Each of us has a glorious, divine purpose for making a unique and positive difference on this planet; that is, for leaving a powerful legacy.   And guess what?  Your passion and your talents together point directly to your purpose.  Pretty obvious, eh?

Most of us have a good inkling as to what our true passions are – what we would do for free or what we would even pay someone else to let us do.  In fact, most of us share our passions for free, either as a hobby or through volunteering.  Heck, some of us pay a lot of money to access our passions.

The Passion Conundrum: What’s between you and doing what you love fully and vibrantly?

Excuses, Excuses

If you’re like me, you’re probably telling yourself one of these stories:  “I’m too busy.”  “I don’t have enough money.”  “I’m not talented enough.”  You’ve probably got lots of “yeah buts” for why you cannot thrive at what you love, based upon your past experiences and ultimately upon F.E.A.R.   It’s funny how we take our past, project it into our future and then believe that it’s the truth of who we are.    As Byron Katie shares on her website (www.ByronKatie.com), “Fear is always the result of an unquestioned past imagined as a future.”  She also describes, in a 2009 Twitter tweet: “Fear has only two causes: the thought of losing what you have or the thought of not getting what you want.”

So what’s the fear about?  Fears of failure, looking bad, not looking good, not being accepted, and the fear of being homeless are just a few that I hear and have personally experienced.   The bottom line?  Your fears do not define who you are and they are a lousy story with an unhappy ending that you continually tell yourself, over and over again.  What a recurring nightmare!

Selling Out, Bigtime

In my own life, I sold out my passions several times to follow the path most traveled and headed into the illusory security of Corporate America.  Let’s flash back to my undergrad years, when I absolutely adored the French language and dreamed of becoming a language professor.  Most of my friends, meanwhile, were heading into law, medicine, or business.  When I solicited their opinion on my French passion as a career, I heard loudly and clearly “Teachers don’t make any money!”  I believed them.  I also believed that, especially as a woman, I should be more practical/realistic/logical/level-headed.   Sadly enough, by choosing to become a businesswoman (which I liked) rather than a professor of French (which I adored), I affirmed the fallacy that teachers can’t prosper in their passions and that I couldn’t either.  At the time, I reasoned that, if I was on the right path in pursuing my passions, I should be fear-less.   WRONG!    Now I know that true courage is feeling the fear and doing it anyway, whatever “it” is.

Passioneers Live Courageously

For The Passions and Possibilities Project®, we have interviewed over 200 individuals who have leaped fully and vibrantly into their passions for making big differences in the world (aka Passioneers®).  Every single one of them stated that they had fears during their leaps, and that they moved forward anyway.  You had better believe that fears were rampant when the following four successful Passioneers made the tough decision to fully unleash their passions:

• Ellen Whitehurst leaves a successful corporate career and 20-year marriage to become a feng shui expert. She later rockets to the status of Dr. Oz advisor and an author whose books, blogs, and articles are read by millions.
• Brooke Ellison enters the gates of Harvard on her first day of classes.  She then becomes the first quadriplegic to graduate from Harvard,  advocates for stem-cell research, and inspires Christopher Reeve to create a motion picture about her life’s story.
• Dr. Joanna Dolgoff gives up a thriving pediatric practice to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity, an issue that very few doctors address.  She’s now one of the leading experts in the world.
• Missy Lavender decides that women’s pelvic health is more important than a lucrative real estate investment career.  She co-founds the Women’s Health Foundation, and gets interviewed by Whoopie Goldberg on the popular ABC TV program, The View.

Tips for Making Friends with Terror

Thank God that I now realize the creative power of our words and actions.  The Passions and Possibilities Project is my way to prove to myself and others that, when we do what we love, the rest DOES follow.  One of my mentors recently reminded me that, the bigger the game that you play in the world, the bigger your fears will be.  With my most recent leap into founding The Passions and Possibilities Project, I can honestly say that this is true:  there are days when I am absolutely terrified.  Below are three simple steps that I use and recommend to my coaching clients when the hairy scary monsters raise their ugly heads:

1.   Feel the Fear. Don’t run, hide, abdicate, medicate, or give up.   Action Step: Write down at least ten “facts” about your situation and then compare them to the”story” that you have been telling yourself.  Now that you can see the difference between fact and fiction, which would you really prefer?

