On Wednesday September 1st, we’re interviewing Melody Ivory who combines the eye of an artist, heart of a poet and discipline of a scientist, to help mid-career women get and stay on purpose with their life’s calling. She helps them to connect mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually with their essential selves through inspirational poetry, motivational talks and handcrafted natural care products delivered as part of The Dr. Melody Ivory Experience™. Over the past 20 years, she has worked as a computer scientist, performance poet, college professor, natural care products developer and author of six books. She can be reached at www.MelodyIvory.com.

Dial in live at 347-205-9038 or via streaming radio at 9:00am PST at www.blogtalkradio.com/passionsandpossibilities

Melody’s Passioneer Q & A

SO: What’s your definition of passion?

Passion is bringing your full essence—your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual potential—to what you’re doing such that, in the process, you expand your potential.

SO: What have been the key factors in your success and what one word best describes it?

Intention is the best word to describe my success. The five keys to my success are as follows.

• Intentional living—focusing on the what and navigating the how.
• Inspired changing—proactively moving toward what I want rather than away from what I don’t want.
• Instantly destressing—minimizing my response to stress.
• Intellectual balancing—developing and using both my analytical and artistic talents rather than buying into the left-brain/right-brain myth.
• Introspective Relating—understanding that every relationship begins and ends with me and cultivating desired relationships from the inside out.

SO: What has been your biggest challenge(s) in leaping into your passions, and how you have addressed them?

My biggest challenge was walking away from my job as a computer and information science professor at the University of Washington (something I studied and prepared for nearly my whole life), a 6-figure salary and the prestige of being the world’s leading expert on automated web site evaluation to leap into being a passionate champion of women…with no connections, no clients and no clue how to do so. I choose to follow my heart anyway, because I knew my calling was not to teach about the outer technology, but to teach about the inner technology. I also knew I needed the freedom to be fully self-expressed. For the past five years since walking away from academia, I’ve stayed focused on my intention (using all my gifts to empower women to be the living works of art they’re meant to be and to make the contribution they’re meant to make). I had to rearrange my whole Self and my life from the inside out to get aligned with this intention. Slowly, step-by-step I’m realizing the intention I set years ago.

SO: Who or what inspired you to leap into your passion?

Two years before I left my job, I contracted meningitis and nearly died while working as a professor at the University of Washington. That experience was a major wakeup call for me. I knew that I was a teacher at heart, but I was in the wrong classroom. The question became, “Will you die teaching in this classroom and having never fully shared your journey, gifts and the powerful lessons you’ve learned?” Today, I’m working on my one-woman show titled, “The Road M Traveled,” which chronicles my life of abuse and abandonment at the age of 7 by both parents. It takes the audience through the maze of foster homes I grew up in and describes how, despite these circumstances, I became valedictorian of my high school, ran away to college at the age of 18, became a single parent two years later, went on to graduate with a double major in honor’s computer science and mathematics and, after years of struggling with an attention deficit disorder, became the first African American woman to graduate from the University of California at Berkeley with a Ph.D. in computer science. After my bout with meningitis, I reflected on my life story and knew that I had to switch to the public classroom to teach, heal and lead.

SO: Do you have a quote that you would like to share that speaks of you and your passion?

Be the masterpiece you’re meant to be. This quote is my mantra. It is a reminder that we are so much more than we can even begin to imagine ourselves being. We are the living works of art.

SO: What do you hope people would say about you when you’re gone?

My hope is that people will say that I gave everything I had to give to the cause of uplifting humanity to its highest potential—a reality in which each and every one of us can be the masterpieces we’re meant to be.

SO: What three brief tips can you give to somebody making the leap into their passion?

1. Be comfortable with not knowing.
2. Be willing to be different.
3. Be disciplined to keep going.

On Wednesday August 25th, we interviewed Barbara Shaiman. Throughout her career, noted educator, businesswoman and social entrepreneur, Barbara Greenspan Shaiman, has used her skills and ability to empower others to create social change. In 1995, she founded Champions of Caring, a non-profit organization that has empowered over 10,000 youth in Philadelphia and South Africa to become leaders in public service and active, engaged citizens.  Through her new book, Live Your Legacy Now: Ten Simple Steps to Find Your Passion and Change the World, and her Embrace Your Legacy speeches and workshops, she is guiding adults of all ages and backgrounds to embrace their legacies and use their passions, skills, and resources to create projects for personal growth and social change. She can be reached at www.embraceyourlegacynow.com

Dial in live at 347-205-9038 or via streaming radio at 9:30am PST at www.blogtalkradio.com/passionsandpossibilities

Barbara’s Passioneer Q & A

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

The driving force that propels you to make a meaningful contribution with your life. I believe that everyone has a passion, they just may not have found it yet – whether it is something that they love to do, or something that angers them to the point that they are motivated to take action. That is my goal through Embrace Your Legacy – to help individuals to identify their passions, and then translate that into creating social change.

SO: What have been the key factors in your success and what one word best describes it?

One word would be tenacious. I am also a risk-taker and very positive and creative. I believe in networking, networking, networking – I share my mission and my passion for making the world a better place with everyone I meet.

SO: What has been your biggest challenge(s) in leaping into your passions, and how you have addressed them?

The recent deaths of both my father and husband initially stopped me from finishing my book, “Live Your Legacy Now!: Ten Simple Steps to Find Your Passion and Change the World” and starting my new LLC, Embrace Your Legacy. But upon reflection, I realized that writing the book was a cathartic experience which gave me resiliency and enriched my life. It allowed me to get beyond my own challenges and empower others to live their legacies.

