“Think of Social media like a savings account, you have to make deposits before you try to make withdrawals” @WorkingArtMedia

While there is an increase of the inconvenience of an errant spammer here and there — Twitter is a community of people committed to thought-provoking conversations. It fosters relationships, the exchange of information and building networks — as well as serving within said networks.

It is not about selling or automated messages. Not at its best, anyway.

In the midst of consulting with clients, mapping my business plans and tending to the details of my day, there are times when my creative well runs dry. The relationships I have because of Twitter spark new ideas and enable me to rediscover a flow.

As a result, I am then able to contribute from my own overflow — investing in the days and dreams of my fellow “tweeters.”

Just today I happened upon two excellent articles regarding building a network stream of like-minded individuals — as well as tending to the elements of a productive network. (Which — of course — I retweeted back in my network … )

• 10 Ways to Find People on Twitter
• What Really Generates Referrals

These articles sum up two essential elements of being a responsible tweeter: Build a relevant network and be relevant.

If we are together nothing is impossible. If we are divided all will fail. ~Winston Churchill

• Follow me @stargardener or @rightbrainplan

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While it has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride, I am ever-so slowly piecing “the how” regarding merging my online activities in order to simply my schedule.

I have made the commitment — stopped leaving a trail of bread crumbs (due to the fear of needing to find my way back to where I  started) and am in the midst of working on a { creative } strategic plan. (And reading, reading, reading!)

There remains an occasional butterfly-y feeling stirring within me — enjoying the sensation of climbing the track as it clicks toward the sky! — as I plan, organize and link the “Big Merger” behind the scenes offline. (And amidst the realities of real-life adventures!).

But this feels right. I am confident of this step … Even as I almost pant just to catch my breath.

Did I mention my heart is pounding in my chest?

All images and content posted at The Star Garden are copyrighted. Please feel free to contact me by leaving a comment if you are interested in posting or using images or content from The Star Garden.

Three weeks ago, I embarked on what I believed would be something simple, something fun … It turned out to be outrageously liberating and served as a proverbial launch pad.

And all of that took a lot longer than I originally expected!

I signed up to participate in The Next Chapter — Wreck This Journal. The concept of wrecking a perfectly good book — complete with all the interesting instructions and options — and the option of having no rules … Well, it ignited something within me!

Not only did I jump into the adventures of Wreck This Journal. I reserved books and purchased books (and borrowed books!) pertaining to art journaling, altered books, collage journaling and creative planning.

Perusing these books gave me the confidence and inspiration to complete my eclectic version of my own business plan as well as to explore new techniques for journaling, collage and business planning.

Side note: My point for including this here? In the midst of “seeing in my head” what I wanted this site to be, I found myself bogged down in the details of collecting the resources I want to include here.

Allowing myself to be free of deadlines and schedules facilitated a big-picture view as well as a sequence of to-do to accomplish my goal of  collecting the elements of my online activities and linking them here at one site.

Although it feels more like demolition than building I know when it is {more} complete, it will be well worth the mental drama of getting it there!

What about you?

Are you holding pieces or elements and not sure what to do next? Let go a little bit … Doodle, journal — do some collage! — or whatever allows you to let go of the screaming deadlines and gives you room to ponder, to dream … and to plan. Creatively.

Procrastination is based in fear. Fear of failure — of not completing a task perfectly — and even fear of success. Either outcome (and variations of said outcomes) leaves us at the doorstep of another task. Another task promising the option of … Yep. Procrastination.

The time in between such tasks — and our response to the opportunities of that time — determines our end result.

Each day we make choices that either { facilitate } our goals, delay them or completely erase them from possibility. Which is why it becomes imperative to allow our dreams — and our plans pertaining to those dreams — to determine our actions. (Not the whispers of “what if” and miscellaneous other fears which seem to broadcast 24/7!)

It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it were the only one we had. ~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

The more you write down what is on your mind — the fears, jeers and other random ponderings — the more the mental clutter of what-if’s and the discouragement and disappointments of the past begin to fade. The more you write down what is on your mind {and sparkling for your attention in your heart ♥ } the more the fear to be replaced with the energy of action!

Writing, painting, collaging and drawing what you “see” in your mind’s eye gives clarity to your goals. The more clarity you have regarding your goals provides the framework for the strategy that will enable you to accomplish your goals. That strategy will assist you in purging the time bandits that rob you of {extra time to dream, to write — and to act}

… And aid you in letting go of yesterday.

✩Copyright 2009 © The Star Garden

All images and content posted at The Star Garden blog are copyrighted. Please feel free to contact me at: thestargardener at gmail.com if you are interested in posting or using images or content from The Star Garden.

Happiness depends on what happens; joy does not.  ~Oswald Chambers

Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. ~Josh Billings

Beginnings are the coveted first-class tickets to Strength and Clarity — each a destination in the direction of one’s dreams! For many of my years, I have felt somewhat like the main character in Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale of the ugly duckling. Despite my share of “swan-in-a-duck-world-moments” … I am blessed to be (at long-last!) among an ever-growing flock of swans! We have come together from similar travels, have glorious moments of introduction and inspiring conversations about Possibility! Even as we often simultaneously inquire, “Where have you been hiding?”

There are times in one’s life when remaining committed to “one thing” seems impossible — or at the very least, an unrefined personal habit! However, beginnings quickly become dead-ends if we don’t keep company with Consistency. And said company comes with many faces. Friendly faces that reassure you that you fit in — that you are in the right place!

Today is D-Day for me! While I realize the importance of one’s image and branding — and all those other social media.marketing buzz words — I am just jumping in the proverbial deep end! I say this because I have been working on the redesign of my .com for the past few months. In the midst of my plan to launch it, real-life crashed and burned on my launch pad!

And while {image} is important (and something I frequently advise my clients about) — balance and wellness are much more important to me.

Thus, I left this .com semi-conscious after I concluded my contract with godaddy.com (and discovered the fabUlous Bluehost!). I didn’t stress-out about what other people might think or how much traffic I would lose or any of the other countless what-if’s that knocked on my door.

If you follow me on twitter or read my blogs and.or you are interested in what this will eventually be … Please feel free to bookmark this site and I promise it will eventually look like I see in my head (and amidst the various notes and doodles I have in an empty Godiva chocolate box!).

In the event, you don’t know me and just happened here by some weird twist of coincidence: I promise not to make ridiculous claims (”make millions in just 60 days!” “increase your twitter following overnight” … ad nauseam) or sell you anything. That is just not my style, er, my image or brand!

All images and content posted at The Star Garden are copyrighted. Please feel free to contact me by leaving a comment if you are interested in posting or using images or content from The Star Garden.