thanks for sharing this! It makes me feel better about changing my mind about certain things & always wanting to learn about new things. Maybe there is a method to my madness 🙂

Sarah

i feel like i am at that edge…sitting at my desk thinking (knowing) that there has to be something else more satisfying than this….enjoyed reading this. thanks for sharing- i feel like i would have to have the whole think planned out, but, sounds like it would be ok to just have a vision and remain focused. thanks again!

kristin

I think there are certain guidelines that you need to stick to, to be successful in anything you do. However, what is your definition of success? This is sometimes a key factor and motivator, a lot of people deem success as money? What if success is just a smile?

Christmas Events London

RT @papernstitch: Secrets to Success Rule #2: Sometimes the path is long & windy, but once you get there, you’ll know you’re home. http://t.co/bvpelDPo

(@AndreeaAyers) (@AndreeaAyers)

New @papernstitch: how wanting to be like @smittenkitchen & @kendieveryday helped get me where I am today in my career! http://t.co/SKslq3Ul

(@tiffanycmoore) (@tiffanycmoore)

This is so inspiring… Thank you so much !

emilie

Second Rule in Secrets to Success: http://t.co/TdcI1ENn http://t.co/MS0bePtt

(@IndieMade) (@IndieMade)

Great GREAT series. I love reading and writing about this stuff. 🙂 xo

Melanie

Just started reading! Can’t wait to read what other secrets you have to share. As a stay at home mom I often run into road blocks and excuses for not doing something and just recently decided to stop that cycle and finally work towards what I want.

Jackie

Jennifer of Classic Play linked to a Jonathan Adler talk where he speaks of a similar idea – more of a distillation rather than a set path.

Here’s the link:

http://www.classic-play.com/happy-friday-31/

We’re all meant to “know” up front what we’re working towards – not always possible!

Sandra

RT @papernstitch: Secrets to Success Rule #2: Sometimes the path is long & windy, but once you get there, you’ll know you’re home. http://t.co/bvpelDPo

(@jordanbrantley) (@jordanbrantley)

such great advice – thanks!

em-k

Best series EVER. “@papernstitch: Secrets to Success Rule #2: Sometimes the path is long & windy, but…http://t.co/i1DWl53Bâ€

(@hankandhunt) (@hankandhunt)

RT @papernstitch: Secrets to Success Rule #2: Sometimes the path is long & windy, but once you get there, you’ll know you’re home. http://t.co/bvpelDPo

Oksana (@disheveledideas)

Thanks Nienke. Hope you’ll continue to read the series as it unfolds (once a week right here). Have a good one!

papernstitch

A very interesting series! Down to earth, but positive!

Nienke

RT @papernstitch: Secrets to Success: Rule #2: It’s not always easy to start a business, build a blog… http://t.co/MZ9u66ix

(@a_grayland) (@a_grayland)

Couldn’t agree more. You don’t always need to know the outcome or the bigger picture, just keep following your joy. http://t.co/NyYMjm37

(@ckelso) (@ckelso)
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