thankfulforamillion

Posts Tagged ‘Passion’

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Older and Wiser

In You on June 25, 2012 at 9:44 am

 
I hope to come away from every year having learned something. Last week, I asked for a little ‘Birthday Advice.’ I figured, with seven days left, I wanted to learn as much as possible!

A many of you know, my goal is that Thankful For a Million serve as a positive and inspirational online space. I realized that with my musings and interviews, readers are always getting advice from someone else. So, today the advice comes from you. I’ve compiled the best life advice submitted over the last week. If you have any to add, write your advice in the comments section.

Thank you to those who’ve contributed! Enjoy!

~Thankful

 

Alex

Always trust that there is enough – enough time to do what is important, enough support to do what is right, enough strength to help others, enough stuff to share with people in need, enough grace to cover your mistakes, enough love to keep you going.

 
Christina

Cherish the ones that matter.
 

Skylar

Your mom is 99.9% right about every suggestion/advice she gives, listen to her and do what she says.
 

Anonymous

Do what you can for people, when you can, and don’t keep score.
 

Francesca

Always be able to laugh at yourself and never take life too seriously.
 

Laura

Do what you like and like what you do.
 

Charlotte

Do what you love in life. But be practical about it. Approach your area of work/expertise with generosity and gratefulness. Know life is short and care for it and all those around you.

 

Kevin

You are enough, Whatever it is you want to accomplish you have all the ability to accomplish these goals within yourself. You are enough.

 
Steven

I wanted to share a piece of advice in the form of a poem. I was introduced to this poem in 7th grade and it’s been an inspiration to me ever since.

    If – By Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

 

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A Little Daily Inspiration: Nikki Goddard, Co-Owner of The Barrel Room SF

In You on May 18, 2012 at 8:03 am

 

Step 1: Figure out what you want to do. Step 2: Do that thing. Simple, right? Not quite. Thankfully, Nikki Goddard had the first step covered. Wine was her thing. Next was figuring out how to create a profession she loved. Like many of us, she started on the ground floor, soaking in as much information as possible. She became a student of her craft. It’s true what they say, that luck favors the prepared. Nikki was in a fortuitous position when the opportunity to run her own Wine Bar came about. Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center district, The Barrel Room is a cozy and quiet retreat for lovers of unique wines. At only 26 years old, Nikki runs the bar with two friends, Sarah and Carolyn. Their partnership has turned out perfectly.

I’m not a wine expert myself, but I’ve visited The Barrel Room and could tell that her customers truly appreciated her talent. I overheard one man say, “Why didn’t we come here for dinner? I’ve never had wine served by someone who’s so knowledgeable!” And, even with my very limited knowledge, I’d have to agree.

If you’re thinking about starting your own business, want to check out a gem in San Francisco, or simply want to hear about a new wine for your next dinner party, check out my interview with Nikki below. Here’s a little inspiration from someone who took a chance and ventured out on her own.

 

 

Q&A

 

What were your aspirations out of college? Did you intend to have your own wine bar? 

 
After college, I knew I wanted to work in the wine industry but I wasn’t quite sure in which direction I wanted to go. I got a job at a winery tasting room because it allowed me to view the industry from many angles at once–sales, marketing, hospitality and production. I quickly learned that my passion was helping people to become more comfortable talking about and enjoying wine, and teaching them how to identify the wines they liked best. I tried a few different types of jobs before ending up at a wine bar and realizing that was where I felt most comfortable. I knew I wanted to some day have my own bar, but I thought it would take many more years for that to happen–and then the opportunity to open The Barrel Room basically fell into my lap.

 

Were there huge barriers for entry into the wine business?

 
We had a very unique situation. We took over a space that had been operating as a wine bar for many years, and we already had a good relationship with the landlords. The red tape involved in getting a wine and beer license is astounding, but our particular circumstances allowed us to cut out a few steps and shorten the time before we were legally able to open. We never could have said “let’s open a wine bar” and looked for a new location. I can’t imagine starting from scratch. To apply for a beverage license, you need to have already signed a lease, but you may have to wait up to a year or more after that before being approved for the license. We would have spent all of our opening budget on rent before we could even think about opening.

 

How has your partnership with Sarah and Carolyn eased your venture?

 
It has been invaluable having people I trust to share the workload with. We all have our own strengths and we work together and play off of each other very well. I couldn’t have done any of this without them. Luckily, we all have very similar ideas of what makes a wine good (even though we might differ in what we each actually want to drink on a given day), so we typically do not argue too much about which wines to add to our list.

 

What has been your greatest challenge and reward in starting The Barrel Room?

 
Honestly, the greatest challenge was coming up with a name! I never expected that every single wine-related name I could imagine would already be taken (even if it wasn’t in use). And since the name is the first impression many people get of the business, it’s obviously very important. Also, applying for our wine and beer license was an incredibly stressful experience, but we were very lucky to get through it quickly.

