One Spark Stories

"There was a transference that happened there. Joy went from me to them, and I wanted to do as much of that as possible."

Growing up, Mike Brennan's love for art was his refuge. His passion for drawing helped him connect with people and bring joy to their lives. He pursued a degree in graphic design, but his career took an unexpected turn when he left it all for ministry. However, after a decade of spiritual work, he found himself struggling with depression due to neglecting his creative side. Mike's journey of self-discovery led him to find the perfect balance between his artistic skills and his desire to help others, shaping his identity and giving deeper meaning to his existence.

Listen to this episode and you will:

• Discover the significance of maintaining a regular creative routine for personal and professional growth.

• Learn to embrace your distinct creative identity and its impact on your work.

• Explore the role of creativity in self-discovery and personal development.

• Find ways to prevent burnout and depression amid the challenges of the creative process.

• Celebrate achievements and progress within your creative journey, boosting motivation and satisfaction.

This episode is a must listen for anyone that is feeling professionally lost, longing for reconnecting with a hobby or passion, or anyone curious about how to establish a daily creative habit of their own.

Episode Highlights 00:03:28 - Childhood Artistic Talents 00:08:12 - Pursuing Art in College 00:12:47 - Embracing a Bigger Purpose 00:14:51 - Finding Your Creative Self 00:18:08 - Facing Depression and Self-Discovery 00:21:49 - Art as a Form of Self-Care 00:25:11 - Consistent Discomfort and Finding Your Style 00:27:38 - The Daily Creative Habit Guided Journal 00:33:24 - Celebrating Your Creative Self and Embracing Your Uniqueness

Connect with Mike:

Instagram: @mikebone

Twitter: @mikebone @mikebone

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MikeBrennanAD

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mike-brennan-ad

Website: www.MikeBrennan.me

Daily Creative Habit: www.DailyCreativeHabit.com

Event Sketching: www.EventSketches.com

Graphic Design: www.MikeBrennanDesigns.com

Podcast: www.CreativeChats.me

Connect with Katie

About Katie: https://www.katiecurrens.com/about

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/

Follow Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_currens/

Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/

Order the Spark of the Day Journal: Order here

"It is okay to walk away from an opportunity that may seem lucrative when it does not move your purpose forward or bring peace to your life."

The eternal journey of self-discovery and finding purpose is one I fully embrace. Unfortunately, it isn't always roses. This is probably one of my move vulnerable episodes yet, but I feel it's only fair to share where I've been, what's been going on, and the lessons I've learned from it. As much as I thought about recoding almost daily, I couldn't pull myself to do it. My mental health became the priory as I focused on getting things aligned for my career, my family, and my peace.

There is a silver lining in all of this. After enough "fails" it becomes easier knowing that there are ways to bounce back. Even better, you know it's another lesson on what doesn't fuel you. This was one of the scariest times I have felt as a professional that directly impacted my personal life, but I knew there was an way out of it. I just had to double down and ask how did I get here, what is it that I am even doing any of this for, and where do I want to go next?

The biggest obstable to any challenge is making sure you staying true to your authentic vision as you work your way through it. It's easy to get caught in scope creep or settle for less. But the biggest joy and peace in my life has never come because I settle. The time is long gone to be forced to compromise and lose sight of the goals we work on for years.

After listening to this episode, you will:

• understand some of the risks that come with venturing into the unknown and embracing daring decisions
• remember the importance of self-reflection as a way to gain insight into your authentic purpose, joy, and pathway
• honor the genuine vision you have for your business or career, embrace the things that are the right fit for you, and with a bit of work, watch the magic of life unfold
• respect your instincts and recognize when they are telling you to adjust who you are surrounding yourself by and the opportunities you chase
• know and implement the Spark Goals framework to establish goals driven by your unique sense of purpose

If you're feeling frustrated and discouraged because you are feeling out of alignment in some capacity of life, you are not alone! Take a listen, share with a friend that may be feeling lost, and remember that you are in control of your purpose and your peace.

