On Wednesday August 11th, we are interviewing Sheevaun O’Connor Moran who has helped transform the lives of over 10,000 people through her unique vision, process, and programs. She has integrated esoteric principles, energy medicine, energy psychotherapy and the nature of the whole being into Paramitas the System. Sheevaun has authored four books, hundreds of articles, and over 20 CD’s  that help the novice to expert seeker learn to Master their Energy. She can be reached at www.SheevaunMoran.com.

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

Sheevaun’s Passioneer Q & A

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

Finding humor is every obstacle and looking for a solution has been key, along with perveverence.

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

Joyous.

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

I have been very blessed and my discernment along the way has been a huge help. The fact that I listened to my intuitions more often than not has been a great help.

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

Remain in awe and find peace at the end of each day.

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

You can either make a leap on your own terms or you can be forced to make a leap. If you are forced to make that leap then there are more challenging lessons to learn along the way. If you make it on your own then you’ll be more in the flow. Look for the positive in every single action or reaction, regardless of how long that may take. Know that you are entitled to great things and great things will show up. Lastly, forgive yourself for not being more perfect – you are perfect right now.

On Wednesday August 4th, we interviewing Qiana Martin who is a professional athlete, blogger and radio host. She travels the world playing and reporting on soccer, footvolley and futsal. Outside of her matches, Qiana shares news, inspiration and motivation with footballers and fans worldwide on the blog and Radio Miami International radio program, Eat Soccer. She can be reached at www.qianamartin.com.

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

Qiana’s Passioneer Q & A

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

Passion is an activity or experience that brings its participant an overwhelming feeling of happiness.

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

I attribute the following factors to my success: determination (to be my biggest advocate in creating the life that I envision), work ethic (to continuously put into action the wisdom that I gather along my journey), flexibility (to be open to better ways of reaching benchmarks), creativity (to turn obstacles into opportunities) and faith (to believe that everything is working for my highest benefit).  One word that best sums up my success is unbelievable!

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

My biggest challenges have been resources (How do I obtain the things that I need?), relationships (How do I meet those that can support me and provide me with opportunities?) and recollections (How do I press forward when facing perceived plateaus/stagnations?).  When pursuing your passion, it’s easy to take your experiences to heart, especially the challenges.  However, I have made a concerted effort to look at them objectively.  By utilizing the experiences of others (successful people/businesses) and combining this supportive knowledge with a running list of my prior successes, I have been able to turn these challenges into opportunities.

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

My mother constantly gave me article clippings to read about people who were participating in unique experiences and engaging in living their dreams.  Inevitably, these clippings caused me to desire to visualize and chase my own passion.

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

If you want to be successful, help someone else become successful.

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

In living her life with passion, Qiana inspired others, in her family, community and world, to do the same.

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

1. Your journey is unique.  Do not compare your path to others.  2. Find ways to use your passion to help others.  3. Find a formula that will help you to get out of your own way.  Make a point to mentally be your best advocate.

As I’ve been interviewing nearly 100 passionate entrepreneurs (aka “passioneers”) over the past two months, I’ve heard many great ideas and suggestions for dream leaping. So I invite anyone who is feeling scared or discouraged about their own leap to consider the ten tips below from these passioneers, so you can move forward. If you have your own ideas or suggestions, please send them our way.

Tips for Leaping into Your Passions Fully

1. Don’t leave your day job, and have at least one year’s savings before you make the leap into your passions!
2. Take baby steps. A strong recommendation to make the leap by taking many little steps.
3. Face the fear…and do it anyway.  Every one of our guests has felt some fears around making their leap.  Their suggestion?  Don’t succumb and keep moving.
4. Surround yourself with positive people.  Ditch those who aren’t supportive or negative.  Fill your life with folks who respect and honor your path.
5. Vision your future.  Get very clear on what you want in your life and take the focus off of what you don’t want.
6. Prosperity is much more than material wealth.  It means friends, health, free time, and being your own boss!
7. Persevere regardless.  The road will get rocky, so when it does, take a deep breath and put one foot in front of the other.
8. Get used to the mystery.  You aren’t going to always know where you’re headed.  So best to release control and enjoy the ride!
9. Don’t go it alone.  Real success is achieved through other people, so learn to build community around you.
10. Go with the flow.  Following your passions can be tough, AND if you keep hitting a wall, perhaps it’s time to take another route. 

