The inaugural crew of Lift Off Retreat, held in February, 2010 in Phoenix, AZ
On this same day last year, I assembled a post where I invited people I had worked with in any capacity in 2009 to share something they were proud of accomplishing. The resulting post totally filled my heart and delighted my readers.
So I made this an annual tradition — summarizing the year with the accomplishments of people I am lucky enough to work with.
Some are coaching clients, some participated in joint programs I run with partners, like $100 Business Forum with Chris Guillebeau, Career Invention with Michele Woodward and Lift Off Retreat with Charlie Gilkey. Some attended classes or workshops.
All of them are shining examples of the wonderful things that happen when you trust yourself enough to step out and create something useful for a market you care about serving.
And as I said last year, I want to acknowledge my clients who have done amazing things this year but are still behind the gray cubicle wall and did not think it prudent to publicly announce to their employers that they are working with “that Escape from Cubicle Nation lady.”
Viewing this list right before hitting “publish” makes me feel like a combination of Julie Andrews singing in the hills of Austria in The Sound of Music, Gina Davis when she discovers Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise, and Tina Turner when she finally kicks Ike to the curb in What’s Love Got to Do With It.
What’s love got to do with it? Everything.
A is for Awesome
Abe Cajudo traveled to 9 states in 4 weekends with JetBlue’s All-You-Can-Jet pass and launched DoSomethingFly.com to empower others to do fly and remarkable things.
Adam Baker created and launched Sell Your Crap – a package of guides teaching people how they can leverage eBay, craigslist, and Amazon to generate cash from the clutter that is holding them back!
Amanda Wang raised $10,000 to help support her documentary, The Fight Within Us and recently launched The BPD Project, a social venture that bridges effective, evidence-based treatment to people living with a mental illness known as borderline personality disorder.
Andre Blackman relaunched his blog, Pulse + Signal, focused on the intersection of innovation, technology and media in public/community health and was profiled on his alma mater’s newspaper around his work.
Andy Gray is building a company providing technology solutions for non-profit organizations and churches called Five Talent Software (www.fivetalent.com).
Anh Han moved to Singapore and is now educating and inspiring would be Lifestyle Designers at his blog Small Things First. He shares the mindset and tactics needed to define, build and live the life of your choosing.
Anna Kunnecke launched The Queen Sweep: Declare Dominion Over Your Gorgeous Life, for women who are ready to blitz clutter and call in clarity.
Antrese Wood packed her bags and moved to Argentina, then launched Gallery Websites for Artists , a service for artists who want to get their work online but don’t want to deal with all that technical stuff.
Avien McCrimmon is applying for the prestigious Food and Society Fellows Program where where she will integrate her love for healthy cooking with social justice. (We are cheering for you to get in Ave!)
Avril Oliver bolted from her big city cubicle to combine her passion for horses with coaching people who are ready to gallop toward their goals http://www.avriloliver.com.
B is for Bodacious
Bianca Filoteo launched Video For Shy People, where she coaches people who experience jitterbugs & butterflies in their stomachs while creating online videos for their website.
Brooks Duncan escaped from his cubicle and now helps people turn their piles of paper into an organized electronic system at DocumentSnap.
C is for Cool
Carol Ross combined her wisdom and love for story to create the Remarkable Online Profile Kit , a practical self-guided tool that anyone can use to tell their story online.
Cate Brubaker launched SmallPlanetStudio.com, a site for intercultural educators who want to change the world.
Catherine Morgan escaped from Cubicle Nation in May 2010 and launched her transition and life coaching company, Point A to Point B Transitions Inc. http://www.pointatopointbtransitions.com
Cheryl Dolan officially began writing her book “Poised. The Inner Art of Powerful Presence“, a practical, multisensory, experiential guide to preparing yourself to be poised and ready for peak communication performance, based upon her highly successful Platinum Presence® Program and her work with thousands of clients.
Cheryl Jack has launched an inspired international association and her new book, 7 Deadly Threats, is schedule for publication this spring (the site launches soon).
Chrissy Scivicque developed and launched her first group coaching program called “Reinvent Your Career.”
