California, calm, creativity, peace

Beautiful: My LA Adventure Taught Me to Be a Tree in Winter

Christa Avampato

9d2275bf25fe5c1d448e48e7aff6128d“I realize there’s something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go.” ~ Jeffrey McDaniel

My LA adventure is drawing to a close. The last few weeks have been a kind of magical transformation for me. I stopped trying to force my experience here and just let it be whatever it wanted to be. It was both liberating and invigorating. I could delight in the hazy sunshine and the gorgeous trees and the cool air without asking anything of them, knowing that they ask nothing of me except to be seen, felt, and experienced.

It’s not in my nature to stop inquiring, to stop digging, but it’s kind of lovely once in a while to take the advice of John Lennon and Paul McCartney and let it be, knowing there will be an answer. Trusting that somewhere along the line that answer will rise up when it’s good and ready. The more we let go, the easier it is for that answer to rise. Sometimes the very best thing we can do is just stop, take ourselves out of the equation, and wait.

It takes nerve to wait. We worry that we’re wasting time, our most precious and irreplaceable resource. Here in LA I found that in a calm mind resides every answer we need. They’re there all along – our only job is to get out of the way and listen. Let the answers rise. They always do.

Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but I’m going to try my best to bring a little Los Angeles back with me. In the hustle and bustle of New York City’s streets, I hope you’ll be able to spot me as the calm in the middle of the storm, leaving a wake of peace everywhere I go. New York is where I’m needed. That’s where I’ve got something to give.

Thanks, LA, for taking me under your wing and for teaching me more about me than I ever thought possible. I’ll never forget you.

community, strengths

Beautiful: We’re Stronger Together

Christa Avampato

The strong path is built by many hands and hearts. I’m all for independence – goodness knows I’m the poster child for carving an individual path! – though I almost always have help and support from someone or something. Sometimes a friend or teacher, other times my own yoga and meditation practice, and still other times from inspiring stories I’ve read and heard. To say I’ve ever done anything solely on my own would be a lie. There was always a union of some kind, every step of the way.

At SXSW V2V, I listened to Steve Case’s keynote (I’ll be writing more about that shortly) and he recited an African proverb that has informed much of his career – “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” My intent is to go far – to see more, experience more, be more, do more. And I can’t do that alone. It’s got to be a group effort.

Want to join my tribe and go far? Sign up to receive my inspiring monthly newsletter by clicking here.

creativity, time, values, writing

Beautiful: Your Mission, Your Tagline

Christa Avampato

c9ce7be37f7cff45866452dbd86940bcIn business school, I was trained to place supreme emphasis on an elevator pitch. In this age of shorter-than-ever attention spans, an elevator pitch is too long. Now we need a tagline to use online and off. Who are you and what do you care about in 10 words or less? I recently updated the tagline on my blog: “Curating a creative life through ancient wisdom and modern tech.” 

My tagline used to read “Curating a creative life” and I would sometimes get the question, “how do you do that?” I wanted to be clearer about what I do so I expanded my tag line with the descriptors of how I curate a creative life. This summer I realized that everything I do is rooted in two worlds – the one of ancient wisdom (art, yoga, philosophy, wellness) and modern tech. That balance is very important to me because the two halves inform one another.

This clarity took time and a lot of effort to find and articulate. However, it was well worth the energy because it’s made my other career decisions so much easier. That’s the power of a personal mission.

What’s your tagline?

books, business, career, work

Beautiful: My New Book – Your Second Step: What to Do After Your Leap

Christa Avampato

I’m writing a new book called Your Second Step. And here’s why: the hardest step of any journey is the second one. The first step is filled with excitement for something new. You’ve pumped yourself up, done your research, and put in all the time to figure out where you’re going, what you’re doing, and why. Everyone lines up to cheer you on – “quit your job”, “start your own company”, “move to a new city”, “go out with that special someone who caught your eye”, “get on that plane ride halfway around the world”. Go go go! You can do it!

Everyone loves a new beginning, but a slightly older beginning is something else entirely.

Step 2
That second step can be brutal. It means you are committing to continue to the third step and beyond. Some of the excitement and adrenalin of that first step has worn off. You put so much energy and effort into that first enormous step that you’re exhausted. The parades that promised to stick around for your marathon of change all went home just after the starting gun went off. They went back to their own busy lives, and they took their signs of encouragement, cow bells, and orange slices with them.

Maybe you’re already facing some adversity, failure, or disappointment early on. You created a beautiful plan, and its not unfolding the way you want it to. You closed the door on your old life, and the Universe is not holding up its end of the bargain by opening up that proverbial window. And it promised it would!

Guess who else is here? Our old friends – Fear, Regret, and Pride. And though you successfully turned down the volume on that little nagging voice at the back of your mind, it somehow wrestled a megaphone out of the hands of your faithful companion, Courage, and is now making up for lost time with a very loud proclamation: “You can’t do this! There’s still time. You can go back to where it’s safe and predictable if you turn around right now. Last chance. Be reasonable!”

