It’s been ages since we’ve posted a blog entry but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been thinking about all of you who take the time to visit our Website. It’s been a busy few months (that’s an understatement!) and we want to catch up with everyone now that things have settled down a bit.
The struggling economy hit us hard in Anguilla this year and although our restaurant is holding its own, we’ve all suffered a bit financially. There simply were not as many visitors to the island as usual and there was absolutely nothing we could do about it. We also had the misfortune of getting tangled up with a resort project on the island that had to close its doors due to a lack of available financing. We were stuck in the middle of a difficult situation and lost what we thought was reliable income there as well.
Following our own Live What You Love advice, we knew we had to make some changes. As drastic as it sounds, we sold our house in Vermont. We’d built that house with our own hands and loved it dearly. But in the end, a house is just a house. We bought a smaller, more manageable home in Florida just a few weeks ago and are thrilled to be here. Travelling back and forth to Anguilla will be much easier now, taking less time and costing less money. Phew!
But our even bigger news is that in the middle of relocating, we’ve also started another business. Truthfully, we didn’t know what else to do. Once you’ve been an entrepreneur, it’s almost impossible to get a job. (Yes, we tried.) Unless we wanted to lay off our top staff at the restaurant and take their place, we needed to find another source of income. For those of you who know us well, it’s no surprsie that we would rather stick our necks out with a new venture than disrupt our staff. They are our family.
So here we are with business #9 (or maybe #10?) Our ultimate goal is to use all of our life experience – both the ups and downs – to inspire and encourage as many people as possible to live what they love. Our passion is offering encouragement and helping other people to realize their own dreams. We’ve designed (actually we had a lot of help – stay tuned for more about that later) a beautiful line of greeting cards, gift boxes, gift enclosures, magnets, and notepads. Every product has an encouraging LWYL message and reminds you to spend time doing something you love. Something meaningful.
And if you think we had loads of money to start any kind of business we want, think again. Our credit cards are maxed out and we’re out on a limb as far as we can go. We have friends helping us all along the way and thankfully, we had a great response to our products at the recent New York Gift Show. As we say on one of our cards, “You’ve got to take chances for the things you care about.”
Here we go again… If we can start over again, so can you.
13 Comments
Hi Bob and Mel,
I just read your blog post and wanted to wish you the best of luck in your new venture! You both have an amazing energy and gift for communication that is truly inspiring. I find myself very aligned with your perspective, and will continue to keep abreast of your activities.
Thanks,
JW
Thanks for your good wishes, Jonathan. We shipped our first orders just about 10 days ago and we’ve already started to receive re-orders. Very encouraging – and exciting!
We’d love to hear more about your own LWYL thoughts and goals as well. Maybe you’d like to share some advice or life experiences that would be helpful to other people who visit our site.
Good Luck with the new items! I wish they could be ordered on your web site. Your book is great, and when the steps are followed it amazing how you realize what you already have, how little changes can make a big difference and how things aren’t really that far from you reach!
I have managed to make my list of the 7 most important things to me; I plan on adding more and subtracting as things get finished.
It also helped me realize I could have the best of both worlds by dividing my time and giving up on things that just didn’t mean anything anymore.
I also realized that I may be an adult, a busy professional and parent….but I can still reach for my dreams – just in different ways than I originally thought.
Thanks!
Hi Mel and Bob,
Good to see you back on line. I too followed your steps to DREAM and it has moved my life in so many ways. Including being able to move back to the Caribbean. A year ago when I first discovered ‘Live What you Love’ I never would have believed the changes it would make in my life. But as you know, it really does. We are happly settled back into the Virgin Islands, LOVING my new job, following my passions and giving our family the pleasure of living in paradise. I understand the finanical impact to those of us living and working in the Caribbean and was saddened to hear of the issues you too are going through. But as the creators of LWYL, the plan will work out. But of course you already know this. Keep those positive vibes coming to all of your supporters.
Hi Bob and Mel!
I was wondering what happened since we haven’t heard much from you both lately. I’m sorry about your house in Vermont, but you are right, it is just a house.
