Why I'm Against Exercise :: and I owned three fitness centers for 14 years

When I hear the words:  exercise, workout, training, training log, heart rate monitor, or God forbid...burning calories...I don’t know whether I want to cry or y-a-w-n. 

I don’t find the conversation or the practice of those things very stimulating or fun.  And yet I “exercise” all the time. I’m complimented for it and even admired for it. People tell me they wish they had my discipline and willpower.

Here’s the truth. I don’t do ANYTHING (w/ the exception of going to the dentist and that one time I took my daughter to an amusement park) that I don’t really like. I have never been able to muster up discipline or willpower to engage in something I didn’t honestly love just for some notion of “I should”, or “it’s good for me.” Not my style.

Here’s the deal, if you hate it, it is NOT good for you.   

For the record I run (trail running) and bike (mostly mountain) because it feeds my soul. Those are two of my passions. I connect to nature, Source, and to the deepest level of myself through these activities. Sometimes they are meditative or provide divine downloads and at other times they are purely freeing and playful. There is nothing like feeling the wind in your face and mud splattered on your legs. Love it.  It’s not exercise, it’s a lifestyle and a soul passion.

Any fitness that comes from biking and running is an awesome bonus.

But here’s the dirty (because I love mud!) on fitness, weight loss, health….

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for a body in motion. But that can be achieved through many things. The key is to give yourself a break and permission to enjoy what you really enjoy. Quit forcing what’s not working. If you hate the gym, don’t go. Don’t feel bad about it. Redefine what exercise is and how it can look. Do what you love. Experiment, explore, and keep only what feels good. Dance, swim, have more sex, chase the kids more, walk your neighbor’s dog.

Listen, I owned 3 fitness centers for 14 years. I’m a certified Holistic Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC. I’ve studied with the best of the best and here is what you need to know.  It’s simple.

Yes, movement (what most refer to as working out) is a big part of your overall health and wellness. We are meant to move.

But, the NUMBER ONE thing that is going to lead to chronic disease and kill us first is stress. (And while we're at it...stress leads to fat too. But, we'll talk cortisol another day.)

STRESS. Got it. So do more of what you love. Feel joy. Laugh more. Enjoy more. Do LESS, not more. And quickly and without guilt cut out the shoulds of life and anything else that really isn’t working for you.

The second factor, even more critical than exercise in terms of reshaping our bodies and energy levels is diet. What you put into your mouth daily.

People are exercising more than ever and we are in a state of increasing obesity and disease.

You can exercise until the cows come home, and if your diet is full of toxic, processed food, your body will not lose weight, be strong, or thrive with vitality.

Let go of all the overwhelming and conflicting diet info out there and the guilt over missed workouts and not exercising enough and follow these 7 simple guidelines.

Here’s the roadmap:

1. Reduce Stress

2. Live YOUR Passions (a.k.a. do more of what you LOVE)

3. Get good sleep

4. Drink pure water

5. Eat for vital nutrients — veggies, fruits, mushrooms, legumes, spices, herbs.

6. Remove animal products & processed foods

7. Move often and in a way that pleases you

8. Be grateful

9. Love more

So go unpack the gym bag unless you love the gym, then by all means…GO! Breathe a sigh of relief and maybe dance naked under the stars tonight. Be happy. Be healthy. Live more of what you love.

Sparking your EPIC!

No BS to Weight Loss & a HOT Body for women ... over 40

80% of sculpting your body happens in the kitchen, not the gym.

Especially for women. Especially for women over 40. However, it's good to learn at any age.

Listen, I work out at the gym all the time. I love it. I have fun. I get to work out with one of my favorite girlfriends of all times and laugh. And it's true...I am in love with the pull-up machine.

So if you see me there, don't be confused by this message. When you hear me talk about epic bike rides and crazy long runs...don't be confused. That stuff feeds my spirit. It's actually harder for me to shape my body by doing so much endurance. 

What I'm saying here is...you don't need a gym or a crazy amount of mileage to stay in shape. I do it because I love it, not because I think it'll create weight loss or shape my body in any particular way. Just wanted to set the record REALLY straight there.

What makes me sad is how many women I see working so hard and who are dragging themselves to the gym everyday and hating it. Women who are there because they think it's the way or the only way to lose weight and get in shape. What makes me sad is all the women who are riding and running for weight control...to "get in shape" and not doing any of it out of pure passion and pleasure.

