Why Take The Difficult Path For What You Want

On By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Now, I’m starting to see why this year had to happen. Nothing seems to phase me now. I’m surrounded by nature, hummingbirds, sun, I have my own yard, I live alone. I have personal space.

Every adversity is a stepping stone to who you want to be. And what you want.

Guess what? They are not stumbling blocks or even obstacles to your dreams. The adversities, the discouragements are only stepping stones. You step on them to get to the next stair steps. When you feel discouraged, you focus on your goal, you focus on the goodness of life.

I did not want to sit on my butt for 8 hours aday, so I had to create something mobile. I had to quit, I traveled, I saw the world, I started selling jewelry and clothes. After going to South America, I was stumped again. I was broke again, I had to reinvent the wheel. I started posting my private lessons on Craigslist, I started building my clientale. I started to hone my skills, now I teach sewing, mandarin, piano…

The great thing about being a creative entrepreneur, 2 days I can be on the road teaching. Today, I get to wake up and sit in nature, work on my online business, and write. Tonight, my friend and I are hosting our first meeting of Fashion Shares, a community of women for the purpose of empowering each other!

Question of the Day: How do you find out what you want to do in life?

Answer: You don’t, you live and learn. You try and learn from mistakes, but you can always have a big vision. For me, I always wanted to empower people, so I delved into things that allowed me to be with people. I also love managing my own time, and I didn’t know this until someone else started managing my time. That’s when I knew I couldn’t continue being controlled. There are very strategic ways to weed out options- if you have questions comment below! 🙂

Remember: The difficult path IS messy, you will cry many times, you will be frustrated even more, but the pay off is….after the messiness of trying things out, figuring out what works and what doesn’t, you’ll come out of it wiser and you’ll know MORE of what you’re good at and want to do.

The key to achieving any dreams you DARE to dream is DARING to do it.

On By Rebekka LienIn Uncategorized2 Comments

I could still remember being picked, it was a feeling of shock. Could it really be me? The whole world was watching me, I could only react.

Perhaps that’s how I will feel when I walk into the stadium and speak to thousands and millions of people. I’ll talk about how I wipe my @$$ with cotton balls because I was at my worst, broke enough to find creative ways to save.

1 Year in review, letting go of the security, of health care, of stability…and the things I did:

1. Got on a game show, was face to face with a famous host

2. Backpacked to Australia and South America

3. First time improving on a TV show, tried out the whole acting scene

4. Spoke at FIDM

5. Started full on teaching mandarin, music, and sewing

6. Moved….again. Now live on my own! HURRAY!

7. Worked on many projects, worked 4 months at a vintage clothing store, assisted a business owner at gift shows, started writing my ebook, started selling my paintings, placed garments at a gallery, and continued to build my online stores.

I suppose those are all great things, but my whole year was built on relationships, lots of building tight knit friendships and feeling the support of close friends.

We hear this “ONE DAY” a lot. “One day I will….”, “One day….”. One day, guess what folks. The day is today. Daily, I force myself to do things that require REJECTION. I get on an airplane and talk to strangers. I started acting because I thought I could be a better speaker, I travel so I can ask strangers any questions I want. I backpacked alone into the jungles of Tena, Ecuador. YES, AS A WOMAN. I refuse to let minority standards bring me down. I believe as a woman, we have even more opportunities to SHOW the world we are just that amazing.

I believe in being FEARLESS. I believe in going into ANYTHING with 110% fierceness, 110% fearless of death, fearless of rejection. 

I believe that the key to achieving any dreams you DARE to dream is DARING to do it. So, what is it that you want to do in your life, who is it that you want to be? Do it today. 

The rainbow symbolizes hope, hope in a better future, hope that after a storm is a renewed and refreshed life.

Stopping To Breathe

On By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Stopping to breathe, perhaps it is the most important thing we can do during our day.

When we lose track, when we lose hope, when we feel exhausted with our own thoughts. When we need a break from the voices that seek to tear our relationships apart.

