Entrepreneurial Spotlight

Leo Babauta

“Smile, breathe, and go slowly.”- Thich Nhat Hanh

I had the pleasure of interviewing Leo Babauta for Life on Your Terms. I’ve been reading Zen Habits since his inaugural post and am moved by his courage, passion and writing style. Leo is the writer and creator of one of the most prolific blogs on the Internet. I am grateful he made time to generously share his story with the Life on Your Terms community.

Leo’s interview from Life on Your Terms

Chapter 5 – Unconventional Wisdom

In 2007, Leo Babauta found his true calling, and quit his job to pursue his passion as a personal development blogger. He is inspired by others’ success stories, and is grateful to know he is not alone in his quest for happiness.

One of the first steps Leo took on his path was creating a list of the things that were most important to him. When he found that his life did not reflect those things, he changed his focus, and started building his life around what really mattered: family, writing, reading, and running. Leo cleared his life of clutter by saying “no” to things that interfered with his core values. This freed him up to pursue the things he loves most with passion and determination.

Q: Tell me about you and why you chose to become an entrepreneur.

All my life, I worked for others, as a journalist, legislative analyst, and speech writer, until 2007 when I discovered my true passion — blogging. In that year, I found my true calling, and decided that I wanted to make a living doing it, and that I wanted to quit my day job so that I could be free to pursue this passion. So I dedicated myself for an entire year to making the transition from employee to entrepreneur.

It wasn’t easy, and I had to be really focused, but since I loved what I was doing it was an exciting journey. When I quit my day job in January 2008, I was elated and ecstatic. I’ve never loved anything more than I’ve loved working for myself, and I hope never to be anything other than an entrepreneur.

Q: What inspires you?

I’m inspired by so much! What inspires me most is seeing the positive changes I’ve helped others accomplish — when you’ve contributed to a life change, it is gratifying and it makes you want to continue to do good. I’m inspired as well by the successes of others — the people who prove to me daily that miracles are possible, that I’m not alone in my quest for happiness and fulfilling my dreams.

Q: How are you living your life on your terms?

Four years ago I made a list of the things that are most important to me: spending time with my family, writing, reading and running. My life didn’t reflect these four things at that time, but slowly I’ve built my life around these four essential things. It took a lot of focus to clear my life of clutter so that I’d have room for the things I love, and to say “no” to everything that tried to take my time away from these things. Today I’m happy to say that my life is based around the things I love most — the life I’ve always dreamed of.

I’m also happy to say that I’m my own boss for the first time ever. I am answerable only to my own dreams and values, which is an incredibly liberating thing.

Q: What have you learned from mentors and role models in your life?

Probably not in the traditional sense of someone who took me under his or her wing and guided me along the way, but I’ve had many people who have inspired me in what they’re doing — people like Gina Trapani and Adam Pash of Lifehacker, J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly, Darren Rowse of Problogger, Brian Clark of Copyblogger, Stephen Covey and many other bloggers, writers, authors who have inspired me with their writing and some who have even offered their help and advice at different points along the way. I’m grateful to all of them, even if I can’t name them all.

Q:  Please share one tip for living a full life:

Be passionate about whatever you do — whether that’s your work, spending time with loved ones, getting fit and healthy, taking up a hobby, creating, starting a new business. If you haven’t found something to be passionate about, start looking now, and don’t stop until you find it. And then don’t be afraid to pursue it with all the passion you have!

Q: What would like your legacy to be?

My grandfather died a short time ago at the age of 81, and he lived a full life with a great career and traveled the world, left behind a large and loving family, and was mourned by hundreds of friends. I would like to leave this earth with a life and friends and family behind me like that. I’d like to say that I loved and was loved, that I helped others and learned from them.

Leo’s Message:

Identify how you want to live your life and make small changes toward those goals. Take stock of your values and ask yourself if you’re living in a way that honors them. When you find your calling, pursue it with passion and purpose.

You are welcome to visit Leo’s Blog: Zen Habits

From the Zen Habits website:

Zen Habits is about finding simplicity in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what’s important, create something amazing, find happiness.

It also happens to be one of the Top 25 blogs and Top 50 websites in the world, with about 237,000 readers, and is uncopyrighted. Zen Habits features one or two powerful articles a week on: simplicity, health & fitness, motivation and inspiration, frugality, family life, happiness, goals, getting great things done, and living in the moment.

