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We recently interviewed TV and radio show host, Ryan Ray, on our radio program. Ryan’s passionate about sharing the stories of those who are pursuing their dreams! Below is his radio show archive, as well as his “Passion-ography”.
SO: Your definition of “passion” – your “WHY” for being on the planet?
People today have lost their sense of purpose – their own “WHY” for being on this planet. Instead of looking within ourselves, society has trained us to find our “WHY” externally in other people, places and things. My passion is to help people Wake UP!, remember their “WHY,” and remind them that their most heartfelt goals are still possible.
SO: Your biggest passions for serving others, and how you’re expressing them (include hobbies, volunteering, if you wish)?
In August 2008 I began reaching out to the public through a web show designed to inspire others to remember their passion. As the weeks progressed, so did our audience and soon we had outgrown the internet TV studio I had constructed in my bedroom. On April 3, 2009 “Wake UP! Explore your Passion” the TV show was born as we made our debut on LIVE television in Pasadena, CA to 40,000 cable-connected homes in addition to our regular audience of 10,000 weekly viewers through the web.
SO: Your biggest challenge(s) in expressing your passions for serving others and how you’ve addressed them?
If someone had told me that I was going to build an entire TV show, cast and crew from the ground up and that I was going to do it all on a shoestring budget, I would have laughed and thought it impossible. Before I began down this path I had no background or formal training or experience in television production whatsoever. Needless to say, the learning curve has been tremendous. I believe that when you have a true, heart-centered passion for something, all the resources you need to be successful will make themselves available. While there have been stressful moments, it has been a dream come true and A LOT of fun!
SO: They say that when you do what you love, the rest follows. What has been your experience of prosperity, as you define it?
In my experience, the single most common factor that people believe is holding them back from their dream is money. I believe that when the timing is right, everything will fall into place, including the money. The trick is to first become crystal-clear about your goals, today. That won’t cost a dime! Then, moving forward, focus on those things that you already have and begin putting those pieces of the puzzle into place. If your passion is true, when the timing is right and you are ready, the missing pieces will come into view, one-by-one.
SO: The biggest lesson that you’ve learned in making the leap?
First and foremost, it’s OK if it isn’t perfect. That doesn’t mean you do your work carelessly and pay no attention to detail, it means you do the absolute best you can, focusing on every detail as well as the big picture. At the end of the day, you pat yourself on the back, focusing first on what was done well and lastly on those things that still need improvement. Secondly, even though it’s your baby, there will come a time when you have to let go. The only way we can reach our full potential is to work with others, empowering them to be the best they can be. Only then can we reach our greatest goals.
SO: The biggest keys to your success (e.g., talent, quality, skill, etc.)?
No matter how far removed your life experience may seem, there’s something you’ve learned in your past that will help you reach your current goal. I studied graphic design and dabbled in web programming. My skills as a designer have saved me huge amounts of money in creating a web presence and promotional materials for “Wake UP! Explore your Passion”.
SO: What’s your support system look like; how did you create it?
Aside from my own mother’s consistent and unconditional support in everything I’ve ever attempted to do in my life, I’m blessed to have a tight-knit group of friends who share my passion for inspiring change in other people’s lives. When you move bravely forward into the unknown, your courage and sincerity will attract people to you like an electromagnet. Quite honestly, you’ll be surprised where your supporters come from, more times than not being the people you’d least expect!
SO: What wisdom do you have for someone who’s scared/discouraged about their own leap?
Though it’s been said before, it merits being said again: you are your biggest supporter and your worst critic. Regardless of your physical surroundings and regardless of the influences in your life, you have the power within yourself to be successful in ways you never dreamed possible. The true, heart-centered desires you hold deep inside, those that always seem to peek out at you in your happiest and saddest moments, will never die and demand fulfillment. It is your duty in life to listen and act. “How” you’re going to do it should be the least of your concerns. Your job is to become clear about what you want and then take small steps toward your goals. They will continue to evolve and grow as you evolve and grow.
SO: What’s your next big milestone?
My mission, at its core, is crystal-clear: to inspire people to “Wake UP!”. Recently, we’ve returned to the airwaves, this time via an internet radio broadcast. Our goal: to expand the reach of “Wake UP! Radio” to inspire millions of people to put meaning back into their lives by working toward their most heart-felt goals.
Thanks Ryan and Happy Passioneering![/private][/private]
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