During the darkest days of World War II, a slogan created by an anonymous civil servant became the watchword in England. Printed under the royal crown, it read, “Keep Calm And Carry On.”

Seventy years have passed, and suddenly, in the midst of economic crises, the slogan is once again in play.

The Guardian says, “Suddenly these days, it’s everywhere, from homes to pubs to government offices. …Today, you can buy Keep Calm and Carry On mugs, doormats, T-shirts, hoodies, cufflinks, baby clothes and flight bags from any number of retailers.”

Matt James had a different response to dragging out that old slogan. His retake on it, “GET EXCITED AND MAKE THINGS." emblazoned under a royal crown made of wrenches.

The design  appeared on Flicker, along with James invitation that people use it to make their own posters, T-shirts, mugs and whatever under the Creative Common license, which allows royalty-free use on items so long as they are not sold.

Set free on Flicker, his slogan captured the sprit and imagination of many. It was chosen as T-shirt of the week at English online retailer Howie’s Mens: www.howies.co.uk/product.php/1827/84/ Womens: www.howies.co.uk/product.php/1828/84/

And there were so many requests for a poster that it will be available as a limited edition high-quality print benefiting Creative Commons.

As Queen of my own little world here at The Internet Wizards Blog, where my slogan is “Be more creative, make stuff and market on the internet,” we highly approve.

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Bonnie Boots publishes The Internet Wizards Magazine for people that want to be more creative, make their own products and market on the internet. To be part of her world, type your email into the subscribe form in the upper right corner.

If you want to spread your creative wings and make stuff to market on the web, my book, "Tapping Into Trends To Create An Endless Stream Of High-Profit Products"" will inspire you to be your most creative, successful  self by showing you just some of the many ways I use the internet to make creative cash.

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More often than not, the "because" is something like, "I’m too old," or "I’m not good enough," or "Things like that don’t happen to people like me." But today Susan Boyle, a dumpy 47-year old unemployed spinster who lives alone with her cats, can stand before you and say with absolute assurance and authority, "Anything your dare to dream can come true."

Susan appeared on "Britain’s Got Talent," an American Idol spin-off.  When she walked out on stage and admitted her dream was to be a professional singer, the audience laughed and judge Simon Cowell rolled his eyes.

Moments later, when Susan Boyle finished singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables, the audience rose to give her a standing ovation. Her amazing performance left everyone in tears and even snarky Simon Cowell displayed a rare moment  of honest emotion.

Today all Britain is talking about Boyle’s performance. She’s reportedly been signed to a recording contract. And her video has become a YouTube phenomena. You can watch her performance below.  And when it’s over, be prepared to pull all your dreams out of storage and pack all your excuses away–forever!

To see the complete, unedited Susan Boyle performance on Britain’s Got Talent, follow this link to YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

### Bonnie Boots publishes The Internet Wizards for people that dare to dream they can make wonderful stuff and market it on the internet. To  keep in touch with her, fill  in the subscribe form in the upper right.

Follow-up: Here’s another article that uses Susan Boyle as an example of the miracles that can happen when you lead from the heart and base your business on your mission in life.

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• The Prime Of Miss Susan Boyle (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)

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I’ve been a product creator for more than 30 years, but I’ve only used the internet as a marketing tool for last three years. And only in the last three years, as a digital product creator and publisher have I had complete control over what I make, where I sell and how much I earn.

Before I came to the internet, there was only one place for me to sell my product ideas. That was to big businesses that were capable of producing and marketing them. If I wanted to write a magazine article or a book, I had to find a publisher that would purchase it and print it. If I wanted to create a craft kit, I had to find a craft company that would manufacture and market it.

-Here’s a fact–most big business pay very little for creative work. In one instance, I was paid only $50-yes, fifty U.S. dollars– for an emergency rush job done overnight for Tandy Leather, one of the best-known manufacturers of leather kits and supplies in the world.

Someone from Tandy called me one morning and said, ‘We’re in a pickle. One of our largest craft retailers is reducing the floor space we’re allowed. We have just 72 hours to cut our store display in half.  If I send you, overnight, a box of the supplies we’ll be allowed to sell, can you come up with 2 designs for take-aways and get them back to me within 24 hours?"

A take-away is a pad of printed instructions for one simple craft projects. The paper pad is attached to the display shelf in a craft store. People can tear off a sheet of instructions for the craft project and take it away with them, for free.

