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

Our Radio Show Interview with Beth

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

Thanks Beth, and Happy Passioneering!

Our Passion Q&A with Beth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SO: What’s your next big milestone?

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