SO: Who or what inspired you to leap into your passion?

My parents, who are both Holocaust survivors,  taught me a great deal about humanity and responsibility. My mother, Carola Greenspan, is the sole survivor of a family of sixty-five people. My father, Henry Greenspan, worked for Oskar Schindler. They taught me that the best response to violence and hatred is love and caring, and that it is our responsibility and privilege to make the world a better place.

SO: Do you have a quote that you would like to share that speaks of you and your passion?

“Flaunt Your Humanity.” Instead of flaunting our possessions, let’s flaunt what we are doing to give back and contribute to society.

SO: What do you hope people would say about you when you’re gone?

She embraced her legacy and inspired others to do the same.

SO: What three brief tips can you give to somebody making the leap into their passion?

-       Dream big, but start small

-       Be creative

-       Be deliberate and relentless

Terry Kohl has been a fantastic guest blogger for the past few months, generously sharing her gifts and talents.  Thank you Terry!  Details on her story are shown below, as we offer the final blog in her series.  We invite subject matter Passioneering experts to share their guest blogs with us in August and September!

Guest Expert Blog:  Passioneer

By Terry Kohl

Passion; the stuff romance and true love is made of.  The “I can’t get enough of you, can’t eat, can’t sleep,” syndrome.  Hot, sweaty bodies lost in a world where reason is not allowed….right?

Hmmm…been there, done that. And while I am grateful for those juicy moments, the passions that stir my soul now are all about life and how I wiggle around in it.

Passion is love of each and every day because it is a brand new beginning and consequently the chance for a brand new adventure. It’s loving myself and how I came to be the woman I am. It’s trying things on for size that I think I might really enjoy. It’s about not giving a hoot what anyone else thinks or does. It’s going with the flow of life rather than trying to staunch the river of experiences life hands me. It’s about growing, and sometimes being painfully aware of the little time we have on this huge rock hurtling through time and space. It’s falling into bed at night with such gratitude for all that life has shown me that my heart nearly breaks from joy.

Passion—it’s having an idea and running with it. It’s about allowing that fierce, sweet fire of creativity to burn itself out no matter how long it takes. It’s getting out my watercolors on a rainy afternoon and abandoning all I was taught and instead, creating something from my darling passionate heart.

Passion is about being in the now, which is truly all we have. All that is real is only ever experienced moment by moment; everything else is fiction. Passion is about the courage to walk towards the light so that the shadows are always behind you. It’s about digging in the dark, moist earth of your soul and harvesting an unregrettable life.

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Successful author and coach, Terry Kohl is our guest blogger for the next few months.   You can reach her at either www.LostYourJobNowWhat.com or www.TerryKohl.com.

Thank you Terry and Happy Passioneering!

On Wednesday July 21st, we interviewed Bill Roth the founder of EARTH 2017 and author of The Secret Green Sauce, a book that profiles the best practices of actual companies succeeding in growing revenues by aligning value with values. He is a nationally recognized expert, including serving as the Green Business Coach for Entreprenuer.com. EARTH 2017 is focused upon helping companies grow revenues by aligning with the growing numbers of customers seeking solutions that will enhance their heath, their pocket book and the environment. He can be reached at http://www.earth2017.com.

Dial in live at 347-205-9038 or via streaming radio at 9am PST at www.blogtalkradio.com/passionsandpossibilities

Bill’s Passioneering Q&A

SO: Your definition of “passion” – your “WHY” for being on the planet?

My passion is to enable sustainable solutions to the strategic questions facing our country like Energy Independence, Climate Change, Wellness and Economic Growth. I am passionate about helping individuals and businesses achieve the financial, wellness and environmental results we need right now to get our country, health care system and economy back on track. My focus upon people also exposes me to their individual challenges. I hear their hurt and see the courage that it takes to confront their challenges. So I try very hard to be positive, to be encouraging and if asked, to share lessons learned from others who have survived what I call their wilderness experiences.

SO: Your biggest passions for serving others, and how you’re expressing them (include hobbies, volunteering, if you wish)?

I created my own business around the time of the Enron scandal in response to the issues of ethics and emissions that I saw within the energy industry. This gave me the freedom of working with people and companies aligned with my goal of making money responsibly. Working with companies across the country has convinced me that having a bottom line business focus that solves our big problems is our country’s best path to finding the solutions we need. My business is focus upon equipping companies with proven best practices that achieve top line revenue growth and bottom line profits by aligning with the common good. I work seven days a week. It isn’t work most of the time. It is who I am, what gives me energy and a sense of purpose.

SO: Your biggest challenge(s) in expressing your passions for serving others and how you’ve addressed them?

I feel very privileged to have served as the leader for milestone projects like the launch of the first hydrogen fueled Prius, development of utility scale solar power and pioneering meter linked energy information systems that help companies reduce their electricity consumption and related emissions. At the same time, helping companies make the mental link between doing right and making money has been more of a challenge than I ever imagined. You would think if you had “The Secret Green Sauce” for growing revenues that businesses would beat a path to your door. Fortunately, today there is a growing consumer movement seeking meaningful change. This is beginning to create opportunities for my business of helping companies grow revenues by aligning value with values. And I have been applying the best practices in the book and seeing success in my own marketing and sales success. So by giving, I am now receiving. That is wonderful to experience.