Breathe. And feel yourself be present. May I feel peace, now. My I feel peace because I live in the now, not in the future where I’m anxious, not in the past, where I am depressed. I only know that I am present, when I feel myself inhale and exhale.

When I can watch the tide come in and let myself be washed, clean and feel the purity of the wind.

I love this video, reminds us that the most important thing in our lives is “time and relationships”.

As I’m heading to Norcal tomorrow- I’ve written a list, may you find your own list as you breathe.

Things to Be and Do In Norcal-
1. Relaxe, like crazy. Relaxe like I have never relaxed in my life.
2. Unplug. Do this in a crazy way too. Only bring notebook, ipod, phone and pen.
3. Read. Read and study, study everything I’m teaching (Mandarin, sewing, art, music even, read books about how to teach these subjects).
4. Sell art, jewelry, accessories from my portable store.
5. Relaxe, again….
6. Write, a lot. Write in my journal, write like facebook never existed. Finish my book, if it is possible….that would be freaken amazing!!!
7. Celebrate my year of self-employment. Reward myself, say and write to myself everything I could have imagined a boss saying to me. “OMG, Rebekka you are so amazing, these are the things you accomplished even though you were broke! Now, you’ve really found yourself eh?”
8. Take control of my finances. Like for real. Stop buying coffee…make my own delicious and cheaply!
9. Be adventurous and have fun, like a young 24 year old should. Pretend I’m 21 and I never had to go through the stress of being an entrepreneur.
10. Breathe like never before.

How To Manage Your Time As An Entrepreneur

On By Rebekka LienIn FashionLeave a comment

The internet is pretty distracting, especially if you have 10 tabs up with facebook, gmail, calendar, ebay, pandora…AHHHHH!!!

So here’s my list of how to get organized tips:

1. Eat– When you schedule your own time, you dive into work without eating…and then you will get super brain dead. SO EAT.

2. Write down a schedule, time specific– right now is 10:43 am, I’m going to finish this blog post by 11am. At 11am, I’m going to start taking photos for my products, then list the items until noon. So on and so forth. Don’t let time be irrelevant, let it be very relevant. Put this schedule in FRONT of you, not next to you. IN FRONT, so when your mind suddenly goes “OMG, I have to wash dishes”, you can look at the schedule and remind yourself…not now.

3. Clear off your desk- Just as the computer needs to clear off the memory and desktop at times, clearing off my table helps me to focus on the screen, not the junk on my table.

4. Let yourself get distracted– guess what, we’re not meant to sit all day. Do something that inspires you, if you have been a hermit working on your own all day- go to a cafe and work there. I have met plenty of strangers this way. I love strangers, lol.

5. Play some samba music– I like to play music that helps me imagine I’m at the Ipanema beach or something. Play music that helps you create and work without pressure.

Check out my video on Hipswap.com!

Love, Rebekka Lien – HAPPY NATIONAL SEWING MONTH!

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Temptation of Giving In

On By Rebekka LienIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Sometimes I wonder whether I’m giving in or giving into another season. This constant struggle is called wanting to work full time. It almost seems incomprehensible when I’m sitting at a cafe working on my computer and watching the sun outside. Lately, I have really been noticing people who work hard and get next to nothing. It’s probably because I can feel their struggle. That’s why, after having the best customer service phone call of MY LIFE today, I gave her an excellent recommendations. I hope she gets promoted because she deserves it.

So in the brink of wanting to give in, I was suddenly struck with inspiration and desire. Desire to keep going, to keep believing in my vision. That which used to stop me, I have decided to push, pray until it happens. Push, physically with all my mind and soul. This phrase is posted outside a gospel church on my street “push, pray until something happens”.

I know how it feels to be doing what you love and not getting what you deserve for it. In the end, you push forward until something happens.

You keep persevering when the world tells you you can’t.

Because you really CAN. If you believe that you can.

Lately, I have tried everything that I can, anything that people told me I couldn’t or shouldn’t. I do it anyways. Only to win, only to score, only to get the part. I’m a dead woman walking. Kill me and I’m still alive.

