Passion Power

I appreciate podcasts and the deep dive into subjects that interest me.  I seek podcasts that reflect my mood or enhance an activity I’m doing.  Once in awhile I come across a Podcast that has turned me off.  Unfortunately they don’t get me back. Here are the Do’s and Don’ts if you are thinking about starting your own podcast and what I listen for. 1.         Short and Sweet Introductions - I believe hyping up a guest too much is just asking for trouble. I'm yawning or fast forwarding.  Believe me, if we like the interview we’ll be looking them up. 2.        Be Sincere – Shows like The School of Greatness by Lewis Howe .   I feel his generosity and strong desire to serve.  Every question he asks is for the listener.  The humility of guests and hosts is what I listen for.  3.        Preparation – I’m uncomfortable ...

It takes discipline and practice to create a mindset where inspiration thrives. Most of us have been hardwired for struggle.  Life can be discouraging at times and we allow ourselves to get depleted by these bad mental states. We need good habits and routines that keep us on track.  Here are 5 strategies to create an inspired life.  Create a daily ritual.   It seems quirky, but without my daily ritual I just react all day long and do whatever comes up. I’m like a flag in the wind. I’m never as effective as I want to be and nothing seems very meaningful.  Find that sacred space and time to unwrap the day gently.  It sets the tone for the rest of your day. Replenish with silence.   Let silence marinate into your bones and soften your orientation to life.  A calm mind connects to your body and feeds your soul. Silence will rebalance your energy and is absolutely essential for inspired living. Frantic inside equals frantic out...

If we took the shopping out of Christmas, the holiday might be a bit more relaxing and enjoyable. A friend of mine goes into the stores at the end of November and gathers all her supplies and groceries for the month of December. She doesn’t re-enter the buildings until after the New Year. With her as my inspiration, I accepted the backlash I got over my decision to stop Christmas shopping three years ago. I broke the cycle of insanity in my family. The first year my daughters growled and sneered like pit bulls chained to a junkyard fence as I quietly stood my ground. Christmas isn’t about gift giving or gift getting. Exchanging gifts was just something the department stores made up to stir the economy. I was getting all stressed out fighting for parking spaces and standing in line ups with overpriced gifts. Is it good enough, is it thoughtful enough, did I spend too much or not enough, will it fit, will she like it and on and on it goes. Combing the crowded stores to ...

Tell 5 stories, tell them everyday and you will be a master at work life and play Tell them to your neighbour, Tell them to your friend Be sure to tell them to yourself over and over again The stories are about you, what matters to you most The essence of who you really are,the elements that you toast. Anchor yourself in wisdom and what is true for you, Creates harmony and balance, it’s all you need to do.  Establish deep connections and all the flow you need, To harness personal power by planting all the seeds.  Remind yourself of stories and believing what you say, Helps you feel more powerful even on a stressful day.  True identity will never leave you, it’s there until the end So stay in touch with who you are and remind yourself again. The values you’ve excelled at,the accomplishments you’ve made,  Will only serve to help you when confidence begins to fade. To feel more personally powerful it all comes down to this, What are your core ...

Working in a very busy convenience store in cottage country over the summer I gained a much different perspective on human nature. People shouldn’t have to go to work and get beaten up by public unkindness. The experience helped me understand why people working in retail don’t always greet you with a cheerful smile on their face. Here are some dos and don’ts that I’ll be using moving forward. 1. Don’t roll your eyes like I’m taking too long. You’re the one buying lottery when there’s a big line up behind you. 2. Don’t complain to me about the prices. It’s not my company. 3. If you count out exact change because you think it’s faster and easier, you’re totally wrong. It’s just annoying. 4. Please don’t throw your money at me and expect me to remember what you bought. If you think you’re too good or important to stand in line like the rest of the customers remember that there’s no limo waiting for you. 5. Don’t think your griping is unique. I can pretty much guarantee we’ve ...

Selling is really quite simple and not nearly as scary as some people think. You get a list together of why your service or product is of value to your prospect and are willing to promote it. What’s in it for them? How are you going to make their life wonderful? Many people think about telemarketing and all those relentless calls you get at home when they think about selling products or services. It can be lawn maintenance, newspapers, carpet cleaning or just about anything else that you might find annoying to talk about after a full day of work. Usually the calls happen on your way out the door or when your right in middle of making dinner or, God forbid, relaxing for 5 minutes. You want to be naturally confident. That energy comes from knowing what you offer has value. You pull it off something like this: “Here's what we offer. This is what we do really well and this is what is excellent about our products. Here’s the value for you. This is how much it costs.” I...

I love buzzing around town running errands in and out shops. What a relief. Everything is right here and only 4 minutes away. I’m grateful to live in Smiths Falls and the town just keeps delivering more grateful to me. Many people take the benefits of living in Smiths Falls for granted. Not me. I came from London Ontario where most people don't give a hoot about you or your kids. You can pretty much get a job in Smiths Falls if you want one badly enough. You aren't standing in a line up with 50 resumes for one position you're not even sure that you want. I met someone in the park that finds Smiths Falls to be a “dreary little town.” It’s funny how perspective goes. I see it as a bustling village with great potential. I didn’t come here with a chip on my shoulder. It’s not who I am as a person. I can’t waste my time on negativity. I walk to the waterfront at least once a day and see many people fishing and boating enjoying the parks and the river too. It’s a ble...