You can also reach us by contacting our website:  www.lifesparks-coaching.com or our radio show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/passionsandpossibilities.  Thanks so much!!

Even during a recession, there are many opportunities to take your new ideas to market quickly and profitably.  Most entrepreneurs are overflowing with great ideas for new products and services.  So how do you screen these ideas so that they generate big profits in a relatively short time?  …Get started by answering these 5 questions.

1)  Who are my target customers, and what are their biggest needs? 

As you consider your new offering, do a brain dump on your target market, including demographics (e.g., age, income) and psychographics (e.g., attitudes, behaviors). Also consider the size of your target market, its growth rate, and current trends.  Fill in any big holes by conducting research online (e.g., FactFinder) at your local library’s business center, or by surveying current and potential customers.  You can deliver a short, user-friendly survey in person, by phone, or by using an online survey tool such as Survey Monkey.

2)  What benefits does my offering provide that meets these needs? 

There’s a big difference between “features” and “benefits”. A benefit is what your customers value about your offering and how it meets their needs.  In contrast, a feature is a fact-based aspect of your offering or what it does.  For example, you might provide the feature of 24/7 technical support for your new product.  However, the real benefit or WIIFM (What’s in it for me?) to your customers is comfort and convenience.  Make a list of your offering’s possible benefits and get feedback on it from a formal or informal group of customers. (See Entrepreneur.com’s distinction between features and benefits:  http://tinyurl.com/6k5w22 .)

3)  Who are my competitors and how do their offerings compare?

Take the time to assess your key competitors and any viable substitutes/alternatives to your offering.  Study their strengths, weaknesses, and how they meet the needs of your target market.  Try mystery shopping at your competitors’ websites, stores, phone lines, and by purchasing some of their offerings.  Obtaining customer feedback on your competition, via surveys or user groups, is essential.  Check out Wikipedia’s simple, powerful competitor framework. 

4)  What are my initial and ongoing costs?

Take into account what your new offering will cost from development through launch (i.e., your start-up costs), including research, development, testing, supplies, marketing & advertising, inventory, office/warehouse space, and training. Then consider your annual costs for ongoing sales and servicing.  Write these costs down, and discuss them with your business advisors, area experts, or colleagues to better understand your investment. 

5)  What are my expected annual sales? 

Write down your estimated annual sales from your new offering, including best, worst, and most-likely scenarios.  For example, if your estimated Year 1 sales are $25,000, you might add 50% for a best case scenario and subtract 50% for a worst case scenario.  Then, for a rough break-even analysis, calculate the number of product units or service hours to cover your start-up costs. You can also calculate the annual sales required to cover ongoing distribution, marketing, servicing and other costs.

A few tips:
*  Answering these questions may seem daunting, yet if you carve out focused time, you could do it in 1-2 weeks.  You’ll avoid costly mistakes and greatly increase your chances of a successful, profitable launch.

*  Write down the questions, answers, and your assumptions, as you work through them.  Documentation makes them more tangible and holds you accountable for follow-through.

* Create a dialogue with others about these questions.  Invite input and different perspectives, because the more open are your eyes, the less likely that you’ll be blindsided.

* Be trusting and smart with your new ideas. Carefully select with whom you’ll share them.  When in doubt, use confidentiality agreements.  Better safe than sorry!

* Try a mastermind group or other forum where you can share your new ideas and receive support, and accountability.  Look for our monthly Putting Passions into Action groups in Seattle (second Mondays of the month).

Happy Passioneering!

So what’s the perfect timing to leap fully into your passions? After interviewing nearly 100 bold, talented individuals who made the leap (aka “Passioneers”), I have the definitive answer: “It all depends”. Some Passioneers transformed their passion into a full-time venture over several years, while others make the leap in one fell swoop (e.g., after being laid off of their full-time job). Still other Passioneers have so many passions that they don’t want to fully commit to only one!

