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	<title>Show Business 101 Productions with Barbara Niven</title>
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	<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com</link>
	<description>Unleash Your Star Power! Be the Go-to Celebrity Expert in Your Business.</description>
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		<title>Welcome to Club Not-So-Perfect. Whew. The pressure&#8217;s off.</title>
		<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/welcome-to-club-not-so-perfect-whew-the-pressures-off/</link>
		<comments>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/welcome-to-club-not-so-perfect-whew-the-pressures-off/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:33:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barbara</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showbusiness101.com/?p=1226</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I talked to three girlfriends today and all three made some negative comment about themselves and talked about trying to get perfect. (This is still in New Year’s resolution territory after all.) I had to laugh. Even though I am in the same club. In fact, while I was talking to them, I was measuring [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I talked to three girlfriends today and all three made some negative comment about themselves and talked about trying to get perfect. (This is still in New Year’s resolution territory after all.) I had to laugh. Even though I am in the same club. In fact, while I was talking to them, I was measuring out my 1,000 calorie a day diet I’m on right now (per my nutritionist) to get leaner for filming, and reading a magazine about which celebrities have had plastic surgery.</p>
<p>It’s a sickness. We are all fabulous, beautiful and talented women! So why do we feel this way? That we are never THERE yet? Wherever THERE is. And where does this whole concept of “Perfect” come from?</p>
<p>I am working hard to get past it. And to celebrate me now, as I am, instead of what I possibly-maybe-probably not-could be someday. My business puts added pressure on me though. Every other actress I work with is a size zero. It’s my life, and I have to deal with it. It’s disheartening, but if I start to obsess about it I start to spiral downwards. And that’s a bad place that I never want to see again. I am through feeding an eating disorder.</p>
<p>So…I consciously use “triggers” to get my attitude up again. They work instantly too! Things like: My magical vision board! Love words I say to myself! Celebrating my wins as they happen! Screaming a big fat happy YES inside myself!</p>
<p>And this year on January 1st I started a gratitude journal that I write in every night. I get into bed, open the book and reflect back on my day to find the good stuff. Makes me more aware of all the positive things in my life, and it outweighs the &#8220;not perfect&#8221; ones. And my attitude changes.</p>
<p>My girlfriend Phyllis decided to use “white butterflies” as her trigger. I even bought her white butterfly earrings. And would you believe she often ends up seeing them fly around her now? How weird is that. She calls me all the time and says “I’m looking at a white butterfly!” For real. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one around here, and I live in the same building. The Universe really does listen to us and sends back exactly what we are putting out. If it’s positive you’ll get positive back. But if it’s negative, watch out.</p>
<p>So when the negatives start happening to you, please borrow my trick. Do something that celebrates the positives in your life. Create your own triggers so that you are in control and can bounce right back up! It&#8217;s that magical Law of Attraction thing&#8230;</p>
<p>Maybe we should just form a club called CLUB NOT-SO-PERFECT. And celebrate that!</p>
<p>Hey, I think I’m on to something….</p>
<p>Love and Light!<br />
Barbara<!-- PHP 5.x --></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>&#8220;Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.”– Angela Monet</title>
		<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/those-who-danced-were-thought-to-be-quite-insane-by-those-who-could-not-hear-the-music-%e2%80%9d%e2%80%93-angela-monet/</link>
		<comments>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/those-who-danced-were-thought-to-be-quite-insane-by-those-who-could-not-hear-the-music-%e2%80%9d%e2%80%93-angela-monet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:28:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barbara</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showbusiness101.com/archives/1222</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ahhh&#8230;I found this tonight and love it! This is why I created my original Dreamers Network, so that it could be a support group for those of us who “hear the music”. We who dare to be Dreamers. It takes a lot of courage to put your dream out there for everybody to see it! [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ahhh&#8230;I found this tonight and love it!</p>
<p>This is why I created my original Dreamers Network, so that it could be a support group for those of us who “hear the music”. We who dare to be Dreamers. It takes a lot of courage to put your dream out there for everybody to see it! And to knock it down if they can. And believe me, they will try. Because think about it. If you succeed in achieving your dream, it negates their whole lives if they have settled for less themselves. They have to fight to keep you down right along with them.</p>
<p>I remember when I first decided I was going to be an actress. I was almost thirty years old, and a single mother up in Portland, Oregon. Newly divorced, little money, and even less self-confidence. But the thing that drove me to action was the thought of wondering &#8220;What if?&#8221; at the end of my life. So, I got up my courage and declared it! Scary, but liberating. Everybody thought I was crazy. Told me I was an irresponsible mother, selfish and ridiculous. Part of me agreed. I had no role model, no contacts, no acting resume, nothing. But deep down I knew that I was meant to do this. And I had to try.</p>
