ALI!!!  Her name makes me smile and want to shout because this crazy girl has a laugh and sense of humor that is contagious and makes your day–every time!

I know that many of you miss “Thursdays with Ali” on the SOAR! blog.  Her writing had us in tears and laughter every week.  Can you believe she didn’t see herself as a writer before SOAR!?  I remember asking her over lunch if she thought her writing would continue to go forward…I tossed out the idea of her maybe writing a novel about a woman and her comical, authentic journey in developing her photography passion.  I know I am one of many who would get in line to read that book!  I guess time will tell with Ali; she is FULL of surprises!

In fact, when Ali submitted her video to apply for SOAR!, I was like “Brian, is that the same Ali that was in the DC CONFIDENCE Workshop?…She was so QUIET all weekend!  Nahh, that can’t be the same gal.”

This was Ali’s video application;

Her video application touched all our hearts.  I told our panel of judges that this video was strong evidence of how hard Ali would work, and how “above and beyond the call” she would probably go.  In the end, the SOAR! Scholarship Program would richly benefit her because you get out of this program as much as you put in to it.  Ali was clearly going to put everything into it.

Below are a few thoughts Ali wanted to share with you…

Since writing my final post on Me Ra Koh’s SOAR! blog, I’ve often been asked, “What are you going to do now that SOAR! is over?”  In my head I respond with an enthusiastic, “I’m going to Disneyland!,” (just before Me Ra dumps one of those big orange coolers of Gatorade over my head and ruins a perfectly good hair day). In reality, the answer is less glamorous: We’ll see.

Normally, that kind of answer would sound weak, indecisive, and lazy to me. After all, as part of winning the SOAR! Scholarship, I’ve spent the past year developing relationships and learning from some of the most talented business coaches, photographers, vendors and colleagues in the field. I burned the candle at both ends all year long; putting every ounce of my vulnerability, insecurity and creative juice into each exercise, blog post and image I made. And I’d do it all over again.

I don’t feel the pressure to have it all figured out, which is why snuggling up with some warm and fuzzy ambiguity might just be the best gift I received this year.

SOAR! was never about getting a clear and predictable path laid out for a career in photography. For me, SOAR! was all about becoming confident with risk. I risked applying for SOAR and rediscovered a long lost artist. I risked my thoughts on the blog every week and rediscovered my love of writing. I risked starting a photography business. My biggest take away: Risk opens doors.

I have my goals, big and small, for sure. And I’ll share all that on my blog this year as I continue to grow my business. I will continue to write. I will continue to put beautiful images into the world. I will continue to risk. As I see myself now, I hope my path will continue to change, all the while inviting me into the ambiguously beautiful blur of the future.

Thanks to all of you who followed my journey. I am humbled by your supportive comments all year long and deeply grateful for your support.

~Ali

Those two sentences; For me, SOAR! was all about becoming confident with risk. I risked applying for SOAR and rediscovered a long, lost artist.

Wow.  Powerful.

Whenever we go after building a dream, we must subscribe to the weekly, even daily, activity of taking risks.  Risk taking can be terrifying and often hold many of us back because there isn’t any guarantee of what waits on the other side.  Ali is a wonderful example of someone who risked over and over again to be pleasantly surprised by what she rediscovered.  And not only did Ali’s rediscovery of her long lost artist-writer-photographer–all the above–bless her, but it blessed all of us who followed her journey.  This rippling effect of risk taking is what moves me the most.  You think that you are setting out on a selfish journey to find yourself, your creative self, and the truth is that you end up not only giving to yourself but all those who follow along.

Ali, your SOAR! year will always be a testament to the beauty that is waiting to be discovered when we choose to risk.  You will continue to be a champion for so many women who followed you all year.  Thank you for putting everything you had into the SOAR! year.  I think we all feel like we soared a little higher in day-to-day dream building because of the journey shared every week.

On behalf of all the SOAR! Partners and this wonderful community, we proudly launch Ali Anderson to SOAR with her photography (AND writing) dreams!  I can’t wait to see how the future continues to unfold for you!  Check out her new website, and be sure to keep following her blog posts!

