Chasing Dreams with Aimee J.

Natalie Jennings just went the minimalist route, sold most of her “stuff,” and will be setting out to explore new places this fall. She is a photographer, podcaster, teacher, and the founder of A Face Project, which received a 2013 Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant. Her photo work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, and Mojo.

The Goal

Don’t we all crave more flexibility and control over our time? For Natalie, this was always the motivator in her life. She wanted the kind of lifestyle where she wasn’t just living for weekends and vacations. You may think this lifestyle is “the impossible dream,” but Natalie explains how it can be achievable and accessible if you plan ahead. 

TWEET: “The idea of going into the same workplace every day just didn’t resonate with me.” @afaceproject

The Fire

Have you ever felt the fire that spurs you on to something new? Like most of us, Natalie was busy, working hard to gradually chase her dreams. There came a time when teaching was not fulfilling and she felt the urgency of the FIRE that got her going to something new. You can make the same thing happen for you if you feel the fire to change your life!

TWEET: “I thrive having complete #creative control over what I’m doing.” @afaceproject

Let it Evolve

Are you open to letting your vision evolve and grow? Sometimes, our ideas evolve into something we never envisioned. Natalie explains why you shouldn’t be too rigid, but be open to feedback and seeing how things go. We all need specific goals to help us be accountable and stay on track, but don’t limit yourself. Remember, EVERYTHING doesn’t have to be “on the table” at DAY ONE.

TWEET: “I look at my #camera and realize it’s taken me to so many places.” @afaceproject

Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream-chaser to take—“Make sure that you believe you can achieve your goal. Do whatever you need to do to have the positive mindset through the ups and downs of growing a business.”

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

• [1:27] Going minimalist
• [4:24] Intentional steps to minimalism
• [7:00] From teaching to photography
• [9:29] Falling in love with photography
• [11:06] Making this lifestyle WORK
• [13:12] Gradually chasing dreams through transition
• [14:44] Making it happen: Natalie’s plans to travel
• [17:16] Having confidence in what you do
• [18:20] How A Face Project was born and Natalie’s team was created
• [22:33] Being open to how your ideas evolve over time
• [25:34] Phone photos vs. camera photos
• [27:42] Advice to aspiring photographers: it comes down to persistence
• [31:30] How photo technology has changed over the years
• [32:44] Natalie’s favorite camera
• [34:14] Natalie’s ONE action 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Website: www.afaceproject.com and www.nataliechampajennings.com

Natalie on Instagram 

Natalie on Twitter

Natalie on Facebook: @njenningsphoto and @afaceproject

TWEETS YOU CAN USE:

TWEET: “It all wasn’t ‘on the table’ on DAY ONE. Be open to how things evolve.” @afaceproject

TWEET: “Your best #work will be where you are naturally drawn.” @afaceproject

https://youtu.be/xum6FLoUG24

Squeaky Moore is regarded as the “pitch guru” for content creators and she freelances as a development consultant and pitching coach. Moore recently directed and produced “64,” a project on father-absent homes. “Father’s Day?” was also produced by Squeaky, and addresses the effects of absentee fathers. It recently debuted on the launch of Magic Johnson’s Aspire TV Network. “The Positive Controversy” is a show she developed, and “Face of Darkness-Journey to Healing” is documentary film that explores depression and suicide in African-American communities. She authored the book, #100 Pitches: Mistakes I’ve Made So You Don’t Have To, which is a film and TV-pitching guide for independent content creators about the do’s, don’t’s, and strategy of pitching film and TV projects.

Dreams that Remain:

Have your dreams changed over the years or remained the same? Squeaky says that her dreams have remained for her, from the early age of 11, when she knew she wanted to act. The only difference for her is that she’s given it a shot in front of and behind the Squeaky, is to remain open-minded and optimistic!

TWEET: We usually perceive it as #failure if the outcome is different than we envisioned. @squeakymoore

What is FAILURE, anyway?

What exactly constitutes failure? Squeaky says that it isn’t really what most people think it is! Often, we perceive our efforts as failure, simply because the outcome wasn’t what we wanted or expected. Dealing with disappointment and fear is part of life, and it doesn’t equal failure. Mistakes are just the steps we must take on our way to the success we will become!