2.   Move Forward Anyway. Miracles arise when you step out of your comfort zone and into your dreams.  Even by taking a baby step forward, you will find wings starting to sprout where dug-in heels used to be.  Action Step: Take at least three baby steps forward into your passions and see what happens.

3.  Build a Courage Club. It is true that you are whom you hang out with.  So, if you’ve been hanging out with passion wimps, it is high time to choose again.   Action Step: Call, write, visit, or bump into at least three people this week who are passion warriors, even if you don’t know them.  When two or more Passioneers are gathered, magic happens…a lot!

Best wishes on your courageous journey and Happy Passioneering.

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.

Michael S. Brown was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Psychology.   A published author, Michael has worked in the fields of publishing, film, television and higher education and is the founder and CEO of Second Acts, a non-profit fundraising organization for animal rescue nationwide.  Michael joined us live on March 17th for our radio program, and can be reached at www.secondacts.org.

We interviewed Michael recently on Blog Talk Radio about his inspiring passioneering journey, both ups and downs.  Here’s the archive.  Enjoy!

Questions on Michael’s Passioneering Journey

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

An individual’s passion takes them to places he or she never knew existed.  Whereas our ordinary, day-to-day responsibilities consist of tasks and projects we need to complete in order to survive, our passions are the substance by which we find enrichment, joy and purpose in our lives.  Without the existence of passion, there is no learning, development or personal growth.

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

I have had the fortunate opportunity to share the knowledge I have gained by teaching and volunteering.  Acting as the vessel through which others can obtain personal and professional growth has provided me with great satisfaction upon seeing how I have been able to enrich the lives of others, including our four-legged friends in need of a new, loving home.

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

The initiation and launch of my own non-profit organization presented several challenges, the biggest being the creation of a company that would best serve our four-legged friends as well as fulfill the needs of an animal-loving public that wants to help but doesn’t know how.  The most effective way to address any challenge is to thoroughly research the information needed to reach that particular passion or goal.  The biggest stumbling block for most is a lack of focus and knowledge of how to make their passion a reality.

SO: They say that when you do what you love, the rest follows.  What has been your experience of prosperity, as you define it?

Prosperity is measured by how many people’s (or animal’s) lives I touch.  I have received such overwhelming support from the public, which confirms that I have made a successful leap towards fulfilling my passion.

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

The most important lesson one can learn is that one cannot accomplish anything alone.  Setting goals and pursuing passions requires the inclusion of others, and I consider myself very fortunate to have the support and encouragement I needed to make that leap.

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

My support system is composed of a healthy balance between personal (family, friends) and professional (Board of Directors).  The latter came together from years of networking and maintaining personal relationships with like-minded individuals whom I chose to join me in this journey.

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

If one is fearful or unsure about pursuing his or her passion, take small steps.  Do not listen to negative words from the past.  Surround yourself with those who really know you and who believe in your abilities; they will be there in case there is a misstep and help guide you in the right direction.  But it all starts with knowing who you are, concentrating on your strengths, and believing that an unsuccessful endeavor does not equal personal failure.

What’s your next big milestone?

Following a successful grassroots launch, Second Acts is ready to move to the next plateau, which will consist of national exposure and the creation of entities in each state to generate greater awareness of both the organization and the need to support animal rescue.

Happy Passioneering Michael and Thank You!

Michelle Ward, aka “The When I Grow Up Coach,” is an actress/singer & certified life coach who helps creative people devise the career they think they can’t have – or discover it to begin with! Michelle has been featured in Newsweek and Metro News & can be found at www.whenigrowupcoach.com.  We interviewed her recently for our project, and she’ll appear on our radio show on Wednesday, March 17th.

Join us live at 9am PST on Blog Talk Radio where we’ll hear Michelle’s inspiring passioneering journey, both ups and downs.  Dial in:  347-205-9038 or link in at www.blogtalkradio.com/passionsandpossibilities.

Happy Passioneering, and thank you Michelle!

We recently interviewed TV and radio show host, Ryan Ray, on our radio program.  Ryan’s passionate about sharing the stories of those who are pursuing their dreams!   Below is his radio show archive, as well as his “Passion-ography”.