Ali, we love you.  I cherish you, your sense of humor and your wonderful husband and kids.

We celebrate you today!

Your Cheerleaders Forever!

Me Ra, Brian, Wendy and this awesome community!

*I invite all of you to leave a comment of encouragement, love, celebration, wisdom…or all the above, in celebration of Ali today!

Charisse…where do I start with Charisse?  So many memories come to mind.  The first time I saw Charisse’s beautiful smile was when she applied for the SOAR! Scholarship in 2009.  She did not win that year, but she didn’t give up.  Months later, she attended our San Fransisco CONFIDENCE Workshop.  I still remember her raising her hand and asking how it was possible to pursue your own dreams without taking from your family’s needs.  What a beautiful, authentic, heartfelt question.  Charisse is a kindred homeschooling mom.  With how much time homeschool and regular family life takes, it’s easy to wonder how more time can be carved out for other pursuits…especially your own dream building pursuits. But when the second year of SOAR! started, Charisse applied again.

This was her submission video.

Fast forward to September 2011.  I’m in Sacramento for our CONFIDENCE Workshop, and I invite Charisse to second shoot my Minis the day before.  She has been working hard every week at the SOAR! Scholarship Program for nine months.  She has faced some of her deepest fears in the business coaching calls.  And she has dared to look beyond her assumed limitations.  Charisse has done the “heavy lifting” work of building a dream all year long.  I’m eager to sit face to face with her and ask where she finds herself.

What she said brought me to tears.  She told me, with firm conviction in her eyes, that she now believes she can build her dreams…she really believes it.  Her dreams are hers for the taking.  She knows she has what it takes and this doesn’t take from her family, it gives to her family.  When mama follows her dreams, everyone learns how to dream along with her.  Spending the year following her dreams, working hard at it every week, has not only transformed her but the whole family.  wow…

What Charisse said is the heart of SOAR!.  Whether our SOAR! Recipients have a photography business in ten years is not the issue.  My vision was that SOAR! would empower women to know they were capable and worthy of all they desire.  When a woman knows she is worthy of her dreams and takes action, not only is she lifted up but also the world around her.  Charisse is a living testimony of this.

Here are a few words from Charisse…

Whew, what a year. It is hard to believe that it is already over. It has been a full one at that! A year ago, Linda Baylis & Genie Ohashi were walking up to my doorstep with a pink box and a video camera. What a surprise it was. I have met so amazing people during this year. I have made and fulfilled many goals. I have learned a lot about myself that I had not realized before. And yes, during this process, I have also fallen short of my mark on occasion. However, this year was not about perfection, but about growth. Growth as a person, growth as a business woman, growth in my artistic pursuits and growth in my role of a mom who can also pursue her dreams without fear. Okay…maybe not without fear, but definitely having a better vehicle with which to circumvent those fears and not let them get in my way.

Along the way, my creative eye has grown along with new desires of accomplishments yet to be made and challenges still to be taken on. However, during the process of this last year, I have participated in some art shows, hung my images in a public venue and got paid for my work along the way. While this fantastic year with the SOAR! Scholarship has come to a close, many new doors are opening as we speak. The biggest door that has opened is the door to my personal dreams. I want to thank SOAR for not only enhancing my photographic toolbox, but for helping this homeschool mama see that it’s okay to color outside the lines again.

If there is anything that I would encourage you to do after having this year with SOAR, it would be to set your own expectations and strive to meet only that. Others will often have an opinion of who you are, where you should be in your business, or what you are capable of. In reality, only you really know. Live and dream authentically. Stay true to yourself and give generously. It will come back to you in more ways than you know. I hope we meet again either in the SOAR forum, Soarority on Facebook or on my blog. It has been a pleasure taking this journey with you all.

Dream it … Own it.

Charisse

With incredible pride and joy, on behalf of all the SOAR! Partners and community, I launch Charisse Rhodes to SOAR! with her dreams!

Check out Charrise’s new website and blog!  Leave her some love!

Charisse, it is a honor to call you friend and be a witness to your inspiring journey.  We celebrate you today!

Your Cheerleaders Forever!

Me Ra, Brian, Wendy and this awesome community!

