What I do is help small business entrepreneurs get what matters on video and help tell their stories of the amazing work they are doing.

I thought it would be a good time to look back, reflect, and share progress so far.

Here is some of what I learned in the first six months of being an entrepreneur:

I love being creative and collaborating with clients to get their best stuff out in the world.

It makes me extremely happy to be able to provide a useful service that can do this.

I love designing my days and having the freedom of working when I want to, on my own terms.

I appreciate that I’ve gotten to work with the most awesome clients so far.  They continue to inspire.

It takes time and a lot of effort to grow a successful business.  I am learning to be more patient and enjoy the process.

Money is coming in, but I’m not making the amount of money I want to… yet.

It’s perfectly fine for me to do freelance TV gigs (my background is working as a tv post-supervisor) to help with cash flow when necessary.

This doesn’t mean I am not successful at my small biz.  To me it means I have resources, skills and experience that come in very handy.   In reality, the money from these TV gigs is what enabled me to start the business in the first place.  For this I am grateful.

You learn a ton about yourself when you start a business.  One thing I can share is that even though I enjoy my alone time, its definitely been an adjustment to spend most workdays solo.

I am getting more comfortable with the unknown, and letting go of the need to know exactly what’s up next.

It’s beneficial to have a mindfulness or meditation practice, or some activity that grounds you and calms the mind. This can be just sitting quietly for five minutes, taking a walk, going to a gentle yoga class.

Doing exercise and moving the body is crucial.  It helps my stuck energy get flowing and re-sets my mood.   Last weekend I attended a dance workshop/retreat and didn’t realize how much creativity could be unleashed through the fingers, toes, elbows and feet.  Awesome!

Also time spent in nature, at the movies, seeing art, or meeting a friend for coffee all contribute to more creativity and ideas when I return.

It’s beginning to feel like I made the right choice to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

It’s beginning to feel like I can make a difference.

I am committed to the journey, to this path that probably has no end, but has many bumps and twists along the way.

What talents and passions do you have to share with the world?  I’d love to know.

Shama Kabani talks about how video is the ultimate social media in her recent interview with Pam Slim.

Elizabeth Potts Weinstein is doing really fun, interesting things with video and shares how it helps you speak your truth.

I’ve been thinking and talking about video a lot lately too.  People are sharing their remarkable ideas and inspirations for videos they want to create.  Together we are figuring out how to get what matters on video.

I am truly grateful to be working with such awesome people to help get their messages out and grow their businesses.  I am loving what I do and excited to grow as well.

A few things video can do for your small business:

It’s personal:  When folks can see you and hear your voice they feel a closer connection.  It’s like your talking directly to them.  It’s honest.  This is big.

It’s real:   You can really show your passion, your humor,  your thoughtfulness and even your mistakes in a video.  It’s totally okay if you flub, this puts a human face on a business.

It’s doable and fun (really!) and doesn’t have to cost a fortune: Planning and creating a short video doesn’t have to be difficult and can even be fun.  Technical hurdles?  No problem.  I encourage you to download my free eBook, How to Create & Share Quality Video Without Spending a Fortune.

I sincerely hope this is a valuable resource for you as you prepare to create your own awesome videos.  I welcome your feedback and if there’s anything I forgot to include, please do let me know.

Here’s a wonderful example of a video that’s super creative and powerful.  It uses graphics and moving text as visuals.  I think its really great.  It’s from Michael Bungay Stanier and the folks over at Box of Crayons.

http://www.domoregreatwork.com/

If you’ve got a video idea in mind, or perhaps a few — but are too busy to get started or unsure what steps to take next, I’d love to talk with you.  We can discuss your vision, and come up with a workable plan and budget perfect for you.

Enjoy and have a great week!

I am thrilled to share something really awesome today.  Kelly Kingman of http://stickyebooks.com/ is releasing an eBook – The Sticky eBook Formula.

Over the past year I’ve gotten to know Kelly through our participation in Pamela Slim’s group coaching program.  In that time it’s been fantastic to see her side business grow into a full fledged ittybiz.  Yay Kelly!

She is the go to person if you are thinking about writing an eBook, but are in need of some assistance organizing your thoughts and ideas.

