Category Archives: art gallery – if you're new start here

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha {Bwah ha ha!}

Our next guest on My Amazing Friends Success Stories also known as MAFSS is a lady I met through her cool husband. He and I can both claim to have been in the high school marching band, but don’t tell. ha ha ha.

This funny bright brave lady asked me to mentor her on opening her blog, Secrets of the Soul, where we both got to know each other even better.

She currently runs a successful ebay store and is opening a brand new ebay store called the *love*laugh*boutique, where she’ll be showing off some of her artistic talent.

What I didn’t know is that she’s going to, wait, let her tell you.

Without further ado, ladies and germs, I mean gents, Welcome Jane.

{smattering of applause}

Jane, entrepeneur, writer, artist and friend.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? This is difficult for me, so I’ll just roll with what comes to mind. LOL. I am 45 years old, but feel, think, and act like a 25 year old.

I am so thrilled to be at this point in my life as it is the most excited I have ever been. I am a self taught artist, writer, entrepreneur and soon to be stand up comedian.

I look for the positive in life, love to connect with people and want to wake up every day being excited about what is in store for me next.

How do you define success? I define success as constantly striving to do what you love in life and never giving up on your dreams.

I feel successful overall but I do want great financial success as well because I think that will really free me up to be even more creative and have more energy to accomplish what I want in life.

It’s ironic that I feel so successful, because over the last few years we have lost so many material things and are basically starting over.

There is something pretty freeing about that.

If you could only be so happy.

I remember three days I felt that I had made it in my life. They were the birth of my two sons and my marriage. How about you? What was your I made it moment?

I still don’t feel like I have made it fully. I reach milestones and accomplish things I set out to do, but I think for me making it is when I can do exactly what I want to do every single day, be 100% in the zone where things just flow so perfectly, AND make a more-than-decent living from it.

Super cute things at live*love*laugh boutique.

I am excited because I am embarking on so many new things in my life ~ things that ARE what I love doing ~ and I have an excited expectation that this is a VERY good thing!

Have you ever come across an obstacle in your path to where you are today? Can you describe it to me and tell us how you got over it? I think life is full of obstacles, some real and some imaginary.

Obstacles actually inspire me as I love to figure out a way around them or through them.

I tend to put things into perspective so I really don’t dwell on obstacles. Most of them have turned out to be huge gifts, so I’m actually thankful for them. I have learned more and grown more because of the challenges in life.

The biggest obstacle I ever had was when I became extremely ill in 2001. By 2003 I was bedridden and had to figure out how to keep working with the illness. I would lay in bed, feel a tiny surge of energy, get up and work for a few minutes then go back to bed over and over again all day long.

I wasn’t thriving financially, but I did pay my bills. The lessons I learned from that is to work as much as possible when I feel great, and don’t get complacent as well as the most important lesson of all, to take care of myself and avoid as many chemicals as possible since that caused my illness.

In terms of education did you find a university degree was necessary in obtaining your dreams or goals? What was? I tried going to community college right out of high school but it wasn’t for me. I was so overwhelmed, so riddled with anxiety that I couldn’t handle it.

I chose to work full time instead. I did go back to college last year and took art and jazz history classes. I loved it!

However, I don’t need a degree for my work and there is nothing that I want to do in the future that would require a degree.

What was necessary for me was learning from other people, constantly implementing new ideas and staying on top of changes in my business. Also, I have learned to ask for help in the form of mentorship which is a fantastic way to learn from an expert! {editors note }

What are you currently working on? I am launching a new business selling items I create or recreate.

For instance, I buy old vintage mirror vanity trays and refinish them, or I make new jewelry out of old vintage jewelry. I love creating new things, hate wasting ANYTHING, and have always seen the beauty in old junk, so it’s the perfect type of business for me.

Also, I am starting to perform standup comedy in the next couple of months. I think this is why I’m here on earth ~ to make people laugh ~ but I avoided it for a long time because it was terrifying for me. Now, I’m ready to go for it.

Fun, simple, beautiful objects from her to you.

Can you tell me about someone you admire and why? I admire so many people. The people I admire most are those that made something out of nothing. Like a woman who started a business when she was on welfare, or another who worked three jobs to put herself through college at age 50, or another who wrote a book during her busride to and from work.

The spirit of these people really resonates with me.

I also admire people who are positive and make a difference in the world just by being in it. I think Facebook and Twitter are great gauges for this because it really gives you a glimpse into how people think and live their lives.

Would you like to give me a word of advice on obtaining goals? My best advice for obtaining goals would be NEVER give up. Learn to be flexible and find solutions to problems. Don’t take no for an answer. Just keep asking different people until you get to yes.

~~~~~

Thanks Jane. I know my blog readers are going to love reading about someone who manages a business from their own home and is a soon to be stand up comedian.

Friends, if you are interested in participating in out MAFSS series drop us an email at jangelos1@gmail.com.