Lisa J. Shultz

May was packed with amazing events and celebrations. My oldest daughter Summer came home from college just in time to take in her Grampy’s 80th birthday party, Mother’s Day celebration, her sister Liberty’s 18th birthday, and my dance recital. Simultaneously, her sister was finishing up her senior year in high school and Varsity Soccer playoffs.

We all took in a series of playoff games with a particularly tense semi-final game that Creek won in double overtime immediately followed by prom. Liberty had about 10 minutes to get hair and make-up done before dashing to dinner and the dance.

Her big sister helped her transition from soccer to prom and off she went to enjoy the night. The rest of us just tried to recover from one of the most stressful soccer games we had ever seen!

A few days later, we got to enjoy another double header with Liberty’s graduation in the morning and the soccer State Championship in the evening.

Both ended up on a good note and as Liberty got her diploma and her team became state champs. Click on this link to see pictures of the state championship. Of course the month would not be complete without the team soccer banquet and the family graduation party.

Liberty is my youngest daughter, so I am moving into the empty nest time very soon. As I reflect back upon the last 19 years of motherhood and raising daughters, I am so grateful. There were times that being a single mom was not easy, but both girls did so well, and I am very proud of them both.

I will cherish the memories of this May and last May when Summer graduated. Both were monumental and special. I now ease back into a routine of the usual stuff while preparing to sell my home and move this summer.

I am really fortunate to have both sets of grandparents and my sister Lindy be able to celebrate all these events with me this month. I consider myself truly blessed, and I am looking forward to many more things to cheer about in the coming months and years.

I will be moving soon. It is a house downsize move from about 5000 to 1700 square feet. Big change!

I am also downsizing from a city of 2.7 million to a town that has a permanent population of 3500 with an influx of 38,000 visitors a day on peak ski days. 3500 is less than the number of students in the high school I went to as well as the high school my girls graduated from (same high school).

Let’s just say, those are big changes! I thought I would blog about my transition and keep you informed about how I adjust.

To give you more details, my current home has a 3 car garage. I use two stalls, one for my car, one for my daughter’s shared car, and one to store stuff. My new home has no garage!

My new house is half of a duplex (mine is on the right side in the photo).

I am going from giant walk in closets to dinky little closets. I have already gotten rid of 2/3 of my clothes. Now I need to encourage my daughters to do the same!

The girls will now share a bedroom instead of having one to themselves. And the 3 of us will share one bathroom!

I am embracing the move and its challenges because I know in the end that I will have a simplified life, which will be liberating. Who needs rooms they rarely use and bills to heat rooms they hardly ever enter. I will use all the new space I will have, and there will be no waste. I don’t need two sets of martini glasses and vacuum cleaners!

The process is forcing me to choose what is most important and what I love best. A few things that I am not ready to part with but can’t fit will go into a storage unit. Some things will be donated or sold, and I will keep what I most use and enjoy.

So follow my adventure this summer! I would love your comments below!

I don’t know about you, but I was taught to “work hard” for everything. I have been working hard for 49 years now! Gradually I have been shifting to ease and simplicity.

Last fall, I wrote a couple of blog posts about not being so busy all the time. I was attempting to have some leisure time and white space in my calendar. This is a process for a recovering workaholic like me!

I started to let go of things that were keeping me busy. I sold my Women, Wine, and Wellness networking organization. I began to say no to more and more things and stayed home most of the time except to workout or watch my youngest daughter play soccer. I went into hibernation mode. I have been coaching a lot of clients, which I love, but I was releasing many other things that were pulling for my time.

I became more focused and more rested! I coach and I write and I take care of my house, daughters, dog, and cat. I also began to decrease the clutter in my home giving away or selling things right and left. As I embraced this new way of living, I began to feel peaceful and relaxed.

Now I am enjoying a less complicated life, and I cannot envision going back to “busy”. I am preparing to move to a more simple living arrangement and just keep trimming anything that doesn’t bring me value and joy. Allowing easy and simple to be the way of my life is a blessing. I now savor moments, smell the flowers, read more, sleep more and feel so much gratitude. And I am not bored.

