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

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

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

Building Support Networks

By Deborah Osgood

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

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

Family Support Networks

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

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

Career Networks

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

Entrepreneurial Networks

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

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

It Takes Courage to Live in the Unknown

By Guest Blogger, Terry Kohl

Recently, I was observing myself getting fearful over my financial situation. I was overdue in my mortgage payment, behind on several bills, and a number of clients were making excuses as to why their checks were not in the mail. When I realized all of this was out of my control—believe it or not— I relaxed, and began practicing what I so often teach; living in the unknown takes courage.

Fear, anxiety and worry are dominating the lives of many people these days. The media often heightens these emotions and at times, without realizing it, we mimic what we hear.  I was buying into fear by focusing on what I did not have and using as an excuse the news reports that we were all in the same boat.

As I explored this thought further, it occurred to me that adopting an attitude of courage in each moment was extremely empowering. I may not be able to do anything about the state of the world, or those clients who owe me money, but I do have control over how I view these occurrences. I am in charge of my courage button!

In reality, nothing exists outside the present moment we are experiencing, yet I discovered that I was either living in the future (fearful thoughts) or living in the past (memories of better times).

“Now, how crazy is that,” I asked myself?

I came to realize that living this way was extremely disempowering. The past and the future are illusions. They only exist to the degree we focus our attention on them right now. We create the past and the future by imagining them in the present, and consequently, we lose the only place where true living can take place—the NOW.

Wow. How cool is that?

I have discovered that having the courage to pay attention to the “now” is providing me with many joyful moments that otherwise would have passed me by. There is no someday.  There is only right now and right now I have all that I need….and right now, and right now.

Courageous practices from me to you:

• In every moment I choose thoughts that are positive and hopeful

• I create a joyful life for myself by living in the moment and avoid fear-creating thoughts.

• I choose the courage to commit to living a powerful, positive and happy life in every single “now.”

**************

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

Thank you Terry and Happy Passioneering!

Brian Peters is a respected and well-known travel blogger who keeps
travelers informed about the least expensive ways to travel around the
world.  He is the author of the e-book, No Debt World Travel: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling Around the World – Even in an Economic Downturn. Peters’ blog, NoDebtWorldTravel.com, was recently recognized by BootsNAll Travel as one of the “Best Round-the-World Travel Blogs”
for 2009.  We interviewed him earlier this month: check out what he has to say about expressing his Passions!

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

Passion is what you THINK about day and night, an idea or concept that drives you forward, inspires you, gives you hope.

 Passion is when you would do ANYTHING to have a particular action or objective achieved.

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

After losing my job, I decided to travel around the world. When I got back I had so many questions from friends and family about how to do it, I decided to put it into an e-book. Then I decided to add audio and video to help those who learn in different ways.

 Guest blogging, conducting interviews and other ways of getting the message out that travel does not have to be expensive and it is not just for ‘other people.’ People sometimes have such a inferior feeling of themselves compared to other people. We need to help each other break out of our mostly self imposed PRISONS by encouraging others and showing our successes to prove it can be done.

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

The biggest problem is passion may not immediately show a way to translate into putting food in your mouth and keeping a roof over your head. Pursuing your passion often means you need to leave a large organization to focus specifically on your passion.

 Let’s be clear. There is no security when you’re working for someone else, whether it is a large corporation or a private family run business.

 Everyone wonders, “How can I make money doing this?” Because as much as we love our passions, you’ve got to eat. The ideal life situation would be to make money from what we love.

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

The prosperity of time and opportunity. I lost my job and received a severance package. As opposed to picking up the want ads, I decided to pick up a plane ticket. I didn’t know when I would get another chance like this.

 At that moment that was prosperity. I felt like the richest man in the world. I had the time AND the opportunity to fulfill a life long dream.

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

That it is not as scary as it appears. You’ll plan but at some point you need to make a leap and have faith in yourself and your abilities to make your dreams come true. I always felt that if someone else did it, I can do it too.

 The other thing is that when you make a leap, other opportunities appear. Because you are stretching yourself, meeting new people, taking on new skills and projects, a whole new universe of OPTIONS becomes yours. Now you can be proactive, choosing what you want, as opposed to being reactive and letting the world exert its force on you.

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

First my family is my most immediate support system. Without their love and encouragement I could have never done any of this.

 The other important support system are the other travel bloggers and entrepreneurs doing the same things I am doing. Having that in common with other people keeps me motivated and encourages me to move forward. Writing a book and being a blogger means I work by myself. But I can connect with people anytime and all over the world with the use of the Internet. Technology like Twitter, Facebook, email and Skype mean I don’t have to be alone unless I want to be alone.

 Communities of like-minded people are online everywhere, can encourage, support and keep you accountable. I searched out these groups and became a contributing member. What I contributed I have received in turn.

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

Every day you are dying!

Every day you are dying!

It’s morbid, but it is the truth. Every day we are all approaching the end of our lives. What will you regret? What will you wished you had done? Most people never said, “I wish I had worked in the office more.”

Understand that for anything we want to do or learn, there is a website, magazine, book, e-book, blog, podcast, online class or school for whatever we want to learn. The only thing that holds us back is our own fears. Our personal prisons, as I like to call them.

 SO: What’s your next big milestone?

 My next big milestone is releasing my own e-book package on round the world travel. After that, creating income so that I can travel indefinitely or live anywhere I want in the world without being tied to a particular location

 Thanks and Happy Passioneering Brian!

