How To Achieve Your Dreams Without Any Initial Money- Advice From A Broke Entrepreneur

On April 30, 2012April 30, 2012 By Rebekka LienIn Uncategorized2 Comments

I woke up this morning, light pouring into the room. Yesterday I completely transformed my room. The bed is now in the middle and my desk near my graffiti wall. I’m sitting at my newly transformed bedroom/office.

Last night, I got to dance with my friend at a goth club on Wilshire. The whole time I was trying not to laugh because my friend and I are used to house/electro music, not every other beat goth music. I thought about how I just spoke at the Latina Blog Conference and how I am going to Ecuador and Brazil in two weeks. I thought about how my writing has been published and how I’m starting to get PAID to write (FINALLY). I thought about the close knit circle of friends, the support I have, the abundance of vitality that is my life and the beauty that exists within my life….

And all this, when I was broke as hell.

A lot of entrepreneurs don’t talk about this because well, it can be embarrassing. Yet, I’m so proud of the hardships I went through. For 3-4 months, I was totally unemployed. I had no financial support and was penny-less, I ate rice and vegetables only and sold whatever I could to survive. I went to peoples’ houses and brought home left overs, you get the picture.

Out of my lack of financial stability, opportunities to be creative flooded my mind. I wonder why Darwin never talked about creativity, because creativity is essential for survival.

Many of us say “someday when I’m rich, I’ll do this or be that”.

Mine was: “someday when I’m rich, I’ll help people and empower them by giving them jobs”, “someday when I’m well off and meeting important people, I’ll dress nice and be the powerful woman that I am”…etc.

I then realized, the day is TODAY, now.

I’m not 80, I’m not retired, I don’t have health insurance, life insurance, retirement fund, and or a savings account. I guess you can call me impractical. I’m 24 and what I said when I was 18, has come true. Whatever beliefs I carried in my heart has birthed. Whatever lies I let go of has lost its’ grip on my life. When I was 12, I was such a dork, I wore uncool clothes and wrote about deep philosophies. I never thought I could become famous for my creativity and talents. I never thought I could be in a relationship because I was way too unlovable and unattractive.

Today, I don’t believe those lies anymore. I am super attractive, creative, talented and I know in the near future, I will be making big bucks doing what I love.

Be, Do, and Have (not the other way around).

Don’t wait until your life is perfect to be or do. Life will never be “perfect”. Allow the little you have to kick start your dreams and present reality.

I decided to go to Ecuador to see my sponsored child 2 months ago. At that point, I was also broke. Starting your own business means months of 0 discretionary income. The moment I booked my one way flight, the universe aspired to provide the resources and people to help my vision. I met a girl from Ecuador who drew a map of Quito for me and explained where I should go and who to call for emergencies. Up until now, the people who have given to my trip were people who believed in me (you can give too)! I have only $2,000 to raise in 2 weeks!

The power does not LIE in the resources and the finances you ALREADY have, the power to achieve your dreams lie in your HEART to ACT. Do you ever wonder why people get to where they are? It is because they believe in themselves, believe in their vision and take the first step to go for it….and of course, THEY DIDN’T GIVE UP despite how damn impossible and desperate it seemed at times.

So do you have a dream? And what is it? Comment below!

Remember, achieving your dreams is not about striving. It is an outflow of being, that means you may have to rest and do the hard thing of WAITING. Note also the reason I say, “initial money” is that eventually you will fund your dreams by building your tribe who believe in your art, work & vision. The key is to DO what is impossible, when nothing is evident, there is no proof, there are no resources- once your mind says “I CAN” then EVERYTHING in the universe aligns itself to help and equip you.

Look at the birds of the air…they do not sow or reap or store away in barns

On November 28, 2011November 28, 2011 By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? matthew 6:26

Since August 1, I’ve been unemployed, voluntarily. I went backpacking for a month and spent all 9 months of my savings to experience once in a life time experiences. I then came back, inspired by my travels, began dreaming again. I started the jewelry business and continued selling on Ebay.

But for the last 4 months, I’ve been happily, living off miracles. Day by day.

Some people frown down upon my lifestyle. They think that I should get a full time job, not knowing my creative and entrepreneurial being. I’ve been living off of faith, knowing that I have a father who provides. It’s a spiritual being whom maybe not everyone believes in. However, it’s just SUPER amazing how father has provided.