Cindy Morefield exhibited three of her Reservoir paintings at Red Dot Art Fair in Miami, FL, December, 2010.
Colette Martin’s weekly column at When Fridays Were Fridays was picked up by Forbes.com where she is now a contributing writer.
Crystal Williams used what she learned at the Lift Off Retreat to uncover her ideal business model. Now she can relax and enjoy writing over at Big Bright Bulb 🙂
D is for Damn, That Was Good!
Darliss O’Donnell launched her Relationship Coaching business to help people create deeply satisfying relationships.
Deanna Lohnes launched Parlance Media, a writing business for passionate business owners.
Deb Droz started her Life and Wellness Coaching business http://EnthuseYourLife.com, but as a totally unexpected surprise bonus of the process, started the website for a dream she’s had for a long, long, time, http://FestiveTimes.com
Debora Tingley launched her coaching and care consultation business, LifeCareBalance.com to help families who are caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease.
Deena Baikowitz exploded onto the New York marketplace with the official launch of Fireball Network, delivering relevant advice with irreverent humor while teaching you how to ‘Spark Your Network and Ignite Your Business’.
Desiree Adaway uses her superpowers as a non-profit consultant, strategist and coach. She started The Adaway Group which helps change agents and their organizations step into fearlessness and make POSITIVE CHANGE HAPPEN. http://desireeadaway.com/services/
Diane Hunter expanded her expertise to include equus coaching and joined horse whisperer, Koelle Simpson to create a unique parenting workshop with horses. Check it out: Listen Beyond Words
Drew Smith launched Aspirant Bookkeeping, to help small business owners be more successful in managing their finances by setting up their bookkeeping on QuickBooks.
Dyana Valentine launched the Pitch Perfect™ program thanks to the $100 Biz Forum to help fellow entrepreneurs “never be a deer in headlights again” when someone asks, “what do you do?”
E is for Excellence
Elise Touchette launched her newsletter for her coaching practice, Shine A Light Coaching, on July 4, 2010.
G is for Great Job
Gina Clowes, Life Coach at AllergyMoms.com, will help you keep your food allergic children safe and included with
10 Things Children with Food Allergies Want You to Know teleseminar and ebook on January 27, 2011.
Glad Doggett launched her website bestlaidscheme.com and began offering her free e-workbook “Your Big Dream Scheme Self-Uncovery Workbook.”
H is for Hallelujah
Heather Allard, founder of The Mogul Mom, launched “Get Famous“, a product that gives mom entrepreneurs the power of a publicist on a DIY budget and helps them get in the media spotlight.
Helen Ryde took baby steps, but in the right direction, website revamped, t-shirts ordered, cards printed, the store is open… www.cheekytoad.com … next year watch for iPad ready kids stories (in partnership with $100 biz alum Beth) and more!
I is for Innovative
Ishita Gupta launched fear.less magazine, the digital magazine devoted to overcoming and conquering your fears.
J is for Jump to It
JaiKaur is a kick-butt energy healer in the Boston/Providence area who launched some services for when your stress needs to take a hike!”http://www.jaikaur.com/services/reiki/
Jeff Moriarty has finally legally married his creative, social media, and improvisational skills together as his very own consulting company, Improv Media.
Jen Longtin launched a new personal coaching site for women.
Jennifer Collins Taylor published and will launch in January 2011 ::: a Guide to Healthy Conversations about Death and Dying to Inspire Living Life Fully. Please visit www.livinglifedyingdeath.com to join a conversation that is a new way of thinking for a New Year.
Jen Trulson, the gratitude girl, shares ‘how to’ have fun practicing gratitude and raise your happy with her FREE “30 day Gratitude Experience“!
John Bradberry finished his book, 6 Secrets to Startup Success (for which I wrote the foreward–to be released in March, 2011), and launched his blog at www.ReadyFounder.com.