<p>It’s been over twenty years now since I was that young mother with the big blonde hair and even bigger dreams…and I want to tell her thank you. For jumping in, for her leap of faith, for this wonderful gift she gave me. I have loved this crazy up-and-down acting life and I have raised an amazing, beautiful daughter. Both my dreams came true! And you know what, I would still have been twenty years older, even if I hadn’t tried. Life goes on, no matter which way we turn. Remember what Robert Frost said?</p>
<p>“The Road Not Taken”</p>
<p>- by Robert Frost</p>
<p>Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,<br />
And sorry I could not travel both<br />
And be one traveler, long I stood<br />
And looked down one as far as I could<br />
To where it bent in the undergrowth;</p>
<p>Then took the other, as just as fair<br />
And having perhaps the better claim,<br />
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;<br />
Though as for that, the passing there<br />
Had worn them really about the same,</p>
<p>And both that morning equally lay<br />
In leaves no step had trodden black<br />
Oh, I kept the first for another day!<br />
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,<br />
I doubted if I should ever come back.</p>
<p>I shall be telling this with a sigh<br />
Somewhere ages and ages hence:<br />
two roads diverged in a wood, and I &#8211;<br />
I took the one less traveled by,<br />
And that has made all the difference.</p>
<p>So, all you fellow &#8220;dancers&#8221;&#8230; follow your own music and travel your own road. I applaud your courage and await your miracles.</p>
<p>God bless,<br />
Barbara<br />
xox<!-- PHP 5.x --></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>My new Magical Vision Board &#8211; Have you updated yours lately?</title>
		<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/my-new-magical-vision-board-have-you-updated-yours-lately/</link>
		<comments>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/my-new-magical-vision-board-have-you-updated-yours-lately/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:24:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barbara</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showbusiness101.com/?p=1218</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I cannot stop looking at my new Vision Board I created. I just want to clap my hands and shout “YES!” It&#8217;s magnificent, and feels magical, which makes ME feel powerful and giddy and excited to start! Visions Boards have been one of my secret weapons for years. I&#8217;ve used them way before I ever [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I cannot stop looking at my new Vision Board I created. I just want to clap my hands and shout “YES!” It&#8217;s magnificent, and feels magical, which makes ME feel powerful and giddy and excited to start!</p>
<p>Visions Boards have been one of my secret weapons for years. I&#8217;ve used them way before I ever heard about &#8220;The Secret&#8221; or the Law of Attraction. They have always worked for me, and things have come true in almost scary fashion. For instance, when I moved to New   York to shoot One Life to Live, I cut out a photo of a NY brownstone made out of brick, with a balcony and a beautiful leafy tree in front of it. I taped it to my computer monitor and looked at it all the time. THAT would be my dream place to live in New   York. Well, would you believe that I ended up living in a place that matched that description exactly? Absolutely true. And that’s happened over and over in my life.</p>
<p>I have always cut out words and phrases and photos of things that spark me. A photo of an actress I want my career to be like, or a photo of myself framed in a little television magnet (next to Oprah!), for motivation. I cut out words like &#8220;YES!&#8221; and &#8220;BELIEVE!&#8221; and &#8220;Brimming with joy!&#8221; And “I will make a difference!” Those words, when I say them even to myself, change me inside. They evoke an emotion and spark me to action!</p>
<p>For instance, I found a photo of Doris Roberts on imbd and printed it out. It&#8217;s one where she just received an Emmy, and she&#8217;s holding it high in the air in victory. I have had that on the front page of my Daytimer ever since. If she can still win five Emmys at her age, all things are still possible for the rest of us! Every time I see that photo, my dream is sparked anew.</p>
<p>There’s something powerful that happens when you write down your dreams, and add photos and comments and words that shake you to your core. It’s not about the THINGS you want either. It’s about the EMOTIONS you have when you see and think of them. This actually causes you to raise your mood and you vibrate at a different level. I know that sounds pretty technical, but that is what the Law of Attraction is. It says that thoughts become things. I know this for a fact. And I urge you if you haven’t seen it yet, please watch “The Secret” and learn about this whole Law of Attraction thing. It can be your secret weapon too.</p>
<p>So…my new Vision Board is a work in progress. I add and subtract things every day as new things come to me. It’s my living and breathing DREAM! It’s my brand new start, something that reflects where I want to go and who I want to be in this new year. And every time I stand in front of my board, I smile and applaud the courage and journey of this woman I have become, and celebrate all the incredible adventures yet to be!</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s to living your Dreams too!<br />
Barbara<br />
xox<!-- PHP 5.x --></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Lesson Learned: The Law of Attraction also works in Reverse. Time to use your reset button!</title>
		<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/lesson-learned-the-law-of-attraction-also-works-in-reverse-oy/</link>
		<comments>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/lesson-learned-the-law-of-attraction-also-works-in-reverse-oy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:12:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barbara</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showbusiness101.com/?p=1209</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have just resurrected myself yet again. I am the Queen of Reincarnation, Resurgence, Revival. All those “R” words. And boy it feels great to have my magic back! I hesitated even writing this, because I pride myself on being a motivator, someone who not only works to make her own dreams come true, but [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have just resurrected myself yet again. I am the Queen of Reincarnation, Resurgence, Revival. All those “R” words. And boy it feels great to have my magic back!</p>
