My journey with B-School

This is not a five-figure business yet, sometimes, it is not even a four-figure one.  But it feels like I’ve lived a decade in only seven months and a lot has changed inside me.

For me, 2017 started with a heavy baggage of negative beliefs, empty fridge and pocket, no savings, no prospects and deep suicidal thoughts.

It was when I was in the midst of that emotional desert that I heard about Marie Forleo and her free 3-video training.  I decided to watch the videos and learn something from them, I was going insane and I thought they would keep my mind busy with something useful.  They did not only help me stay afloat (mentally speaking) but they inspired me and encouraged me to do things I had never done.

My family was helping me with some money which was enough to pay the rent and internet.  Internet was the only resource, apart from my skills.  By the end of the second video, I had already designed my first website and I felt brave enough to make a fan page on Facebook with my gifts related to holistic therapies.  Finding a tribe of big-hearted multi-talented muffins was a blessing.  I got busy reading, studying and doing.

Most 2017 B-Schoolers know my story: when I applied for the scholarship, it was not because I thought I could have a chance, but because I needed to step out of my comfort zone and record a video with my basic mobile.  I was bold and brave.  I uploaded the video on YouTube and when I was about to delete it, I got to know I was one of the lucky scholars.

I have to admit that I came to a standstill with B-School on April 11th, after completing module 3.  It was not because I was tired or because I was not interested any more.  I will resume and catch up with B-School; you know, there is no behind.  I had to stop because there was a lot going on inside and outside.  B-School is not only about learning how to make a 5-figure business but about how to become a better person in the process and how to discover the hidden layers of yourself and giving your gifts a voice.  It’s all about being coherent and consistent.  

When I started B-School, I was sure (at least I believed that) I wanted to focus on Language Services: writing, translating, proofreading, editing and teaching.  My holistic centre was a long term dream, something quietly hiding in the background, being left for the free time as non profitable talents/gifts.  The thing is, B-School actually helped me unfold myself, it helped me realize that if I wanted to help people build bridges with words, I had to build or improve the bridges between my soul, my mind, my heart and my body.  

During the first stage (The Follow Through Formula, some videos from the Copy Cure, Start the Right Business and Modules 1 to 3), I started doing before being ready; I met awesome people on line; I changed the way I connected to people; I changed the way I posted on social media; I made all my gifts and talents visible.  I gave up being obsessed by the result and how much money I would make and I started doing things from the heart and enjoying the process.

Let Go.  Let God.

I ended up taking my decks of cards, just for fun, to a flea market where I was trying to sell my handcrafted books and some crochet facial towels.  Guess what?  I ended up doing lots of holistic tarot  readings  and not selling a single book or CD.  I did sell a crochet towel.  So, what was the universe trying to tell me?  I was clueless.

There were too many muffins, too many names and I could not make them merge and fit so that I could upgrade my website and tell the world who I am.  What did the holistic therapist have to do with the creative writer and the interpreter?  I couldn’t figure it out then, that’s why I came to a standstill.
You know, everything is figureoutable,  as Marie says.

Now, I know: Communication is the essence of everything.  Words and bridges make communication successful, not only when writing, reading or translating but when reading the cards or running a holistic workshop.  

My soul knew it when I made that poor video to apply for the scholarship at B-School: My mission is to help people build bridges.  There are many different types of bridges, the ones you can see and the ones you can feel.  Some people need bridges to improve their relationships, some others need to learn how to use words to improve their business, other people need to find new methods of learning a second language, some other people need to build a bridge between their souls, hearts and minds so that they can discover their gifts.

Bonus:  I am no longer looking for a job or looking at ads.  I no longer call myself ‘unemployed’.  I am an entrepreneur and I run my own business.

What I have gained

• I have made friends and found soul sisters.
• I have become bold, brave, fearless, fancy, sassy and incredibly awesome.
• I have done a lot of free work which has helped me improve my skills and let people (and myself) know that I’m capable of doing.
• I have received amazing gifts: from a webcam to healing sessions.
• Confidence.  Insight. Experience. Knowledge.  Encouragement. 