The greatest reward is definitely the fact that I can come into work every day, truly enjoy myself, and feel completely fulfilled. I love what I do, and I don’t think I could really ask for anything more.

 

How has your day-to-day professional operation changed now that you’re your own boss?

 
My days are much longer! I still spend about the same amount of time actually working in the bar, but we spend most weekdays tasting wines that we are considering adding to our list. Also, now I have to think about things like when we are running low on supplies, what to do when a chair breaks, or whether the paint job needs some patching up.

 

Will you open other locations?

 
Right now we are just focused on the one we have, but I think it would be fun to someday have a similar operation in another city, like Oakland (where I live), Portland, or Seattle. I don’t think there are currently a lot of cities where we could pull off serving so many of the quirky, obscure wines that we specialize in, but I hope to see that change soon! I can already see it starting to happen as the younger generation of drinkers becomes more comfortable with and excited about wine.

 

Do you have one piece of advice for those starting a new business?

 
Make sure you are doing something you really, really love. Once you start a business, you can never fully disconnect from work. There is no “clocking out”–work will be at least a little bit on your mind at all times.

 

Any suggestions for must try wines?

 
Right now, I am really excited about the wines of Corsica (the whites, reds and rosés are all great), which are currently being imported exclusively by Kermit Lynch. I also love wines made from  Mondeuse, a spicy red grape from Savoie (in the French Alps) and a light, aromatic grape called Poulsard from the nearby Jura region. Also, the reds of the Canary Islands are currently getting a lot of attention for a really good reason–they tend to have a very unique, perfumery, peppery aroma. Jose Pastor is the pioneering importer for that region.

 

 
Everything! I feel so incredibly lucky to have had this opportunity and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about how amazing all of it is. I had some less-than-great experiences on my way to where I am now, but it is so clear to me now, when I look back, that everything that happened, had to happen in order for me to get here. It’s really given me a new perspective when it feels like life isn’t going the way I want it to.

 

Thank you, Nikki! You’re further proof that your passion can become your profession.

Everyone, be sure to check out The Barrel Room in SF! Even if you don’t drink alcohol, they have lovely non-alcoholic options.

The Barrel Room SF Website: www.barrelroomsf.com

Follow on twitter: @barrelroomsf

Enjoy the weekend!

~Thankful

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Creative Karma

In You on April 12, 2012 at 7:27 am

Create or Consume?


Instagram, the phenom of an app, was started from the seed of an idea. One day, Kevin Systrom decided to take his passion for photography and make it useful for other consumers. And, while this ultimately made him a billion dollars, at its inception, the idea was really simple: he took something he loved and used it to enhance a positive aspect of our society, the desire to document our lives and become increasingly connected.

We are given options: create something that adds value to our lives and the lives of others, or to sit back and simply consume. The latter requires little to no effort, while the former requires an idea and bravery.

Each and every one of us are filled to the brim with plans and ideas. The difficulty sometimes lies in activation. Ideas are very personal. From the start, they are only conscious to the individual. They become progressively more public as the creator erases self-doubt and becomes more firmly rooted in the power of their idea. Some decide to wait for the validation of  others, and some plow forward and trust that their passion will be enough. I am convinced that those who move forward without validation become the most successful.

Now, if you have an idea and you’re brave enough to fail, consider one more thing: how will you affect other people? This applies to anyone who has plans to pursue their passion, whether that be music, filmmaking, medicine, law or environmental policy. Step outside of yourself and consider your creative karma. Whatever you choose to create, your work will have an expansive reach. And, assuming that you want to have a positive impact, be sure that your idea has the potential to do so. If not in the best interest of others, then perhaps consider that what you create will come back to you.

If you’re looking for a little inspiration as you take a chance on your ideas:

Robert Krulwich 2011 Berkeley School of Journalism Commencement Speech: here

Fast Company: The Dirty Little Secret of Overnight Successes: here

~Thankful

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Cleveland Inspired: Chris Harris, Lauren Lanzaretta & Color of Love

In You on January 31, 2012 at 9:18 am

Ok, so I usually call this post “A little daily inspiration.” But since I’m from Cleveland, and generally speaking the only articles people share about my hometown talk about it being the most depressed city, or the least livable city, I figured it was time to share something inspiring straight out of C-Town.

Chris and Lauren in Times Square!

Chris Harris and I met over ten years ago when we hosted the television show, “Brown’s Blitz.” Once Cleveland finally got their football team back (they fled to Baltimore), NBC’s regional affiliate decided to air a weekly sports show featuring a bunch of kids and Bernie Kosar. Each and every kid in the group has grown up and gone on to do awesome things. I’m not quite sure that we ever imagined we’d see our co-host, Chris Harris, on screen in the middle of Times Square for the release of he and Lauren Lanzaretta’s new album, Color of Love. But there he is, pictured to the right, and for the second time I might add!