Entrepreneurial Spotlight

Michelle Casto AKA “Bright Michelle”

“You were born with potential… You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings! You are not meant for crawling, so don’t. You have wings…. Learn to use them and fly.” -Rumi

What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

For me, I kept trying to put my big SOUL into a small hole, in terms of socially sanctioned jobs and career paths, and it never worked out anyway! I once was reprimanded for being too passionate. I realized early on that my creative thinking just did not fit into “corporate work mode,” that my light was a bit too bright, and that in order to be happy, I needed to follow my own unique path to success and destiny. Fortunately, I discovered this early on in my 20′s, where I took some coaching courses, and found what I had been looking for. Soon after, I began writing books, and I knew that I could never go back to a boring, routine job ever again. I knew that I was born to make an impact on the world and that the best way to do that was through my own brand of business.

How have you created your life on your terms?

I love that being an entrepreneur with a virtual business allows me to build my work around my life, and focus on the lifestyle that I want to experience. I spent 8 years living on an island, which fed my desire for simplicity and beach bumming. In addition, when you own your own business, everything you do is a reflection of you, your personality and mission in life. For example, my coaching practice is Bright Light Coaching, and that reflects my belief that we each have an inner light that wants to be turned on and shared with the world. Through running my own Personal Transformation company, I also get to set the way the work gets done, including days on and days off, as well as who I work with. This also gives me a great deal of creative freedom to say what I want — allowing me to develop the platform to get my message about living a life of purpose and destiny out into the world.

What have you learned from role models and mentors in your life?

The word mentor in Greek means “highest advisor.” And I am a huge proponent of working with guides and mentors along the journey of life and especially business.

I have worked with many along the way, and each had a key to unlock an aspect of me, for instance, the ability to clarity about my Purpose, stay true to myself, learn heart-centered marketing, and the ins and outs of social media. I believe success is a team sport and we do much better with the help of a guide to help us get to where we are meant to go. It’s also important to become a master at the inner and outer games of Success, and modeling others who have achieved what you would like, is essential.

Please share one tip for living a full life.

My tip is a question:  Why Are You Trying to Fit in When You Were Born to Stand Out?

What would you like your legacy to be?

A world of people awakened to and living their Purpose and Destiny.

What is your overall message to a someone ready to follow there passion?

It is your time to SHINE. Make a plan, get support and go for it. Like NOW.

Please tell us about your new book that will be available at Amazon on January 17th.

“The Destiny Discovery”

Find Your Soul’s Path To Success teaches readers how to connect with their Soul to live their greatest life. This book will touch and inspire people from all walks of life who are looking to wake up to their purpose, access their personal power, and be a contribution to themselves and the world.

The Destiny Discovery is a guide book for humanity’s awakening to a higher way of living that involves loving yourself, others, your life, your work. At this critical turning point in our history, millions of people just like you will finally answer those haunting questions of Who am I? Why am I Here? How Can I Help? You will release the old paradigm, step fully into the new consciousness by discovering your destiny and using the power within you to live that destiny.

You were encoded for greatness and possess everything you need to achieve that greatness in this lifetime. You don’t have to wait until next time around, clear your karma, or any other previously held belief system that limits you in anyway whatsoever.

In this enlightening book, Michelle L. Casto combines her proven Destiny Discovery Process and professional expertise in life transformation, personal growth, and career guidance to take you on an exciting journey of discovery toward the destiny that already lives in your heart. There are more than a dozen practical exercises, tools and insights in this book that will guide you to transform hidden self-limiting thoughts and beliefs, increase your self-knowledge, and empower you be your greatness.

The Life on Your Terms community is invited to sign up for the Complimentary Discover Your Divine Destiny Telesummit, Jan 10-12, 2012.

Sign up Here: ==> www.LiveYourDivineDestiny.com

About Bright Michelle

Whether you are changing careers, making a major life transition, starting or building a business, you can benefit from the support of an expert guide to assist you with navigating the tough spots of walking your highest Destiny. Michelle Casto, known as “The Destiny Doctor”, is one of the most effective spiritual and life transformation coaches in the world.

Learn more about Michelle at www.liveyourdivinedestiny.com

Entrepreneurial Spotlight

Nic Askew, Founder of Soul Biographies

“I have lived on the lip of insanity, wanting to know reasons, knocking on a door.  It opens. I’ve been knocking from the inside.” – Rumi

It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Life on Your Terms entrepreneur and film maker, Nic Askew.

Nic is an entrepreneur because that’s the only way he can be. For him, the entrepreneurial spirit is everywhere. He is inspired by observing ordinary people living in extraordinary ways. He is inspired by noticing the life that runs through everything.

