IS IT TIME TO JUMP?

Have you ever wanted to change your career?  Have you ever been so tired of more of the same that you just wanted to stop and do something, anything, different than just repeat the same old behavior?  Sheri Barnes was gainfully employed in an incredible career, which allowed her to live the life of her dreams until the walls came tumbling down and she grew tired of rebuilding her glass castle. That’s when Sheri stopped allowing “more of the same” to run her life, and decided she needed to control where, how and why she would “jump” out of a different plane!

In the fall of 2011, after just returning from an incredible two week European tour with her partner, Sheri  was on Cloud 9. She had also just purchased her dream sports car. Everything seemed to be coming together for Sheri who worked in the fields of Advertising and Marketing, but three days after she purchased her sports car, Sheri’s job was slashed.

Sheri was no stranger to lay-offs. Having been laid off three times in nine years, she well knew in a poor economy, Marketing and Advertising positions are among the most expendable. She recognized the processes she would have to undertake to look for another job. She was no stranger to the emotions she would feel and was well aware of needing to take care of her mental health and so much more, but this time it was different. This layoff was the turning point. the defining moment, the final straw.

After meeting with HR the day of her layoff, Sheri went home and sat on her bedroom floor and told herself the words, many of us say at one point or another, “ I don’t want to do this anymore.” Only, this time Sheri meant what she was feeling. In the middle of that floor Sheri decided to finally end the cycle of “more of the same” and begin a new career. It was bold. It was unpredictable and it was a bit scary. But it was also necessary and invigorating.

Sheri’s other passion in life had always been being fit and healthy. She had been a personal trainer for the previous four years “on the side” and was respected as someone people came to for fitness advice. The one question she heard more than anything else was “How do I find time to work out?” So she decided she wanted to provide public presentations to corporations, business and schools, speaking about how important it is to be healthy and fit and how to find the time to do that.

Just deciding was not a piece of cake. Sheri likens her journey to being a bit like skydiving for the first time.She was ready to take the plunge, but scared, cautious, excited as all kinds of “what if’s” went through her mind. She was about to jump when that one question most entrepreneurs face loomed large, “Am I crazy for even trying this?”

Sheri knew she had to either decide to move ahead or leave her dreams behind but being a risktaker, Sheri, “jumped” out of her proverbial plane. Yes, it was a bit scary falling through the clouds but she felt determined and exhilarated as well.

Sheri knew in order to be a trusted speaker about health and fitness, she had to establish her credibility to build trust. One way she knew how to demonstrate her expertise to others was to write a book about health and fitness.

But, just writing the book was not the key that opened every door. Sheri often wondered if anyone would care about what she had to say. She continued her free fall, recognizing much like a true sky diver, she might end up somewhere she hadn’t exactly planned. Like a sudden unexpected wind that veers a skydiver off course, the obstacles appeared, but Sheri, determined to reach her destination, trusted she would pull her ripcord at just the right time, so she pushed through the roadblocks and gradually the fear started to subside and she could sense the progress she was making.

She had to take a leap of faith and not only complete her book but seek endorsements. Likening waiting for a response to seeing the ground coming at her and hoping a positive response would rise up and be her safety net, she was figuratively wondering if she would land on her feet.

There is no more an uncomfortable feeling than wondering what impact hitting the ground will have, but Sheri not only landed well but hit the ground running as she received an absolutely amazing endorsement from the President of the American Council on Exercise.

The parachute opened, she landed well and she is off on another amazing mission.

Sheri Barnes is now a fitness expert and the published author of MAMA KNOW FITNESS: Bells, Balance & Your Body. 

Her advice to others who find themselves like she did that day, sitting on the floor, sure they no longer can go through the experience they have faced time and time again, longing for a different direction and destination is simple: Take That Jump! Get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Believe in yourself, because surviving freefall is the most amazing and rewarding experience you will ever know.


What do you need to do to take the “jump” and leave your comfort zone?
Have you taken a free fall and discovered you have what it takes to land on your feet?

©2012 by Sheri Barnes
MAMA KNOWS FITNESS: Bells, Balance & Your Body
RELEASED December 12,2012
www.mamaknowsfitness.com / mama@mamaknowsfitness.com

SO LONG SOMEDAY

English: KISS playing at Sauna Open Air 2010, during their Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour. Location Tampere, Finland (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Brian Perry is a musician, song writer, motivational speaker and life long believer in saying, "yes" to now instead of "someday"and here's why...




