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Passioneering Moment #13 : The Completely Unleashed YOU

September 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you’re like me and most individuals, you spend little if any time during the week dreaming.  In fact, here in the United States, dreaming gets a bad rap because it’s not “productive” or valuable. As rugged individuals and pioneers, most Americans pride themselves on doing and making things happen.  That’s their definition of productivity.  It was my also my definition until a few years ago.  Yet recent global studies on happiness and life satisfaction indicate that Americans are among the least happy individuals on the planet.

So what if you DID spend more time dreaming?  Napoleon Hill said that together, conceiving and believing are the keys to success.  If you want a bigger life, you must hold bigger thoughts AND believe them.  Simple, if not easy, yes?

Below are five questions to take into your upcoming week.  Spend some time in the question “What do I look like completely unleashed?”

(Attached also is a Word document with these questions that you can print up.)

  1. Who would you be and what would you do, if you knew you couldn’t possibly fail, all barriers aside?
  2. What would be present?
  3. What would not be present?
  4. What would you be feeling?
  5. What would you have to give up?

Happy Passioneering!

 

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Passioneering Picks: Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Scores Bigtime

September 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), an international non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring young people from low-income communities to stay in school and to recognize business opportunities, today announced its World Series of Innovation, presented by Microsoft, was selected as a featured event for the 2011 Global Entrepreneurship Week from Nov. 14-20, 2011.

“The World Series of Innovation will bring NFTE’s pioneering experiential education program and vital message about the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in our society to thousands of new young people around the globe,” said Amy Rosen, President and CEO of NFTE. “With the economy still mired in problems, now more than ever NFTE feels an obligation to inspire as many young people as possible to think creatively about their world and seize opportunities to meet market demands and social needs. We are sowing the seeds of the next generation of entrepreneurs every day.”

If you haven’t yet checked out the Global Entrepreneurship Week, do so now!  It’s “the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.”

According to its website, “the initiative kicked off in 2008, launched by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Carl Schramm, the president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Since then, it has grown to 115 countries—with nearly 24,000 partner organizations planning more than 37,000 activities that directly engage more than 7 million people.”

See the video below, and Happy Passioneering!

 

Click here for full post…

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

 

 

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Passioneering Moment #11: Walking Your Integrity Talk

June 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This Passioneering Moment is on Integrity

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

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

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

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

An Invitation

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

 

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

Image: anankkml / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Radio Interview with Passioneer® Karen Drucker, Recording Artist

June 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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

Below are the archived show and highlights:

Radio Interview Highlights

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

Listen to internet radio with Sue Oliver on Blog Talk Radio

Thank you Karen, and Happy Passioneering!

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A Smile a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

May 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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

Thanks Ron and Happy Passioneering!

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

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Passioneering Moment #10: Step Away from the Hamster Wheel

May 19, 2011 By 2 Comments

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

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

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

My Invitation

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

Happy Passioneering!

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

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Passioneer Interview with Sacred World Music Artists, GuruGanesha Singh, Tina Malia

April 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Today at 3pm PST, we’re doing an on-the-road interview with GuruGanesha Singh and Tina Malia, during their 2011 Song of the Soul Tour.   Tune in for these two amazing Passioneers who vibrantly pay it forward with their glorious musical talents: The Passions and Possibilities Network radio show, dial in:  (347) 205-9038. More information on their tour at www.songofthesoultour.com.

GuruGanesha Singh is an icon of the yoga music genre. A musician deeply devoted to both his craft and the greater landscape of sacred sound, GuruGanesha’s contribution to World Sacred Music is manifold. His three solo releases of Sikh-inspired chant music his virtuoso guitar work are beloved by his fans world-wide, topping New Age charts and receiving high critical acclaim from magazine reviewers in both New Age and Yoga publications. Long before GuruGanesha Singh released his solo albums, he was the force behind many well known chant musicians, including Snatam Kaur, Thomas Barquee, and Mirabai and released several albums with other musicians including Game of Chants with Guru Singh and Grammy-Winning singer, Seal (http://www.guruganesha.com).

