Rob Dial knew he had greatness inside, even as a teen delivering pizzas and working at PetSmart. He just didn’t know how or where to let it out. Then while working in the cruelling job of selling Cutco knives door-to-door, it dawned on him where his inborn talents really were. Promoted to run a franchise with the company at 21, he grew it to a multi-million-dollar business. Today he runs a motivational podcast, MWF Motivation, alongside a coaching practice and an e-commerce business.
Colby Rebel was four when her grandfather visited her with a message for her mom. She didn’t know he’d died the week before. And this was just the beginning of many experiences like this. An internationally recognized psychic medium, master teacher, radio host and author, she spends much of her time helping others understand how to build a business of spirituality. She has recently launched her book, “Leap of Faith: How to Build Your Spiritual Business.”
Mac Prichard tells how to hack the hidden job market, using strategic, practical steps. As publisher of Mac’s List, an online community for people looking for rewarding, creative, and meaningful work, his site receives more than 80,000 visits a month. It includes, among other resources, a job board, a blog, a free video “How to Wow and Woo Employers on Line,” plus information on his newest course, Hack the Hidden Job Market.” Mac also hosts a weekly podcast, “Find Your Dream Job.”
Craig Cody was on a steady upward career path at the New York Police Department when he hit a wall. Ready for the next test to be offered—his only path to another promotion—he kept waiting and waiting. Finally, he took a big risk on a totally new venture. His early fascination with Wall Street and economics led him to launch a new career as a certified tax coach and financial planner.
Amber Beam achieved a slew of early career promotions and became a victim of her own success. She reached the top of the mountain and felt as if there was an obstruction. She couldn’t even see the view from the top. It was time to try a “side hustle.” It wasn’t that she no longer loved her job, she just knew she wanted something more. She launched The Art of Personal Growth Podcast, and began her Self-Help Crash Test Dummy experiment – testing inspiring ideas from gurus in her own “real life” and sharing her results with listeners.
John Dwyer, returning to Australian after meeting with his client, Disney, was greeted with the news that there had been “a printing error” in his absence. With those words, he knew he had just lost millions of dollars. With only a few weeks before the bank would close his doors, he turned up the heat on a prime new client opportunity, calling the prospect every day. When the phone call came, the man on the line started with “We’ve made a decision on the 5 companies pitching us,” and ended with “Never ring me again for the rest of your life!”
WendyY Bailey has been called a “Force of Nature” and trendsetter in coaching because of her fearless approach to innovation. She is a sought-after sales coach for her fierce and dynamic dedication that inspires individuals, groups and organizations to create extraordinary results.
Marty McDonald knows about social media career strategy from the perspective of an internet marketer and a headhunter who uses social media in his searches. Online job hunting is marketing yourself, and your profile and footprint are vital elements. He is a co-founder and CEO of Bad Rhino Inc., a full service social media and digital marketing agency based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He has used social media and internet marketing strategies to build online marketing businesses for more than 13 years.
Craig Ballantyne, reflecting on his life, quotes Steve Jobs: “You cannot connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking back.” Connecting the dots in his own life, Craig observes, “If you had told me when I was 18 what I’d be doing at 40, I would have looked at you as if you had two heads! Helping people on the internet, making workout videos and sharing them online, writing web articles about the science of exercise – none of these options existed a generation ago.” Today they’re how he makes his living.
Sadie Mitchell, Ph.D., recalls her early days as a nursing student on clinical rotations. One of her patients could neither talk nor swallow. She asked his permission to pray with him and he nodded O.K. The next day, he could swallow. Soon, he could eat again. Sadie has developed her belief in the importance of the spiritual dimension in health and healing. Today she trains fellow believers how to minister to homebound senior adults.
Barry Demp, after 12 years of rewarding job assignments with a large pharmaceutical company, unexpectedly found himself no longer looking forward to his future, or even wanting to go to work the next day. He kept at the job, but enrolled in adult education courses, too. It was there that he found what he was meant to do…for the rest of his professional life.
Deborah Rosenberg was like many children whose love of animals began with a family pet. Learning about animal cruelty, she questioned humans’ relationships to the animal world. Then, seeing a video about leather imported from China, made from dog skin, she committed to becoming a vegan and 100% cruelty-free. She is now a leader in cruelty-free and wellness design and has been a featured designer on the TLC cable network and appeared on The Today Show. Deborah lectures and writes articles on humane and wellness design.
Susan Miner explains how anxiety is at the core of our compulsions and problem behaviors, but the solution is not what you think. Our internal perspectives, spirituality, bodywork, and coping skills govern how we feel, not our outer circumstances. After traveling the world as a super-model, Susan devoted the past 15 years to helping clients and students naturally reduce their anxiety and increase their confidence. A workshop facilitator, author, and counselor, she wrote “Beautiful Energy: Exercising to Reveal Your Inner Peace.”