If you desire a less stressful and busy lifestyle, you too can achieve it. If I can unravel all the craziness that I used to embrace, you can too! If you are simplifying your life, let me know how you are achieving it by leaving a comment below.

After being inspired last year from reading two books-The Art of Racing in the Rain and A Dog’s Purpose, I decided to write my own dog book. Both of those books were written from the dog’s perspective. I did the same with my dog Sally.

I enjoyed Sally in my life for 14 years. Both she and I had many amazing events occur during those years. But I wrote about those years from her view, which is softer and gentler.

The years she spent with me were 1991-2005. She entered my life when I was happily married. She witnessed the arrival of my daughters into our home and my eventual divorce. But she had many of her own exciting events too along the way that I won’t give away here.

This project is a stretch for me in that it is my first venture with writing a book solo with a story written from the eyes of a dog. I am so immersed in the story because I was there, that I wonder if others who don’t know us will find it interesting. It will be most appealing to those who love pets and dogs in particular.

I am hoping for a summertime release in both paperback and Kindle/Nook. I still don’t have an official title and it is being edited and polished at the moment. If any of my readers here are interested in a sneak preview to write an endorsement, please email me at info@lisashultz.com. I will keep you posted on the upcoming release here on my blog, on social media, and with my newsletter which you can subscribe to on the right hand side of this page. I appreciate your support.

9 years ago on my birthday, I was looking ahead at the decade of my 40’s and realized I was doing something I was miserable at and that I wouldn’t make it to 50 if I continued what I was doing. I WAS NOT LIVING MY PASSION. So, I made a decision that I would make a change and eliminate what I was doing at the time and begin to do something that I loved. It gave me hope looking at the new decade ahead if I made big and new changes that I would feel completely differently when I arrived at 50. Now at 49, I feel very happy and glad I made that decision to make a life change at that juncture.

As I moved into my 40’s, I zigged and zagged a LOT in exploration, always redirecting and rediscovering what would be my passion and ultimately found it! I could always sense I was getting closer even though the first direction may not have been right on.

Frustration came when I would hit walls and had to make the decision whether I was supposed to climb over the wall, plow through it or change direction. And after hitting quite a few walls, I decided it was easier not to plow through or climb over and it was more to my benefit to explore a new path. It wasn’t giving up but rather seizing an opportunity to explore other alternatives.

Making such a drastic change to my work-life had a lot of fear because going in a new direction was very unknown, and I wasn’t clear what my passion was exactly, but I was willing to explore to find it. Rather than staying in the known, I was willing to move in to the unknown to find my passion.

Now looking back 9 years, I am glad I did dare to explore new options. Despite some significant loses, mistakes, embarrassments, and fear of the unknown, I am much happier today.

It was worth it. I believe God/the Universe supported me as I moved in the direction of my heart because that’s what I am on this earth to do!

During the last 9 years, I would have liked information on how to be a strategic entrepreneur:

• Keeping my focus on one priority at a time instead of juggling too many things at once
• Working smarter instead of harder within my focused priority
• Understanding sooner the power of “No” so that my big passion and my big WHY could fully bloom

I am a living example of the power of living your passion and inspiring others to live theirs. I am an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, and coach. I love to connect and empower women. I’m grateful and optimistic that I’m in this place of potential and empowerment, and I am thankful that I was brave enough to move through fear to get here.

Why do people play this game?

• They have a desire to be a published author.
• They have a desire to make money with their book and platform around the book.
• They wish to achieve credibility in their niche.

Player description:

• Loves to write or is passionate about their subject matter.
• Desires to help, educate, and inspire others.
• Wishes to leave a legacy.

What are the biggest challenges they face?

• Lack of discipline, a routine or schedule for writing.
• Lack of knowledge and experience in self-publishing.
• Absence of support for their project and vision.

My message:

If I can do it, you can do it!

I started with a deep desire and virtually no experience and became an Amazon best selling author more than once.

Offer:

One complimentary coaching session to explore the player’s goals and become acquainted.

Share coaching agreement and pricing.

What do I provide?

Ongoing coaching- one weekly 30 minute session for accountability, strategic planning, platform creation or polish, and general support to bring their idea to print and beyond. Also included: social media coaching and list building plan to prepare for book launch.

What do I promise?

