The Vision Quest Chronicles: Tales of Living One's Vision

…The #1 Benefit of Networking “Naked”…it saves time! (what am I the only one who ever has a mixed agenda?)

Is coloring inside the lines killing you and your CREATIVE SPIRIT!?

Whether you’re and entrepreneur or “company man/woman” you may feel as if you must confine yourself to social norms to succeed in business. At Vision Quest Retreats we have determined that this is NOT the best way to live.

What would happen if you could just be yourself? What if you could be your fully authentic self expressing all aspects of your Divine Nature?

How might your life and work be different if you unleashed all the energy you currently use to maintain your facade? What if you bared yourself a.k.a. got NAKED*?!

If you are ready to shed some of this Sh*!stuff and do some quality (easy as pie) Networking This ONLINE Event is for you!

COME AS YOU ARE and Join the Discussion at our Next Vision Quest Retreats ONLINE “Naked” Networking Event!!

We also give away prizes!  

How it works:

1) At the appointed time a note with the topic and question will be posted on the wall of Vision Quest Retreats.

2) Answer the question in the post and tell us about you, your vision, work, or business. Post links to your websites, blogs, etc.

3) You must “like” the page to comment but you do NOT have to be a woman
biz owner to join us!

4) Refresh the page often to see new posts.

5) Have fun…meet some nice people! 

Location: The wall of Vision Quest Retreats Facebook page.

Date/Time of Next Event: Nov. 30 7:30-9:00 PM EST

Much Continued Success & Well Being,

Nicole

P.S. Click to read The Top 10 Benefits of Networking “Naked“

*Disclaimer-This is a virtual event held on Facebook and no nudity is involved (I had to put this disclaimer for people who, for some reason, don’t get that “naked” is a euphemism for baring their true selves) 

A critical element of success on the Heroine’s Quest is unplugging; getting away, taking quiet time to unwind and clear one’s head. (Vision Quest Retreats is in fact partly based upon this notion.) With so much work and other demands it is easy to get swept away in striving but this must be undone. Too much effort and striving leaves me out of balance, stressed and in danger of fatigue and burnout.  Finding moments of rest and quiet help me rejuvenate and open me to greater creativity and joy in my work.

This weekend I was blessed to get away to Martha’s Vineyard (in the off season) to spend time with my cousin who I don’t often see and to spend quiet time exploring the island and just getting to “BE” with no particular agenda.

I drove all over the island just taking in the beauty and the quiet. I stood on the beach and let the cold blustering wind sweep from my mind the cobwebs and dross accumulated there.

I captured my experience in pictures and short videos, some of which I am sharing here. I hope you find moments of quiet, beauty and inspiration in them.

Click here to see the full Martha’s Vineyard album.

Part II of “When is a Relationship a Detour from Your Destiny?” (see below for part I)

So what have you done when you have determined that a relationship is in fact a detour from your destiny? Drop us a line here or come by Vision Quest Retreats on FB and tell us about it.

If you are a woman on the Heroine’s Quest pursuing your Vision of Success join our tribe at theVision Quest Retreats face book page

If you are a Woman Business Owner come play with us every Wed. at Women Owned Business Wednesdays; a 24 Hr Happy Hour where you meet cool people and win cool stuff!

How do you know when is a relationship a really a detour from Your Destiny?

If you are a woman pursuing your Vision on the Heroine’s Quest join our tribe at theVision Quest Retreats face book page

If you are a Woman Business Owner come play with us every Wed. at Women Owned Business Wednesdays; a 24 Hr Happy Hour where you meet cool people and win cool stuff!

This latest update from the Heroine’s Quest is about moving through fear to claim your destiny. Check it out…

You are also invited to our next ONLINE Naked* Networking Event; a Book Chat and Giveaway with the author of Unveiling: The Inner Journey, Dr. Alianna Maren Wed. October 19 from 7:30-8:30 PM EST on the Vision Quest Retreats Facebook Page.

Join our tribe of women on the Heroine’s Quest! Please like our VQR FB pg and Join our mailing list by clicking “join mailing list” on the home pg of this site Vision Quest Retreats.

Click to Learn more about Unveiling: The Inner Journey

*Disclaimer-This is a virtual event held on Facebook and no nudity is involved (I had to put this disclaimer for people who, for some reason, don’t get that “naked” is a euphemism for baring their true selves)

Contemplation, Preparation or Procrastination? Watch this video, read these tips and tell me what you think?

