Passioneering Moment #14 : How to Be More Bliss-ciplined in Your Life

Life is short.  Events such as Steve Jobs’ death remind us that we have a limited, unknown number of years on this planet.  Even if you believe in some form of eternal life, the fact is that your current “skin bag” will reach the end of its useful life in the near future.

So, how will you choose to spend your remaining days, months, and years?  If you’re like me, you exhaust way too much time in everyday drudgery and activities that are not even close to your passions.  Heck, they’re not even in the same BALL PARK! Even if you hate doing these tasks, they seem, at the time, to be more urgent and necessary than the things that are more joyful. According to Stephen Covey and his time management quadrants, these activities are urgent, but non-important (e.g., interruptions, distractions, “fire drills”).   Worse yet, you might be spending far too much time in procrastination activities (e.g., trivia, time wasters, social media, busy work), which Covey labels as non-urgent and non-important.  Ugh!

A great video on this topic:

What if you could wave a magic wand and suddenly be spending all of your time being and doing what love?  Not only that, what if you could also be being and doing what you are great at:  your “blisscipline”?   Several years ago, I heard Rev. Michael Beckwith, in one of his talks, use this term.  It has stuck with me ever since.  Your bliss-cipline is the synergistic juncture of your passions and your talents – your sweet spot.  How do you find this sweet spot? By simply assessing your passions and your talents, as shown in the diagram below.

Quadrant 4 is the area of your life where you do what you dislike and what you’re not good at, aka “drudgery.”   Mowing the lawn falls into this category for me.  My ex-boyfriend used to laugh at the cross-hatch designs that I carved into my lawns each summer, especially the small, random tufts that I missed.  No matter how much I might try, I will never be good at mowing the lawn, and I don’t care.  Why?  Because I hate it.  This quadrant also includes the fire drills, errands,  and distractions that you allow to interrupt your day AND your play.  According to Covey, many of these activities are ones you can either delegate or delete from your schedule.

Question:  What activities do you dislike and are not very good at?

Quadrant 3 contains the talents and traits that you’re good at, but that you don’t necessarily love.  For example, I’m very good at math calculations and analysis, which made me very successful in corporate America.  However, I’ve never been passionate about numbers, which is why I never became an investment portfolio manager, no matter how talented I am in this area.  These are activities that you can delegate or simply decline when asked to do them.

Question:  What natural gifts and talents do you have that are not your passions?

Quadrant 2‘s Growth Opportunities are passions that are not your natural gifts or talents.  These are areas that inspire you to learn new skills and gain experience.  For me, writing is not a natural talent, although I love to do it.  So it’s a growth opportunity for me. You might choose to spend more time in this quadrant as you learn and explore your passions.

Question:  What passions do you have that require additional experience, training, or growth?

Quadrant 1 is the Bliss-cipline Quadrant, which contains your greatest passions that are also your greatest talents.  One bliss-cipline of mine is public speaking.  Not only do I love inspiring an audience, I am also very good at it.   I believe that a bliss-cipline is a signpost to your life’s purpose and how the Universe expresses itself divinely and unique as Y.O.U.  The more time that you spend in your bliss-cipline, the happier you are and the more you are able to share your gifts in the world.

Question:  Where do your passions and talents intersect?

The key isn’t to avoid drudgery as much as it is to identify your passions, your talents, and to spend as much time as possible in the areas where they intersect. Any given day, job, or activity may have aspects of all four quadrants.  Instead of resisting activities that are not your bliss-cipline, try focusing your intentions and attentions on the ones that are.  “What you appreciate appreciates,” goes the adage.  Then learn the arts of delegation, saying “No,” and time management (a la Getting Things Done, a favorite book of mine).

Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you.  So will the world.  Happy Passioneering!

Part II (to come):   The Biggest Myths of Following Your Passions

I’m Sue Z. Oliver, the entrepreneur coach and consultant who supports individuals and groups to leap vibrantly and prosperously into paying it forward in the world, as Passioneers®.  I’m on a mission to prove that when you do what you love AND give back, the rest DOES follow.

