Inspiration

[Paris E. Tompkins]

I would like to know what inspiration was foremost in the minds of all those who decided to go into business for themselves. Not the money or prestige, or perhaps it was, but I'm trying to find out what keeps one going when the going gets rough, on those days when you feel like throwing up your hands and walking away from it all. What always draws you back?

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Great question Paris,

My personal inspirations include Providence- as in higher purpose, doing something for the greater good. That definately carries me on the rare occcasion I am not indulging myself on the possibility I can achieve a dream.

Great topic. I look forward to seeing what others have to share. Thanks for joining.

Anthony

[Sarah]

Hi Paris! Nice to meet you. I don't own my own business, but I like what you said to "go into business for themselves." We're all into some sort of business for ourselves, whether we're making money from it or not. I'm currently working for a non-profit organization and I began "climbing the ranks" at a young age. I became Supervisor and Assistant Manager within a couple of years. And, for me the going had its tough times and their were days when I was supervising people and they weren't too happy about it. There were some overwhelming times mostly when I felt frusturated. That's when I feel like throwing up my hands, when I don't feel as though the people above me who have the power to do something does it. Frusturation comes from not having any more options, but I am always drawn back by Hope. I'm drawn back for the underlying mission and for what it is my organiation values. I'm drawn back because of loyalty and because I can make a difference no matter how small. The better answer is that my Hope is in Jesus and knowing that He puts me where He needs me. :) Then, I was promoted and placed into a position where I can make an even bigger difference. Now, working in administration in our Process Improvement department I'm the one with the greater power and with that of course comes responsibilty; to use what I have for the good.

Paris, do you have a business of your own?

[Paris E. Tompkins]

Dear Sarah,
I can definitely relate to what you are saying and your experience because I too worked for a non-profit, although I was the founder of the organization. It was called "American Family Alliance," and our mission was to support and provide services to parents involved in child abuse. As our mission was viewed as being totally against the established order, which was to remove children from their homes at the hint of abuse in 1991, we were met with much opposition. I believed children were better raised at home with their parents, if possible. An example of our not being on the same page with our adversaries was an effort to provide service to the parents from a police station which was the only office space offered to us. Nevertheless, I hung in there for seven years. Unfortunately, needing to work full time forced me to release my volunteers and close shop. The need is still there, and one of my goals is to resurrect the mission when my business becomes profitable. The business I am pursuing is the sell and marketing of the children's books I have written and the 10 rag dolls I've brought from the pages as the characters. I've created the world of "Oodleville" and the dolls are called "Oodles." If you check out my page, you will see the first doll, Bubba Oodle, who will be arriving in "The Land Beyond," which is where we live very soon. The storybooks tell of the adventures of the Oodles in Oodleville and on Earth where they will come to meet "the humans." I have been working on this project for 16 years, so you see why I asked the questions of others about what gave them the inspiration to keep going, especially when the going gets tough. I have signed three contracts to have the dolls manufactured and the books published, but I believe God wants me to be more hands-on. I expected to turn the whole thing over to someone else and have them do it, but it has not turned out that way. For instance, the first publisher went bankrupt, the second partner had one hundred million dollars, but threw up her hands and said, "I bit off more than I can chew," meaning herself; the third partner and I are now caught up in the red tape of having the dolls made in China. So as you see, I am still moving along. I believe God gave me this project to help myself and my family; help others who are interested in going into business, but may not have the necessary financing or knowledge of running a business; and provide support to organizations who are providing services to families. My faith, my determination, and my desire to suceed is what keeps me going. We are all here for a purpose and I believe I have found mine. It sounds like you are on the right track to finding yours also. Many blessings to you.

