I saw an article about a wine and beer-maker that uses a meteorites to age his wine. I thought it was a brilliant "coo". Taking your dreams or business marketing to the next level may take some creative thinking, but with a little help from space debris it's possible.
I heard the lyrics to a song today by Selena Gomez. In the song "I love you Like a Love Song", she sings: Every beautiful lyric has already been sung so I thought why bother listening to the rest of this song.
This self-defeatist attitude towards going for your ideal career goals is bull. If Jessica Simpson had of listened to this rhetoric, she wouldn't have a $1Billion dollars Fashion business. I wonder what old Nick is thinking now about her intelligence?
Yadda, yadda...Anyway...
How can you take an idea and tweak it until it screams for media coverage? How can you stand out from the crowd?
No one becomes a maverick by buying into the herd mentality.
Ever open a magazine and see corporate pictures. Everyone in the picture looks like they all went to the same tailor,the same makeup artist and the same hairstylist. Everyone is desperate to look like they belong. Few people want to standout and be acknowledged for the Superstar they are.
I'd like to raise a toast to those brave, hearty souls who have the maverick mentality... and want to carve a bit of "star-studded" history for themselves with meteorites or trips into outer space or some adrenaline high. Cheers!!!
Angelia Miller, Professional Speaker and Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."
Picture Courtesy: Photographer Peter Ellegard. You can hear his story in the Adrenaline Living Talk Show archives.
Discovering who we are can be a lifelong process. Great Art is a lifelong process. It changes sometimes morphs into something unexpected like our lives...
A recent statistic from the book "Snakes in Suits" by Paul Babiak, Ph.D and Robert Hare, Ph.D states that nearly 3.5 percent of bosses they've worked with share the characteristics of a psychopath. And another startling statistic states that nearly 1 percent of the general population are psychopaths. With the popularity of movies like "Horrible Bosses," it's easy to assume that millions Americans can relate.
According to an article about Psychological Disorders by Jennifer Copely, psychopaths have a personality disorder that is characterized by their inability to empathize; they are selfish and ruthless. Psychopaths aren't insane; they are cold, calculating and narcissistic. Psychopaths are witty and charming with a sense of humor. They can appear to be well-adjusted which is why this behavior is so perplexing to those who deal with them.
What are the warning signs of working with a psychopath?
Psychopaths pursue goals to the exclusion of concern for anyone who stands in the way of reaching those goals. A psychopath is consumed by their desire to be the best or to obtain status. Psychopaths can not empathize; people are only speed bumps along the pathway to their desire. Taking personal offense at these individuals behavior and actions is like admitting you are insane. Remember psychopaths aren't crazy; they're manipulative and programmed to win at all costs.
Psychopaths can conceal emotions; they manipulate others emotions to get what they want. Psychopaths are impulsive and indulge in self-gratifying behavior. These individuals want what they want and don't mind walking over anyone to get it.
So if you are tempted to get involved in the office melodrama, remember that not everyone plays by the same rules. I can remember watching a television program with a couple who were having counseling and the husband was alarmed by the fact that the wife was raising there children to believe that it's OK to do anything in pursuit of your goals. The words actually came out of her mouth. I know it's TV and most of the "crap" is scripted but still this is the kind of mentality that seems to be pervasive in television programming. Have you ever walked into a business lobby and wondered how some of the rudest people can be employed as customer service representatives? Psychopath appear to be normal; in fact, they are witty and charming.
How do I deal with a Psychopath at work?
Realize that psychopaths are adept at flattery and you should be wary of anyone who is giving an excessive amount of flattery. Flattery can be taken as a form of manipulation.
Don't agree to help a Psychopath conceal his/hers manipulations. Remember when the truth comes out, you make it easy for a psychopath to manipulate a situation and blame you. Don't allow these people to bully you into doing something that you could dearly pay for later.
If the psychopath is making you life a living hell for you, you may have to assess what your priorities are. You may have to weigh a salary against your health, and sanity. Talk to a trusted superior who outranks the problematic employee but be careful especially if this individual has been with a company for a long while as blowing the whistle may have a deleterious effect on you.
If you want more info try reading Martha Stout's book, "The Sociopath Next Door".
Angelia Miller, Professional Speaker and Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."
The hope of a new future is what Richard Branson, Virgin Galatic, has built his reputation on and making space travel for civilians possible. Giving the "space travel industry" to corporations has given the space age a new shot of hope. Corporations will want to reach into the far reaches of space and perhaps create spaceships that are like the cruise ships we have today but for space. Living on Mars and building cities on other worlds will now be possible.
Attention all adventurers who want to have new explorations more than a few millions miles away from home--Earth: It could be possible.
The future is full of hope and we are living in a generation that is reaching into that future with the vision of designing a world that resembles Star Trek--a future that enables a civilian to be an astronaut.
Growing up I dreamed of exploring outer space and visiting different worlds and gazing at the rings of Saturn as a tourist. Talk to any of the people who have chosen careers as Astronauts or Scientist and you'll find that they were inspired by the vision of watching movies that featured characters that explored space. When you add vision to dreams and ignite it with intention, you get actualization.
These are exciting times we are living in--a birth of new direction for the human race. It is now possible to reach out among the stars and explore them. The technology is there and the brightest minds in the world will work on the problem until the answers are found.
The yearning to explore outer space is a yearning to explore ourselves. As we allow our minds to conceive of the possibility of space exploration beyond our solar system, we collectively dream as a global community. The "juice" in life comes from considering possibilities.
Vision is like Dandelions in an a field of marshy green grasses--hopeful, random, proud, buoyant and joyful. Everyday you should attend to your dandelions, not as weeds but as the Ambassadors of hope they represent. Are you a field of Dandelions or a lawn of green grasses with no imagination, no spontaneity and no joy.
