Enlightened Leadership Blog | The Creative Spark: What Does It Feel Like to Start? | January 2025
Have you ever felt a magnetic pull toward doing or creating something?
Pull. Calling. Destiny. We can call it what we want but it’s a force signaling to us an opportunity to move in a different direction, at a different speed, or both.
The result? Well, that depends on what we choose to do.
Start Where You Are
Within two years of starting my consulting business JLM & Associates Consulting, LLC, I was facing the reality that the life of a founder was exciting but exhausting. I knew in my heart it didn’t have to feel this way. I also knew I had a ton more to accomplish, create, and give.
At this point, one sunrise walk during an annual summer vacation in Diamond Beach, New Jersey led to a new, unexpected professional and personal experience.
Feel the Feeling
Although I savor sunrise beach walks, this one felt extra special from the moment I put on my flip flops that morning. Did I have this feeling because it was my birthday? Who knows.
As I stepped onto the beach, I had no idea I was beginning a new journey, one sandy step at a time. While walking barefoot on the sand, I listened to the birds and my inner voice, which was on a whole new “channel”. I listened and learned a lot more about myself under that blue sky.
After a couple of miles, I received the message. The inner dialogue went like this:
What’s next?
Write a book.
Write a book?
Yes, Jen, write a book.
We’re really shaking things up now.
Yes, Jen, it’s time.
Yes, it’s time.
Okay. I’ll write a book.
Do it your way.
Okay, got it, my way.
Make a Decision
The decision was that simple. It didn’t even feel like a decision. It felt effortless. It felt right.
In that flow, I felt a calling to create something special and inclusive for founders and business leaders worth taking the time to read, digest, and use. This desire aligned with my overall business purpose to shine a light on financial operations to achieve growth business owners can see and feel, with less stress.
As I say in Align Your Business with the Real You, “Your time is yours to hold. Your time is yours to give. Your time is yours to enjoy.” My intention from the very beginning with this project was for readers to feel this book is worth their precious time and energy.
See Your Vision
As I strolled along the beach that morning, a quiet courage stirred within me. I had extensive professional and personal experience to pour into a unique, fresh project designed to serve business leaders in a meaningful, impactful way. I started visualizing the look and feel of the book. I could see it. I could feel it.
One key aspect of creating this book was to connect with readers —anyone running a business—in my voice, as if I am in the room talking to them. As a result, this five-part book that begins in the clouds and ends in the sunshine is a down-to-earth, conversational business approach filled with heartfelt advice and straightforward support. This is consistent with my overall business purpose.
Enjoy the Unfolding
As I left the beach that day, I was determined to bring my book vision to life. What followed enabled me to share with an entrepreneurial audience how they can discover more for their businesses and themselves on a path forward to define their success.
Since that sunrise walk in August 2022, the unfolding has been fulfilling, challenging, soul searching, invigorating, and at times frustrating and exhausting. Through this journey, I created my debut book Align Your Business with the Real You: Connect with Yourself, Create What Matters Most, and Define Your Success. With relatable stories, actionable insights, creative exercises, and takeaways, readers can start achieving what matters most to them right now. And delivering that to readers, as part of my business mission and message, is what matters most to me.
Apply to You
So, how could elements of my story apply to you?
- Start where you are. Do you have strong feelings about accomplishing and/or creating something for your business and/or yourself?
- Allow yourself to feel what that feels like. Explore your thoughts and ideas by yourself. Let it all swirl. You deserve to devote your own energy to exploring your inner strength and potential desires for outward expression.
- Decide. Life can move in all different directions and ways. Are you ready to tap into your courage and embrace something different? Are you craving a new hobby, passion project, or artistic endeavor? Does it feel so right you can see yourself doing it (whatever it is to you)?
- Enjoy the unfolding. Whatever that means to you—enjoy it with patience, persistence, and peace.
The process won’t be filled with endless pink peonies and pretty pink skies, but it will be uniquely yours. And that is beautiful.
By Jennifer Musser
See more and Pre-order Align Your Business with the Real You Here The Book – JLM & Associates Consulting and Align Your Business with the Real You: Connect with Yourself, Create What Matters Most, and Define Your Success by Jennifer Musser | Barnes & Noble®
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