For more information about Passioneer consulting and marketing services OR if you’d like to connect with the wisdom of over 350 Passioneers around the globe, check out www.passionsandpossibilities.com.   Happy Passioneering!

Next Gen Passioneers: Adina Mangubat

This week’s Next Gen Passioneer is Adina Mangubat, CEO of Spiral Genetics.  Her goal for Spiral Genetics is to transform the medical industry by making it possible to perform large scale DNA research and discovery.   By making medical care personalized, Adina believes that Spiral Genetics will improve quality of life and expand life expectancy.  She hopes that Spiral Genetics is the first in a series of her future endeavors that will make significant positive change.  You can reach her at www.spiralgenetics.com.

“I want to change the world…one company at a time.” ~Adina Mangubat

On Wednesday, September 7th, we’re interviewing Adina on The Passions and Possibilities Network®, at 9am PST.  Dial-in live at (347) 205-9038 or streaming via the website with your comments and questions.  We welcome ‘em!

Adina’s Passioneer Interview

1.    What’s your definition of “passion”? Passion is fuel that powers my drive, ambition and dreams.

2.     Where/how does “paying it forward” fit in your mission? A company is not created by the actions of a handful of people.  What I am doing is made possible by drawing on a huge network of support.  I have been extremely fortunate that I have received amazing support from so many people who have gone before me.  The majority of those people have come from an entrepreneurship community that helps mentor young entrepreneurs, the youngest of which is 14 years old.  It’s an incredible group of people and I’m doing my part by helping mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs.

3.    Which success factors have been most critical to your success?   Perseverance, Community, Passion and Integrity.

4.    What have been your biggest challenges in leaping into your passions, and how you have addressed them?  Especially as a young adult?  Someone once told me, “your assets are your liabilities and your liabilities are your assets.”  My age falls squarely in the category of asset and liability and reconciling that was challenging.  The bottom line is that I have not been on the earth as long as the vast majority of executives in the business world.

“Someone once told me, “your assets are your liabilities and your liabilities are your assets”

I have less experience and it’s a double-edged sword.  On the positive side, I don’t have clear borders on my world map which separates the ‘possible’ from the ‘impossible’ and so I can dream big without as many assumptions.  On the negative side, I have not traveled these roads before and so I don’t always know what potholes and bumps exist in the road ahead of me. My challenges were first recognizing and embracing both the pros and cons that came with youth and second, understanding how to effectively compensate for the fact that I haven’t done this before and don’t know what challenges may lie ahead.  I’ve overcome the first challenge by putting a lot of time and effort into understanding myself and what fears were rooted in my resistance to my age.  Ultimately, I was able to overcome that challenge when I realized that I didn’t have to know the answer to everything, I just had to know where to look for the answers.  That quickly allowed me to address the second challenge. I recruited a number of more experienced people and asked them to help me navigate the unknown.

5.    What tips do you have for an individual to discover what they really love/their passions? Take the time to know yourself.  Deep introspection is the only way to know and understand what really drives you at the core.  I found that my passion is not any one thing, but a series of experiences that motivate me and can be found in many different forms. I examined the activities that I most enjoyed and asked myself, what is it about this experience that is motivating for me?

6.    What tips do you have for an individual to integrate more of their passions into their life? Push the upper limits of your comfort zone.  It can be scary taking the leap and in many ways it does not require a huge leap to integrate more of your passions into your life.  Just be willing to push yourself and be a little more daring every day.

 ”Just be willing to push yourself and be a little more daring every day. “

 

Thanks Adina, and Happy Passioneering!

If you or someone you know would make a great Next Gen Passioneer interview, let us know!

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Discovering What Makes Entrepreneurs Tick

I was recently interviewed by the Koyoti LLC team for its entrepreneurship project.   It involves a series of video interviews with entrepreneurs who answer the following  eight questions:

    1. How do you define success?
    2. Where did your inspiration come from?
    3. How did you move from idea to something succeeding in the market?
    4. What would you have done differently?
    5. How did you organize your team?
    6. What makes a great entrepreneur?
    7. What role did education have in your success?
    8. What’s the most important question we didn’t ask?

