Beverly Flaxington is an accomplished sales and marketing business consultant, hypnotherapist, personal and career coach, author of “Understanding Other People: The Five Secrets to Human Behavior”, college professor, corporate trainer, facilitator, behavioral expert, entrepreneur and mom to 3 children and 8 rescued animals.  Below is her interview with us in December 2009.  You can reach her at www.understandingotherpeople.com.

SO: What’s your definition of “passion”?

Doing something that you love, and loving what you’re doing when you’re doing it!

SO: What are your biggest passions for serving others, and how are you expressing them (also include hobbies and volunteering)?

I love my role as consultant, coach, hypnotherapist and trainer because it allows me to see people make personal progress, i.e. get better at something be it self-improvement, having an “ah-hah” or figuring out how to improve.  I love teaching – when the students say they want to take all of my classes because they enjoy learning with me, it’s a thrill. I love to rescue and care for animals – volunteering at the rescue group, walking my own 4 rescue dogs and taking care of my cats. I love finding an activity that my children love and thrive in and seeing their smiles and excitement. I love volunteering at their school and being involved in their learning environment.

SO: Your biggest challenge(s) in leaping into your passions for serving others, and how you have addressed them?

My only challenge is too many things that I love to do and not enough time to do them all! I’ve addressed this by becoming exceptional at managing my personal goals, time and priorities and being very clear about what I want (my passions) and what I can say “no” to.

SO: What qualities/characteristics/talents did you bring to your passion, and which ones did you hone during your journey?

The qualities I was naturally gifted with, and brought to my passions included curiosity, a willingness to admit “I don’t know” and a genuine interest in other people. They also included the ability to listen well and focus on others. The ones I honed through the journey include presenting well and speaking with confidence, understanding other people especially with regard to behavioral and communication style and using persuasive skills effectively to explain my position on something.  And, I am still learning as the journey continues!

SO: Your experience of “prosperity,” as you define it, in making the leap?

Having enough to happily and willingly give to those less fortunate. Prosperity is meeting all of my own needs and taking care of my family, but having ample money left over to give away to needy people and animals.

SO: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in making the leap?

I can do anything I set my mind to and life is filled with lots of opportunities to learn and grow. There’s no reason to be stuck doing something you don’t love!

SO: What’s your support system look like; how did you create it?

Internal calm and confidence (my relationship with God), fabulous and supportive friends, a wonderful mom and dad who are always willing to pitch in and help and my spouse.

SO: What wisdom do you have for someone who’s scared/discouraged about their own leap?

The worst thing that can happen is that you don’t get what you are hoping for – but SO many times that means there is something better waiting around the corner. Stay focused, but stay open!

SO: What’s your next big milestone?

I just published two books this year – which had been a dream of mine. Next I want to create a series of training programs and books with my sales expertise.

Thanks So Much for Sharing Your Gifts, and Happy Passioneering!

We’ve implemented a new podcasting service through LibSyn and have just posted our first two podcasts!  These podcasts will be short, focused interviews of Passioneers ™, which may be followed by a longer radio interview on our Blog Talk Radio Program, The Passions and Possibilites Project.

Passioneer Shel Horowitz, Best-Selling Author and Inspirational Speaker

 Click Here for Shel’s Podcast 

Shel offers not only copywriting and strategic marketing planning, but also speaks on affordable, effective marketing to national audiences. His third marketing book, Grassroots Marketing: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World, was a finalist for ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award.

In June 2003, convinced that there was a better way to run a business than the methods used by Enron, WorldCom, and Arthur Anderson, Shel released his fourth marketing book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First. This new book states that honesty and integrity are important, while market share often isn’t…that long-term relationships are better than a one-time sale…and that competitors can be among your best allies.

Principled Profit has won an Apex Award and received Honorable Mention in the DIY Book Awards. Southwest Airlines and other companies have bought quantities, and the book has received accolades from many well-known entrepreneurs, marketers, and book reviewers.

Shel’s fifth marketing book (and seventh overall), Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers, won its first award within three months of publication.  He will be joining us live on our March 26th Blog Talk Radio segment, at 12:30 pm PST (www.blogtalkradio.com/PassionsandPossibilities).

Passioneer Molly Hoyne, Gen-Y Coach, Author, and Inspirational Speaker

 Click Here for Molly’s Podcast

Molly Hoyne is the founder of Stratejoy, a sassy training and coaching company that provides women the tools, strategies and camaraderie they need to conquer their Quarterlife Crisis. She is a speaker, coach and editor of a website full of resources and inspiration for Quarter Lifers.  

Molly believes that by clarifying your personal definition of success and cultivating powerful habits, every gutsy girl can lead an authentically joyous life.  She lives in Seattle, travels frequently and practices what she preaches.

As always, if you or someone you know, is living large and prosperously, in service to others in the world, we want to include your interviews.  Contact us at powerleaps@yahoo.com.

Happy Passioneering!