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 truly believe that. I live well and I see a path for realizing my financial dreams. How many people in this economy today can say that? But more importantly, I am a very rich person in terms of the quality time I have with those that mean most to me. I have had the time to be there for my children, including those challenging teenage years. It is very heart warming when your loved ones tell you that the time I committed to them was more valuable than any material things they will ever own. I was also there for my Dad during his last days and will carry that blessing with me forever. I live in a beautiful part of the world where I can ride my mountain bike during most lunch periods. However, I am a Type A individual that measures myself based upon performance so too often I fail to see how blessed I am. That is a huge challenge for all us in this world that seems to see performance as a measure of a person, when what really counts is what you mean to others and what they mean to you.

SO:The biggest lesson that you’ve learned in making the leap?

Faith and that quitting is not an option. They tie together. Sometimes in life the best you can do is just not quit. Not quitting can be a huge step toward success if you are trying to make a leap. Because leaping can just as often result in falling rather than soaring. So being able to not quit no matter how many leaps end up in a fall is a hugely important strength. And the other strength tied to not quitting is faith. You just have to believe even when there is no evidence. If you wait for evidence you often run out of time or opportunity.

SO: The biggest keys to your success (e.g., talent, quality, skill, etc.)?

God gave me the gift of analysis that enables me to see things as they could be. I have now published enough books and articles forecasting the future that have turned out to have been correct that I figure one of these days someone in media like Bloomberg or Oprah will discover me. I really do have unique insights and best practices for restoring our jobs, economy, individual wellness and the environment. I also have a huge capacity for learning and teaching. My drive to learn has resulted in me finding this unbelievably wonderful national network of people and companies that are teaching me their best practices for making money going green. For example there is a woman that has developed what I believe to be the first healthy fast food restaurant that is price-competitive with McDonalds. There is a hotel in Texas that is toxin free and has a huge repeat customer business because their customers report sleeping better in their toxin-free room than in their own beds at their homes. I love hearing stories like these and I also get to met so many technologists who have great visions for producing the product solutions for our economy, wellness and environment. Then I am have the fun of sharing all these insights via my EARTH 2017 website, books, speeches and coaching. Everyday is fun because I get to meet yet another wonderful person or company that is making a positive difference, and then I get to write or talk about them.

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

Great question because no one can do it alone. I have my family who has been wonderfully supportive of my efforts at putting doing right in front of making money. I am truly blessed. And I have a small but highly trustworthy group of mentor/friends. They really have my best interests at heart because they believe in what I am trying to enable. I developed these mentors/friends over a couple of decades of trial and error. One great advantage of putting your neck on the line is you find out who will chop it off for a buck and who will really help you. Going through those experiences are disheartening but really valuable in the long run because you end with wonderful, trusting relationships.

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

Look, sky diving is not for everyone. But that doesn’t mean in your own way you can’t try to take a leap. Find a place in your life you think you can take some risk. Maybe it isn’t in your business, maybe it is at church or at school or within the community. And then try. It’s like dating in high school, the goal isn’t to get a date with every request. The goal is to figure out how to date. Try, learn, try again. It’s a path, not an event.

SO: What’s your next big milestone?

I am looking for a path to the “big stage.” I know I have developed answers, insights and best practices that will restore our jobs, economy, individual-wellness and environment. I will keep plugging away a day at a time building credibility one step at a time in the hopes that maybe one of those connections will be the one that gets me to the stage where my insights and best practices can produce the greatest benefit.

On Wednesday July 7th, we interviewed Elise and Jill of The Sisters of Sizzle radio show.  Jill Pagano is a passionate advocate for people to stop suffering and start living. A self-described personal growth seeker, she follows her interests, learns about them and then shares them with those looking for more in their life. Her outlets for this sharing are as Co-Producer and Personality of Sisters of Sizzle Talk Radio and as a Black-Belt Nia teacher. Elise Kloter loves helping people turn their fizzle into sizzle! An adventurer with many passions, Elise co-hosts The Sisters of Sizzle Talk Radio, inspiring her listeners to laugh, learn, and love their lives.  They can be reached at www.sistersofsizzle.com.

www.blogtalkradio.com/passionsandpossibilties

Jill and Elise’s Passioneer Q&A

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

JILL: That buzz that will not let me go. Whenever I go back to it, there is a shot of pleasure and feeling that I am in the perfect spot.

ELISE: That feeling of being lit up, and in love with life

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

JILL:Sharing what I learn is a huge passion of mine. And also, sharing/promoting other people’s passions. I get so excited for people who embody their passion I want the world to take notice. Another passion is dancing and cultivating a healthy, sensory relationship with my body. I express that through the joy of movement, teaching Nia and being in relationship with my bodies desires and needs.

ELISE: I love seeing people move from depressed to happy, blah to excited, muddy to clear, fizzle to sizzle, and knowing I’ve been a catalyst in their movement. As a Certified Passion Test Facilitator and Mentor, I help people get clear on their passions and give them the support to begin change in their lives. As co-host of The Sisters of Sizzle Talk Radio, I provide inspirational examples of embracing your passion and taking risks, as well as a forum for guests to share their stories. As a stylist for Stella and Dot jewelry I get to watch gals light up when they put something on that makes them feel beautiful. Aren’t I lucky?!

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

JILL: Monetizing my passions has been my biggest challenge. Creating a way to continue to serve others and also serve my desires for sustainable income.

