Life is always good, but some weeks are definitely more challenging than others. As a business owner and artist, I am able to experience some rare life opportunities, and meet incredible people who I am proud to call friends all over the world. When folks read or hear about some of my endeavors in life, I am quite often told “you’re so lucky”! While I am grateful beyond words for every adventure and blessing along the way, “luck” is not the thing that I attribute one bit of any success to. One of the companies I am most passionate about is my nonprofit theatre in North Carolina. While we produce some community theatre productions each year for all ages, our specialty is quality youth theatre and confidence building through the arts. When I first started the company, I was teaching private lessons there for tap dance, voice and drama, and several times would get students ready for upcoming auditions. Auditioning is one of the most challenging parts of being a performer, and even after the perfect audition, if you aren’t the right height, weight or look the director is going for, you are rejected. I remember an occasion where a student came to me in tears after she didn’t get the role she had so desperately worked and prepared for months in advance. She knew she would do an amazing job given the opportunity to shine onstage, but the role still went to someone else. I told her at that time what I have told hundreds of students and friends over the years…. If it was easy, everyone would do it. When you ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, many of them have a solid idea and want to follow their passion- whatever it may be- and yet 15 years later when it’s time for them to go to college and start living that dream, they choose a different profession that they feel will give them “security” in life. Even those who DO choose to follow their dreams, many will quit after a few job rejections or bad auditions and slip back into a comfort zone or a job they are not as passionate about. It took me years to get to a place in my business where I didn’t feel like I was drowning every day in it. All my organizations have started out with too much to do and not enough time. We have had hundreds of successes- not because we’re lucky- but because we’ve had thousands of failures along the way. You have to get into the mindset of taking your roadblocks and turning them into stepping stones to allow you to see more than you ever would without your failures. Being a performer is not “easy”. Being an entrepreneur is not “easy”. Following your dreams is not “easy”, especially since there are so many easy paths out there and ways to make money by working for someone else. But even though it’s not “easy”, I can honestly say I have not worked a day in over 10 years, because I have created my “work” to be what I would do every day – even if I didn’t have to work. I love every minute of it and always look forward to more. Happiness and success is never about “luck”….. as my husband says “it’s funny, the harder I work the luckier I get”! Succeeding comes from a lot of failure and rejection and never giving in to the “easier” path of life. If you follow your heart and your passion with your entire being, you will not only succeed at what you want to do in life and always look forward to each and every day, but the money and extreme opportunities to enjoy in life will follow. The best part is, when you are practicing your passion, you will inadvertently change the lives of those around you, and (for lack of sounding like a Miss America interview) you will brighten the world and make it a better place. It will NOT be “easy”, but when you awake from the coma of everyday life and run your own dreams you will never go back.
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This blog comes to you live from the monkey’s observatory, as I decided to work from the Lincoln Park Zoo today! One of the best things about having a mobile office is just that…. As long as there is an electrical outlet, you can be productive from anywhere in the world, so long as the environment is positive.
It’s interesting how atmosphere changes not only the way you work, but your entire attitude! When you are in an environment of disorganization or uncleanliness, no matter how hard you focus, your work becomes more challenging to complete. This is the first time in my life that I have felt like I have real true balance. When I started First in Flight Entertainment over ten years ago now in our small garage office in Pfafftown, North Carolina, I did EVERYTHING myself. Scheduling, website, marketing, business development, sponsorships, production, event coordination, writing the shows, networking and every small job you can think of. The pattern continued for me when I started my nonprofit organization, Spring Theatre… for every single show at the beginning I would direct, music direct, choreograph, costume, stage manage, market, design the posters, hire everyone for the shows, oversee the tech, get sponsorships and even make the program. At the time, I was proud of the fact that I did it all. It wasn’t until I changed my atmosphere and got out of the physical office of both businesses completely that they started to grow. In fact, the biggest reason that I feel successful at this moment in my career is because I finally learned the importance of working ON the business and not IN the business. Though I still “work” an average of 17 hours a day, the work I’m doing is more creative and visionary, and not as many small details it used to be because of my amazing team and our amazing growth together. It’s a daily dance with temptation staying on top of something you’re so very passionate about, but I realize now that being involved in the details does nothing but hold me back from doing all that we are all meant to accomplish together. If you’re feeling like you are drowning in work this beautiful Monday, I challenge you to change your atmosphere. It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as working from the zoo, but you can straighten up your desk, work from another room, open a window, go to a coffee shop, or if you’re working from home even just change your clothes. You might have some insight on how to stay on top of your tasks today instead of allowing your tasks stay on top of you. My dad worked for Piedmont Airlines, and they used to give him this “blue book” of tickets which allowed us to fly standby on any flight. Being homeschooled, mom and I would get up in the morning, fly to Washington DC, visit the museums and memorials for the day, and fly home just in time for dinner when my dad came home from work. DC has always been one of my favorite cities because of the amazing energy, the history and knowledge that abounds everywhere, and the sheer number of amazing things to