What I have learnt

• To work on my weak spots: lack of confidence, lack of clarity, lack of consistency.
• To improve the quality of content.
• To show people how I can make a difference.
• To share my gifts without feeling shame.
• To be vulnerable without regret.
• To receive without feeling unworthy or guilty.
• To do even if I am not ready.
• To keep going.
• To say No.
• To say Yes.
• To ask for help.
• To let go and let God.
• To put myself out there.
• To offer my services.
• To work on my sweet spot.  I discovered there was no sweet spot between my UAP and my ICA.
• To be gentle to myself.
• Not to be ashamed.
• To put myself in the way of beauty.
• To make a smart use of SEO and to improve my key words.

What I have done

• I connected to people with surveys and I was not afraid of asking questions about what my website or my products look like.
• I designed my website.  I improved it a couple of times.
• I launched my newsletter and started with my mailing list.
• I have organized contests, raffles and draws to giveaway and share what I do: handcrafted books and CDs, crochet and holistic tarot readings.
• I organized a secret pal gift exchange with some B-Schoolers.
• I interviewed people on line who were not my clients.
• I am already exchanging services with other local entrepreneurs.
• I created my channel on YouTube.  I regularly upload my own videos, related to my skills, services or talents.
• I have designed my first holistic workshop (Words & Bridges) which I will be running in a few weeks.
• I have my first student on line.  He’s been learning English for 3 months and he plans to continue with the lessons even after travelling on business to USA.
• I have improved the service for one English student who works in the south of our country and he only comes three times a month.  Now, it’s a combined service, on line tutoring and private lessons when he is around.
• I have posted ads and I’ve been very active on social media regarding holistic tarot, so I do readings quite often. ( I have printed my own fancy business cards as a holistic therapist.)
• I’m working as virtual assistant (free) for two of my children.  I manage social media and produce content for their fan pages.  The videos and posts on my son’s fan page have been shared and liked by many people all over the country.
• I have stepped out and jumped off my comfort zone many times.
• I have created a lot of free content.
• I have undergone deep healing processes.
• I am doing research on new healing techniques.
• A new deck of cards is now in my purse.  I felt the calling and I got a new one.  So, at first I had Angels Cards and Susannah’s Tarot; now I also have Egyptian Tarot.
• I’ve invested some money and I sell incense sticks.
• I designed a brand new logo and shared its meaning and symbolism on social media.  It’s a logo for all my talents, passions and gifts.

What I still have to do

• To improve sleeping habits.  (I have, to some extent but I lose the pace easily.)
• To schedule walking or exercise routine according to my health issues.
• To work on my 2019 journal.
• To improve my habits and work on my rituals.
• To work on my strategy canvas.
• To redesign and rebuild my website.
• To give my sleeping beauty a kiss: my newsletter has been asleep for too long.
• To grow my mailing list.
• To go back to B-School and go through the first stage so that I am fresh and clear to work on Module 4.
• To relax more.
• To enjoy more.
• To feel at ease with this new me.
• To revisit the sacred temple of friendship with my soul sisters.
• To ask for some professional photos for my website and fan pages.

Special thanks to:

• Marie Forleo and her team for believing in me, for seeing something I could not see.
• Barbarba Sianesi, for her friendship, support, gifts and for introducing me to the journey and holding space for me.
• Viridiana Perez Frias, for her friendship, support, accountability, gifts and for being actively connected to my fan pages and website.
• Viviana Cerrutti, for her friendship, support, accountability and advice.  I was able to make many changes thanks to her experience and coaching.
• All the kind and awesome B-Schoolers who keep in touch and inspire me with their posts and work.

Susannah Lorenzo
August 3, 2017

San Juan

Argentina

About discouragement and freedom

I was curled up in physical pain and discomfort when I got an email from Marie Forleo sharing one of her inspiring videos and the text started like this:

"Have you ever felt discouraged, disheartened or even depressed by the turmoil and uncertainty that surrounds you?When we’re engulfed in circumstances that feel beyond our control, finding the strength and courage to keep going isn’t always easy. Understandably, we can feel helpless and alone."

As I breathed in, trying to feel better, I could not help writing these words in my mind.
When we are feeling discouraged and helpless, I think we all share the same feeling around the world: we crave for freedom.

An architect in Iraq feels discouraged because what she creates might be destroyed by war.
A poet feels invisible after writing a beautiful book which nobody wants to buy.
A child feels unmothered because her mother does not accept her sensitive and creative soul.
A teacher feels helpless because clients come asking for miracle pills or stunning diplomas, they are not willing to learn.
A woman in her fifties feels hopeless in spite of her talents and gifts because people out there want to hire young beautiful ladies who are already successful.