SO LONG SOMEDAY…

When Kathy Brunner was kind enough to ask me to contribute here, she told me that her blog was about people who are living their passions sharing how they got there. I find that a challenging and interesting question because, though I feel deeply passionate about the things I've been honored to do, I feel far from arriving – at least not where I thought I’d be.

I find myself saying “Yes” a lot these days and “Thank You.” I guess I should explain. Late last summer, I got a call from one of my oldest friends in the world asking if I would be interested in helping a company called Sixthman out on their “KISS Kruise.”

Is that some sort of romantic cruise, I asked?
“No, no. The rock band KISS!” he responded.
“Oh…um, yes and thank you!”

Let’s back up a little further. Before this phone call I was in one of those “without a paddle kind of times.” The ones when you’re pretty sure you've found the bottom until it drops just a bit further. It had been a couple of years of personal troubles that became financial that became professional that became spiritual that became personal…err, well maybe that wasn't the exact order but you know the kind of time I’m talking about, right?

Wait. I’m sorry to keep doing this, but let me back up again. I've had the honor of spending most of my adult life touring the United States and serving as a singer/songwriter, motivational speaker, coach, and leadership instructor. I was in rock clubs and theaters, then helping train conference staffs at a burn camp or YMCA, and then I would help design and implement international leadership conferences sometimes all in the same week. All the while returning home in between tours to the magnificent, soulful nation of New Orleans. My life didn't suck, except for the parts that kind of did which led to a couple of huge storms in my world. One was personal and I’ll save and the other was Katrina and, well, that hardly needs any explanation.

So the storms hit with their requisite howling wind, drowning waters, and obliterating fury. Funny thing about obliteration though, it has a way of turning into your favorite gift. It has a way of making way for the best of times.

So let’s make like Michael J. Fox and get back to the future: the KISS Kruise. I said “yes” and “thank you” to this seemingly radical departure from my “regular” life and immediately and profoundly found myself welcomed into the family that calls itself Sixthman. No kidding, companies talk a big game about “family” but  Sixthman is one of the most extraordinary families of passionate folks you’re likely to find anywhere. Fast forward and 6 more cruises, a ski trip, and a fair amount of Cabo Wabo Tequila later I found myself saying “yes” and “thank you” to my friend and colleague Anthony Diaz who offered me the opportunity to formally count myself among this remarkable troop.

Now I find myself waking up in a strange city 500 miles from New Orleans, no tour bus, no Grammys on the shelf (yet) but excited to go to work with people I love at a place that regularly challenges me to keep singing and speaking and touring. A people and a place that doesn't want me to bring anything less than who I am. Go figure.


I’m not going to lie about it. I have found this whole process of (at least for now) trading a touring van for a 401K to be very confusing and a tremendous test of faith. What I’m learning over and again though is that every day, every hour really, brings some kind of opportunity to share the passion that was behind the things I was doing before. You see, it turns out that it really isn’t about what I DO at all but rather it is about who I BE in whatever I’m doing. I can be passion, I can strive to be a light and a loving presence no matter what I’m doing. No matter where I am. Does that make sense?

Now, as any self-respecting speaker would, allow me to sum up a bit more of what I’ve learned or rather what I know for sure.

1. I do not know the Plan
2. I do not know what sh@# means (trouble comes when I think I do)
3. All is well. (Always)

In a nutshell, what I've concluded, as I find myself extremely happy living a life I would never have thought I would be, that my job in living my life is to be really clear with (insert whatever you Believe in here) about what I want my life to FEEL like, what passion feels like to me. Then I must TRUST because what it LOOKS like is not my job.

Finally, I encourage you to get really, really used to saying “yes’ and “thank- you”.

My life is now, not someday. Now. Am I happy about that? "Yes." "Thank you."
SO LONG SOMEDAY

At Sixthman our slogan is LIVE LOUD. So I’ll leave you with that: LIVE LOUD.  No, seriously: LIVE.

Is it time for you to start saying “yes” to things you never dreamed of or imagined?
Is it time to start saying "so long" to your someday and start living today?


For more information check out brianperry.com, Brian Perry fan page on Facebook, and @yesbrianperry on Twitter. Or just drop me a line at yesbrianperry@gmail.com.

