Discover Your Talent–Do What You Love

Don McDonald had grown so accustomed to being an underdog on his basketball team that he didn't know how to cope when a transfer to a new team made him a top dog. The idea that people expected him to always succeed was more stress than he could handle. He began to sabotage his own sports career. Dr. Don has spent 17 years in the health and wellness industry as a chiropractor. He is now a life coac...

Ivy LaClair always thought of herself as a shy person, but when she joined her college Student Activities Council, she quickly had to learn how to put herself "out there." A couple of years later she became president of the Council and had "a goosebump moment" when she realized who she had become. Co-founder of the personal development company, Motivational Millennial, Ivy is an expert on change,...

Jeremy Paris' teenage rebellion might have led him into a surly adulthood, as just another guy with a chip on his shoulder. But a high school teacher saw beyond his "in-your-face" art project and praised his originality and courage. That changed Jeremy from that point forward. After a career in the military and as a defense contractor, he started the Veteran Resource Podcast to inform veterans abo...

Ellen Antonelli was at a ballet with her parents at the age of 10 and witnessed a dance that portrayed inexplicable violence against women. It both angered and puzzled her. Her mother could not answer her questions about what she felt. In hindsight, she realizes how this moment has driven her career and passion for more than a quarter of a century. Her life's work has been about empowering student...

Brian Kurtz, a serial direct marketer for the past 35+ years, says he never met a medium he didn't like. He spent the first 34 years of his career helping Boardroom Inc. become a state-of-the-art direct marketing and publishing company and is now sharing and teaching all he learned doing that. His expert message today: Marketing isn't everything. It's the ONLY thing.

Tanner Gers thought his life was over when he lost his eyesight at 21. Then, he discovered a game changer–where there were no disadvantages, where everybody was on an even playing field. His sight did not return, but he regained a vision and enthusiasm for life. 

Katie Allen was delighted to be a broadcast journalist, with visions of hosting Good Morning America one day. She noticed her health was suffering. And at 25, her hair started to fall out. "I couldn't sacrifice my health for a job, even though I loved it." Today she leads viaONEHOPE, a business and a community of more than 1,200 cause entrepreneurs. A brand with a mission to celebrate and serve th...

Tim Collins stood before an eager London audience, awaiting his presentation. Suddenly, he was shaking, sweating profusely. He thought he was having a heart attack. Only later did he learn he was having his first full-blown panic attack. What could have been a career-ender, however, opened the door to a new life of service.

Kim Lim's parents wanted the best for her. They were sure that meant becoming a doctor. Kim chose another career path that uses her talent for science and education as a bio-engineer to improve and save lives. The founder and CEO of Ultimate Laboratory, a quality control lab for medicines, therapeutics, medical devices and other medical products, Kim balances work life and being the mother of two,...

Mark Halpert and his wife Mira are helping children achieve success in reading and learning by 3rd grade, or sooner. "We work with the 65% who don't learn the way they are being taught. We call them 'GOLD students' because they are Gifted, Operating with a Learning Difference. That's a concept totally different from labeling them dyslexic or learning disabled."

Ron Malhotra immigrated from India to Australia as a 13-year-old. He quickly identified with the local Western culture more than with his own. He was fascinated by money, and his first job was at a bank. He soon realized he was more interested in people than selling financial services. This launched him on a journey of self-discovery. He founded 'The Successful Male," a global movement specializin...

Ariane Tavakol will never forget the sound of the Iraqi bombs falling near her childhood home in Tehran, Iran. Moving to Paris with her mother at age seven, she adapted to the culture shock. Later, at 19, she decided to face another migration, alone this time. "It's really up to us to adapt to the mysteries of life by diving into each new day and turning its twists and turns into an unforgettable...

Frank Gibson's first and lifelong passion was jazz music. He played it through high school, a college music scholarship and after. "I love music, but not the business of music." How would he navigate the business world and still follow his passion? How would his passion play out over time? Now in his fourth career, Dr. Gibson declares, "I've never done anything better in my life than what I'm doin...