I know this isn't popular news for the fitness industry. Heck, I owned 3 gyms for 14 years. And I plan to own another one day. You know, for those people who love it. And of course my "gym" of the future won't be anything like most gyms...but that's another story.

But my point is...the No B.S. truth is....our weight is MOSTLY (like 80% mostly) controlled by diet. It is impossible to "work off" calories. Seriously, look at the calorie count in something and calculate the workout needed. It's a bad model. It's unsustainable. And it is so not fun. I'm all for fun. And food. And pleasure.

The moral of the story is you must fall in love with food. The good news: I bet it'll be easier to fall in love with food and preparing it than to fall deeply in love with that treadmill.

The thing that fires me up the most is I see so much struggle due to misinformation and over-information. That needs to stop.

I also see denial. Yep, sorry. What you EAT MATTERS. It affects every cell in your body. You have to be willing to take 100% responsibility for this area of life. It means shopping differently and preparing food differently. Yep, I mean YOU + Your Kitchen = True Love Forever (or at least radiant vitality!).

It's not a diet, it's a way of life. It's a lifestyle. People say that all the time, "it's a lifestyle" -- but I think people have a hard time taking that nice little sentence and figuring out how to create that lifestyle. Like what does that really mean.

The hardest part is getting started. There IS a learning curve. There will be things you'll need to toss. Things you'll need to buy. Mindset shifts and a willingness to learn a few "tricks of the trade." But once you make the transition, you will NEVER go back. You'll get leaner. Have more energy. Look younger. Feel happier. Be more confident. Be more connected to your body and to your life.

Now that's a pretty desirable place to be in that takes little motivation to stay in once you're there, but you've got to get there first, right?

We can’t live our best lives in bodies not at their best. We need energy, strength, nourishment, and a radiant vitality to go after and to live our lives and dreams to the fullest.

And every cell in our body recognizes it's our natural state. It's our primal nature.

Bottom line.  Get in line. Like at the grocery store. Food really matters. Treadmills don't.

Here's to your radiant vitality without all the B.S.!

Blaze Your Trail :: Machetes Optional

“Successful people believe in the validity of their own dreams and goals, even if dreams are all they have to go on.”

— Denis Waitley

Man, do I believe that quote.

My entire life, I have been a rebel. I have thought differently. I have acted differently. My thoughts, ideas, and dreams haven't been mainstream. Much of my life, especially my younger life I felt I was fighting an uphill battle.

Despite feeling alone and often depressed, I was also quite tenacious and confident in following MY path.

After I started accomplishing some pretty cool things in life, I noticed that my big accomplishments were the ones that no one really understood or "got" when I first started pursuing them. I soon made the connection that if I had a big dream and no one supported it, then holy moly, I was on to something!

Trust me, the majority vote is not what you are looking for in living your highest potential and greatest life. Doing anything really great requires innovation.

A well traveled path is NOT a great adventure, and it's unlikely to be the path to your deepest dreams.

So get the heck off the tourist path and explore and discover what excites YOU most. Live that stuff.

I recently got off my own path and found myself in a tourist trap. Maybe I was just a little tired and thought following a path might be easier for a change. And even though the path was well worn and well lit, and other folks loved it, I found myself very lost.

And not only was I lost, I was miserable. And miserable is never easy.

I'm writing this in case you might be off course. I want to remind you of that thing you really want to do. That thing that you think about all the time and then talk yourself out of.  That thing you've shared with so many people hoping they will get it, but they just don't.

THAT THING. You should do it. In fact, you were born to do it.

It should feel scary as hell and exciting. It should make you think, "Am I crazy to think I can pull this off?"

If that crosses your mind, know with 100% certainty you are on your path. But don't get confused...your path won't look like a "path"...yet... you're the one to cut it.

Say "YES!" to your biggest dream. Life is now. You aren't guaranteed tomorrow or another year. It's time to live like you mean it.

As A.J. Leon, (author of The Life and Times of a Remarkable Misfit) says, "Don't follow well-lit paths. Grab a machete and hack down your own."

I feel blessed that my mentor and friend, Helen Hunter Mackenzie helped redirect me back to "my jungle" to hack down my most adventurous, aligned, and divine path.

And that's what I want to do for you.

What deep down in your heart do you really want to do? What’s calling to you? Shut out the noise. It doesn’t matter what worked for others. Listen to your heart. What lights you up? Please Believe with all your heart that it is possible. Go for it... all in and full out.