*I invite all of you to leave a comment of encouragement, love, celebration, wisdom…or all the above, in celebration of Charisse today!

This week is a special week for our community.  Together, we get to celebrate and launch our SOAR! Recipients to SOAR!  The SOAR! Scholarship is a program that Brian and I founded over two years ago.  With the generous help of SOAR! Partners like SONY, Adobe, The Wisdom Connection, Fastline Media, Smug Mug, Shoot Dot Edit, Pixel 2 Canvas, Jille and more, we spend a year equipping three ladies with all they need to soar with their photography dreams.  This week we want to celebrate ALL their hard work from last year and their new websites (thank you Fastline Media!)!

For those of you who followed the weekly blogs of these ladies, Rachel, Charisse and Ali, you share my pride in them.  You know how hard they worked.  And wow, I’m THRILLED at where they find themselves now.

Let’s start today with Rachel Abelson!  Going backward in time, this was her submission video for the SOAR! Scholarship.

I will never forget Rachel sitting in our AZ CONFIDENCE Workshop.  She introduced herself as the “Face of Auto”.  Between the three recipients, Rachel was the most green with photography.  But in her introduction she went on to say that even though she may rate herself as a level one (beginner) in photography, she was a level FIVE in confidence and determination.  Rachel showed this all year long!

As a military wife, she had unique challenges to her SOAR! year.  In the middle of the year, her family was uprooted from the East Coast and transferred to the West Coast.  And not only did she do a huge move, but she has two precious babies that keep her hands full.  In the midst of all this, she still did her SOAR! exercises and got her blog post up every Tuesday.  She also found beautiful ways to meet a personal goal of giving to the military community.  And I know that we have all watched her photography skills transform–I mean amazing!  Check out Rachel’s new website (and definitely leave her a comment on her new blog–you know how good those feel! ).

Below are some final words that Rachel wanted to share with all of you…

As I sat down to write this post, I had another wave of shock come over me. A year ago at this time I was wondering who had won the SOAR! Scholarship and why nothing had been posted about it. I brushed it off and thought, “I’m excited to see who won, but I should figure out what I’m going to do now.” Lo and behold, just a few days later I get the knock at the door. You know, the one where I’m in running clothes, haven’t showered and definitely do not look my best! The one where Wendy (SOAR! Coordinator) told me the news and then I screamed so loud that I scared my 5 month old (check it out here). Yeah, that’s the day. It will forever be in the top 10 days of my life.

The past year has been such a whirlwind of excitement, stress, laughter, but most of all accomplishment. I honestly never once thought I’d grow up to own my own business-big or small. Now that I do, it is an awesome feeling.  I’ve had two really, really awesome things happen to me this year. When I moved last summer I was able to start introducing myself as a photographer. But even more than that…..Pete and I went to a guest dude ranch in Dec for 4 days (coolest vacation ever!). When we got home he told his mom that he had told people “my wife’s a photographer” and that he was really proud to be able to say that. Him not knowing that I was within earshot, me hearing him say that was such an amazing feeling.

This last year has taught me so many lessons;

-Figuring out a style is not easy.

-Finding a brand is even harder.

-There is always room to learn.

-People will support you even if they don’t know you.

Most of all…even if you never imagined them, great things can and will happen.

I am in tears right now (good tears) thinking about all that I have been gifted the past year. Amazing mentors, a business of my own, being able to capture special moments for people, and the gift of all the SOAR! women-who I admire in more ways than I can list.

You women have given me so much knowledge, feedback, inspiration and support. I can not thank you enough. Now I have one thing to ask of you-never stop believing in yourself, no matter what.

Thank you for a fabulous SOAR! year! I send each of you a big hug!!!

World, here is Rachel Abelson Photography-watch out!!!!!!!

Now, Go for it!!!

Rachel

On behalf of all the SOAR! Partners and this wonderful community, we proudly launch Rachel Abelson to SOAR with her photography dreams!  I have full confidence that there nothing this woman can’t accomplish!

Rachel, we love you, I love you, and super proud of you.  We celebrate you today!

Your Cheerleaders Forever!

Me Ra, Brian, Wendy and this awesome community!

