What Makes You Take Action?

Thanks to the most generous gift of Dawn, from Alex Year Two, of the free admission to the BlogHer '09 Conference, I've finally gotten myself together enough to join BlogHer.com and make my first post. Honestly, I run around the 'net and my office so much that there is a long, long list of "want to get to" items that appears not only on my vision board, and my white board, but also in my head. It took Dawn's generosity to get me to take action.

What nudge would you need to actually do one of those things that are listed on your "want to get to" list? For some, unfortunately, it takes a major life crisis to get motivated. For others, it is finally getting some hope that their dream is going the way they envision. Perhaps, you're a visual person and the above image of the KitKat bench (from Trend Insights) got your brain bubbling. My new year's challenge to myself is to cross one item of my "want to get to" list each week for the year...yes, my list is really that long. I'd love to have you join me. Create your own "want to do" list, and start acting. Then, please post comments here or e-mail me about what you're achieving for yourself. I'd love to celebrate with you, and I'd be happy to blog about your efforts if you'll let me.

In fact, I will give away FOUR free "Shout: Kiss My Art!" T-shirts to motivate you. One shirt will go to each four readers who post a comment here that sends me to your blog or website. Your blog or site must have a post detailing what actions you've taken on your "want to do" list. The actions you've taken to shorten your "must do list" have to be related to moving your dreams forward. Please be sure to tell us what your dream is! The contest begins Wednesday, January 7th and runs until Monday, January 12th. I'll post winners here on Monday.

Happy First Week of 2009 and good luck!

OMG! BlogHer Winners Announced!

Thank you to Queen of Spain for holding the BlogHer giveaway and announcing this morning that Gwynne is going to BlogHer....but my favorite part of the news is that Dawn of Alex Year Two was so inspired by Queen of Spain that she also is giving away one BlogHer registration!

I could go ahead and make you read all the details...but I can't resist blurting good news....

She just sent me a link to her post. Within the post it said, "Mel Edwards - start figuring out your end of the budget, I’ve got yer registration right here."

OMG! I'm going on a train to BlogHer! (Anyone need a roommate?)

I immediately called mom. I was sobbing and I said, "I have good news. I know I'm crying but it is good..." When I finally explained the whole thing and read Dawn's post to her, she said, "I'm sending you a check for $300 for your train ticket." In return, I'm to send good vibes and Reiki to a friend of mom's who is having cancer surgery on the 15th (something I would have done anyway). Mom reminded me it is all about paying it forward...so I'll do my part with her friend...and anything I can continue to do to help promote independent creatives who are starting their journey of following their truth.

BlogHer '09 - Wanna Go?

Erin Kotecki Vest, aka Queen of Spain, is starting off the year with a most generous offer -- to give away 1 full registration to BlogHer! Queen of Spain will make this decision on January 5th and is paying for it out of her own pocket because she a. is a great person, b. believes in BlogHer, c. (in her own words) "I want this registration to be given to someone who would love to go, but really could use the extra help getting there."

I don't know about you, but I think that $198 (early bird pricing) is a HUGE help to most women in business - especially bloggers.

Where: Chicago @ The Sheriton and Towers When: July 24-25

Then, I started looking at the location's rooms rates. Rooms: $199/night (yikes!) -- Three nights with taxes $688.94!

..and I thought, geeze, Mel., how do you think you'd get to Chicago...since you sold your only vehicle...that means a plane or train, right?

Transporation: Up to you - $395 for me to fly round trip from GSP to Chi-town via US Airways.
But AmTrak, with my AAA discount, $272...and 27 hrs each way...leaves plenty of time for blogging and meeting new creative people. (I'd still have to figure out how to get from the train to the hotel and back...but I'm a pretty smart woman, and I have faith I could figure it out.)

Why Mel Edwards/Votre Vray Wants to Go

I live in a pretty happening little city with many wonderful men and women who are passionate and gifted in their craft. However, I admit, not once, ever, have I met anyone half as good at blogging as I think Queen of Spain (Erin) is. She knows her audience, seems at ease with all sorts of technology, and just getting to meet her would be worth the trip. Multiply that by all the other women (and men) who will be present, and then think of all the ways Votre Vray reaches out, stumbling, mumbling and tumbling, to creative people. I'm awestruck to think of how many more people I could teach and help through my blog if I really knew what I was doing with this medium and technology. (That also means more readers when I talk about you, dear creative friends.)

I admit, I have nothing to wear, no idea at this moment how I can afford it with all my other start-up expenses, but that free registration is the open door to my dream: to be the equivalent of the creative love child of Studs Terkel and Eve Ensler reaching out to creative people everywhere via this blog.

I've spent years telling the world I honestly believe you can live your dream if you're willing to do the work necessary to get there. Talent is nice, but hard work and determination can take you to realms you always dreamed of. I'm willing to figure out my end of the budget if Erin picks me.

Note for Erin (any any other new visitors to Votre Vray blog)
Since you don't know me or what I do, here's the quick summary. I'm a storyteller by education, and a teacher by training and practice, who has interviewed 75 creative women this past summer and wrote a one-woman show about women living a creative life called "Shout: Kiss My Art." The show is one step on the way to the big picture. The next step is March 13th and 14 I'll hold "A Weekend to Grab Your Truth" where women (and men) can come see "Shout: Kiss My Art" and then have a full day workshop on finding their best choices for living their truth -- or a fulfilled life based upon who they are and what they value. The third step is that the interviews will appear in part along with credits to all interviewees, even if they're not directly quoted, in the book (working title) Votre Vray Creative Women. I also list here (sidebar) all the "Friends of Votre Vray" to create traffic for the women I've interviewed and have two groups on Facebook to allow women to claim their art and crow about it (Shout: Kiss My Art group) and post what they're working on to create traffic to their sites (Votre Vray group). I do all this to empower people to live the life of their dreams and create avenues for creative people to find support networks as well as business to pay the bills, and I consider it my mission in life.

So, Dear Readers...are YOU in?
Visit the Queen of Spain's blog and let her know.
Just don't be surprise if you see my hat in the ring too...and may the winner have a wonderful 2009!

Until next time,
keep creating!
-Mel.