When nothing is certain, everything is possible. ~Unknown

After many years, I finally took the plunge and launched my new business as a full-time professional writer. Before leaving my part-time office gig, I had just enough business to justify setting out on my own, and enough set back to carry me for a year. So, with that in mind, I grabbed a handrail for the upcoming ride and held on like my life depended on it.

Not long after that, I read Millionaire Success Habits, by Dean Graziosi This treasure trove of information lit my resolve. I implemented one golden nuggets right away: scheduling my phone with daily encouragements, which arrived at various times through out the day.

I met lot of new people, meanwhile figuring out who were the best candidates for writing services. Like everyone starting out, there were less than ideal days. Self-doubting days. When things were rocky, I focused on what was going right. On particularly down days, someone always reached and encourage me. The timing and odds amazed me.

Sometimes, my own mind attempted to replay negative messages from people of the past. Those doubt-casting things that only served to discourage. I refused to give them my breath to grow their legs. I didn’t need negativity them walking all over me.

In the middle of last year, a young woman reminded me of the story called Howard and the Purple Crayon, by Crocket Johnson. Howard was an imaginative little boy who draw pictures. Later, those drawings became his reality. She said, “As a writer, I see that working for you too. Whatever you write will become your reality.”

Stop here for just a moment, and consider that. What would you do with a magic pen if EVERYTHING you wrote with it CAME TRUE! Would you want a pen like that? What would your to-do list look like? What dreams would you write down? What impossible ideas would you dare to write down just to see if they came true? You wouldn’t have to lift a finger to make it happen, just write it down, trusting it will come to pass.

The day after that conversation, I felt strongly compelled to run out and buy two boxes of purple pens. At home, I put some at my desk, the pen holder by our couch, by the bed and all the places where I write or get ideas. I regarded them with a new appreciation. And became intensely aware of what I wrote with them.

When my new business was uncertain, I wrote in purple. When those slumps in business arrived, or I felt , I’d journal in purple the way I really wanted things to go. I’d write what I wanted my life to look like, the clothes I’d wear, the brand new thing things I’d like to get (a new car). I wrote about the kind of clients I’d work with, and where I’d write from (I can travel and write for clients!) I’d write about the quality of my writing and the happiness of my clients.

By putting myself in the future I wrote as though it had already happened. With my purple pen, I imagined the fragrance of the air when those things happened, the smile on my face, the feeling of validation I’d have. And how in awe of God I felt that He blessed me with answers to purple-ink prayers. I created an atmosphere of expectation. I dwelt in that place as long as I could, practically willing my new life into existence.

There were days when I silently asked, “Am kidding myself? Can this really work? Can I really write fulltime and make an income that would make my husband proud of me? He would tell you he has always been proud of me. I’d go right back to networking, and dreaming and writing in purple.

It didn’t happen overnight, as we all know that if you plant a seed in the ground, it doesn’t sprout the next day (unless you’re growing magic beans.) I cut back on the “wants” and focused on needs. I refused to buy anything on credit. I sacrificed a few “frivolous” things and reminded myself that this was for a season, not forever. I’d reward myself later by obtaining one of those special treats and when I did, I’d appreciate them that much more (interestingly, I didn’t miss a great many of them.)

 The months that followed were not at all that I had thought they would be — but they were better in ways I could not have anticipated. I gained new clients. I expanded my network over 200 percent and met loads of fascinating people in my city and abroad.

During these days, I was mindful of my words, saying what I wanted to be true, instead of bemoaning where I was. “How’s your new business coming along?”

“It’s on a really healthy trajectory,” I’d say. There is always an upside: All my wants were paid for in cash. I incurred no debt. The monolog of the critical self wasn’t always kind, and those words I didn’t dare repeat. But the good ones, I put as reminders in my phone.  `

It caused me to ask what success looks like to me. How would I actually know if I was successful? What were the tangible goals I wanted to reach with my business? Was it a number of clients? Was it a dollar amount? As I clarified the picture of success written in purple ink, I became aware of what actually rang true for me. It was a bumpy ride working it out. Certain jobs were not the best use of my time, strength or talents. I let those pass or trimmed them to sharpen my focus.

Some people call this their opus.  If you’re a musician, you probably don’t  add selling flowers to your resume. You stay with all things musical. You might add jingle writing, or movie scores or special-event songs. You might even teach music. By knowing what you love to do, you learn to provide services to clients that directly pertains to the product they seek.

Those uncertain days might have beat me had I not scripted a plan. When I felt down, I reached out to more people and talked with my network.  Sometimes I wondered how it would all come together.

I couldn’t have done it without the support of my husband who made sure to tell me that he believed in me from the start. He knew it was now or never. He understood my need and the value of paying for an awesome mentor who gave solid advice, pointed out strengths and actually said to me, “You’re a natural at this!” (even before I started turning a profit.) Through her, I met another mentor in my field.

What does this mean for you?

To love what you do and get paid! There’s nothing like it in all the world. To enjoy the people you work with and have control over your level of income. Priceless. It’s worth it in a hundred different ways.

Are you playing small? Doing what is safe and keeping your risks low? Are you being crushed under the weight of your safety net? Certainly if you’re not living the life you always dreamed of, you’re probably harboring a fistful of dreams and a headful of doubt. You are called to greatness. We’re not called to play it safe. The most successful people in the world took risks that seemed enormous at the time. You may have heard, “If it all works, I’ll be called brilliant. But if it fails, I’ll be called a fool.” It’s worth the risk.

Maybe you could try writing out your dreams with a purple pen; it could unleash your imagination. You can start with the one step so many people fail to take, get your ideas out of your head and onto paper. It’s the first step to making them a reality. They can be seen because they now exist in ink. Then, believing and pondering them, ask yourself, how can I make this happen? I dare you! It could be the most exciting, life-changing exercise of your life.

I hope you’re getting inspired to try this idea and see where it leads. What would your top 10 look like? (Please share, I am really curious!) I’m off to journal in purple. Thanks for coming by. I look forward to seeing you next time!