When The Sharks Are Just Below

(Jen McDonough is an amazing woman who not only overcame her fear but changed the direction of her life when she realized her own strengths.She is the author of LIVING BEYOND AWESOME...and knows she won't drown in water or debt anymore!)

So what does one do when they want something so badly, yet the task at hand seems IMPOSSIBLE?

I learned many lessons about perseverance in life but completing an Iron man event was one experience which taught me I could do something I thought was impossible by scaling my "mountain" in small steps.

The Iron man triathlon I would participate in included a 2.4 mile swim,112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run.For some it might have looked relatively simple, but I didn't even know how to swim. Truthfully,I had an enormous fear of the water. I have been told when I attempt to swim, I look like I am trying desperately not to drown! So, the first step included swimming lessons.
 The second step was to learn to use positive, confidence building inner and outer language, even on the days I struggled. You can't expect to succeed in anything when you are permitting yourself to be bombarded with negativism either from others or that little voice within you that shouts out failure every time you make a mistake. 

Next,I was determined to stick with every workout no matter how impossible the thought of swimming 2.4 miles was for me(up until race day, the farthest I had ever swam was 1.2 miles!).


Yet,whenever the race day did arrive, all my confidence went out the window as I stared out at the giant waves in the Gulf of Mexico. I started hyperventilating BEFORE the race even started! It did not look exhilarating;it looked terrifying.

Seconds before the race began,I started to shake my head "no" as I stared at the countdown clock,"Ten,nine,eight...". It was as if I was trying to stop time.The start gun went off and a massive tidal wave of bodies moved towards the water, but I didn't. 

There I was after training relentlessly for a year both mentally and physically frozen with panic unable to even get into the water.

As the last of more than two thousand swimmers shuffled past me in the soft sand, I willingly forced myself into the water.I had never been so scared in my life as I waded out over my head. My fears encompassed me as I wondered not just if I would be able to go the distance but if I really would not drown or worse, be eaten by sharks. 


I could barely breathe initially trying desperately not to panic as I moved stroke after stroke though the swells were large enough to hide the five foot buoys from my sight.I kept thinking of the sharks milling beneath me just waiting for dinner.With each motion forward I recalled the entire year of my life I trained for this moment. Yes, I was terrified but I also realized I had given so much time and energy to this,it would be unfortunate to let myself down.
When I sighted land, I went from "wanting" to do something extraordinary, to realizing I was"doing" something extraordinary and feelings of joy replaced my terror as I realized I was fulfilling my dream. My breathing and strokes no longer felt awkward and difficult but as natural as though I had been a swimmer all my life.

When I reached the final strokes on the swim, I couldn’t help but feel that God was smiling down at me, assisting me physically and emotionally in an experience I only once imagined I might do. More hurdles came my way, but I did finish Iron man, which was one of the most incredible experiences I have had!  


The impossible DID become possible that day because of faith, perseverance,developing a step by step action plan and finally putting my feet in the water and breaking through my fears to face my victory.

Any goal worth pursuing requires small tenacious steps and even with significant training and planning will seem initially terrifying or at least daunting when you first begin.Sometimes there will be additional obstacles and you might want to not try or turn back. DON'T!

Go for it, because I know sitting on the sidelines wishing you could do something causes far more pain than finally taking that plunge.Never live with the regret for not having tried. Regrets leave an ugly taste in your mouth forever.Going after even one seemingly impossible goal can make you stronger for every other mountain you face.

Does the thought of putting your feet in the water and taking a risk at something unfamiliar and scary make you anxious and fearful as well? 

Jen McDonough enjoys sharing stories of hope and inspiration through her books, speaking engagements, podcasts, and her blog (http://www.livebeyondawesome.com) and (http://www.fieldofdebt.com/blog/) Jen lives in Lindstrom, MN with her four awesome kids, two spirited dogs, one handsome husband, and her ugly mortgage. Connect with Jen through Twitter (@TheJenMcDonough), Facebook (Live Beyond Awesome), or on her website

How to Feed a Starving Dream...by Julie Saffrin

Julie Saffrin is a published author. Her story reminds us of why we should never give up!
She is offering each person who comments a chance to be entered into a drawing to win a free paperback copy of her latest book, BLESS BACK.

“There is corn in Egypt”
         Genesis 42:2
I’d suspected for months that the hope of my book being released with a traditional publisher might be ending, but I was not free to act upon my hunch until I received official news from the source. More than once I wanted to get ahead of the situation and take action. A couple of times I came close to speeding up the inevitable but my mind told me, “Hold.”


