But one of the most important lessons of all: freedom is an inside job

This summer I had a chance to experience it first hand – in a dressing room. Of all places.

I took a branded shopping trip with my friend and colleague Kristen Domingue, creator of Ignite, a boutique style and brand consultancy. She specialized in helping women entrepreneurs link their style to their brand, and their brand to their purpose, so they KNOW they are attracting the right clients, on and off-line.

Given that I do so much speaking, and dress from my suitcase-cum-closet, a little style pit stop felt like a good idea.

After filling out her extensive brand assessment, and talking about my brand and purpose with her, she hit the streets and set aside clothes that were aligned with my core message. Clothes for dates, for speaking gigs, for working with clients, and just plain old hittin’ the road.

We had a lot of fun, broke a few sales associate hearts. And more than that, I realized we are aligned on something important.

I believe that freedom is something that happens inside of you when you tell yourself the truth (about money, love, etc.), and then align your life with that truth.

Inviting Mike on the Freedom Tour? Truth.
Starting the freedom Tour? Truth.
Taking a break this summer? Truth.
Not doing a daily video blog? Truth.
Cutting my hair? Truth.

And as a result, I am feeling more like me, and more free than I have in a long time.

Kristen totally understood that – in fact – just like I believe freedom is an inside job, she shares that branding is an inside job: the outer expression of your internal purpose; aligning your brand with your purpose leaves you free to have the kind of business and life you really want.

I mentioned in another post that this year, I launched a new business partnership, ended another one, then ended the one I had just started, experimented with being homeless, and fell in love.

With all that transition, my brand was a little hard to nail down.

But I can tell you for sure, my essence wasn’t.

It’s in stripping away everything that wasn’t me that the truth of my loves, likes, dislikes emerged. Which meant that while we saw tons of cute clothes, I felt most like me when we took an off-the-plan stroll into Cathryn Malandrino (a personal fave of mine) and I fell in love with a dress I wore to dinner that night, and then to a wedding the following week. It felt so much like me, that I bought it in 2 colors.

There is something magical about finding a dress that compliments you perfectly, fits you like a glove, and truly looks like you to the most important person of all: you.

And as I transitioned all year, a magic is emerging on The Freedom Tour that has it “fit me” just like my Cathryn Malandrino.

This year on The Freedom Tour (just like in the dressing rooms,) I tried on, I took off. I looked for the right fit, color, cut and shape.

I didn’t settle.

And I found freedom in the perfect little black (and peach!) dress…

What I noticed about Kristen in our time together, is that she is committed to getting down to the core essence of a person. She doesn’t want you to just look good, she really wants you to have something that fits YOU.

She’s offering a tele-class about this called Magnetic Branding. On it, she’ll share exactly how to infuse your brand with your purpose – your truth – and how this creates more freedom in your business and life.

Click here to register for it:

Magnetic Branding
November 8th at 3 pm EST

More than anything, I do The Freedom Tour to inspire you to find the keys to your own freedom. I know this tele-class is one tool to help you do that.

Click here to register now.

Here was another smart, young woman who had packed up everything and was living out of her car traveling the country. Awesome!

I emailed her “Contact Us” form immediately not expecting a response (find out why in our episode below.) Much to my surprise, Molly called me immediately and…

…within 24 hours we were laying in the grass in Central Park musing on life, love, and what it means to be a young women with a world of possibilities in your late twenties.

I caught up with Molly this past June (yes, this is a semi-vintage Glimpse TV – note the long hair) at the World Domination Summit in Portland, OR. Molly told me all about the ups and downs of her road trip (which it turns out was her honeymoon!) and she filled me in on her very intriguing new product, Joy Juice.

Joy Juice is made up of 120 journal writing prompts to tune into yourself, get unstuck, and boost your confidence.

Sounds good to me! It will take you through an entire year of getting to know yourself better. Divine!

Tune in to find out how Molly went from wearing a suit and heals selling mini Cokes for $4.50 to business men to sleeping ON TOP of her car, among other inspirational vignettes and giggles.

More Molly:

Website: www.stratejoy.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Stratejoy

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Stratejoy

Get your hands on Joy Juice!

Mentioned in the video: It’s not going to turn out the way you thought

Tune in to find out about how to rest in your work, why I consider myself an honorary Canadian, something called trembling that made Will fall in love with yoga, and to see a special surprise at the end :).

More Will:

www.willblunderfield.com

www.facebook.com/willblunderfield

@wblunderfield

Where in your life are you playing small? Where are you playing big?

What is the thing that you do that allows you to feel that you’re “resting in your work”?

Other thoughts/comments? Will and I would love to hear from you!