Consider the process of building the perfect spaceship. Consider what it takes to plan and build the perfect spaceship. There is a process to get into space. There is a process and series of steps that must happen to turn your dreams into reality. It has taken Branson years to find the best materials, the best engineers and to build the best spaceship. There are few overnight successes; the seeds have been germinating for years even if those seeds were planted more than a generation before. Each of us holds the keys or answers to a larger dream, our global dream of new possibilities and new frontiers. Each life matters. Each moment matters. Each vision matters.
Angelia Miller, Professional Speaker and Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."
Musicians and singer create illusions when they paint a portrait of who they are. Gaga is all about illusions. Living the lifestyle of jet-setting celebrities like Jolie and Pitt are another form of illusions. The media lives to create illusions. Our thoughts and perceptions can be manipulated according to the illusions we choose to believe in. Julian Beever, chalk artist, takes 2D images and makes them seem magically float above the confinements of the pavement the images were created on.
Our perceptions of life create our attitudes and shape our destinies. Love at first sight is an illusion. Feeling a spark or connection with someone you just met can easily be an incorrect perception. Our subconscious minds attach meaning and comfort to things we are used to and so it may seem to be love at first sight but when you delve a deeper you may find no other bond than a mutual attraction. Illusions are powerful. I'm reminded of the Disney animated movie Snow White. The Evil Queen was under the spell of illusions; she felt that if she weren't the most beautiful woman her life had no meaning. The Evil Queen had a companion, her faithful mirror, who for most of her life told her she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Delusional people love to surround themselves with others who are sharing their delusions. Insanity begits insanity. Cults are created with the shared illusion mentality; everyone in the cult shares the same vision; thereby, strengthening the power of the illusion. The community is bolstered by the illusion of a shared vision and the sense of belonging.
Magicians make powerful illusions but sometimes they get caught up the power of their conceit and delusion. Benjamin Rucker an illusionist who went by the stage name Black Herman would bury himself alive for his audience night after night and then resurrect himself several days later to the accolades of paying customers until one night in 1934, he collapsed on stage and died. The kicker is that no one believed he was dead. No one wanted to leave so his manager charged money so that the public could view his corpse and see that Rucker was really dead ( talk about a Ripley's Believe it or Not moment). Rucker's managers excuse for charging people to see the body was that Rucker would have wanted it that way. (Facts found in wikipedia)
In a world filled with PT Barnum sized spectacles. There are very few people who can live up to the hype of being the perfect person. We pay publicist to create an image and in the mind of the public this person is superhuman. No one is allowed to just be. There must be a label placed on everything and everyone. We are living in the age of toe tags and everyone must have one or they will not be accepted. If you possess a maverick mindset you define your own parameters which usually goes against the grain of what society preaches and thusly, you are an outsider-- cast aside like last season's reality show pets.
Who and what are we if not the illusions we gaze at in the mirror of societies expectations.
Angelia Miller, Professional Speaker and Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."
The "T" in tribe represents the "treasure" that is buried deep inside each of us. Some of the treasures we have are buried so deeply that it takes a tribe and constant support and nourishing before we become aware of the true nature of our gifts. Watching others that possess the same kind of gifts you have can be inspiring and can allow you to experiment with new ideas and approaches. When looking at this video of Rachel Brice, I wonder what her life would have been like if she hadn't been exposed to her tribe would this very unique talent for belly-dancing have been nourished. I doubt it. When searching for our unique gifts, we often find unexpected gifts...gifts that don't necessarily make sense to us in the moment. When gifts don't make sense to us intellectually they are placed on a shelf and neglected. The power of the tribe is in removing that gift from the shelf, dusting it and giving it the chance to flourish.
The "R" in tribe is for "relationships". Unfortunately in a world of instant gratification, people often forget the power of building relationships. One of the most rewarding experiences there is in life is building relationships with people in your tribe. Picture this. You are at a party and you don't know anyone there. Suddenly a stranger approaches you and you begin to talk on a deeper level about the adventure life has to offer. The conversation switches to life purpose and weaves a harmonious tapestry of thoughts that you have experienced on only a few occasions in your life. This is the power of finding your tribe.
The "I" in tribe is for "Ignite". You need a tribe to ignite your passion for living and life and for living your life purpose. I was watching an interview with the opera singer Renee Fleming and she was talking about her relationship with Leontyne Price. Renee said Leontyne gave her the best advice because she had been there and could see clearly where Renee was headed. The power of finding a tribe is that there will be others who have been there and can give you the advice you need to stay on track with your goals. Igniting passion in a soul that has been downtrodden is one of the greatest reasons for finding your tribe. It was written that the only difference between a successful person who has achieved their goals is the constant presence of a mentor so imagine if you have a tribe of mentors at your disposal.
The "B" in tribe is for "Belonging". Great artists, poets, adventurers, travelers, singers, scientists, etc. have been nourshered by having a sense of belonging. Some people love the romance of being the "Lone Rider" and telling others that they were a self-made success but research shows that we must have a sense of belonging to be productive and to live life on purpose. Gang members join gangs because there is a sense of community and belonging that they don't get in their home environments. This is how important it is to have a community of people that you have a sense of belonging to.
The "E" in tribe is for "Expansion". Expansion is about having your ideas heard. Expansion is about hearing the feedback of others who can see your vision and maybe even give you the clarity and dispersive force that is needed to start living your purpose. Imagine you are on a narrow road walking along with the ability to see only a few feet in front of your footsteps. This is what living feels like for many people. Broaden that path and now turn on the lights and shine a spotlight on the right path. This is the power of finding your tribe.
Angelia Miller, Professional Speaker and Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."
Picture courtesy of Kathi Von Koerber, director, filmmaker and dancer. www.kiahkeya.com
I am a connossieur of the one-liner and this famous line from "Inception" was a killer. Who else but an Englishman, Tom Hardy, could pull it off.
If you want to live life on a large scale, you have to be willing to live life in a larger than movie-star-like way.
Pretend you have no limitations and take yourself back to a time when fantasizing about your future was not only expected it was encouraged. Do you remember a time when you could tell your parents, teachers and friends what you wanted to be and suddenly it was all possible? Nothing was impossible for you. In this safe place, you could dream and the dreams weren't small. When you dreamed, you dreamed about ruling worlds, owning countries and jet-setting to unknown destinations. Your dreams were bold and living those dreams were important to you. You even spent your days daydreaming and play-acting about the things you would do. Later as you aged and a few naysayers crossed your path those grandiose dreams began to fade and the fridged mouth of criticism began to cast its shadow on your life. You began saying things like sure, I'll work in the family store even though I have it. Sure, I'll get a degree in Law even though you hate public speaking and are inarticulate. Criticism devours dreams.
Learning to nurture your dreams again has to become the top-priority in your life. With maturity comes new dreams and the intelligence to pursue those passions with the tenacity of two-year old and the wisdom of an adult.
Pick a childhood dream and revisit; See if you can live some portion of that dream. Taking back your dreams from childhood will give the courage to pursue new dreams or the passion to pursue those childhood dreams that you've locked away.
Next month, I will be interviewing Michelle Shapiro of "Drive Like a Woman" fame who races in contests around-the-world. Michelle took her childhood dreams and turned them into a reality. She is one of many people I interview on the Adrenaline Living Talk Show who have taken their childhood dreams and turned them into reality.
Today, I interviewed Pat Croce who owns "The Pirate Museum" in St. Augustine. Pat told me that he had people discourage him when he told them about living his dream of owning a pirate museum. As a child Pat, loved pirates and would often fantasize about being one. As Pat grew up, he began collecting pirate artifacts. Pat had many obstacles including moving his museum from Key West to St. Augustine which took him over a year and seven eighteen wheelers to complete the move and the ultimate expansion of his museum. No one was going to stop Pat in his dream. He was and is unstoppable.
Michelle Shapiro took a simple obsession with cars and turned it into a unique website and a pretty awesome career. I'm sure these people are using their heavy artillery, Inception, to shoot-down the naysayers and gremlins in their careers.
The only negotiable in living your dreams should be your mindset. Are you willing to take a fresh look at your dreams and see how you can live them today? What will it take to put a smile on your face and skip in your step? What will set you apart from the vast population of the planet that has outgrown their dreams and are now content to live a mind-blowingly average life? In the words of Eames the British conman in "Inception", "You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger darling!"
Angelia Miller, Professional Speaker and Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."
Standing in your power isn't always easy but when you stand firm in all that you believe the power of rebel takes over. Standing up for your beliefs can embolden you to others. No one likes to be reminded that they settle in life. Like flicking a switch...the power of boldness can turn goals into the power of achieving your dreams. Ramming speed is an expression for the forward momentum you must have in your life as you move towards your dreams. The historical significance of ramming goes as far back as the gallys of Imperial Rome and the ancient Greeks who used trireme vessels for ramming. Fast forward a few centuries to the American Civil War and the battle of "Hamilton Roads" where the Confederate warship "Virginia" rammed the Union frigate the "Cumberland" and the historical list of examples goes on.
Creativity is like a loop when you can't find an answer to your question, you remain endlessly caught in a cycle of problem-solving and collecting data. Looping occurs in the areas of your life when you are on the pathway to moving forward in your life purpose and can take many forms. Developing the habit of ramming speed can help to overcome the endless looping of questioning why-you-do-what-you-do and the endless blaming and shaming game we play to the detriment of our goals. Success is accomplished through building momentum. The more momentum you can build the better. The stronger your desire to build ramming speed for your life the better. Living in passion is about doing whatever it takes to pursue your dreams and respecting that others have an equally important mission in life.
Living on purpose full-out isn't about reading books and asking permission from our loved ones and friends. Don't waste prescious time searching for permission and the acceptance of others. Time is the most valuable commodity of all. Accept the fact that you don't need permission anymore to live your life. Life as a verb and not a noun.
I love the scene from the Star Trek movie "Nemesis" because Jean-Luc Picard is faced with a no-win scenario and must do the unthinkable to save his weaponless starship--answer Picard rams his enemy. Boldness comes in many forms. When you have prepared and there are no other options readily available you must be willing to take a leap of faith and go one step further in the name of your dreams.
Transforming your goals into dreams requires vision and vision inspires action and action is movement which leads me to the number one reason for success which is having a coach. The main reason why people are successful isn't their attitude and it isn't their intellect or even their talent-- ouch, if you have talent!. The truth about success is that it take discipline, coaching and nurturing, action steps and setting goals with a clear intent toward creating a vision of your future. Only 3 to 5 percent of people have written goals while 95 to 97 percent of people have no written goals. The top echelon of achievers are in the 5 percentile in America. Looking at case-studies about other successful people the top ingredient is stick-tuitiveness--a ramming speed passion that no one outside the winners circle could understand. So, in the words of Captain Jean Luc Picard, "Engage" and live your dreams.
Angelia Miller, Professional Speaker and Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."
America was founded on the principles of the pioneer and the rebellious spirit of people who separated from England to make their own way independent of a monarchy. Madonna has been hailed as the chameleon of public relations; she always seems to know the perfect way to re-invent herself to keep her fan-base coming back for more. Madonna is one of the music world's most notorious shock-jocks. Fast forward a few decades to the newer versions of this rebellious creed and what do you find--names such as Adam Lambert, Beyonce, Britney Spears and Pink.
According to CNN Money, fifty-five percent of Americans are dissatisfied with their work so Americans are more inclined to admire the rebel that has achieved success on their own terms. Here is a breakdown of each little rock-star rebel for the purpose of case-study success.
Adam Lambert:
Adam actually started his career by singing in chiors in California. Singing in chiors hardly sounds like the rebellious- type territory to me but--whatever. Shortly after losing as an American Idol finalist, there were a series of what felt like well-crafted stage stunts and in combination with a gifted voice Adam's mega-career was launched. One of the most inexpensive yet powerful ways to get in touch with your inner rebel is to dress the part and Adams' appearance can only be described as a cross between Elvis and Prince. There is a strong correlation between personal appearance and success and in a UCLA study ninety-three percent of communication is taken from non-verbal cues.
Huh, I wonder what rebellious chior boys are wearing today...?
Britney Spears:
Britney to my surprise is the most highly googled person in the world--surprising. Britney began her career as an actor in the "The New Mickey Mouse Club" along with Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. The country was falling-apart four years ago, in the middle of a recession/depression, and yet the subject Americans were most interested in was Britney. Help me make since of that one. The word most associated with the rebel archetype is chameleon. These archetypes always seem to know how to reinvent themselves back into the limelight again. And Britney has the mystique and public relations cache of a modern day Madonna.
Beyonce Giselle Knowles
Beyonce began her career as a shy young girl who performed on stage and started entering contests. Her parents saw that Beyonce was talented and loved the limelight so Beyonce was encouraged to perform. The first singing group Beyonce joined was called Girls Tyme, managed by her father, which landed her on Star Search. The entertainment industry is full of introverted people who naturally flip the switch from a mild-mannered "Beyonce" personality-type to a hyper diva-like "Sasha Fierce", a name Beyonce made-up for herself as a child performer to explain her alter-ego --although personally I like the name Beyonce better. Watching Beyonce with her trade-mark bottom-bouncing moves and fearsome on-stage persona, you can see the rebel archetype at work and how it serves her in her career as a pop-star, spokesperson and actor.
Alecia Beth Moore a.k.a Pink
Pink began writing songs in her youth and started performing in clubs around the age of fourteen. Later Pink, at aged sixteen formed a girl group called Choice. Interesting factoid, Pink actually suffered with Asthma even though she was born a healthy child. How does someone with a powerful voice suffer from Asthma but become an international rock star? The answer: Pink is a rebel. The rebel archetype will only push back harder until they have achieved what they desire. No one will push them around, tell them what to do and how they should live their lives. As Pink heralds in her stereotypical warrior-diva like fashion,"So raise your glass, if you are wrong, in all the right ways--Dirty little freaks!"
Don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in and pursue your dreams. Let your voice ring out with the surety of a rebellious rock star. Don't die with regrets and full of wasted potential. As Les Brown professional speaker and change-leader often says, "The graveyard is full of wasted potential."
Angelia Miller, Professional Speaker and Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."
Great video for showing the Rebel Gladiator Archetype...I don't endorse Pepsi and actually don't drink carbonated beverages.
The spirit of man is indelible. It can dream things and accomplish great feats with little more than the will and dream to go where no other man/woman has gone before--yes, Star Trek. Creating a vision for ourselves and the world around us has been typically the domain of great thinkers, adventures, artists, architects and visionaries. When we face our greatest fears and look towards our future with the single-minded will of a person who is willing to take risks and journey to places others will not, we are greatly rewarded for our vision.
The ability to be single-minded in your purpose is one of the greatest gifts a person with a purpose can have. In a world of multi-tasking fever, we discover through research that it's not the swift hare that wins but the slowly plotting tortoise whose pursues his goal with all of his might and strength until he crosses the finish-line and not his competitor the hare. Single-minded determination is the ability to focus intently on "one" vision at a time until that vision becomes reality. It is the ability to see a vision of what you want and create a world in which that vision is a reality.
Scattering energy on the demands of work, life, family and numerous projects is not the pathway of the warrior. The warrior archetype is depicted as a solo square-jawed individual who battles his way through life with few companions or distractions his/her mind is focused on the prize. Well, we don't have to go to the extremes of living our lives without companionship but we do have to realize that what we focus on most is what we manifest.
Watching people with seemingly impossible dreams march boldly into an unknown frontier because they believe in the power of their vision, is one of the best ways of studying the success principle in action. Without vision it is impossible for us to create a world that is fashioned after our dreams. I'll take Star Trek as an example because so many of the brilliant scientists and engineers of today have stated that they have been inspired by the now billion-dollar franchise of Star Trek. Just the other day I was reading an article about scientists who are experimenting with long-distance teleportation of two atoms (talk about beem me up, Scotty). If it weren't for the powerful imagination of one individual, others would not be able to imagine a world where the impossible is no longer impossible but simply a matter of timing.
Do not hold back on your vision and your dreams no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. Never know if your unique way of seeing things is the key to unlock the mightiest of visions and gifts in another. Life is reactionary. We are interdependent whether we like it or not. Felix Baumgartner required assistance to accomplish his vision of attempting to break a world- record. With persisitance of vision and the steadfastness of single-minded purpose, there is nothing that we can not accomplish --there is nothing that we can not achieve!
Angelia Miller, Professional Speaker and Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."
My brother showed me a video of Guillaume Nery free diving into Dean's Blue Hole. The footage is so ethereal that you feel as though you are in another world. Life is like the plunge Guillaume takes into the void. He stands at the top of the void with his arms folded looking into the vastness with bold determination and you know that nothing will stop him.
Standing on the edge of the precipice of your life and looking into the darkness below can feel daunting; there are no guarantees that the decision you make to dive-in will be right decision. Yet, if you want to grow and accomplish your dreams many of the decisions that you make are like the void. Most people would like to have peace- of- mind with their decision- making; unfortunately, when we are taking the leap in life it feels as if there is no support. Our journey appears to get darker the farther down we drift into the void and our illumination seems to disappear until we reposition our live's path and begin the journey into the new phase of life called the initiation.
The vastness is a metaphor as is the Hero's Journey for life. It is necessary to go through the darkness to achieve the heights of success you desire. Along the journey of our lives, good people and blessings are ceremoniously placed in our paths to boost our efforts and encourage us to remain on the path to success.
A popular storyline for the action- adventure genre is the Hero's Journey. Every Hero's journey begins with call to adventure, which takes the character away from familiar surrounding into a new land. In this new land, the hero loses his perspective on life and is challenged through a series of trials and tribulations to rethink his beliefs, feelings and thoughts. Through the trials and tribulations, the hero is given a mentor who teaches them about life. To every hero comes an identity crisis which is called the abyss, where the hero will choose to live or die through their ability or inability to navigate through the darkness where is necessary for them to arise to new heights of success. If the hero emerges from the darkness triumphant then they are granted atonement and transformation at which point the hero returns home with all the gifts, accolades and honors that a warrior is worthy of receiving.
It is written that without a vision the people parish. It's rare for people to have a vision when they cannot see. Standing on the edge of the precipice our vision begins to wane and as we descend into the depths of darkness the only insight we can receive are the ones that are surreptitiously planted in our hearts, minds and souls. Example: When a new leader takes over they begin a new building project because they understand that when there is a new leadership there must be a new vision. And so it is with us when we begin our journey, our vision must change and our understanding of what’s possible must change or the vision will suffer. Life is a series of plunges that tests our insights and vision but without these plunges there will be no growth or the legendary successes every warrior envisions for himself/herself at the end of their trials and tribulations.
Angelia Miller, Founder and Editor and Chief of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."
It's hard to believe that Michelangelo the artist, sculpture and genius might have had a self esteem problem. But it is well documented that Michelangelo had a personal hygiene problem and was slovenly in his appearance. In today's world, genius and hygiene are taken for granted. Sure you may have the occasional eccentric who dresses oddly but rarely do you have to suffer with the inhumane body odor of an artist that doesn't bath at the local museum.
Michelangelo didn't like the way he looked--kind of sounds like the same self-esteem issues so many people flock to the plastic surgeons office to fix. If Michelangelo who was a creative and artistic genius had self-esteem problems than we can admit to our own short-comings. Self-esteem is shaped in childhood where literally hundreds of thousands of advertising messages have been bombarding us our entire lives. These messages tell us if we buy this or do this we will instantly become more desirable, likable or lovable. Is it any wonder that the divorce rate is just a little half past the 50% mark. Who takes the time to get to know people? The assumption is if it looks good then it must be good. Statistics show that men are more visual than women--this is why so many women have enhanced themselves into impossible images that only a plastic surgeon would cringe at creating.
Thinking of Michelangelo and the beauty of his frescoes that reside in the Vatican just inside Rome, you would never believe that someone so talented be so tormented by his personal appearance. I remember an interview with the late actor Charlton Heston. Heston said, "Michelangelo was an unpleasant man who never bathed." I sometimes wonder if Michelangelo was rebelling against the church that wouldn't pay him or treat him with respect. In Michelangelo's day, the approval of the church meant that you could earn a place in heaven for your accomplishments. And in no way is this an insult to Catholics but simply a point for reflection.
Self-esteem issues have caused wars and marriages to end. Why don't we like ourselves? Perhaps the question is best asked when we are in a period of reflection. Today's pace is so fast that no one has time to be patient or courteous. People immediately launch on people especially service providers. There is a since of entitlement that people believe they have. Customer service is stretched beyond the norm and companies expect lowly paid workers to turn cartwheels each time a customer snaps their fingers. Self-esteem suffers settle into a deep depression that's hard to break free of. It's a downward spiral.
Self-Esteem 101:
Learning to take a breath of air and realize that you are the only you there will ever be.
Learning to accept yourself just as you are without any additives or fillers.
Learning to accept yourself as an awe inspiring human-being.
Learning to accept that there is nothing more attractive that someone who is in love with life.
Learning to accept the fact that everyone is worthy of being loved.
Angelia Miller Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!
"I am a trailblazer, scout of "ALL Things" culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I find adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories."
A book called "The Mirror of Sacred Scriptures in Paintings" by Hugo Conti claims that Leonardo da Vinci's artwork used mirrors to tell the secret story in his painting somewhat like a filmmaker when they give you a clue to what is coming in the story. The new book takes an in-depth look into the Mirror theory and examines what we can find if we look deeper --a lesson that we can all follow.
It's always interesting to learn about a new theory that some scholar incubated in a thesis to illuminate the genius of the masters.
Looking deeper to find the hidden meaning in things:
Holding a mirror to a piece of artwork to uncover the secrets therein isn't a new concept; in fact, art students have been using mirrors to balance their works since the renaissance. Mirrors have a folklore of their own including the belief that the soul projects out of the body into mirrors in the form of reflections. These beliefs were popular when Leonardo was alive. Mirrors have always been deep and mysterious. In fact, fairy-tales feature mirrors such as the mirror that Snow White's Evil Stepmother used to find Snow White. Everyday the Evil Stepmother would gaze upon her beauty for hours...until one day she was informed by the mirror that she was no longer the fairest of them all. Vanity was the Evil Stepmothers downfall as was greed and a cold cruel heart.
Fast forward a few hundred years and a few centuries and your living in our day and age. Mirrors still have a mystique about them. Architects use their highly reflective surfaces in building such as the hall of mirrors in the Palace of Versailles in France; these mirrors seem to reflect the soul of the palace and speak of a era of romance, mystery and intrigue. The great vastness of the space that is reflected in the hall of mirrors seems to reach into another realm beyond ours into other dimensions--such as the dimensions that scholars and scientist speculate about in their theories about the origins of the universe and the plane of existence that we currently habitat. It was said that when the first man saw the Spanish Armada in the new world, South America, they couldn't comprehend it so they couldn't see it and so the theory of multiple dimensions to a flat one-dimensional race such as ours would suggest we wouldn't be able to understand multidimensional human-beings. In this way all people are alike they could be standing in front of a hall of mirrors with endless vistas of images surrounding them and still not comprehend the depths of what and who they are.
Mirrors represent the secretive side of man. that part of us we choose to hide. In the visually appealing pictures circa the 1800s eerily reflect the soul of the people whose portraits were taken. When I look at images taken by an old Eastman View or Kodak camera of that era, and at times looking at these pictures, I wonder if they're souls have been sealed in celuloid.
Holding a mirror up to our lives can be painful. At times, it involves looking deeper into ourselves and uncovering the secret hidden aspects of our personalities that may deserve to be forgotten but yet, if we are going to grow and move forward we must occasionally clean our mirrors.
If your blind spot is leaping before looking, then take a lesson from Leonardo's mirrors and look at the situation from all angles before you leap into action...
Angelia Miller, Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!...I am a trailblazer and scout of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I hunt these adventurous people, places and things and present their capsulated stories via video and text.
Choosing to live a life of purpose is no small feat. Overcoming years of defeatist thinking, can be difficult. One of the reasons, I enjoy interviewing world travelers, adventurous entrepreneurs and artists is that these people have compelling stories to share; they always overcome the odds. Overcoming the odds to live your passion is goal of all seeker archetypes. Always seeking, always looking, always asking the question: What am I here for--the eternal philosopher. The greatest people in history have grappled with this question. Nations have risen and fallen on the basis of this question: Why do I exist? Once I heard an atheist explain the emptiness of living which he stated as consisting of living life in anyway that gratified him until he died. How depressing...it takes far more faith to be an atheist than I have. There is nothing as repugnant to me than the thought that all that we know is an accident. If I believed this way I would have to admit that our existence would be a waste of potential, time and resources. I don't believe in accidents. Life should be filled with possibilities and hope because without hope the spirit dies and the mind decays. A pastor once said that we are body, mind and spirit and unfortunately, our spirit man is starving to death!
I have always known that each person has a theme for their life. For my life, the theme is courage. I feel it and breath it like oxygen. Learning to listen to the sounds of emotions and moving with the currents of life as it takes you to places that nourish and instruct you is a lesson in faith. Listening is an art-form that most people only pretend to do. People believe they are more intuitive than they actually are. None one is willing to listen. People have become lazy, relying solely on first impressions and appearances. No one is willing to get to know their neighbor. Reality shows reinforce this attitude and tendency for most people to congregate in groups that look like, think like and act like themselves. If people don't have the same planned interests and ambitions, they are immediately dismissed or worse yet as I have heard from one guru given a fake business card and shewed away. Is it any wonder why people die, swallowed by their dry, vein restrictive worlds they have created for themselves.
It takes courage to be you. It takes courage to be an entrepreneur. It takes courage to sail around-the-world when your friends are sitting on their couches watching "American Idol". It takes courage, when your friends and family "pooh foo" your dreams. It takes courage to keep pushing forward when you can no longer see a better life for yourself and the possibility of a new future. It takes courage to strive for excellence. It takes courage to stand in you convictions of living a life of purpose...
Make a promise to start living a new high octane life today. Go skydiving one weekend or go paragliding and see the possibilities warm your heart like the flame in the hearth on a wintry day. Soon the chill will fade away like spring and the welcoming of an old cherished friend bringing "you" the gift of living on purpose.
Angelia Miller, founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!...I am a trailblazer and scout of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I hunt these adventurous people, places and things and present their capsulated stories via video and text.
What does unconventional genius, Catherine Zeta-Jones and wedding cakes have in common? Slyvia Weinstock is the Leonardo da Vinci of cakes-- a slogan that conjures the kind of magic that Disney generated with there Fairy-tale wedding gowns.
Turning Your Gifts into Unconventional Genius:
With the abundance of career tests and personality profiles, anyone can know what their gifts and natural aptitudes are. Talents, gifts and aptitudes aren't enough to ensure success-- an unconventional way of expressing your talents, gifts and aptitudes in the marketplace as a product or service is imperative. Cake decorating isn't a new idea, right? Back when Weinstock was starting out, cake decorating wasn't a new idea either however bringing a level of artistic genius to an old idea took the bridal industry by storm. Listening to Weinstock, you'll find that she fell into the business by doing what came naturally to her which is baking great tasting cakes.
"Unconventional genius comes from thinking in new ways that take the training wheels off your self-expression." Angelia Miller
Creativity Tools:
Mindmapping is a technology that combines word association with pictures to bring the mind into the creative brain solving mode. Use mindmaping software to make a list your talents, gifts, and aptitudes to see which unconventional matches you can bring to the marketplace so you can be next unconventional genius in your marketplace. Seeing the free association of words and pictures together can give your mind the eureka moments that most geniuses live for.
Mindmapping software is freely available on the web.
Creativity and Brainwave frequency:
Studies show that the frequency for creativity is the alpha or theta state which can be induced through ambient or brainwave music. Reaching this more creative mode is simple; in fact, most people don't realize that they are in alpha or theta states when they are driving home in a relaxed state of mind or taking long peaceful walks.
More Creativity Tools:
Keep a file of unusual businesses or businesses that grab your attention on the internet. Make a spreadsheet and put your talents, gifts and abilities in one column and the businesses that you have in a file in another column. Begin the brainstorm ideas that can incorporate some of the unconventional ideas you have with the talents, gifts and abilities you have. This is great for the more analytical mind so they can see the possibilities in black and white.
Maverick Mentality Promotes Genius:
Mavericks never think in unconventional ways. Mavericks want more adventures, more fun and have more money --a mindset that everyone should adopt in their careers. Weinstock is a maverick in her industry. Bringing the maverick mindset to the market with great branding through the use of archetypes and quality products and services is key as well. The archetype that most Americans relate to is the archetype of the Maverick--the lone wolf who is a self-made millionaire. This idea isn't true but it's the rethoric that most people believe in.
Being a maverick means not being afraid to step out on a limb when others are sitting on the shoreline gasping at your nerve and let's be honest gossiping about it too. Being a maverick means thinking on a massive scale... If your lifestyle/business doesn't scare the heck out of you then your dream isn't big enough. If you know how you can pull your vision off without village-size resources...then your dream isn't worthy of Maverick status.
Mavericks are Status Symbols:
Quality is always noticed. If you give a great product or service, people will pay. People will pay any price you name in the pursuit of quality. Your reputation for quality becomes a symbol of status. Strive to be the da Vinci of whatever industry you dominate.
The Maverick mindset is one that isn't afraid to be bold, to be unique, to be different.
Angelia Miller, Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!...I am a trailblazer and scout of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I hunt these adventurous people, places and things and present their capsulated stories via video and text.
Disney takes their classic trademark fairy tales and spins them into marketing gold in a new bridal line recently launched. Using the formula of dreams plus marketing to create a new and profitable bridal line is the focus of Disney's newest venture.
Fact: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first animated feature that Disney released in 1937 and was based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.
Fact: Both Cinderella, 1950, and Sleeping Beauty, 1959, were based on the French authors Charles Perrault's classic telling of the fairy tale stories.
Disneys special brand of story telling has launched an institution who identity is better know than most countries. Walt Disney started out with a dream and a small cartoon studio in the 1920s an entertainment business that has become a dynasty for dreams. Disney was a visionary who surrounded himself with those who could materialize his visions of a world built for children of all ages and innovative dreams.
Let's take the word "image" and use it as an acronym for success:
The "I" in image stands for "image." Disney is selling the fantasy of happily ever after. Generations of women have grown up with the fantasy of falling in love with their prince and watched their favorite Disney cartoon character spectacularly swathed in designer fashion lines as they dance off singing wildly into the sunset. Can you hear the overture? The image and business of making dreams come true is what the Disney bride is looking for.
@ Walt Disney: "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."
The "M" in image stands for magic. There isn't a Disney little girl alive that doesn't want magic and fantasy. A Disney bride wants the magic of their first wedding to be perfect and to be filled with the promise of dancing off into the sunset with their prince charming. In the video, lovely illustrations and a fantasy bridal photo shoot which illustrate my point beautifully. It's all about setting the "mood"... as the line goes in one of my favorite Disney classics "The Little Mermaid." Can't you see the boat swirling as the music and choraling voices encourage Ariel and her prince to kiss. Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings by Alfred Angelo is sure to be a hit with a built in loyal fan-base that has been watching that special brand of Disney magic since pre-school.
@ Walt Disney: "All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them."
The "A" in Image stands for acknowledging the core needs of every Disney Bride. I can remember seeing Cinderella for the first time and how my eyes lit up when I saw the fairy godmother grant Cinderella her dream dress to go to the ball. In the moments that led up Cinderella's wish, she and her friends the mice she attended to so lovingly tried to make her a dress but failed. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs people need love and belonging to have their basic needs met. The mice served a function by supporting and loving Cinderella as did her fairy godmother. Understanding Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and the importance of feeling a sense of love and belonging comes from choosing the perfect bridal gown surrounded by friends and loved ones for that special wedding day.
@ Walt Disney: "You can design and create and build the most wonderful place in the world but it takes people to make the dream a reality."
The "G" in image stands for generational appeal. When Disney was thinking about their marketing and the impact that the Disney brand has had they knew they would have a generational appeal from mother to daughter. Generational appeal comes through quality of service and a dependable brand. Trust is passed on from mother to daughter as are the desire to share special dreams, memories and wedding dresses.
@ Walt Disney: " When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably."
The "E" in image stands for excellent reputation. Disney has long been associated with quality and when you think of the word Disney you can't help but smile. Disney brings out the little child in each of us that sleeping beauty that is waiting to be kissed. Over the years, children of all ages come to expect that a Disney cartoon will be good; in fact, people think nothing of bundling their kids off to a Disney cartoon with no more incentive than the 20 second commercial they glanced at the squeeling invitation of their children.
@ Walt Disney: " We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
Angelia Miller, Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and of the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!... I am a trailblazer and scout of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I hunt these adventurous people, places and things and present their capsulated stories via video and text.
Watch the magic as Disney launches it bridal line:
The profile of a Maverick's nature is like a Tango dancer. Each characteristic of a maverick is showcased in intricate detail through the movement of the dancers.
A maverick is: magnificent, adventurous, victory, excellent, ready, intent, candid, kick-in the-pants mentality. Let's look at each of the characteristics as it pertains to the fiery dance of the Tango.
A maverick is magnificent. The Tango is passionate and magnificent. Each dancer must be completely emerced in the art of dancing in order to reach the goal of being the best in the world. Magnificients takes time, practice and passion. Magnificence is achieved through hours of practice and dedication.
A maverick is adventurous and no one knows better than a Tango dancer that you must be adventurous to be the best. The Tango dancer is adventurous rather like a crouching panther low and foreboding. Study the Tango and you discover that the best dancers have the element of adventure and danger. There is nothing ordinary about a great dancer; they understands how to take complex patterns and spin them into the gold of the Tango.
A maverick is always focused on victory like a professional Tango dancer. It take thousands of hours to become proficient in the diverse movements of the Tango and thousands more to become a champion. Being a winner, is a process of dedication and takes real commitment. Tango dancers make many sacrifices to be at the top of their fields; they could be spending time with their families; they could be socializing with their friends and etc but they choose to put in long hours to become the world's best Tango dancer. A dancer is dedicated to their craft
A maverick is excellent. Becoming proficient, is reward enough for a true Tango dancer. As you watch the movement of the dancers, you will see how instinctual and kinesthetic a Tango dancer has to be to conquer the diverse skill-set necessary to become a winner. Dancers learn to trust their partners through the bond of having a common goal.
A maverick is always ready for whatever opportunity may come just as a Tango dancer is prepared through a daily regimented practice of their art-form. I am reminded of something Oprah once said, "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity."
A maverick is intentional. Goals are important and statistically speaking only three percent of people actually make their goals because so few of these people actually write their goals down. Tango dancers and artists of all kinds get to the tops of their fields because their intent is to win.
A maverick is candid and they possess a kick-in-the-pants mentality. Watch a dancer as they rehearse and you will find that these people aren't your typical person. They are tireless and dedicated to making their dreams a reality. They will do whatever they have to live their dreams. A Tango dancer will do whatever it takes to be at the top of their fields; they will get coaching to improve their overall presentation or paying top dollar for wardrobe and makeup to present a polished image to the judges. A professional Tango dancer is candid about winning and they want to do what it takes to be a winner everyday and not just during the weekday!
Angelia Miller, founder of Diva Maverick Mavens, found of the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for life!...I am a trailblazer and scout of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I hunt these adventurous people, places and things and present their capsulated stories via video and text.
In the midst of the war in Libya and the devastation of the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, it's easy to succumb to depression. In every tragedy there is a rainbow of hope and the rainbow I'm referring to is a four-month-old baby girl who was found in the earthquake rubble a week ago in Japan. The infant was reunited with her father shortly after her rescue. Thinking about her blessing inspired me to write about having an contingency plan for when the unpredictable occurs.
Five Steps to think about when preparing your contingency plan:
The first step is to consider your budget. How long could your business run if you were to become ill or indisposed for a time? Who would run the business? Could the business run with minimal supervision. Can the business be supervised from a remote location assuming communications would permit? Could you hire or train a replacement? Would your business be devistated if your product was manufactured entirely in a devistated country?
The second step to consider is how much of the business can be automated? Can you incorporate other sources of revenue to compensate for an emergency. Can multiple sources of income such as property and investments be liquidated quickly in case extra income is needed. Do you have a rainy day savings account? Do you other suppliers that could substitute?
Step three is looking at insurance and seeing exactly what is covered in case of an emergency? What are the major natural disasters in your area of the world? Are you insured for these natural disasters? If you have a brick and mortar business, have you taken pictures of your assets? Where are these pictures stored and are they safe?
Step four is making sure you have your paperwork in order? Do you have copies of your business papers, tax forms, insurance forms, invoices, backup drives, software, client lists, your will, critical resource lists, and so forth stored safely in a database and/or safe deposit box?
Step five is making sure that your safe. Do you have an emergency plan if disaster strikes? Do you practice emergency evacuations until they are smooth? Where would you go in an emergency and if you got separated from loved ones where would you meet? Do you have emergency numbers written down in case your blackberry dies...
This list is by no means complete but if it has gotten you thinking; it was worth the effort. Having a contingency plan is smart!
Angelia Miller, founder Diva Maverick Mavens and founder of Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!... I am a trailblazer and scout of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I hunt these adventurous people, places and things and present their capsulated stories via video and text.
What is the difference between you and say a Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt, besides the obvious? Jolie and Pitt are two of the most recognizable celebrities in the world. When people think of Jolie and Pitt they think: attractive, rebellious, unconventional and humanitarian to name a few.
Kam Khan is an actor who understands the importance of branding. Khan is a photographer and his pictures are extraordinary. When Khan works he thinks about the kind of image/brand he wants to communicate to an agent, producer, director, etc.
Three Branding Question you Need to Ask Yourself...
The first and most obvious is who are you? What do you stand for? Writers have been familiar with archetypes and frequently use archetypes as tools for writing. There are the archetype of the diva, the rebel, the artist, the healer, the innovator and the visionary to name a few. In planet Hollywood archetypes are worshipped and the more exaggerated the better and this exaggeration is mirrored through public relations and advertising. Your image is everything in business. You need to be larger than life even if you're 5ft and a die-hard introvert. Yes, there are many actors and performers that are introverts so that excuse won't pass mustard so your first step in this process is defining who you are.
The second branding question is what do you have to say that is different from your competition which brings us to another archetype that I haven't listed above which is that of the detective. Ask yourself why would someone come to me rather than the competition? What can I offer that know one else is offering? How am I unique? And the answer isn't I give the best customer service in the market place. Customer service isn't a brand; it's the side to the main course. Being unique is a tough may require in-depth examination of your personal gifts which may not always be apparent at first. Talk to friends associates. Ask for feedback from clients as to how you have been of value to their lives and businesses.
The third and final question is am I passionate about the image I'm presenting. If you aren't, then the branding isn't in harmony with who you are. A gifted commedian can't behave like a sage and vice-versa. The archetype that is most natural to you is the archetype you should be presenting in your business. That's all branding is. It's simply the ability to choose an archetype that is your personality and then working that archetype into your marketing, public relations, media, and advertising. Media loves archetypes and people love to label so label yourself and have fun with it.
Angelia Miller, founder Diva Maverick Mavens and founder of the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!...I am a trailblazer and scout of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I hunt these adventurous people, places and things and present their capsulated stories via video and text.