see! Though I did visit as a kid, In May of this year, I visited the Arlington National Cemetery for the first time as an adult. We have several hero friends that have been laid to rest there the past few years from WWII, and also wanted to visit the grave of a friend’s son who is a gold star parent. The minute we walked into the cemetery, I felt like a weight was placed all over my shoulders and heart. The heaviness of it was unexpected, and became heavier when I saw a grave of soldier who had been killed in Iraq when he was only 21 years old. Beside the white headstone, there was a basket of flowers that had been sent to the site, and on it was a simple card that read: “Love you. Miss you. –Mom and Dad”. The tears just wouldn’t stop after reading that, and looking around at the massive amount of sacrifice that is represented in those grave for our freedoms. When I returned home, I wrote to Arlington, and asked if Letters From Home could be a part of the ceremonies at Arlington. To my honor and surprise, I heard back from them just a few days later, and they invited us to lay the wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier! We would have gladly flown in for the experience, but, as the universe would have it, it just so happened that our time was scheduled for the morning after a performance we had in DC! It was still a bit surreal when we arrived at the cemetery that morning. We had the wreath sent there the day before, and it was already delivered right to the guards at the tomb, so we hadn’t seen it. We were sent to talk to one of the guards who instructed us on how the ceremony was going to happen, then we were sent to the top of the stairs to wait. The time was going by so quickly. After the changing of the guard, another Marine came out holding the wreath. It was the first time I saw it in person and I was overcome with emotion… it was red, white and blue with a ribbon on it that said “Letters From Home”. The guard walked with the bugler to the side of the tomb, and then Sgt. Ruth Hanks (who is the 4th female sentinel who has ever had the honor of guarding the tomb) started walking up to us. She was so perfect, not one thing was out of place on her or her uniform. My heart started racing. We followed her in step down the steps towards the tomb as the other guard announced what the ceremony was about and what it meant. We got to the wreath, placed both hands on it and walked it across the path that is walked every hour of every day to the tomb. After the wreath was laid, hands over hearts, the bugler played “Taps” as we looked at the tomb remembered. The feeling of standing there on the steps at Arlington and being a part of such an important ceremony is truly something that changed my life. I cannot imagine a higher honor in this world and my gratitude for those who have served our country so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we do every single day is deeper than ever. Day is done,
Gone the sun, From the lake, from the hill, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. When people ask me where I live, my general answer is that I spend about 250 days of the year on the road. Though I spend a lot of time in Winston-Salem where I have Spring Theatre (my non-profit theatre company), and in Chicago (where we have the main offices of First in Flight Entertainment and our restaurant the Shore Club), the truck and trailer is where I spend the majority of my time. I never get tired of the road, and it also allows us to have many “home away from home’s” through First in Flight Entertainment and especially Letters From Home. The family I have grown to love on the road is something indescribable, and something I am so grateful for. Three Oaks, Michigan is one of those places that is a “second home”. Our bombshell duo show has performed there for the past 2 years on Flag Day, and this year, we had the honor of participating in the Three Oaks Flag Day Parade (the largest flag day parade in the WORLD)! On that trip, we won the “most patriotic float” award that proudly sits in my dance studio in Chicago. The town is beautiful, patriotic and warm. Mike Shannon and his beautiful wife Chrissy are some of the most beautiful souls I have ever met, and are the ones who invited us to Three Oaks two years ago with the assistance of the incredible Tracy Jones. Mike is not only the commander of the American Legion, but him and his wife both run an amazing restaurant in downtown Three Oaks called the Viola Café. Looking much like the handsome actor Sam Elliot, Mike is a life-loving individual with a great heart. If you’re ever in the area, you’ve got to go by their place for breakfast…. It’s incredible! On flag day this year, we spent time with the most recent Medal of Honor recipient, James McCloughan, who spoke at the opening ceremonies for the parade. His patriotism would give you chills and move you to be a better American! His Army awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device and Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, the Army Valorous Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with “60” Device, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palms and one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Medical Badge, and the M16 Expert Rifle Badge. It was amazing to have him at our show, and get to know him throughout the weekend. Another amazing man from the area is Roger Batton, who has a company called Indigan Storytellers. His mission is to create an enduring, supportive community of individuals who gather for the purpose of storytelling and to advance the art of storytelling, and he does just that! Roger not only does his own storytelling, but encourages others through his popular workshops for all ages. He’s currently performing abroad, but will be back in the states in October… you can (and should!) check him out at www.indiganstoryteller.org. One of our favorite fans from Three Oaks is a young man by the name of Aydan. Though he just turned 9 last week, when you speak to this young man, you realize you’re talking to an old soul. We were coming back from a tour on the East Coast this week, and Nelson, Lisa and I made a special trip to Three Oaks to surprise Aydan for his 9th birthday… and he was truly completely and totally surprised! His family told him he was just stopping by the American Legion to visit his grandpa which was a regular thing they did, and the face he made when I turned the corner and came out singing was priceless! To know a 9 year old who truly appreciates not only the music but understands the history of the 1940s is simply beautiful. One of the main reasons why I love living on the road are places like Three Oaks. I will never tire of those smiling faces, warm hugs and good hearts of my touring family.
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