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The Top 10 Resources for Improving Your Life and Business in 2014

- January 8, 2014 | by April -

Quote-Mary-Oliver

Does your brain still feel like it’s floating in eggnog? Or, is it just me?

I love the holidays. Like a lot. I’m a handmade girl and enjoy crafting gifts throughout December. And, family time feels like a Caribbean vacation. I know I’m weird—not everyone loves an entire week of family. I consider myself lucky in that respect.

But, I also get excited about goal setting and planning out the year in the beginning of January. It feels like a fresh start. A do over. Reset. Pass go. Collect $200. Wipe the slate clean.

One part of my planning process entails compiling a list of resources I want use and learn from to better myself and business throughout the year.

It includes books, courses, apps, videos, retreats, conferences etc. And, I thought you might like to do the same, so I’ve gathered some ideas for you below.

10. Nicole’s Classes 

Stop boring yourself by studying your camera manual and sign up for a fun photography course that’s made for creatives just like you. Learn how to use Illustrator. Take the ‘Creating an Identity 101’ class and turn your Plain Jane branding into something that wows your target market. Or, have a blast learning a new skill like painting with watercolors or flower arranging. Ooh la la.

9. Death to Stock Photography

Do you waste hours trying to find the right images for your blog posts, newsletters, ebooks, courses, etc.? I recently found this FREE resource of stock photography that’s waaaaaaay better than mainstream stock photography. The pics don’t feel so staged and fake. You get a new batch every month delivered directly to your inbox. It sounds too good to be true, but pinch yourself, cause it’s not a dream, my friend.

8. Crazy, Sexy Kitchen

Want to reset your health this year? Let Kris Carr be your guru and you’ll find yourself with a tighter tummy, prettier skin, and vanishing cellulite. This is a plant-based cookbook filled with delicious, flavorful recipes. Some of my favorites are: Vegetable Sushi Maki Rolls, Greensicle Smoothie, and the Raw Apple Spiced-Rum Shortcake with Maple Vanilla Glaze. Yum!

7. Tara Stiles’ YouTube Channel

Have trouble fitting in an hour sweat session each day? How about making five or ten minutes for yoga that’ll get your body in shape and reduce your stress level? Instead of scarfing down a brownie for energy, turn on one of Tara’s videos for FREE and feel instantly better after a short break.

6. No Excuses Art Journaling: Making Time for Creativity

My goal for this year is to play in my art journal for at least ten minutes every day, because I want to feel more creative. I just got this book and it makes art journaling daily easy and doable. I can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for an easy way to inject creating for fun {not for profit} into your daily life.

5. The Fire Starter Sessions

Use this book to define success on your own terms. It’ll help you figure out what you truly value and how to get what you want out of life. And, it’ll light a flame inside of you to kick start your inspired life.

4. Turning Pro

If you’re serious about turning your passion into a practice and creating your life’s work, this book should be a monthly read. It’s short but packs quite an inspirational punch. Bam!

Favorite excerpt from Turning Pro: “When we do the work for itself alone, our pursuit of a career (or a living or fame or wealth or notoriety) turns into something else, something loftier and nobler, which we may never even have thought about or aspired to at the beginning. It turns into a practice.”

3. Marketing for Creatives

How could I possibly leave my book off of this list? I can’t. Obviously. If you read it and complete the exercises inside, your business will bend over backwards to thank you and your PayPal account will expand. You’ll learn how to attract people who want to buy your stuff and how to promote your business without feeling icky.

2. Life is Messy Planners or Bootcamp

Why settle for generic planners when you can have some that include a: Super Power Finder, One Page Business Plan, Goal Generator, Trip Planner, Weekly Meal Planner and soooooo much more? Don’t settle. Seriously. You’ll have so much fun filling out this planner {and it’s so pretty} that you’ll stay organized all year. And, the bootcamp will BLOW YOUR MIND.

1. Business Transformation Sessions

Love what you do but wish you could make it more profitable? Need some one-on-one help from someone who’s been there? I’ve got two consulting spots for 2014 open and I’d love to work with you to make your business a screaming success this year. {So, I might be a tad biased in making this number one, but it’s my blog, right?}

Have a favorite resource not listed here? Don’t keep it all to yourself. Share it with us in the comments below.

Happy New Year! I wish you much success and happiness in 2014.

P.S. Some of the links above are affiliate links which means if you purchase through them, I get some dough. As in money, baby. But, I only promote things I have personal experience with and love so much I have to tell the world {or the super awesome people who read my blog} about them.