<p>I hesitated even writing this, because I pride myself on being a motivator, someone who not only works to make her own dreams come true, but works hard on inspiring others to do the same thing. So admitting that I am down is not something I do easily. And usually I have the tools to bounce right back up again. But I think that if this happened to me, it may be happening to you too. And I think we should talk about it. And for the record, I am now &#8220;bounced back up&#8221; stronger than ever.</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t know about you, but for the past few months all the &#8220;Chicken Little&#8221; disaster cries coming from all sides have been overwhelming. Everything we&#8217;ve heard on the news was a new little bomb going off somewhere in the economy or in the world. And whether it really was going to affect me personally or not, it set off my imagination to where I KNEW the end of the world was near. I got depressed and stayed hibernating inside my safe little home with my animals around me. I became addicted to CNN and CNBC, Suze Orman became my Goddess, and I couldn&#8217;t sleep because of the panic attacks worrying about &#8220;WHAT IF?!!!&#8221; I literally became physically sick too&#8230;I got this weird rash all over my body that even Prednisone couldn&#8217;t cure, and my hair started falling out. (Stress is a beautiful thing.) My computer crashed twice. And so on.</p>
<p>Now this is not like me. I see myself as the eternal optimist, the motivator, the warrior! One who never lets anything get her down for very long. I’ve been through a lot in my life, and never have I been down this long. And of course I stayed in hiding, because I didn’t want anybody to see me like this. It just became self-fulfilling, Murphy’s Law at its finest. I felt like I was drowning.</p>
<p>Well, one day I took a hard look at myself. Who was this person I had become, and why was I letting the outside world shake me so badly? And how in hell could I motivate people when I was having my own personal pity party?</p>
<p>See, I usually live my life by the Law of Attraction. Meaning I believe that whatever we believe and think and feel, we draw in more of the same. Which was exactly what I was doing, except this time I was doing it in reverse! I was down, and staying down emotionally. In fear and panic just like the rest of the world. And so more of the same just kept coming back to me.</p>
<p>This was a huge AHA moment for me! And at that moment, I took back my Power. I decided to do whatever it takes to physically and emotionally reclaim my life. It’s not a piece of cake to “out shout” all the negativity around you. But you can do it! And you’re stronger for the lesson.</p>
<p>I think I had to go through this to test what I have been living and teaching. That things are never going to be perfect. But no matter who or where you are, change is possible. We have the power to create what we want our lives to be. I am writing my own story, dammit. And so are you! If it’s not the script you want, then change your attitude and change your life!</p>
<p>Sometimes you consciously have to hit your own “RESET” button and reboot yourself. Literally. Because no Prince Charming, not even Obama himself, can save you from yourself.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s to your magic! And remember to celebrate your Wins and miracles&#8230;<br />
Barbara<br />
<a href="http://www.barbaraniven.com/">www.barbaraniven.com</a></p>
<p>ps &#8211; Stay tuned for specific tips, tools and exercises to reboot YOUR life!<!-- PHP 5.x --></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Let&#8217;s stop trying to be perfect and lighten up already. :)</title>
		<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/to-you-amazing-women-lets-lighten-up-on-our-selves-each-other-deal/</link>
		<comments>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/to-you-amazing-women-lets-lighten-up-on-our-selves-each-other-deal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:03:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barbara</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showbusiness101.com/?p=1201</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hi to all you Amazing Women! (I know you guys are amazing too, but this time it&#8217;s all about us.) I spoke recently at a glorious, energy-charged event called Amazing Woman Day. It’s an incredible movement started by the lovely powerhouse Marsh Engle. I spoke about “Giving up Perfect to Live Your Dreams!” I loved [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi to all you Amazing Women! (I know you guys are amazing too, but this time it&#8217;s all about us.)</p>
<p>I spoke recently at a glorious, energy-charged event called Amazing Woman Day. It’s an incredible movement started by the lovely powerhouse Marsh Engle. I spoke about “Giving up Perfect to Live Your Dreams!” I loved my topic &#8211; it&#8217;s perfect for me. Bad joke, I know. But boy, this whole &#8220;perfect&#8221; thing has ruled my life for most of it. I think it does with a lot of women.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s how Webster&#8217;s Dictionary defines &#8220;PERFECT&#8221;:</p>
<p>Ideal.<br />
Being without flaw or blemish.<br />
In the condition of complete excellence.<br />
To make perfect according to a given standard.</p>
<p>But you wanna know what PERFECT really means?</p>
<p>Fake.<br />
Hiding secrets.<br />
Boring.<br />
Not real.<br />
An illusion.<br />
A set-up for failure.<br />
A cover-up.<br />
IMPOSSIBLE</p>
<p>Our power is in our truest selves. Not some veneer we put on to hide behind. I am still learning this lesson. Getting older helps. I have come so far in this battle against my perfection syndrome, but it&#8217;s going to be a lifetime war. All I know is that the more I give up PERFECT, the more my life opens up and I truly start claiming my dreams!</p>