As you can imagine, the results are insightful and inspiring.  What an awesome project, so check out the Koyoti channel for more interviews.

Happy Passioneering!

 

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Young Entrepreneurs Share Passioneering Talents in the World

It’s always inspiring to hear about young adult entrepreneurs, isn’t it?   Even more inspiring is to hear about young entrepreneurs who are successfully launching thriving businesses.  The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) recently announced the five winners of its Young Entrepreneur scholarships, including:

  • Dillon Morgan, who creates and sell “fingerboards,” miniature skateboards that you ride with your fingers.  Dillon’s company, Z Shred, sells through websites in 45 states and 15 countries.   Morgan says “You can make or do anything you want—the sky is the limit.”
  • Jared Schlosnagle, who distributes free-range eggs that are free from antibiotics and hormones through Chelsey’s Eggs.
  • Rohit Agrawal, who develops smartphone applications, which have been downloaded by over 300,000 people. 
  • Colton Day, who runs a sustainable farming divison of his family’s Wellington, KS farm.   Day says “I want to find a more sustainable way to farm so I can pass it down to my kids and grandkids.”
  • Jordan Renda, who operates a growing chain of three Jacksonville, FL haunted houses.

Click here for the full list of 2011 NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award Winners. The National Federation of Independent Business is the leading small business association representing small and independent businesses. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its members in Washington and all 50 state capitals.

Passioneering Moment #11: Walking Your Integrity Talk

This Passioneering Moment is on Integrity

To me, integrity means wholeness, completeness, and simply honoring your word.   Self-development organizations like Landmark Education define integrity as “planning your work and working your plan.”   Bottom line?  It’s about walking your talk.  I notice how often I choose not to honor my word, especially in today’s chaotic lifestyle.  Excuses abound for my not choosing to do so:  “I forgot,” “I didn’t have time,” or “something just came up.”   Notice my emphasis on choosing, which acknowledges that I am not a victim of circumstances, but rather the captain of my life.    Consider the possibility that your word is powerful and creative; that what you say not only impacts your reality, it IS your reality.  Below are three ways to begin immediately to up the ante in your integrity game:

1)  Be on time or early. I choose to honor the platinum rule.  Remember the golden rule, which is about doing unto others as you would have them do unto you?  The platinum rule requires that you treat others as they would like to be treated.   It’s a big difference.  So, even if you don’t mind when someone is late, trust that your own punctuality shows respect and appreciation to others.

2)  Make clear declarations. There is power in declaring that you will do something by a certain time.    It’s easy to allow squishy terms to come out of your mouth, like “maybe,” “if I can,” “I’m going to/will” or “I’ll see.”  Do you use any of these terms?   I still do, although I’m more aware of it!

3)  Follow through.  It is one thing to make a powerful declaration, and quite another to actually fulfill on it.  The most powerful people in the world are masters at declaring and fulfilling.  When you follow through consistently on your commitments and walk your talk, you are letting the universe know that you are proactively creating your life.  Follow-through also engenders trust and respect in your relationships.

An Invitation

Make this a walking-your-talk week!  Declare and write down at least three action steps that you’re taking to create something extraordinary in an important area of your life: relationships, career, health, finances, being on time, etc.  Bonus points for agreeing, with three individuals, to be accountable for completing these three steps.

 

For more information about Passioneer coaching, consulting,  the charitable non-profit, or if you’d like to connect with the wisdom of over 350 Passioneers around the globe, check out www.passionsandpossibilities.com or subscribe to the bi-weekly PassionBlasts.   Happy Passioneering!