*I invite all of you to leave a comment of encouragement, love, celebration, wisdom…or all the above, in celebration of Rachel today!

Jefferson Memorial

Washington Memorial

The Breadline, FDR Memorial

Happy Thanksgiving,

~Ali

I had been tossing and turning beneath the snuggly comfort of my toasty warm covers for two endless hours in the middle of a winter night trying to figure out why I was so uncharacteristically restless. It wasn’t because my beloved had been sawing logs beside me like a woolly mammoth with a head cold. It wasn’t because I was stressed over how I was probably setting my kids up for a lifetime of failure because I let them watch back-to-back-to-back episodes of Dora the Explorer and eat their dinner in front of the television twice that week (gasp!). Then, in one of those cheesy made-for-tv moments, I surprised even myself when I suddenly sat bolt upright in bed (who does that?!). A calmness I’ll never forget wrapped itself around my shoulders and I breathed a sigh of relief, then said out loud to Brian, “I have to do something tomorrow.” He didn’t hear me. It didn’t matter. I knew.

I submitted my SOAR! application video two weeks later.

Thirty-six blog posts, seven video blogs, one hundred twenty-six images, ninety-seven slices of cheese pizza, forty-five glasses of wine (not all in a row) and nearly 365 days later, I am utterly and blissfully exhausted (yep, a whole lot of pizza and a glass of wine gets many a blog post written, my friends).

I imagine it’s the mental version of exhausted that a marathoner feels as she approaches the finish line. We’ve established my three criteria for running, right? (If you need a refresher, click here). Even if Robert Downey, Jr. was waiting at the finish line for me with a plate of cupcakes and a foot rub, I still wouldn’t run 26.2 miles to get a long-lasting congratulatory smooch from the guy. Sorry, love.

All the hours spent training, the blisters, chafing and tendinitis aside though, I get it. I get why marathoners do it. They do it for the same reason I applied for SOAR: I knew I could do it. Thankfully I don’t have the black toenails to show for it, but I’ve been steadily logging mile after mile, week after week, heading in the direction of a start line disguised as a finish line.

I’ve seen so many of you along the side of the road, enthusiastically waving your signs and shouting words of much-needed encouragement in your blog comments to me. We’ve shared dinners and drinks, Skyped, Facebooked, messaged and even shot together along the way. I’ve even gotten the pleasure of meeting some of you in person (truly a highlight for me) in a few of Me Ra’s CONFIDENCE workshops this past year. You all can’t possibly know how much I treasure these unexpected gifts from my year as a SOAR Recipient.

No one has cheered more loudly, pushed me harder, or believed in me more than the voice you heard in the outtakes of all those video blogs. I can write volumes about this guy, but really, this just about says it all: Brian, my love, I will always pick up the cat puke spray on the way back home to you.

www.xkcd.com/ photo of ali and brian courtesy of jenn johnston at the 2011 DC workshop

I didn’t buy a camera to take pictures of my kids. I bought a camera because I lacked a piano. Since entering Smotherhood, I desperately needed to reconnect with the creative person inside of me and it was easier to store a camera in my closet than a piano. Everyone has to start somewhere, but when I think about where I started, I get a little embarrassed of things like sun spots on people’s heads, shooting with the wrong white balance, and funky skin tones:

In reality though, failures like those gave birth to images like these over the past year:

I know (and even hope) I will continue to make mistakes, although less frequently. It’s probably the most effective way I know of to improve.

As I approach the start line disguised as a finish line, I don’t know exactly where I’m headed. Does anyone really? With my list of What Ifs in hand, I know that I will put beautiful images into the world. I know that I will continue to tell the stories that surround them. Most of all, I know that when you wake up in the middle of the night and you hear the voice that says, “take this risk,” you should always, always listen.

From the bottom of my heart, thanks for SOARing alongside me this year.

~Ali

Chose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. ~Confucius

This was always one of my favorite quotes growing up. Maybe I am a dreamer, but I believed this. As each year passes, I realize the true importance of living life to it’s fullest. That means waking up every day, if at all possible, doing what you love.