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

People today have lost their sense of purpose – their own “WHY” for being on this planet. Instead of looking within ourselves, society has trained us to find our “WHY” externally in other people, places and things. My passion is to help people Wake UP!, remember their “WHY,” and remind them that their most heartfelt goals are still possible.

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

In August 2008 I began reaching out to the public through a web show designed to inspire others to remember their passion. As the weeks progressed, so did our audience and soon we had outgrown the internet TV studio I had constructed in my bedroom. On April 3, 2009 “Wake UP! Explore your Passion” the TV show was born as we made our debut on LIVE television in Pasadena, CA to 40,000 cable-connected homes in addition to our regular audience of 10,000 weekly viewers through the web.

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

If someone had told me that I was going to build an entire TV show, cast and crew from the ground up and that I was going to do it all on a shoestring budget, I would have laughed and thought it impossible.  Before I began down this path I had no background or formal training or experience in television production whatsoever. Needless to say, the learning curve has been tremendous. I believe that when you have a true, heart-centered passion for something, all the resources you need to be successful will make themselves available. While there have been stressful moments, it has been a dream come true and A LOT of fun!

SO: They say that when you do what you love, the rest follows.  What has been your experience of prosperity, as you define it?

In my experience, the single most common factor that people believe is holding them back from their dream is money. I believe that when the timing is right, everything will fall into place, including the money. The trick is to first become crystal-clear about your goals, today. That won’t cost a dime! Then, moving forward, focus on those things that you already have and begin putting those pieces of the puzzle into place. If your passion is true, when the timing is right and you are ready, the missing pieces will come into view, one-by-one.

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

First and foremost, it’s OK if it isn’t perfect. That doesn’t mean you do your work carelessly and pay no attention to detail, it means you do the absolute best you can, focusing on every detail as well as the big picture. At the end of the day, you pat yourself on the back, focusing first on what was done well and lastly on those things that still need improvement. Secondly, even though it’s your baby, there will come a time when you have to let go. The only way we can reach our full potential is to work with others, empowering them to be the best they can be. Only then can we reach our greatest goals.

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

No matter how far removed your life experience may seem, there’s something you’ve learned in your past that will help you reach your current goal. I studied graphic design and dabbled in web programming. My skills as a designer have saved me huge amounts of money in creating a web presence and promotional materials for “Wake UP! Explore your Passion”.

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

Aside from my own mother’s consistent and unconditional support in everything I’ve ever attempted to do in my life, I’m blessed to have a tight-knit group of friends who share my passion for inspiring change in other people’s lives. When you move bravely forward into the unknown, your courage and sincerity will attract people to you like an electromagnet. Quite honestly, you’ll be surprised where your supporters come from, more times than not being the people you’d least expect!

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

Though it’s been said before, it merits being said again: you are your biggest supporter and your worst critic. Regardless of your physical surroundings and regardless of the influences in your life, you have the power within yourself to be successful in ways you never dreamed possible. The true, heart-centered desires you hold deep inside, those that always seem to peek out at you in your happiest and saddest moments, will never die and demand fulfillment. It is your duty in life to listen and act. “How” you’re going to do it should be the least of your concerns. Your job is to become clear about what you want and then take small steps toward your goals. They will continue to evolve and grow as you evolve and grow.

SO: What’s your next big milestone?

My mission, at its core, is crystal-clear: to inspire people to “Wake UP!”. Recently, we’ve returned to the airwaves, this time via an internet radio broadcast. Our goal: to expand the reach of “Wake UP! Radio” to inspire millions of people to put meaning back into their lives by working toward their most heart-felt goals.

Thanks Ryan and Happy Passioneering!

Aimee Gallo is a Licensed Primary Sports Nutritionist and Certified Holistic Health Counselor helping people lead happier, healthier lives through nutrition, fitness, and uncovering abundant joy. She coaches in person in San Diego and nationwide by phone. Her mission is to provide unparalleled support in helping others live the best life they can imagine!  She’s our guest blogger for March, and can be reached at www.vibrancenutrition.com.   Thanks Aimee, and Happy Passioneering!

