Valerie Young Dreamer in Residence ChangingCourse.comHow many times did you hear that question when you were a kid?Back then, it really didn’t matter too much what you said… you could say you wanted to grow up to be a ballerina or a major league ball player or the "ice cream man" and ride around in an ice cream truck all day.At age 5 or 8 or 11, no one took these career leanings too seriously. That is until you got a bit older. At which point the idea that you were serious about being a ballerina or a ballplayer or the [...] Continue Reading…

Today’s Passion Noodle was actually recorded from the road yesterday (hence the quality). Don’t worry I had my hands on the wheel…

If you feel isolated or that you don’t have the support of people who encourage your entrepreneurial dreams and want to help or at least see you succeed, take 3 minutes now to listen in.

Who did I meet at the Women Business Owners meeting?

Like I said in the podcast, there are a few REALLY interesting people who for different reasons I’ll introduce to you later.  For example, one is still working out a few kinks on her website and [...] Continue Reading…

 In today’s 3-minute Passion Noodle you’ll learn a simple technique for tuning in to your passion. Tomorrow I’ll share another quick tip for discovering what you love to do and how to profit from your passion.

Not only can you profit from the things you love to do… you can make a difference too. This morning I saw this great story on ABC’s Good Morning America about how a choreographer with NO medical background what-so-ever used ballet to help a man with cerebral palsy to transform his body.

If I had a passion for dancing and children I would be all [...] Continue Reading…

Take 6 minutes to listen and find out!

 
Winter skyline off the west porch 
You don’t need to know what’s around the corner!
 When it snows it is soooo quiet. Perfect for noodling new ideas and hearing those inner voices…

I’d love to hear what you think of my first Passion Noodle.  What passions are you noodling turning into profits right now? What your biggest block to noodling about your own hopes and dreams? This is your life folks. Noodle away!

As I drove alongside the Connecticut River today, I spotted two snow-white swans gliding elegantly atop still waters. I felt so blessed to have been in that place at that time to experience such a serenely beautiful moment. I feel lucky that way… a lot.
I don’t think I happen upon these moments any more than anyone else does. I just "see" them more than others do. I believe that’s because gratitude is so central to both my life and my work. I also happen to believe that maintaining a state of gratitude is fundamental to the process of changing [...] Continue Reading…

By Valerie Young

Most people just skip over articles or even entire publications if they don’t see an immediate application to their life. Not me. The more unrelated to my life, the more intrigued I am. 

Case in point was a supplement in my local paper that was dedicated to equestrians. I like horses and all, but I am not even remotely connected to the horse world. To me, that’s all the more reason to dive in.

I scanned the articles, but as usual, what I was really drawn to were the advertisements. Why? Ads reveal all kinds of interesting ways people [...] Continue Reading…

Alex Mandossian

I’m not one to throw around big promises like “Turn your annual income into your monthly income.” But I met a guy who, through much trial and error and hard work, has successful managed to do just that… and quite a bit more.

His name is Alex Mandossian. And in less than three years, he was able to turn his annual income into a MONTHLY income… all through the revenue-generating power of his telephone.

That’s impressive. Equally impressive, though, is what Alex has to offer other entrepreneurs who, like me, love teaching but hate selling. He made his fortune because [...] Continue Reading…

By Valerie Young

You don’t have to look very far to find fascinating ways to turn interests into income. Opportunities are literally everywhere… if you’re looking, that is. It seems I can’t turn on the television or radio or open a magazine or newspaper without seeing at least one good business idea.

Maybe that’s why, one of my “passions into profits” clients said to me, “Boy, you sure have a lot of information in your head.” I appreciated the compliment, but he was only half right.

When you’ve been in the business of helping people change course for as long as I [...] Continue Reading…

By Valerie Young

If you have a small business, or are planning to start one, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued new regulations that could affect you.

Essentially the new regulations require bloggers, celebrities, book reviewers and anyone who endorses a product or service where there is also an exchange of money or goods to disclose the relationship.

For example, say you blog about urban chicken farms. An author sends you his or her book on CPR for chickens. If you like the book and tell your readers that, because you did not pay for the book (or really even ask [...] Continue Reading…

Are you constantly thinking up potential business ideas for yourself or other people?

Are you forever turning friends and acquaintances onto resources and alternatives they never knew existed?

Do you instinctively jump in to help others brainstorm ideas?

Perhaps deep down they’d love to be a pet photographer… or write children’s books… or run a spiritual retreat center… or become a personal chef… or bring their product idea to market… or find a way to get paid to travel.

Well, they’re hardly alone.

Job dissatisfaction, downsizing, and the growing desire for more work/life balance are forcing people to think about alternative ways to [...] Continue Reading…