Image: anankkml / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Radio Interview with Passioneer® Karen Drucker, Recording Artist

We recently had the honor to interview Karen Drucker, a gifted singer & songwriter who travels around the country performing and speaking at conferences, retreats, churches, concerts, workshops, and her own spiritual retreats. She has created 13 CDs and has worked with such inspirational authors as Joan Borysenko, Mary Manin Morrissey, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Alan Cohen, SARK, and have been honored to receive an honorary doctorate from the United Centers for Spiritual Living.  You can reach her at http://www.karendrucker.com. If you or someone you know would make a great Passioneering guest, please let us know!

Below are the archived show and highlights:

Radio Interview Highlights

  • Taking action is critical: Having a “by” in front of your name is more important than having a BA (or other designation) after it, according to Karen.
  • What you gain from a mundane j.o.b. is what you need to do your dream career, especially if you do the j.ob. with passion.  Karen used to sing at weddings and gained valuable experience and lessons about singing and songwriting in the process.
  • From an early age, Karen learned the importance of making a difference in the world: she garnered support and financing to fix the broken Hollywood Hills sign.  If not her, then who?
  • A caller-in to the radio show expressed his gratitude for how Karen’s music touched him and his mother, who had gone through chemotherapy for cancer treatment.  His story brought Karen and me to tears.  (Thanks Mark!)
  • Karen performs at Seattle Unity this upcoming weekend, June 18-19, for a music symposium and Passions workshop.  More information, see Karen’s website.

Listen to internet radio with Sue Oliver on Blog Talk Radio

Thank you Karen, and Happy Passioneering!

A Smile a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Smile-ologist and HealthTap founder, Ron Gutman has studied the relationship between your smile and quality of your life. In this compelling TED video, he discusses various research studies that show a direct correlation between a big smile and a happy life.  One study examines yearbook pictures and the students’ longevity, while another considers baseball players’ smiles and their performance.   The good news?  We’re smiling when we’re born, according to Ron’s research.  It’s no surprise to most of us that smiling is a basic human characteristic that indicates joy and satisfaction.  Did you know that more than a 1/3 of adults smile more than 20 times a day, while children smile as much as 400 times a day?  Ron cites several studies that show how another person’s smile is much more effective than chocolate or money in bringing a smile to our own face.   One smile, he says, can impact you as positively as several thousands of chocolate bars or dollar bills.    So, Ron notes, our children are truly the richest beings on the planet.

Thanks Ron and Happy Passioneering!

If you have a story of how someone is paying it forward in your life or someone else’s, let us know so we can acknowledge them.

Passioneering Moment #10: Step Away from the Hamster Wheel

I caught myself rushing today, from the get go.  One look at my To Do list, and I was on a roll, checking email, posting to Facebook, and returning to three open projects from the prior evening.  Had I stopped to eat?  No.  Meditate?  No.  Journal?  No.  Enjoy the glorious Northwest sunshine and singing birds?   Heck no.  I was on a mission to conquer my day, rather than to savor it.  It certainly was not going to be a mission of j.o.y.  So why the rush?  In truth, the rush was all in my head, since the activities I was doing were neither urgent nor important.

What if I had chosen instead to create a day of joy and delight?  What would my morning have looked like, and how much more would I have enjoyed the rest of the day?  What would it have required for me to stop, breathe, and chose peace over chaos?  It would have required my letting go of control, surrendering, and removing the unimportant tasks from my calendar.  Sounds simple, if not easy, yes?  Then why do I make it so complicated?

“Whys?” are killer questions that can tie up my time and mental energy.  I notice that they are also a strategy for me to procrastinate and stay stuck.  After all, if I can’t figure out why I’m doing something, how can I possibly figure out how to stop it, right?  This is so NOT right!  Instead, my days go much more smoothly when I focus on answering the most important  question: “WHAT do I want my day to look like?”.  Starting with the end in mind is a powerful, creative way to begin any day, especially if you load tons of stuff on your plate like I do.