Staying Motivated to Live Your Passion

By Aimee Gallo

Living your passion can be a full-time job. Sometimes it requires significant amounts of overtime, and for most of us there is no time-and-a-half or honorary plaque to put on the wall. When the rewards for our work seem far away the motivation to continue can weaken. 

My personal ups and downs along the way have allowed me to gather a fine set of motivational tools. These re-invigorate and reinspire me when my energy and stamina are faltering:

1)      Personal Inventory: Do I need to pull the radical self-care card? Have I forgotten myself in all this? If my cup isn’t full, I cannot be the support and encouragement my clients count on. The first thing is to take a moment and self-reflect on what I am feeling and what I need. It may be as simple as extra sleep or emotional support from a friend or it may be something more monumental – like reorganizing my business to accommodate who I am as a person now versus when I started. Sometimes the answers come right away and sometimes I need to sit and allow them to percolate. But first, first we must ask the question. To assist with this, I keep a list of things that invigorate me that I can refer to when I get overwhelmed. Journaling and running also release stuck mental blocks and allow space for my creative brain to find solutions.

2)      I look to my own sources of inspiration to find the drive to continue. Who refused to give up? Abraham Lincoln, Colonel Sanders, my father, Oprah Winfrey, Mohandas Gandhi…read a biography, talk to someone in the field you admire, or consider the alternative – giving up your dreams (unthinkable!) and let this pull you up.

3)      Take a trip down memory lane: What have you already weathered? How was it worth it? How did you feel when you first began? What initially inspired you? Your own story can serve as a powerful motivator. As the author, you determine which direction the story now takes and how it unfolds. What will you choose?

4)      Watch your Mouth: How is your self-talk? When you say, “I can’t do this” or “This is too much” you do not give your infinitely creative subconscious permission to find an answer. Switch your mentality to “How can I make this work?” “What is it that inspires me?” and brainstorm with others as needed for answers.

It’s perfectly normal to have your passion and inspiration wax and wane; none of us can be 100% all the time! When you find yourself struggling, reach both internally and externally for support and motivation to continue living your dreams. It’s not how you do on any given day (or week, or month…) but how authentic and true you are over the journey of your life. May your travels be exciting, rewarding, and abundant!

Aimee Gallo is a Passioneer® inspired by forests, glitter, and how her own body functions. She coaches others on living the best life they can imagine for themselves through food, exercise, and radical self care. She loves to share stories of others’ successes as tools to motivate. To reach her, visit www.vibrancenutrition.com or call (206) 227-1231

Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, MS, PT helps people around the world have less stress and more happiness, regardless what is going on in their lives. A clinical psychologist, physical therapist and author of the bestselling book “A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness,” Elizabeth has been interviewed and featured by some of today’s top media outlets including CNN, Newsweek, MSNBC, NPR, Glamour, Self, Elle, Redbook and Woman’s Day. 

This Wednesday, March 3rd, we will be interviewing Dr. Lombardo  live on our Blog Talk Radio Show, The Passions and Possibilities Project®, at 9am PST.  Our focus will be on her passioneering journey, ups and downs, how she has stayed happy throughout, and her tips for others.  We welcome your comments and questions, so please join us live: 347-205-9038 or via streaming or archived audio at www.blogtalkradio.com/passionsandpossibilities. 

Special Drawing!  We will be holding a drawing at 9:30 am during the radio show to give away three signed copies of Dr. Lombardo’s new book, A Happy You.   To be eligible for the drawing, please join our Facebook fan page, The Passions and Possibilities Project  and also send us an email with your name and email address to passioneers@yahoo.com.     Happy Passioneering! 

Candi Wingate, expert on all-things-nanny, shares her wisdom and passioneering journey with us today, live, Wednesday, 2/17, 3pm PST, !  Dial in at 347-205-9038 or steaming audio:

More on Candi: 

Candi’s been a nanny, owned a nanny agency, started Nannies4hire.com, Babysitters4hire.com and Care4hire.com, authored “100 Tips for Nannies & Families,” plus is a wife and mother of 2. Her nanny experience actually goes way back. She was a nanny for a family with 5 children, which included newborn twins. After becoming a nanny and working in a nanny agency for several years, I purchased the successful Nation-Wide Nanny Placement Agency. After finding that she needed to expand, Nannies4hire.com, Babysitter4hire.com and Care4hire.com was born. Call in with questions about becoming a nanny or following another passion!  You can reach her at www.nannies4hire.com.