Tina Malia’s prodigious talent spans many musical genres and disciplines. As a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer she has distinguished herself in styles ranging from pop to world devotional to electronic. Her own diverse and growing catalog of albums is complemented by studio and live work with iconic artists such as Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Jai Uttal, Kenny Loggins, India.Arie, Idan Raichel and Bassnectar (http://www.facebook.com/tinamaliamusic).

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Walking in Faith to Create the Life You Love

April 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.” ~Mother Teresa

Our passions and purpose are fully orbed, orderly, and orchestrated, whether or not you believe it. At the same moment that I entered this world, my heart’s desires were heard and answered by God. As long as I stay clear on “what” I am here to be and do, the rest follows. So, while challenges may be inevitable, struggle and strife are optional. When I climbed Mount Rainier many years ago, I carried a 60-lb backpack with the essential elements for making the trek, including a map, compass, emergency food, waterproof matches, and a change of clothes. I also was tied into a lead line with three other climbers that would support me should I have fallen into a crevasse or off a slope.

Similarly, in my journey as Spirit having a very human experience, I am completely equipped to live the life of my dreams: one where I am in loving service to myself and others. For over twenty years, I have been studying teachings in the areas of self-development, spirituality, and leadership that point to the indomitable human spirit, our oneness with the Divine, and our access to the treasures of the universe. No lack and no limitation.

So why have I not been experiencing these truths completely in my life?

First, the principles I have been learning have made it only halfway into my spirit and soul: that is, they reside primarily as thoughts and principles in my mind. They haven’t yet made the 18-inch journey from my head to my heart, at least not on a consistent basis. Sure, I can spout quotes, affirmations, prayers, and stories. Yet, talking about them does not make them real in my own life. To really put them into practice, I must actively integrate them into my day-to-day affairs. Simple, if not easy. Living in faith requires that I remember that I AM fully backed and supported in God, as God. I am not alone, even though it often feels that way. Most importantly, living fully in faith requires that I give myself permission, as a human being, to have fear, doubts, and worries. It’s okay to be in the question mark of life, as long as I don’t stay there.

Second, I forget that the treasures of the Kingdom and Queendom arrive via other individuals. In the egocentric media messaging in the United States, I often get so wound up in rugged individualism and competitiveness that I overlook my deep connection to all beings on the planet. In my petty worries about how to pay the mortgage or monthly health insurance on an entrepreneur’s income, I feel my body tighten and armor itself again the very beloveds who are desperately throwing me lifelines. Yes, I must be the flow that I seek, because prosperity is an “inside out” job. Yet, the riches of the Universe are shared through the hearts and hands of others. The new movie, I Am, by Tom Shadyac, tears away the facade of separateness here in the United States and draws the conclusion that the only solution to worldly ills is L.O.V.E. Go see the movie…please.

Finally, I sometimes forget that faith is a journey and not an endpoint. Each answered prayer and each step forward along my Passioneering journey strengthen the ladder of faith over time. I imagine the incredible faith that Jesus had, even during his very first miracle of turning water into wine. He did not conduct a feasibility analysis, write a business plan, evaluate the type of wine, and he certainly didn’t worry about quantities. He simply and confidently called forth six vessels of water and knew that, when the master of ceremonies drew the first ladle, it would be incredible wine. It was. Jesus also called each of us into knowing that the power within him is also in each of us. The saints and mystics throughout the ages have had a deep and powerful faith in their connection to a higher power. As for me, I often feel as if I am taking a million baby steps up a steep mountain trail where the summit is hidden and I’m called to walk steadily in faith. Sometimes a couch and TV sound very appealing, and yet, I know that I am here to download a much bigger message than last month’s re-run.

Happy Passioneering!