That’s why I’m here to tell you that you can, you really can do what you love, you really can be WHO you want to be. If you don’t want to be a robot, you can be human. You can believe that relationships are at the CORE of your work, not on the side of it. You can believe that life is more than routine, pleasing others, and feeling depressed.

You are meant to be alive.

Peace, Rebekka – your fellow dream doer.

PS. – so you really can DO it, you just got to NOT GIVE UP.

Should I live alone?

On By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I finally moved out! Yes, I did find the place a day before my move, but I did it!! Now I live alone and wanted to tell people how great it is! If you are wondering if you should live alone: I say, YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD if you’re not afraid of yourself.

Check out my flier to speak at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising- FIDM!

Things you can do when you live alone:

1. Walk around completely naked- you start to feel a lot more free not having clothes on all the time.

2. Do whatever you want, whenever –when I go home and am tired, I don’t have to talk to anyone. I’m talking most of the day, teaching or hanging out with people, so coming home to read and organize is a great alternative to talking to another human being.

3. No more cringing when you hear your roommate do something weird.

4. Have friends over whenever you want.

5. No offense, but I no longer have to tell people where I am going. No offense, but I really hate telling people where I am going, why do you care? Seriously.

I have lived alone for 7 days and must say, there was only one day where I felt scared because I heard there was some drug raid by the swat time. The other day I heard 3 gunshots and a hellicopter. Besides that, I have a lot of peaceful times mapping out my goals and plans. Thank God for this week! So many great things happened- such as, I’m going to be on television!!! YES. ME! More to come….

The 3 P’s of Actualizing Your Dreams

On By Rebekka LienIn Uncategorized2 Comments

I had a beautiful day of laying around in Laguna Beach. I suppose most people would be freaking out since I have 2 more days to look for a place to live. The juxtaposition of my life. This whole week was a roller coaster of crazy dumping, posting, donating, walking around neighborhoods, calling and lots more disappointments. The place I wanted initially got rented out. I was also quite relieved because they did not have a stove. OMG. A place without a stove! Lord have mercy, no cooking??

Everyday is a new beginning, new day.

I realize everything that I have been experiencing requires the 3 P’s.

Pain – pain. Yes, pain sucks. Pain could be a really annoying person in your life, a boring job, a difficult situation or anything that is inconvenient. Pain sucks. We all know this.

Perseverance – In order to find a place, I had to persevere, call, look on craigslist, call, visit the place, drive to a million places, call.

Patience – with ALL good things coming your way, YOU must have PATIENCE. Don’t we all HATE THIS WORD. “I WANT IT NOW!!!!” Don’t we ALL scream with our hearts, actions and words? We want that IPHONE RIGHT NOW, that IPAD, that house, that partner, that shirt, that million dollar. We want to win now! But back to perseverance, we need to persevere even when we don’t have it now.

My friends, when we reach the ends of ourselves…patience means resting and enjoying life while you are waiting for the fruits of your work and faith to grow and actualize.

So guess what I did, I took a day off from LOOKING and went to Laguna Beach. Yes, I rested and got a tan. Hells yah. I enjoyed life with my man, ate lots of chocolate and ended the night with some good encouraging prayers with my soul friend. Then guess what happened, I got an email for a lead to a place….it might be it, it might not be. Who cares, I’m going to find a place in 2 days anyway!

I’m featured on Hipswap- shop over 100 items from my house/closet as I prepare to move!

 

Whatever Is To Come Is Already There

On By Rebekka LienIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Hi Friends!

Another day, another 101 items posted on my moving sale website! I hope you will find something you like- I’ll hand write you a special note when you order something!

I have finally cleared out most of my stuff and am simply awaiting the arrival of my perfect 1 bedroom studio. Yes, I have looked, with much vigour and passion, but to no avail. This leads me to believe that the perfect PLACE is not even listed yet! Because I, my friend, have faith that the perfect place for my next season of life IS ALREADY THERE. Somewhere, just not sure where. Yet.

That’s okay.

The more August 1 nears me, the more excited I get now! I’m not anxious anymore, because I’m excited about the perfect place. Yes, it’s 6 days away, and I have no place to go yet!