He has created a life on his terms by asking himself questions such as, “How do you live a life full of space? How do you live with a sense of wonder?” He believes life to be a beautiful place although he has noticed that fading eyesight can obscure its experience.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR?

I’m not sure I am in its most usually used sense. But living a life of self invention has been a constant in my life. It faded on occasion, but that is less and less the case now.

I’m inflicted with a quiet curiosity. For life, and for people. And so I ask many questions, but have noticed that I seldom require the answers. Perhaps that’s a reasonable definition of curiosity.

I see the entrepreneurial spirit as a way in which a person could approach life. Surely the greatest entrepreneurial act is the creation of a life fully lived.

And I’ve noticed that with respect to a ‘life fully lived’, the way a person IS, is so much more important than what a person DOES.

As a film maker, I’ve filmed characters with the most magnificently dramatic stories of overcoming extraordinary circumstance. But the stories had lost their charge and the adventures had become stories of self importance. There was no life running through our time together.

And I’ve filmed characters who live the most ordinary of lives in the most extraordinary of ways. And our time together had life running through every sentence. I see these people as leading truly entrepreneurial lives. Lives full of ‘I don’t knows’, of unbridled curiosity and of wonder. Such lives often slip by unnoticed.

HOW HAVE YOU CREATED YOUR LIFE ON YOUR TERMS?

It seems to me that a life is lived outside any ‘imposed terms’ when you ask yourself how it can be lived through a sense of wonder. Such wonder exists despite the things of life but doesn’t exclude them.

I am unsure if ‘any life’ based on ‘any terms’, even my own, could exist as a life in true flow. My own terms seem to change often. They seem not to be able to make their own mind up. I try to ignore them. Paradoxically, a life conspicuous by the absence of the usual goals seems to have allowed me to create a life without too many terms. And without the need to become someone (else) or be somewhere (else).

TELL ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM MENTORS & ROLE MODELS IN YOUR LIFE

I’ve never had a particular mentor, but everything in life has been a mentor in one respect.

I always wondered about the wisdom of wanting to be like someone else. And as such the events of someone else’s life haven’t been inspiring in themselves but have always held the capacity to trigger something deep inside of me. And I’ve realised that the translation of such an event is down to my own observation.

I enjoy the encounter of those who hold a light in their eyes. And have noticed that everyone has that capacity.

SHARE ONE TIP OR KEY TO LIVING A FULL LIFE

I once wrote a few words entitled ’the adventure of uncertainty’.

‘ … there was a time when I looked for certainty. Certainty in the outcome of the events of my own life. And then I realised that there was only one certainty. And that was that it’s all OK. That there’s something that could never die. And now I realise that the total uncertainty of the events of life is the adventure. And that’s the wonder.’

If I had a tip, I imagine it to be hidden somewhere amongst these words.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LEGACY TO BE?

To provoke a sense of wonder. Through anything I happen to have created, or left behind.

NIC’S MESSAGE

There is life running through everything. Live not for ‘things,’ but live for a life full of wonder. Live so that you’re forever curious. Live knowing that there is nowhere else you need be and no one else you need become.

Vist Soul Biographies Human Portraits in Film to learn more about Nic and his creating offerings.

Get ready to be inspired.

“We can not live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning, for what was great in the morning will be little at evening, and what in the morning was true, at evening will have become a lie.”  -Carl Jung

Last week while inbox spelunking I found the most beautiful subject line I’ve ever received: ‘Cry of Joy and Excitement’.

A lovely woman found me on LinkedIn, resonated with my corporate career transition story and eventually migrated over to “Life on Your Terms.”

Here is part of what Collette shared with me:

Shann, I can’t say how excited I am that I have found you. I just ordered your book this weekend and have a coaching call scheduled with you Wednesday. For the last few days I have been listening to every audio interview I can get my hands on.  Hearing your story sounds so much like mine… I look forward to our call.

Collette was no longer alone. My personal career transition story gave her what she needed at the time she needed it most.  Validation. Comfort. Possibility.

And, her “aha moment” and Cry of Joy and Excitement email fully validated my intention for writing Life on Your Terms and creating this growing community.

From the Introduction of Life on Your Terms:

What if I shared my story—and the stories of entrepreneurs who are living life on their terms—with even just one person, who in turn might tell one friend? Would the wisdom begin to spread across the global landscape?

 

WOW! This was a powerful exchange for both of us.