Jim Beran reflected on his own life experiences and began writing them down. He became convinced that everyone has a story to tell, and everyone’s life has inherent value. Reading a lifetime of letters his father wrote by hand to his mother, he discovered a hero’s journey. Now Jim is retelling the story in his book, "The Biggest Short Guy: The Amazing Untold Story of Walter Beran, the CPA Who Changed L.A.," because not only was his father his hero, he was the greatest man he ever knew.
Laura Meier was a young lawyer at 24. She was finding her way, doing her best, but knew she had a lot to learn. Then, in a meeting with her managing partner and the Mayor, she was shocked when the mayor said, “Our city attorney just quit. We want Laura to have the job.” She was even more surprised to hear her boss’ reply. She learned the lesson early in her career: when opportunities come your way, say yes, and then do whatever it takes to meet the challenge. Don't say no. If it's meant to be, just say yes and go with it.”
Jeff Ryan was blessed with a good family, a keen mind, and a successful business. While he was on a routine visit to a worksite, a pipe, carrying pressurized concrete, exploded. For nearly 10 minutes, he appeared to be dead. Since the accident, he has been pursuing his goal of empowering people around the world to reach their full potential, beginning with people facing humanitarian crises and natural disasters.
Jessica Fabrizi loved meeting new people on holidays during her childhood. She always got their addresses. Many people promise to write, but Jessica actually did, cultivating relationships through her letter writing, first in her native Italian, then in seven other languages. This passion for connecting with people has stayed with her and is now a critical part of her newest business, One Degree to Connect
Meredith Bell explains how replacing an old, established way of doing things with a “new and improved” way can seem unnatural and inconvenient. Time, commitment and effort are key. In business since 1982, she helps companies develop the people side of their business. Her software company’s programs are used by consultants, coaches and HR professionals to help managers become more effective leaders. She and her business partners have worked together for 25 years. Many of their clients have used their products for 20 years.
Brendan Ridings was adrift after college at age 24. A client he was training at the gym told him about his trips to Haiti and later invited Brendan to join him on a trip. Brandon said yes. What he would see and experience would reshape his life forever. This included developing a product to help alleviate back pain, which he built into a company, and now he helps fund a school in Haiti, and has partnered with the Make in India initiative to develop and implement advanced wound care for underprivileged populations.
Michelle McQuaid was at a high point in her successful career, living in New York, the city of her dreams, when she suddenly felt she was living a life of “grays and blahs.” She started asking herself, “Why am I not enjoying myself? Is this what being a grown-up looks like?” Then, an interview on The Daily Show with Jon Steward totally changed her direction. Harvard professor Tel Ben-Shahar was describing on the science of positive psychology on a television show, the idea that we can measure human flourishing and create interventions to improve it. He said we can actually teach people to be happier. Soon she was commuting from Australia to Pennsylvania to learn the science that was energizing her.
Drew Taddia was captain of winning high school teams in three different in Canada, but his hundreds of letters to U.S. college coaches were coming back, “Not interested.” So, he targeted four states with warm climates, packed his bags and just showed up at a California college. The coach looked at him like he was crazy when this unknown player told him, “I’m going to play for you,” but Drew made it into the tryouts and onto the team. Knowing he had work to do, he taught himself nutrition and fitness. “Soon I became the go-to guy of how to design a fitness program.”
Regina Partain and her husband built a $4-million staffing firm and a 44-year marriage. Then came the recession. But helping others achieve their dreams was still her passion. “No spring chicken,” she set about finding a new way to empower others. Using her life wisdom, she learned coaching and internet marketing. Remarried now, her practice includes helping couples build their marriages and their businesses.
Hilde Larsen is a certified health and wellness coach and detox specialist with a burning passion for life and the power we all hold within. She has overcome severe illness, pain and suffering through natural healing methods, and is now helping others find their true health and passion, to go from surviving to thriving. She has spent the last 10 years studying health and healing on all levels. Her strength is her firsthand experience of the subject. She is currently writing a series of five books, which will include her own journey from "Hell to Inspired,” detoxification, nature's ability to heal, and raw food living.
Dan Kuschell, a serial entrepreneur, was building five companies simultaneously when his son was born. Only two weeks later, after morning chest pains, he was lying in a hospital bed facing a frightening prognosis and writing his will. He did go home in four days, but his life would never be the same. Now, with his health scare behind him, he spends his time working on fun projects, including helping Joe Polish and his GeniusNetwork.com grow, and coaching clients in how to have a greater impact and expanded contribution. In addition to his “To Do” list, he also keeps a “Not-To-Do” list.
Kim Martin was in a job interview to be the manager of a fitness club. She had some management skills, but was a total newbie in the health and fitness world. Added to that, she had struggled with weight issues all her life. But something dawned on her, and she knew there was nothing random about her being there at Curves Fitness that day. “This could be the opportunity for me to take control of my life, get healthy, and use it as a motivator,” she thought. “If this works for me, I really believe I can inspire a lot of women.”