What Brought Leigh To The FireSS
What brought you to The Fire Starter Sessions? Why did you decide to purchase the e-book?
I came to white hot truth, and ultimately The Fire Starter Sessions, on a quest to become a better version of me. A more authentic, loving and generous iteration of myself.
I have a lot of passion and a lot of things I want to accomplish. In my heart of hearts, I’ve always felt like I was put on this earth to be a theater director. That is, until the day when I realized I want so much more out of life. I want to create a vast network of creatives who can help each other. I want to volunteer or work in a place that needs human resources, that is human bodies and hands & hearts to help heal. I want to explore local markets and see young indie designers across the globe. I want to combine all of these loves so that I’m not only taking from the global community, but also giving back. And of course, I still have pangs where I desperately want to find my way back into the rehearsal room. So the question I’ve been living is, how do I marry all of these seemingly different passions?
Last fall I asked myself, “If you could absolutely anything, what would you do?” Then I wrote down everything that came to mind: start a stationery line; design accessories; open up the shop my bestie Natasha and I have daydreamed about; attend every Li Edelkoort presentation ever; travel. travel. travel to Hawaii, London, Siem Reap, Tokyo, Agra Fort, Bombay, South Africa, Mexico, Paris & Morocco; go to SXSW every year, including the panels; scout, recruit, hire, help collaborate with and connect hip, indie, young, emerging &/or inspired designers; meet Gala Darling; live out loud, authentically, happily and beautifully.
In the seven months since I wrote that list, I’ve accomplished quite a bit. I’m living my life the most sincerely since, well, ever. I moved to Siem Reap to start a socially-based weaving business. I work with the most amazing artisans to create Cambodian ikats that will appeal to Western markets. I’m designing and developing a collection of fashion and home décor accessories. I’m doing so many of the things I set out to do.
So, I came to the Fire Starter Sessions with two goals:
First, I want to figure out what is it that I, Leigh, want out of life. How do I want to feel? How do I plan to meld all my interests together into a vocation that thrills me?
Secondly, how do I launch an authentic and successful brand? How do I give this project in Cambodia everything I have and then some? How do I insure success for a population that is striving towards financial freedom and independence? What can I do to make sure that the West gets the message?
For me, The Fire Starter Sessions is about both personal and professional development. It’s my way into the life I want to lead.
I’m dying to know, what brought you to The Fire Starter Sessions? What do you hope to discover?
I came to the FireSS to figure out what I want to do with my life. I already have my dream goal ready; I want so badly to live in NYC.
Right now, I am a law student, 23 years old and I live in Norway. I’m halfway through my studies, and have somewhat discovered that I don’t have the passion for law. I don’t really look forward to start working when I’m done. The problem is that I don’t really know what my passion is. I don’t know what I’m good at either. All I know is that I would like to be location-independent, and that I enjoy writing and photographing and travelling.
I know that the easiest way (and it’s not easy at all) to be able to live in NYC is to earn my money from somewhere else than the US (from the internet maybe?). This way, I don’t need a job to apply for a visa for me. I would like to develop my blog so that I can start earning something from my writng. (my big hero is Gala Darling…)
I have so many dreams, goals, wishes, ideas and desires, but I don’t really know where to start with all this. I’m hoping the FireSS will help me find the right direction to start in. I’m also hoping that we can help each other!
Hi Marthe!
So, you know you want to live in NYC. Bravo! Now, you can start to build around that. You don’t know what you’re good at? What do you like to do? What do people ask you to help them with? What do friends compliment you on? That’s probably a good starting point for what you’re good at. But, when you daydream about living in New York, what kinds of things do you see? Are their activities that keep popping up? Those could be hints at what’s in store for your future.
I worship the ground that Gala Darling walks on. Her positivity is infectious.
I have loads of things I want to do too. So now, I’m trying to figure out how I can pursue them all (maybe not all at once, but how I can forge a lifestyle and career that will let me do all the things I love at some point).
Happy to have you here! Keep us informed on what and how you’re doing!
xo,
Leigh
Friends compliment that I’m smart and inspiring, (one friend actually asked if I had thought about mentoring/coaching!), and at least when it comes to school I’m a fast learner and I’m good at writing.
The problem (and the blessing) is that I tend to be good at whatever I try to do. I don’t know where this will take me, what I would like to do with it, but I’m pretty good at being good (if that makes any sense at all).
I’m definitely great at law (I have three A’s and one B, which is a great achievement at my uni, and I have three internships with the top companies). But I have no passion for it. Which makes things a little more complicated since I would have to chose between uncertainty (and passion) and a economically and socially secure future.
I like to read, travel, photograph, blog, clean, solve problems, research, be online, be in charge of my own time, shop, learn new things, decorate, among other things.
Travelling gives me butterflies, and so does getting linked to and getting lots of visitors and comments on my blog. Getting published as a writer is a small dream that I’m giving more room at the moment. Living abroad is kind of an end, so I’m looking for both what to do when I get there and how to get there. If that can be one package, I’ll be happy happy! (Of course I could finish my law degree, work hard among the top lawyers, earn a fortune and then move, but it’s not something that gives me butterflies at all…)
Either way, I think finishing my degree while working on my business (that I have to start soon…
is a good idea, since when I’m studying, I get a student loan that gives me time to work on my passions as well. And I’ll have a plan B to fall back on if all else fails.
Are you still reading? You are the first person I feel will understand what I’m dealing with here, so I hope I’m not boring you with lots of ranting!
I really enjoy reading your blog and your thoughts as well, so please share more of your journey too!
Well, after all this writing, I’m off to start working on the Worksheet 4. Hopefully it will help me clarify some things!
Thank you for listening and answering and asking!
Marthe
I came to the FSS because of my friend, Leigh. Yes, that Leigh.
I am often on the hunt for new inspiration and a confident push to keep me on track. I was actually searching for that ‘something’ when I received, out of the blue, a message from Leigh about Danielle LaPorte. I had never heard of her, but because I admire Leigh so much, I didn’t hesitate. I checked out Danielle’s site and bought the ecourse within a few minutes. Totally impulsive, I know, but totally amazing, too. I am so stoked on the information. I am soaking it up. I feel as if everything I am reading is empowering me to continue to do what I love, and to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that it will all work out exactly the way it’s supposed to as long as I do what I love to do. It’s always been that way for me, but the validation, the inspiration, the motivation that I am getting from Danielle is empowering me, like someone is standing behind me saying…”DO IT! I know you can. YES! YES! YES! Don’t think twice, go with your heart. Follow your dreams”.
I am only through the first 8 chapters and have many worksheets and thinking to do, but I am sooo excited about the future and sooo fired up.
I encourage anyone who is considering reading the Fire Starter Sessions…to do it. I can honestly say, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for my dreams!
Thank you Leigh. Thank you!
Aw, thank you! Being in a community that’s creative, gets it and is working towards their dreams is what empowers me. So, in a way, sharing the love was a bit selfish. xoxo!