ELISE: Creating a lucrative business around what I do naturally. Lots of educating myself and getting help from the experts.

SO: What have been the key factors in your success?

JILL: Adaptability. Creativity. A willingness and curiosity to learn more, something new.

ELISE: Perseverance, coaching from others, support systems, partnering

SO: What one word/quality best describes your journey?

JILL: Freedom    ELISE: Adventure

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

JILL: I prosper in what I value the most—relationships and the freedom to dictate what I do with my time.

ELISE: Loving what I do every day, having freedom, making a difference, making enough $ to not have to worry about it

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

JILL: Partnering with someone that compliments my weaknesses.

ELISE: I’ve always loved what I am doing at the time…if I don’t, I’m willing to change it. Must be open to change

SO: What’s your support system look like; how did you create it? I’m still learning to do this.

JILL: With the value of freedom also comes the shadow side of autonomy. With autonomy comes a “do it myself” attitude that often hinders creating a support system.

ELISE: Friends that are positive and interesting and passionate, business connections through networking events and organizations, spiritually like-minded people, coaches to keep me on track

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

JILL: Know yourself. Be willing to see where you may need help. Look at your habit, places you have been stuck before and reach out for getting past those. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses and preparing for them.

ELISE: My mantra has always been “what’s the worse that can happen?”. When I ask that, I realize I can always go back to the old, can always get a second job to make $. But if I don’t try, all I have is regret, which is worse than anything else that can happen in life.

Thanks Sisters of Sizzle and Happy Passioneering!

Passion and Perseverance

By Elisabeth Manning

I am a poster child for perseverance from the day I was born. Perseverance itself was the beginning of my own dawn to pursue human potential, which led  to discovering my passion in work.

Persevere, according to Webster means to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement.

I persevere now at a whole new level today, because I have passion for my life, my work, my self, my future, and the service I offer to planetary evolution. But I had a few hoops to jump through first to understand the value and source of passion and of human potential, and looking back I built a very big perseverance muscle which I learned comes easy when you have passion. Early on however, it was about survival.

How it all began you ask? Being raised in an alcoholic single parent home in a small town, living on welfare. My grandparents were millionaires, go figure.

Perseverance then was about showing up for a wounded mother.  Most of my family says I raised her. She checked herself into a mental institution when I was three but they threw her out and said she wasn’t crazy enough.

It was about survival and doing what had to be done. I was opening cans of soup by climbing on a chair at the kitchen counter when I was 5. I was allowed to miss school because my mom always got me out of bed at 2 am to listen to her cry to Barry Manilow records about how she was never approved of by her own father, and then she’d fall asleep drunk with a cigarette in her hand.  I would routinely transfer my pillow to her crooked neck, put out her cigarette, and crawl gratefully back into bed.

Perseverance then to me was about getting to school, my source of hope out of this cycle. Once I missed 21 days in a row because my mom liked the company. One day the principal came and we played possum and my mom squeezed lemon juice through the mailbox slot when he tried to peek in. Perseverance then was about having enough school supplies, so I stole them. Got escorted home by a nice policeman and had to go visit a probation officer who felt I had to have been wrongly accused, I was “too good”. So we had nice visits for the next 6 months while he scratched his head. Then I was taken away when I was 13 when mom was deemed “unfit.” But arguably in her defense, there was love. I just didn’t ever see her love herself.

Then came the day in psychology class at age 16 where we were introduced to Maslow’s Heirarchy of Self Actualization. I heard a voice and “it” took my pencil tip to the tippy top and said, “you are going HERE.” It was like an angel had given me a road map to life.

Fast forward 20 years of struggle, self loathing, self discovery, and finally consciously coming into my life’s work. It is no wonder I am passionate about sparing the children by helping parents see infertility as an opportunity to awaken to their potential to heal, and to consciously conceive, which leads to conscious parenting and broken destructive family patterns.

Today, I cannot NOT include my story in my current passion for my work. My life and work is ALL about stepping into our highest human potential to become worthy of the children coming into the world. And I wouldn’t change a thing, except maybe my definition of perseverance today: passion in action.

I couldn’t have had a better road map.

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Elisabeth Manning is a Certified Spirit Coach and is a teacher in training at the Foundation for Spiritual Development in San Rafael California. Unlike traditional coaching Elisabeth works at the spirit and energetic levels to get to the root of the issues blocking her clients from achieving their soul purpose and unlimited nature. At this level sustainable healing and growth is achieve whereby the clients become their own guru and healer. She has a practice called Conscious Conception empowering women and couples to co-create fertility in all areas of their lives to regain health and wealth of spirit mind and body, and to prepare to live a mindful parenting path.  You can reach her at www.consciousconception.net, and please click here for her radio show interview.

We’re interviewing Justin Sachs on Wednesday, June 16th, 4pm PST.  Justin is the best-selling author of The Power of Persistence, and the best-selling author of Your Mailbox Is Full (written when he was only 18). His work in personal development started at the age of 13 while working for Tony Robbins, Mark Victor Hansen, and ultimately, starting the Peak Performance Lifestyles Foundation in which Justin empowered teenagers to become leaders in their communities. Justin has spoken throughout the world to teenagers and adults on the topics of leadership, living the life of your dreams, and creating success.

He recently founded Motivational Press, Inc. a leading mid-tier publishing company of personal and business development titles in which he aligns with the greatest and most distinguished experts in the world to transform the lives of millions throughout the world.