So, I did what I’ve come to see as a way to solve dilemmas in which I have no control. I applied Oswald Chambers’ remedy, “Trust God, and do the next thing.” While in my “holding pattern,” I created an action list of things that I could control. I tweaked again the manuscript that I had had professionally edited. I made sure I had received signed permission notes from those whose stories were in my book. And, I gained new contacts by using social media, people such as Kathy Brunner, whom I met through LinkedIn.


I checked off the last item on my list on a Tuesday.


The next day my hunch was confirmed. The economic downturn had affected my publishing world.


After months of mentally preparing myself, I was free to make a move with my non-fiction book, BlessBack®: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life.


What I hadn’t prepared for, though, was my reaction and the sinking sensation that I was a failure and would never accomplish my heart’s desire.


Happy. Sad. I was both.


In the Genesis 42 story of famine in the land, Jacob knew that while there was a drought in his land, there was a granary in Egypt filled with corn. He just had to get his sons to travel there. The same applied in the publishing world. Times were tough. Here’s what got me on my camel, walking toward the Nile:


1)  I kept the facts in the facts box.


“Death is the one thing we all have in common but we never talk about,” Jeremy Hudson, a hospice chaplain in Cedar Falls, told me. A famine was in the land and a death to my dream of being traditionally published had come. Nothing would change that.


2)  I had waited for a sign of what to do and had received it.


Though the end of the road had come with my publisher and I was released from my contract, I needed to remind myself that it wasn’t the end of the road. Instead, I needed to view the situation as one of being given permission to pursue direction in a new land.


3)  The corn was in Egypt, not here.


No sense in wasting another day wallowing in might-have-beens or maybes. The time had come for me to pivot. Before I firmed up my decision to self-publish, I sent out a handful of letters to agents for representation, hoping on the outside chance that I would be picked up. I waited and waited. For months. Whatever the industry, economic downturn or not, what has happened to the words, “please” and “thank you”? Only one agent had manners, and wrote me a thank-you in his decline. With more doors closed, my hunger grew.


4)  I used my hunger to propel me.


The only way to satisfy my hunger to get my book published was to head in the direction of where the food was: self-publication, the land of opportunity.


5)  I readied myself for the journey.


“He who fails to plan is planning to fail,” said Winston Churchill. During my “hold” time, I had made a list of potential self-publishers. As I read their finely printed documents, I eliminated the ones with too many hidden dollar signs and chose a publisher with whom several friends had chosen. My writer friends were pleased with their decision and so am I.

6)  I tucked my dreams in my saddle bag, hoisted myself up onto the camel and started out.


For their journey, Jacob’s 10 sons had the company of each other. I went, armed with the knowledge I had gained and the people with whom I had made connections. They would and did provide nurturing and nourishment on the road. Along the way, I met my future book cover designer, Angie Hughes, of Angie’s Creative. She took BlessBack’s concept and created a book cover to match it. She also did the book’s interior layout as well as created my new website, www.juliesaffrin.com.


7)  I stayed on course, mile after mile, until I reached Egypt.


In February 2012, I arrived at my destination and my dream was made real. The paperback version of BlessBack®: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life released. And in July 2012, the e-book version released. Now people can read the stories of those who have paid their thanks backward to their life influencers. Now people can discover how the power of gratitude changes us and helps us to live happier and purpose-filled lives. My hope is that you will step back from your life and look to the people who helped you become the wonderful you you are today. When you do thank them, you’ll find an altruistic after glow. Let their words or actions propel you to continue to work at fulfilling your dream.


And if you find are stuck in famine land, I encourage you to use my road map, board a camel, and go to Egypt. I’m here, championing you on.


Ever feel like Julie as though you were stuck and nothing was in sight but more famine?(share your thoughts and be entered to win a paperback copy of Bless Back)

JULIE SAFFRIN is the author of numerous articles and essays. She received her bachelor's degree in print journalism and English from the University of St. Thomas. She divides her time between her home in Minneapolis and her Adirondack chair at her cabin on a lake in Ottertail County with her husband Rick, sons Sam, Joe and Jake, and a golden retriever named Mick. She can be reached at www.JulieSaffrin.com.
 BlessBack’s Facebook Fan page at www.Facebook.com/blessback. Follow @blessback on Twitter.

Purchase Bless Back HERE