Mastery of prioritizing, scheduling and creating a routine for writing.

Solid platforms on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, You Tube and Google +.

A social media strategy and plan.

A finished book!

What is the price?

$50 per session, $200/month. Pay for 3 months in advance and pay only $500. ($100 savings.) Email access between sessions available.

Referral program: for each paying referral, receive $50 credit or one free session.

Method:

• I will design a unique, custom tailored writing plan for your life style and other commitments to achieve a published book and platform around it.
• I will also design a post launch plan for ongoing marketing and success of the book and your platform.

Why do I coach players in this game?

Because publishing a book was one of the most satisfying and meaningful experiences of my life!

How have I earned the right to coach?

I have published multiple books.

Two-time Amazon best seller status.

Abundance of resources on my website.

How will coaching players make the world a better place?

By helping as many people as possible achieve the dream of publishing their own book.

By bringing their knowledge or gifts out to the world to help others.

~~~~~

For more information on coaching with Lisa Shultz, click here.

Schedule your complimentary session today on Tungle.

Click here to begin!

A friend of mine once told me that when she decided to observe the Sabbath, it changed her life.

sabbath |ˈsabəTH|
noun
(often the Sabbath) a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday.

As my friend spoke about observing the Sabbath, I thought to myself that I didn’t need to do that. I am driven, aspiring and have so much to do! I did not want to be slowed down!

As an entrepreneur, I don’t follow a set work schedule. As many fellow entrepreneurs know, we put in some long work weeks, self-created. I concentrate on coaching, website and social media development, and lots of emailing and phone conferences. On weekends, I might write, work on special projects, clean office and house,  or work on yard and home improvements.

I find it difficult to unplug from my computer. I never owned one prior to 1999, and now it sometimes owns me! How did emails and Facebook become so important when they didn’t exist for me a few years ago? I used to goof off on weekends, getting outside, having fun, exploring my community and state, and seeing friends. I still do all of that but much less often.

Realizing that I am addicted to work and technology, I decided to list benefits for taking a day of rest for me:

• Improved health
• Deeper relationships, space to find new relationships
• More play and fun
• Expand self with exploration and trying new things
• Refresh, renew, replenish
• Change of routine
• A chance to be of service, give back to others and community
• Be in nature, exercise
• Role model balance for kids
• Less regrets
• Give back to myself with pleasure of leisure reading, massage or other treats

The reasons I justify working on weekends:

• Desire for more income
• Keeping up with many ventures/business entities/projects
• Single Mom living alone with house/yard responsibilities and daughters to raise
• Feeling that I am lazy or wasting time if I don’t work
• Feeling that I don’t deserve to take time off until I make a certain income level, pay off a debt, complete  a certain project, or accomplish a particular goal

Even though I believe it would be good for me to observe the Sabbath, I still feel such a resistance. I have had some days where I have successfully unplugged all day and goofed off having a good time, so I know I am capable of it. I am going to take baby steps of half a day until I can progress to a full day and then a full weekend!

Here is another list of things I would love to do with my weekends:

• Try out a new coffee shop each weekend
• Hang out in bookstores or libraries and read
• Visit a museum
• Go to a movie
• Try a new restaurant
• Go bowling
• Fly a kite
• Drive to a small town
• Visit my parents or sister
• Go on a date
• Take a long bike ride
• Have a picnic

I would love for you to share your thoughts and comments below!

I will keep you posted on my progress of “unplug weekends” and days off! Perhaps I will even take some photos and as I enjoy some of my above list.

In 2010, I co-authored the book How to Bring Your Book to Life This Year with my business partner Andrea Costantine. Ever since, it has been my passion to assist and aspiring authors to bring their book idea to print and beyond. I myself plan to publish two books this year!

I often coach and mentor those who are writing books.

Last year I wrote an email to a good friend of mine Rick Fess. He and I are writing accountability partners.

I wanted to let him know why I thought he should complete his book.

Although I wrote these words for Rick, I believe they apply to many aspiring writers, and I wanted to share those words with you to hopefully inspire you to complete your book.

~~~

I can tell you it is good enough.

I can tell you without reading it.

I can tell you that because your words have divine purpose.

The world needs to read them.