I had the pleasure meeting with Collette via an accelerator coaching session. We learned that really did have lots in common, and uncovered the action steps needed for the next stage of her transitional journey. What a joy to share time with a woman who is summoning the courage to follow her passion.

Thank you Collette!

• Are you ready to make a career transition but have no idea how to begin?

• Are you tired of being chained to someone else’s dream?

• What choice would you make today if you knew you could not fail?

You are not alone. The life one your terms community is full of people who are summoning the courage to follow their passion. Explore the LOYT blog posts and read the 1st 40 pages of the book. You will find support from several inspirational entrepreneurs who made the choice to life life on their own terms and have never looked back.

Ready to learn more about navigating through transition now? You are welcome to listen to my most recent teleclass. Click HERE to listen now.

It’s never too soon, nor too late to follow your passion!

As we celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving and explore our hearts to define gratitude, abundance and generosity…I share with you this beautiful video. Enjoy!

Big thanks to Shelley Irwin, hostess of  The Morning Show at WGVU – NPR for interviewing me this week. We discussed transition coaching strategies for people ready to reinvent themselves.

You are invited to Listen to our interview HERE.

Creating your life on your terms is really about allowing for grace through your next transition.

Whether you have made the choice, or have been forced to significantly alter your life, it’s time to begin navigating your transition. I will guide you through the four stages of any transition cycle, and provide strategies to help you move gracefully through each moment of the experience.

Deborah Martin, my friend and mentor coach shared the following information with me when she learned that I planned to follow in her footsteps and become an international transition coach. It is with pleasure that we pass this teaching on to you.

The first stage of any significant transition begins with suffering and skin-crawling discomfort. You know a radical change is coming, but you might not be sure what to do about it. Chances are you will be down in the dumps. You may feel frightened, angry, uncertain, or like you’re reeling out of control. During my career transition, I remember feeling lost in a fog, and completely freaked out by the fact that the ideals around which my whole former life had been built – were no longer acceptable.

During this painful first stage, I recommend staying with your regular, comfortable routines. When you are filled with a black hole of uncertainty, the best thing you can do is create a nurturing daily plan focused on self-care. Try to cut back on extraneous commitments at home or work, and take the time to be gentle with yourself.

Items on your daily to-do list might include: inspirational reading, watching a magical sunset, choosing fresh-cut flowers for your desk or dining room table, playing on a swing set, soaking in a hot bath, listening to great music, practicing yoga or Tai Chi, playing outside with your family, preparing a tasty meal, or writing in a gratitude journal. Joyful activities like these help to balance the stress and suffering.

But while you’re nurturing yourself through your discomfort, remember that nurturing is not running away. Look at yourself in the mirror, and be honest about what’s happening inside. Accept the fact that you’re suffering, but don’t accept that your suffering is permanent. Ask yourself what really separates where you are from where you want to be. Honesty is key to healing and flowing through a monumental change.

The second stage of transition involves deep introspection. You may start to withdraw from the world, retreating into a safe and private emotional space. Initially, this might be a way to protect yourself from the pain and uncertainty you’re feeling, but this retreat can also allow you to begin to let go of old patterns and behaviors which stand in the way of your positive transition. You may feel contemplative, curious, spiritual, detached, or highly emotional – sometimes all at the same time.

Writing your thoughts in a journal is a good activity to try at this stage, especially if you’re feeling withdrawn and are having trouble talking to the people around you. If you’re still unclear about where you’re really going, try making a simple compare/contrast chart. Fold a piece of paper in half, and label one column “Want,” and the other “Don’t want.” Then, fill in the blanks. Knowing what you don’t want is just as important as knowing what you do. It helps you set boundaries and build a solid foundation for your ideas.

Another helpful suggestion is to spend time in nature, soaking up the beauty of your surroundings. Plan to take a walk along the beach, hike in the woods, or visit a local park. Allow yourself plenty of time to heal from the pain and anguish of the first transitional stage. During my own time of introspection, I scheduled as many lunches as possible at a local park on the shores of Lake Michigan. Stepping out of the office and being quiet for even thirty minutes helped me stay on my path, and being close to the water kept me grounded.

Remember that the second stage of transition is about healing and nurturing your mind, body and soul, but it’s also a time for examination. Find the activities that keep you focused, not distracted, and don’t be afraid of the deep work. Becoming who you really are means surrendering to change.

