When I was finishing up grad school, my final advisor approached me.
“I noticed that I never saw you in a publishing workshop,” he said. “Did you go to any?”
I explained that I hadn’t. The publishing workshops had been optional, and I went to graduate school with one intention to be a better teacher. To be the kind of teacher who could help my students use the power of writing to find the voice, embrace their passion, discover their purpose, and move into giving their gifts to the world fueled by powerful self-awareness. I had no desire to publish.
He starred at me as I said all this, a look of incredulity on his face.
“Would you have felt better if you had, at let’s say, 20, read any of this stuff that you just spent the last two years writing? If someone had written these things for you to read?”
“Well, yeah,” I said, confused.
“You have to think of your classroom as more than just four walls. Books can be classrooms. Aren’t you learning all the time from books? I understand that your mission is to teach but I want you to understand that your classroom is not just a physical space that you occupy with your group of students. Classrooms are that but there are all sorts of classrooms in this world and what you write can be a classroom if you would let it.”
I am thinking of this story this week because just like I expanded my sense of where I could be in community after that conversation with my graduate school advisor (and that conversation is the only reason I ever looked into publishing), I am once again expanding my sense of community.
Last month, as I was promoting my Mission::Manifest workshop (where participants write mission statements that claim their passion and purpose and personal manifestos inspired by their own values and ways of being in the world), I was asked by many people to offer this workshop virtually. And those requests made me think again about how when we share space, it doesn’t have to be confined to four walls.
And so I am so excited that those requests inspired me to reconceptionalize Mission:Manifest so that anyone, anywhere can participate and you are invited to join me at the virtual table.
What is Mission::Manifest?
Imagine having a one sentence touchstone to refer to every time you are trying to make the call on whether an opportunity is right for you or not.
Consider the magic of having your rules for being in the world prominently displayed in your home or office, grounding you in your truth, your sense of what’s right, your sense of how to be.
Mission:: Manifest is a journey into your truth that will reveal to you a powerful mission statement and inspiring manifesto so that you can use these two tools everyday to clarify who you are, what you want, and how you wish to be in the world.
It is powerful work– work you’ll start with a inspiring pre-workshop workbook then crystalize into your unique mission and manifesto during our two hour fun, energizing, and powerful tele-seminar on December 10th from 7 to 9 pm EST.
Wondering what is it like to work with me?
Well, I can say that I think it is fun and intense in the best possible way and, hopefully, inspiring, but I am sure you’d much rather hear what others’ have to say. So here you go…
Rosie Molinary lights up a room the moment she enters. Rosie’s contagious enthusiasm for helping each woman live the life she wants inspired our group beyond my expectations. I hired Rosie to speak at to the Charlotte General Electric’s Women’s Network about the tools she developed to help women create their own “Hopeful Year” based on the recommendation of a colleague that had participated in a similar workshop with Rosie at the Charlotte Junior League. Rosie taught us to use information to make changes rather than to be judgmental and self-critical. She taught us how to be more purposeful rather than getting wrapped up in a list of to dos created based on others’ needs. Rosie’s real life examples hit home for all of us. Her casual, down-to-earth style led everyone to be an active participant. Rosie drove us to dig deeper into what we each really want and to examine why we aren’t giving it to ourselves. Then she gave us the tools we need to make changes in our lives and to be proud of ourselves for who we are and what we want to do with our time. Rosie was an inspiration to all of us. Every woman in attendance raved about how inspiring Rosie was and they all left talking about how they are going to make their lives happier. I can not thank Rosie enough for the gifts she imparted on our GE community.
~Lisa Firestone, Wharton MBA/Board of Directors GE Women’s Network Charlotte/Marketing – GE Capital Retail Finance
If I could describe my Passion Purpose Plunge retreat experience in one word, it would be REJUVENATING. Rosie has a great mix of wonderful, whimsical enthusiasm and specific, organized planning. These came together to create a plan for my upcoming year that excites me and challenges me. It’s no longer a clump of vague ideas wrestling with each other, but a set plan that purposefully moves me forward and offers many opportunities for growth and new experiences. It was great to talk about my desires and hopes and have someone listen and forge them into something attainable, someone to remind me that a lot is in my hands – for one, how I face and treat each day. Having Rosie as a mentor is refreshing and life-giving. From the food provided to the exercises of discernment and planning we did, I felt taken care of and listened to. It was great to be able to step back from my assumptions of what society thinks I should do with my life and think about what I actually want to do. No matter where you are or what you’re looking for in life, Rosie will provide a safe space and affirming ways to go forward.
~Claire Asbury
I attended Rosie’s 2012 VisionSPARK workshop with the hopes of setting some clearer work goals for myself. Those hopes were met and far surpassed. Just by spending time with Rosie I felt smarter, more grounded, and more capable. One of her coolest gifts is the ability to listen to women and extract the truth about what they are feeling. I think this has something to do with her amazing insight and incredible vocabulary… Rosie is like a modern day shaman and midwife; she sees your best potential and then helps you deliver it to the world.
~Michelle Icard
Want to claim your mission and pen your manifesto?
Join me on December 10th (7 to 9 pm EST, all you need is a phone!). And because this is my inaugural tele-seminar, I am offering it for just $35 USD. Register now.
I cannot wait to play, explore, dream, and claim with you!
Questions?
Let me know. I would be happy to answer them!