That's the kind of journey that's so worth it. And it's the path to fulfillment, inspiration, and immense joy despite the terrain. I don't want you to spend another minute of your precious life second guessing your dreams or yourself.

Consider this your divine trail marker from the Universe to go for it.

So here's to some machete action and to you courageously living your own version of E.P.I.C.! Extraordinary. Passion-filled. Inspiring. Completely aligned.

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Are You Playing Your A Game or Your B Game :: Or heck, are you even in the game?

My guess is many of you are B-gaming it. I know, because I B-gamed it for years. There’s a good chance you might be B-gaming it and you may not even be fully aware of it. Me? I was aware. For y-e-a-r-s I was painfully aware.

The B game is a tricky bastard. It often looks like success. It means you are doing pretty darn well for yourself. You have money, you have recognition. In fact, you are pretty good at what you do. I mean you might even be excellent at what you do, but still... it’s your B game.

The A Game

Now your A game...it’s that thing you’ve always dreamed of doing, but you haven’t yet. I mean because it would just be too good to be true. And really, are you “allowed” to do it? Is life really allowed to be so awesome? Kind of feels like you’d be tempting the Universe, right?

If your A game is pertaining to your life’s work, it is work only you can do and in the way that only you can do it. It’s your zone of genius. Your A game doesn’t necessarily have to be about your work, although often it is.

Whether it's work or a way of being in this world, it is you being full out you. You are leaving nothing on the table. You are delivering work that no one else could possibly deliver. You are living in a way that honors every ounce of your soul. You are giving it your all.

It’s usually that thing you’ve been dreaming of and talking about for years.  It’s also that feeling of restlessness and the “more” you are searching for. Those feelings are there to get your attention. They are your call to play your A game.

The A game is what we were born to do. And ironically, that's exactly why we're not doing it. For one the B game looks like success and it is at some level. We can easily become too comfortable and complacent there.

While so many other people aren't even in the game. You know those folks, who work 9-5 or much longer and hate their work, complain about it, yet plan to do nothing to change it. They live for the weekend. And my guess is they watch a lot of TV, especially reality TV. They live through other people’s lives.

But, B gamers are in the game! They are up to big stuff. They look successful to other people and themselves. They are comfortable in life. Doing great work. Making a great living. Making some great contribution. But still, it’s the B game.

Our A games aren't comfortable. They stretch us. They challenge us. And most painful of all, they expose our greatest fears. Our A game is what we hold closest to our heart. So we protect.

:: It's the book you want to write, publish, and change the world with.
:: It's the songs you want to sing, record, and deliver to the world.
:: It's the jewelry you want to make and set up shop with.
:: It's the house you want to sell to travel the world.
:: It’s the project that lights your soul on fire.
:: It's the foundation you want to establish.
:: It's the race of all races you want to kick ass at.
:: It's the business you have dreamed of starting.
:: It's that message, that purpose, that thing that only can be done in the way that you can do it.

And it is so precious to you. It means so much. So much that you will protect it, your ego, and your heart by not doing it. It's easier to dream about "one day" than to experience the possibility of failing, rejection, or criticism in the here and now.

So instead we play our B game. We do a lot of good stuff. We do a lot of great stuff. Even some freaking excellent stuff. We stay busy. So busy we distract ourselves. We use excuses...not enough time, not enough money, maybe when the kids leave home, maybe if I were single, maybe if I were married, maybe if the economy were better, maybe when I know a little more, maybe when I'm a little more ready...

All excuses. All lies we use to comfort ourselves and let ourselves off the hook of our A Game.

But the truth is we are not ever "off the hook" because each year that goes by, each month, each week, each day, each minute ....it is eating at us at a soul level. We can try to fool ourselves, but deep down we feel the truth.

We are NOT living what we came here to live. We are holding back. We are downplaying our potential. We are waiting. We are dying a little bit each day.

I know for me, my A game is to be a published transformational author who impacts lives on a global scale. I've known this for some time. It feels too good to be true. And guess what, there are a ton of great transformational authors who have accomplished this quite easily. And there is a good chance it is their B game.

I've been very successful in business. Why? It's my B game. I can do it really well. And the thought of failing, although unpleasant, doesn't make me come unglued. It doesn't touch my heart at a deep level. So I'm willing to take risks. I'm willing to have some fun. I'm willing to do the work because well...it just doesn't mean as much. Or rather I haven't attached such a heavy meaning or burden to it. So it's successful.

