#MyFinal24 for Alexandra Franzen!

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My friend Alexandra Franzen has written a new book - So This Is The End: a love story. 

The central question of the book is, "If you had just 24 hours to live, what would you do with your time?"

Of course, my brain went into overtime thinking of what I'd do for my final twenty-four.



1. The first thing I'd do is check on my legal documents. I want to make sure my loved ones have all the information they need to have a good life after I am gone.

2. I'd make love to the Charming Man. *hearts*

3. I'd write love notes to my friends and family so they would know how much they have meant to me. Heck, I'd write The One I Had To Say Goodbye To, just to let them know that they had made my life a better place.

4. I'd sneak a few love notes into the Charming Man's drawers and desk. Something to make him smile!

5. I'd make love to the Charming Man. (He better have taken his vitamins)

6. I'd put my money where my mouth is. I take a lump sum of money and just hand it out to people higgley-piggly. We all deserve a windfall. We all deserve some unexpected blessings. And I would want one of my final acts to be one that brought joy to the world.

7. Then I'd invite everyone I could over to my house and I would have a huge party. Lots of dancing, lots of crazy costumes, exquisite food, games, hugs, kisses, cuddles, and soulful talks. Maybe sneak in some lovemaking with the Charming Man. We would play all night long, because play feeds the body, mind, and soul.

Whew! That's a full 24 hours. What would be on your list?

Women Entrepreneurs: Jesse Lee Gray

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the incredibly smart and talented Jesse Lee Gray. I had the pleasure of meeting Jesse Lee at an Alexandra Franzen workshop and I was immediately struck by this cool, interesting chick. So, I had to interview her.

Take it away, Jesse Lee!



1.     What is the name of your business and what do you tell other people you do? (such as author, teacher, designer)

I’m currently using my name: Jesse Lee Gray.  I’m kicking around some ideas for a business name, but haven’t settled on anything yet.  To keep it simple in a social context, I say “freelance writer.”  However if I’m networking, I say I’m an “organizational consultant with a writing focus.”  I help businesses get organized for scale, without losing the authentic something special that made them successful in the first place.

2.     How long have you been self-employed? What convinced you to become an entrepreneur?

I’ve been self-employed exclusively as a freelance writer for a little over a year.  Before that I owned a triple-bottom-line, residential cleaning company for 8 and a half years. 

Entrepreneurship provides me the freedom to decide how I do things and talk to people. I also get bored with a lot of repetition so the ever-changing challenges of self-employment keep my attention focused and my imagination firing at full tilt.

3.     Entrepreneurs rarely stay in one place. How many careers have you had?

Hmmm.  Student, teacher (briefly), house cleaner, cleaning service owner, freelance writer.  That’s 5.  If you count wife (which should totally count), it’s 6 :)

4.     What are some of the aspects of your current job that people don’t see? For example, most people don’t understand how much marketing is done by the authors themselves instead of a publisher.

Lots of flexibility and emotional intelligence are required.  My process can’t be exactly the same with every person or business: I have to adjust my communication style/ mode to fit each client’s needs. I have to *get* them quickly so I can understand them and get to work! When you’re good at adjusting nimbly, people don’t necessarily notice because the process seems organic.

5.     Who and what inspires you on those inevitable rough days?

Ash Ambirge of The MiddleFinger Project.  She highlights and provides sage advice about the challenges of business ownership and never fails to make me smile with her irreverent and humorous anecdotes.

6.     Name a few of your current projects. For example, conferences, publicity, design process, what you have for sale.

•        Orange PoppySkincare: I’ve been doing guest blog reviews of their spa services.  It’s been really fun to pamper myself with facials “for work.”

•        Online classes.  In April I took a class through the Freelance Writers Den on writing White Papers and am currently working through the Six AppealProcess in order to revamp my website to have more emotional appeal.

•        The Garden: a neighborhood farmhouse.  This organization is going through a rebranding and restructuring process as they switch from a for-profit restaurant to a non-profit, food-centered neighborhood resource, education and event center.  I helped them organize New Member information into a 2-part Welcome Guide and will likely continue to help them streamline their communications.

•        TheUnreasonable Institute: I have a long-term, part-time gig as their Scale Systems Maverick.  To achieve their mission to tackle the world’s biggest problems through entrepreneurship, they need a lot more locations than they currently have. To set new locations up for success, they needed a training package that encapsulates who they are and how they do their thing for each their programs.  A big piece has been codifying the curriculum that each location teaches to entrepreneurs. 

•        Final edits and finishing touches on two collections of my poetry. 

•        Go Should Yourself (hat tip to Ms. Mercury for pushing me to do this one)

•        Sand in My Teeth

7.     What are your recommendations for women who are interested in pursuing self-employment?

It’s a big jump, especially if it’s your first time, but don’t overthink it.  Listen to your gut, your heart, or whatever body part (that’s not your head) talks to you.  If it says “Do it,” then start making serious strides toward the big jump.  No matter how much research you do, you’ll never be ready for everything a freelance life will throw you.  But if you’re brave enough to take the plunge, trust that you’ll also be smart enough to figure things out as you go and nimble enough to adjust what’s not working. 

Women Entrepreneurs: Alexandra Franzen

Alexandra

Is it possible to *not* have a huge girl crush Alexandra Franzen? She is my favorite blogger, inspiration, and all around strong, brave, fab gal. And she graciously agreed to be interviewed, too. Can life get much better?