John Jaworski launched his Business Growth Agency in Key West, “The Simple Solution” (Thanks Michele Woodward for the naming rubrick meeting). It’s Fantastic to see businesses changing, personal economies rebounding, and the smiles on my Clients and Friends faces. Life is GREAT! Follow me for updates and Killer Key West Sunrise pictures http://www.facebook.com/johnjaworski
Joseph Gutwirth continues to grow QuadrixIT to help companies test and certify their software and websites. You can download for free the “Top 10 Secrets to Getting Your Website and Applications Tested ” and make sure your company’s website and software works flawlessly.
Joshua Waldman launched a full service social media management service at http://cintamedia.com. After delivering 50 page SoMe strategies to business and their not being able to implement, I figured I could really help them by actually implementing social media to grow their business.
K is for Killer App
Karen Yaeger is super proud to have collaborated with one of her first clients, Helen Kim on a video that resulted in her getting her own Hay House Radio Show! That was surely a highlight for me. I hope to help more people shine their brightest in 2011! http://www.openskyvideo.com/clients/
Kevin has been steadily building a kick-ass army of contacts and clients, and had a continuing stream of voice over projects. The latest (and biggest) is his first audiobook which you can find at http://springbrookaudio.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=86 His voice over dream has a home at http://www.voiceoverartist.com.au, where he’ll be starting to blog in the New Year, and is always tweeting at @voiceover_au, and would love to hear from you.
Koren Motekaitis left her Golden Handcuffs tenured professor job behind, and launched her coaching business for weight loss clients who want to stop: 1) sabatoging themselves with what they eat or 2) how they restrict themselves on those darn fad diets and she still interviews especially cool and inspiring guests (like Pam Slim) on her weekly radio show.
Kyle Durand launched a new blog titled The Art of Business (www.artofbusiness.com) and traveled 106,673 miles while running two businesses and starting a third to be launched in 2011.
L is for Leap Forward
Leela Sinha took Leela Life Coaching full-time and launched the Big Bang Crisis Conversion Kit so you can stop freaking out and start getting somewhere.
Lisa Call went live with her new artist website featuring images of over 300 textile paintings. http://lisacall.com
M is for Magnificent
Maggie overcame a lot of self-doubt and began modeling, creating a modeling Facebook page to act as her online portfolio and resume (with 110+ fans).”
Maria Gajewski began her quest to help World Savers do their work even better by launching www.changingriver.com
Marisa Miller did the unglamorous spadework of developing content, gaining website and ecommerce knowledge, and learning graphic designer wrangling skills in 2010 to launch Afterschool Publishing in January 2011. Her new venture is an education publishing company dedicated to making teaching and learning fun again….by providing experiential, easy to use, and fun enrichment curriculum for informal learning environments such as afterschool, camp and museum programs. The first program is Laugh Riot where kids improve their literacy and public presentation skills while learning about comedy, telling jokes, and laughing, a lot.
Marissa Bracke took a leap of faith on her a-ha! moment and unveiled Right People Engagement Coaching services.
Mark Powers launched TheDonatingDrummer.com, giving away all or part of his earnings from one drumming gig each month to help others accomplish their own projects/goals.
Mike Choi launched renting out rooms, the #1 resource to learn how to rent out a room in your house. Come check out how I make extra money from extra space in my house and how you can too!
N is for Newsflash
Natalie Sisson moved to Buenos Aires, redefined her blog niche to relaunch as The Suitcase Entrepreneur and created the `Passport to Business Freedom‘ program to help women entrepreneurs create freedom in business and adventure in life!
P is for Perfectly Fabulous
Pam McAllister launched her blog for change-making leaders in business, public service, and nonprofit organizations: Making a Difference Made Possible
Pamela Quinn broke ground on her second Ayurvedic studio in Cincinnati, Ohio where the Elemental Cleanse, yoga and other holistic modalities will be instructed. http://www.elementalom.com
Peter Meddick recommissioned the Major Secret Agency for young code breakers, cryptographers & enigmatologist looking to solve mysteries too big for grownups to handle. www.majorsecretagency.com http://twitter.com/#!/majorsecret
R is for Rocking
Ronda Kay is enjoying a Tinkerbell-like freedom as a result of her 2010 transition from ‘corporate bricks’ to ‘cyber-clicks’, incubating both B2C GrandGifting, targeting 78mil GrandBoomers with effective strategies to enjoy meaningful relationships with GrandKids; and B2B MontessoriFamilyConnection, a membership site for affiliate Montessori schools to bridge the gap from school-to-home with online parent education, to help families get comfortably involved in their child’s Montessori education.