[Paris E. Tompkins]

Sarah, I have left a reply on the Area Light Home Discussions board. Thanks for writing to me. Paris

Sarah said:

Hi Paris! Nice to meet you. I don't own my own business, but I like what you said to "go into business for themselves." We're all into some sort of business for ourselves, whether we're making money from it or not. I'm currently working for a non-profit organization and I began "climbing the ranks" at a young age. I became Supervisor and Assistant Manager within a couple of years. And, for me the going had its tough times and their were days when I was supervising people and they weren't too happy about it. There were some overwhelming times mostly when I felt frusturated. That's when I feel like throwing up my hands, when I don't feel as though the people above me who have the power to do something does it. Frusturation comes from not having any more options, but I am always drawn back by Hope. I'm drawn back for the underlying mission and for what it is my organiation values. I'm drawn back because of loyalty and because I can make a difference no matter how small. The better answer is that my Hope is in Jesus and knowing that He puts me where He needs me. :) Then, I was promoted and placed into a position where I can make an even bigger difference. Now, working in administration in our Process Improvement department I'm the one with the greater power and with that of course comes responsibilty; to use what I have for the good.

Paris, do you have a business of your own?

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Some great points. One of my inspirations for putting together Area Light has to do with recognizing the interrelationships of personal, professional, and organizational motivations.

For instance, I worked in some very demanding positions where I had to sacrifice too much of my personal life. Professionally speaking, I had to get results. However, what inspired me to go through the sacrifice was a belief that I was making everyone's lives better by taking on operational problems- hopefully to make the quality of work environment better, but also to be able to get out of the office in time to enjoy friends and family.

Companies may make the effort to support you personally and professionally. However, I've found the underlying profit motive is not always easily connected to supporting people. It does make sense though. Even the best companies today are striving to extend "service" throughout everyone associated with them from stakeholders, staff, and customers. It's easier said than done. Everything reduces down to the individual experience. From there, people can have bad days for reasons completely unrelated to work or business- perhaps domestic issues in their households.

I like to view every person as a business. The paradigm changes the way you approach things. In turn, you can also view every business as a person- at least in theory. As I tackled problems in companies I kept running into performance issues that had more to do with personal problems. We usually had benefit packages that included free personal consults with a social counselor. Most staff wouldn't take advantage of the service and I found myself in a sometimes awkward position to help people get past personal challenges in order to get them to perform to their best in the workplace.

Ultimately, I recognized the personal drives that get people to work or run their own business are important to understand and proactively incorporate into whatever I did. I don't mind inspiring others in how what they do makes a difference toward their own ambitions. Most of all, I think I'd like to inspire through example by creating my own business with an emphasis on serving "customers" at all levels and areas of interest- particularly by ensuring what I do with others is in tune with what I really want to do and how.

[Helleh Hansen]

I have been independent with own business since 1996. Crazy? Yeah, sometimes it will get you! It is the freedom that drives. The limitless being, that you know deep inside, that you are, and then you love to be the creator of your own reality - good as bad - which again force you the edges where you can do nothing else than be in the Now and face your own creation. Don't you like it, then "give it up" to God again, and create something else with your thought, and as soon as you learn to let go and trust, God (you) will create what will blow your mind. Limitless beings do not let themselves be controlled. They learn to make their living be their passion.

[Paris E. Tompkins]

Dear Helleh,
You say it so well, and you are so right. Isn't life marvelous that we don't have to stand still unless we choose to do so? We can mold ourselves and our reality into whatever we choose. I am loving life more and more as I understand the freedom and power I possess. There is nothing and no one I cannot be if I choose to be. We have just scraped the extent of our limitless thoughts. Thank you for your imput. Blessings and Peace, Paris.

Helleh Hansen said:

I have been independent with own business since 1996. Crazy? Yeah, sometimes it will get you! It is the freedom that drives. The limitless being, that you know deep inside, that you are, and then you love to be the creator of your own reality - good as bad - which again force you the edges where you can do nothing else than be in the Now and face your own creation. Don't you like it, then "give it up" to God again, and create something else with your thought, and as soon as you learn to let go and trust, God (you) will create what will blow your mind. Limitless beings do not let themselves be controlled. They learn to make their living be their passion.