Cleveland has a pretty lively arts community including but not limited to, the Cleveland Orchestra (their really amazing!), The Cleveland Playhouse, which puts on a number of great performances, and Playhouse Square. However, for an independent artist Cleveland isn’t as nurturing as say, New York City or Los Angeles. Despite all of this, Chris has managed to find and create a number of opportunities for himself. Since Chris’s hosting days, he’s released three albums and is now BKA (better known as) DJ $crilla. Color of Love is his third album and first attempt at collaborating with the talented and soulful Lauren Lanzaretta. Social networking had a great impact on CoL coming to fruition; Chris and Lauren met through Facebook. Luckily, their sensibilities and talents made CoL possible.

In an effort to give back to the community, Chris and Lauren have made Color of Love free to download in partnership with Berea Children’s and Family Services. Donations to BCFS aren’t required, but they are always welcome. I’ve downloaded my copy and these are two talented Clevelanders! =)

 
I wish Chris and I could have done a video interview like the old days, but nonetheless I got to ask him a few questions:

We’re a long way from our Brown’s Blitz days, did you know back then that you wanted to make music?

 
Yes and no. I had been experimenting with music for a few years, but I had no idea of the real passion that was inside of me. At first, I wanted to be a DJ. I had my turntables, my mixer, and made weekly trips to the record store — I thought that was what I was supposed to do, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t until I randomly entered a cipher, that I began to make the transition from DJ’ing to performing. Then I realized that music was my passion.

You’ve been performing all over the country, how have you found these opportunities?

 
It’s been a real blessing. It’s funny because most people think that I’m randomly pitching schools, or that I have a booking agency, but that’s not the case. I’d say 99% of my shows have been through word of mouth, a simple referral from one person to another.

What’s been the most difficult part of your journey?

 
I think it’s been a combination of having patience and the reality of the music industry. I’m a workaholic and, at times, it’s hard to have patience waiting for the next opportunity to come. When I first got started in music, I had a perception of what I thought the music industry was like. Once I was exposed to it, it was much different. This journey has been difficult, but it has been wonderful. It’s wonderful because I’m learning everyday, which in return helps me grow as an artist and person.

When I think of Cleveland, Bone Thugs N Harmony and Kid Cudi immediately come to mind. Have you found the music community in Cleveland to be lively and supportive?

 
I think overall, the music community is very supportive. However, I find that the Hip-Hop/Rap community still has a ways to go. There are some really talented local hip-hoppers in Cleveland. I think we as a whole just need more people to support us, and take a chance on us. For example, I’ve submitted content to festivals/performances in the Cleveland area and they have told me straight up, “We don’t do rap here” – and that’s hard to swallow. Sometimes people hear “rap” and they automatically put you in a box. I see it as an opportunity, an opportunity to change the perception.

How did you and Lauren link up? I imagine that collaborating, while at times very comforting, is a huge risk. When did you and Lauren realize that you’d be a good fit for one another?

 

I met Lauren Lanzaretta through Facebook– how crazy is that? Lauren sent me a friend request, and that pretty much opened up the dialogue between us. This collaboration was not only something new to me, but Lauren as well. Anytime you try something new there is going to risk involved, but I was eager to accept that challenge. It all started to make sense while we were recording the song “Color of Love.” After that session, I approached Lauren with the idea of doing a collaborative project.

Every artist’s creative process is different, what’s been the most important and effective part of your process? 

 
The most important part of my process is my environment. I’m a firm believer that if the environment is positive, you’ll get positive results. I’m very structured in my whole process, whether I’m recording vocals, or doing post-production. Once Lauren joined, there was a slight shift in the process, but she brought a positive energy, which I think shows in our music.

What’s the theme of your new album?

 

The new album, Color of Love, is an expression about the many different colors of love. Love is so universal, it doesn’t have to mean your love for someone, it can also be your love for some thing, such as music. When a prism breaks up white light, you get 7 colors (ROYGBIV)…Our CD has 7 songs, see what I’m getting at? 

You’ve expressed an interest in venturing into other areas of entertainment, what are your plans outside of music?

 
I’ve always been a creative soul, and I would love to express that through television and film. I would love to eventually work as a Program Director for a cable network. It seems like a very challenging, but cool job to have.

I’m thankful for all the blessings God has given me. Of course I’m thankful for family and friends too. I’m thankful for all the musical artists that came before me, and paved the way. Even though I may not have always agreed with them, I have always respected people who’ve had an impact on music, whether that be 2pac or N.W.A. I’m also thankful for EVERYONE who has ever supported, or made a comment or tweet about my work (good or bad) – because it has all pushed me to be better.

For more information about Chris and Lauren, check out their websites, DJ $crilla and Lauren Lanzaretta, or follow them on twitter, @dj$scrilla, @Lauren Lanzaretta.

 
As always, it’s wonderful to witness those who’ve chosen to make rather than wait for opportunities. If you are what you continually do, then there is no doubt that Chris and Lauren are inspiring. Now, if anyone has anything negative to say about Cleveland, keep it to yourself!

 

~Thankful


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