Samuel, my 7-year-old guide

Yesterday, I started my day taking the boat to San Juan, one of the villages close by. San Juan is known for its weaving associations. I didn´t realize that many of them would be closed on Sunday but I met some amazing artists who showed me their work.

In one of the little stores, Francisca took me through a photo album someone had helped her compile with the explanation written in French and English. She explained to me in Spanish how it takes 3 days of 6 hours work each day to create the natural dyes. It is something from the trunk of the banana tree that “sets” the dyes so they don´t run. From there, they weave the most beautiful scarves and shawls.

As I was listening to her explain the process, I couldn´t help but marvel at the amount of work and effort it takes to create the one scarf she was selling for about $6. I found myself with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes quite unexpectedly at the pride with which they do their work and how gracious she was to explain it to me without ever asking for anything back. She also explained how they take the sweaters and clothes that are donated to the country and unravel all of the threads and remake them into scarves and shawls. She had a whole section of the store for recycled products that were also beautiful. I bought a lavender and yellow scarf that is simply stunning.

After spending about an hour in San Juan, I hired a TukTuk to take me to San Pedro, about 5 minutes drive away. The driver looked awfully young so when we got to San Pedro, I asked him his age. “13″ he told me. “What is the legal driving age in Guatemala?” I asked. “18″ he answered without even blinking an eye. “Is there a different legal driving age for TukTuks?” I next asked. “No” he repied without an ounce of guilt. “Well you are a very good driver.” I said, almost laughing out loud and got about exploring a whole new section of San Pedro.

After buying some amazing mangos at the market, I asked about a restaurant I had been told about by one of my readers, Shel Horowitz. Shel had emailed me to rave about his trip to Guatemala and give me some suggestions. Going to Zoolas in San Pedro was right at the top of Shel´s list of things to do. Considering that Shel is the founder of the websites on Frugal Marketing and Frugal Fun, I pay attention to Shel as he seems to know quality at a bargain.

Interestingly, unlike many countries I have traveled in, Guatemalans seem to give better directions than most. They will even say, “I don´t know”, instead of making up directions so as not to lose face. It is very much appreciated.

I asked a woman for directions to Zoolas and she immediately sent her little boy with me to “show the lady what she wants”. In a country where at just under 5´tall, I am TALL, a little boy of 7 is really small. But Samuel seemed to be quite adept at showing someone around town. When I told him about the “foreigner´s restaurant” called Zoolas, he knew immediately where to take me. He engaged me in conversation and we had quite the discussion about life, his family, and his town.

In the middle of our journey when I told him what a good guide he was, he said, “well you´re going to give me a tip for this”. I just about burst out laughing. There was no doubt in Samuel´s mind that he was going to get paid for his work. How could I resist such an entrepreneurial spirit! I asked him what he wanted and without a second´s hesitation he told me 5 quetzals. 8 quetzals is $1 US. That´s actually quite alot of money saying I can have an entire lunch for 42 quetzals but I thought he was worth it and paid him 6 quetzals much to his delight.

Zoolas was an incredible Israeli restaurant where I drank Chai tea, ate falafels and had the most amazing chocolate volcano desert. Chocolate in this country is wonderful and as I have temporarily gone off of alcohol, I am thoroughly enjoying the chocolate. The total bill including tip was 66 quetzals – about $8.50. There are pictures of this place on facebook so check it out.

One of the women I had met on a previous trip to San Pedro came into the restaurant. Maria sells beautiful scarves and shawls, adornments for the hair and other small woven goods. When I asked her to wait until I finished eating, she immediately picked up her things from my table and went to the front of the restaurant to wait. I appreciated her graciousness as that doesn´t always happen in every country. Vendors can be most annoying when they don´t understand the full significance of the word “no”. But Maria won my heart by how she conducted her business. I ended up buying 3 beautiful shawls from her. They cost me $8 each which was a bargain.

I came home yesterday mentally, emotionally, spiritually overflowing with the beauty of the country and the people. Physically I was more than satisfied as I had a fabulous lunch and got my exercise going up and down the hills. Financially, I felt like I had made a wonderful contribution to this country that is currently home while receiving beautiful things that I will be poignant memories of Guatemala. What more could I ask for?

One of the advantages of having a mentor that you follow through newsletters, blogs and websites is that it doesn´t cost you alot of your money. For example, as I watch Ali Brown send out her emails, I can learn from a woman who is well on her way to an 8-figure income. You´ll notice a new layout for my newsletters coming in September. I learned that layout from Ali. As I watch Joyce Meyer on television and see how she advertises on her videos and uses technology, I am learning.