Justin lives in San Diego, California. You can contact Justin for more information about his coaching services or book him to speak at your next event by emailing the following address: Justin@JustinSachsCompanies.com

Dial in live at 347-205-9038 or via streaming radio at 4pm PST at www.blogtalkradio.com/passionsandpossibilties.

This month’s Passioneering theme is “Creating a Powerful Support Network” – that is, how you build a cheerleading team to support you in thriving at what you love and making a difference in the world.

Deborah Osgood is Cofounder/CKO of Knowledge Institute, experts in small business development,  education and entrepreneurial communities including www.BUZGate.org. Recognized for Excellence in Business Services, Enterprising Woman of the Year, and SBA Women in Business Champion, Deborah has successfully launched of over 57 entrepreneurial resource communities, developed and published several training programs, written numerous articles, and volunteered countless hours consulting, presenting, and personally mentoring thousands of business professionals and young adults around the globe on issues dealing with how to start, grow and succeed in their professional endeavors. You can reach her at: www.BUZGate.org Click here to hear here June 2009 Blog Talk Radio interview with her.

Below is Deborah’s guest blog.  Thanks Deborah and Happy Passioneering

Building Support Networks

By Deborah Osgood

Into this world we arrive on our own and we depart on our own. While here, however, we don’t have to go it alone.

In fact, most anything worth experiencing in life happens while working with and through others. This includes parent-child, employer-employee and entrepreneur-customer relationships. In each case, taking the time to step back, expand your consciousness and identify your objectives will provide a great foundation for making connections that support a meaningful, purposeful and joyful life.

Family Support Networks

Family is one of the most common support networks since the dawning of mankind. At the same time, it can be the most complex. In yesteryears, family support networks came from local community where the butcher, the baker and candlestick maker represented a network of give and take relationships. Today, these same give and take exchanges remain important, yet how we develop them is a lot more complex.

Support is available through local face-to-face exchanges, or through social media and other global networks. This includes support for most any interest or need, such as physical, mental, spiritual or just plain fun. Simply use a search engine, enter the key words specific to your interests, and then “reach out and touch someone.” A site like MeetUp, for example, helps people with shared interests connect by meeting or forming online clubs in communities around the world.

Career Networks

We can spend 40 hours a week working, plus travel, plus time getting ready and winding down. In total, this might mean 10 to 12 hours a day, 5 days a week working. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to “do what you love, and love what you do!” While easily said, figuring this out and finding a way to do it, can be challenging. One place to start is using a no-cost career self-assessment and planning tool. In 4 easy steps, you’ll have a better idea about what you want and where to go to get it. LinkedIn can also be a useful no-cost option, particularly for professionals seeking to network about business or finding a job.

Entrepreneurial Networks

As a result of current economic conditions, many individuals are looking into starting their own business. Just like family and career, building support networks in this area is important to progress. Fortunately, there are thousands of no-cost governments and nonprofit business assistance programs across the country to help you start, grow and succeed in business. This includes help with business planning, counseling, marketing, franchising, funding, import/export and most any business question you can think of. A good place to begin is BUZGate.org, which is a free state-by-state directory of business assistance agencies, information and resources.

In summary, a meaningful life is all about “think it, learn it, do it well.” Be sure to take the time to know what you like to do and then build and nurture your support networks so that you don’t have to do it alone.

Beth Remmes is Founder of Zola Goods LLC. She speaks to entrepreneurs and businesses about key principles behind the green movement, and how they can be applied to any industry. Beth also speaks to groups of individuals and takes them through a day in the life of an average American consumer for a step-by-step guide to some of the easy and affordable changes we can make to help the environment. Zola has been featured in Atlanta InTown, Entrepreneur.com, Oprah’s Angel Network and various other publications. http://www.zolagoods.com.

Our Radio Show Interview with Beth

5/19/10, 5pm PST on  The Passions and Possibilities Project on Blog Talk Radio.  Listen live at 347-205-9038 or via archive on the website.

Thanks Beth, and Happy Passioneering!

Our Passion Q&A with Beth

SO: Your definition of “passion” – your “WHY” for being on the planet?

I think that passion is our life force energy. It is drive that keeps us working on our mission, even in the face of setbacks and obstacles. It is a gift and a clue to the divine spark in each of us, propelling us on to make a positive impact in this world.

SO: Your biggest passions for serving others, and how you’re expressing them (include hobbies, volunteering, if you wish)?

I would say that my passions all center around healing and connection. I think that people are disconnected from each other and the earth, which is why we are able to be so harmful, without so much as a second thought in many cases. I teach people that their actions to the earth and to each other do make a big difference in this world. My service is anything and everything from picking up litter, talking to classrooms about conserving resources, conducting workshops on how to shift consumer habits, or creating sacred space in a medicine wheel or oak grove and give people a safe place to meditate and become more in touch with themselves and their purpose and passions

SO: Your biggest challenge(s) in expressing your passions for serving others and how you’ve addressed them?

My biggest challenge is wondering about all the “What ifs” or “How tos” that go along with running a business. However, when I stay in the present and focus on the task at hand, I am able to block out those distractions. When you know deep down that your work is inspired action and that it is about serving others, you don’t ask yourself “if,” you ask yourself “how”.

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

My favorite mantra around money is, “The more I have, the more good that I can do.” It is the freedom to do the good that you want to in this world. My family is very supportive and without that, I could not have taken that leap. However, when they put their support behind me, our prosperity as a family has increased, so even though it is not always through the channels that I want or expect, we are supported and I am grateful.

