Years ago, in a session with my first coach, we were envisioning my version of success. This included working with great clients, teaching, speaking and being known for my own writing.
I relished the idea of these surface wins, and as a good coach does, she asked me to drill down to a deeper motivation about why I want to help people. I thought about it. I saw me shining brightly and having a great time. But my vision wasn’t just me sparkling high in the sky far away from others.
My version of a happy life includes my success and the success of others. If I were the only one having a good time, that wouldn’t be much of a party, would it? It became clear to me why I invest my time and energy in those around me – I want us all to shine in an undeniable constellation of creative joy.
My mission at Original Impulse is to help creative people get out of their own way so they can do their work and enjoy their talents.
The exuberance and satisfaction that comes from writing, making art or growing a business is unparalleled. I have felt this joy firsthand and want this for everyone I coach, teach and speak to.
Launch tremors
Whenever I launch something – a book, a writing class, a creativity workshop in Paris, here’s the felt sense I have:
I’m falling to my knees, overcome by emotion. The feelings are hard to pin down, but it’s a mix of:
incredulity – I did it?
relief – I did it!
fear – Will this be the end of me?
gratitude – We did it!
There is additional fear and an intense desire to run away and hide but gratitude overrides all the other emotions. I am so grateful that I have been given this complex mix of talents. I am thrilled that my coaching skills have allowed me to work in service of others’ creative exuberance.
I feel such a surge of love and respect for the people on my team who have helped me launch my projects out into the world. It’s appropriate that my new Original Impulse Writing Salon is emerging on Thanksgiving week here in the US.
A toast to my team
I take this moment to raise my cappuccino to toast those who have helped me and Original Impulse shine. Because together we represent an undeniable constellation of creative joy.
Cigdem Kobu of Peaceful Triumphs has been guiding this new web site process from a deep, heartfelt place for eight months. I can’t even begin to describe her amazing skills but I can say I am grateful for her business savvy, her commitment to soulful business and her design skills. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Cigdem!
Kate Glover of Parallel Arts has been on my design team for years. She did a fabulous job on my 2013 Annual Report and many other projects. The new Original Impulse logo is all her work, and I love it. Thank you, Kate!
Heather Krakora of Krakora Studios kindly made time for me on her photo calendar. We spent a delightful day in sunny Boulder, Colorado taking pictures for the new site. I have had the fortune of a lot of great photographers helping me look good over the years, and Heather brought out my zest and love so very well. Thank you, Heather! And thanks to Gregory Berg of Enso Photography for capturing me onstage at Camp GLP. Those photos enliven my Speaking page so much!
To the people who have held my hand throughout this process with such patience, wisdom and business chops:
Rachel Gogos of Brand iD, Laura Neff of Life Leadership, Kristoffer Carter of This Epic Life.
More gratitude
To the people who inspire me to be a better person and a better business person: Jonathan Fields of Good Life Project, Alyson Stanfield of Art Biz Coach. Lots of gratitude to my assistant Ulli Lagler Peck of The Wellness Agency, web mistress Pat Velte of Whitewing Design and Gretchen Reeves for keeping my books and accounting in order.
To the people who inspire me to be a more honest and authentic writer: Chris Guillebeau of The Art of Non-Conformity, Dan Blank of We Grow Media, Sean Wes, Tracy Ross, Elizabeth Marglin and Justine Musk.
To the allies who help me express my artist and sacred soul: Robin Hallet and Cassia Cogger, Kathy Loh, Linda Buchner, Marianne Mitchell, Lisa Call, Karen Wright, Jennifer Boykin and Lisa Sonora.
There are many more beloveds I could mention here but if you have been in my world, know that I am deeply grateful for your love and support.
Last but never least, to all my students and clients, without whom my work wouldn’t exist. YOU challenge me to be better in all of the ways I mentioned above. Your willingness to shed your old, tired excuses inspires my own courage. Your depth of caring for yourself and your creative spirit makes me tend my own creative spirit with integrity. Your talents spark my own and it’s an honor to be your ally and friend on the creative path.
To mention a few names who have always cheered me on and received my message with such grace: Bobbi Rubinstein, Gaye Sekula, Debra Marrs, Barbara Techel, Dana Bennett and Corinne Brown. I especially thank these clients who have so generously spoken of the power of our work together.
Thank you to all my Facebook friends who always encourage my creative expression and to my Instagram pals who share the art-making adventure with me. To my friends and family who help me step away from the desk to savor the fruits of my labors.
Welcome to the Original Impulse Writing Salon. With the help of all those mentioned above, I have poured myself into this with as much love, creativity and courage as I could muster.
As always, you can expect inspiration that sparks your creative action. If you’re not a subscriber of Impulses, please join now. Members of the Impulses community get access to giveaways with each issue. I also offer discounts and early registration rates for members.
If you are called to write, no matter what it is, you must heed this call. We don’t know where it will lead you or if you will become a rich, famous author. But I do know this: writing is an alchemical process that will transform you.
