Years after graduating from Business College and working for a wide variety of businesses, I went back to college. I became disabled and had to drop out of school just before getting my bachelor’s degree. I lived with and cared for my parents, and they in turn helped me when I needed it. Then my Dad developed dementia. As the years went by, my health didn’t improve and my hopes for a personal future had dimmed to a flicker. After my Dad’s diagnosis and multiple home disasters, I confirmed that my siblings wanted to tell us how to live, but not help in any way...and all visions I had for myself died. I would care for my parents, of course, but at a little over 50, I had already done it in some capacity all of my life.
This past year a tiny spark reappeared, and within the span of 6 weeks, I went deep into debt (something I promised myself I would never do again) to take online classes from 4 affiliated sources. One of them, the most interesting, was EPM.
I didn’t have a product in mind, but the class is only offered once each year, and I couldn’t live one more year like the last one. So I began a product sales training program without an idea—which went completely against my “research and plan everything” side. My “yay, let’s learn something new” side was thrilled.
After a couple of weeks, I decided on a program that I believed in, and worked hard. I chose a domain name and it wasn’t taken yet, so I worked on a logo and other things. I don’t know how many times I checked the domain name, but I didn’t buy it.
While I was helping a friend look for a product name, I realized why I didn’t buy the domain name...I didn’t want to do that project. I thought I did, but my subconscious had other ideas. I wasn’t fully invested in it! And given the way I had been feeling, I needed big-time motivation.
During those early weeks, I enjoyed one of my favorite unpaid habits... Helping people think about how prospective customers would receive their messages and the information they present. That details matter, that a readable logo is more important than a fancy one, and how to make communication as clear as possible. All of these years, I have donated my skills and offered suggestions to improve businesses and websites, and continued to learn new things to keep my skills sharp. This is my “work heart.” I just hadn’t found my ideal customers yet!
Thanks to my fellow EPM students, my Facebook help resulted in some wonderful testimonials!
Since I can’t work full-time, I located my state’s disability rules and it will take a couple of months to reach the EPM Mission Accomplished $2,000 minimum no matter how crazy-fast I sell. Always practical, I had hoped to pre-book for my program(s) in time, but I was mentally prepared for reality.
Status:
My 1:1 program will be ready in a few days, and a separate 1:few mixed media program will follow soon.
Learning really is one of my favorite things to do, so I look forward to additional fun as I access my bonus content and work to finish my product, then begin the fun of marketing!
The Experience Product Masterclass:
(Product Development For The ADHD Entrepreneur)
How to define your business purpose, develop and sell a product, and (nearly) everything between. Plus, how to make the experience a series of celebrations for completing steps, to inject fun and small successes into learning and improvement!
About the EPM Community:
In other programs, my experience has been that people with good intentions, talk about helping each other but don’t follow through. EPM is a true community. Maybe it is because so many people felt forced to ask for help and input from fellow students. Maybe it combined with the intense schedule and we all felt vulnerable. But this is the first group I have belonged to that demonstrated authentic desires by actually helping each other. Not just making idle suggestions, but providing (or arranging to provide) valuable services to help others achieve success.
Everyone that has actively participated, deserves a celebration for opening up and voicing opinions, and many of them for being so generous with their time and skills, and supportive comments and advice (even tough-love).
Special Thanks:
Marisa has been an inspiration, and sometimes suspiciously like the Duracell bunny that keeps going and going (minus the fluffy pink ears and tail). Don Crowther is always more entertaining than the subjects warrant. Christine is a brick. The coaches are cool, and I appreciate Murray and the staff...everyone that has been so helpful and patient with me and my quirks. And thank you for helping me learn so much!
Thanks to my friends for your kindness, for the laughs and entertainment, and for letting me bug you about “suggested corrections.” You’re all very good sports!