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

When I heard people say that they are following their passion, I almost always equated it with a unique talent, such as artistic or musical ability. So whereas, I always felt like I was meant to do something more in my life– I never knew what that “more” was, because while I am good at lots of things, but not amazingly gifted in any one particular area. But then I found my passion not by looking for hidden talents – but by focusing on what I was deeply concerned about, and I learned that passion was really about how we could each feel that we can best contribute to the world.

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

I like the visual of widening circles, like ripples in a pond. The main reason I have been able to stay the course is because I have had the sense that this is a divinely-inspired mission, so first and foremost, I have a practice that starts at my center – whether it is yoga, meditation, a hike in the woods, something that keeps my connection to a power greater than myself. From there, I try to be compassionate with myself and not take life too seriously and remember to enjoy what I am doing. Moving outwards to my family, I involved them in all phases of the process from reading the business plan, to discussing what it would mean for the family in terms of my time and finances. If I did not have their support, it would have been very difficult – if not impossible – for me to pursue my business. As I move out to the next circle of friendships, I found that as my vibration level rose, some new people come into my life and some other people fell away. I found myself saying no to things that in the past I would have said yes to out of a sense of obligation, and saying yes to things which are more in alignment with my passions. As a result I found myself in more energizing, rather than draining, relationships and activities, so that I had more energy and support to focus on this new chapter in my life.

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

I would say to start with a step rather than a leap. Don’t change your life all at once, start by doing something every day that relates to your passion or new business as this will help you to build momentum. This can be anything – from doing market research, to sending out e-mails, reading about industry trends, or simply talking about it with others. On the days where you feel like you need a break – read or watch something inspiring or say some affirmations – that counts too. The point is that you need to stay on course – and as Michael Beckwith says, “You need to become a participant – not an anticipant- in your life.” Just the thought – never mind the process – of starting a business can be completely overwhelming, but by staying in the present and taking it one item on your to-do list at a time, you are able to move through the fear and doubts. When you start to feel the anxiety, take a step-back, get still, and ask yourself can I handle this task, the one that is front of me, right now? This will help stop all of the what ifs – because it is our projections that cause the most stress. Trust that you can handle what you are given and enjoy each step of your journey.

SO: What’s your next big milestone?

Right now there are over 40 Zola Coordinators who are teaching people in their communities how to be more conscious consumers and helping them to make affordable, eco-friendly changes. I hope that the number of Coordinators continues to grow and I would love to meet like-minded people who want to share this business journey with me and help me grow the company so that it has a national presence and proves that you can be successful with a triple bottom-line approach of people, planet, and profit.

We’re honored to be interviewing Gil Gido on our blog talk radio show today to share his Passionography and how he leaped fully into his passions.

Gil Gido is the Seattle chapter President of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) and is passionate about building leaders in
the Asian community. Previous to that he co-founded and led the Microsoft Asian Professional Society. He recently left Microsoft to start his own social
media company and is the Principal Consultant at Ulysses’ Social Media Marketing Company (USMMC). He can be reached at www.gilgido.com.

Thanks Gil and Happy Passioneering!

Gil’s Passion Q&A

SO: Your definition of “passion” – your “WHY” for being on the planet?

Passion is an energy that pulls one forward. There’s no resisting this energy because it’s so
strong. It’s also illuminating. People can see it. It’s very difficult to hide when you’re passionate.

SO: Your biggest passions for serving others, and how you’re expressing them (include hobbies, volunteering, if you wish)?
Everyone wants in some way wants to make a difference, so as a leader I create and share about
opportunities for them to express and to fulfill on that need.

SO: Your biggest challenge(s) in expressing your passions for serving others and how you’ve addressed them?
I believe that your own worst enemies are within you; that is fear and self-doubt. I find someway
by having people around me that support me and want me to succeed, namely my family, friends,
and mentors.

SO: What have been the key factors in your success?

While there’s no substitute for hard work and commitment, I believe you need to share what you’re
doing and allowing people to participate. It’s amazing how if you’re passionate about something,
it’s a magnet and people by nature want to be a part of whatever you’re being passionate about.

SO:  What one word/quality best describes your journey?

Unpredictable

SO:   What has been your experience of prosperity, as you define it?

Prosperity means Celebrating the small wins and being acknowledged by others.

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

Go big. Get out there and share your passion with others.

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

I  joined a lot of groups (both in person and online) and took many classes.

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

It’s really all in your head. Have conversations with people in your support groups about what will
work. When you can talk about your vision with clarity, it’ll work because you’ll know what actions
to take

Debi Waldeck joined us April 28th to share her Passioneering journey about wellness and her fabulous book trilogy.

My three biggest takeaways from Debi’s journey:

• Love of self is the most important success factor in thriving at what you love.  Debi invites us to look in the mirror and really love who and what we see!  Try it and notice how difficult it might be for you.
• The biggest barrier between you and your Passioneering success?  Not forgiving something or something.  Let it go guys!
• Stay focused on your vision and take ACTION to move forward.  You won’t create success by sitting at home and waiting for the phone to ring.   That is, to quote Debi:  “God does not need credit, God needs to be demonstrated.”

Thanks Debi and Happy Passioneering!