To spark your writing, I’ve created a manifesto to help you remember why your words matter. Download your copy of the Original Impulse Writers’ Manifesto here.
Wow. Congrats on the new site. It’s so different but lovely and graceful. Wishing you many more years of continued success. So grateful to be part of your e-tribe.
Thank you Bobbi! Lovely and graceful…traits I aspire to in my life, art and work!
… and thank you for mentioning me and my site. I just gasped in disbelief. I wanted to send you best wishes before I’d read through everything. Your generosity is amazing. I carry an imaginary Cynthia on my shoulder when I do my work. Bless you.
Yes, you matter here at OI! You have been a big part of my work and I am grateful for your comments, your enthusiasm and your support.
Mostly I am grateful that you keep showing up to heed your original impulse to make photos, to write, to create in all the media that call you.
I am honored to be your creative ally!
Wow! The new site is beautiful, and a perfect reflection of who you are and the journey you’ve traveled to get here. Congratulations! So happy for you – the future is very bright and you are sparkling!
YOU, shine on, sister! Look at your fresh new website that’s absolutely gorgeous. Bless you and all your supportive cohorts, many of my friends and allies too. And aww… gosh… thank you so much for including me in your circle. I’m a puddle of joy right now, just being here in your new home, Cynthia. It’s such a rich landing zone for us creative types. Congrats on the new website, and wishing you bundles of more joy and the successes it will bring. xoxox
Thank you Debra! I am so glad you like it. You have always been so encouraging to me, and I appreciate your support and you! 🙂
It’s all gorgeous! I love it, and I love your words. I will continue to follow along as I step more and more into my ‘writerly life.’ Thanks for all you do, Cynthia.
Cynthia, your words cheer me on, I shine. You have accomplished so much, congratulations.
Love this! And thank you for the very kind mention. Your new site looks great!
-Dan
Cynthia, I must admit I loved the watercolor scenes in your masthead before. But this, this is so clear and fresh, so you. And “salon” is perfect. Congrats!
Debra,
I’m glad you loved the colorful, playful scenes in the former OI home. Don’t worry, the illustrated version of me will be coming on its own site in 2015. Stay tuned! Thank you for being part of my world.
Dear Cynthia, I did some reading on your brand-spanking new website and then right away printed out the Writer’s Manifesto. It’s so gorgeous printed out – I put it up on my office wall right then! This website is like some huge turning point for you – it feels like all your experience and creativity rolled into a beautiful message from you to the writing world. You are new! Every day, you are new. Every class, you are new. Each encounter with you is impossible to script or anticipate. I remember all the things you have done in the past and they seem now blended together on a canvas called Cynthia. I feel blessed and grateful to have known you for so long, from the beginnings of our combined need to write. Thank you for mentioning me – I was very surprised by that, but shouldn’t have been. Keep writing, keep teaching, keep drawing and painting, keep traveling, keep passing along your secrets for those of us who want to know.
Thank you, Dana!
I am thrilled that you hung up the manifesto! I meant it as a treasured piece of art that inspires writing on a daily basis, so I hope it’s that for you.
I love your comments about my site!It’s not easy to roll many years of coaching and many different interests into one place. This is where we’ll enjoy the writing life together and soon my new art web site will be up, too!
I will keep on creating and sharing for as long as I can. I am grateful for you and others who do your own creative work after seeing a bit of my process. That makes me happy!
You were my first & still my favorite source of inspiration that I – yes, me-could write something, maybe not the great novel of the 21st century, but that I could write what was inside me. So I thank you for that, and thank you giving of yourself so generously.
I just wanted to say that even though I am not able at this time to avail myself of your coaching or even writing groups-that you matter and I learn so much from you.
Your new site is clean & beautiful-I look forward to what you have for us in the days to come.
Oh Dianna, that is such a wonderful comment! I am happy to know that my work inspires you.
Even if you’re not ready to jump into a class or coaching, it’s my intention that the Original Impulse Writing Salon helps everyone who wants to write to pick up the pen and get started. Please check out my Monday Accountability post to help get your focus for the week. 🙂
Thank you for letting me know my work matters to you. That means a lot to me.
Write on!
Sending you congratulations and a big hug today Cynthia! You look so happy in all the photos. What an exciting and wonderful next chapter you’re entering. xo
Thank you, Patty! I am excited about this new chapter. I think it’s going to be a fun one!
Thank you, Patty! I am excited about finishing these projects and about lots of others in the queue! Glad to be shining with you. 🙂
Cynthia, thanks for your writing salon! I can’t seem to find your reference to Persephone Books in London but was sure you wrote about it somewhere (?) I finally visited there this week — it’s as wonderful and special as you said. A couple UK writing friends also had been urging me to go there since I moved here in 2011 – can’t believe it took me four years but I will definitely return.
Maybe on your next trip to London I can meet you there and then take you for coffee/tea across the street 🙂
Cheers and happy 2015.