I'm a writer which means I spend an insane amount of time alone. A few years ago I got a job that totally changed my life working to help women entrepreneurs get their businesses and personal lives to take off. Although Ladies Who Launch, the company I work for, offers all sorts of resources from media contacts to networking to information sharing, the most powerful thing for me, and most women in it, is the connection to other people who are also moving forward. Being a writer is a lot like being an entrepreneur - you spend lots of time alone toiling away. And the danger in being alone is that you can easily forget how fabulous you are and how exciting your project is. Meanwhile, when you're around other people talking about it, it brings it to life. You get to hear yourself explain to other people what you're doing and why you're doing it, and it energizes you. It doesn't hurt that when people are around someone who is following their dreams, it makes them light up too, giving us back the energy we just gave them.
Ladies Who Launch has gotten so popular (we have literally doubled in size in the 2 years we've been in LA) and I'm convinced it's this connection that makes it grow so fast. As women we naturally come together in groups, but I started thinking that this would be a great thing for men (especially since a lot of husbands and boyfriends of LWLers have said they wish there was something like this for them). So I decided to start what I am calling The Project Room.
I'll be facilitating groups that help men design the most perfect lives for themselves by connecting them with other guys to pick their brains, set deadlines and be accountable and, most importantly, relate to the process of getting their dreams off the ground. Because to dream is a beautiful thing, but to manifest takes lots of sweat, faith and hopefully the help, and encouragement, of your fellow man.
There's so much more pressure on men than women in our society to have it all figured out, to be rich, successful, in control, etc. The goal of these groups is to step back and give guys a chance to clearly see what they want their lives to look like, regardless of what's expected of them, and to give them the tools to make it happen. I also think that men aren't as likely to ask for help as women are, it's seen as weak, but all I can say is that every single great thing that's happened to me in my life has happened because I put it out there, I asked for it, and if I can help more people get what they want out of life, then I will be a happy camper.
Here's what The Project Room will provide:
• Clarity
• The inspiration to get off your butt and make it happen already, or if it is happening, to make it bigger and better
• Tools to overcoming blockages and issues
• Goal setting, deadlines and accountability
• Brainstorming
• Networking
• Information sharing
• A community of people committed to helping themselves, and you, move forward
Each group will meet for one, 2 hour workshop a week followed by about 4 hours of homework. The dates for the first session are Mondays March 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th from 7-9pm and the cost for this first group is $200. The group will consist of 6 men and
will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Please shoot me an email if you'd like more info or are interested in signing up!
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back,
always ineffectiveness. The moment one definately commits oneself,
then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the
decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents,
meetings, and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt
would have come his way." -- W.H. Murray, Explorer
I think we all try to be brave and strong and do things by ourselves, but reaching out for help is not only more productive, it's waaaay more fun.