S is for Sensational
Sarah Mason launched her Uncommonville project in December 2010. http://uncommonville.com
Sparky Firepants launched his art catalog for product and textile manufacturers! http://sparkyfirepants.com/portfolio
Stephanie Krahl created her first e-course for Soulful Equine readers called “An Action Plan for a Naturally Healthy Horse” and launched her new website Equine New Media where she provides web development services for equine enthusiasts and animal lovers.
Steve Kamb of Nerd Fitness created the Rebel Fitness Guide to help nerds and average Joes get in shape without a gym membership.
Susan Falcone is bashing the stigma of women’s hair loss and teaching women to kick hair loss and conquer hair replacement with The Basics of Hair Replacement for Women Personal Training System™.
T is for Terrific
Tia Sparkles Singh rebranded & revamped her business into Your Life YOUR Way where she provides kickass coaching, inspiration, resources and smart strategies for unconventional solopreneurs
in their 1st year of business who want to beat fear, get off the ground and FLY!
Tim Footdale launched iridepower.com; products for charging cellphones and electronics while riding a bicycle.
Tish Nighswonger & Kerry Zarders bring it – stuff that makes life easier for busy volunteers in their fundraising adventures – it’s all about organizing, collaborating – revolutionizing together. See what’s happening on Facebook, Twitter and, launching soon, FreshFundraising.com!
Theresa Robbins, life coach and emancipator of stuck women, worked some magic by turning a dream into a reality when one of her newsletter articles was included in the recently published book, The Courage Companion: How to Live Life With True Power. www.theresarobbins.net
Trevor Clark said The $100 Biz forum sparked the idea for my blog, which I launched about 6 weeks ago. The blog is called the Axis of Awesome, and is about my journey toward location independence, as well as my quest to travel over 4000 miles of the ancient Silk Road completely by human power (running and biking).
Tzaddi Gordon of ThriveWire launched a website package for Startup Super Heroes which has just the right amount of technical magic and training resources for business owners building their first WordPress website.
W is for Winner
Willie Jackson attended LiftOff Retreat and met a family of people as crazy as me, quit my miserable corporate job and transitioned to fulltime freelancing, and was hired by Seth Godin to assist with a project that will change the way that publishing works (The Domino Project).
Wyman Crane got his Blog opt-in page working Http://www.askthewyman.info/ with a free e-course
Y is for Yowza
Yael Grauer launched a brand new website, Yael Writes, featuring a writing portfolio, blog and list of services (including feature writing, copywriting, editing and more.)
Z is for Zing
Zenobia Garrison decided to get her message out in a bigger way. She launched her new E-book: Launch While You Work: The Women’s Guide to Becoming a Successful Solo Entrepreneur, Sept 2010. http://www.launchwhileyouwork.com
And the folks who made organization and web magic happen for a variety of projects, Marta Costa, Out.Think, Naomi Niles , Willie Jackson and Reese – I am so grateful for your excellent work and stellar support.
I also want to thank dear friends and my “peer posse” who kept me sane through some tough challenges this year — Desiree Adaway, Charlie Gilkey, Angela Wheeler, Michele Woodward, Jonathan Fields, Martha Beck, Koelle Simpson, Mark Silver, Erik Proulx,, Jeff Moriarty, Tomas Carrillo and Chris Guillebeau. I love you all, and am very blessed to have you in my life.
If I left anyone’s accomplishment out, that wanted to be included in the list, or I got a link wrong let me know!
—
Feel free to tout YOUR accomplishments in the comments section! Happy New Year to you all. Thanks for bringing me great joy by showing up at the blog and supporting our rocking community. May all your dreams come true in 2011! And if they don’t come out exactly as planned, may you enjoy the learning on every step of the journey. As my five-year old son Joshua recently told me:
“Mom, it isn’t just about winning, it is about winning and losing.”