Below are 5 tips for timing your leap, based upon 5 months of research and 25 years of common sense:

1. There’s NEVER a Perfect Time, So Just Do It! If you’re waiting for the moons to align and the prosperity gods to agree, then you may as well turn in your Passioneers climbing harness and go home right now. THERE IS NO PERFECT TIME, and once you finally get that, you’ll get over yourself and move forward. So, whatever your passion, simply take ONE step forward NOW! Yes, right now.  Even if you commit to spending one-hour a week exploring your passions, that’s an awesome start! Baby steps, one at a time. Examples? Research what you love on the internet for an hour. Conduct an info interview with an expert who’s doing what you love. Or write down the benefits of unleashing your passions.
2. Eliminate “Either/Or” Thinking. Many individuals believe that they have to wait until they can spend 60+ hours a week expressing their passions before they should make the leap. That they must sacrifice everything else to pursue their passions. NOT SO! For some ridiculous reason, an entrepreneurial myth of rugged individualism and self-sacrifice has perpetuated over the years. It’s time to STOP the insanity now.  What if…you could continue to earn a living in your current dead-end job AND move close to your dream life each week? What if being a successful entrepreneur requires LESS than 40 hours a week (witness the Ferris’ book, The 4-Hour Work Week.) Even one hour a week being and doing what you love moves you closer to your dream (via baby steps). Through many baby steps, you can make HUGE progress without even realizing it. What does this require? Patience and persistence.  Neither was Rome built in one day, nor was a car eaten by Dick Miller in one sitting.  Ask me about this later. 
3. Don’t Leave Your Day Job (at least not right away). Transitioning into your passions full-time, OVER time, is a great idea. Many Passioneers gather the skills and experience they need to make the leap, while being employed in a full-time job that’s not really their passion. Well guess what? Whatever full-time job you’ve had so far is providing you with the PERFECT skills and experience for what’s next.  Every Passioneer I’ve interviewed confessed that they couldn’t have created their dream profession without having had their prior jobs, which brought them just the right insights, skills and experience.  Don’t believe me? Call me in 5 years and we’ll compare notes.  The next time you want to complain about your current job, think again!
4. Feel the Fear and Keep Moving Anway. It’s inevitable. There will be days and even weeks, when your knees are shaking and you have no idea why you decided to pursue your passions. Maybe you have a fear of failure, a fear of success, or even a fear of not deserving to shine in your passions. Who cares? The definition of courage? To feel the fear and do it anyway. Get moving!
5. Learn to Live Within a Budget AND Prosper. Most Passioneers I’ve interviewed have noted that their prosperity quotient (PQ) rose significantly after making the leap into their passions. A PQ considers much more than your annual net income, including your happiness, health, and overall satisifaction: Being your own boss, making your own schedule, spending more time with family and friends, etc., etc. Without exception, Passioneers who made the leap from high-paying jobs indicated that they now have a higher PQ then before they made the leap…and absolutely NO regrets in making the leap.

So, in one sentence: Just DO it now, even if it’s slowly by taking baby steps, by being smart, courageous, and by having a clear idea of prosperity. Good luck and happy Passioneering!

During a recent coaching session, a very successful massage therapist shared that she was unclear, anxious, and in a flux about her next steps in her business. She had just returned from a quiet retreat in the South American jungles and was reentering her daily routine in Seattle. Her retreat time in self-reflection now had her re-evaluating her direction and goals. Messy, murky, and uncomfortable…ugh!

As a business growth coach, I highly recommend that my clients start with the end in mind, when it comes to taking their next big leap. That is, that they clarify VIVIDLY what they want to create in their lives, both professionally and personally. Face it, if you don’t have this level of clarity, it’s like telling the ticket counter clerk “I’ll take a ticket to destination Anywhere, please”. And, you’ll be lucky to reach your destination, if at all! Napoleon Hill tells us that, as we conceive and believe, we achieve. So, what does your dream business look like in one year? How does it feel, sound, and even smell or taste? If you don’t yet know, it’s a great time to MAKE the time to figure it out.

Several studies have shown that simply visualizing success (e.g., seeing yourself making a free throw with a basketball) will create tangible, successful results. That’s why journaling and vision boards are so popular for goal-setting. Engaging all of your five senses is a powerful tool for conceiving your dreams and realizing them. Unfortunately, most of us do not dream big enough. If you want to create something bigger in your life, you must dream bigger dreams. Below are 4 steps to BIG visioning for your next big leap.

Step 1: Make Time to Reflect on Your Dreams. It’s easy to get pulled away to urgent, non-important tasks such as errands, while your important, non-urgent tasks (e.g., dreams, goal-setting) take back seat. I highly recommend that you literally block out regular time for self-reflection in your calendar. Hint: Create a color-coded category in your schedule using Microsoft Outlook’s categories functionality. I use bright orange for mine!