<p>I really hope you will start celebrating the Amazing Woman that you are too and start to play BIG in this world. Cut yourself some slack. When you try to live up to “perfect” it’s hard to even get started, because you already know that you will fail. Bust out of that mindset! It doesn’t serve you, and your being afraid and stuck doesn’t serve the world. Stop thinking small and start to play and plug into your passion. Your power. Your purpose. And surround yourself with other like-minded women who will support you and help lift your wings so you can catch the wind and soar to new possibilities.</p>
<p>The older and wiser I get, the more important my women friends are to me. And there is so much power and creativity when we join together&#8230;<br />
So…let’s vow to lighten up on ourselves and each other. If you will, I will. Deal?</p>
<p>Blessings…<br />
Barbara<br />
xox<!-- PHP 5.x --></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Develop and unleash your authentic Star Power</title>
		<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/put-a-little-show-business-in-your-business/</link>
		<comments>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/put-a-little-show-business-in-your-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:25:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barbara</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showbusiness101.com/?p=1153</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dare to be different in everything you do. Mix it up. If you’re at a networking event, do something that doesn’t sound like everybody else. Put your real passion into your 30 second message instead of just your name, business, blah blah blah. Don’t waste your valuable time. Use some drama. Ask a question, put in some emotion and humor, stand out! You will be remembered…and your business will grow!

I wish you lots of success and fun while you're building your business. Get out there and share your passion, your service and your product with the world. You have the power to change lives! Get excited about it. When you’re fired up, it’s contagious. That gives you charisma and STAR POWER! If you use it, people will walk out the door differently after they leave you, with a new sense of their own power and purpose. And you’ll have them as a new client. That is a beautiful 360 degree win.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every time you perform, speak, talk to a video camera, network or take a meeting&#8230;.you want to WOW them! To do that, it&#8217;s not so much what you say, but how you say it. You can&#8217;t plan it or memorize it&#8230;you have to live it and be in the moment, so that the air crackles between you and them. That is Star Power! And I promise that you can create it every time. It&#8217;s a step-by-step technique that actors use&#8230;not to be fake&#8230;but to be our most authentic and emotional and revealing. When you do that and also plug into your passion, it&#8217;s contagious.</p>
<p>And sorry, it&#8217;s not all about you. It has to be all about THEM.  True stars create a real experience for their audience and viewer. They take them on a real journey. It&#8217;s a full-out magic ride.</p>
<p>So you can&#8217;t just be all about imparting knowledge. Get out of your head because that is going to keep you stuck and removed from your Heart. No matter what your message or product or service is that you&#8217;re talking about, you must speak from your passion and truth, and especially your Heart so that your audience takes that journey with you.</p>
<p>And when you do&#8230;and they do&#8230;that&#8217;s when the magic happens. That&#8217;s when you have unleashed your true Star Power.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s never just you doing a monologue. It’s always a dialogue so that you include who you&#8217;re talking to. Always think of it as sending it from your heart to land directly on the heart of your viewer, whether you&#8217;re speaking in front of a large group or to that one person who is on the other side of the camera lens, watching you at home. It must be your most personal and passionate communication, straight from your heart. Your truth will then travel straight to their heart and they will be moved.</p>
<p>And remember to have fun while you’re at it! That is the secret that makes magic with your audience. The more you play and have fun, the more your audience does too, no matter what material you’re delivering. In fact, the heavier the material, the more you have to find the opposite. Don’t play a “mood” – go against it. Dip into it for an effect, because emotion is a powerful tool, but then turn it into something else. Be unpredictable. The audience will love you for it.</p>
<p>Be unique – reveal yourself. Don&#8217;t try to be like anyone else, because you&#8217;re not. You are special. And you have your own quirky sense of humor, your own delicious imperfections, your own sense of timing, your own unique way of talking or walking. These differences that make you YOU are what make you compelling to watch, especially when you are fueled by your passion and sense of play.</p>
<p>Think about movie stars like Katherine Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Will Smith and so on. They are movie stars because they know how to connect to their truth and they are unpredictable in how they convey their message. They don&#8217;t just ask themselves &#8220;how would somebody else play this part.&#8221; Instead they integrate the words into their entire being and when they speak, it&#8217;s magic. That’s why you can’t take your eyes off them! They are compelling to watch. And each of them, if given the same script, would act it out differently. They use their own unique qualities.</p>
<p>You must too. Play with it and unlock yourself to all the possibilities. Don&#8217;t try to do &#8220;what you think they want.&#8221; Change it up. Do something difference each time. Shock yourself and shock the audience! They will go on the journey with you. For instance, I start out different speeches that I give in a number of different ways. For one, which is for my &#8220;ACT AS IF to Live your Dreams!&#8221; presentation, I open by running up screaming from the back of the room clutching my fake Oscar, as if my name was just called at the Academy Awards. The energy is electric and the room is full of laughter and excitement and magic before I even say my first word!</p>