Sounds like a budding life coach to me! 🙂
[…] so like we did in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 please raise your fists in the air and celebrate these amazing people who rolled up […]
You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. Always follow your heart.
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[…] Slim, one of my heroes, painstakingly compiled a list of all of the wonderful things her clients accomplished in 2010 on her awesome blog, Escape From Cubicle Nation, and I was psyched to get mentioned under “Y […]
I hope to make it on this list next year! I’ll see you at the World Domination Summit!
Thank you, Pam and Happy New Year! You are one of a kind. 🙂
Pam you continue to the shining light of generosity and support for so many former cubicle owners. May 2011 allow you to touch even more people with your special gift.
Natalie (aka N is for Newsflash)
Awesome list Pam. Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful thing you’ve done in putting this together. Thank you for all of the inspiration from you and Chris this year. It is incredible to be a part of such a GANG! May 2011 bring each of us forward in quantum leaps!
i have got to ask, of the long list, which one is your personal favorite? which venture do you believe has the highest upside potential?
Wow this is amazing. Looks like you had a great 2010 and have these wonderful accomplishments to show for it. Here’s wishing you double the success in 2011 🙂
Awesome Pam, thanks so much and congratulations to everyone else on the list for crushing it in 2010 and beyond.
Completely marinating in gratitude for what you do Pam and all the ways you have touched my life. Thanks for this wonderful list of folks making things happen in their lives which affect the lives of others. So happy to be a part of it.
I’m honored to be a part of this list and looking back on the year, tickled pink to be a part of this tribe. What an amazing community you have cultivated, Pam. Thanks for the work that you do.
Congratulations to all of you amazing people! Keep up the great work and momentum in 2011. Wishing all of you the strength, courage, and confidence to continue to move your businesses forward. As Pam once said, “…instead of complaining about the economy or pointing fingers, do one tangible thing each day to grow your biz or grow another’s.” <– Great advice!
What an awesome list! Reading about how others have escaped makes me want to do more. I have recently done my own escape. I can’t wait to share with others my story. Thank you for your help. You have no idea how much you have helped!
How cool! I will have to book mark this list and revisit often, since I only get through a few links at a time – so engrossing seeing the many great ideas.
I always look forward to your list and this year is not different. Not only am I honored to be a part of it (which meant I got to spend time with you this year ) but it’s been great clicking through and seeing the amazingness you helped others tap into as well!!
Thank you Pam and Cheers to a magical 2011!!!
Hi Pam, Thanks for sharing, made me look at what I had got done myself this year!
Happy New year to you and yours!!! Bring on 2011!!! 🙂
Bigger and better in 2011! (not that this is small mind you, just bigger and better, that’s all) 🙂
I think it’s great that Jeff launched Improv Media, I’ll bet he’s gonna kick ass. Thanks for sharing all the great accomplishments from the past year. 2011 will be even better.
This is SO inspiring and wonderful, Pam. I can’t wait to click through all the links. Thanks to you and your clients for sharing with us. Big, celebratory hugs for all.
Super proud, stoked and happy to be featured here as one of your kickass clients, you kickass coach, mentor and woman! THANK you for all you did and continue to do to inspire me and everyone you come into contact with. Love you sooo much!! Here’s to a freakin super awesome 2011 for us ALL! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Thank you for sharing, Pam.
I look forward to getting to know you better in 2011…wishing you love, laughter, health & happiness. 😀
xo,
Heather
Thank you Pam, for your wisdom this past year and your wonderful generosity in posting this list every year! Here is to 2011 being the best year yet for all of us!
xo
Thanks for sharing! I need to refer someone to you whose first name starts with “E” so I’m not all on my own next year!
Pam,
What a truly awesome list of phenomenal people and achievements! Your work is so powerful and I wanted to thank you for the impact you have had on my and my life and business this year. Experiencing yours and Michele’s brilliance and inspired content in Career Invention Certification was key to my life and career coaching practice. Your coaching gave me my word for 2011 – Lead. Deep and heartfelt thanks to you.
Kindest,
Helen