During what she describes as the crazy eighties, an earlier recession rocked the economy and the big money went away in the corporate sector so “…M&A was not as fun as it used to be.” according to Nancy.

Making the Deal

Nancy had always served on Boards for arts organizations so when it was time to transition from the financial sector, an opportunity presented itself in an off-Broadway non-profit theatre company. Serving as the Executive Director, Nancy learned quickly to use her business savvy in a new way, frugally navigating the realities of the non-profit world where both sides of each piece of paper were always used and waste was not an option.

She took pride in keeping her company in the black and always had her eyes on the realities of their profit and loss. Nancy says her guerilla business instincts were really honed in the non-profit world where she appreciated every dollar earned and cultivated audience members, donors, and sponsors since fundraising was also part of her position.

At age 38 Nancy was aching for something more.  Still involved with her beloved arts organizations as a volunteer, she left the theatre company and enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America, the world’s premiere culinary college in upstate New York.

Metamorphosis

Nancy remembers fondly the intensive course work that really tapped her creative side and the internships that allowed her to get experience in the industry before completing her curriculum. One such internship was not only a fabulous professional experience – it also introduced her to James Laird, a Sous Chef at the time who later became her husband.

Growing up, Nancy’s family entertained a lot and she worked many a restaurant job during the summers she spent on Long Beach Island in New Jersey. The hospitality industry was a refreshing homecoming and part of her full scale metamorphosis from the corporate sector.

Nancy and James have been married for 15 years and this husband and wife dynamic duo opened their own fine dining Restaurant Serenade in the New Jersey suburbs as newlyweds. Nancy’s skills and talents are found everywhere at Serenade and she is a force behind the success of the restaurant. Serving as front of house, General Manager and Chief of Operations, her sound business background and good judgment, coupled with her culinary training and natural charm have propelled her to the forefront of today’s successful restaurateurs.

Working with your husband can be a challenge for many, but Nancy and James make an ideal professional couple. With James as Chef of Serenade, he has earned numerous accolades including a NY Times mention as “…one of the best classically trained chefs in New Jersey.”

Cleanse Your Palate

Restaurant Serenade is known for its active Bar and signature contemporary French cuisine. The ever changing tasting menus are to be savored and paired with selections from their extensive and carefully assembled wine collection.

When I asked Nancy about her career transition she offers others the advice to get your nerves in check and know that risk is ok and to have faith in your abilities. She and James took a great financial risk opening their own restaurant and she admits to “…not sleeping for a few years.” until things really became solid.

Even so, the restaurant business is a constant fight for loyal clientele and Nancy holds her breath when a new restaurant opens within her geographic region since new establishments can be a vacuum suck on existing restaurants.

But Restaurant Serenade has earned its rave review in the Zagat Restaurant Guide since they have a loyal following and consistently exceptional food and service. Nancy and James have also been reviewed favorably in New Jersey Monthly, New Jersey Life and Yoga Journal magazine.

A Love Song

Nancy and James bought the existing restaurant 15 years ago from a previous owner. They closed the deal on a Tuesday and re-opened under Laird management on Thursday. They soon learned the importance of renaming the restaurant and putting their brand and signature on the establishment. Nancy calls James’ cooking a love song to her (and the customers) but Serenade is also the name of the first George Balanchine Ballet ever produced in America.

James’ cuisine is similar to Balanchine’s choreography – a deconstruction of simple ingredients, refined and presented in an elegant manner. And so, Restaurant Serenade was named.

While it may sound like personal and professional bliss (and it is) Nancy and James work around the clock on their labor of love. She keeps the same hours as Wall Street but is happy to be in charge of the business decisions and enjoys the total autonomy and accountability of being an entrepreneur.

Nancy and James have assembled an excellent staff that they treasure. The house rules require that everybody greets each other by name and all kvetching is to be left at the door. They keep the atmosphere fun and challenging and the energy is palpable and appreciated by the customers.

Future plans include writing a book and maybe even opening up another restaurant – when the time is right, according to Nancy. For now – life is very busy and very nice. Nancy always strives to expand the reach of new customers and she hopes to get James more visibility on TV shows and in-print reviews. They work with a Publicist to spend their advertizing dollars most wisely and staffed their team with trusted experts like their Sommelier and Maitre ‘D from their culinary network.

While the restaurant business is no place for the faint of heart, Nancy and James are thriving. James has an organic mini farm at home which produces fresh herbs and vegetables for the restaurant and their personal kitchen. At home, Nancy does the cooking and enjoys the quiet moments she and James can share together.

So the next time you are in the tri-state area, consider a worthwhile stop in Chatham, New Jersey to enjoy Restaurant Serenade. You will be glad you did!

Nancy’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Have faith in yourself and your abilities.
• Risks can be scary but they are also well worth it.
• Network until you find the right opportunity – jobs will find you if you put yourself out there.
• Throw away your safety net and just do it.

Quote:

“You need to be well capitalized – or naive.” Nancy Sheridan Laird

Resource:

Restaurant Serenade: www.restaurantserenade.com

This Renaissance woman has a sophisticated understanding of aesthetics and composition and her earlier career pursuits explain her profound ability to create moving works of art in her photography.