About Debi:

Debi Waldeck’s new trilogy, In the Beginning…There Was Wellness, details her account from despair to discovery to destiny! Defying the odds, Debi was told to abort her son due to complications from a medication but a still, small, sweet voice inside said different. Her son was born with numerous complications lasting eight years, fueling her desire to identify the why’s to the fourfold increase in chronic childhood illness and autoimmune disease. Her first book, Saving ‘Generation Next’ unveil the common denominator behind many disease states. Applying Debi’s discoveries finds her son now whole and serving at the United States Military Academy. Lessons in faith and health initiated her second book, Forever Young and Vibrant, which is a body manual that will cause you to never again be afraid that the boogey man will come like a thief in the night. Her last book, The Currency of Thought, identifies how our internal dialogue affects all relationships, including our relationship with money. Health, wealth and peace of mind… it’s all the same. You can reach her at www.DebiWaldeck.com.  A BIG invitation to read her books and attend her telecasts – Highly Recomended!

Passion Q&A with Debi:

SO: Your definition of “passion” – your “WHY” for being on the planet?

Many people pursue an end goal with fire or passion.  Often I have seen that fire come from a burning ember of for instance, an unpleasant experience that one wishes to change.  Therefore, anger turned inward is self-destructive or depression, anger turned outwards is violence or vandalism and anger turned upwards is passion-driving us to fulfill our destiny.   Through the process of directing that energy we can move through many steps; from despair to depression to anger to guilt to complacency to action to contentment to hope and ultimately to joy and love.

SO: Your biggest passions for serving others, and how you’re expressing them (include hobbies, volunteering, if you wish)?

My biggest passion is self-empowerment and creating hope, inspiration and action.  I personally moved from despair, to discoveries to destiny by learning through that process that we participate in creating our experience based on how we respond to situations and that we can actively participate in creating our future by controlling our thoughts and actions today.  We do not have to succumb to a life of prescription drugs or to the maxed out credit cards.  We do not have to succumb to a life of mediocrity.  More important, many are looking for a one word answer, a 140 character tweet or fixes in a pill… yet, many are getting sicker, fatter and poorer…. The answer is knowledge.  Knowledge is the true gold.  Therefore, my passion is transformation and in that, I have a coaching series called 52 weeks to a renewed you. that teaches for instance, how body systems work together, why there is a fourfold increase in chronic childhood illness, how the immune system is developed based on the quality of the development of the intestinal area, and how our thoughts affect all relationships including our relationship with money.

SO: Your biggest challenge(s) in expressing your passions for serving others and how you’ve addressed them?

• FOCUS- any of us who wish to make a difference must absolutely ignore those who say it can’t be done, or no one will listen. Brian Tracy-the most successful author of all time (chicken soup for the soul).. spends 8-10 minutes per day visualizing his desired outcome.
• PERCEPTION-I had to decide and accept that commercially marketing my message does not detract from my message, academia or professionalism.  In order to make a difference, my message must get out and that requires marketing or selling me.  That was very hard at first.  I had to balance the female and male part of this project (my books and message) the female is the creation of the product, of the book and message.  I birthed my baby, but the male or masculine energy is that which provides for and takes care of this project.  If you had a cure for cancer-would you keep it to yourself or would you be unable to sleep each day unless you shared your message…promote yourself!-don’t hide your light under a bushel.
• DISCIPLINE-craft our day so that we do what needs to be done first before we do what we want to do.  Over time, what needs to be done will become what we want to do.
• NETWORK-why do some attract the right person who helps launch their dream?  2 things-they visualize the breakthrough and they get out so that the opportunity may present itself.  Many stay stuck behind the computer or in their home praying for the breakthrough.

SO: What have been the key factors in your success?

• DECISION-the decision to make a difference and take action
• EXPECTATIONS-Expecting to make a difference-setting ambitious goals
• VISUALIZE-I have Debi Waldeck-New York Times best seller posters in many places in my home, I have a dreamboard and intentions that I focus on daily.
• ALLIANCES-I am and have created alliances with like minded people who agree to focus together on our desired outcome of making a difference and significantly decreasing the numbers of children with asthma, ADHD, allergies, autoimmune disease and more.  This is a power group which is different from a master mind group.  A mastermind group brainstorms the best idea…. A powergroup utilizes what is known as the MAHARISHI EFFECT which was studied in 160+ social science journals where a small percentage of a population could focus on a desired outcome and what was seen was a predicted outcome of change.
• BE A GIVER-identify a charity and give a % of your proceeds to them-speak to like minded groups for free…
• NETWORKING:  Join as many associations as you can, meet people.
• ACTION-DO IT AFRAID….JUST DO IT…. we will never be perfect before we take action. GOD CANNOT DIRECT YOUR STEPS IF YOU ARE NOT STEPPING.. it was about putting out my message, book, web-site, webinar series… knowing it was not perfect yet, but accepting feedback and constantly improving.   JUST GET STARTED

SO:  What one word/quality best describes your journey?

INTROSPECTIVE- for me, due to many factors, I found myself alone in many ways.  Therefore, I relied on the ‘still, small, sweet’ voice inside, on prayer and meditation, on observations and interpretations.  I think all of that caused me to be able to think outside the box.  Look, most people whose kid has asthma puts them on an inhaler and it is done, or if the child has ADHD, they put them on medicine and it is done…they are diagnosed with fibromyalgia and that becomes their reality.   I always asked the world and God WHY?   I looked for the root cause and rather than addressing the symptom-I addressed the cause… whether this was in illness, finances or a very disruptive teenager…. By addressing the cause, we altered the course forever.

SO:   What has been your experience of prosperity, as you define it?

