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live life on purpose work at what you love follow your own road

Changing Course Newsletter: Issue 22

Date: Jul 2, 2001
Subject: Changing Course Newsletter: Issue 22

Changing Course Newsletter
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Issue 22 - July 3, 2001
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Brought to you by Changing Course
http://www.ChangingCourse.com Dedicated to helping you:
~ Live Life on Purpose
~ Work at What You Love
~ Follow Your Own Road


Barbara Sher, author of "I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It
Was," calls Changing Course "wonderful, inspired and informative."


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QUOTE FOR THE DAY
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I've gone through life believing in the strength and competence of
others; never in my own. Now, dazzled, I discover that my capacities are
real. It's like finding a fortune in the lining of an old coat.
~ Joan Mills

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FEATURED ARTICLE: Kokopelli and the Butterfly
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The changing course path of Changing Course Newsletter reader Michael Sterns is one
of tribal icons, children's story books and dancing flute players. If
you think this sounds too fanciful and impractical, wait until you read
the details before making a final judgment. Michael attended Countryside
High and then the University of Florida. Five and a half years ago, he
took a trip that altered the way he perceived careers and the world of
work.

He journeyed to the "Four Corners" region of the West in order to camp
in and photograph the National parks. Inspired by the gorgeous
landscapes and the ubiquitous tribal icon found in that region named
"Kokopelli," he felt moved to write a story.

Sterns, identifying with the happy-go-lucky way of Kokopelli, the
"dancing flute player", who has lately gained so much popularity
nationwide as a symbol of goodwill, created the fictional tale:
Kokopelli & the Butterfly. Kokopelli, the main character of this tribal
love story, delights in the overwhelming beauty of nature and is friend
to all people and animals. He teaches others to take care of the Earth
and each other. He has never been in love, but is on the lookout for
that special someone.

Taking the reader on an uplifting emotional journey with unexpected
twists at every turn of the page, Kokopelli finds himself making the
most important decision of his life in regards to a beautiful, caged
butterfly. The resulting lessons of embracing diversity and resolving
conflict peacefully make this a truly poignant story.

Encouraged by the compliments received from family and friends, Michael
decided to find a local artist to put some sketches to the tale. His
initial plan was to have it spiral-bound at a local copy shop to give to
friends as gifts.

Based on a phenomenal set of coincidences, (if there are such things),
Sterns met a Disney cartoonist, Joseph Cioffi. Cioffi agreed to
freelance thirty-two line drawings because of the positive messages
conveyed in the story and the miraculous way the pair came to meet. Over
the course of the next five years, Cioffi worked under the direction of
Sterns to create the perfect illustrations. Inspired by the
serendipitous encounter with Cioffi, Sterns then set his sights on
creating a full-fledged family book that would appeal to both adult and
child.

Michael envisioned a book that would foster more meaningful interaction
between parent and child. The child would benefit from the nurturing
"cocoon" created within the reading experience, gaining a love of
reading and a foundation for future education, as well as communication
skills and confidence. The book was even sized appropriately to enable a
parent to read the book and hug their child simultaneously. The parent
would benefit from having something "a little deeper" to read, truly
enticing them to be in the moment with their child, rather than rushing
to get to the end.

Michael's messages of behaving environmentally, appreciating nature's
beauty, treating animals kindly, sharing, resolving conflict peacefully,
and accepting human diversity conveyed in a tribal love story seemed
ideal in a world so full of violent video games, movies, cartoons and
television programming that so often "baby-sit" our children.

Once the drawings were completed, Sterns enlisted the assistance of
friend Gayle Deal of Adamson-Deal Advertising, a local computer graphics
and marketing specialist. With Sterns directing, Gayle enhanced the
drawings with amazing computer colorizing and special effects,
culminating in nothing short of breathtaking results.

Along the way, Michael decided to self-publish Kokopelli & the
Butterfly. Having a marketing degree and a love of creating community,
Michael realized that it would be far more rewarding to form a career
promoting Kokopelli & the Butterfly than to lose all control and
ownership of "his baby" to a publishing house. With that vision in mind,
Sterns self-published his work with a new friend, Jim Walter. Walter,
Tampa resident and owner of Kichita Productions, specializes in
assisting authors who self-publish, offering "soup to nuts" assistance
in creating a finished work. After shopping over a dozen printing
companies, Sterns' book finally hit the presses and was then shipped to
his father's five-car garage in Palm Harbor.