TWEET: #Mistakes are how we become the successes we become. @squeakymoore

Facing FEAR:

How do you usually face fear? Squeaky says that she learned to face her fear head-on, and “put it out there so I can’t chicken out.” Becoming a master at not letting NO affect her has changed her perspective and her mindset. Her desire is to help others by letting them know what she has learned through the process of facing fear. Healing comes when you deal with the fear!

TWEET: If you ask WHY enough, then you’ll get to the core of the #fear. @squeakymoore

Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take—“We have to set the goal and put it in writing. What are YOU willing to go through to get there?”

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

• [1:32] Bravery in writing about making mistakes
• [2:09] Squeaky’s dreams and transitions within entertainment
• [5:00] When your dream shuts down: overcoming the fear
• [12:45] The 9-year drought: believing the lie
• [20:30] Identifying fears
• [23:28] Squeaky’s book
• [33:31] Having a different mindset: identify your ASKS
• [38:40] SO many lessons that apply to life
• [41:26] The 100 pitches: the best and the worst
• [47:35] Knowing what’s constructive and what’s not
• [49:18] Squeaky’s ONE action for a dream chaser

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Squeaky’s Website

Squeaky on Facebook

Squeaky on Twitter

Squeaky on Instagram

Squeaky on LinkedIn

#100 Pitches: Mistakes I’ve Made So You Don’t Have To by Squeaky Moore

TWEETS YOU CAN USE: 

TWEET: I didn’t value myself or my work like I should have. @squeakymoore

TWEET: Be willing to ASK BIG. @squeakymoore

TWEET: Everything about...

Victoria Mininger is the founder of Fearless Woman Entrepreneur, through which she mentors women entrepreneurs to thrive, not just survive, in both business and life. She is also the founder and CEO of Bear Creek Enterprises, where she actively works alongside her husband, Brian, to provide employment opportunities and a positive work environment within the construction industry.

From years spent building and running various businesses, to her time spent as a staff writer for a large university, she has honed her skills in the trenches of business and the creative world of writing. Victoria lives in central Virginia with her husband and four daughters. In her downtime, she loves to run, spend time in the outdoors, and travel.

When Opportunity Comes Knocking . . .

Are you ready to “do something different”? Victoria came to that point when a new opportunity came knocking for her in June of 2016. With her husband’s construction background, they joined forces and created their own construction company. Recently, they’ve ridden the “tiny house” wave to cater to the “entrepreneur on the go” by building and selling studio office spaces!

TWEET: Where we start off in life is not usually where we end up. @vmininger

A Role Model—for Failure??

Do you let your children see your successes AND your failures? Victoria believes that honesty and openness, even when failure comes, are important for our children to see. She shares how she and Brian were candid with their children when their business sputtered and failed. We all know that failure is a part of life and a stair-step to success, so why not allow our kids to see how we handle it and move forward?

TWEET: #Failure is a part of life and a stair-step to #success, @vmininger

Finding Ways to Give Back

How do you prioritize your self-care? We’ve all heard it said that we can’t take care of those we love unless we are taking care of ourselves. This is true! Victoria loves helping others through Fearless Woman Entrepreneur and finds it rewarding to give back. Many people experience the hopelessness that comes from that place of struggle, but she wants to create a safe space for women entrepreneurs, teaching them to care for themselves first!

TWEET: We can’t take care of those we #love unless we are taking #care of ourselves. @vmininger #selfcare

Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take—“Take everything on your plate and ask if it’s still supposed to be there. If it’s run its course, then fix it so everything there is in its season.”

TWEET: “Take everything on your plate and ask if it’s still supposed to be there. If it’s run its course, then fix it so everything there is in its season.” @vmininger

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

• [1:36] The beginning of Fearless Woman Entrepreneur and Bear Creek Enterprises
• [5:15] Spending all day and all night with your husband??
• [6:45] How the studio office idea came about
• [8:05] Young Victoria’s dreams and her daughters’ dreams
• [11:32] Letting your kids see you fail with honesty and openness
• [15:45] The skills you need to chase your dreams
• [17:53] Safe vs. Unsafe people
• [22:25} Taking time for the quiet of nature
• [25:57] When to chase a dream and when to let it die
• [28:31] What’s next for Victoria?
• [32:31] ONE action for a dream chaser to take

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Victoria’s Website

Victoria on Twitter

Victoria on Facebook

Victoria on