We recently interviewed Terry Kohl about her Passions & Possibilities™.   She’s the creative founder and inspirational author of  http://www.LostYourJobNowWhat.com, and you can read more about her at http://www.TerryKohl.com.  Here’s what she had to say on the topic: 

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

Passion is what motivates me to become all that I can be. Passion inspires, knows no boundaries or limits, and fuels my heart and soul with joyful energy. When I am “in passion” I am alive.

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

I want to inspire people to live in the now, for that is all there is. Right now we always have everything we need. It’s diving into the past or jumping into the future that takes us away from our purpose in life. There is nothing but right now, and when you practice that art of allowing NOW to be all there is, so much joy and relief is experienced! I also:

• Write a monthly What If newsletter

• Put on Playshops (not WORKshops) designed around my What If newsletter series

• Provide a daily Facebook and Twitter encouragement

• Am author of Lost Your Job? Now What!

• Help those out of work find their passion, not just a job

• Am a well-known tealeaf reader who guides by empowering

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

I truly have had no challenges. My service to others is all about shining my light and helping others to do the same. I have found that when you are living on purpose, “challenge” is not an experience you need to accept.

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

Prosperity knows that you have all that you want at any given moment. When we live as if we have it all, we then send out those vibrations that attract what we want. My favorite saying about this is, “Believing is seeing,” which is the exact opposite of what we were taught to experience. When we believe, our mind races to find things to support that belief. If we believe we lack, then we will see nothing but lack. If we believe we are prosperous, we see that manifest in all areas of our life.

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

To trust my inner guidance system. We are all vibrational beings and have our emotions (inner guidance system) to thank for letting us know how we are doing at any moment in time. If we are feeling negatively about something we are not in alignment with our higher selves. When we feel joy, love, PASSION, we are one with our Source which can only express those higher emotions. My daily constant is to find whatever thoughts I can for passionately feeling joy and love.

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

Well, my support system is me, and while I have many who appreciate and support my offerings and seek my services, I am my own wellspring of support. If you count on the support of others (and do not get me wrong I appreciate support) then you must also be swayed by those who do not support you. We are not here to gain the acceptance of anyone else. Whatever light you shine and whoever it touches is all that matters.

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

We have choices in life and isn’t that a delicious knowing! We can choose to leap or we can choose not to. There is no right or wrong, only in the doing (of either) will we know if we are vibrating with our higher self. If not leaping feels good, then there is no reason to leap. Fear is only False Experiences Appearing Real.

SO: What’s your next big milestone?

I do not set goals. I follow the energy of my day and do what feels good and joyful. As simple as that may sound, it is of the highest order. When we are “in the flow” of life, all is well.

 Thanks and Happy Passioneering Terry!

We interviewed Rocky Reichman, founder of LiteraryMagic.com, on our Blog Talk Radio show, on January 6, 2010.  He’s a brilliant young man, Renegade CEO (thanks to Shonika Proctor)  who’s received many accolades in the literary community, including from William Safire!

His interview follows below:

SO: What’s Your Definition of “Passion”?

Passion is something that’s more than just an interest. It’s something that fuels you and makes you willing to dedicate hours of effort, a day or even your entire life to.

SO: What Passions Are You Expressing?

My biggest passion is writing.  I first started to express that by writing novels. When I was 12, I wrote my first novel, when I read the Magician’s Apprentice.  That took about three years.  …My second book took three days.  One January vacation, for Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday, I sat down from 8am to 11 at night and just wrote, wrote, and wrote, and got that book out.  I decided to publish my own online literary magazine, Literary Magic.  I also got into etymology, which is the study of the roots and history of words. 

SO: So Has This Been in Your Heart and Your Skill Set?

Through Literary Magic, I’ve really come into contact with amazing people.  Writers and editors around the world.  I’ve not only learned about these people, but also how to interact:  customer service, marketing.   I’ve written some short stories, some columns on literary sites.  Once I discovered Twitter and everything, I met Shonika Prcotr, who has been very helpful to me.  William Safire contacted me, and he called me a “word maven”.  A few months after that, McCraw Hill contacted me for an internship.  That gave me even more opportunities to learn about entrepreneurship and the world of business.