There is a lot to be learned from mentors just by observing. If they are successful at what they do, and I highly recommend that you find people who are experts in their field, then you can learn by watching and copying.

Children learn everything in life from imitating and mimicking. It´s a great idea if you want to learn quickly and make fewer mistakes. Learning is a lifelong journey, especially as an entrepreneur, and observation is one of the easiest ways to learn without it costing you a fortune.

Amazingly enough, while Brenda was here for a week and we were out hiking, dining and playing, I also managed to read a book in it´s entirety so I could send it back with Brenda. It was a light-hearted, fun book that had a great message. It was the The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella.

A great story about a 29-year-old high powered lawyer in London who has sold her soul to the law firm she aspires to be a partner in, and then makes one fatal mistake that not only loses her the partnership but gets her fired. She ends up as a domestic maid in a small English countryside village, learns how to cook gourmet meals and falls in love.

However, she is exonerated at the end of the story and needs to make a difficult choice. Does she leave this idyllic life, baking bread, hanging out at the pub with her lover on the weekend, suntanning in the garden and having a life to herself, or does she go back to the grind of sleepless nights, constantly ringing cell phones, non-stop meetings and endless deadlines?

Although the story is a bit far-fetched at times, it raises a great question for everyone. What sacrifices are you willing to make to have the amazing life you want? Will you work your tail off for 30 or 40 years to retire at 65 and hope the company is around to give you that pension? I bet you lots of people right now can´t believe that their retirement dreams have been decimated by the economic plight of many companies. All that work, all that money, all those dreams…gone!

On the other hand, do you give it all up, live a carefree life globe-trotting around the world and not have a plan for when you finally can´t do it anymore? Every one I know could earn more money. Every entrepreneur I coach has potential they are not using. Every day I ask myself this question: What am I willing to do to create my amazing life and what do I say, “no way” to.

You need to ask yourself the same question. Otherwise, you may find that you have sold your soul and you´re resentful or you missed the boat and you´re now sorry. This is a regular check-in for me. I suggest it be for you too.

One of the things that I am very clear about is that you can´t create your amazing life without help. Today I spent a couple of hours on Elance hiring another graphic artist for my team, working with my new team of word press experts for the new website and going through resumes and portfolios of social media experts. I consider the work I did today some of the most important work I will do this week.

If you think that you can do everything yourself, you´re wrong. You can´t. Otherwise, you will end up burned out, bummed out and stressed out. Maybe you´ve noticed that one already! One of the greatest secrets I have to share with anyone when it comes to creating an amazing life is: do what you love, use your sacred gifts and delegate the rest. No exceptions!

If you are already whining that you can´t afford to do that, then that´s the biggest clue that you can´t afford NOT to do it! The only way you will get out of that vicious cycle and it is a brutal one, is to start delegating and focusing on what you do well, easily, graciously and effortlessly.

Even if you don´t own a business, you still need to pull together a team to create the amazing life you say you want. That could be utilizing your partner, kids, friends, workmates or neighbors but you cannot be the SuperMan or SuperWoman in your life day in and day out without burning out.

Take this one seriously because we´ve all tried to do it alone. It doesn´t work. Start creating your team. If you need some help, go to www.elance.com and put out what you are looking for. It´s free to use and you will be amazed at the quality help you can get for a minimal amount of money. Most of my amazing team has come to me through this invaluable resource.

I talk about it in my book, Devil with a Briefcase: 101 Success Secrets for the Spiritual Entrepreneur which if you haven´t got in your library, you may want to check out. It contains a plethora of valuable, practical and proven success secrets for your business and life.

Don´t brush this one off. Putting this one secret to use in your life will transform it from stressed out and overwhelmed to more confident, calm and peaceful. Sounds good to me. What about you?

View from in front of my place in Sedona

It´s almost the weekend and as I wrap up a very busy week with one more client this afternoon, I am reminded that it is time to take time off.

Like many entrepreneurs, it can be hard to turn off the switch, to go and play and forget about work. However, in all of my experience of 29 years as an entrepreneur, time off is critical to your success.

At the end of your life, you won´t remember that you worked every weekend or were on the front page of Google in the search engines. You probably won´t remember the email you read or wrote. But the special times with family and friends will be what brings a smile to your face.

As this is my first weekend in Sedona, I plan on doing some exploring, laying by the pool for more than a quick swim and tan, and possibly connecting with the amazing shaman who did my birthday vortex tour here last September.

There will be some journalling, some reading and meditating along with a glass or two of Chardonnay. It´s actually less expensive here than it was in Mexico!

How about you? I promise you that if you take some time off you will feel more rejuventated and refreshed come Monday. You need some rest and relaxation so I hope you have some planned as you create your amazing life.