But writing a book and it being rejected or criticized? Or, OMGosh, what if I really can't write anything great? What if I can't impact lives the way my heart desires at its deepest level. Ouch. That really gets me where it hurts.

I've been writing a lot lately. I have one little book complete. One is currently with my editor (yep, loved saying that again!) And I'm working on my 3rd.

And...I feel completely exposed. I feel vulnerable. I feel stretched and challenged. AND I feel immense relief AND exhilaration. I feel on purpose, with purpose like I have never been before.

And that is what living an EPIC life is about. We are meant to feel fear, uncertainty, and doubt. We are meant to stretch, to be challenged, and to grow. We are meant to feel alive, engaged, and exhilarated.

There are two reason why we don't exceed at playing our A game:

1. We never start. We never get in the game.
2. We give up. We DNF on our biggest dreams.

Actually, there is a 3rd reason, and it's legit. Many people don't know what their A game is. It's been pushed aside and covered up for far too long. It may need to be discovered.

I'm obsessed with helping others discover their A game and then helping them develop the Courage to go for it! Reach out to me if you need support.

UPDATE: You know my book at the editor’s? Well it’s on Amazon now! Check it out!

With Love,
Hollie “A-Gaming” Flynn

My Lawyer Told Me I was Crazy if I Did This! So... of course I did.

True Story: My Lawyer Told Me I Was Crazy for Doing This

My lawyer's voice boomed, "I wouldn't do this THING if my life depended on it!"

So of course, I did.  The very next day to be exact.

It was 1998. I was 26.  I took a business contract to an attorney for review. I was trying to buy into a fitness franchise. I was learning how to incorporate my first business. I was looking for rental space and negotiating a lease. I was setting up my first biz banking account. I was being systematic, smart, and doing all the "right" things. Having a lawyer review my contract was one of them.

I had dropped the contract off at the lawyer's office and returned a couple of days later to hear his review. I remember walking into his office feeling excited and proud of my big venture. As I walked in, he dropped the 200+ page doc on the table, shaking his head as he said (very loudly as if he were in a courtroom instead of his quiet office), "I wouldn't do this thing, if my life depended on it."  

He explained the first 10 reasons why this was the worst business deal and contract he'd ever seen. They made sense. I could see where he was coming from. But, the thing was...his life did not depend on this, mine did. And to me, the risks were worth it.

I stood up, shook his hand, and thanked him for his advice. As I was walking out his door he said, "So, you're not going to go through with this are you?" I hesitated (knowing often these things are best kept to myself).  I just smiled at him, and said, "Yeah, I think I probably will."  He sighed. And I left the next day to head to Texas (I lived in VA) to buy the franchise and begin training.

What I learned that day was that the great thing about someone saying "No way!" or "You are crazy!" is that it can firm up just how bad you want something. You need to know that. Sometimes you don't know how badly you want something until it’s taken away or you feel it might be. It's good to know how "in" you are. I don't think I knew just how "in" I was until that moment with the lawyer.

Honestly, I'm all for seeking professional guidance and input. I'm all for chatting with a few close friends or respected mentors. Do bring in an expert if needed.   But the bottom line is, NO ONE knows more than you. No one can measure how much heart you have. No one knows your passions or dreams and how they fit into your life better than you.

The experts, professionals, gurus, etc. are there to provide valuable insight and information. They are a part of the piece. YOU are the bigger part.

YOU ARE YOUR OWN WISEST COUNSEL.  Period.

Look at it all. Take what is helpful.  Leave the rest.

Popular + majority opinion = a status quo life.  If that fires you up, carry on.  But if not, then take in all you can. Seek wisdom, not knowledge. Trust yourself more than any other person on the planet. Follow your dreams.

That's what you're here for.

By the way, the buying into the franchise turned into being the best single decision of my life. It was a game changer that led to almost 14 years as a multi-club fitness center owner (I ended up buying 3 fitness centers), great income, and even greater personal growth.

It sparked my passion for entrepreneurship and gave me the confidence and know how to turn other passions into money making ventures.  It gave me the opportunity to design my entire life.

I believe with all my heart that NOT following your dreams is a far greater risk.  For me, what I feared most was reaching the end of my life with the question --What if?

Do you have a "What if?" --- Something you really want to do. Something if you don't try, you'll always wonder? Something that if you don’t go for, you may regret? Are you willing to take THAT risk?

Think about it.

Here's to Dreaming Boldly, Trusting Deeply (in You!), and Going For It!