This past year, as a SOAR recipient, I was able to more fully explore what that looked like for me. I knew that I loved taking care of my family yet I loved capturing images, freezing the evidence of “that moment” into artwork, and longed to allow that creative process that I was subduing to be free. Me Ra, through SOAR, and it’s amazing partnerships helped me to bridge that divide this year.

AZ Confidence Workshop (before color correction class)

In someways, it seems like it was just yesterday that I prayed and opened myself up to whatever next step I was to make at this time in my life. I honestly wasn’t sure what would happen when I hit “send” on that video submission. I just knew that I was supposed to ask, seek, & knock on doors and the right one would open. So I find myself a year later writing this, my final post on this blog, and I am at a loss for words. How do I adequately express how blessed I have been? My goal this year when I began this journey was to “live out loud”. In other words, I wanted to finally live that quote at the top of this post in a manner that encompassed the other passions that I had, outside of mothering, in a way that would be fulfilling for me. I knew how to use my camera but I had forgotten how to get off the sidelines and cheer for myself as loudly as I did for others. I did not know how to run a business or even if I wanted to. To be able to find these answers in a community of supporters as loving as this group of women are was a blessing. Add to that the unbelievable gift of being able to do this with two amazing women, Rachel & Ali, who I know were sent to not only be friends but blessings in my life and maybe you can understand why I am at a loss for words.

Jackpot

While at the time I may have been squirming, I am so grateful to our business coaches at the Wisdom Connection. Karen asked the hard questions that I sometimes struggled to answer and Genie who was always able to offer me another prospective to consider. I love the glasses that you to look through. Thanks for helping me to clean mine. I now not only know how to use my camera, but I am also better prepared to handle the steps that must be taken to keep moving forward in the direction that I want to go. My fear of the unknown has been wrangled. It is never to late to move in the direction of your dreams. I hope that through photography, I can help other women not be afraid to let their “roar” out. I also hope to encourage young men & women moving into the different stages of their lives, to dare to be different and don’t stop believing in their dreams.

New Beginnings

I love the camera, both sides of it. It’s amazing that something so little can have so much power. I love photography. I love freezing moments. I love seeing people feel & look beautiful. I love that I can now do what I love and truly never work a day in my life. Confucius seemed to know a thing or two.

I thank you all for riding with us on this journey. You all really kept us encouraged during some of the tougher weeks. I would love to hear what nugget you all grabbed from this year. Please let me know in the comments or over on the forum.

Dream it & Own It!
~Charisse

Knock Knock…who’s there? “Wendy Zippwald on behalf of Me Ra Koh to present you with the SOAR! Scholarship. Will you accept it?” Me: Ahhhhhh! Baby: Waaahhhh!!! Wasn’t it just yesterday that I scared my 5 month old baby when I found out I was a SOAR! recipient? Nope. That was about 10 months ago. Holy Cow!!!! Did this year just fly by or is it just me?

This year I have grown in so many ways. I have learned so many things from so many different people. I have found comfort and certainty where before there was none. I have added a new title for myself. Heck, I learned how to use a digital SLR camera!

After Wendy and Christine left my house, I was still in shock. I was so excited, honored, and scared! I was so nervous about being able to run a business while still being mommy. I was nervous I’d fail and let all of you down. I was simply nervous about learning to use the camera! Then my husband reminded that’s what this year was for-to learn. Who cares if my pictures weren’t perfect every time? (I did) Who cares that I might not have a booming business at the end of 2011? (I did) As long as I took in everything that was given and offered to me this year, it would be a success. He was right. (such a rare occurrence And I truly feel that this year was a success. I have learned everything from what shutter speed is to how to figure out my target audience and almost everything in between.
When I first applied, I had just received my first dslr a week prior. I asked a girlfriend the best way to learn to use it. She pointed me one direction. Then the next day she emailed me and told me about SOAR! and that I should apply because I’d make a good photographer. And so I did. And here I am. I’ve always loved taking pictures (and being in them-not gonna lie!), I just never knew how much I loved it until this year. I never knew I could make a difference by capturing special moments. That’s another thing I figured out this year-what I want to do with my life. I want to make a difference in someone’s (or many people’s) life. Be it through photography or fitness (or a combo of the two-wouldn’t that be unreal!?), that is my life’s dream. Thanks to SOAR! I am completely confident that I can do just that!
Oh my word! I just looked at a couple of pictures from before my SOAR! time. Yipes! So many things….let’s take a look.