Do not let a little voice or someone else’s voice take you off track.

Your words will touch people in a profound way, but only if you speak them publicly.

Once you complete your book, begin to dream and plan about reaching out to people to speak about what you have written.

This may be on the radio, television, internet, to live groups or any other way you can imagine of spreading your message.

You are only being called to write this book because it is needed.

If you stop in any way, you will not touch as many people.

The people are waiting.

Do not rush, but proceed with full knowledge and confidence that it is what you are here to do.

If you ever have any doubt, just read this again and it will remind you why you write…

~~~

So, pick up your pen and paper, your recording device or begin typing!

I recently read the book the War of Art by Steven Pressfield. He shared much wisdom about how to break through blocks and win your inner creative battles. I love the following quote from the book:

“There’s a secret that real writers know that wannbe writers don’t, and that secret is this: It’s not the writing part that’s hard. What’s hard is sitting down to write.”

If you have a dream of writing a book, make that dream come true this year! Take one step at a time. Carve out time and space in your life for your ideas to flow onto the page.

If you need inspiration, coaching or advice, be sure to visit my other website, Self-Publishing Experts. The site is full of free resources and suggestions. Every Friday there is a new author interview to learn from others who have gone before you!

Let Andrea or I know if you need help. I look forward to celebrating your dream come true! Please comment and share if you have a book in the works! And let others know about our services in case they need a nudge, a guiding hand or a kick in the butt!

Happy writing!

2011 was a good year, and I believe 2012 will be even better!

I learned and grew so much in 2011 that I can hardly believe it!

I made significant progress towards simplifying my life and will do even more in the new year as I downsize my house and release the majority of the stuff that was contained in it.

Over the last week, I gave away 75% of my clothes in my closet and drawers! How liberating! I plan on keeping my wardrobe very small, which will be easy because I do not like to shop!

I am excited to announce that I have unhidden my coaching tab on this website! I now offer life coaching and a bit of social media coaching! All fall, I participated in training with Coachville to become Life Coach certified, so I am ready to receive coaching clients!

I set many intentions for the New Year, and here are a few to share with you:

1. Nourish my body by eating more vegetables, fruits, and natural/healthy food.
2. Get consistent and good rest and exercise.
3. Forgive more deeply and more quickly.
4. Deepen my relationships by seeing friends more often and being fully present in the moment when with them.
5. Take time to acknowledge and celebrate achievements no matter how small for both others and myself.
6. Say “no” more so that my “yes” has the most possibility of blooming.
7. Remove useless clutter from my life.
8. Simplify my life in all areas.
9. Play more, have fun often.
10. Smile and laugh a lot.
11. Read more because I love it!
12. Have more unscheduled time/white space in my calendar.
13. Invest money and watch it grow!
14. Spend time on a beach and play in the waves.
15. Attract a fabulous man into my life and enjoy an incredible relationship with him!

Here are a few of my favorite books I read in 2011:

Speaking Your Truth Volume Two-my second book in a series of 3!

Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston-totally inspired me to clear out my house, closets and office!

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield-inspired me to buckle down and do important work and write more!

It’s Your Time by Joel Osteen-I read all his books for the positive attitude and uplift he always gives me!

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein-my favorite novel of the year!

A Dog’s Purpose by Bruce Cameron-a close second to my favorite novel of the year!

The Little Money Bible by Stuart Wilde-powerful little book about money!

The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing Your Life and Your Business by Geshe Michael Roche-cool stuff about imprints that have made a big difference in how I view the world.

~~~~~

I am optimistic about many things and look forward to publishing a couple of books in 2012 as well.

Thank you for following my blog, and I would enjoy your comments below as well as you sharing my blog with others.

Cheers to your 2012 and may it be your best year ever!

Lisa

I am pleased to be in the 2012 Spirited Woman Directory!

This directory is packed with outstanding women from around the globe!

Browse the pages and reach out to these fine women in their areas of expertise.

Perhaps you will see women you know or discover women you want to know!

If you would like to join the fun on The Spirited Woman Facebook page, there area always fun and inspirational posts.

Thank you Nancy Mills for the opportunity to be included this year!

May it open doors to all involved and all who open the pages of the directory!