The#1 Passion to Profit Myth

1 Passion to Profit Myth You Need to Hear Today

OK, I’m a bit obsessed with living my passions. Every day when I wake up I automatically think...Hmmm, how can I create a perfect storm of pleasure today? How many of my passions can I swirl into my day? I would never consider “waiting until the end of the work day” or for weekends or God forbid...a vacation to do what I most enjoy and love.

For the last 20 years, I’ve planned my work weeks by the weather forecast. Some people find that fascinating. Others find it annoying.

Let me be clear. I didn’t’ get lucky and make a bunch of money and THEN start living my passions. I started where I was. And I also intentionally designed my life and work so I could live what I love full out.

I live my passions daily. I may not hit every single one of my passions each day, but there is a strong swirl going on in every day. And all my passions make it in over the course of the full week. I can’t imagine living any other way.

My passion list includes: 

1. Biking (mountain and road)

2. Running (mostly trail)

3. Working out (push-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges)

4. Getting into the mountains

5. FOOD (creating nutritious and delicious meals! And eating them)

6. Reading (2 books a week)

7. Writing (blogs, articles, coaching emails, books, courses, journaling)

8. Learning (spirituality, wellness, high performance, business, mindset)

9. Dreaming (imagining, visioning, planning)

10. Working on latest business idea and inspiration:: helping people with anything that has to do with plant-based nutrition, vitality, passion, life purpose, their zone of genius, and life design.

Repeat

I look to monetize at least one of my passions at all times. I can’t imagine work that isn’t purposeful and passionate. 

HOWEVER, and it’s a big however...you can’t think yourself into living your passions. You can’t think yourself into discovering them. I mean you can a little bit, most of my list was true when I was a kid...pretty much all but the business part. But sometimes it’s hard to get your head around what you naturally loved as a kid and how that now fits into life.  And it’s even harder if you are trying to match a passion with how you make money.

There is so much pressure to live more of what you love.  Live your passions. Turn your passion into profit...those messages are everywhere. I know, I’m one of the advocates spreading those very messages! And I believe them.

But this is also what you really need to know. There is a myth to what all that looks like.

The MYTH:
While some people know what their passion is at birth (think Mozart), most of us do not. There is a very low percentage of people who are born with a great gift or passion and dedicate their life to it. It’s awesome to study and know those people, but it doesn’t offer great insight into how we can also live our passions. And there are others who have indeed discovered their passions and are living them full out...I consider myself one of those.

But this is what you need to know...most of us in this second category didn’t just wake up one day and claim our passion and then immediately build a dream lifestyle from it. What really happens isn’t so sexy, romantic, or fast. So give yourself a little break. 

What really happens is this: 

For most of us, you have to live a little. You have to experience enough of life to interpret your desires. To take notice of what you like and what you don’t like. What resonates? Where do you feel you are in the flow?

One of the best ways to find your passion or passions is to start with your interests. Again, not very sexy is it? That’s why people don’t talk about it. How would a book go over with the oh-so stimulating title of “Live Your Interest!” Woo-hoo!, Now that fires you up, right?!  So, you don’t get this info. Very few talk about the truth and how to really get started and that’s a disservice because I think it’d be really helpful to know. 

This is especially true if you’d like to make a living doing what you love. The best way to go about this unless you are super clear on your passion, is to start with an area of interest.  

It’s kind of like you’re sitting at your desk and you take a few minutes to think and ask:

1. What have I always wanted to learn more about?  Hmmm...let’s see. How about nutrition, fitness, publishing a book, making good videos, design, gardening, martial arts...you name it, it could be anything.

Then ask:
2.  What has happened to me in my life that has impacted me?  What had meaning? Could I help anyone else with the same problem, the same learning curve to move through it faster, easier, with less pain, cost...whatever...

That’s where you start. Simple. No fireworks. No parade. No life altering experience of “THIS IS IT!” That will come later, but for now if you are stuck this is where you start.

Then you get into action with learning and taking your first step to move this interest forward. This could mean research, reading, studying, a certification, becoming an intern, a volunteer, a part-time employee, a student, a teacher, a full time employer, a creator of something...a book, a painting, a blog, a website, a workshop.

You take the first step. You get busy with something. 

You don’t have to know the outcome. You don’t have to think...will I make money with this? You don’t have to be jumping up and down with love and excitement for this thing. You do want a genuine interest and it should feel challenging and fulfilling to you to pursue it. That’s it.