Step 2: Let ‘Em Come Freely without Censoring. When ideas/intuitions arise about your dreams, refrain from censoring them. Don’t worry about the “how” at this stage, but simply allow the “what” to come forward. We often choke our dreams by head-tripping how to make them come true. Bottom line? A dream that you are passionate about cannot NOT be fulfilled – you simply have to get out of the way.  The HOW will arrive, in its own sweet time. Focus on the WHAT for now.  

Step 3: Don’t Just Talk About Them. Write Them Down! Talk is cheap in dream-town. So many passionate entrepreneurs talk about their dreams, but when I ask them if they’ve written them down (let alone shared them with others), what do you think their answer is? You got it: a big fat NO! The written and spoken word carries great power. Somehow when you capture your dreams in a written format, you create accountability with yourself, and, to the extent that you choose, accountabilty with others. If you don’t like to write, then sing, paint, draw, or otherwise express your dreams somewhere, somehow!

Step 4: Make them Part of Your Life. Dreams that collect dust will never happen, at least not intentionally. If you want to create the business and life of your dreams, you must take your vision and have it FRONT AND CENTER in your life. What does this mean? It means seeing, hearing, talking, and walking your Dream Talk. Tell those know and trust about your dreams (extra credit for telling others!). Keep a regular diary of your dreams, and print and post an affirmation, symbol, or words/phrase about your dream where you can see them at least every day. You literally want to carve a new Dream groove to bypass the old patterns and crap that hold you down.

The key is the make your dreams a reality. Take them off of the shelf and breathe life into them. No one is going to do this for you. Someone once told me: if you don’t live the life of your dreams, someone else will for you. Not a pretty picture, and definitely not my choice!! Happy Passioneering!

As a passions and possibilities coach, I’ve heard just about every excuse under the sun for not pursuing one’s passions fully. Consider this: every single excuse drains you of energy and focus. So if you want a really slow death “by a thousand passion cuts,” try using several excuses at once. For those of you who want to perfect the art of passion-killing, try these ten sure-fire steps. They are guaranteed to dampen your dream-light forever!

Steps to Successfully Kill Your Passions

1. Remain completely unconscious of your dreams. Whatever you ignore will wither and die. So whenever you feel ANY urge to explore your passions, distract yourself immediately with food, TV, web-surfacing, shopping, or another great alternative.

2. Play the victim. It is not your job to fulfill your own dreams, especially since other people and situations are always bringing you down. Be sure to complain whenever you can, looking as mournful or disgusted as possible.

3. Pack your schedule with boring, tedious tasks. There are only so many hours in a day and so many urgent, unimportant activities to squeeze in! Passions are luxuries anyway, aren’t they?

4. Never ever expand your comfort zone. It’s really scary and even dangerous beyond what you already know and are good at. Remember: nothing good comes to foolish risk-takers!

5. Use “either/or thinking”. There are no gray areas! So either work hard and pay your dues, or frivolously follow your passions. Either earn a decent living, or be a starving, starry-eyed dreamer. You get the picture.

6. Put yourself last, always. Following your passions is selfish, egotistical, and wasteful. Much better for you to make others a higher priority than yourself. They will be happy and you won’t, which is the end-game.

7. Never share your dreams with anyone. They will ridicule you as a freak and renegade. It’s much safer for you to act “normal” and be “realistic” like the others. Silence is golden. Besides, no one really cares about your dreams anyway.

8. Remember: making money beats happiness every time. Happiness doesn’t pay the bills, does it? I can’t use joy to buy groceries, can you? Enough said.

9. Never appreciate yourself or others. Appreciation is highly-overrated. Passionate people are so sickeningly positive and upbeat. Thanking someone here, praising someone there – it’s crap! The world’s a tough place, so you gotta play tough.

10. Keep your confidence very very low. You really don’t deserve to have the life of your dreams. Only people who are rich, famous, or lucky get to follow their passions fully. You’re born, you die, and there’s this little snippet in between.

Congratulations! You’ve just accomplished all of the steps necessary to live a life of quiet desperation, like so many others in the world. So, until next time, unhappy trails and bad luck!

Whenever I ask anyone about their passions, their face lights up and they’re suddenly grinning ear-to-ear. They’re excited, and they just can’t stop talking about it. Then, at some point, their energy drops and they say something like “Oh well, it’s just a dream…I gotta be realistic.” If you look up the word “realistic” in the dictionary, you’ll find this definition: “resembling or simulating real life.”