Psshhh. So Anxiety really has NO PLACE in our lives. Because the next thing, which is better, bigger, richer, healthier, happier is OUT THERE. All we have to do is listen to our hearts. Don’t let disappointment GET to you. Have faith and keep a smile on your face.

Gratefulness is the biggest weapon to fear. There is no such thing as fear when you know that the best thing is waiting for you.

Don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself. Live like you ALREADY have tomorrow down.

 

 

 

Unemployed? Tips From A Self-Employment Expert

On By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

My 1 year of self- employment has been a roller coaster ride of fun and not so fun times. But I have learned the art of hustlin’ – in a healthy way of course. I’m going to give you the insiders’ secrets to surviving and thriving for the first year of self- employment.

Tips from A Self- Employment Expert:

1. Do an inventory of your talents and skills– know how to sew, know how to do accounting, taxes, clean, fold clothes, carry babies, mow lawns, play violin, speak Arabic? Guess what, there are people on this earth who needs YOU.

2. POST on Craigslist – Craig is an amazing guy, he will help you reach the clients you need to reach, the people who want your drawers and beds, the people who need babysitters and musicians.

3. Sell stuff on Ebay– Things I’ve sold before: Clothes, shoes, jewelry, old cameras, toys. Guess what? It’s as easy as snapping pictures and posting. You get 50 free listings per month, so no fees up front. Other great sites to post books on are amazon.com and half.com. They let you post it and you don’t need to renew it.

4. Broadcast your services and skills- Social media sites I have used are: Facebook, Twitter, Hipswap,  Craigslist, Texting. If you have a service, CREATE a fanpage on Facebook. If you have items, pin-interest it, twitter it, use free applications on Ebay, Twitter that will automatically update FOR YOU. I do believe in conserving time and doing less.

5. Have a yard sale– The last 2 weeks I had 2 yard sales, I gained some muscle masses in my biceps and made a few bills. Not too bad for sitting out in the sun, drinking soda, and chatting with neighbors and potential clients. Not bad for networking.

6. Need cash fast? Sell to consigment stores or to high end thrift stores– For most girls, we have massive amounts of clothes and accessories. My choices of stores to sell to are Wasteland, Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange. They will select the trendiest items from you and give you 35% of their selling price. If you are a savvy shopper, you can actually make a profit even though you wore that old t-shirt for 20 years…BTW Wasteland loves vintage, so if you have a really old t-shirt they might just pay you $5 for it.

7. Build a Business– after you realize that you’ll never want to sit in an office again, get serious about your business. Whatever it is. I started selling old clothes and then started importing jewelry so I didn’t have to upload 10,000 original pictures. The more you work at something, the bigger your ideas will get. I started teaching cello and piano when I was 14, but everyone quit because of the economy. So I started teaching Mandarin because China is booming economically. Start thinking outside the box- what are services and needs that have not been met yet by other businesses?

8. Become an extra– If you live in LA and NY, you can sign up for Central Casting, which is one of the biggest extra casting agencies in the US. To be an extra, you basically sit or stand around until the film crew needs you.

In closing, I would like to say that there are so many more ways to make a living while you are discovering your life passion….or the more things you try, the more you realize what you hate and what you love. Go for what you love.

 

 

Thank You

On By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Image

Learning to Say Thank You

I can hear the ocean breeze

the wind against my skin, your fingers gripping mine, thankful

The human, passing moments,

that make our lives what it is.

Smiles, grins, sometimes frustrations of life, of what nots, of can be’s, of striving

yet, never content, never enough.

We must pause.

For here, now, is all we have.

We often focus on what we don’t have, what we want in the future, never living in the moment.

The street lights were never so kind, my footsteps on the dirty cement floor in Taiwan.

Your kind smile as you protected me from unkind neighbors, now you are, here and now, my mother.

What made me who I am today, backaches, stress, tears, wondering who will take care of me, how would I survive?

Now, here, today- I thank you. I thank those that have ever held me, comforted me,

spoken words of kindness

here, now, today – I slow down and breathe and say, hello and thank you. I am so blessed.