<p>Dare to be different in everything you do. Mix it up. If you’re at a networking event, do something that doesn’t sound like everybody else. Put your real passion into your 30 second message instead of just your name, business, blah blah blah. Don’t waste your valuable time. Use some drama. Ask a question, put in some emotion and humor, stand out! You will be remembered…and your business will grow.</p>
<p>I wish you lots of success and <em><strong>fun</strong></em> while you&#8217;re building your business. Get out there and share your passion, your service and your product with the world. You have the power to change lives! Get excited about it. When you’re fired up, it’s contagious. That gives you charisma and STAR POWER! If you use it, people will walk out the door differently after they leave you, with a new sense of their own power and purpose. And you’ll have <strong><em>them</em></strong> as a new client. That is a beautiful 360 degree win.</p>
<p>Blessings&#8230;<br />
Barbara<!-- PHP 5.x --></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>What&#8217;s Your White Butterfly? (your Happy trigger) :)</title>
		<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/whats-your-white-butterfly-happy-trigger/</link>
		<comments>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/whats-your-white-butterfly-happy-trigger/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:08:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barbara</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business speech coach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Celebrate your wins]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law of Attraction]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showbusiness101.com/?p=1142</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You ever notice how once something starts to go downhill, it can easily spiral into a monumental black hole? It’s that old Murphy’s Law thing. The Law of Attraction. Once you have a minor setback, or a bad moment, we tend to dwell on that tiny part of our day way more than all of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You ever notice how once something starts to go downhill, it can easily spiral into a monumental black hole? It’s that old Murphy’s Law thing. The Law of Attraction. Once you have a minor setback, or a bad moment, we tend to dwell on that tiny part of our day way more than all of the good things that happened that same day. We actually make our LOSSES more firm than our WINS! And that is paralyzing. It leads to depression. Which brings in more and more of the same.</p>
<p>This happens all the time in my business with auditions. ACCCK! It’s like having a job interview every time you go in, against a thousand other people who want the same job. You go into a room of people who are going to judge you, and you have one shot to try and get it perfect. Sometimes the stress is paralyzing. You know you’re going to be minutely scrutinized and taken apart.</p>
<p>And even though you might do an amazing job with the character and the script, sometimes you don’t get it just because your hair’s the wrong color. Or the producer’s girlfriend suddenly decides she wants to be an actress. Those are facts, and I know that. But it still kills me inside when I don’t get a part. I instantly go into “It’s my fault – maybe if I were five pounds thinner. Or maybe if I’d read it another way.” And so on and so on.</p>
<p>This can start a dangerous spiral for me. It’s partly why I had an eating disorder for so long. When I get down, I also tend to hide out so nobody sees me. I know other friends of mine who do the same thing. We wallow in our misery and it just gets worse and worse. We have now made a pact together that if we see each other doing that, we will not allow it for more than one day. Then the others will physically make the depressed one get out of the house and get them moving again. Get them back into reality and friends and laughter. And LIFE.</p>
<p>When you are inert and hide for too long, it’s a downhill spiral…and it’s harder to find a way to climb back out. I refuse to do that anymore. I now consciously take my emotional “temperature” and when it’s in a negative place I don’t sit there any more. I take action!</p>
<p>I have developed what I call “triggers” to get myself back up into the Positive. To get my attitude up again. They work instantly too! Easy things like looking at my magical vision board. Love words I say to myself. Calling my friends. Celebrating my wins as they happen. Taking a walk with my dogs. Noticing and really being aware of the world around me. Screaming a big fat happy YES inside myself!</p>
<p>I also have some spiritual triggers that have been happening to me. And for the longest time I didn’t really notice. The number “11” happens all the time. It’s mind blowing how many times I look at the clock and it’s 7:11 or some version of that. My friends notice it too. When they call me they say, Oh my God, look at the time. It has an 11 in it. This happens over and over again. Room numbers I stay in. Numbers on packages. Even my telephone number has 111 in it. That number shows up so much in my space that it can’t be coincidence. I am now acknowledging it as one of my personal triggers to remind me of the wondrous things in my life. It feels like a wonderful warm hug from the Universe when I see 11 now, and when I do I close my eyes and say thank you, and my heart is warmed and opened and I am full of grace and love and possibilities!</p>
<p>And this year on January 1st I started a gratitude journal that I write in every night. I get into bed, open the book and reflect back on my day to find the good stuff. Makes me more aware of all the positive things in my life, and it outweighs the &#8220;not perfect&#8221; ones. And my attitude changes.</p>
<p>My girlfriend Phyllis was devastated when her beautiful white German Shepard Dutchess died, but she saw a white butterfly afterward that made her feel better somehow. She started using “white butterflies” as her happy trigger. I even bought her little white butterfly earrings. And would you believe that now she sees them fly around her a lot?  How weird is that. She calls me all the time and says “I’m looking at a white butterfly!” For real. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one around here, and I live in the same building. The Universe really does listen to us and sends back exactly what we are putting out. If it’s positive you’ll get positive back. But if it’s negative, watch out.</p>