Well, I certainly don’t want a life that’s simulated. Rather, I want one in which I’m expressing my full passions and possibilities, so that when I die, I’m carrying no unsung tunes! So what’s the secret to releasing your own passions? Does it mean sacrificing your whole life and becoming a full-time, card-carrying starving artist or struggling entrepreneur? Not at all! Below are three simple steps to move forward today in your own passion story. Be aware, be accountable, and be active. Together these three steps represent my AAA card for leaping into my passions, and I never leave home without it.

Step 1: Be Aware of Your Passions
Passions point to your purpose, especially if they mesh with your inherent talents. Most of us have many passions! Try this exercise: Make a list of 100 passions that you have. Keep going even if you get stuck halfway through. How might you express at least one of your passions each week? How about each day? What becomes possible in doing so? Often, expressing our passions takes a back seat to other, more urgent matters in our life. That is, life simply gets in the way. My challenge to you: declare today that expressing your passions is both important AND urgent. Observe what happens when you make this declaration.

Step 2: Be Accountable for Your Passions
No one can release OR block your passions…except you. Releasing your passions is a conscious intention from a place of accountability. Miracles arise when you take responsibility for your passions and stop playing the victim (e.g,. “My family always comes first.” “My work gets in the way.”). Even in the midst of a recession, you can choose to commit to expressing your passions…regardless. Find an accountability partner who will hold you to this commitment in a loving, supportive way. How do you find one? Simply let others know that you want one, and notice who shows up! Like the old adage: “When the student is ready, the teacher will come.”

Step 3: Be Active
Dreams will stay dream-like until you take concrete steps towards them, even if they’re baby steps. One woman described to me her dream of creating a restaurant with great jazz music. When I asked her about her next steps, she simply said, “I can’t think of any!” After a few moments of frustrated silence, she declared three small, but mighty steps to move forward. “Wow,” she said afterwards. “I feel like a huge block has been removed, and I can finally move forward.”

What being active does NOT mean:

• Doing it alone. So build a solid, powerful support team – your cheerleading squad, including your accountability partner.
• Being broke. Do not leave your day job unless you have at least one year of savings. Having a part- or full-time job that can fund your passions is an excellent strategy. So be grateful if you have one!
• Sacrificing your current life. Instead, it simply means that you make your passions a priority and find time, even small chunks, to express them. So leaping into your passions fully can happen gradually over time, easily, gracefully, and prosperously.

The Passions and Possibilities Project is a program that profiles bold individuals who have leaped fully into their passions – ordinary folks who stopped playing small and started living large.  I call them “passioneers,” having purposely chosen not to interview the rags-to-riches stereotype.   Instead, my hope is that these reality stories provide approachable, inspiring footholds for those who are scared or discouraged about their own leap into their dreams.   Selfishly, I am also using the project to fulfill my calling as a dream catalyst and to allay my own fears when the going gets tough.  The interview stories (hundreds of them!) will be published in a book and documentary film later this year, as well as my Blog Talk Radio Program that kicked off last week.  If you or someone you know wants to be interviewed, please contact me. 

Richard Trimble:  Certified Mediator, Facilitator, and Motivational Cyclist

 When it comes to passions, Richard Trimble doesn’t mess around.   In 2007, he left a successful career in utilities engineering and management to focus on what he loves most: conflict resolution.   Over the past seven years, he has earned the coveted designation of certified professional mediator and facilitator with over eight areas of specialization.  Most recently, he has become a motivational cyclist, having completed over 3,300 miles of a 12,000-mile bike ride around the U.S, with an expected completion in two years.

His Inspiration

Richard is very clear about his passions.  “I love helping people communicate more effectively, so they can achieve their dreams and be happier,” he says.  He shares a poignant success story of a couple who had never communicated directly, outside of court, since their separation.  “Through mediation,”  he says, “they were able to speak directly to each other, in front of their children, in a way they had never experienced.  That was a great day’s work.  I really love seeing a life change in just a few moments.”    