The third stage of transition is a big shift from the first two. It’s filled with positive energy and includes research and exploration in the outer world. When you reach this stage, you are finally starting to feel like you have some direction. You’ve gotten an inkling of what the real nature of your upcoming transition might be. You are ready and eager to move forward, and curious about all the new possibilities. You become secure, optimistic, and confident. You are uncovering a new path and ready to walk through the doors of a ripe new opportunity. In this stage you will want to explore the Internet, read about new topics of interest, and continue to write in your journal.

If you are struggling to identify and clarify your interests, consider creating a mind map. Sometimes, this simple tool can be just the thing to help you uncover the hidden gems of your future. Wikipedia says, “A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea.

To me, mind mapping is a creative visual twist on brainstorming. The first time I played with this technique, it blew my mind wide open: what a powerful way to cultivate your ideas!

To create your own mind map, pick up a poster board and draw a large circle in the center of the page. Write your central idea or concept in the circle, and write your supporting ideas around the outer edge of the circle, so that they’re linked to the central idea (perhaps jutting out like the rays of the Sun). Expand from there. If you prefer to create your masterpiece online, there are some great mind mapping web sites out there. I recommend Mind Node or Mind42.com.

Your discovery period is also the perfect time to explore new connections and talk with trusted confidants. Immerse yourself in discovery – not just in your chosen field, but in any area that interests you. Sometimes, even things that are unrelated on the surface can work themselves into your new path in unexpected ways. Allow yourself to play on a brand new playground!

When you have navigated the first three stages – fear and discomfort, going internal, and exploring new frontiers – you are ready to move into the magical stage of creative renewal.

The fourth stage of transition is a blast. When you reach the creative renewal phase, your vision has become clear, and you’re ready at last to create life on your terms. You are highly energized, committed, and optimistic. You are also determined to make significant changes quickly. Things seem to flow quite naturally for you. Mentally and physically, you feel unstoppable, because you know that everything is possible.

When you experience your creative renewal, allow yourself to be in the flow of the moment. Allow your plans to unfold without force. Become enamored of your new path, hang loose, and enjoy the magic carpet ride! I declared my new path on New Years Eve while surrounded by my friends and family. What an exciting time to acknowledge and embrace my future and let go of all the uncertainty and discomfort!

Each stage of a significant transition can last from a few weeks to several months. Honoring and caring for yourself, and allowing the process to unfold naturally, will help you move through the difficult stages of transition quickly.

In five short years, I have navigated the choppy waters of an enormous career transition, and have successfully reinvented myself – but I couldn’t have done it without the love and support of my family, friends, and a couple of world-class coaches. No matter what stage of transition you’re in, don’t be afraid to reach out for support. You don’t have to go through it alone!

1. What stage of transition are you experiencing right now?

2. How long have you been in this stage?

3. What do you need to do right now to honor the stage you are experiencing?

When you think about striking out in pursuit of your dream, what do the voices in your head say about it? Overcoming fear is crucial to success in today’s new world of entrepreneurship, because we manifest what we think about.

From Life on Your Terms, Chapter 3:

“Fears can be like nasty little monsters under your bed, easy to spot and swiftly tamed, or they can be like the lions in a midnight jungle, invisible until the moment they pounce. Either way, they stand in the way of your forward movement, and they need to be overcome – or at least pacified – before you can take the next step toward living life on your own terms.

Fear can take hold of you and cling like an evil shadow until you decide to take action. The voices in your head that mutter things like, “I can’t,” “I’m afraid,” “I’ll hurt myself,” “I’ll let somebody down,” “I’m not good enough,” or “Don’t quit your day job!” represent pesky negative programming that must be undone. If you don’t address it, you will continue to play on a fear-breeding mental merry-go-round.”

Of all the obstacles my clients experience on the road to entrepreneurship, fear is the greatest and most pervasive. It’s also one of the most difficult to overcome. The good news is that, once you do face and overcome your fears, everything else will begin to flow for you. It’s wild and liberating!

Part 1–What Are You Really Afraid Of?

Fear is often synonymous with a lack of self-confidence. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of laboring in obscurity forever; all of these are rooted in how we feel about ourselves. If our fears are not dealt with, they can stop us from even trying the activities that support our personal development, let alone pursuing them.

Chapter 3 of Life on Your Terms is titled “Letting Go of Fear,” but I found that most of the entrepreneurs I interviewed in this book had to overcome significant fears in order to step into the life of their dreams. Brave people aren’t fearless: they simply choose not to be ruled by their fears.

The first step in overcoming fear is to identify it. Do you know what you’re afraid of?

