Project: What Would Barbara Corcoran Say?

They all want her money – at least the little fish swimming in the tank with big Sharks do. Even if they would like to have their pick of Sharks, they need an any investor because their big idea turned into a budding business. However, it took off before they could keep up. So the aspiring entrepreneurs who have caught the eyes and bank accounts of the Sharks have a lot for which to be thankful. But it’s not just wealth that they need to bank. Because it’s not just what you do with money, it’s how you do it. Behind every Shark’s dollar, are days of hard work and mental acuity that built their empire.

Wouldn’t you like to bank a little of that wealth too?

Sharp, witty, wise and an established entrepreneur, Barbara isn’t just worth $80 million. She has much to say about life. As a mom, businesswoman, investor, television personality, speaker, investor, consultant, syndicated columnist and author she has learned the art of when to talk and when to listen. But most of all, she knows business and she means business.

And she wants to pass that wealth of knowledge on to us:

• In business, you're the Chief Salesman. Create a sense of demand, rather than waiting to have demand.

• Taking chances almost always makes for happy endings.

• There’s no better motivation in the world than someone that insults you.

• Don’t you dare underestimate the power of your own instinct.

• Finding opportunity is a matter of believing it’s there

• My best successes came on the heels of failures.

• The difference between successful people and others is how long they feel sorry for themselves.

• You can’t fake passion.

Have you found your passion? How are you pursuing it? When you need a little pep in your step, think: What would Barbara Corcoran Say?

-The Green Couch

Project: Nominate The Next Green Couch Risk-Taker

http://www.thegreencouchproject.com/contact.php

January 28^th, 2014 The Green Couch Project™  began the initiative to see what it was like to walk an hour or two into another risk-taker’s shoes. And so we invited several, five entrepreneurs to be specific, to individually sit on The Couch. It changed our lives. It changed theirs.

Since then a total of twenty-four people have sat on The Couch, shared their risk-taking gutsy and taken the Pinky Promise challenge. Nothing is ever rehearsed or auto-tuned. When it comes to the questions, everything is left to the unknown but everything is from the heart.

The Green Couch is where they get to fall back in love with who they are, what they do and why it matters - because it does. The Green Couch Project™ is where they have a chance to inspire others to speak, follow and inspire others to fulfill their dreams.

To do what they get to do every day – live their love.

We’ve caught it on paper, video and pictures. We have shared it on our website, in newsletters, in podcasts, on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube… because their risk-taking is what inspires us, their story is our gift to you.

And now it’s time we hear back from you.

This fall, The Green Couch Project is doing something different. We want you to submit an inspirational entrepreneurial story of someone who motivates change in your life. Whether you know them directly or indirectly or they never heard of your name, give us a glimpse of their courage so they can spill their gutsy on The Green Couch on September 15^th, 2015.

Whether they’re on their own, or manage a team of 100, we’re looking for people with outstanding company culture, integrity, community impact and irresistible risk-taking gutsy.

We’re looking for someone who inspires people to speak, follow and fulfill their dreams. It doesn’t matter if they’re ages 8-108, are a college dropout, new to the game or have years of experience; this is your chance to nominate someone you’d like to see on The Couch who lives their love and has a voice that needs to be heard.

-The Green Couch

Accepting nominations July 9th – August 15th, 2015 

Project: The Bee’s Knees - RIP Burt Shavitz

He knows a thing or two on what it is to risk it all and lose it all. He’s had his highs and lows. Whether on his own or surrounded by one hundred fans, he knows who he is and what he wants out of life. This is the Burt Shavitz story.

What’s it like to wake up with no hot water but an endless sight of nature…and be okay with it? What’s it like to have a rendering of your grizzly face on beauty and toiletry items across the world? And yet feel inclined to hide from the world?

What’s it like to take risks, win some, lose a lot and come out knowing no matter what, you still like what you’ve done and made of yourself?

Although Burt is no longer with us, (May 15, 1935- July 5, 2015), he left a legacy that is worth emulating: “No one owns me, no one’s ever gonna own me.”