Even if you aren’t a writer, she can show you how to get your valuable experience and knowledge out of your head and into an eBook.  There is more than one way to do this!

I know it can be daunting to consider writing 5,000 words.  I don’t consider myself a writer – I’m a video producer, more like a writer of visuals – but I am now in the final stages of formatting my first eBook.

I am grateful to have had a sneak preview of The Sticky eBook Formula to help guide me through the writing process.

Kelly clearly defines what steps to take, shares tools and methods for gathering information, organizing it, even how our brains work!

This eBook is packed full of remarkably great, useful stuff.

I invite you to consider checking out this eBook.  I am an affiliate partner for this wonderful product and honestly feel it’s a fabulous resource. The sale price of $17 ends Friday at midnight EST.

If you are interested just click on the book:

Enjoy and have a great week!

The other day I was preparing to do my taxes and was going through credit card receipts when I noticed that I joined Pamela Slim’s Quickstart to Self Employment http://www.escapeseminars.com/ in May of 2009.

I am thrilled that just under a year later I have partnered on a product with Pam along with the talented Christy Risser-Milne http://onlinesoundadvice.com/ and Kelly Kingman, http://stickyebooks.com/.  We all met in the Quickstart Program.

Together we created a multimedia product called Escape From Cubicle Nation Workshop in a Box http://escapeworkshopinabox.com/ with footage recorded at Pam’s New York Workshop.  There are also cool bonus additions with Colleen Wainwright http://www.communicatrix.com/ and Tim Berry http://timberry.com/. Included are videos, audios and a fantastic workbook!

It feels soooo amazing to have worked on a project that can really motivate and help people live the ideal life they desire and do the work that matters most to them.

Its funny how the right people and things start to come together when you choose to move beyond your fears, and begin to open up to exploring new ideas, trying new things.

I am getting going with my small video biz and am forever grateful for the coaching, support and guidance I received from Pam and folks in the Quickstart Program.   I highly recommend finding positive-minded people to surround yourself with as you begin the path to entrepreneurship.

Also huge thanks and a shout out to musician Rich Goodhart http://www.richgoodhart.com/.  His beautiful music is the theme for the sneak peek and all the videos.

I really loved putting together the short sneak peek for this project.  I find these so fun to do.  This really shows Pam’s enthusiasm as well as the excitement of the participants.

Was an awesome experience all around!

If you or anyone you know is contemplating becoming an entrepreneur and escaping the cubicle, I invite you to share this with them.

http://escapeworkshopinabox.com/

For over a decade I’ve worked in the broadcast film and television industry as a Producer and Post-Production Supervisor.  I’ve worked on all kinds of projects; independent films, docs, talk shows, reality shows, webisodes.  I’ve received two Emmy Awards for my work and am now ready to take my skills and experience and share them in a new way.

I decided to follow my passion and launch Open Sky Video.

It’s a place for folks like you to get comfortable and confident creating awesome video projects.  Need to learn editing with iMovie or Final Cut?  Are you ever stumped at how to embed a You Tube video on your site?  Can’t figure out your new video camera settings?  I am thrilled to help out in any way I can and be a calming presence as you move through the production process and get up to speed with the technical side of things.

I study Buddhism and this helps guide me in my life and of course my work.  Meditation and yoga are a big part of my life.  Other passions are photography, movies, art, travel, nature, health and wellness.

My hope is to approach clients of all skill levels with a sense of openness and awareness.  Together we can create, aspire, and tap into our vast unlimited potential.  The open sky is within ourselves.  If we allow space and quiet, things do get clearer and all is possible.

If you are someone who wants to be inspired, get motivated and develop the expertise you need to create your own multi-media projects, I invite you to check in with my blog where I’ll be sharing video clips, photos, articles, creative ideas and tips.  I’m excited to be a vibrant resource for you.  Take a look at this amazingly powerful two-minute video.  Its called The Girl Effect.  It was produced by the Nike Foundation along with other leading humanitarian organizations.

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It’s one way of getting an important message out there just using words and music.  It’s a knockout way to tell a story.  Video is a knockout way to tell a story.

Look forward to capturing, sharing, uploading and connecting with you.

To reaching skyward while still remaining grounded.

~ Karen