And I want you to take the second step? Really? Yes. Yes, I do.  

My new book
This summer I wrote my first full-length play (I’m heavily editing it before sending it off to festivals) and now this book, my next big writing project, is based on a conversation that an old friend of mine and I are having about how to remain true to our life’s mission. How do we tirelessly keep living an authentic life, especially when the going gets tough?

When I responded to my friend’s first email, I realized that my response was actually the outline for my new book, The Second Step. I know a thing or two about what it takes to move beyond the first step of a journey. I know all about procrastination disguised in research and wrapped up in drawn out strategic planning sessions. I learned a lot by falling flat on my face, over and over and over again, literally and figuratively. I understand the excuses that we dress up as reasons. And good heavens, do I know all about that nagging little voice of self-doubt, energy vampires, profound disappointment, 3am nightmares, serious financial worries, sacrifice, and fear so intense that it causes hives. I. Get. It. It’s a bitch. But it’s no match for my grit, stamina, and determination. And it’s no match for yours either.

Your Second Step will help you discover your own strength for the journey through a wide variety of methods – from yoga and guided meditation (you knew that was going to be in there, right?) to business know-how to inspiring stories and resources that I use all the time to healthy food recipes that will keep you fueled for success. I’ll be there with you throughout the journey – way beyond the second step.

Most of all, this is going to be fun. This is not some boring exercise manual or stale business book. I’m going to share my own story like never before. It’s about time that I get these stories out into the world so that they can help you. Stay tuned for more updates in the weeks and months ahead by going to Your Second Step website.

career, choices, creativity, work

Beautiful: You Find Success Where the Needs of the World Meet Your Talents

Christa Avampato
From Pintrest

“Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation.” ~ Aristotle

Trying to figure out what career path to follow? Join the club. According to the latest Gallup poll, 70% of Americans hate their jobs. I used to be one of them until I struck out on my own, and though I now work a lot more hours and live with a lot less certainty, I am happier than I’ve ever been in my life because I love my work so much that it actually gives me energy. The road to happiness wasn’t easy and it’s a daily process to stay on that road, but here’s how I got started:

1.) I looked around to find out things that the world needs
2.) I wrote a list of things I love to do
3.) I wrote another list of things I’m good at
4.) And then I lined them all up

Now there are a million and one things you could do to get the answers for each of those 4 steps – and I’m happy to share my process for doing that – but those are the road signs along every successful career journey I’ve ever heard of. Get yourself to that crossroads in step 4, and you’ll know exactly which mountain you’re meant to climb. Need help? Get in touch with me – I’m glad to be your guide!

Up tomorrow: What to do after step 4.

business, career, time, work

Beautiful: Take the Time to Lean In

Christa Avampato

I lean in every single day and I’m happy about it. It all boils down to this: What am I most committed to? Where do I find joy? My answer: at the intersection of ancient wisdom (my yoga) and modern technology (my work). I love to make, write, and teach. And I really love to help other people live the lives they want. I lean in by spending the vast majority of my time doing those things and so far, so great.

I made my choices about my career and my life, and I’m thrilled with them. Sure I have tough days, but they’re all purposeful and that purpose keeps me going, especially when there are (very large) bumps in the road. I don’t tell myself, or anyone else, that I can be everywhere and do everything. I can’t do it all, and why on Earth would I ever want to? I want to spend as much time as I can doing things I love with people I love in a place that I love. For me, that’s the best way to live.

So am I leaning in? You better believe it. I’m leaning in to a life that’s everything I want it to be. And that is enough.

action, business, creativity, decision-making, entrepreneurship, product, product development, profession

Beautiful: My Company Pivots – a New Direction for Chasing Down the Muse

Christa Avampato
My new business card

As I head to Vegas this morning to be part of the mentor program at SXSW V2V, I’m excited to announce that my company, Chasing Down the Muse, is making a shift to place more emphasis on making products. I used my summer in LA to figure out my next career steps. I moved away from everything and almost everyone I know to figure out what mattered most to me.

Here’s what I learned: While I’ve enjoyed the strategy, communications, and marketing consulting projects I’ve done this year, I miss spending the majority of my time ideating, making, launching, and iterating products. Time to change that! Don’t get me wrong – the strategy, marketing, and communications is vital to having successful products and I plan to continue that work; now I want to bring the actual making of products back into my daily work life. Want to work together on product-based projects? Drop me a line!

This summer I’ve spent every day involved in the process of making and it’s been a complete delight. I have always believed that the surest way to a fulfilling life is to follow the joy wherever it leads. So I’m taking my own advice. I’m going for it – let’s roll!

Check out the Chasing Down the Muse website to see what I’m creating and to get a few freebies that will help you find your direction, too.

