The Fabulist Flash

Issue 65

2006 Wall Calendar

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. Get What You Want in 4 Easy Steps
3. Are you a list maker?
4. Writing Through the Holidays
5. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

It's been an exciting week of experiences. The book release party last Friday was a terrific event. I met several local media folks, some other VIP locals, and sold a few books. The event also made the release of 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live "feel" official. Plus, it was fun to celebrate my achievement with friends and family.

As we spend these December issues exploring goal setting, I think it's important to include in your goal planning ways to celebrate your achievements. These celebrations shouldn't be limited only to celebrating the big goals, but the small ones, too. Rewarding ourselves for a job well done is important and it feels good. For that moment in time, while enjoying a gift to ourselves, we're reminded that we're important.

This week has also been filled with radio interviews. I've been averaging about two a day lately, speaking with radio hosts all over the country. The more interviews I do, the more comfortable and confident I'm becoming talking about my book. I've reminded my publicist several times that I'm available to anyone, anytime they need me. It paid off last night when I got a call to fill in for a segment where another guest fell through. I got to spend 45 minutes talking about my book with a Sirius Radio host.

There's more good news this week. My eBook, The Endorsement Quest has been "published" by Booklocker.com. If you're interested in learning what endorsements are and how to get them for your book or project, this eBook covers everything you need to know.

Tune in to Q Television's QTN News at 7:00 PM Eastern tonight (Thursday 12/8) for my live interview. It's the first time I'm going to be on TV and I'm hoping for the best. Actually, I'm just hoping my cowlick isn't visible. I'll also be attending the Book Publicists of Southern California meeting and dinner tonight. One of the keynote speakers is David Ulin, the new LA Times book review editor. I'm sure I'll have lots to share next week.

We've got two great articles in this week's issue that explore different approaches to setting goals: Feng Shui Your Goals by Kathryn Weber and Goal Setting:The Magic is in the List by Nicky Vanvalkenburgh.

Until next week,

Gregory
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Gregory A. Kompes is a writer, photographer, professional speaker and author of 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live. Learn more about Gregory and his work at www.kompes.com

2. Get What You Want in 4 Easy Steps

Feng Shui Your Goals
by Kathryn Weber

Setting and reaching goals is a great way to create milestones in your life. It feels good to achieve something you've worked for and focused on.

Many people think that when someone reaches a goal it's because that person is special or has some unique talent. Chances are, this person had a plan and a vision.

Yes, the old saying of "people don't plan to fail, they fail to plan" is tired, but alas, still true. A plan can be an idea on a cocktail napkin or an elaborate schematic of steps to reach a particular objective. It may simply be a picture.

Either way, goals and objectives require something concrete. The "mortar" that holds a dream together is made with only three ingredients:

1. Words. Written goals are more likely to come true than those that aren't.

2. Pictures. Visual goals are the epitome of "seeing is believing, and believing is seeing" your objective come true.

3. Action. Love, like your desire to reach a goal, is not just a feeling, it must be an action. Do your actions equate with your goal? In other words, if your goal is to be a writer, are you, in fact, writing or just thinking about it? You've got to do it to be it.

Now you may be wondering how goal setting and goal-achieving relate to feng shui. Well, your environment has a direct impact on your effectiveness and your life, so to increase your chances of success, you want to make sure your environment reflects that desire. In other words: use symbolism in your home or office to keep the focus on your goals. Also, the Chinese hang banners with auspicious sayings in their homes and businesses to reflect their aspirations... So you see, this is perfectly feng shui.

The ideas below will help you focus your attention on your goals so that you, too, will be one of those admired people who set a goal and achieved it!

1. Symbolize your goals. What is it you want to achieve? Is it your goal to be a famous writer? If so, start an antique pen collection and place it in the south sector of fame and recognition. Add a light here and pictures of some of your favorite writers -- yourself included! -- in red frames. Pick something to symbolize your goal, whether that is a vase, a globe, a figurine. Put this where you can see it frequently.

2. Picture it. Pictures are worth a thousand words. Put pictures that symbolize your goals in the appropriate corner to inspire you! Is it health? Put up a picture of a runner if exercising or completing a marathon is your goal.