For me, Prosperity is being 100% connected to God or what some called source.   When we remove ego from all situations and judge situations as neither good or bad, when we live in the now, when we choose to be happy regardless the experience, then we are connected and in that, all good things will come.  We were meant to have abundance and to have health, wealth and peace of mind.

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

When it is done in the spirit… it is done.   It just takes time for the physical to catch up.  A wave crashes on the shore but the energy that created that wave happened long before the physical manifestation of the crash on the shore….

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

Took me a long time to even realize how important that was.  My family is in Virginia….  So I never had family around for our children and family.  When it came to business, it seemed the same (honestly…. I seemed to find women who wanted to compete rather than be friends.. or men that wanted something other than business…)… therefore, my support system primarily has been God or source or whatever you want to call it, my husband and children.  I take very good care of them and they do the same for me.  I have been a coach, mentor or leader for a long time.  I kept praying, when the student is ready the teacher will come, right??  But I realized that we attract what we need to learn.  I listened to the speech,

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.  There’s nothing enlightening about shrinking, so that other people won’t feel insecure around you…as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
–Nelson Mandela

SO: What wisdom do you have for someone who’s scared/discouraged about their own leap? It’s trust, love, wisdom triangle…

Why do we resist change?

As Marianne Williamson said, “We are afraid of our own power.”

Why?

Because change gives you an opportunity to know yourself, and people are afraid to truly ‘see’ themselves.

Why?

Because people see themselves through the eyes of all who have come

before them.

Sadly, people do not look at themselves through the eyes of God because if they did, they would stare all day long.

Why?

Because many people do not know God

Why?

You start to know God when you

learn to love yourself. To know God means you choose to love yourself

exactly the way you are now – male,

female, black, white, yellow, red, fat, skinny, ugly, pretty. The problem is

that people seek man’s approval before

and above God’s approval.

Why?

Because people have no faith. Faith is the opposite of fear. People are in fear and the cycle begins again.

Okay, everyone knows that faith is not fear. We know what it isn’t, but what is faith?

Faith is to know that when you step into the unknown, you will not fall.  You will either find your way or you

will be carried. Faith is Trust.

What is Trust?

Trust is to know that you are loved.

But what if you have never been

shown love?

It’s the Man versus God thing again. Man must demonstrate love. To learn to trust, you must learn to love yourself. Only then will you come to know God.

Does self-love remove God?

Don’t worry that self-love takes God out of the equation.

God does not need credit,

God needs to be demonstrated.

We had the honor to interview Patricio Quezada today on our radio show.  He’s 19 years old and a Latino-American Teen Renegade CEO.  With his keen interest in technology and in  always being part of an elite team, he has started the Latino conglomerate company Coppola & Quezada, formerly known as Hispanics Learn.  For more stories on teen Renegade CEOs, please visit www.RenegadeCEOs.com, and for more Passioneer® stories, visit  www.passionsandpossibilities.com.

Biggest TakeAways from Our Radio Interview

• Our Gen Y/Millenials have tons to teach us as older adults.  During our interview, Patricio taught me some powerful nuances about patience and groundedness – no easy feat!
• Patricio’s biggest tip for those making the leap into what they love:  “You have to bet on yourself.”    He adds “One person listening is enough.”
• I was awestruck by Patricio’s heart for service.  He’s absolutely clear that prosperity for him is about making a difference in others’ lives and not about material stuff.

Thanks Patricio and Happy Passioneering!

His Archived Radio Interview

His Passion Q&A

SO: Your definition of “passion” – your “WHY” for being on the planet?

Passion is defined as a strong, barely controllable feeling. Passion is a feeling that knows no limits or boundaries to what you do. In modern day, passion is often hidden and forgotten and without an individual passion, we cannot succeed.

SO: Your biggest passions for serving others, and how you’re expressing them (include hobbies, volunteering, if you wish)?

I’ve grown up playing all different types of sports starting from being a bench warmer to a starter. All my life I’ve always been a team player as well as an individual with influence. To me I believe cold-heartedly in team achievement. One person can achieve all of life’s greatest accomplishments and that’s great for him but a team achievement inspires more groups of people which changes the world. It’s like they say there is power in numbers. That is why I started a conglomerate business. I started wanting to teach computer education to latino who weren’t born into the technology savvy generation but I started to see that aside from teaching I always participated in advocacy groups and always lended an extra hand. Now I can create a global environment for latino executives and those to be to share ideas, share feedback, and grow.

SO: Your biggest challenge(s) in expressing your passions for serving others and how you’ve addressed them?

I dislike being the only one to take the leap of faith. I’ll take the fall by myself no problem but I like to make sure that my leap of faith has a purpose. Knowing that this is a problem, I’ve recently started to group together the people that always give feedback whether negative or positive, people who make me laugh, people who have those resources I lack and so on and so forth.

SO: What have been the key factors in your success?

Effort, Teamwork, and Execution

SO: What one word/quality best describes your journey?

Follow-through

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

That I don’t have to do it all alone and I also don’t need to give up everything I love to do it, but some sacrifice and devotion is necessary.

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

First and foremost my family, secondly my business coach Shonika Proctor, and lastly my daily latino/latina executives that always keep me on my toes and give me the greatest feedback. I’ve created this system by setting up various scenarios in which specific qualities of certain individuals are needed.

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

You have to be unafraid to think that the idea you have is a great idea and you have to realize that the way you see it coming together is not the only way that it can happen.