As an artist, as a passionate teacher, as a talented interpreter or as a creative writer; I always give my best.  It’s the pleasure of having an image in my head or a feeling in my heart and being able to translate it into words.  It’s the satisfaction of finding endless ways of teaching something to somebody who cannot understand a foreign language.  It’s the contentment to create a new recipe in the kitchen and prepare a delicious meal even when there are not enough ingredients.  It’s the pride of doing an oracle reading for free and knowing that the person who received it had an insight with our words.
Nevertheless, we cannot control what people do with our creations or work, we cannot control what people feel about it and we cannot even control if we will be here to see if people enjoy them as much as we do.

Unfortunately, we do not live in a bubble of art, creativity, wisdom and enlightenment. We have to pay our bills, make a living and survive in a jungle of people who are far from sensitive.

If we are broke and cannot choose what food to buy or when to eat; if we have health issues or some chronic disease and we cannot choose how to move our body or our physical condition determines our routine; if we are hiding in a corner afraid of what might happen outside; if we are deprived from simple things which seem so normal to the rest of the world; we are not free, we are prisoners of our circumstances.

We all crave for freedom.  We all need to feel free to do what we need or want.

And then, there is another feeling we all share: hope.  It is "hope of deliverance from the darkness that surrounds us" (Paul Mc Cartney) which helps us try one step at a time, just for today.


2017 started with a lot of scarcity for me.  Summer seemed to be winter and surviving on ‘God shall provide’ and energy saving mode made me feel defeated.  In spite of being broke and blocked, I applied for a scholarship at B-School and I got it.  It has kept my mind busy and it has led me to meet awesome people from different parts of the world. 

Studying at B-School helps me feel hope: hope that I may set myself free from my financial situation; hope that I may be successful in spite of my health issues; hope that I may not feel so lonely because there are other women who can support me in this tribe.

I must admit, I am not 100% sure I will succeed.  When I have to spend 50% of my day in bed in order to feel better; when I have no money and I am tired of trying different ways out and only finding myself in the same dead end; when the landlord wants his money and I have no idea how I will get it; when the tons of issues to solve are a lot heavier than the solutions I can find; then I feel discouraged and I want to give up.

But, there is a moment when I get an email like this morning, with a link to an inspiring video, or an email from one of new friends, or I get an unexpected gift, or I am able to write something beautiful in spite of the darkness; and then hope prevails and that spot of light just makes sense for today.

Susannah Lorenzo ©
April 4, 2017

Seeking and giving

An unmothered child seeks to love the way she would have wanted to be loved.

She wants to give all, even what she does not have.
She wants to do magic and pray for miracles.
She wants to make others see the most wonderful colours.
She wants to reach their heart, their emptiness, their cold dark corners and their hurting holes, because she knows about that kind of loneliness which is found among your loved ones.

Nevertheless, at the end of the road, she realizes no one dares to be loved that way.  Most people prefer darkness and cannot even feel their emptiness.
In the end, large rivers flood small villages and destroy humble homes.

Susie
Soledad Lorena

Thus, our generous love looks so selfish because we were giving what we lacked.

July 2015 

An ocean of waves

“I have sea foam in my veins,
for I understand
the language of waves.”
~ Le Testament d’Orphee

Reading these verses helps me understand why I keep myself far away from the sea and the ocean.  I know if I am close to the sea I will just surrender, I will not be able to take so much water without feeling disturbed.

And so it happens with certain energies.  There is no grey shade, either I keep them flowing like a roaring river or I keep them buried under peaceful graves.

It should not amaze me, but it does.  When you think everything is quiet and running smoothly and you are making your way out of the darkness, when you are seeking for light and healing and you even dream of ancient voices taking care of your wounds, then it happens.  The river, the grave, the feelings which were thought to be dead and the connection which was thought not to work anymore, burst altogether into burning lava.

I know the rules, if you try to align your chakras and if you dance to the moon, all the hidden secrets will wake up and look into your eyes.  There is no possible clearing if all sources are not open and alive.

Therefore, Mother Mercy, nothing have I learnt, for my heart longs for a soul not ready to shine under the sun of love.  It is just so hard to take when you have so much to give and there’s no one willing to receive.

Once again, there is the trick, I start to believe the Goddess can live in me, I find my path to light and forgiveness, I reach peace and harmony and smile at all what I am but your name knocks at all the locked doors and I become a mess in the blink of an eye.

Susie

Soledad Lorena

May 7^th, 2013