Susan Hyatt in the Green Room (with lucky charms*)

Welcome to the Green Room! Come on in, have a seat…

The Green Room is a cozy backstage space where our favorite business performers come to kick off their shoes and dish. And we get to listen in.

(*A convoluted Clue reference, because we couldn’t help ourselves.)

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Joining us this week in the Green Room is Susan Hyatt, Luck Evangelist and one of our very favorite energizer bunnies. Susan’s also a kick-ass runner, coffee enthusiast, and coach extraordinaire.

I’ve been coached by Susan, and taught to coach by Susan, so you might say I’m partial. But when you hang out with her, you can’t help but hope that some of her lucky fairy dust will rub off on you.

She’s warm, motivating and an absolute kick in the pants. Susan specializes in helping people get what they want, and if you work with her, she’ll probably give you a little kick in the pants, too. But you’ll be grateful. And to use a Susan term: Totally jacked up. And laughing.

Susan does everything with gusto, and we’re so happy (and hyper!) that’s she’s here today!

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Can you tell us a little bit about your process…what surprised you the most about the process of creating one of your products?

As a right brained rebel, what has surprised me the most is how helpful having a STRUCTURE is to the creative process. I like to fly by the seat of my pants, hang in the back row with the contrarians, and rock out the path less traveled. It’s a whole lot easier when I am intentional about how and when I do that.

It shocked the shit out of me. I’m currently finishing my book, “Create Your Own Luck: Seven Steps to Get Your Lucky On.” Once I created a schedule for writing, a system for dialing up inspiration and creativity, and maintained boundaries around that time, pages became chapters.

It also helped having a coach and an editor who kicked me in the pants occasionally.

As someone with super high energy (I get hyper just talking to you!), how exactly do you keep yourself focused (and sticking with that schedule) instead of hip-hopping from one thing to another?

Having business hours for me is key. As an entrepreneur working from a home office, having structure is seriously paramount. Otherwise, I can find myself sidetracked with REALLY important things, like, you know, mating socks. And then, chunking my time on my schedule really helps keep myself focused.

I establish an easy “no brainer” schedule that’s less about the end result, and more about just showing up for myself. So, right now, that’s writing three times a week for thirty minutes. Sometimes I’m just staring at my computer screen listening to music, other times I type so fast I cannot believe how fast my fingers are moving.

Like right now, I am typing at warp speed because I am so excited to talk about this. LOL.

When I am feeling less inspired, and I’m staring at my computer screen, and I find myself buying shoes on Anthropologie’s web site instead of working on my project, I gently redirect. I remind myself that this is only 30 minutes for writing, and I can go back to shopping and binging on social media later. Right now, “just this.”

What’s the hardest thing about the creative process for you? When you get stuck, is there a little trick or kung fu maneuver that helps get you merrily on your way again?

My favorite kung fu maneuver is using my Dial It Up process to create what I want. Works like a lucky charm.

It’s so easy to get uberfocused on the end result – How do you make sure you enjoy the ride?

This is something that I work on every single day. I literally check in with myself every hour on the hour. What am I thinking? How do I feel? And I remind myself, that this is all there is. This moment.

So I better enjoy it while I actively create something else for the next moment. A simple thought that always helps bring me back to the moment is, “Just this.” Simple, yet powerful.

What’s the best (or worst!) piece of advice you’ve heard about creating and sharing your stuff?

My advice to people starting out is to first, follow what jacks you up and gets you excited. If the idea doesn’t almost turn you into a TV evangelist, it’s not the thing. Don’t be tempted to do the thing that seems easy, comfortable, or will be “easy money” if you are lukewarm about it.

Turn towards the ideas that make your heart beat faster and stretch you to your edge. That’s where your brilliance hangs out.

If you were gonna send us a postcard from anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I would send you a post card from your higher self, and it would say “You rock. No need to hide. Go do your thing while I pop the champagne.”

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Thanks, Susan!

Wisdom from Susan that I want to fold up and keep in my back pocket:

• Having structure is seriously paramount.
• Right now? Just this.
• Follow what jacks you up and gets you excited. If the idea doesn’t almost turn you into a TV evangelist, it’s not the thing.

Good news: Her latest big thing is helping the rest of us discover our own four-leafed clovers. We cannot wait to get our hands on Susan’s upcoming book about creating your own luck. Keep an eye on her site–soon you’ll be able to grab a free chapter, video, and worksheet download.

Susan has agreed to hang around here in the Green Room for a while, so if you have any questions for her, feel free to ask in the comments!

I’d stick around, too, but I’m all jacked up and headed off to practice my TV evangelist voice.

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Want to jump-start your own product creation process? Book a Hopscotch Strategy Session for September now!