You are not looking for: OH MY GOD THIS IS MY PASSION. This is my life’s work. This is why I exist on this planet. This is how I will make a million dollars. Waaaayyyy too much pressure there. And you can’t think your way to your zone of genius and passions in life. For most of us, we have to experience them and it takes work and action for us to realize what we really love, what we’re really all about, and what we are passionate about. And often it is a surprise.

How I started:

I was working my tush off as fundraiser at a college. Loved the college. Loved my colleagues. But I didn’t love my work. I wanted more freedom and more meaningful work.

I was interested in fitness and maintaining a great weight. 

Why was I interested in fitness and wt. loss/maintenance?

Because for 2 years I was 40 pounds overweight and at 5’2” that is QUITE significant.

My Story:  In high school I played sports and weighed about 115 lbs.  My junior year I opted to work and make money instead of play volleyball and run track.  I worked in restaurants in the evenings after school and on weekends. The culture is to work hard for hours, get off late, eat dinner very late, and have beer(s) as a reward and to relax.  By the time my senior year rolled around I was 40 pounds overweight. I took that with me to college.

Being the competitive chick that I am, I was way ahead of the freshmen 20. 

After my freshman year, I said enough of this. Interestingly, I followed another passion to get my first job that summer. I had always loved water, sun, and being outside. I thought how can I combine that with money? So even though I was overweight and completely embarrassed to get into a swimsuit, I signed up for lifeguard training. I passed and got a job at the pool I frequently went to in high school. I swam laps every morning, ate healthy during the day, and ran 3 miles after work each evening. In 3 short months, and by the time my college sophomore year rolled around I had lost the weight and felt FREAKING terrific. I thrived in college after that.

That was that. I maintained running, working out, eating healthy and didn’t think too much about it until...years later when I was stuck in my fundraising job.  I wanted to love my life more. I didn’t want to dread any part of my day. And I dreaded work. So I just asked...

What am I interested in?  Fitness and Nutrition
What is meaningful to me? Again, Fitness and Nutrition. It had changed my life. 

What kind of work lines up with that?  Now in 2018, and with our online world, a ton of things do! But in 1998, I could only get my head around one thing: personal training. Everything else involved going back to school (no way!).  A certification I could handle. 

I wasn’t jumping up and down over this decision to become a personal trainer. But it felt good. I was excited about it. Especially, if it meant getting me out of my current soul sucking job. I could taste freedom!

So I did the only 3 things I knew how to do at that time:
1) researched organizations I could get certified from
2) decided on ACE, then ordered my textbook and workbook to start studying and preparing for the exam
3) called my one contact who owned a gym and asked if I could possibly train there once certified (he said yes!)

I got busy.  No fireworks.  No life declarations. 

Guess what happened? Four months later, I ended up opening my first fitness center which wasn’t even on my radar screen or something I would have EVER thought possible for myself at that time. It is so true and powerful that once you start taking aligned action...the doors open, and opportunities come your way that you could never have foreseen or orchestrated. Don’t doubt that Universe thing. 

A couple years later I had three fitness and wt. loss centers. The company (yes I had a company!) was brining in multiple six figures.

The surprise was that an additional passion emerged. I fell in love with entrepreneurship and business building. I was just as surprised as everyone that I loved everything about business...the ideas, the vision, the marketing, the bookkeeping. I even loved meeting with lawyers and accountants to get incorporated and set up my systems. I loved opening my biz bank accounts and keeping meticulous records. I loved hiring folks and building awesome teams and systems. I loved motivating my staff and building places of employment that were fun to work at and make an impact.

I was really good at this business thing and I LOVED it.  I couldn’t have thought or planned my way into that one.

Your passions and life’s work will evolve as you evolve. Don’t try to figure everything out. Follow the one thing that you are most interested in and has had the most meaning in your life right now. Start there. Trust that your “interest” is a trail marker and gateway to passionate and purposeful work.

If you approach it this way, things will unfold in such surprising and unexpected ways and usually A LOT faster and better than you could have ever planned or orchestrated by forcing something or trying to think it into being.

So take the pressure off, stop agonizing and torturing yourself. Do the best with what you know now. Follow that with your whole heart. Be bold in those things. Do the work. Take the steps. And watch as the pieces of your passion masterpiece come together. And trust one day, you will say, “Oh my God, THIS is it!”

So hey, Go live your interest! Woo-hoo! Seriously. Go. Now. You got this.

Sparking Your EPIC with a ton of Love,
Hollie