While cycling across the country, Richard gets to connect with many interesting people, hear what they are striving for, and share some encouraging words.  He knows firsthand what it’s like to face a huge goal and experience major self-doubt:  before his 12,000-mile trek, Richard tackled the Pacific Coast, not really believing he could make it.   However, halfway along the Coast, he realized that, by going at his own pace, he could finish the trip and any future ones.  “I’m not a 70-mile a day cyclist,” he confesses, “but I got that, even at a low daily mileage, I would make it.  That was an epiphany.”

Biggest Rewards

For Richard the rewards of pursuing his passions are intangible, yet immeasurable:

·         As a mediator  -  “Knowing at the end of the session that I made a difference in their lives, and  helped them accomplish something that was huge for them. …I’d do it for free.” 

·         As a motivational cyclist – “Meeting people I would have never met before, and hearing their great stories. The physical reward, challenge, and accomplishment.”   

Biggest Challenges

According to Richard, one of the biggest challenges in leaping fully into his two passions was “simply believing that I could do something so outside of the box, in both areas.”  Like many passioneers, he also faces the challenge of making less money than he did before the leap.  “My biggest fear,” he notes, “is that I can’t keep doing it, for financial reasons”.   Another challenge is finding bigger audiences, as he gains even more credibility as a motivational speaker.

 Pit Crew

Richard has a strong support network, and many people have given him advice.  However, his greatest support are his friends and family who believe in him.  “They hear what I’m doing, they’re impressed, and they encourage me,” he says.  “There’s nothing like having your daughter say to you, ‘I’m telling my friends.  I’m really proud of you.’  That’s the biggest boost I can get.  My girlfriend has also told me how personally impressed she is with me for doing this.”   

Advice for Others

 ·         “My bike ride is an analogy for life.  There are goals that seem outside of my reach;  a bit too much.  Maybe I can’t do it…That’s my motivational message – to help people realize that they can achieve great things through tenacity and bit of organization.”

·         “I have this life and a finite time to accomplish what I want to accomplish.  This sets my priorities.  My time’s limited.  So, live fully every day and pursue your dreams.”

 Next Big Leap.  While Richard is cycling for the next two years, he wants to establish himself as a motivational speaker and publish a book on the topic.   

To contact Richard for questions or more about his story, see:  http://www.trimblemediation.com/

Often I ask individuals who have successfully leaped into their dreams if they have any regrets.  Without exception, they have responded with a resounding “No”!   Their most common tip for individuals who are considering the leap is to stop procrastinating and to just do it.  Below are some easy, powerful steps to move forward today.

• Clarify Your Dream.  By tomorrow, spend at least 30 minutes exploring the life of your dreams.  Write it.  Paint it.  Sing it.  Create a vision board.  Let it out!
•  Hang Out with Passionate People.  When two or more individuals discuss together their passions, magic unfolds.  So over the next week, find at least one social or professional group that shares your passion.  Attend one of their events.
•  Explore a Career Change.  Your dream life may require a career change.  Write down at least five alternative ventures that would allow you to more fully express your passions.  Consider hiring a career specialist.
•  Face Your Fears.  Write down your ten biggest fears about fully leaping into your dreams.  Then examine which of the fears are facts and which are really your interpretations.
•  Stake Your Claim.  This week, when others ask you what you do, create a new sound track.  Instead of describing an old role or job, declare your passion as your new occupation.  “I now am a ___________________” (fill in the blank).
•  Create a 30-Second Elevator Speech.   Know what target market you want to serve with your passions.  Then use a simple, conversational approach to describe who you are.  Here’s my blurb:  “As a passions and possibilities coach, I support talented, driven, and successful individuals in taking the next big leap into their dreams”.
• Order New Business Cards.   You could have polished calling cards for your new venture by the end of the week.  Several online vendors offer very low-cost choices, so order them today.  There’s no excuse not to!
•  Spread the News.  Tell at least ten people that you are pursuing the life of your dreams now.  Ask them to tell at least ten people.  Leverage new and existing venues, especially social networks on the internet.
•  Build a Cheerleading Team.  Make a list of ten individuals who could be strong supporters of your dream.  Meet with all of them over the next month, and make a specific request for their support.
• Find a Mentor.   Learn from the mistakes of others, to avoid unnecessary pitfalls along your journey.  Use your connections to find five successful individuals who are already expressing a similar passion.
•  Hire a Professional Life Coach.   A great coach will help you organize countless baby steps into a powerful game plan for your dream.   Seek out someone who has solid experience, a successful track record, and with whom you have a strong connection.
• Assess Your Finances.  As you leap into your passions, take your financial pulse.  Have you already saved at least one year’s worth of your expected expenses?  If not, you will need additional income until your new venture is profitable.  So don’t quit your day job right away!
• Hire a Financial Expert.  If you are facing major debt challenges or complicated finances, spend the time and money to hire an expert.   You will avoid many headaches and be much more likely to prosper.
• Take It Slow and Steady.    Your progress towards your dreams, after taking many baby steps like these, will simply astound you.  Consider Dick Miller, the man who ate a 2,800 pound car. How did he do it?  One mouthful at a time.
• Start Today.   Take at least one step into your passions today, even if it’s a small one.  Words without action are meaningless, so what do YOU commit to?