Sitting down to write after 2 weeks off. I feel like I’m pushing a 2-ton boulder up a steep hill in the mental landscape of my mind. I had only just started when I pushed away from my writing table and tried to sit still while listening to the Gregorian chants from the Choir of Benedictine Nuns to center myself and prepare to write. I was able to write a little bit after this but it hasn’t gotten much better.

When do you push through writer’s block and when do you give up and turn your attention elsewhere? Some days are just like this. Trying to be productive doing other important things like this vlog. Going for a walk at the river in a minute to clear my head and get some exercise. That often works to get me past blocks.

View the video above to see the day’s results and get some tips on overcoming writer’s block and writer’s clog (my newly invented term).

Try these tips for overcoming writer’s block and writer’s clog:

1) Just write whatever comes to mind for 10 mins.

2) If it’s not coming turn your attention elsewhere then come back in an hour or less. You can do other work or take some exercise in this time.

3) Don’t beat yourself up. Be kind to yourself. It is more encouraging.

4) Set your clock and just write for .5 hrs or an hr. no matter how it feels. (just do your best and accept that the work does not always flow.)

5) If it’s just not coming let it go and try another day.

6) Create a reward for any accomplishment toward your writing goal and celebrate what you did do (again the idea is that this is more encouraging than beating yourself up).

7) Consider getting a writing coach, a service I offer via my success coaching practice.  I worked with Tisa Silver, author of “The Time Value of Life” because even coaches need coaches.

NOTE: If you are a heroine or hero on the quest join our online tribes at Vision Quest Retreats & Women Owned Business Wednesdays!

One more reason to dislike the so called TV News. (Read prior to watching video)
Rex (my adorable 5 yr old Beagle) and I were doing something that I’ve been doing for about 20 years; walking on the C&O Canal/Billy Goat trail near my mom’s house, the house I grew up in, when we were stopped to be interviewed by a “journalist” about the “funny” smell (which I couldn’t smell) at the canal and the construction project going on there.

FOX 5 Investigates: Potomac Interceptor: MyFoxDC.com

The reporter was really excited to tell me that the “stench” was sewage and after really hyping up how awful it was and making a lot of other very leading statements asked me how I felt about the situation. I told her the smell wasn’t bad at all and that I only sometimes smelled anything bad at all there. She probed further, “How do you FEEL about the fact that this is VA sewage coming through MD on it’s way to DC?!” “Uh” I replied, “I’d have to know more about it.” Wrong answer again! Apparently I don’t need to know anything I just need to be really upset about this “tragedy” even if I know nothing like who this helps, who it hurts, who perhaps gets work or a job out of it. That apparently is irrelevant. I’m just supposed to care that you are stinking up MY nature walk that I have the privilege to take in the middle of the day when most people, including the people digging the sewer lines, are hard at work.

When all else failed she asked me what I liked about the canal. I told her I loved the greenery and the peace and quiet. She broke in quickly, pointing a finger toward the construction “Yeah except for THAT noise huh?” Again no go…I said “Actually I hardly hear it. I walk on the Billy Goat trail and once you get in the woods you can’t even hear it.” She looked pretty annoyed by this point and thanked me so I could move on.I apologized for not being a good interviewee, as I had not told her what she seemed to want to hear (so desperately I might add). She assured me that I was “great” before taking some B roll footage of me and Rex walking away (into obscurity). Well at least we LOOKED good. Needless to say my comments ended up on the cutting room floor and this is what she reported instead.

You can see us walking during the opening montage while “Funky Town” plays in the background.

P.S. Rex wishes he could have been here to comment but he is off reading his fan mail.

How do YOU find balance between, work, play and pursuing your passions?
Dr. Nicole Cutts shares her experience as an entreprenuer, success coach, author, social butterfly and mom of a 5 yr old Beagle.

If you are a woman pursuing your Vision on the Heroine’s Quest join our tribe at the Vision Quest Retreats face book page

If you are a Woman Business Owner join us every Wed. for Women Owned Business Wednesdays; a 24 Hr Happy Hour!

How do YOU find balance between, work, play and pursuing your passions?
Dr. Nicole Cutts shares her experience as an entreprenuer, success coach, author, social butterfly and mom of a 5 yr old Beagle.

If you are a woman pursuing your Vision on the Heroine’s Quest join our tribe at the Vision Quest Retreats face book page

If you are a Woman Business Owner join us every Wed. for Women Owned Business Wednesdays; a 24 Hr Happy Hour!

Additional Video Info: This is part II of this video shot 9/10/11. The part that got chopped out was that I found the weekend especially challenging due to my alma mater; Howard University… HU!!! playing a big football game against Morehouse. BTW we won somehow even without my support at the game and subsequent after parties.