We are all facing leaner times and I hope things get better soon. I will certainly refer your new business!
Best luck in Anguilla and I think it’s time to take the plunge and visit you there!
By the way, wanted to update you on my sister, Liz, in NY. She wrote you several months ago about her job and she decided to change life directions. She resigned and moved back to CA. Because of you, she listened to her heart. Thank you for your encouragement!
HI Bob and Mel,
Does this advice apply to over sixty someones?
I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUTLEADING A DISCUSSION GROUP BASED ON MY FAVORITE BOOKS ABOUT WOMEN STARTING NEW LIVES AFTER FIFTY. IF THIS WERE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT HOSTING WEEKEND RETREATS IN MY HOME IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA. A PLACE, TO RENEW, TO SHARE, TO REENERGIZE WITH LIKE-MINDED WOMEN.
I DO HAVE FEARS AS YOU DISCUSSED I ANOTHER BLOG ABOUT STARTING THIS VENTURE.
Carolyn, hosting a discussion group and a series of retreats for women over 50 who are starting new lives is a fantastic idea! Are you asking us if you’re too old to start a venture like this? If so, we can’t imagine why that would be the case. It’s clearly something you’re passionate about and presumably, you have some relevant personal experience that other women would find helpful. Why do you think your age would prevent you from being successful? In fact, being over 60 seems the most appropriate age to enter into such a venture. Certainly, a 30 or 40 year old wouldn’t have the same insight and perspective.
We’re 58 years old and having the time of our lives with our latest business. In fact, facing a wide variety of new challenges makes us feel younger and more energetic than we have for a long time. Lots and lots of fun!
Go for it Carolyn. Take one step at a time and make it work. List each potential problem that you think might crop up and find a few potential solutions ahead of time. There are always solutions. If you don’t already have a copy of “Changing Your Course”, this would be the time to read it. If you follow our 5 D.R.E.A.M. steps, you’ll be hosting retreats in no time. Keep us posted.
I love your cards! I stumbled across them — and one of your books- at one of my favorite stores in Anna Maria Island, FL and am so glad I did. Keep the inspiration coming.
Lena, we’re thrilled to hear that you love our new cards! Thanks so much for posting a note on our blog. We truly appreciate your enthusiasm!!!
My husband and I are at a point in our lives where we just want to start over, well, not start over but start a new journey. We are in our early 40’s with a high school sophmore. I am in real estate and hubby is in the corporate world. He is totaly burned out and we have become disappointed with what we thought was “our dream” life. We have a big beatiful house, 2 nice cars, and everything you are suposed to want BUT we aren’t happy. We are not doing what we love. We have a huge mortgage, car payments and bills that suck us dry. We want to move south and do something we love. We all love travel and thought something in the tourism industry may be what we need. Does anyone have any adivse on how to “start from sratch” as far as brain storming ideas go??? I am trying to figure out how to take our love of being outdoors, his corporate backround, my creativity and people skills and turn it into a business that will enable us to live the life we love. Thansk!
Thank you for your example.I met a wonderful new friend while ferrying from Virgin Gorda to Tortola, during our conversation of shared experiences around relocating, she from Indiana to St Thomas me from Georgia to California and now to the BVI she suggeted I get your books and visit your site. We are kindered spirits. I believe that we all are connectd, sometime we just don’t realize it.
Peace and blessings…see you at the restaurant in the near future.
Vee
HI,
I found you guys doing research for a caribbean menu for an upcoming party! I so love how the world works. I, too, own a biz with my hubby – our first trip to the entrepeneur world! Your honesty and perservarence is exactly what i needed to hear today. Thank you! The solution is always at hand, it just me that gets in the way. You have a new fan!
Patty
Patty, thanks so much for dropping us a line! Our hope is that if people like you can share their enthusiasm for following their dreams, others will gather up the courage to do the same. And don’t worry if you feel discouraged some days. We all do. Just be patient and take one step at a time. Remember that sometimes it’s those detours in life that provide us with the best memories. Best of luck to you and your husband with your business venture. Keep us posted!