by 6 people |
Scanner People find the whole world fascinating!
Scanners (sometimes called renaissance people or dilettantes) want to learn about lots of things, and can find that they are never able to earn what they are worth because they can't 'stick' to anything long enough to make a lot of money.
Barbara Sher coined the term scanner in her 1994 book 'I could do anything...', and then wrote 'Refuse to Choose' just for us, and is an author and coach. Her books have sold millions of copies.
Table of Contents
Feel free to hop around
- If you are a scanner
- Barbara Sher books on Amazon
- Squidoo rocks for Scanners!
- How to Earn a Living, Part One
- Helpful Books
- How to earn a living, Part Two
- only one hundred bucks - so what?
- Visit another lens
- A link for Scanners in the UK
- Have you discovered HDR photography yet?
- Great Stuff for scanners on CafePress
- Other things you might be interested in exploring
- Reader Feedback
If you are a scanner
you'll find life so full of interest that you'll be stuck wondering what to do first
However, there are ways to have a satisfying life without starving, and one of them is to have multiple streams of income.
You may decide to have (or stay in) a non-taxing day job, and earn small amounts extra by moonlighting as self-employed.
You may decide to work part-time in one area that you love, and spend the other days 'sunlighting' with a different passion.
First of all, you'll need to know what sort of scanner you are. In 'Refuse to Choose' Sher describes eleven different types of scanners, and shows each how to have a rich and varied life.
For example, a 'Plate Spinner' likes to be challenged by keeping many projects on the go at once - never feeling rushed or overwhelmed; whereas a 'Serial Specialist' involves themself deeply in one area for many months at a time, only to suddenly up and change direction, to become a master of another field. Both of these people are scanners, but neither would enjoy the other's lifestyle.
Sher's book 'Refuse to Choose' tells each type of scanner how to identify which types you are (most people are a blend), and then describes tools and techniques to get you up and moving. The book is available below.
Barbara Sher books on Amazon
These are some of Barbara's books
Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams
This is the main book for scanners. You need it!
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 07/06/2009) 
List Price: $15.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It
This book has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $16.00
Usually ships in 24 hours
Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want
I love the planning backwards flowchart in here. This will get you moving.
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $15.00
Usually ships in 24 hours
It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now: How to Create Your Second Life at Any Age
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $16.00
Usually ships in 24 hours
Live the Life You Love: In Ten Easy Step-By Step Lessons
Amazon Price: $11.20 (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $14.00
Usually ships in 24 hours
Squidoo rocks for Scanners!
How to get helplessly lost in exciting possibilities
How do you stop surfing and dreaming, and start earning?
Answers in the next section...
How to Earn a Living, Part One
Give yourself just a little break
Then you'll need to develop a thick skin, and learn to ignore or not be pressured by well-meaning friends and family. And they are well-meaning, they just don't understand our amazing minds and hearts, which can absorb and love an incredible variety of subjects.
Until you have accepted that this is OK, it will be harder for you to move and take action on your dreams. You still need to move, all the while learning these lessons, if you are not to stay stuck and dissatisfied.
Some books that can be very helpful in changing your mindset are listed below.
Helpful Books
You'll find these very helpful in learning how to change your life as a scanner
Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways For Creating Work That You Love
This excellent little book describes perfectly the life of a scanner, with multiple profit centres being her description of multiple streams of income.
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 07/06/2009)
The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed and Overworked- 21st Century Edition
The fun that this author has in his life shines through every page.
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 07/06/2009)
Real Success Without a Real Job: There Is No Life Like It!
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 07/06/2009)
The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One
Another book similar to Sher's.
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 07/06/2009)
One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 07/06/2009)
How to earn a living, Part Two
This is where fear may stop you in your tracks
This is where you start. You have thousands of ideas swirling in your mind of how to make profits from hundreds of different topics or themes.Where do you start? How do you choose?
Well, what is your current passion? What is dominating your thoughts just now?
Pick that topic. Don't worry about it crowding out other possibilities (you can make notes on those so you don't forget them), and figure out a way that you could earn $100 (or £50) from it. Write it down.
That is all you are committing to, earning $100 from it, and then looking back to see if you enjoyed it.
Could you do that? Then work out what the first step is. It may be as easy as looking up a phone number to go and see a craftsman to get some advice; it may be as hard as writing a whole ebook.
If it feels too hard, break it down into smaller steps. Just write an outline, or work out the title.
Now comes the hard part. Take that first step today - or at the latest, tomorrow. If you need a big push, commit to that step in the guest book below - and then come back and tell us how you did.
Then repeat. Work out the next step, make it small enough not to be too frightening, and commit. Repeat again as often as you need to, but earn that 100 bucks. Then you sit down and work out:
Was it fun?
Do I want to do it again?
Is there any bit of it I enjoyed and want to specialise in?
Can I automate it a bit and make room for another income sream?
Then, try again with another area of interest.
only one hundred bucks - so what?
Stop panicking here
But you only need ten of these income streams, and then it's a thousand. Ten more is another. Plan on some of them being less time-consuming than others, and have fun expanding those you enjoy, and replacing those that you don't enjoy.
Nobody is forcing you to keep on doing what you don't want to do, unless it's yourself.
