In phase 2, the Incubator, I did an incredible
amount of brainstorming and dreaming. I'd stay up late researching this idea
and that idea. I'd come up with one concept and toss it aside for another that
more closely articulated my vision, until I arrived at what would become my
company philosophy and vision. The energy of the tshirts would be - Words to
Live By "tees with a positive vibe embracing change!" And the company would be
known for creating wearable motivation for your soul. I was having the time of
my life!
In phase 3, the Application, I began to commit my
ideas to paper. I did more and more research. I took on-line courses about the
Internet. I studied my potential competitors and began to figure out how they
did it and how might I do my own thing. I joined on-line forums that were based
on my product & retail area. I became a student of tshirt manufacturing,
on-line and some brick & mortar retail shops, fonts, screenprinting,
shipping, shirt trends over the years, joined Score and Marketing forums, studied blogging
and Indie business development,
and sent out surveys to more than one hundred friends asking them to choose the
messages that had the greatest impact on them. You name it, and I was all over
it.
In phase 4, Assessment, I began to examine my
strengths and weaknesses more closely. I knew that I'd run one successful
business for 14 years, The
Children's Theatre Workshop, Inc., so I had a lot to bring to the
entrepreneurial table, but I'd never done anything besides send emails over the
Internet so I had to increase that learning curve quickly. I also took small
business finance courses, upgraded my finance software, began creating systems
for handling orders, storage, studied PR for the web, and polished up on color
and design concepts.
In phase 5, Implementation, I began to move from
the on paper phase to the tangible phase. I had my logo designed and sample
shirts produced to see the designs come to life. I built storage to fit the
system of the company, I built a website page by page on paper, and began the
relationship with my web designer (which unfortunately fell to pieces two weeks
before my launch. The design team split. But that's a whole 'nother post!)
Finally, the day came when I had product, a system for handling the product,
a sound foundation and understanding of the Internet marketplace and a vehicle
through which to sell my product. I was ready for the launch of a new on-line
Indie in the thsirt industry, Words
to Live By Tees was born.
Throughout each of these phases I repeatedly asked myself one very powerful
question which I've come to realize is truly the only secret to actualizing your
goals: What do I need to do next to bring me and my goal into a
shared reality? Once I asked the question, I would actually
listen for the answer. I didn't try to go find the answer. I waited for the
answer to arrive. Sometimes the answer came instantaneously and sometimes it
was revealed over the course of hours or days. But once I asked the question and
sincerely committed to needing and wanting the answer. I would receive exactly
what I needed and then act upon it.
A dear friend in New York whom I had called at the first of the year to tell
her about my brand spanking new idea, called me 10 months later after the
Internet launch and expressed how much she respected my tenacity because she
knew the hundreds of decisions that I'd had to make to move the company from
idea to actualization. In fact, she said, "You actually actualized it. That's
no small feat. I'm so very proud of you!"
Well, there you have it. My experience with the secret to actualizing ones
goals. I still ask that secret powerful question on a daily basis, because the
process never really stops. You keep asking and the Universe will keep helping
you to go to the next level as you are ready to receive it.
Remember, time is short. Do your happy dance. Enjoy life!
About the writer: Actress and Associate Professor, Denise Hart, MFA is the founder of
Words to Live By, a company that provides creativity & motivational coaching
and creates products that help women to live courageous and empowered lives.
Denise can be reached at http://www.motivationmama.com
In January of 2008, when I was hit with the burning
desire to create my motivational positive message on-line tshirt company 