I don’t believe in debt, because of my experience of watching people suffer in debt, paying off mortgages, credit card, school loans- I decided in high school that I would NEVER go in debt. As I started to watch my credit card balance increase, fear set in. How was I going to pay for my monthly balance, how was I going to pay rent.

Birds don’t store or save. They don’t have a savings account or even health insurance. I’ve become a bird- free from societal expectations. I’m not irresponsible like some people claim that I am. (This really pisses me off by the way).

Last month, a miracle happened, this month another, miracles keep happening.

Last month, I had a bill of about 571 dollars. Because I had vowed always to pay bills on time, I cut all my unnecessary spending. I didn’t buy coffee, snacks, or anything extraneous for one month. I probably spent $20 a week for groceries, I never ate out. Yet, Father provided the little things to put a smile on my face. For some reason, free things popped up everywhere.

The week before the bill was due, I made $30 or so bucks selling my clothes, I made money on Ebay, found $25 in coins, and miraculously, the day before it was due, I sold $50 in jewelry. I didn’t even try to promote my jewelry, by simply wearing the rings, I was promoting and of course- I always had products on hand.

No I don’t have health insurance or a savings account, I kind of live month to month. I haven’t worked under a full time boss for 4 months, I’m probably the happiest person alive. Call me crazy, but I’m starting to really love being surprised and being provided for.

Stop. All Way. Smell the Roses.

On November 19, 2011November 19, 2011 By Rebekka LienIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Taking a walk has become my new favorite hobby, it’s so enlightening.

Oh dear, what a week.

I spent $1 in the last 2 days, pretty impressive.

One night I really felt like dancing, so I called up a few friends and went out. We found FREE parking in Hollywood, I only spent $1 for tipping the bartender for water. It sounds pretty ridiculous, but this is my life now.

You start to appreciate the small things though.

Yesterday I was driving my roommate to the fashion show, we exited the wrong exit and suddenly I turned and saw this sign “Dick Church’s Restaurant”. I froze and started laughing uncontrollably. Lauren started cracking up because she thought it was funny how funny I thought the whole ordeal was. We saw a really cute coffee shop and I pointed it out.

“If only we had money”- Lauren said.

I nodded.

“Yah I shouldn’t be swiping my credit card”- I said.

We nodded.

And then of course we started laughing.

“Jesus give us free coffee!” I cried out.

When we got to the venue, the salon girl gave me a shot of expresso in a free coffee. Wow.

And then I got free subways because I was a designer. People think once you’re called “a designer”, you’re probably really loaded. It’s not true.

I was so blessed yesterday, I even got a free swag bag with a black tank top I really needed. Sometimes I think, why am I still supporting two organizations when I can’t even pay for my own food. I’m not sure, but I’m trusting God to provide for something I can’t see yet.

I had a dream the other night that I was in China and I had to go home on a train. However, it would cost $140 but I didn’t have the money. I freaked out.

Another recollection of our life together:

Me driving.

Lauren and I were talking about being completely free from rent, living in a car perhaps.

“It would be so great to be free, to just focus on loving people”- She said.

“Yah, I thought about buying a Volkswagen bus and road tripping. It’s a great place to sleep” – I said. Plus I can just bring all my musical instruments with me! I can busk and do all sorts of things.

“Okay, but what about just have physical stability. Where do you poop and kitchen wise?” – I asked.

“Oh yah, and where do we plug in our laptop?” – She said.

“Oh yah.”

“Oh. Nevermind. Haha”- she said.

I suppose it seems a bit pitiful the way we’re living, but I’m starting to appreciate it. It really motivates me to think creatively.

“What can I sell to make some cash? Or what skills can I offer to make some cash?” I ask…

As long as I don’t have to sell my body, I’m willing to clean toilets and be a maid. I mean, at this point, you can’t really be proud. It’s sad that one time my friend said, “oh I didn’t think you would apply for a café job because you’re too above it”. I don’t ever want to become like that. That’s too pitiful….to become someone who is too proud to do ‘lowly’ things. That’s scary to me.

You really lose the beauty and simplicities of life. If I sat around and had everything I wanted, I probably wouldn’t think outside the box. I don’t know what’s coming, but it’s been a prolonged journey of working, trying really hard, and well, sometimes finding little results. Yet, I keep persevering, knowing the prize is there…but also smelling the rose every moment, which is more important than attaining the prize. The prize is here.

The prize is having people to support you through it all.