Weekly-ish notes on navigating big change

Month: November 2016

Apps + Tools for the International Business Lady

Here are apps and tools I used to be offline for two weeks and still keep my business going. We'll talk about my business-specific tools (how I post consistently to social media, without opening my computer) and the travel-specific apps that helped me keep track of a handful of flights, train tickets, and find the cheapest place to live next Ediburgh castle!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Today I'm sharing what apps and tools I used to be offline for two weeks and still keep my business going. We'll talk about my business-specific tools (how I post consistently to social media, without opening my computer) and the travel-specific apps that helped me keep track of a handful of flights, train tickets, and find the cheapest place to live next Edinburgh castle!

Here are the links to everything I mention:

Note: When available I used affiliate links – which means I may make a tiny percentage of the sale or save money on my own account if you purchase through my link (on Later you get 10 free posts!). I am only linking to  tools I use every day, whether they have affiliate links or not!

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

A conversation with Yarn in the City co-founders Allison and Rachel

I am sneaking into hotel dining rooms and recording the podcast guerrilla-style this week! I had the opportunity to talk to Rachel and Allison of Yarn in the City, while we were at Geeky Puffin Knitpalooza in Farnham, England. We discussed how they manage all their many hats and what they're enthusiastic about. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast133/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I am sneaking into hotel dining rooms and recording the podcast guerrilla-style this week! I had the opportunity to talk to Rachel and Allison of Yarn in the City, while we were at Geeky Puffin Knitpalooza in Farnham, England. We discussed how they manage all their many hats and what they're enthusiastic about.

You can find links to everything we discuss: 

And if YOU are in the UK, I currently have a handful of signed books, shipping locally! I've reduced the shipping cost for the UK to reflect the…reduced shipping cost! There are just a few, so grab it here.  

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

 

When you need to take a break from your business

You’re going to need a break in your business. It’s unavoidable. It’s part of being a human being, in a fallible body. You’ll need to step back or scale down when you’re sick, when your family is sick, or worse. But when you need to take a break, when something important happens in your life that needs all your focus, it’s easy to take the short term view, instead of looking at the long view of your life and career. The short view is: This thing came up, I need to deal with it- I'll put everything in my biz on hold.And look, I get it. When something sideswipes you, you go into short-term problem solving. And that makes sense for extracurricular activities. Maybe you quit book club or you stop teaching Sunday school. Maybe you cut back on expenses like stash enhancement or kit clubs or eating out. But if you're serious about your biz- then it is not an expense to cut or an extracurricular. It's a part of your income and your mental health. It's the thing that brings you joy or peace or a sense of self-reliance. It probably challenges you & pushes you, but if you want to have it in the future, you gotta take the long view. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast132/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

You’re going to need a break in your business. It’s unavoidable. It’s part of being a human being, in a fallible body. You’ll need to step back or scale down when you’re sick, when your family is sick, or worse.

But when you need to take a break, when something important happens in your life that needs all your focus, it’s easy to take the short term view, instead of looking at the long view of your life and career.

The short view is: This thing came up, I need to deal with it- I'll put everything in my biz on hold.And look, I get it. When something sideswipes you, you go into short-term problem solving. And that makes sense for extracurricular activities. Maybe you quit book club or you stop teaching Sunday school. Maybe you cut back on expenses like stash enhancement or kit clubs or eating out.

But if you're serious about your biz- then it is not an expense to cut or an extracurricular. It's a part of your income and your mental health. It's the thing that brings you joy or peace or a sense of self-reliance. It probably challenges you & pushes you, but if you want to have it in the future, you gotta take the long view.

Links Mentioned:

Are you serious about YOUR biz? Click here to learn about the workbook I've put together with Stacey Trock of FreshStitches, to help you plan to take a break in your biz!

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

 

How to take action (without waiting around for more confidence)

You have to take action, even when you don’t feel ready. Today we’re going to talk about what’s stopping you from taking the action you need to take… and how to do it anyhow. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast131/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

You have to take action, even when you don’t feel ready.

Today we’re going to talk about what’s stopping you from taking the action you need to take… and how to do it anyhow.

But before we do, I want to let you know that tomorrow, on a free webinar, I’m going to be sharing my experience with taking a leave in my business – how I took 4 weeks mostly offline this summer as I dealt with a new medication and how I’m going to be mostly offline for 14 days during my upcoming trip to the UK. If you’re seeing this when this episode is released, you can sign up for that and to hear allll about how I did it at taraswiger.com/webinar. If you’re listening later you can find that webinar as part of my new class with Stacey Trock of FreshStitches: How to take a break (without breaking your biz). It’s got a workbook that guides you through everything you need to do to be ready for taking your own leave and an interactive Q+A with Stacey and me where we’ll help you develop your own leave – you can find it all at taraswiger.com/leave.

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

 

What I’m Reading: November 2016

I follow my enthusiasm by reading…a lot. And once a month, I share (some of) the books I read last month and the books I intend to read this month. You can join the informal book club by sharing your own list with me on Facebook and find all the posts here.

(The usual disclaimer applies.)

What I'm reading for my small creative business this month!

What I read

  • Pathways to Possibility, by Rosamund Zander (I also reread her first book this month) – If you feel stuck and without options, Zander's books are an excellent reminder that there's always possibility, it's just a matter of reframing.
  • Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison – This book has been on my Great Books list forever, and after watching Luke Cage read it, I got it from the library. Soooo good. And if you liked Luke Cage, you should totally read this book.
  • The Trespasser, by Tana French – If you've been reading these posts for long, you know I fell in love with French's writing last summer. So as soon as this book came out, I picked it up from my local bookstore.

What I’m reading

I need some more recommendations! Tell me on Twitter or Facebook!

  Here’s to another great month of reading!

What I read last November.

And in November 2014. And in November 2013!