Passioneer® Jill Nussinow, MS, RD, President of The Veggie Queen™
We recently interviewed Jill Nussinow, a.k.a. The Veggie Queen TM, is a Registered Dietitian who has been teaching vegetarian cooking at Santa Rosa Junior College, in Sonoma County and throughout the country since 1985. Her award-winning cookbook, The Veggie Queen: Vegetables Get the Royal Treatment, was published in 2005. Her first DVD Creative Lowfat Vegan Cuisine came on the market in December 2004. She has just released a new pressure cooking DVD (October 2007), Pressure Cooking: A Fresh Look, Delicious Dishes in Minutes. Jill is a vegetarian, vegetable and plant-food expert. You can find out more about Jill at her website www.theveggiequeen.com, www.pressurecookingonline.com or read her blog at www.theveggiequeen. blogspot.com.
Dial in live to the show on Wednesday May 12, 9am PST (347)-205-9038 or via the website: www.blogtalkradio.com/passionsandpossibilities. Thanks Jill and Happy Passioneering!
My Three Biggest Lessons from Jill’s Story
- Be clear on who you are, the value that you contribute to the world, and be willing to receive the prosperity that you deserve.
- Have fun and laugh along the way.
- Stick with it. Thriving at what you love doesn’t happen overnight!
Her Blog Talk Radio Interview:
Jill’s Written Passioneer Q&A:
SO: Your definition of “passion” – your “WHY” for being on the planet?
I am passionate about teaching people about vegetables, vegetarian, plant foods and pressure cooking, and why eating this way allows you to feel better, look better and gives you more energy.
SO: Your biggest passions for serving others, and how you’re expressing them (include hobbies, volunteering, if you wish)?
I pride myself on being a role model for others. I shop at the farmer’s market, I share recipes on the spot (in person), I blog, I volunteer for the Vegetarian Nutrition Practice group of The American Dietetic Association and for SOMA Mushrooms (Sonoma County Mycological Association) and do yoga on a regular basis, which keeps me grounded. I also support local farmers in a variety of ways. I find teaching moments outside of the classroom whenever possible. My goal is to teach people individually or in groups who will pass that knowledge on, in the “teach a man to fish” model.
SO: Your biggest challenge(s) in expressing your passions for serving others and how you’ve addressed them?
I want to do “it all” and often that is too much for me to do. I have learned to say no more often, especially if someone else can do what I don’t feel that I can. It’s like pruning a rose bush – the more I get into it, the clearer it becomes what I need to cut away or say no to.
SO: They say that when you do what you love, the rest follows. What has been your experience of prosperity, as you define it?
I believe that doing what you love attracts people to you but if you don’t have business skills you aren’t always able to attract the money to go with it. You have to also realize that what you do is valuable and that charging for your skills and experience is what business people do. There’s nothing wrong with that. So, I have built my abundance-ness counsciousness over time.
SO: What have been the key factors in your success?
The ability to be resilient along with talent, experience, skills and probably most of all humor. I love having fun and the enthusiasm to share it with others. I am also grateful for everything that I have in my life and encourage others to find their passion and become inspiring people.
SO: What’s the biggest lesson that you’ve learned in making the leap?
Clearly define your goals. One of mine is that what I do must be fun for me or feed me in some way. If it doesn’t, then the money isn’t usually worth doing the task. And the more that I’ve said no to the things that don’t work for me allows the more joyous and often lucrative events into my life. And also, you must persevere (and not burn bridges) because events don’t always happen on the timeline that you have in mind.
SO: What’s your support system look like; how did you create it?
I have an assistant who helps me at my classes and she is invaluable. I didn’t create it – she asked if she could help me and I gladly said yes. I could have more support but have not yet found the ideal virtual assistant.
SO: What wisdom do you have for someone who’s scared/discouraged about their own leap?
Think about the worst that could happen if you don’t move ahead, and what’s the best thing that could happen if you do move ahead. What feels better? Hopefully it’s the best thing and if not, then you need to figure out why you don’t want to be more successful. Just do it, keep your eyes open for learning opportunities and get others who can encourage and support you.
SO: What’s your next big milestone?
I am having my website redesigned and working on my next book. I am also developing my speaking platform in a more serious way and hope to reach more people with my message about how eating affects your life.