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Passioneering Moment #5: Create a To Do List That Inspires You

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When you think about your “To Do” list, does your heart sink and your stomach tighten?  For many of us, “doing” translates into self-worth: our rugged, individualist, and capitalist U.S. economy rewards those individuals who are able to get things done efficiently and effectively. Bottom line?  “Being” does not always pay, at least not monetarily.  So it is easy to load up your To Do list with so many tasks that it weighs heavily on your mind, body, and spirit.
Spring is a perfect time of year for cleaning and revamping your To Do list.  Obviously, there are certain tasks that you must do to keep the lights on and food on the table, e.g., paying the rent or mortgage, buying groceries.  There are also those tasks that you want to do because they lift your spirit and further your true purpose in the world, but that aren’t urgent, e.g., exercising, creatively expressing.  Unfortunately, most individuals spend far too much time doing tasks that are unimportant, especially those that are urgent (ugh).

Several years ago, Stephen Covey created the following quadrants of time management in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People.

  • Quadrant 1 (Urgent, Important):  emergencies, crises, life-sustaining bills/activities
  • Quadrant 2 (Not Urgent, Important): exercise, self-care, creativity, planning
  • Quadrant 3 (Urgent, Not Important): most errands, paper-pushing, most phone calls and emails
  • Quadrant 4 (Not Urgent, Not Important): television, social media, other distractions

Covey encourages us to intentionally schedule time in Quadrant 2 activities and to limit time spent in Not Important activities (Quadrants 3 and 4).   Ever since I began using this approach several years ago, I have been programming my Quadrant 2 activities (e.g., prayer, meditation, gym time) in my Google calendar, including an alarm/reminder.  In addition, I have clarified the meaning of “urgent” for myself and my commitments to others.  Urgent no longer means “when anybody asks for something.”  Instead, I have learned to request clear deadlines for deliverables when I make a commitment.   My days are now much more fun, joyful, and, ironically, more efficient and productive, than they were before I incorporated this valuable structure into my life.

My Invitation for This Week:
Each day when you wake up, or during the prior evening, write the tasks that you absolutely must do for the day. These are the Quadrant 1 tasks that, if you didn’t do them, your life would fall apart.  Yes, really!  Then write down three Quadrant 2 tasks that are not urgent, yet support your passions, self-care, and creative expression.  Allow these six tasks to be your first and primary focus for the day.  You will not only set yourself up to succeed, you will also move forward in the most important areas of your life.  You will still experience emergencies, and you may still work through your list of less important things; however, it will all flow in a more easy, graceful manner.  Happy Passioneering!

Picture attribution: Carissa GoodnCrazy

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

February 17, 2011 By 2 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

February 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks Deborah and Happy Passioneering!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Passioneering® Moment #3: Get Messy as You Unleash Your Passions

January 25, 2011 By 2 Comments

Over the past two years, I have been interviewing Passioneers® around the world – over 350 of them. It’s an honor and joy to hear their journeys, ups and downs, all arounds, and their ah-ha and oh-oh moments. I selected these Passioneers not only because they are living big lives and creating amazing things in the world, but also because they are thriving and prospering big-time as they give back.

One of the greatest lessons I have gleaned from their stories is this: Expect the unexpected. The realm of infinite possibilities, that is our true nature, is a realm of mystery and majesty beyond our five senses, and definitely beyond our logical, left brains. It’s unknown, unknowable, and often mucky, messy, uncontrollable, and uncomfortable. It’s life!

Consider where you are today. Ten years ago, did you imagine doing or being what you are now? I know I didn’t. No business plan or long-term strategy would have predicted that I would be creating a wild and wacky Passions and Possibilities Network with such amazing individuals. In Marshall’s Goldsmith’s book, What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There, he emphasizes the need to release your old success strategy and to embrace the unknown. And, each of the Passioneers I’ve interviewed have had twisting, turning, churning journeys that were far from orderly, planned, or neat.

My invitation this upcoming week? GET MESSY!

It’s a week to let go of:

  • Needing to know how it will look,
  • Doing it right,
  • Wanting to look good
  • And, most importantly, a week to let go of control. Especially if you’re a control freak like me!

After all, there are only three sure things in life: death, taxes, and change. Change, glorious change! For more information about coaching and consulting services for Passioneers…OR if you want to connect with the Passions and Possibilities® community, check out www.passionsandpossibilities.com. Happy Passioneering!

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