<p>So when the negatives start happening to you, please borrow my trick. What is your white butterfly? Find something that celebrates the positives in your life. Create your own triggers so that you are in control and can bounce right back up! It&#8217;s that magical Law of Attraction thing&#8230;</p>
<p>Here’s a big fat happy YES coming at you!</p>
<p>Love,<br />
Barbara<!-- PHP 5.x --></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Stop letting PERFECT stop you from starting!</title>
		<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/stop-perfect/</link>
		<comments>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/stop-perfect/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:16:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barbara</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showbusiness101.com/?p=1134</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I talked to three girlfriends today and all three made some negative comment about themselves and talked about trying to chase perfect in some way. Thighs. Cellulite. Job. Romance. Even the perfect handbag. I had to laugh. Even though I am in the same club. In fact, while I was talking to them, I was  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I talked to three girlfriends today and all three made some negative comment about themselves and talked about trying to chase perfect in some way. Thighs. Cellulite. Job. Romance. Even the perfect handbag. I had to laugh. Even though I am in the same club. In fact, while I was talking to them, I was  flipping through a magazine about which celebrities have had plastic surgery.</p>
<p>It’s a sickness. We are all fabulous, beautiful and talented women! So why do we feel this way? That we are never THERE yet? Wherever THERE is. And where does this whole concept of “Perfect” come from?  I am working hard to get past it. And to celebrate me now, as I am, instead of what I possibly-maybe-probably not-could be someday. My business puts added pressure on me though. Every other actress I work with is a size zero. It’s my life, and I have to deal with it. It’s disheartening, but if I start to obsess about it I start to spiral downwards. And that’s a bad place that I never want to see again. I am through feeding an eating disorder.</p>
<p>So many of my clients in my studio have the same Perfection thing holding them back. Over and over again I hear &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to shoot yet, wait til I lose ten pounds.&#8221; Or &#8220;I hate how I look on camera.&#8221; &#8220;Or I don&#8217;t know what to say yet &#8211; I want it to be perfect.&#8221; They know they need videos to build their business, but they are letting their perfection syndrome hold them back from even starting.</p>
<p>Can you relate to that? Well, know that you&#8217;re not alone. Even we actors still have to face this every time we&#8217;re on camera too! In fact, when one of my movies first comes out, I cannot watch it with anyone else in the room. I actually watch it with my hands over my eyes the first time through. But somewhere in the second time as I watch it I start to get over myself and quit thinking of it as &#8220;me.&#8221; I start to look at it objectively and pick out pieces here and there and say &#8220;that was a good choice&#8221; or &#8220;I like that moment.&#8221; I stop looking at ME and start looking at the performance and the message.</p>
<p>Please trust me that you will get over seeing yourself on screen too, and you will surprise yourself. It&#8217;s my process, and you just have to trust it. When I shoot with clients, I use my camera and tape everything we do. Then we play it back instantly on the monitor. And people get over seeing themselves and judging themselves within the first few minutes. It&#8217;s amazing how quickly you get to the point of objectivity&#8230;and the THRILL of how well you&#8217;re doing!</p>
<p>We rehearse on tape and develop your video and message as we go. We shoot, watch it back, and pick out moments and phrases and sound bites that are delicious. We build on those pieces as we do it again and again until you have a video performance that you can be proud of!  This happens every time someone shoots with me in my studio too. It&#8217;s something magical. All of a sudden people lock into the zone, what I call their Star persona. And everything just works. They talk to the camera and it flows. They connect heart to heart with the viewer, right through the camera lens. And they give blow away, professional performances that are authentic and real and emotional and just&#8230;.perfect. <img src='http://showbusiness101.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>Don&#8217;t let the pressure of trying to be Perfect stop you from ever getting started. It destroys your creativity and your genius. Just dive in and START whatever it is you are facing. Quit judging and discover your magic. Get our your camera and just start shooting something! Rehearse everything on tape, and build your message and your skills as you go. And when you get that golden take that you love&#8230;.move on to the next one. <img src='http://showbusiness101.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>Love and Light!<br />
Barbara<!-- PHP 5.x --></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>If being on camera is your biggest fear, it&#8217;s time to fix it.</title>
		<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/camera-fear/</link>
		<comments>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/camera-fear/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 May 2010 08:25:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barbara</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showbusiness101.com/?p=1068</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is my favorite thing to coach people on, because most people have such a quick and dramatic turnaround! Most of my clients say that being in front of the camera is their biggest fear, more so than actually speaking to a live audience. There&#8217;s something about that big black hole of a camera lens [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is my favorite thing to coach people on, because most people have such a quick and dramatic turnaround!  Most of my clients say that being in front of the camera is their biggest fear, more so than actually speaking to a live audience.  There&#8217;s something about that big black hole of a camera lens that can be very intimidating.  So there&#8217;s nothing better than taking a person in just one session and watching them make incredible transformations.</p>