The idea, of course, is that they’ll see the free craft pattern, notice the supplies to make it are right at hand, and buy them so they can go home and make the project. Take-aways are very important in the craft industry. They generate a lot of sales. In just 72 hours, there would be no take-aways enticing customers at one of the largest retailers in the U.S.  to buy Tandy leather—unless I came up with some great ideas fast!

I hadn’t designed for Tandy before and I was curious why they were calling me. "Our regular designers haven’ come up with any ideas. One of them suggested I call you. She said you’re a wiz at making something out of nothing fast."

I asked what they were willing to pay. "Well, this is a toughie," said my caller. "All I have in the budget is $50. I know that’s almost an insult, but it’s all I’ve got to work with. But if you can turn this around me fast, I’ll certainly use you again–and make up the low pay on your next job!"

I swallowed hard and took the job, because I knew that having Tandy Leather on my designer’s resume would be good for my business. And I wanted that future better-paying job!

I worked around the clock to create 2 designs, make up picture-perfect samples to be photographed, write and illustrate the instructions and send it all back by overnight delivery.  And then, exhausted, I slept for two days.

Tandy was happy with my work. And I was happy to get little more than the chance to show a new client what I could do. But I never got that half-promised, better paying job.

If Tandy called me today and offered me ten times what they paid for those two take-aways, I’d have to stifle my laughter as I declined. With the internet at my command, I’m no longer dependent on big companies. I have the ability to make and market all kinds of creative work, all by myself. My ability to create and my ability to earn are unlimited!

Thirty years ago I could never have dreamed that the world would open up and offer this much opportunity to creative people. Today I take it for granted that there is simply no limit to what I can dream and what I can do.

My wish for you is that you discover this for yourself, not only because making and marketing your own products is a good way to make money. But because unleashing your own creative abilities– to write, to design, to photograph, to illustrate, to entertain, to educate–is the best way to create a joyful and fulfilled life… a life truly unlimited! If you want to spread your creative wings and make stuff to market on the web, my book, "Tapping Into Trends To Create An Endless Stream Of High-Profit Products"will inspire you to be your most creative, successful  self by showing you just some of the many ways I use the internet to make creative cash.

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Bonnie Boots publishes The Internet Wizards Magazine for people, especially self-employed people,  that want to  expand their creativity, make their own products and market on the internet! To stay in touch with her, use the subscribe form in the upper right corner.

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Suddenly I knew, really knew how people feel in cities like Flint and Detroit and everywhere else where the unthinkable is happening-companies everyone thought would last forever are closing their doors and jobs everyone thought would always be there are suddenly gone. Jobs like "auto worker" and  "journalist."

All around the planet, systems from the last century are breaking down. The world economy is in collapse. Stock markets are melting. Jobs that once offered a lifetime of security have ceased to exist. People that once were trusted have been exposed as imbeciles and crooks.

With all this going on, a lot of people are focused on finding ways to put things back the way they were. Not me. I don’t think things will ever go back the way they were. And if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit the way things were was not particularly good for a lot of people on this planet.

We human beings are capable of so much more than we’ve been demonstrating. And I think this turmoil is life itself calling us out about that, demanding we grow up and find new ways of thinking, of doing, of being. I think life wants us to put on our creativity caps and come up with a whole bunch of better ideas.

Creativity is an innate human quality. Each of us has the power to dream, to imagine and to create. I believe that’s why so many spiritual writings from the Bible to the Mayan myths refer to us as the "sons of the gods" or "made in God’s imagine." For God, no matter how you conceive of that entity, is the Creator and if we are made in the Creator’s image, logic says we are also creators.

Then let us be creative. Let us do what we are born to do—stand up and flex our creative muscles and build new systems, new companies, new jobs, new visions and new dreams!

Bean counters and bureaucrats are necessary in any established system. But now, with established systems in tatters, we can’t afford to let the bean counters and bureaucrats carry the conversation. Only creative people can save the planet!

No matter where you are in your life, no matter where you are on this planet, you have, through the internet, the means of sharing your creativity with the world. Through blogs, web sites and social networks, with articles and videos and audios, you can add your ideas to the planet’s thought stream and help turn the tide toward less fear, more courage and creativity.

The job is open. Will you accept the position?

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Bonnie Boots publishes The Internet Wizards for people that want to flex their creative muscles  and make their mark on the internet. Use the subscribe box in the upper right corner to keep connected.

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