My Invitation

Tomorrow morning, I invite you to create a mission of joy for your day, one where your sole To Do is To Be.  This approach entails your focusing on what you want to be, not how on you’re going to do it.  Simply remember that you truly have all of the time in the world, if you choose to believe it.  So there is no need for you to rush, strain, or struggle.  Instead, you can choose to relax, release, and enjoy.  Your body and soul will thank you, so will your household and the world around you.

Happy Passioneering!

I’m Sue Zeal Oliver, the Passions & Possibilities coach who supports individuals and groups to leap vibrantly and prosperously into their passions for paying it forward, as Passioneers®. I’m on a mission to prove that when you do what you love AND give back, the rest DOES follow. For more information about Passioneer coaching, consulting, and marketing services OR if you’d like to connect with the wisdom of over 350 Passioneers around the globe, check out www.passionsandpossibilities.com. Happy Passioneering!

Marketing Guru Marsh Engle Interview on Passioneering Journeys

On May 4, 2011, we interviewed Marsh Engle on her passions, possibilities, and making a huge difference in the world. Below are some highlights and quotes from the interview:

Radio Interview Highlights

  • There’s power in shifting your story.  How can you tell it with deep wisdom?
  • When you share your journey through story, you’re creating something that will be history.
  • Marsh shares her own journey through a successful marketing & branding career, her dark night of the soul, and her current success as a marketing and entrepreneur coach, speaker, and author.
  • Her new book is Amazing Woman, What’s Your Story.
  • You’ve got to be passionate about what you do, and the world will receive that energy from you.

Marsh’s Bio

Marsh Engle is an international speaker, success coach and author who offers the Essential Feminine Principles of Success. For over a decade she’s facilitated hundreds of hours of coaching to transformational entrepreneurs, coaches, authors and experts helping them to reveal their purpose, empower their relationships, expand their platform and propel unparalleled success. The Marsh Engle Show broadcasts each Monday on Voice America Business. Her website is: http://www.marshengle.com.

The Passions and Possiblities Network Radio

During each show we interview inspired leaders and entrepreneurs who are paying it forward vibrantly and prosperously in the world (aka Passioneers®).  Each show, these amazing guests share their ups, downs, tips, and wisdom, as they stay committed to their Passioneering journeys, regardless.  Share your own journey and questions, and join the thriving Passioneer community on Facebook and Twitter where we connect, commune, and collaborate. When two or more Passioneers gather, there’s sizzle, synergy, and transformation!!   Join us live on Wednesdays at 9am PST, by phone (347) 205-9038 or via streaming internet.

Happy Passioneering!

 

 

Passioneer® Podblast (12 minutes), MaSanda’s Tips for Clearing Clutter and Your Life

MaSanda LaRa Gadd is transformational life coach and founder of Heartvisions.    An expert at supporting her clients, she brings chaos into order and empowers them to clear the clutter to transform their lives.  She helps people who are struggling with too much clutter and supports them in clearing a path for their mind, body & spirit. She offers coaching sessions, energy sessions, spiritual support groups, and officiates at weddings.  Her website:  www.heartvisions.com

Below is the transcript and brief podcast from our recent interview.  Enjoy and Happy Passioneering!

1) What are the biggest challenges that budding Passioneers face with clearing clutter in their lives?

  • Focus  – Too many ideas and not enough time to accomplish them all. (Brain types)
  • Procrastination – Overwhelmed – getting started – “I don’t feel like it.”  syndrom.   Ask yourself: What are the underlying causes of your clutter?  What habits have you created that you need to recreate in order to have a home that is clean and clear?
  • Maintaining a system – stick with a system that supports passioneers in getting things done.

2) What are your top three tips for these Passioneers to clear the clutter?

  • Assess and create a plan for the areas of your home you want to clear clutter in.
  • Prioritize your list and select your #1 priority to clear.
  • Focus on that one area and get an accountability buddy to report to so you get it done.

The Clutter Test:

  1. Does the item lift your energy when you think about it for look at it?
  2. Do you absolutely love it?
  3. Is it genuinely useful?

3)    What three resources do you recommend for these Passioneers to check out in this area?

