June 2003

Inspiration on careers, networking and writing

In this issue:
Editorial: Have You Found Your Passion?
Let me introduce you to: Tracy Plaice and the BRE Networking Centre
News you can use: Free ebooks, Get Up and Grow, Difficult People
What’s on: June and July

“Where words speak louder than actions”

Have You Found Your Passion?
Less than a month ago I gave the talk I call Find Your Passion to 80 or so expatriate women at the American Women’s Club in Amsterdam. It was a fabulous building, a vast church-like room and a super place to give a presentation. And it was a sunny day outside, so that may have had something to do with it, but I really felt the audience was with me that day. But the day had started less well.

I had arrived late with only five minutes to spare but it was not supposed to be that way. I had bought myself a street map and being a teensy bit scared of public transport in foreign locations, had decided to walk to the venue from the Centraal Station. As usual I had my suitcase on wheels, crammed with books, with me,. Once I had used my big new map to check the general direction I needed to go I stuffed it in the outside pocket of my case, boldly crossed a busy road and headed off.

Two minutes later I needed the map again. I rummaged in my suitcase pocket. Oh dear! The outer pocket on my case was not a pocket at all, it was a sleeve. My map had gone. But I was a hardened traveller, I could do this. I was too scared to get on a tram and too proud to ask a stranger the way, but I reckoned I could handle this mishap with a map. So I guessed where to go, I let my instinct lead me. I knew I had to cross a canal at some point, I’d find that canal and all would be well.

Within seconds I found myself staring into a shop window that had a rather interestingly clad lady in the window. Hum. There was a chance I was lost, but there was no way I was asking directions here.

Eventually, ten canals later, I plucked up the courage to ask someone on a bike for directions. He had a pile of parcels with him so had to be a courier of some kind. I soon discovered it was his first day and he was lost too! As my blasé attitude turned to desperation I began asking everyone I passed the way and my confidence returned.

Anyway, with five minutes to my talk, and rather flustered from dragging my case over so many cobbles and hump backed bridges I arrived at the venue for my talk. Instinct and determination to handle it without the aid of map or public transport I had made it.

The lobby was crammed with people who all knew each other, but I found a table with the words Welcome Table marker on it and went over. Within seconds I had a cup of coffee in my hand and felt among friends.

Forty five minutes later, my talk was over. Time had flown. Despite having no props, no overhead projector and a half page of notes, I had never been lost for words. It all came naturally. They seemed to have liked it. I’d made them laugh, made them think and encouraged them to listen.

Are there any questions?’ I asked, scanning the room for a pair of eyes to meet mine and a hand to raise.

‘When are you coming back?’ someone called out.

‘What courses do you run?’ asked another. Not quite the questions I had in mind, but ones I was very pleased to receive.

Afterwards, in high spirits, I went on to chat to many of the attendees as they put their name on the list to receive this newsletter and the notes. A sizeable number of them also bought copies of my books. I was also paid for doing the talk, which is always a bonus.

Then I realised I was having an Aha moment. Here I was, talking about finding your passion, when, quite clearly, everything told me I had found mine. And here, according to my own personal theory, is why I think I know:

Jo’s Ten Passion Posts

1 I found my way there without a map and by following my instinct.
2 Along the way I asked for directions.
3 When I arrived it felt like coming home.
4 While I was doing what I love to do people listened.
5 As a result of my work I made people think differently.
6 I got great feedback and got paid too.
7 I was doing something that came naturally.
8 People wanted to stay in touch with me and signed up for my newsletter.
9 People wanted to buy my products and signed up for my courses.
10 The combination of all the above made me walk on air, time flew. I was ‘in the zone’.

In my experience, finding your passion is hard enough, but sometimes you need a check list of points to confirm that when you feel unsure whether you really have found your passion or not, you are on the right track. There is no map to lead you to your passion, finding it comes naturally and is borne out of who you are and what you love to do, but you do need some signposts on the way to help you feel you are on the right track. Try using my ten Passion Posts above. They worked for me, I hope they will work for you.