And here is Alexandra!

Alexandra with Joanna Powell Colbert. Awesome babes!

1. What is the name of your business and what do you tell other people you do? (such as author, teacher, designer)

I'm a self-employed writer.

People hire me to write books, blog posts, newsletters, video scripts, keynote talks, educational materials, and things like that. You could call me a "ghostwriter." That's probably the most accurate label for what I do!

Most of my clients are in the health / wellness / personal development realm, which is swell, because I'm completely fascinated by human transformation, goal-setting, motivation, psychology, fitness, and all that jazz.

I also have my own personal (i.e., non-client-related) writing projects, like my blog, advice column, books, and whatnot.

Basically: I play with words and somehow... I've finagled a way to make it my full-time job. I'm a fortunate gal.

2.     How long have you been self-employed? What convinced you to become an entrepreneur?

I've been self-employed (in a full-time capacity) for just over 5 years.

I became self-employed because I really didn't have a choice. I was so desperately miserable working at a 9-to-5 job in a cubicle. It got to the point where I was sobbing in the bathroom, sick to my stomach, just completely out of whack. I knew if I remained in that kind of career, I would just... fall apart. I had to leave, for my health and sanity. So I made the leap. That was that.


3.     Entrepreneurs rarely stay in one place. How many careers have you had?

I started my career working in public broadcasting.

I had mixed-bag, hybrid position that sorta spanned "admin assistant / project manager / promotional ad writer / occasional producer." 

During that time, I also dabbled around doing various kinds of freelance writing as a "side gig," on top of my full time job.

Technical writing, resume writing, cover letter writing, copywriting, ghostwriting, little of this, little of that.

I had to try a "sampler platter" of writing gigs before I figured out my strengths and passions. The trial and error continues to this day!

But trying new stuff is great. I love the continual evolution of my life, career, and body of work. I mean, who wants to do the same exact thing 365 days a year, forever?

4.     What are some of the aspects of your current job that people don’t see? For example, most people don’t understand how much marketing is done by the authors themselves instead of a publisher.

Hmmm... people generally don't see my behind-the-scenes, working-at-home outfits, which mostly consist of kimono robes or a tank top with no pants! Haha.


5.     Who and what inspires you on those inevitable rough days?

My mom and dad.

RuPaul.

My friends, both online and offline.

Ultra-disciplined, amazing people that I've met in the fitness world. (I looooove female bodybuilders. So inspiring.)

GREAT MUSIC! Music uplifts me like nothing else. I am obsessed with Spotify and I build new playlists all the time.

6.     Name a few of your current projects. For example, conferences, publicity, design process, what you have for sale.

I am currently finishing up my first sci-fi novel! A total passion project. It's called So This Is The End.

I have a couple of other e-books and print books in my Shop, including my debut novel, Milk & Honey, which is very smutty. A good summer beach read!

Aside from that, I have a neat e-course called Unstoppable, which is for anyone who struggles to find the time, energy and inspiration to write consistently. It's got recordings plus written lessons, writing prompts, all kinds of good stuff to help you get un-blocked and get the words flowing.


7.     What are your recommendations for women who are interested in pursuing self-employment?

If you want to pursue self-employment, think of it like training for a marathon, getting married or committing to a life partner, or giving a blow job.

You need to be really devoted, really passionate, and really enthusiastic! Or it's gonna suck! And not in a good way! Ha!

If you're just sorta "half-committed," but not one hundred percent "into it," it's going to be a bummer for you & for your clients and customers, too.

ALL IN, total devotion, or don't bother.

The Pleasure Center: The Little Sexy Workbook.

I recently released a handy book called The Little Sexy Workbook. I wrote it because talking about your desires can be crazy difficult. It breaks my heart when people tell me their secret fantasies that they believe they can't tell their partners.

They confess these stories as if they were unpinned hand-grenades tamed only by a white-knuckle grasp on the handle.

And I want to help.

In this series in The Pleasure Center, I'm going to give advice on how to have the open, free, fun, playful sex life you want.


Next week, we'll get going on how to put the pin back in the grenade and make your sex life awesome!

To buy the Little Sexy Workbook:
At Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Rewriting the past.

I recently read this question and it started a flood of thoughts.

So I thought I'd share the pain!

If you could sit down with your 15-year old self, what would you say?

I think I'd say, "You are going to live, live, LIVE like you want. You rock!"

And you?

A love letter to you.

I'm a big fan of Alexandra Franzen (over here).  She wrote this challenge on her website:

The premise: what if instead of writing a traditional “sales page” about your latest product, service, event, project, workshop or offering … you simply wrote your customer a Love Letter?

And this was what came out. :)

I want to live in a world where women are not shamed for what they read, what they watch, and their sexual choices.

I'm so tired of women's tastes being diminished and belittled.

I want you to have books that highlight women asking for what they want, and then being encouraged and supported by her relationships instead of struggling to be heard.

So I've created a series of sexually explicit, adventurous books filled with strong thoughtful men and powerful women.

Right now, I want to you click on the link to read a sample chapter of each book!

Dracula's Secret
Dracula's Desire
Dracula Unleashed

It all begins NOW.

With all my love,

Linda Mercury