<p>I promise that you can too!  You can actually have FUN in front of the camera!  And the more you &#8220;play&#8221; as you plug into your passion for what you&#8217;re saying, you create a magic energy that shoots straight from your heart through that camera lens and into the heart of the person watching.  And that is what creates bottom line results for your business!</p>
<p>I have developed my technique for &#8220;talking to the camera&#8221; over the past 25 years of acting in commercials and hosting infomercials.  I&#8217;ve been blessed to be known as one of the top infomercial hosts and spokespersons in the country. There&#8217;s a lot of money on the line for those, and so there&#8217;s a lot riding on how well you communicate your Truth.</p>
<p>Your Truth is what it&#8217;s all about.  It&#8217;s about getting you to where you are unblocked by nerves or bad habits so that you can just plug into your passion and be Authentic!  When you&#8217;re excited about what you&#8217;re saying and feeling, that translates straight to the heart of your audience! And if you&#8217;re selling your product or service, that&#8217;s when they&#8217;ll pick up the phone and buy it.</p>
<p>My technique works. It&#8217;s a step by step process that gives you easy tools that you can build on, one by one. And since you practice them on camera, then watch them back for instant replay and feedback, you learn quickly. Don&#8217;t worry if you hate how you look, or that you should wait until you lose ten pounds. Everybody feels that same way, even the movie stars. Nobody likes seeing themselves on camera&#8230;until about the third time through. Then magically something happens and you start to see little moments that you actually like! Then you say to yourself&#8230;you know what? I&#8217;ll keep that, and I&#8217;ll keep what I did there, but not that one, but&#8230;.look at this one. That&#8217;s a great moment or a great sound bite and I&#8217;m going to keep that one in my tool box for next time!</p>
<p>The bottom line is you are not alone in feeling uneasy in front of a camera&#8230;.until you learn the tricks of the trade to stop thinking of it as a camera, and start thinking of it as a personal friend who you are talking to. Think of it as an intimate conversation, where you are sharing your magic secret with them. Something that is going to change their life! Stop thinking about YOU and start thinking about what you are giving to them!</p>
<p>That is when the magic happens, the camera disappears, and you are your authentic YOU speaking your truth and passion. That is when you connect heart to heart with your viewer and compel them to take action. When that happens, you&#8217;re in the zone&#8230;and you&#8217;ll find you&#8217;re having a blast too! <img src='http://showbusiness101.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> <!-- PHP 5.x --></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Let me help you become the Star in your Business!</title>
		<link>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/let-me-help-you-put-the-show-in-your-business/</link>
		<comments>http://www.showbusiness101.com/archives/let-me-help-you-put-the-show-in-your-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:27:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barbara</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://showbusiness101.com/?p=429</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Video gives instant credibility and a personal connection to your audience and target market. If you're not using video yet, your competition is! Image is everything, and I’ll share my 25 years of acting experience &#038; secrets while I coach you to look &#038; sound Amazing! Plus...you'll have fun!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em> </em></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;"><strong><span style="color: #b42228;">In today&#8217;s business world, you have to do everything you can to stand out from your competitors&#8230;.to be the Star in your business niche. </span>That means you have to put some SHOW business into your business&#8230;because if you don&#8217;t tell people about it, or show it off, nobody is going to find you! </strong></span></p>
<p>It&#8217;s vital and easier than you think to brand yourself as the authority and celebrity expert in your field. You should be taking advantage of every speaking and networking opportunity you can, and in this day and age you have to be using video and social media to market yourself.  You&#8217;ll increase your visibility &amp; your credibility and become the &#8220;go to&#8221; person, the authority, in what you do.You&#8217;ll also increase your visibility in the search engines and watch your business build as you reach people you&#8217;d never connect with otherwise.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #be0312;">I&#8217;ve been an actress and speaker for over 25 years and I&#8217;ll teach you easy tips and secrets that the pros use for public speaking and for videos, so that you can get rid of nerves and give dynamic presentations in front of a group or on camera. </span></strong>My technique is easy, it works for everyone and I promise that you&#8217;ll have fun too!</p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #333333;"><strong>Here&#8217;s what I can help you do:</strong><br />
</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #ff0000;">Brand yourself as      the authority and celebrity expert in your niche</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Build out your      brand with a Platform       Building video      package</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #ff0000;">Create videos      for websites, video blogs, YouTube, social media, video tips, info      products</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Make a personal heart-to-heart connection with your viewer or audience<br />
</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #ff0000;">Handle nerves &amp; actually turn them into fuel!<br />
