I have a big dream! I mean a dream so big it sends my heart thudding in my chest so hard that I am surprised you can’t hear it sitting where you are!
Its been growing silently inside my soul for a few years now .. in my previous role I got the closest ever to doing what I believed is my actual calling … but somehow my excellence in one area got subsumed by my competence in another.
The closer we got to launching that business .. the less training I did, the less positive influence I felt I was having on the world, the less I honoured myself because I felt I was not providing the value to the world that I knew I should be providing.
In short – I turned out to be a round peg in a square hole!
I didn’t fit, the edges chafed until they were an irritant and in the end, I had to admit defeat and go look for a place where my inherent roundness was an asset and not a liability.
To look long and hard, cool and compassionately at myself and to commit to one last throw of the dice to create a future that nourishes my heart, my soul, and my community.
And to admit that I truly have “the heart of a coach!”
It makes me come alive to watch that “lightbulb” moment that occurs when someone “gets it” .. the shining eyes when a young student realises that they can be a success and not the failure they were beginning to think that they were destined to be.
It is a moment so magical that no monetary value could ever be placed on it – nor should it be! This is my service .. and although I am not in the least bit religious it is definitely akin to being my ministry!
But kids need to eat and bills need to be paid! So if I am going to do this I am going to figure out how to do it from this standing skint start and do it big .. like REALLY BIG!
Because with scale comes opportunity – for scholarships, for stipends, for creating generational change and moving lives, changing countries and moving mindsets.
And that means accepting that to do the great stuff I need to focus on the smaller stuff first ….
Yes, I am! … and although I don’t yet have the “perfect words” to explain it all I know what I do impacts and changes lives so much and that this should be something I could get paid for.
So – yesterday I was challenged by a Mindstore member to create something for the last week of the summer break up here for families.
A few days where I can turn my skills towards taking a stressful burden from many parents who are wondering how they are going to be able to ensure that their kids have caught up with missed classes, that gaps in knowledge are filled, of dealing with kids that have lost motivation during the long months of “lockdown learning” and are worried that those days may return once more if the situation does not improve.
And it flowed like silk – it tumbled out of me because running short “taste and see” sessions with people who I know I can really help so they can decide if they would like to work with me further is a very “honest” .. “honourable” … way to progress! Five hours for £15.00 is such a bargain for what I have planned out .. especially cos I am going to surprise them all with a copy of my book at the end that is worth so much more!
No “Hard Sell” .. no pressure .. just an offer to “come and play for a few hours and if you love what you receive we can take this further”
And the most magical thing occurred .. it turned out to be one of the very best plans for a training programme I think I have ever written! MILES BETTER .. I mean .. divinely inspired better!
As they say in Mindstore “It Only Works”
But – I need your help!
I have absolutely no marketing budget to get me off and rolling. I will have to do this the “old fashioned way” of posting on social media to reach out and find my stressed-out families who are looking for a solution.
So – can I beg a favour?
If you have ever saved a penny, cooked a meal, made a craft or been inspired by one of my ramblings on this site .. could I ask you to direct people to my new business website (still under construction) and ask them to take a look?
I will drop a tile on facebook – you can find me under Elaine Colliar
OR
Twitter @MindMapsExpert
OR
Just copy and paste this link and message it out to anyone you know who you think could do with an easier time in future.
I promise I will make this up to you all in the future – but right now I am trying to get this off the ground with very little runway .. and I know that you will help out if you can.
To the future my friends .. that started today with such very humble beginnings XX
Follow
Hi Elaine,
I will share your website on my Facebook page and do the twitter thing you suggested.
Schools that prepare children for GCSE and A levels might be interested. My school certainly do that kind of things. I just don’t want to put the details in a public comment but you have my email address.
Claude
Thank you Claude – any help would be fabulous XX
I got my partner to share your website on his FB too. He has many more “friends” than I do 😂
Shared on fa cebook
Thanks hon – I really appreciate it.
May I ask – does this only apply to British students?
One thing you may want to consider is that US schools generally head back to school in August while Canadian schools don’t open until after Labour Day (1st Monday in Sept.) – at the moment we don’t even know if schools are opening.
My province, Ontario, is looking at 3 options and what goes into effect in your region will depend upon the rate of infection. Parents all around the world will be looking for support and for a way to help their kids catch up but with staggered returns you may be able to access “customers” from all over at different times. Just something you may want to consider.
Good luck!
Shared on Facebook. Good luck, we are all routing for you. At least this time around you have more than 71p and don’t need nappies. Sue.