1.all the distractions on the floor, on the wall. 2. the yellow tint–ahh the yellow, story of my life before SOAR! 3. How about that line coming out of Pete’s head. 4. the shadows. oy.
Dont’ get me wrong-I love this picture! It was something they did together at that time and I love having captured it. Now, I know how to make it better for next time.

Or this one..

the distractions on the side. the flash. oy!

Fast forward……I have Me Ra’s workshop under my belt. Whoop!

Taken at the workshop. Not perfect, I cut off some of her head and his knees. But Much better than before!!!

And most recently…..

Captured at the first military homecoming I photographed. Though you can’t see his eyes, I don’t think you need to. Emotion, love, happiness. All right there. Bam! Now I’m on to something.

As the year has gone on, with my skills growing, so has my confidence. When I went into my first shoot, I was a wreck! I was so busy worrying about all the details that I don’t think I totally captured the essence of the little boy. His parents were happy, but I wasn’t overjoyed. Now, I go into a shoot and I’ve still got those nerves, just on a smaller level. I know that when I show the family their pictures, mom’s gonna love ‘em. Here’s one thing that I really, really love about how I’ve grown—most of the pictures I put in the proof gallery are unedited! That’s right…..I know that I know my camera because I”m not spending hours on end editing-that, folks, is something to be proud of!

I cannot say “THANK YOU!!!” enough to Me Ra and all the partners for giving me this awesome gift. You have changed my life more than you can imagine. Me Ra, your goal is to empower women-you have done that for me with this Scholarship-thank you isn’t enough.
I wouldn’t be right without thanking my husband-he is my biggest supporter. I love you-forever, a day, and then some.

And with that, I am ready to SOAR!

Smile an Go For It!

Rachel

Except for the cute little munchkins, the yellow brick road scares the ruby slippers off me. First, you’ve got the danger of flying monkeys and wild animals dressed up like lions and tigers and bears (go ahead and say it…oh my) lurking about. Then you have the whole problem of footwear-obsessed witches to deal with. Plus, the talking trees freak me out. No thanks. I’ll just hang out here with the munchkins and wait for that whole vindictive witch-problem to blow over.

Sounds a lot like starting a business right? Sure, your business might be trying to kill you (thank you, Jeff Jochum). You can bet you’ll run into a few hurdles along the way (not enough money, not enough time, not enough quality gear, etc.). And Oz-forbid, you might even run into a few colleagues…er, trees who chuck apples at your head. The yellow brick road, heck – every kind of road – is full of reasons to quit or not even try in the first place…especially when life is swirling around you.

That’s exactly where it’s wise to seek the counsel of people who know a lot more than you do; especially if you’ve got an inner voice chasing you on a broomstick and cackling about how you don’t have the brains, heart or courage to run a business.  Through my journey with SOAR! this year, I’ve been relying on my business coaches to help me navigate some twisty turns in the road.

Setting (and exceeding!) my income target was huge for me half-way through the year, although I had moments of wishing if I only had a brain.  Finding a visual way to depict where I am versus where I want to be required me to reconcile my head and my heart. More importantly, I have created action from that tool. And I didn’t blog about this, but another important realization for me came in a coaching session with Karen when she asked me to list my ten best strengths. I couldn’t get to three. My list has grown considerably since then and it’s something I refer to before every shoot. Just for some extra courage.

There is no great wizard to grant my wishes; no smoke and mirrors; no pink bubble with a ditzy witch inside who delivers cryptic messages for success. Here’s how I’m doing it:  I’m setting a few, small, achievable goals to keep me on track. When I meet those small goals, I set new ones. And when I stack up all those goals at the end of the year, I look down from the top of my goal heap to celebrate how far I’ve climbed…in my ruby slippers no less.

As it turns out, that ditzy witch in the floating bubble was right: I had the power to SOAR inside me all along.

~Ali