</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Even if you don&#8217;t      know what to say, I will help you get your message &amp; sound      bites clear</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #ff0000;">Star      quality lighting and makeup</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Tricks to sharing      your passion &amp; excitement so that you ignite your viewer<br />
</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #ff0000;">My #1      secret so you can &#8220;play&#8221; on camera &#8211; it&#8217;s the magic secret      sauce that brings you $$$ !!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Create your amazing niche pitch so you stand out at networking events<br />
</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #ff0000;">Media coaching so      you can ace TV &amp; radio interviews or host your own show</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Presentation      coaching for public speaking &amp; live events </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #ff0000;">Tips on makeup,      lighting &amp; wardrobe that you can use to make videos on      your own</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Receive      professionally edited videos with credits that drive business to you</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">I can also show you how to use your webcam, FlipCam &amp; handycam to create your own great videos in the future so that you keep building your platform!</span><br />
</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>My gift is helping you bring out your gift, whether it&#8217;s in front of a live group, in a radio &amp; TV interview or on camera as you create a video. </strong></p>
<p>I have a studio that we&#8217;ll work in, and I promise you that you&#8217;ll have a blast as we create videos for your strategic marketing plan. I will also help you get clear on your message and your &#8220;Star speaking persona.&#8221; Once you plug into that and get in the zone, you can fly on your own in every aspect of your business and publicity.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll teach you tips and secrets I&#8217;ve learned as an actress for over twenty years. It&#8217;s an incredible technique that you can take and use going forward in everything you do. And you don&#8217;t have to worry about what to say, because that&#8217;s what I do too. I&#8217;ll help you develop your sound bites and your message as we go along.</p>
<p><strong>Over 4.5 billion videos were viewed on YouTube last year. Was yours one of them?</strong></p>
<p>Video gives instant credibility and a personal connection to your audience and target market. If you&#8217;re not using video yet, your competition is! Use it to become the authority in your niche and drive business to your website. But you must know the basics to do it the right way, so that you send the right image and message every time!</p>
<p>When you book your session, I’ll give you a consultation and template ideas and homework. On your shoot day, you come to my studio and then I adjust your makeup, wardrobe and lighting so that you look great. We start to play and talk about your message,  rehearsing on camera. I record everything and then show it to you for instant replay and feedback. That way you see what works and build on that, and you learn very quickly.</p>
<p><strong>We will plug into your passion and your excitement about what you do as we get your magic down on tape! </strong></p>
<p>The more you are free to play and have fun, the better your video will be. Having fun and a sense of play is the magic secret sauce that translates from your heart straight through the camera lens to the heart of your viewer.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t know what to say in your videos? You could shoot an intro for your website, product demonstrations, a website tour, special events, what makes you different, your  personal core message and &#8220;aha&#8221; moment, etc. I also suggest you start taping a series of video tips unique to you that you can start using as well. Don&#8217;t worry, I will walk you through everything.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">I have a Teleprompter available, and I can show you how to use it. But I find that it&#8217;s almost always best to just TRUST and play with me. You already know your business better than anyone else! I will help you capture it in your video. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;"><strong>After the session, I will create and edit as many videos as we can get out of the session, and those will be the start of your strategic marketing platform. </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">You will  receive edited videos ready to upload and use. You can use them on your website, YouTube, video blogs, social networks and info products.  Footage is stored for six months, so you can order more videos later to expand your platform.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">Please email me at <a href="mailto:coaching@barbaraniven.com">coaching@barbaraniven.com</a> for a free consultation. I&#8217;d love to talk to you and help you develop your media strategy. My studio is in North Hollywood (in Los Angeles) but I also can travel to your area if you put a group  together for me to work with.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="color: #333333;"><strong>Here&#8217;s to putting the SHOW in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">your</span> Business!</strong></span><br />
Blessings&#8230;<br />
Barbara  :</span><span style="color: #ff0000;">)</span></span></p>
<h3><strong>Next workshop is: </strong><strong><br />
</strong></h3>
<p><strong>“You  on Camera!” – May 1 and June 5, 12-6 pm in Los Angeles</strong><br />
Web Video &amp; Marketing Workshop, with Barbara Niven &amp; Susan  Levin. Get practice &amp; coaching on camera with Barbara, then learn  how to use your videos in a marketing campaign! Susan Levin of Speaker  Services is an expert in marketing &amp; using videos. The class will be  limited to 12, so you will get personal training on camera. Price is  $99. Click here to register:  <a href="http://www.speakerservices.com/web-video-workshop.html">http://www.speakerservices.com/web-video-workshop.html</a><!-- PHP 5.x --></p>]]></content:encoded>
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