Maybe you'll need a part-time job, or to keep going with your main job, so long as you still have the energy to build up a rich and resourceful life for yourself.
Keep coming back to the lens, and I'll add ideas and extra stuff I discover. Please add your comments and ideas in the guestbook.
Visit another lens
and learn more about the $100 hour
- the 100 dollar hour
- Here I tell you a little more about the $100 dollar hour.
A link for Scanners in the UK
for UK-based scanner help
if you are in the UK. John Williams runs the group and hosts fantastic monthly socials in London.
Have you discovered HDR photography yet?
I want to have a go at this
This is a future project for me. Come back soon and I'll get some links for you to find tutorials.
Meanwhile, this'll lead you along the way. A good starting point
I made it to the heart of Ta Prohm, an undisturbed Bayon ruin out the outskirts ...
Thanks for all the continued comments! Here are your TOP pics:
Thank you to my fans! Here are your favorite pics:
Thanks for all the continued comments! Here are your TOP pics:
This is the lower floor of the office building in Kharkov, Ukraine. The buildin...
Great Stuff for scanners on CafePress
All the items display the message:
Leonardo was a scanner and so am I
Mug
Price: 10.99
White T-Shirt
Price: 14.99
Sweatshirt
Price: 29.99
Tote Bag
Price: 12.99
Cap
Price: 14.99
Other things you might be interested in exploring
Here are some artistic things you may want to look at
The only rule for an ATC (artist trading card) is that its height and width measurements be 2.5" x 3.5" (64 x 89 mm). ACEOs are cards that are for sale and not just for trading.
Here's the Wikipedia article on ATCs
Reader Feedback
Share your story here
Please tell us all about your interests (and distract us from one path to another - because that makes life more fun!)
Or tell us what you have committed to - then you'll have to do it!
Sid wrote
'Scanner' lol. I like it! I decided to continue highschool-style learning after I started working full time by dedicating each evening and the two weekend days to a different hobby or subject and limiting myself to only seven interests on the go at once. I now have 13 A Levels, a degree in maths and I'm studying towards my second degree in Economics and Accounting at the age of 25. I also have a completely unrelated 9-to-5 career that I earn my main income from and plan to continue training in to degree level also. I sell fine art and sculpture on the side (something that I could do from childhood) and recently completed and found a publisher for my seven-book novel series. I am currently working on the next set of novels. I speak three languages close to fluently and plan to start on Russian in the near future. I also play the piano and guitar to grade 8 and write my own music. I ADORE learning and studying and want to know everything there is to know about life!
Posted June 13, 2009
ciarita wrote
Well, i've been lost for 27 years. Now I know that I'm a scanner, what do I do???? and what about Barcelona - Spain??? no retreats over here? humpf! I just want more!!!
Posted April 28, 2009
Hi, what a nice lens,
I think that picture can talk much than word
"picture express thousand word" is it right?
Have nice day
Pics Money
Posted March 01, 2009
andreaklee
When I read Barbara's Scanner book and attended one of her Scanner Workshops in Frankfurt, it opened my eyes about my personality. I learned to appreciate my many talents, and I felt so much better about my life that I owe lots of thanks to Barbara...
Posted January 14, 2009
SuccessLeader wrote...
I am a certified Scanner -- a marriage educator, web programmer, training developer, management consultant, seamstress, grandmother, Sher Success Teams Leader, author, and speaker fascinated by brain research, psychology, and character strengths. And languages. And probability. And good science writing. And city planning. And what makes education successful. And Triiibes!
Let me invite Scanners who don't live near Barbara Sher's Registered Success Teams leaders to join us for Success Teams by telephone. www.SherSuccessTeamsByPhone.com We know Scanners.
If you possibly can, do get yourself to one of Barbara's retreats. I have been to two, both of them incredible, freeing, passionate experiences. See her Genius Press website for info.
Posted January 14, 2009
Barbara Sher wrote
Just found this! How terrific. I'm holding my next Scanner retreat in southern France, April 19 - 24. One of the rare times I get to work personally with people on finding goals and **Resistance!** Check it out at www.geniuspress.com. There's a discount of $300 until Jan 15. That's $300 to spend in Paris or Nice afterwards, traveling with your new friends. Limit: 15 people
Posted January 13, 2009
CrypticFragments wrote...
my name is Tammy and I am a scanner! lol
lensrolled this to my Barbara Sher lens...best wishes
Posted September 21, 2008
John ScannerCentral.co.uk wrote
Thanks for getting the Scanner Message out wisdom-seeker. And thanks for mentioning Scanners Night!
John
Posted July 27, 2008
ArtSiren wrote...
Thanks for this lens Wisdom-Seeker! It describes me perfectly, and I had also never heard the term 'Scanner'. So I've learned something new!
Posted July 23, 2008
The_Book_Garden wrote...
Interesting! I'd never heard the term 'scanner' used before to describe people like me! I'll have to have a look at some of these books!!
Posted July 22, 2008
Zee7 wrote...
interesting lens wisdom seeker, im always on the lookout for money making and money saving ideas. your lens is helpful, thanks!
Posted July 21, 2008
jacquelinestone wrote...
This was a delightful surprise! I think your lens will prove very helpful to a lot of people.
Welcome to Empowerment & Enlightenment.
Posted July 21, 2008
