Journeymen

Change can be scary. But, if we want to prepare ourselves for the journey ahead, we better get used to it. So says Susan Carlson, someone who not only welcomes change, but seeks it out when necessary, as well. Life is full of unknowns, but one thing that is almost certainly, universally true is the fact that it doesn't happen in a straight line. Speaking to her winding career, Susan offers great advice on how to best navigate what she dubs your "Career Rock Wall." To Susan, becoming professionally successful is not akin to a ladder, it is more difficult, it requires side steps, and sometimes even demands moving back down the wall to find a better path. If we are willing and able to adapt to the inevitable transitions we face, we're better equipped to reach the summit of both career and life.

When's the last time you held the door open for someone? Could have been yesterday, even today. We do it so often it hardly feels like it's a big deal. But, as Raejean Kanter points out, such a simple, small act of kindness performed at the perfect time can stick with us for years. It can, in Raejean's case, even inspire us to pay it forward to the far reaches of the world. As a children's author, Raejean is doing her part to instill the importance of acceptance, generosity, and friendship in today's youth. More recently, she has used her platform to organize and conduct a dress drive, in which she calls on her community to donate new dresses to little girls in Africa. Her annual drive is taking place as of the publishing of this episode—details can be found on her Facebook page (@grandmabooksworld)! Raejean has put so much good out into the world...and to think, if not for the smallest of good deeds, we'd perhaps be deprived of it all. Be kind, everyone. The world needs it.

Not many things we do before we're potty-trained toddlers stick with us throughout our lives...at least, hopefully not. However, for Jenna Czaplewski, one interest of hers—held since her earliest years—has not only remained, but amplified. Books. Their magical nature, ability to transport and captivate, as well as their power to educate and develop empathy within the reader...it all clicked with Jenna from a young age. This unconditional, unabashed love has led her to amass a collection of hundreds upon hundreds of books, contribute to local literacy as member of her local library board for over a decade, and to even start a book blog, called The Girl With Book Lungs (which can be found online at girlwithbooklungs.com, as well as on Facebook—@girlwithbooklungs). For Jenna, books have been a constant. A tenet of her life. For you, that likely isn't the case. But, if Jenna teaches us one thing it's that we're all readers, some of us just haven't found the right book yet.

Life throws many things our way. Some welcomed. Some not. We crave control over the details of our existence, but, the truth is, we never know what will happen next—if plans will take shape or be derailed. For Jeff Smith, upon joining the United States Army Special Forces at the ripe age of 17, a certain outlook on living was instilled within in him. This mindset guided Jeff decision by decision, from earning multiple degrees, getting married, learning to fly helicopters, and everything in between. He, like most of us when we're young, never fully knew what his next move would be. But, he never failed to stay prepared, curious, and searching. By doing that, according to Jeff, and having fun along the way, fulfillment is always within reach. When forces try to knock you off course, to wreak havoc on your sense of order, improvise, adapt, and overcome.

As many of us did at the outset of the pandemic, Barbara Cerda would go on family walks. Her and her three daughters enjoyed the opportunity to get outside and explore their neighborhood—one that included a handful of Little Free Libraries, most of which, however, needed books. Being the good stewards that they are, the Cerda family gathered up old books and made it their mission to keep these libraries filled. What started out as addressing a simple need has grown into the Barby the Book Fairy brand, centered around filling the demand for books in her community. With such an outpouring of support, Barbara has been able to donate countless books, enjoyed by countless individuals living in Milwaukee's south side, and is inspiring others to pay it forward as well. Given the success of her efforts so far, Barbara is even looking into how can she can build up the Barby the Book Fairy brand, expanding to new and exciting book-related offerings. To learn more about how you can support Barby the Book Fairy (donating books, volunteering at book drop-off events, etc.), visit their website, Facebook page, or send Barbara an email at [email protected]!

Tragedy strikes all of us. At one moment or another, we are met with unforeseen circumstances that shake us to our very core, our very foundation. For Kirsten Finn, that moment came in 2012, when her father was hit by a car while bicycling to work, severing his spinal cord in the process. Kirsten grew up creative, with a passion for theatre that led her from Chicago to Milwaukee during her formative college years and into her early career. It wasn't until the birth of her second child in 2005 that Kirsten became engrossed in the local cycling community—her dad undoubtedly a guiding hand. Seven years later, when the unimaginable happened, Kirsten was understandably damaged. She was scared off of the bike for years and what had become a go-to hobby and source of community vanished. Yet, when the opportunity arose to join the Wisconsin Bike Federation as its Executive Director, Kirsten jumped at the chance to re-involve herself in what she, and her father, loved so much. In the face of fear and trauma, Kirsten found a way to keep on pedaling.

Katie Corbett is completely blind. But, after experiencing undeserved scrutiny and mistreatment in the workplace, that didn't stop her from creating a compelling vision of her future, free from trauma and shame, full of confidence, understanding, and fulfillment. After losing her job, Katie went on a mission to overcome the negative feelings attached to her firing and, in the process, was introduced to two books that have since been seminal resources in her path to mental recovery. They've helped Katie grasp the "why" behind our actions and how to then take that knowledge and use it to build empathy. As a result of ongoing mental exercise—including the practice of re-framing hurtful conversations as if your counterpart was speaking like Donald Duck—Katie has hopped back into the driver's seat of her life, no longer letting past events control her future. With the help of time, her loving support system, and books (and, Donald Duck), Katie is living out her re-imagined future, happier than ever.

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Connect with Katie on LinkedIn. The books mentioned that influenced Katie are Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Teach Yourself NLP by Amanda Vickers.

What would you do if your child was diagnosed with autism? What would you do if a trained, licensed doctor told you to that your child would never amount to much of anything? Would you accept this grim, pre-determined fate? Or, would you hear it, internalize it, then fight it? Margaret Fairbanks chose the latter. When her son, Harry, was told at the age of 3 that, because of his autism, he'd never be on par with his peers and that he shouldn't be expected to go to college, Margaret knew this wasn't the end of the story. Something could be done. Something had to be done. On the heels of a transformation experience with Harry, Margaret discovered a new way to connect, a new way to develop. So, she and her husband, Mark, decided to start Islands of Brilliance—a Milwaukee-based organization that provides Art, Design and STEaM based workshops, allowing individuals who live with autism to thrive, doing what they love, free from societal molds. In one moment, for Margaret it all clicked. Her son would not be limited and neither would any child that stepped foot in her organization.

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Islands of Brilliance can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Check 'em out!

August 23, 2020. Do you remember what you did that day? Unlikely...it was just another normal, uneventful Sunday for most of us. But, for Ike Wynter, it's a day that will never be forgotten. It's the day he realized what he needed to do. August 23, 2020 marked the start of a new chapter. Like many of us, Ike has experienced his share of pain, heartbreak, and despair. And, while these events and the emotions attached to them can be crippling to some, Ike has used them as opportunities to apply perspective and set out on a new course—one that taps into his passions and aligns with the vision he has for his life. He decided to leave his family business to pursue what truly spoke to his soul—art. Ike is now fully pursuing his work with Wynter Woods, selling his hand-crafted eco-sustainable wood wall art to buyers across the county. More than anything, Ike is a testament to the power of perspective and presence, to allowing yourself to be guided by your individual light, especially when life grows dark around you.

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Ike's stunning art can be found on Etsy. Also, check him and his amazing stuff out on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!