Alison Cardy could see that her mother's career change from teaching to accounting had been perfect for her, but Alison was just going through the motions at her own accounting job. "I knew it wasn't the right path for me, but I struggled for a couple of years." Then, volunteering for a crisis and suicide hotline changed her life. Today, she is the author of "Career Grease: How to Get Unstuck and...

Gregg Burkhalter, "The LinkedIn Guy," is a recognized authority on LinkedIn.com and personal and professional branding. He offers proven tips on how to develop a powerful LinkedIn profile and professional brand, and how to avoid the pitfalls of newbies on the influential site. He warns about the line you should never cross over. Gregg's "3-D" approach to creating a winning strategy will help you r...

Jeremy Barnhart experienced a successful career in finance, but he worked long hours and travelled extensively. Frankly, he wasn't passionate about the work. He "retired" and started a company for something he cared about–assisting schools in fundraising. Now Jeremy has time to coach his 3 sons' basketball, football and baseball teams. He is a co-owner and vice president of franchise development a...

Sarah E. Brown loves working on big, historic projects and doing things that haven't been done before. Her career, spanning three major corporations during times of decisive change, gave her opportunities to do just that. Today she is putting that expertise to work to help individuals navigate change in their careers and relationships. She combines her research and analytical skills with her life...

Bedros Keuilian, the son of an Armenian political refugee, was an angry outsider with a chip on his shoulder. Fed up with his disruptive behavior, a high school teacher grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against a wall. She shouted something at him that turned his life around. Determined to prove her wrong, he learned to reframe his adversities as dumbbells, and use them to build emotional...

Linda Singh was thrown out of her home at 16, through no fault of her own. A high school dropout, working at a pretzel shop to survive, a display table in the mall for the U.S. Army caught her eye. That led to a conversation that changed the trajectory of her life. She became a Major General in the Army and now is helping people of all ages discover their inner strengths, passions and talents and...

Debby Stone, after 16 years practicing law, is an executive coach and keynote speaker. The author of "The Art of Self-Promotion: Tell Your Story, Transform Your Career," she contends you have about 20 seconds to capture a listener's attention and begin a conversation about the brand that is you. "In a Twitter, soundbite world, attention spans are short. Telling your story and doing it in a confide...

Justin Stenstrom can still feel the panic attack that seized him in high school years ago. His determined quest since then for wholeness and success prepared him to help others find a way out…and up. A nationally-acclaimed life coach, author, entrepreneur, and speaker, he is the founder of EliteManMagazine.com and the host of the Elite Man Podcast on iTunes.

Cassie Howard was never a fan of school, so she convinced her mom to let her drop out in 10th grade to start her own business. But she also knew she loved to teach. How could a high school drop-out and entrepreneur make that dream come true? Drawing on her successes as a female serial entrepreneur, she found a way, and she's helping other women reach dreams of their own.

Marty McDonald's future business partner came into his office a few years ago and said, "I'm tired of doing this. I have an idea and want to start a new business." Marty was intrigued. He told him, "If you come up with a really cool name, I'm in." Bad Rhino was the winning name. Social media and digital marketing is its game. Marty explains how launching the successful full service agency was larg...

Dana Malstaff credits three parents—a mom, a dad and a stepdad—for nurturing the skills she uses today to help other moms find a balance between parenting and their entrepreneurial careers. The author of "Boss Mom: The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Business & Nurturing Your Family Like a Pro", and "Confessions of a Boss Mom: A Guide to Knowing You Are Not Alone", she serves women who yearn for more...

Ellie Laks couldn't sit still for the service at her family's Orthodox Jewish temple. As a five-year-old, it felt like torture to her. Faking a trip to the restroom, she slipped out the temple door. Suddenly, she was covered head to toe in Monarch butterflies. At seven, she defiantly told her parents, "You'll see! When I grow up I'll have a huge place full of animals! And I'll show the world how b...