Melani enjoyed a career as a professional dancer while earning her undergraduate degree at NYU. Dancing with the world renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, she also danced in numerous off Broadway productions and as a featured commercial dancer during the birth of MTV when dancers were highly sought after for the emerging music video genre.

The Show Must Go On

While working as a dancer fed her artistic soul, Melani was routinely frustrated with how women were treated in that artistic world. Sexism and inflated egos were rampant and even though she stayed with it for a while, Melani knew this was not a long term career for her. She started her Master’s program at NYU while still dancing on the side but an injury precipitated a permanent change which launched her in a new career direction.

On full scholarship – plus a stipend, which was extremely hard to come by at a private school like NYU, Melani began her graduate studies in the Art History division of the Institute of Fine Arts. Her focus was on two subjects: 17^th century Dutch and Flemish artists and Ancient Roman sculpture groups. At the time she thought she would advance directly into the PhD program and pursue a career in academia but the birth of her first child changed her mind.

Objets d’Art

While at the Art Institute she studied photography and would archive works of art with photos as a way to catalog and study individual pieces. Melani worked with a studio in the basement of the Institute to photograph these historical artifacts from Ancient Roman sculpture to fine paintings and antiquities.

Through her NYU program she also studied photography at the famous Parsons School of Design in New York and learned the nuances of lighting, composition, and photographic technique. She further enhanced her study with a year at the International Center for Photography in New York and fell in love with the art form, especially the lighting which remains a favorite part of the photographic process for her today.

Open for Business

Friends started asking Melani to take their photos and before she knew it she had clients before she had an official photography studio. By this time she had three kids and it was a great way to earn money, go on location for a shoot, and then spend quality time at home with her kids. For 15 years including her school days, she enjoyed city life in the Big Apple before moving to Connecticut where she built a photography studio in her garage.

In the middle of her emerging photography business she got divorced which changed how she could spend her time growing the business while also caring for three children. He former father-in-law was extremely generous in sharing his entrepreneurial and business acumen to help Melani establish her business in Connecticut where she is now thriving.

With a full studio in her garage, Melani learned the essentials of tax ID, business insurance, trademarks, etc. and the necessity of beautiful brochures and printed samples showcasing her photos to share with prospective clients. In her line of work, customers expect something tactile, not just a website image, when considering whether to hire Melani for a shoot.

The showroom space was a big expense and Melani is at a point where she can say that she is now earning her living as a professional photographer. Initially she would reinvest a lot of her earnings into the business to upgrade equipment and keep products in stock. She recalls the importance of having a strong line of credit since in the early days she relied on that to get her business up and running.

Cutting Edge

In 2004 Melani went digital with her photography which gave customers more immediate gratification and the ability to see their photos faster. For example, Melani will upload highlights of a full wedding shoot to an iPad or smart device so a newly married couple can enjoy a sampling of wedding day memories on their honeymoon. The trend is to share these highlight photos on Facebook and Melani is able to use social media to her advantage in this digital age which makes her customers very happy.

Melani wants budding entrepreneurs to understand how intense running your own business will be. She advises others to be prepared to work harder than they ever imagined and be ready to lose sleep. Her former father-in-law was very helpful in coaching her on how to deal with clients. In addition to old adage that the client is always right, he encouraged Melani to become an active listener and to validate her customers since building a trusting relationship was essential for her kind of business.

Always prepared to keep things professional, Melani learned to check her emotions at the studio door when she was ready to meet with a client. They deserved 100% of her time and focus and she learned that the referral was the key to her business growth and currently forms 95% of her business clientele from referrals.

Poetry in Motion

The bread and butter of Melani’s business is wedding photography but she also does commercial, editorial and architectural photography, as well as custom portraiture, engagement and special occasion sessions. Melani’s images define a moment in time. With grace and playfulness she captures the poetry of the ordinary and her work clearly celebrates life. Blending journalistic truth with artistic vision, Melani captures moments in time that delight her clients.

Her studio offers complete post-production services including archival printing on museum quality cotton rag papers, cutting-edge printing on Plexiglass and large scale framed prints on canvas. All of the albums and books are hand printed and Melani’s art history expertise is evident in every inch of the finished product.

Fluent in Spanish and French, this multi-faceted artist also travels the world to pursue photojournalistic and editorial assignments in addition to on-location weddings, and portraits beyond her studio walls.

Melani looks forward to future projects where she will photograph cancer survivors and exhibit these photos in museums and art shows. Her exhibition “CarHavana” showcasing pre-embargo autos in Cuba has earned international acclaim and will be exhibited in Vienna in 2012. A sought after authority on wedding photography, future plans for Melani also include offering best practice tips for wedding photography on TV and in an online blog. She has won “Best Wedding Photographer” 2010 and 2011 in Fairfield County and is a member of the esteemed WPJA. Her work is regularly featured in magazines including Connecticut Brides, atHome Magazine, Architectural Digest, Greenwich Magazine and The Knot.

While growth can be good for a business, Melani has a desire to keep a boutique-y feel for her studio so customers feel special and honored in the process. A true artist with multiple layers, Melani Lust is living her passion as a professional photographer. Her roots as a dancer are evident in the movement of her photos and she is living the life she designed.

Melani’s Advice and Action Steps:

•           Be willing to take a risk to grow your business.

•           As an entrepreneur be ready to work your ass off.

•           95% of any business is referral so stay current and be ready to change and  adapt your business as the market dictates.

•           The customer is always right!

•           Believe in what you love.

Quote:

“Play the game for more than you can afford to lose. For only then will you learn the game.”

•           Winston Churchill

Resources:

http://www.melanilustphotography.com

How stepping out of your comfort zone may lead to exciting new possibilities!

This program included a full scholarship for Joyce to earn her Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Working as a Systems Engineer, she loved her job with the company and discovered she was better suited to program management than the theoretical design of engineering.

The Maytag Woman

Joyce worked in high profile defense corporations over the next several years flexing her muscles with testing engine and flight control systems for various aircraft. She was responsible for identifying/isolating problems, failure analysis, and communicating to engineers about possible fixes. She reported, while on field assignment, often she felt like the Maytag Woman searching for things to do at work since there were rarely problems to report on the fully developed system. She worked with other organizations that used the same system on their flight simulator and forged a new opportunity for the company in the area of field engineering support.

Joyce longed for more challenges at work and also yearned to be closer to her family in Virginia since her job at the time kept her in upstate New York. She left the avionics industry and moved to working with sonar systems on submarines. Later she moved into the corporate sector again looking for a better fit.

The Tipping Point

Joyce did all the right things trying to overcome the typical corporate promotion hurdles. She networked, earned stellar performance reviews, and even had an internal sponsor to help advocate on her behalf. Joyce shared that even though she had significant experience, the educational pedigree, and the commitment to grow within the company, she was never taken seriously or felt fulfilled in her career.

That was the catalyst that made Joyce seriously reflect upon her future and her options. For years, the idea of Medical School was gnawing at her psyche. Joyce was a nurturer and often took care of family and friends when they were sick. But could she leave a lucrative position and go back to school and start over?

A consummate planner, Joyce decided to explore the medical world before she made any rash decisions about leaving the technical field. She joined the local Fire Department as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) volunteer. She attended Fire Academy at night after work to train for her EMT certification and eventually began volunteering nights and weekends.

Joyce shared that her stress relief was going to the fire station and working EMT shifts. She loved the new adventure, camaraderie, and often slept at the station, showered, and then went off to her day job as an engineer. Sometimes after a full day in engineering land, she immediately reported to the fire station energized to work another EMT shift.

The World is Your Oyster

Up until this point, Joyce’s newfound desire to be a nurse was a secret she kept from her colleagues. But the light bulb moment finally happened when Joyce had the courage to say out loud: “I care about people!” She was more interested in working with people and focusing on the holistic care of mind/body/spirit than in fixing engineering/management problems. Joyce unlocked her true passion and enrolled in Nursing School.

She grappled with the idea of Medical School instead of nursing but realized that her strengths were in taking care of people, instead of focusing on the disease or injury as physicians do.  A woman of strong faith, Joyce has always relied on her spiritual convictions to guide her and she believes this decision was part of a divine guidance and provision.

Leaving a solvent position and a salary was a scary proposition so Joyce worked hard to save money before she took the plunge. She learned to live modestly and budgeted for a Bachelor’s of Nursing degree and the pre-requisite courses she needed before even starting the program.

Joyce knew her initial earning potential as a nurse would be much less than what she was making as a program manager. She learned to budget based on what she truly needed versus what she wanted and realized with “…planning, faith, and God’s provision she could make things work financially.”

Have No Fear

With her faith and the support of her family and friends, Joyce passed the 15 month academic nursing program with flying colors. Her EMT training really helped her in school and with the hands-on practical training of the nursing profession. She was passionate, regimented, and committed to helping others. Interestingly, Joyce was in good company as many of her fellow nursing students were also career changers.

When graduation came in December 2009, the economy was in a full recession and the job market had changed from when she had started the program 15 months earlier. Luckily, nursing jobs were still available and Joyce was a top student with EMT experience, and she had the professional savvy of a career reinvention to distinguish herself as a candidate. Her top three choices were to work in: Intensive Care, an Operating Room, or an Emergency Room environment.

Joyce took her dream job with a local hospital Emergency Department and is thriving in her new role. Still a consummate planner, Joyce is already envisioning her future career journey in the medical profession and is considering becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

While she is the new rookie nurse in town, Joyce is enjoying her new profession. She doesn’t worry about tomorrow since she is doing what she loves and has God on her side. For the first time in her professional life she is working with mostly women and enjoying the camaraderie of her co-workers.

Joyce knows she made the right decision every day when she works with patients who look up at her and say, “Thank you for being here.” with a knowing glance without even uttering a word.

Joyce’s Advice and Action Steps:

Joyce is inspired by the following scripture passages to get her through good days and bad.

• Psalm 23:1 – The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

• Matthew 6:34 (NIV) – Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

• Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Quote:

“Make sure your career is something that will fulfill you. Don’t get distracted by obstacles in your way. Be prepared and keep your eye on the prize. Find what you love and do it!”

- Joyce Boyd

It’s Not Worth Losing Body Parts!

Law school is tough enough but Janet earned her JD while raising her two small children, who were 1 and 4 years of age during her first year of the program. A mother and top student, she succeeded at litigation and won several trial competitions and the esteemed American College of Trial Lawyers Medal, which led to a competitive summer job in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Post graduation, Janet was recruited to work at a prestigious Philly law firm where she discovered her knack for computers and was put in charge of automating a very high profile case.

While Janet was earning accolades at the firm she was also starting to get physical ailments that were taking a toll, not to mention trying to raise her kids with the stresses of a billable hour legal career. She developed pancreatitis and asked the senior partner at the firm if she could work part-time to take care of herself. The response was not favorable after it was put to a firm-wide partner vote and one of the partners remarked, “You can expect to lose a few body parts working in this profession!”

That was a deal breaker and Janet began working with a career coach, Doug Richardson to make a transition in a new career direction.

Just Because You are Good at it Doesn’t Mean You Like Doing It

Janet’s work with her career coach began with self assessment and a full scale reflection about what she valued in her life and career. Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® and other assessment tools, Doug asked Janet to think back to her childhood and reflect on what she liked to do as a young girl. This strategy helped Janet come to terms with the fact that she did not like conflict, a conundrum for a litigator, and helped her realize that just because you are good at something doesn’t mean that you necessarily like doing it. Janet gave herself permission to let go of the parts of her work world that did not align with her values and move towards new positions that fed her passions.

She pursued several jobs playing to her strengths as a consultant, project manager and litigation support specialist. But these new positions required travel and were high stress, which caused Janet to lapse into an unhealthy lifestyle. Not having the time to prioritize her health, she was back where she started from by not valuing work/life balance and wholesome eating habits at work. In 2001, she was diagnosed with adult onset Type 2 diabetes. This was not a complete surprise as her brother was also diagnosed as an adult so the family history was clear.

First, Take Care of Yourself

Janet did not take her diabetes diagnosis lightly. She went to an Integrative Health doctor to turn her entire life around quickly. From her brother, she knew the frustrations many people have with controlling their blood sugar, planning for meals, and how difficult it can be to establish healthy eating habits. So, Janet was determined to succeed as her own change agent and begin a new and healthy life that she was in control of.

If you visit Janet’s home you will see 100’s of cookbooks adorning her shelves. She has always loved to cook and became a certified macrobiotic chef. Janet turned this passion for food into a plan for handling her diabetes. She developed a system of action steps to control emotional eating, utilize the power of whole foods, stock her pantry with healthy choices and develop strategies to handle the special event occasions when she was not at home.

Her doctor was so impressed with the speedy turn around and diabetes reversal that she started referring patients to Janet so she could share her healthy strategies and put them on a similar road to recovery. Janet quickly became known as a Change Management Coach.

A Door Closes and a Window Opens

This unexpected career opportunity turned into a part-time venture that Janet pursued on the weekends. She considered becoming a Registered Dietician to further credential herself in this new area but instead found The Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York and became a Certified Health Coach. This school was the perfect combination of teaching, counseling, and business building that Janet needed to launch her new entrepreneurial venture. Guest lecturers included leading health care and mind/body/spirit experts like Andrew Weil, MD and Deepak Chopra.

Janet has since become an ambassador for the school and in this role spreads the word about the program while sharing her personal and professional journey to good health. While Janet was able to reinvent her health and well being, her day job took an unexpected turn and she was laid off from her firm over a year ago due to cut backs in the economy.

As the saying goes, a door closes and a window opens and this serendipitous opportunity gave Janet the freedom to pursue her passion full-time. Now known as The Diabetes Coach, Janet has built a business to provide hope and resources for those who struggle with this Type 2 diabetes.

It is projected that without a change in current obesity rates, 0ne in three children born after the year 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes at some point in their life, and Janet is on a mission to give a human face to this disease and empower her clients to live fuller lives. She is tapping into her former life as an attorney to write a novel called “Diabetes on Trial” to give a voice to those who live with this disease.

The Mission of a Great Life

Janet’s current book “The Diabetes Coach Approach” is an easy to follow, self-paced program that shows her clients how to unleash the power of whole foods to control blood sugars, how to manage weight without dieting, and how to make healthy lifestyle changes. Her eight steps to change management, empowers those with Type 2 diabetes to live fuller, healthier lives.

But Janet’s career transition was not effortless. She utilized two business coaches to help her visualize her Diabetes Coach business and determine how she could make her livelihood from this new venture. She worked to develop a brand and multiple streams of income including her coaching sessions, e-books, recipe cards, public speaking and webinars. Her latest product, the Diabetes Tool Kit is targeted to become a sought after resource for national health care providers.

By walking the walk herself, Janet is living her mission of a healthy life. She is the ultimate role model for her clients and can relate from experience to the day-to-day challenges and realities of this disease.

A Team of One

For her entire professional career, Janet worked in large organizations with sizable teams so the transition to being her own boss took time. She is celebrating her passion for helping people and enjoys having control of her own time but the challenge in the beginning was finding the discipline to treat this new venture like a job. Janet enjoys what she is doing so much it often seems too good to be true that this is her new profession.

There are emotional ups and downs to starting a business as well. When Janet gets stuck she calls on her team of coaches to find solutions and plan a strategy. At the end of the day, she says looking out her home office window onto her beautiful garden brings her great joy. She never looked back to the days of the billable hour and is focused and determined to make this new business a success.

Janet to Janet

You never know who in your network will turn out to be influential. Janet Sanders had been watching Philly TV news anchor, Janet Zappala for years before she had the opportunity to meet her in person at a charity event. Zappala is also on a nutritional mission and authored the cookbook “My Italian Kitchen” featuring delicious and healthy foods. Janet Sanders was showcasing a diabetic friendly chocolate product at the event when Janet Zappala approached her booth. The two Janets became fast friends and ultimate colleagues and they feature each other on their respective websites.

Building a personal advisory board has been very helpful to Janet as she launched her business. She continues to tap into this valuable resource and also looks to pay-it-forward to others who can utilize her strategic alliance.

The future is bright for Janet Sanders and she has new programs in her pipeline for stress eating solutions and stress management for lawyers, among many other projects. A career reinvention and a health renovation have given birth to Janet’s great new life.

Janet’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Develop a plan, and assemble your advisory board of mentors, resources, and people who will share candid feedback.

• Be good to yourself.

• Make yourself accountable for all your actions, it will motivate you.

• Join networking and social groups for support and camaraderie.

• If you aren’t ready to go “full time” with a new venture, start slowly while employed, with the goal of building your business with a phased plan for success.

Quote: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Gandhi

Resources:

The Diabetes Coach www.diabetescoaching.com

The Institute of Integrative Nutrition http://www.integrativenutrition.com/

Janet Zappala http://janetzappala.com/

Carey Peters: Wellness Career Coach www.coachtoolstogo.com

Wanderlust Leads to a New Career

This “recovering attorney” has stellar credentials that have empowered her with a myriad of transferable skills. Tonya graduated from the London School of Economics, East China University of Law and Politics, and Wayne State University Law School.  She is also a student of the arts and previously worked at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and the Globe Theatre (under the late Sam Wannamaker) in London.   According to Tonya, her greatest education has come through traveling—discovering different cultures, learning about the history, and meeting the beautiful citizens of the world.  This is how she transitioned into her new role as a travel broadcast journalist, multi-media producer, and global citizen.

But how does one make the break from a secure legal career to make a livelihood traveling? According to Tonya, you honor your passion and the rest will follow.  Tonya and her husband, Ian, also an attorney, left their law practices behind to create a unique global community through their travel radio show – World Footprints (formerly Travel’n On). Their decision to grow a community of fellow responsible travelers was affirmed when they were awarded the 2009 First Place Travel Broadcast from North American Travel Journalists Association.  Since forming Travel’n On Media Productions, LLC, the producer of World Footprints Radio, they have expanded their broadcast platform to include additional multimedia digital platforms including internet, TV, and multiple social media platforms. This allows them to stay connected with their fellow travelers and grow their audience, even while on the road.

In addition to her role as Executive Producer of World Footprints and CEO of Travel’n On Media Productions, LLC, Tonya is also an author and speaker.  She and Ian are currently writing a chapter in a book with Stephen Covey and they are producing new travel video content for major online media companies.  Tonya also frequents and covers travel-related legislation at the White House and Congress.

Planning for Change

Every move Tonya has made in life she has planned for and her exit from the legal profession was no exception. Her legal training helped her hone her research skills and she performs due diligence on every project she pursues. While she admits to being a risk taker, she also knows the importance of staying afloat financially. Tonya worked with a life/career coach to help her reinvent her passion for travel and turn it into a viable career. She also saved money to live on for a full year since she knew it would take time to turn a profit with the show and her new company.

The radio show makes money from investors, paid sponsors and advertisers but securing those has been a challenge in this tough economy. Tonya and Ian are now expanding their broadcast platforms and growing their audience by tapping into new markets like university students who travel, study, and work abroad, and providing them with resources and a venue to share their experiences.

While Tonya is always using her transferable skills in contracts, negotiations, and communication & writing for the show and her company, she found it tough at first to “sell” her ideas and thought it would be easier to market someone else’s product. But, she has since overcome that feeling of insecurity and embraced her humble confidence in this project and the company that she truly believes in.

Celebrity Power on the Show

Prominent personalities and celebrity interviews on the radio show have given the program extra cache and increased the listening audience. Those special guests include actress and wildlife advocate Stefanie Powers, NASCAR icon Kyle Petty, philanthropist David Rockefeller, Jr., Rajmohan Gandhi (grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), Travel Channel hosts Samantha Brown, Andrew Zimmern and Kirsten Gum, and many more celebrities and newsmakers.

World Footprints was recently granted accreditation to cover the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  Although some sporting events were covered like the Luge, Bobsled and Biathlon, the broadcast focus was on the cultural stories behind the Games, i.e., how the First Nations people were represented, Vancouver’s sustainable/green development legacy and animal conservation efforts of the Olympic mascots.  Tonya and Ian hope to travel to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup where, in addition to covering events and unique attractions, they will also volunteer for a South African-based charitable organization that supports disadvantaged children.

An influential commentator, journalist, and thought leader in the travel space, Tonya has been heard or seen on MSNBC.com, NPR, Retirement Living, AllAfrica.com, local CBS and NBC affiliate stations and others.  Tonya is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers, the National Press Club, the North American Travel Journalist Association, and the Society of Professional Journalists.  Both Tonya and Ian are members of the International Speakers Network.

Tonya and Ian are currently writing a chapter in a book entitled, Success Simplified, with Stephen Covey, Patricia Fripp and Tony Alessandra.  This book is expected to be released in December 2010.

The Joy of Being Your Own Boss

The reality of being an entrepreneur is that you have total control over your business and that you are solely responsible for your success or failure. Tonya has always had a strong work ethic and she believes it is now even stronger because she has taken ownership of her career future and her business. According to Tonya, she relies on her spiritual strength, prays a lot, and has created a work environment with Ian that puts value on integrity, work ethic, and authenticity.

While Tonya’s life has consisted of many exciting travel experiences, she has learned to take calculated risks and plan for them.  She has lived, studied, and worked abroad in England, China, Russia and Romania and her many travels have taken her through many regions of the world including a 5-week backpacking trip through Asia where she returned to China and visited eight other countries in the region.  As an avid scuba diver, she gravitates to coastal areas.  She loves adventure and wants to trek through Nepal and climb Kilimanjaro someday soon.

But, this adventurist has made a conscious effort to grow her business wisely instead of quickly honoring the vision she and her husband have created.

From the beginning responsible travel, culture and heritage were values that Tonya and Ian brought to their show.  World Footprints is unique in that its entire focus is about leaving positive footprints by fostering cross-cultural understanding and friendships, encouraging positive impacts on local people and their environments, supporting local trade and fair markets and promoting authentic travel experiences that respect cultural heritage.

Tonya is on a quest to help others respect the natural environment and eco-balance of the planet by encouraging travel choices that minimize negative environmental impacts. One trip and one radio show or media product at a time, she and Ian are spreading their message, fulfilling their purpose and living their dream.

Tonya’s Advice and Action Steps

• Honor your “red flags” and trust your gut.
• Grow your business wisely and not just quickly.
• Utilize your mentors and personal resource team.
• Be ready to pay-it-forward and help others.
• Be aware of your total skill set and tap into your strengths.

Mantra: Honor Your SELF and the rest will follow.

Resources

World Footprints Media www.WorldFootprints.com

International Speakers Network: www.bookaspeaker.net

Facebook World Footprints community http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/WORLD-FOOTPRINTS-Media/272337714084

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/WorldFootprints

It’s OK to Make a Career Change

Working full-time while in law school, Mary took a hiatus after her second year and returned to school older, wiser, and newly married to finish her law degree. With a focus on family law, property management, and contracts post graduation, Mary found her legal career unfulfilling and sought other ways to play to her strengths. While she waited for her “aha” moment to happen in law, it never did so she began to explore other options.

For three years she worked at Planned Parenthood doing outreach presentations in schools and she loved the rapport she built with the teenagers. She also worked for a Women’s Advocacy Project serving women in small communities that were victims of domestic violence and teaching them how to represent themselves.

Mary conducted a myriad of informational interviews searching for a better career fit when one day her mother asked “What do you love to do?” and Mary responded “I’m a teacher.” And so this epiphany led Mary to apply for the Texas Teaching Fellows program.

Trading the Private Sector for Public Schools

The six week intensive certification was part of a full year of instruction, observations, career counseling and student teaching. Mary then flexed her newly honed teaching muscles through a placement with The New Teacher Project which matches teachers with schools in need. TNTP is highly competitive with an acceptance rate of only 15% and focuses on retraining career changers so it was a perfect fit for Mary.

Mary now teaches in an ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom where the majority of her students are of Mexican or Hispanic origin. She also has one Taiwanese student. Her Spanish speaking skills have improved tremendously and Mary is pleased to be able to communicate effectively with her students and their parents. While a cacophony of languages are spoken regularly in her class, the emphasis is on English language acquisition.

Play to Your Strengths

Mary finds great value in her new career as a teacher where she can play to her strengths all the time but admits the transition to teaching was a struggle. “I had to trust my instincts…” as the first six months proved to be a real challenge trying to figure out the right position within the new teaching realm.

As a teacher, Mary makes less than she would as an attorney but you can’t put a price tag on passion and what the jobs lacks in salary is makes up for in benefits and security. But, most of all the realization that she is making a difference and serving the students is what makes Mary content.

Many people envision the easy schedule of teachers with summers off and early afternoon quitting times but Mary says this is not always the case. She struggles with work life balance in her new teaching role but she went in with her eyes open. With 7, 10, and 14 year old children of her own at home, Mary has to be creative and energetic to keep up with the pace of her 50+ hour work week.

After a 9 hour work day, Mary often goes back to email at home in the evenings because the ESL program at her school is brand new and there is always room to do more. Yet Mary considers herself lucky in her new career as a teacher and tells her kids that “Success is living the life that you want.” This has turned out to be a family mantra for her household.

Award Winner

Mary has plans to stay at Crockett High School in Austin, Texas for at least 5 years. She is learning so much on the job and wants to stay to see the changes she is part of creating have a chance to be implemented. Her goal is to be a great teacher and perhaps work more on curriculum design and advisory lessons. Mary is certainly well on her way for in 2009 she was awarded Teacher of Promise.

Mary’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Trust your instincts and do what you love.
• Take the time to figure it out. Talk with everybody you know to learn about other career options.
• It’s ok to retool or seek additional credentialing later in life.
• Lead with your strengths and you will be happy.

Quote: “Success is living the life that you want.” Mary Wasiak

Resources:

The New Teacher Project www.tntp.org

Texas Teaching Fellows Program www.texasteachingfellows.org/

Resilience is a sought after competency by employers since change is everywhere in the career world and set-backs happen. I’m a big fan of the Marcus Buckingham strengths based career development philosophy and I recently read an online article on his TMBC website about building resilience, especially after a set-back. Here is a quick glance at Marcus’ resilience strategies.

1. Know that everything you are feeling is absolutely valid.
2. Give yourself time to feel your emotions deeply. Seek out friends or mentors who will listen to you objectively and help you work through these authentic feelings.
3. When you are ready to move forward and focus on something new, focus on life experiences that created positive emotions. Write them down – hold onto them and understand that these are the platform from which you will move forward.
4. Make an effort to do one activity each week that will provide an opportunity to create and celebrate your strengths.
5. Surround yourself with supportive companions and appreciate them.
6. Never let a crisis go to waste. Lock the valuable lessons and insights into your strengths as they will continue to serve you in your life. Ask yourself questions that will create positive emotional outcomes for you.

While set-backs and unexpected change can be difficult, the reality is that life will be full of these detours and we have choice about how we handle them. Honor your emotions, surround yourself with supportive people, and take away the best lessons you can from each experience to grow and move forward on your journey. If you can master resilience you can add that to your list of sought after strengths.

Breath Mint Maven

Working as in-house counsel for an event an interior design company, Jacqui found herself longing to be her own boss, to take charge of her own career destiny and start her own company. Her idea was unique, an all-natural breath freshener that would really eliminate your garlic laden lunch breath and not simply mask it temporarily like so many other products on the market.

Jacqui enjoyed a similar breath mint product she found in Australia (and could never find state side) and used that as a point of departure for her new and improved breathalicious concoction. To distinguish herself and her mint, she was on a mission to make her product, fun, cute, and trendy. And so, eatwhatever breath fresheners were born.

Her vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free product is filled with organic oils. Jacqui’s two steps to kissable breath regimen is very simple. First, you swallow a vegan gel cap which freshens your breath from the inside, filled with organic parsley and peppermint oil. Step two – suck on one of the little white mints for a bit of instant freshness. Bring on the garlic, onions, and all your favorite stinky foods since this product really eliminates odors for hours. The spine of her packaged mints reads: Suck and Swallow – a glimpse of the sexy marketing that helped identify her brand.

Learn the Ropes

So how does a first time entrepreneur make her breath-of-fresh-air product a reality? Jacqui started going to trade shows looking for vegan gel caps to fill with her organic essential oils. Learning the ropes was tough since she didn’t have the vocabulary to describe what she wanted and feared that people would find her crazy and inexperienced. She mustered her courage to ask questions and eventually found a company that would do a small run of her recipe so she could test the market and see if her product filled a niche.

Financially it’s been tough. After investing her own money to make this dream a reality, Jacqui is at a point where she is looking for investors to take her business to the next level. But, Jacqui and her husband, Dean Bialek are the quintessential cosmopolitan, intellectual dream team. Both lawyers with a creative and international edge, they share a passion for food, wine, the arts and fashion that serves them well into their new business venture.

Being in Control

While Jacqui admits that she was terrible with numbers, taxes, and financial statements she had to learn enough to be a well informed consumer when she hired an accountant to help with these tasks. “You must be in control with distributors, brokers and the business people who will help you with all aspects of your business so you are not taken advantage of.”

Jacqui also shared that the food industry is still very male driven so as a woman entrepreneur she has to be on her toes to get the attention of her male counterparts and to keep it! Self motivation is also a must for this breath freshener queen. She loves having control over her own schedule but also knows the realities of having to do it all yourself, at least in the early stages of the business. If the mail has to be taken to the post office, Jacqui does it since she is the staff, the CEO and Co-Founder.

Fake it Till You Make It!

Clearly some of the transferable skills from her legal career and performing arts background have helped her run the business, but Jacqui says she learns a lot just by doing. From the law she learned how to read the fine print and knows why it is crucial for her business. She suggests that you do your homework on potential business contacts before you meet them because as an attorney, she knows how expensive litigation is and warns to avoid it at all costs.

As a former performing artist, Jacqui knows the importance of exuding confidence in front of her audience. She says that eloquence and professionalism are essential and her private tip is “Fake it until you make it – they’ll never know!” In the beginning, she devoured a myriad of books and magazines on entrepreneurship and relied on friends in the beverage and packaging industry to learn the ropes from the inside out. Learning the lingo was essential to be recognized and respected by the professionals in the industry with whom she would be working with to market and distribute eatwhatever.

The Value of a Strong Brand

Each day brings valuable lessons and Jacqui says that it is always a learning experience. She now realizes the importance of making her branding message clear, clean, and strong. While she originally loved the idea of the sexy factor with a kissable breath product, she now understands that in certain markets the sex appeal needs to be toned down to a flirt factor. She continues to tinker with packaging and now realizes the importance of investing money in PR during a product’s launch.

At the end of the day eatwhatever is about confidence. Everyone needs fresh breath. Whether we are kissing a loved one or interviewing for a new position, fresh breath empowers you with the confidence to feel good about yourself. Jacqui never leaves home without packs of her amazing product.  A walking and talking billboard for her product, her samples are sure to make a believer out of you.

I can now add my name to her list of positive testimonials. The product is fantastic – it really works and for a breath freshener to empower us with that kind of self confidence is a beautiful thing!