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!

Last week, we spotlighted 16 tips from our Passioneer(tm) interviews about how to leap fully into what you love, as you serve others in the world.  This week, we’re continuing to share tips from our bold, talented interviewees, with the intention to inspire others who may be scared or discouraged about their own leap. 

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. 

• Nearly all of our Passioneers cited courage as a critical element for leaping fully into what they love.  For them, courage is NOT the absence of fear, but rather the moving forward REGARDLESS of fear.  What a huge difference!  A great book on this topic by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
• Passioneers have a relationship with their challenges of “Bring it on!”   They welcome challenges as opportunities to deflate their egos, toughen their skin, AND open their hearts.  Rather than avoid challenges, Passioneers embrace them fully.
• Making the courageous leap into your passions requires a strong faith – knowing that you are supported by a giving, abundant Universe.  Remember that the Universe (or whatever you call your higher power) IS on your side, even when it doesn’t seem like it.
• The Passioneers who we interviewed are bulldogs when it comes to perseverence:  they do not give up and are fiercely tenacious in moving forward regardless of their circumstances.  Vince Lombardi said, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win!” (Other Lombardi quotes)
• Successes are always right around the corner, even if you cannot see or believe them yet.   

It Takes a Village to Raise a Passioneer.

• The concept of rugged individualism is dead when it comes to unleashing your passions.   If you think that you have to go it alone, think again.  Passioneer Vitamin C = Collaboration, connection, cooperation, and community. Your booster shot for thriving!
• The most successful Passioneers create powerful support networks that call them into greatness, challenge their comfort zones, and believe in them through thick and thin.  So, go build an “A Team” of cheerleaders who believe in you 200%, when no one else will.  The first step to building your team is to ASK.  The second step?  Be ready to RECEIVE!
• Passioneers also proactively build a “B” team of cheerleaders who they actively recruit to their A team.  They have a positive state of mind to attract and grow strong supporters.
• Build upon your strengths, rather than struggle to strengthen your weaknesses.  Delegate to experts in areas which are not your strengths or your passions.
• Stop renting out mental real estate to naysayers.  The more that you resist the “dream dashers,” the more that they will persist.  What you resist persists.  A great video on this topic.

Do What You Love, Not Just What You’re Good At.

• How do you know if you are following your true passions?  When in doubt, ask yourself, could I do and be this for the rest of my life..and not get paid?  If your answer is  unequivocally “yes,” then you are on the right track.  Or try the Passion Test.  Marsha Sinetar’s book, Do What You Love; the Money Will Follow, is excellent.
• Your passions point to your purpose – that is, why you’re on the planet at this time.  Pay attention to them and give them space in your life.
• Passion = contagion.   When you are on fire about something in your life, you are contagious and unstoppable. 
• Some Passioneers unleash one passion, solely and fully, during their life, while others are “serial Passioneers,” who pursue many different ones.  There is no right or wrong path to pursue your passion. 

Happy Passioneering!

During this year, we have interviewed over 200 bold, talented individuals who have leaped fully into what they love, as they serve others in the world – we call them Passioneers ™.  Our intention is to inspire those who are feeling scared or discouraged about their own leap into service.  Based upon our inteviews so far, we have synthesized the following passioneering tips, and will be blogging on them, and many others, each week in 2010.   If you  have any tips or know of any Passioneers who would like to share their story in our blog, please send us their contact information.

Be A Visionary.

• Dream big.  To create a bigger life, you must have bigger dreams.  Without a vision, the people perish.  (Proverbs 29:18)
• Cordon off at least one focused, quiet hour, each month, for the visioning process.  If you Google “life visioning tools,” you’ll see lots of great visioning tools.   We highly recommend using Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith’s approach. 
• Share your life’s vision with those you trust, and watch how much faster that it grows!
• Keep your vision front and center, where it can inspire you everyday.  A vision journal or vision board is a great tool for this purpose. Check out vision journaling workshops by Robbi Firestone. 

If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail.

• Create a business plan, even if it’s on the back of a napkin.  Richard Gabel’s tips on this: http://bit.ly/2102E
• What gets written down gets done.  Plain, simple, if not easy.  Journaling is a great tool for this.  Or try writing down the top three things you must get done each day  on an index card; let that be your day’s focus.
• As with your vision, share your business plan with others for input, ideas, and support.
• Try our complimentary PowerLeaps LLC Express Business Plan.

If You Believe, You’re Halfway There.

• Napoleon Hill said “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” (more quotes from Napoleon Hill).
• If you don’t believe in your vision, very few others will.
• Even on those days when you really don’t believe in your vision,  try faking it until you make it.  It’s amazing how contagious “acting as if” can be!
• Faith grows over time, one demonstration at a time – kind of like a stairway that you climb, with each step being a small success.  Rome was certainly not built in one day.

Just Do It!

• My good friend Pete DiSantis says, “Do is half of done.“  Talk is cheap, and analysis can cause paralysis!  The boldest, most successful Passioneers move forward regardless of their circumstances.
• Take baby steps, no matter how small they are.  In the midst of feeling overwhelmed and stuck, your taking even ONE small step forward will jump start your inspiration and momentum.  A great article on this approach.
• There is no right or wrong way to express your passions, so avoid comparing yourself to others, especially Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, celebrities, your next door neighbor, etc., etc.  You get the point…
• Explore and experiment.  Take some risks and try on different approaches.  Most importantly, have FUN!!

 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!

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?