Jo Parfitt
Believe in blue sky

Let me introduce you to . . .
As passion seems to be a bit of theme this month it is fitting that I introduce you to Tracy Plaice. I met Tracy a year or so ago through the Professional Speakers Association (PSA) (www.professionalspeakers.org <http://www.professionalspeakers.org/> ). Tracy has a passion for playing the piano, but she also had a crushing fear of performance. Well, she set herself a gruelling task in 2002, that she would conquer that fear and play the piano in public at every opportunity, culminating in the PSA national conference in November 2003. I saw that performance. I’m not sure who was more delighted, Tracy or the hundreds in the audience who were rooting for her. Tracy has gone beyond her dream and continues to fly, she now performs Victoria Wood numbers with fellow speaker, Mo Shapiro, and together they are running a workshop called ‘Let’s Do It’, which is all about finding your passion and living your dreams. It takes place on Sunday June 13th In Kegworth, Derbyshire and costs just £65. For more information please email Mo on mailto:sales@inform-global.com

Incidentally, Tracy is writing a book about conquering fear, and if you too have beat the gremlin that has kept you from your passion, please get in touch, she would love to hear from you on mailto:tplaice@aol.com.

And now, quickly, I’d like to tell you about a great new facility in London, near Euston Station for anyone who might want a place to meet that has a clubby atmosphere, or somewhere to hire rooms and run a course. The Business Referral Exchange networking group has hooked up with MIT in Euston Street and now offers The BRE Networking Academy. It costs less than £25 a quarter to be a member and you can meet your clients there in the atrium with good food and fab coffee. I met Marie Mosely there last week and thoroughly enjoyed our chicken with tarragon, though we tried to resist the chips. For more information on the BRE Academy look at www.brenet.co.uk <http://www.brenet.co.uk/> .

News you can use

Free stuff
Take a look at http://www.free-ebook-directory.com/ for a list of free ebooks.

Freelance writers can get some inspiration and ideas from
http://www.worldwidefreelance.com

Marian Weston would like to tell you about a great book she has enjoyed and reread called Get Up and Grow, by Philippa Davies.

‘It is one I bought about a year ago, but have recently re-read, and it is very practical, easy to understand and makes sense, I highly recommend it for those moments when the motivation seems to have deserted you!’ she says.

In the last Inspirer I talked about spotting bullies in the workplace and at home, so I hope those of you who would like to get involved with Nancy Slessenger’s next book have got in touch with her for the survey. If not then don’t forget to go to http://www.yourworstrelative.com/ and do so when you next have a moment. Nancy is running a course on Dealing with Difficult People at Nottingham University on July 21st . for just £199. You can get details on

http://www.vinehouse.co.uk/seminar/af3/index.htm. One past attendee said of the course :

“I got a blinding result…I did what you said and it worked!”
- Andy Wood, AstraZeneca

What’s On June and July

Tuesday 1st June
Powertools for Publicity
Winning Connections for Women, Castle Hill Language School, Stamford, Lincs
7.30pm
£5
Come and find out how to get yourself free publicity by writing about your business –and no, this is not about press releases. Please contact me directly about this on mailto:info@summertimepublishing.com.

Monday 7th June
Powertools for Publicity
Connecting Women, Den Haag, Holland
7pm
Come and find out how to get yourself free publicity by writing about your business –and no, this is not about press releases. Please liaise with Jacinta Noonan for further information on mailto:j.noonan@inter.nl.net. Or of course you can contact me directly.

Wednesday 9th June
Release the Book Within
Den Haag, The Netherlands
Full day
€150
Jacinta Noonan is organising this one for me at the Treehut. Come along and learn how to start writing that book you have always meant to write – but first discover what on earth that book is about! Please liaise with her for further information on mailto:j.noonan@inter.nl.net. Or of course you can contact me directly.

Sunday 13th June
It’s Tracy and Mo’s Let’s Do It workshop. See News You Can Use for details, above.

Wednesday 30th June
Definite Articles
Collyweston, Lincs, England
Full day
£80
Come and learn how to write and sell articles about everything and everyone you know already. Yes, it’s researchless writing – and it works.
For more information and to book please email me directly at mailto:summertimepublishing.com

Thursday 1st July
Powertools for Publicity
Buy the Book, High Street, Stamford, Lincs
£5
Come and find out how to get yourself free publicity by writing about your business –and no, this is not about press releases. For more information please contact me directly at mailto:summertimepublishing.com.

Tuesday 6th July
Release the Book Within
Collyweston, Lincs, England
Full day
£80
Come along and learn how to start writing that book you have always meant to write – but first discover what on earth that book is about!

For more information and to book please email me directly at mailto:summertimepublishing.com.

Wednesday 21st July
It’s Nancy’s Dealing with Difficult People seminar, please see News You Can Use, above for more details.