Jacqui’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Really take the time to think through your ideas and plan your strategy.
• Be realistic about how much time (24/7) is takes to launch a new business.
• Avoid negativity and develop a thick skin; everyone has an opinion – sift through those you really want to consider.
• Trust yourself – you are your best asset.
• Great things happen through networking.

Quote: “Failure is not an option!” Jacqui Rosshandler

Resources:

eatwhatever  www.eat-whatever.com

Savor the Success www.savorthesuccess.com

Ladies Who Launch  http://www.ladieswholaunch.com

While her first intention was just to do this for a year, Natalie built a website and her accidental business turned into Empty Nest Support Services, an exciting and full-time career that is still going strong.

Her Inner Writer Emerged

In 1972, Natalie earned a Master’s degree and Board of Medical Examiner’s license in speech and language therapy. After 15 years of offering therapy and workshops to the Los Angeles Unified School District, she opened a private practice to serve her community. Since the early 80s, Natalie has created and facilitated women’s support groups dealing with marriage, divorce, parenting, dating, illness, loss, and helping people fulfill their dreams and goals so the segue into Empty Nest Support Services was a natural extension of her skills and strengths.

When the new business was in its infancy, Natalie took a writing course where her offerings were workshopped and critiqued.  Before long, she had 150 pages and later this year, her first book, Empty Nest: Life Beyond Parenting, will be published. In addition to devoting time to her business, Natalie is the Southern California representative for the International Women’s Writing Guild and a member of the National Association for Women Writer’s and the California Speech and Hearing Association.

She rediscovered her passion for writing after a serious self reflection. Getting quiet with herself was an empowering step for Natalie and she recalls how she was so busy with life that she forgot how much she loved to write. This quiet time philosophy is one she shares with her Empty Nest clients.

Self Talk

Natalie started the business because she herself needed a support system as she began to face her empty nest reality but she soon discovered that her niche market was very popular. Clients started reaching out to her and soon she was offered opportunities to lead workshops and retreats as well as private consultations. The positive word-of-mouth testimonials helped the business to steadily increase and Natalie’s success as a writer has garnered her national media attention as a transition specialist.

Empty Nest Support Services helps anticipating empty nesters and empty-nest families through the joys and challenges of a new life chapter. Natalie is thrilled to work with people all over the country to handle this transition. She never imagined this passion would lead to speaking engagements, consulting, teaching others how to facilitate support groups, and a popular website, www.emptynestsupport.com  which features articles, tele-seminars, blogs, newsletters, a story- of -the-month, an art gallery, and a lively free forum.

An avid hobby photographer, Natalie also features photos on her website (many are her own) that depict how life is a process and a journey. Her newfound freedom with the business has allowed her to tap into her creative side in ways she finds greatly rewarding.

Know Your Market

While Natalie’s energy and enthusiasm are palpable, even on the phone – she learned to recognize her own energy and use it to her advantage. Being a solo-preneur means that she is responsible for all facets of the business, so the potential to get stressed is quite real. But Natalie has realized that she has a vulnerable side and a “wise woman” side and she tries to maintain a balance that allows her to be authentic and a savvy business woman.

When reporters and friends ask, “How do you get through exhaustion and disappointments?” Natalie replies, “With the help of my two lifetime friends, curiosity and compassion.” One consistent question Natalie hears from clients and during her presentations is, “Is this normal to feel this way?”  Natalie answers with humor and understanding, “When you are going through any life transition, whether happy or challenging, your doubter kicks in and fogs your mind.  Transitions require you to go within yourself, even though you might not like the idea.”

Natalie works because she loves it and while she admits that the computer can be a huge seduction during her day, compelling her to answer emails and respond to press inquiries, she is determined to work smarter and not harder. Her mantra is to be diligent and to use her time effectively to accomplish her goals which often means she is up at 6 am in California to be ready to reach her east coast constituents at the start of their business day.

It’s clear that Natalie has found her passion but she talks candidly about a passion being like a marriage – it requires time and communication to flourish. That is exactly what she is putting into the business. When the recession hit, she studied the market and pitched to sectors that were most eager to hear her message. The ability to redefine and rebrand is essential in a market that is anything but predictable.

A seemingly obvious market that Natalie has found difficult to tap is the college and university campuses. With a myriad of soon to be empty nester parents at orientation, Natalie is still working hard to get a toe-hold on this demographic. She knows that building her brand and her platform takes time and determination and the challenges of today will be her successes of tomorrow.

Future goals include getting more radio and TV coverage and tapping into the spa market more deeply. Natalie is considering sponsorships and ways to build her brand to make her services more accessible to a wide range of audiences.

Natalie lives in Southern California with her husband, Ken, and cat Sophie. Her daughter, Rachael, has now graduated from college and lives in Northern California where she landed her dream job. While her nest is technically kid-free, it’s not empty – Natalie has built a life and a business that has empowered her with strength and fulfills her with joy of helping others.
Natalie’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Keep checking in with yourself to see what’s new and what you need.
• Work because you love it.
• Life goes by so fast – make sure you enjoy it.
• Ask yourself what you really want.

Quote:

“When you choose your passion, remember you will be married to it! Remember that is takes time and communication to maintain.” – Natalie Caine

Resources:

http://www.emptynestsupport.com/