Maybe you want wealth and to you being wealthy is represented by living in Tahiti... So, put a poster of a gorgeous Tahitian island up on the wall opposite your desk where you can see it everyday. It will make going after your goal sweeter.

3. Activate your goals by sector by creating a symbol corner. If your goal is to be a wealthy businessman, then the north and northwest sectors are all-important. They represent water which is wealth (north), and helpful people (northwest). Buiild a symbol corner with elements appropriate for your goal and that corner. Not sure about the sectors? Check my 2005 lo shu square.

4. Put it into words. In addition to creating your goal corner and hanging a picture of your goal, you can complete the scene by adding your goal in words. So, for example, if you've created a marriage goal corner with a double fish symbol, a lamp with crystals, a red candle, and a picture of two people holding hands, all you need on the wall next to this is the word "Love" or "Forever" or "Commitment" or "Marriage."

Or, if you've created a business corner, go with the word "Success" or "Prosperity." A very wealthy businesswoman who I admire greatly had a sign made to hang above her front door that said "Abundance" and everyday, it reinforced her goal to her and to her family. Way to go! Wall Words has tons of great ideas of how to put words to work in your home.

About the Author
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Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter feng shui e-zine and is dedicated to helping her readers develop successful, prosperous, and supportive environments with feng shui. To subscribe, logon to www.redlotusletter.com and receive this special report Fr*ee "16 Feng Shui Secrets for Greater Prosperity."

3. Are you a list maker?

Goal Setting:The Magic is in the List
by Nicky Vanvalkenburgh

When my first grader came from school, he showed me a piece of paper. It said, "My goal in 2005 is to learn to reed."

The boy needs to work on his spelling too!

Jokes aside, setting goals and writing them down on paper is a good practice. It increases our focus and awareness We're more likely to accomplish things when we write them down, and refer to our list during the day.

If you've ever read "personal achievement" books, you've probably encountered some bizarre advice on goal setting.

Stuart Goldsmith, in his book "The Midas Method," suggests that we begin goal setting by making an invisible letter "g" in the air with our finger. He also suggests that you recite your goals out loud, and end your session by "erasing" the letter "g." Mr. Goldsmith inisists this technique is a signal to your subconscious that you are doing something important.

Another author, Brian Tracy, wrote a book called "Goals: How to Get Everything You Want Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible." Mr Tracy suggests writing out your goals as if they have already happened. For instance, if you have a bad habit of being late, your goal is "I am on time everywhere I go." That's right. Mr Tracy believes the use of present tense will cause you to think and act differently.

Mr Tracy also suggests that you mentally visualize an empty parking place when you go to Walmart. Mr Tracy believes that doing this sets in motion "the law of attraction," and will instantly give you a place to park.

After reading this type of advice, I realized that these issues were merely semantics. My family and I need to set goals. We don't need to go off the deep end, but we need a practical system for getting things done, and managing our time. Perhaps the easiest way to do this is to write things down in a notebook or pad of paper.

At the beginning (or end) of each day, I make a list of all the things that I need to do. Later on, I might add or modify my list, as new things come to mind.

After making my list, I determine the most important thing that I need to do. What do I need to do first? If possible, I number your items in order of importance.

I use this method both for my personal, family, school and work-related agenda. When following this method, in one month I have accomplished as many as 100 items from my lists. This simple practice also helps me keep my wits as a mother, wife and freelance writer.

About the Author
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Nicky Vanvalkenburgh writes about practical coping strategies for empowered living. Check out her website at http://www.20minutestolessstress.com/.

4. Writing Through the Holidays

With all the parties, events, shopping, and wrapping, it's easy to fill what's usually your writing time with other activities during the holidays. The holidays are also a rich time for stories and anecdotes. Personal essays and heartwarming stories are in high demand for holiday magazine and newspaper issues and also make terrific submission material for anthologies. Even if you can't put in your normal writing time during these busy weeks, be sure to jot down notes of all the great experiences and stories from the holiday season so you won't forget them come January.

5. About The Fabulist Flash

ISSN: 1554-0804

The Fabulist Flash is dedicated to helping writers find resources and inspiration.

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Gregory A. Kompes, editor
The Fabulist Flash
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Make plans now to attend the 2006 Las Vegas Writer's Conference March 30-April 2, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada.