While a young girl, Tasia Malakasis was introduced to the “vast mystery of food” by her grandmother. Yet as she notes, it took virtually a lifetime for this passion to “resurrect itself as a career”. It would be years later and in the midst of a successful career outside the food industry that Tasia would decide to take a break and enroll in a culinary institute. Still, it took seven more years and a “giving up” of some things before being able to say: I am the best parts of me now.
Category: Inspiration to Follow Your Blueprint
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The Effect You Have
by Ginny Kravitz, Deputy Editor
Today’s profile demonstrates that while sometimes big changes are needed to fulfill your life’s passion, it’s not always necessary to carve out an entirely new career path. For some people, passion is directly related to the fields they choose. For others, passion exists alongside the career, each supporting the other.
Mindy’s Story
In 2006, Mindy participated in a Now What?® Group Coaching Program to explore possible new paths to take her career. Interestingly, what emerged as a powerful theme was her love of music and her desire to pick up the violin again. This clue
informed her as she sought to articulate her purpose — who she is at her core. Mindy expresses this as: to bring lightness of spirit to other people. She began to give her niece violin lessons and eventually joined a community orchestra.Today Mindy attends weekly rehearsals and performs at concerts once a month. Mindy has had the honor of playing second chair First Violin and in order to hold her place she must practice consistently and compete with her fellow players on quality. Playing the violin is an activity Mindy enjoys alongside her full time job as a Support Availability Manager with an IT Management Software and Solutions Company.
What Mindy said upon completion of the coaching program in 2006:
“I liked the way we were to let go of our previously conceived “can’t” list and work from a place in the past when we were invited to dream more on our future… and that to do this process we had to remain open and not pigeon-hole ourselves.”
“The most meaningful discovery I made… is that regardless of where I work, I create my reality by my choices.”
What Mindy says today:
“Each week at concerts, I’m aware that by stepping out of my work reality into this other aspect of my life, I am completely taken over by it. When I am through, I notice a change in my sense of self. It challenges me in a way I am not utilizing for work, and I am giving something that seems very tangible to people who get a new experience at every concert we play. It is a bit Zen-like because when I am through, my senses are reawakened, I even breathe differently, and I am at peace — I don’t get that any place else. I almost can’t drive my car correctly after rehearsals!”
What Affects You?
What accompanied Mindy’s clarity of purpose was not a drastic career change but rather a desire to pick up the violin again after many years. Just as she wanted to “bring lightness of spirit” to others, Mindy experiences lightness of spirit when she abandons herself to the music. And so it goes with living your purpose. The effect you have on others is directly related to what affects you deeply.
This Week, consider:
Like playing the violin for Mindy, what affects you deeply? What kinds of things are you drawn to? When you are engaged in them, what is the effect you have on others?
What brings you lightness of spirit? Whatever it is, make some room for it this holiday season and share it with those around you.
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Papa School, Priorities, and Paradigms
These economic times are the impetus to reevaluate our priorities, as demonstrated by today’s article and accompanying video. See what one father in Japan is doing to make a difference for not only his own family, but others as well.
These economic times are the impetus to reevaluate our priorities, as demonstrated by today’s article and accompanying video. See what one father in Japan is doing to make a difference for not only his own family, but others as well. You know an idea is a good one when it goes global.
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Trading In Her Stilettos for Work Boots
Each person’s process to carving out a new path is unique. For some it happens incrementally and for others it’
s more of a leap. That was the case for Kristin Kimball, the person profiled in today’s story, who describes the change she made from city person to farmer as “abrupt and unforeseen”. For Kristin, change came in three areas at once: romantic, professional, and geographic. Her story reminds us that you can never predict the shape that opportunity will take nor the degree of impact it will have. For as uprooting as making three changes at once must have been for Kristin, she says she has gained “the deep pleasure of commitment”.“From The Office to the Farm: One Woman Makes a Drastic Career Change.”
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Continuing Education More Important Than Ever
Some interesting thoughts here on what “continuing education” means today. Included are real life examples and a discussion of the various reasons for pursuing additional education such as: to upgrade skills, maintain competitiveness in the market, improve candidacy for advanced positions, or as a conduit to a new career. Networking opportunities with professors and fellow students can also be an additional benefit. Ray Caprio, vice president for continuing education at Rutgers University, comments: “…state of the art is becoming obsolete so quickly that whatever your profession is, it’s important to constantly upgrade your knowledge base.”