Exercise 1: The Fright List

Make a list of all your fears. Write as fast as you can, so that your mind can’t sensor what you’re putting on the paper. Include every fear that pops up, even the ones that feel insignificant or irrational.

If you feel comfortable, share your list with a friend. Explain that you’re not looking for advice or asking whether your fears are right or wrong; you’re simply looking for a witness.

The key to this exercise is to acknowledge your fears without drowning in them. If you find yourself panicking, stop, and resume the exercise again later.

I became a fan of Apple in 2003 with the purchase of my first iBook and iPod. I had no idea this would lead to a love affair with my inner-geek and later, a great respect for Steve Jobs. When I watched Steve deliver his commencement address at Stanford in 2005, I knew I had to accelerate my exit from corporate Amercia. Steve helped me seal the deal.

In memory of this brilliant man and game-changing visionary, who excelled at connecting the dots.

Enjoy this incredible speech…

Rest in peace Steve. Thank you for your fine example of what it looks like to live a full life as an entrepreneur – on your own terms.

Liberation Stories

Entrepreneur Spotlight

Heather Thorkelson – Off-Grid Adventurer

“Never underestimate the power of a fresh start. An unbiased perspective. Or a timely escape hatch.”

Heather Thorkelson, defines herself as a personal REBOOT adventure-guide, professional instigator, and life-shift strategist. She’s rebooted her life many times over — and lovingly claims to be “A Lame-Ass-Life Escape Artist.”  Heather has traveled to every continent on earth, rocked (and then bucked) the corporate system, and is currently earning her Life Coaching Certification. I love Heather’s wicked-cool energy and know you will enjoy this lively interview.

1. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

Quite some time after I left my corporate job (11 months to be exact), I was debating the merits of going back to University to get a Master’s degree. And while I love learning, what didn’t sit right with me is that after getting the degree, I would be right back in the same place of putting my resume in a giant pile of other resumes and hoping they’d pick me. That vision of my life/resume being in the arbitrary hands of an HR person just made me feel ill. And suddenly it hit me that I needed to trust my gut ~ and my gut was telling me I wasn’t meant to work for other people anymore. I always knew I would be an entrepreneur, but I think I always imagined it happening later in life. When I had this realization that NOW was the time, and that I had a TON of skill to offer, it was like the skies opened up and rainbows shot through the clouds. I cried, I laughed ~ it was a huge weight off my shoulders. I felt freer than I had in years, and still do.

2. How have you created your life on your terms?

I have been soaking up information day in and day out about how to create the business I want that will allow me to work a) only with people that I love working with and b) work location independently whenever necessary. I’ve created an awesome website from scratch all on my own, and can update it without the help of techy people (which was a concern of mine because website changes can be costly and take a while), and I’ve gotten the training I need to be an excellent coach for people who feel stuck in life. Working from home (wherever that may be…and it changes!) is key for me as that is where I’m most centered and can be around my dog, who just has the best energy. I love that I have full control over my days and even though I work A LOT, it is work in service of what I believe in….and that is what I consider most important about living life on my terms.

3. What have you learned from role models and mentors in your life?

Listen closely and be very curious. In other words, get out of your own head! Another way of looking at that is to learn how to be very present in the now. It’s an skill that really needs to be practiced to become habit, but wow does it ever make a difference in your day-to-day life.

4. Please share one tip for living a full life.

Be unapologetically authentic. This is hands-down the best way to avoid ever having any real competition in life and work, and the best way to guarantee fulfillment.

5. What would you like your legacy to be?

A while ago I was asked to write my own obituary for a brainstorming exercise. I’m going to excerpt it here to help describe what I hope my legacy will look like; “Heather was a B.S.-slaying bringer of warmth. Her effervescence and unapologetic authenticity both set her apart, and brought her so close to the hearts of many. She was a bastion of justice and believed in Possibility, beyond all else. She was a daughter of nature, a lover of dark humour, and wished for nothing more than her presence in your life to help you breathe even more deeply your significance in this world.”

6. What is your overall message to someone ready to follow their passion?

Don’t be fooled into thinking that following your passion is easy, simply because you’re passionate about it. You need to work, sister! Expect to stretch your creative muscles more than you ever had to in a traditional work environment. Creativity and out-of-the-box thinking will be keys to your success. A business network or mastermind group in the industry you’re passionate about will really help support your creative growth.

Learn more about Heather by visiting her website at www.heatherthorkelson.com.

Interested in sharing your career transition story?

We’d love to feature you here! Click –> YES! I want to share my Liberation Story!