In other words, what I do? It’s none of your beeswax!

What are some practices in your life in which you practice a similar mentality? In which you stick to your dreams even when it is inconvenient.

• How do obtain your goal when the going gets tough?

• When there are more naysayers than cheerleaders, do you give up or give it all you got?

• If you realize you do not have the finances to see your project through, how do you pursue finding the appropriate resources?

• How do you cultivate your own beeswax?

Burt was a man that was dealt some hard blows. But he found a place on this earth that he loved more than the inside of a Burt’s Bees industrial warehouse. He didn’t need many luxuries; he didn’t need validation; he didn’t need money; he needed a chance to pursue his number one passion.

What’s your passion, and what are you willing to risk to find and cultivate it?

Burt will go down in history as the bee’s knees of a beekeeper. What kind of legacy do you want to leave?

-The Green Couch 

Project: Your Greatest Competition

Don’t let the competition dictate whether or not you will do something; unless that is to dictate that you will work harder to be better.

Suppose your alleged rivals are wearing black, do not be intimidated to wear black for fear there will be naysayers and other spectators that question why you are the runner up.

Be confident in what you do and even if someone is reaching for the same result, do the same thing, just do it differently. Do it your way. No matter whom you compare yourself to, The biggest threat to your ideas is yourself. Think big thoughts and be bold enough to share them. 

Three tips to feel confident against your biggest competition (that’s you):

Be Knowledgeable: Doesn’t it feel good to begin a conversation where you know what you are talking about? Don’t just pursue what you like in life; pursue what you love you will have the power to retain the knowledge and hold a passionate conversation.

Be Open to Knowledge: There is always something new to learn and always someone who can teach you something new. Confidence isn’t knowing it all, it’s knowing who you are in what you do. And if you want to improve what you do, you’re going to have to understand that that what you do might change.

Be Bold: You’re going to make mistakes, misunderstand and have miscommunications no matter how much your knowledgeable about something.  Keep growing your idea and sharing it boldly. A baby doesn’t stop walking no matter how many times it falls down. It looks for his or her destination point and runs for it until it grows into the proficient toddler walker. Learn to be like that baby. Don’t let shaky legs or a shaky voice shake you up. Set your eyes and heart upon your destination and don’t give up.

And if you’re lucky, just like a baby has loving people cheering him or her on, make sure you have your cheer squad. And make sure, as your greatest competition, you’re part of that squad! Because we definitely are!

-The Green Couch Project

Project: The Nation Starts In Your Neighborhood

In the last week, the nation has come together in solidarity. Not once but several times. And that’s just the times we have been able to catch.

What are we talking about? National Days.

• We took note of National Running Day

• Salivated over National Donut Day

• And stopped to appreciate those around us during National Best Friend Day

But there are national days for everything anymore.

• National Lefthanders Day

• National Punch The Clock Day

• National Eggs Benedict Day

• And. So. Many. More.

These may sound silly. But a nation at large is made up of individuals; of lefthanders; of people struggling to get up in the morning; of people at small mom and pop diners waiting to welcome you with your Eggs Benedict

To become a nation it takes each person at a time doing their job and perhaps all these seemingly inane holidays are just a way we pay tribute to those we take for granted and for ways we can let go –because remember International Panic Day is right around the corner.

Celebrating National starts in your neighborhood. And as a leader in your workspace and your community you have the power to make that happen. To celebrate a national holiday doesn’t mean you have to travel. It doesn’t mean you have to invest in all patriotic fanfare. It means you invest in your neighborhood. And celebrating national doesn’t mean you have to wait for Eggs Benedict Day. You can create your own. You can empower your town to rise above any negativity and ways to spotlight the individualism that makes the Google Map pinpoint on your town so special.

The nation is comprised of hundreds upon thousands of neighborhoods, and each one is kept alive through an economy of working people. It’s our job to ensure that these jobs can survive. Part of that survival is more than monetary. It’s office morale.

Sure, join the nation in solidarity in the occasional National Day celebration, but make every day worth celebrating in your community with your cause.

Happy National Hug Day,

The Green Couch