  • “Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui” – Karen Kingston
  • “The Four Day Win: – Martha Beck
  • “Organizing for Your Brain Type – Lanna Nakon3

4) Anything else?
Sometimes it has nothing to do with the clutter.  It’s more about what your Mind, Body and Spirit need to clear in order to live a life you love.  You clear those aspects and your clutter will disappear easily.

Thanks MaSanda!

 

Passioneering Moment #4: Creating A List of 100 Things that You Love

This Passioneering Moment is on Love, which is February’s theme.

As I get older, I notice that, more and more, what I love falls off of my plate.  It becomes more of a dessert than a main course, as life happens and I check off “to dos” on a ever-growing list.  In truth, it’s easy to forget what I really love – what sings my soul, where I lose myself completely and dive into the infinite, timeless spaciousness of the Divine.

During my coach training program several years ago, I was asked to write down 100 or more things that I truly love. At first I thought this would be easy – a piece of cake. Wrong! It was easy to come up with the first 35 things, and then I got stuck. Road block! I literally froze, and yet I was supposed to keep going regardless. For several minutes I hung out on that precipice, not being able to write a single word. It felt like eternity – as if the permission to express my joys would never sink in. Suddenly, as if a dam had burst, the passions came forth, and I couldn’t write fast enough. The remaining 65 items poured from my heart to pen to paper quickly and easily, as my list of Top 100 “Love List” was born.  In this moment, several years later, I realize that it’s high time to create another Top 100 list, in order to keep my passion connections strong.

My Invitation:
Write down 100 things that you love: activities, people, places, sensations, anything. Keep writing, even if you get stuck like I did. When you have completed your list, post it front and center in your life – where you will see it on a regular basis. I’m putting my new one on the vision board right over my computer. Bonus points for incorporating at least one item on your list into EACH day.  Then see what is possible!

For more information about coaching and consulting services for Passioneers – inspired and inspiring individuals who are giving back vibrantly in the world, or if would like to connect with a network of over 350 other Passioneers around the globe, please contact us here.  Happy Passioneering!

Passioneer® Podblast (11 minutes), Deborah’s Tips on Authentically Writing YOU

Honored and thrilled to interview Deborah Drake, a writing coach, business and marketing consultant who champions authentic writing for business development. She enjoys helping those who desire to write, publish, and market themselves authentically, boldly, and consistently. Her mantra: “Authentic writing provokes.”  You can reach her at www.deborahdrake.wordpress.com and deb@deborahdrake.com.

Each week we offer a brief Passioneer® Podblast on an aspect of thriving and giving back.  If you would like to share one or other wisdom, ideas, or comments, please let us know below.  Thanks and Happy Passioneering!

Deborah’s PodBlast (downloadable version at bottom) and below is a summary of the podcast:

SZO:  What’s Your Focus as a Passioneer, Deborah?

Authentic Self-Expression is what I call it. Writing is but one form. I am a champion for being authentic in one’s life and relating and where business is concerned, one’s marketing in every way. I also know that if we share who we are with our clients and prospective clients, share those things that are important to us, those things that made us what we are, we get to really connect with our clients. Writing via a blog or an article or how we represent ourselves on a website or any material we generate is HUGE. It works for us 24/7. Why not take advantage of technology to help us connect with those all around us that can benefit from our talents and offerings?

SZO:  What Tips Do You Have for Budding Passioneers to Cultivate Authentic Self-Expression through Writing?

  • Practice. Practice. Practice.
  • Find a trusted friend to critique, work with, edit and give honest feedback as you develop your voice and transparency.
  • Read other good writer’s stuff and try what appeals to you if only once.
  • Carry a blank book with you at all times to capture moments that deserve to be remembered and shared.

SZO:  What Resources Do You Recommend for Budding Passioneers in this Area?

Any and all Natalie Goldberg Books: Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind offer great exercises to cultivate your writing muscle.

I can’t say enough about what a friend writing has been to me in my darkest hours and my finest moments.

Thanks Deborah and Happy Passioneering!

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