18 Comments · Filed Under: Creative Business Development, Happiness, Health

Comments

  1. Megan says

    January 8, 2014 at 4:14 pm

    I LOVE Nicole’s Classes! Couldn’t recommend them enough. Just looked into the Death to Stock Photo & that looks awesome too! Can’t wait to check out the rest.

    Reply
    • April says

      January 8, 2014 at 6:32 pm

      Those classes are sooooo good. I can’t get enough of them! 🙂

      Reply
  2. MegansBeadedDesigns says

    January 8, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    Great list, I too highly recommend “Turning Pro”! And thanks so much for sharing “Death to Stock Photography” I had no idea such amazingness existed.

    If I may be so bold to add as another resource, I have a free 2014 business and life goal planner available on my blog (it’s opt-in free, just click and download) for those who may be interested: http://beadingforbusiness.com/2013/12/10/free-business-and-life-planner-2014/

    Reply
    • April says

      January 9, 2014 at 9:44 pm

      Turning Pro is the BEST. I just found out about Death to Stock Photography, too!

      Thanks for adding another resource–I like bold! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Amanda Sue says

    January 9, 2014 at 12:14 am

    I’m definitely interested in checking out #10! I love #9 if I can’t find anything usable in my own photography. #8 I’m intrigued by, but I don’t know how tofu-y it is, lol. #7 is awesome! #6 sounds like a blast…I’ve never art journaled, but I want to try. #5 I haven’t read. #4 I just recently bought. #3 is awesome! 🙂 #2 & #1 are on my list!

    Reply
    • April says

      January 9, 2014 at 9:48 pm

      There actually isn’t much tofu at all! Don’t let that stand in your way. There might a handful of recipes with tofu/tempeh.

      You’re going to love Turning Pro!

      Yay for #2 and #1 being on your list…. 😉

      Reply
  4. Amanda Sue says

    January 9, 2014 at 12:15 am

    OH! I forgot to add my favorite to the list. Skillshare! I just can’t get enough of it. I get all of the FB page notifications so I don’t miss any discount codes or current free classes.

    Reply
    • April says

      January 9, 2014 at 9:49 pm

      I just took my first Skillshare class and I liked it alright. It just didn’t compare to the Illustrator course that I took via Nicole’s Classes, but it was a lot less expensive and I did get a lot out of it.

      Thanks for adding to the list!

      Reply
  5. jess says

    January 9, 2014 at 2:00 pm

    Hmmm. These all look great. I guess I’ll have some weekend reading after all! Thanks!

    Reply
    • April says

      January 9, 2014 at 9:50 pm

      Yay for weekend reading!

      Reply
  6. Sage Grayson says

    January 9, 2014 at 10:44 pm

    I love Death to Stock Photography! I found them a few months ago, and I’ve been so impressed by the quality and selection.

    Reply
    • April says

      January 22, 2014 at 11:05 pm

      I’m loving their pictures. They definitely aren’t like any other stock photography sites out there.

      Reply
  7. Coral says

    January 10, 2014 at 7:48 am

    I’m in Leonie Dawson’s amazing biz and life academy – her create your amazing year workbooks are great. Acknowledging the year just past in a beautiful way and planning for the new year – goal planning in a really gentle way (cause we can be so hard on ourselves).

    Also listen to Danielle LaPorte anything for a courage boost when I need it.

    Reply
    • April says

      January 22, 2014 at 11:07 pm

      I’ve heard some pretty great things about those workbooks, but I’ve never tried them out myself. Thank you so much for sharing about them and adding it to the list.

      Reply
  8. David Sherry says

    January 12, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    April!

    We’re so happy (humbled) to be a part of this amazing list of resources! Keep in touch and keep up the good writing 🙂

    -David

    P.S. Allie is also big on GF and health I’m sure you two would hit it off!

    Reply
    • April says

      January 22, 2014 at 11:06 pm

      Of course! I couldn’t wait to share your site with my community. I knew they’d love it. I’ve already gotten a handful of “thank you soooooo much for introducing me to death to stock photography” emails.

      Yay for gluten-free! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Ursula-the crafting gypsy says

    January 24, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    I LOVE your recommendation of Death to photostock. Had never heard of them – and I do not even use stock photos at all as I or my hubby take all the photos I use. But I still signed up – and get excited each time I get an email. *laugh*

    Reply
    • April says

      January 24, 2014 at 2:08 pm

      I take all of my own photos, too. But, I thought, why not? I may find a way to use them–or I may write a post that I don’t have a photo for. You never know!

      Reply

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