My big leap from mediocrity into my passions has been simple but not easy at all: I was recently let go from a high-paying corporate banking job, left with an evaporated company stock fund and meager rainy day savings. Before exiting this job, I had already decided to pursue my dream of becoming a life coach. As a life coach, I wanted to support others in making their own big leap from mediocrity into magnificence. My past included two other entrepreneurial stints: One in the ’90s as a partner in a high-tech start-up; then another in 2003 as an interfaith minister. These ventures were both successful for me, even though I didn’t get rich or famous. Instead I created prosperity on my own terms: being and doing what I love, having a fabulous support network, and structuring my “ideal” day and week. Being an interfaith minister and pioneering a new church was the closest to nirvana that I’d yet found. Unfortunately, the financial prosperity to feed myself and keep the lights on was not forthcoming!

So, the siren call of a large, steady paycheck lured me back one more time to a large Northwest bank. Not that I haven’t enjoyed my work in corporate America: I got to work for very successful companies with smart, driven, inspiring groups and colleagues. Yet, the massive layoffs that I and others underwent this past year, coupled with the current economic recession, made me realize that nothing “steady and secure” really remains in corporate America. So rather than leap back to my comfort zone of doing the work I’ve always done, I chose to focus on creating my own dream career.

The entrepreneurial bug has penetrated me so deeply now that I’m absolutely committed to being my own boss forever; to never again return to an average, mediocre work-life. I’ve finally created my ideal week; one that blends and balances work, play, and self-care. I have intentionally chosen to coach only those individuals, who, like myself, are truly ready to stop playing small and to start living large. My clients are highly self-motivated, driven, talented and courageous enough to shift fully into their passions & possibilities. After my client sessions, I feel energized, uplifted and confident that I’m making a difference in their lives, so they can make an even greater difference in the world.

As part of my passions & possibilities journey, I have begun interviewing hundreds of individuals who are already fully pursuing their dreams – “passioneers,” as I call them. In 35 minutes, I capture powerful stories of souls who are simply and boldly going for it, full out. My intention is to share these tales, told in each interviewee’s unique, colorful way, with those who are ready to make their own big leap (“pre-passioneers”). These stories will also inspire those who have already made the leap, but are feeling discouraged or disillusioned.

Note: These are not “rags to riches” stories. Instead, they describe everyday Johns and Janes who have finally decided to take charge and live large. My hope is that their lessons and insights will help my clients and others avoid major pitfalls or landmines along their entrepreneurial travels. It’s also a great way for passioneers to bootstrap others who are just a few steps behind them, in the vein of the movie Pay It Forward. So far, the wisdom emerging from the interviews is precious, and I’ll share nuggets of it in this blog and beyond.

Guidepost #1 (for those making the leap): Stick with it regardless of the trials. You can do it and be it!

Special request: Consider the most passionate people in your life, including yourself, who are following their dreams and experiencing prosperity fully on their own terms. Invite them to share their story via a 35-minute telephone interview with me, and send me their contact information for scheduling purposes. I’m also inviting interviewees to be guests on my internet blog radio show later in January. “There’s gold in them there hills!” Help us find it. Thank you.

Day 1 and very outside of my comfort zone as I make this first step into Blog-dom!  I’m committed to being an inspirational,  loving, and supportive presence for individuals and groups who want to take the next BIG step into their dreams.  Simple, just not easy.  It’s about commitment and passion.  Goethe reminds us ( in this fuller version of his famous quote):

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

An invitation for each of us to ask ourselves: “Where can I step out more boldy, in faith & passion, into my dreams”?  And in this first step, and all others to follow, we can know that we are supported by Providence (or whatever we call our higher power).