SO: What Are the Challenges that You Have Face and How Have You Move Through Them?

With Literary Magic, it’s been the business model, and building readership.  As a writer, writers love their works, and put all of this effort into their creation.  So if an editor wants to make a change, sometimes that writer is not always open to that change.  So definitely phrasing, giving, learning to give criticism in as positive a manner as possible, that’s always been a challenge.  In my personal life, when I had some family losses, that was definitely a challenge; however they’ve led me to build up resilence and create new projects from that.  When my father passed…he used to tell us these stories.   …So one day we decided to type them up, and we now have it in the published version.

SO: What Else Would You Say to Somebody Who Is Making the Leap?

No matter what, you have to get it out.  Don’t let anyone tell you that what you have to say isn’t worth anything.  It’s always worth anything.  First of all, to you it’s worth something.  And also to your friends and family.  And likely the information or advice or even just the message that you have to share can radiate and help people anywhere.

SO: What Would You Say to Someone Who Doesn’t Know What Their Passion Is?

I think you have to try different thing out.  Read a lot of fiction, even if you don’t want to be a writer, because fiction isn’t just entertaining.  It teaches us about life.  A lot of people think “I’m a non-fiction person, I only read to get information.”  Fiction can open us up to different worlds and possibilities.  Another idea is to go to a college website and look at all of the different subjects, and you really get a feel for what you can do.  Whether it’s writing or biology or if you want to be a doctor or a scientist or law enforcement.  There are so many possibilities.  I was lucky enough to once I read that book Magician’s Apprentice, I knew I wanted to write and kept doing it.  Never wall yourself in.  Of course you want to focus, but never say “I have my passion, and this is all I want to do.”  Always be open to new experiences.  Try something that you normally wouldn’t be exposed to. And then see what happens.

SO: How Have You Stayed Focused?

I like to write a lot of stuff down, write plans, and goals.  I always make sure that on one day, if there’s only time to do one thing, then I get that thing done.  And then I have a task list…if I end up having surplus space then I can do this or that, but I always have one thing that I know must get done that day.   Another thing, which isn’t totally going off focus, but if something comes in, like a quick email…something under 4 minutes, I will try to do it right then.  Otherwise those things just pile up.  Then it can ruin your schedule later in the week. 

I didn’t read Getting Things Done, but I did read an article by the same article that shared the same topic.  I learned a lot about productivity and time management from there.

SO:   When I Say “Do What You Love and the Rest Follows,” Would You Agree?

For everyone I have interviewed, this has been one of the underlying tips that they have all advised:  “That you have to find a way to do what you love and get paid for it.”  If you first don’t succeed, you can always try again.  You can even have a job and make sure that you do your passion on the side.  Like if you’re a lawyer or doctor, then you still have time to write novels on the side.  I know some people at McGraw Hill that works crazy hours and are writing fantasy novels on the side.

SO:  What About Prosperity, the Money Aspect of Doing What You Love?

I think doing what you love, you don’t need to make money at it.  You’re doing it because you like it.  You’re not doing it because you want to make money.  Of course, one of your end goals might be to make money from it.  If you can, then that will ultimately give you more time to focus on your passion, and not to worry about other ways to make money or retirement or college savings. 

Don’t think that in order to be an author to have a chance you have to quit your job and dedicate your entire to writing.  Even if you do get your work published, there are lots of writers out there.  For all the ones that are best-sellers that can take off the day, there are many more writers that have to have other jobs, who might not want to sit writing all day.  You can get a job, pay the bills and work on the side. Plan it out.  Write an hour a day.  Write five pages a day.  If you do the calculations, it won’t take too long to get your book out, maybe a few months.

Write or brainstorm some of it now.  Right after this interview ends.  If you want to write a book and haven’t had the time to do it.  Stop what you’re doing and take five minutes to brainstorm what it is. Maybe even write a sample paragraph or a log line – a line about what your book will cover. Just jump right into it.

Thanks Rocky and Happy Passioneering!

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!