Armed with a PC, cell phone, briefcase and a yellow 2000 Volkswagen New
Beetle, Sterns has literally established a "New Millennium Company on
Wheels." His days are spent booking storytellings, author signings, and
fundraisers. Michael's fundraising efforts are attracting elementary
schools, libraries, YMCA's and special interest groups (especially those
dealing with children, animals or the environment). He delights in
getting his message of love out to the community and giving back
financially to the "hosting" group, all the while realizing his dream
"to travel, meet people, and share smiles."

Anyone interested can contact Michael directly to arrange a live
storytelling of Kokopelli & the Butterfly complete with illustrations
(on slides for large groups). A percentage of the proceeds from any
books sold are donated right back to the hosting school, library, or
group. Michael has established a fund for less fortunate schools,
garnering funds from books sold in private schools, teaching the value
of altruism.

Michael is eager to form even more alliances with school administrators,
teachers, librarians and parents everywhere. Be on the lookout for
storytelling sessions and author signings at your local Barnes & Noble,
Borders, Waldenbooks, BDalton and Books-A-Million. Michael can be
reached at kokopelli911@hotmail.com or you may drop by
http://www.kokopelli-butterfly.com



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INSPIRATION TO FOLLOW YOUR BLISS
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If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the
capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.
~ Mahatma Gandhi

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the
rain.
~ Dolly Parton

To succeed, you need to take that gut feeling in what you believe in and
act on it with all your heart.
~ Christy Borgeld


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VAL'S PICKS AND PONDERINGS
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Part I: Picks

This week I have two picks for you...

I often hear from people who are interested in getting into the training
and or public speaking field. If you are one, here are a few resources
you might find of interest:

Facilitating Skills Seminar: Jack Canfield Chicken Soup for the Soul
co-author is offering an 8-day Facilitating Skills Seminar July
28th-August 4th Rancho Mirage, CA. This seminar is designed for people
who want to conduct self-esteem programs for all kinds of groups. He
will use personal growth skills, organizational development, management
effectiveness, holistic education, counseling skills, and transpersonal
psychology. For more information visit http://www.jackcanfield.com

Train-the-Trainer: Langevin, which bills itself as the world's largest
train-the-trainer company, offers three courses aimed at the new or
aspiring trainer:

~ Training 101
~ Instructional Design
~ Instructional Techniques

Other courses include "Designing Computer-Based Training," "How Adults
Learn" and one that I attended during my corporate training days, "25
Creative Ways to Add Excitement to Your Training." It was a great
workshop and this is a well known company in the training field. For
more information visit http://www.langevin.com or call 800-223-2209.


Part 2: A bit of pondering on women and stress from the Occupational
Stress Research Institute...

Contrary to the ads depicting the happy entrepreneur cell phone in hand
lounging by the pool, self-employment, like anything in life, is not
stress-free. But for those who crave more control over their time and
life, there is evidence that working for yourself can actually be good
for your health.

Women tired of hitting the glass ceiling might find that the ground
floor holds less stress and more opportunity. A new study on executive
women finds that those who are self-employed are less stressed than
those who are not. A pair of researchers at the University of California
at San Diego found that self-employed women have substantially less
depression and stress compared to their counterparts higher up the
corporate ladder.

According to the researchers, this suggests that the greater the
individual perception of "decision latitude" - the ability to play a
pivotal role and make an impact at work - the greater the relief from
job stress. Doctor Randall Mesler, one of those who conducted the study,
says when women jump off the corporate ladder into the realm of
entrepreneurship, their new work worries and stresses are offset by the
satisfactions of increased autonomy.

For more information about this research study or to participate in the
Institute's current study: Women, Work and Heart Disease, go to
http://www.job-stress.bigstep.com or contact Randall Mesler, Ph.D.,
Director of Cardiovascular Research, Occupational Stress Research
Institute (619) 917-4914

Male or female, employee or self-employed, stress is a natural part of
being actively on the planet. At the same time, there are quality of
life issues that can significantly impact how much stress we allow into
our lives. A lot of stress it seems comes from always wanting more than
we have - a better car, another bathroom, a new outfit. I saw a bumper
sticker this morning that offered a startlingly simple message: Want
Less. Yes, life is a series of trade-offs. But sometimes the price is
too high. Be careful to not barter your health in the pursuit of more
"stuff."



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