Up tomorrow: Why I lean in every day

creativity, dreams, fear, feelings

Beautiful: Fear Can Be a Path to Free

Christa Avampato

494ab1219a79b1ae0d7cab6dcea48107 With just over a week to go in LA, it’ll be back to life and back to reality very soon. Some of my old familiar fears are beginning to seep in: Am I on the right track? Am I going the right way? Are these sacrifices really worth the potential rewards? And if they are, and I don’t ever see those potential rewards, will I still think of this path as one worth taking?

Too often I’ve associated freedom with lack of fear. With a year out on my own under my belt, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that if I waited for the fear to subside before pursuing my dreams, I’d never pursue them at all. The road to freedom is paved with fears, and lots of ’em. I don’t banish my fears, but I use them like our bodies use carbohydrates, like cars use gas. I burn through them and part of that process means fully feeling them, looking them in the eye, and not flinching. I press on with those unrelenting fears at my back, and they only subside when I face them and live to tell about it.

And I don’t think that being afraid of something means that I should definitely do it. For me, it means that I should put a lot of thought and consideration into the decision. Facing fears is difficult work; it’s often painful, plagued by hardship, and there is no guarantee of success. All of those facets have to be weighed in totality. I have to ask myself, “Even if this path is difficult, do I still feel in my heart that it’s the best way to spend the precious little time I have?” If so, I use the fear for fuel. If not, I’m grateful for that realization and I pursue another dream.  After all, I’ve got a list of dreams that never seems to have an end. If this one doesn’t work out, there will always be another.

Up tomorrow: An exciting announcement about my company

action, clarity, thankful, time, wishes

Beautiful: Stop Wishing. Start Doing.

Christa Avampato

“Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert, American author

When I wished on a star or the candles on my birthday cake, I used to wish for something I really wanted as if it might just fall down out of the sky and into my life. I used to make lists of things that I wanted to do, or have, or see, or be, hoping that verbalizing them would somehow actualize them. And then one day I realized that none of those wishes ever came true just because I wished for them. Some of them happened because I worked really hard and I almost always had help from other people who shared the same dream and were willing to work just as hard to see it happen. Some of them never happened at all, no matter how hard I worked, and for that I’m very grateful because I’ve ended up in such a good place.

So I stopped wishing for things out there and started wishing for things that would really make a difference: Now I wish for personal strength and courage, for an ever-deeper sense of compassion and understanding for the situations of others, for the opportunities to be useful and helpful to others, and for the ability to be at peace even in times of terrible turbulence. And a funny thing has started to happen: the more I want these things, the more capable I grow to cultivate them. And the more I cultivate them, the more good they do, in my own life and in the lives of others.

As it turns out, I don’t need to wish for any of these things at all. Wanting them for all the right reasons and tirelessly working for them are the surest ways to bring them into being.

art, business, creative, creative process, creativity, music, technology, time, writer, writing

Beautiful: What We Can Learn About Time from Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines, Black Sabbath, and Angry Birds

Christa Avampato

robin_thicke_blurred_lines_album_cover_ARIA_120613_640x360Singer Robin Thicke has something to celebrate. After 10 years in the business, the 36-year old has his first #1 album with Blurred Lines. His first album never got out of the triple digits. Think Thicke has grit to stick with it for all these years? The band Black Sabbath recorded music for 46 years before their album, 13, hit #1 in June. The crackerjack team over at Rovio Entertainment created the wildly popular app, Angry Birds, after creating 51 other apps.

Age has nothing to do with it
Hollywood, Broadway, Silicon Valley, and American Idol have created a culture obsessed with youth. The wild rise of Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and other tech moguls in their 20s has caused a dangerous and unfortunate fixation on youth among the venture and investor community. Many VCs and investors refuse to even hear the startup pitches of any founders older than 30. We bemoan getting older and so we nip, tuck, pluck, lie about our age, and workout to the point of breaking our bodies, never happy with how we look or where we are along life’s path. Robin Thicke is 36. Ozzy Osbourne is 64. Peter Vesterbacka, one of the Angry Birds creators, is 44. If you think you have to be at the top of your field before you see your first wrinkle or gray hair, think again.

Success takes time and talent
When we aren’t as successful as we’d like to be at something right off the bat, we often throw in the towel. Too often and too soon, we sulk back to our homes, hide under our beds, and hope for brighter days ahead. Sometimes we resign ourselves to the idea that time has passed us by. Don’t do that. Figure out what worked, what didn’t work, and try again with this knowledge in-hand.

If your work isn’t its own reward, then find other work
Success is a personal and daily process. Even if I never receive any kind of critical acclaim as a writer, I’ll never think of the time I spend writing as a waste and I’ll never stop writing. The act of writing, putting my story out there and knowing that it helps others, is all the reward I ever need from it. Certainly critical success on a large scale would be lovely, but I don’t sit down every day and write with that as a goal. I’m trying to tell a story as honestly and as clearly as possible. If you’re working only for external rewards, you are wasting your time and setting yourself up for enormous disappointment.

If you found work you love, stick with it. If you get up every day, excited to create something, then keep creating. If your work fills your heart as it grows your portfolio, then you’re on the right track.