Buy the Journal Spark of the Day Journal

Connect with Katie

About Katie: https://www.katiecurrens.com/about

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/

Follow Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_currens/

Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/

Episode Highlights 00:02:13 - Taking Risks and Finding Purpose 00:09:29 - Seeking Acceptance from Others 00:14:09 - Authenticity in Entrepreneurship 00:16:40 - Trusting Your Gut 00:17:02 - Facing Rock Bottom 00:19:05 - Feeling Like a Fraud 00:22:08 - SPARK Goals Framework 00:29:50 - Reigniting Your Spark

After spending so much time surrounded by kids recently, I had a *spark* in my soul that I needed to share.

Any time I hear people talk about "kids these days" I have to wonder where they're getting their information from. The kids I know are involved, engaged, and passionate about exploring all that is out in the world. And I'm not just talking about my own biological kids.

I am speaking from almost two decades of experience in education, business partnerships, as a coach, and volunteer. Kindergarten to higher education. Urban to rural communities.

At the end of the day, kids are kids. It's the adults that are creating the assumptions we come to believe as truths.

During this short Soul Spark, I share 5 ways we can be better advocates for kids. After all, they are our future leaders.

Connect with Katie

About Katie: https://www.katiecurrens.com/about

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/

Follow Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_currens/

Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/

"I attribute a good deal of my success to dumb luck. So that might be one of those areas where it kind of raises its head. But I also believe that when you put yourself in a situation where you are willing to show initiative and a spark, you will be blessed with the faith and support of those around you." Tim Bernardi is an experienced writer and entrepreneur who seemingly stumbled into a role in the construction industry working on some pretty epic theme park attractions. He may also be one of the best examples of someone that has followed their passions and embraced the spark each and every time it comes.

Tim's story has as many twists and turns as some of the epic theme park projects he has been a part of. When I first Tim him I knew him as someone who worked in construction project management with Mader Southeast on some amazing theme park attractions. His construction experience has led him to projects with Universal Creative, Walt Disney Imagineering, and custom homes.

His path getting to where he is today has been anything but linear. In fact, it was a career he - almost quite literally - stumbled into after years in hospitality and selling his publishing agency. Tim's entrepreneur spirit doesn't just believe that people should pursue what they enjoy doing. He has seen the benefits that come when you take initiative toward those interests.

In the end, he learned that by expressing yourself and always going the extra mile, you can be rewarded with faith from your mentors and leaders. In this episode, you discover:

1. the theme park attraction where his original desktop computer now resides
2. the "dumb luck" moment that lead to Tim's career in commercial construction.
3. how Tim Bernardi used his precociousness to advance his career.
4. what happened when his CEO invested faith in him to plan and execute an event with no budget limit

"There are small miracles every day that sometimes aren't quite as apparent." Episode Highlights:

[00:04:38] A speech class I took in high school allowed me to start to categorize my thoughts and realize the power of words. If Young Tim brought anything forward, it's the ability to use the bullet point function on Microsoft Word.

[00:07:02] When you went to UK, what was your career vision? My career originally was going to be political science. But I didn't really start combining the skill sets from debate with writing until I got into the student paper at Valencia. Now my passion is technical writing and organizing thoughts and editing.

[00:08:34] I was a Jungle Cruise Skipper at Disney's Magic Kingdom in the fall of 1982. Went back to the University of Kentucky for one semester. Moved back down to Orlando in May of 83 and did some steam train work for a couple of years in the Magic Kingdom.

[00:09:48] When I was living in Florida, I started a publishing company. The concept that on a small computer that set on my desk I could do newsletters, flyers, forms. Why did I decide to sell the agency? Someone came and offered me a bunch of money "

[00:12:53] I still write protocols and standard operating procedures and technical writing as well. It's a lot of those skills that we just go through and do that we don't realize are marketable skills

[00:14:28] Eventually you realize that passion is something that you can monetize.

[00:18:27] I'm the facilitator of the Construction Safety Peer Group of Central Florida. Many of those people there are individuals who I regard as leaders. People who invested in me and who showed belief in me. That makes you feel essential and essential.

[00:27:15]

What can I do to serve others within the scope I'm qualified? And where can I maybe personally grow and help others as well? There's a selflessness to doing that to your organization or to a nonprofit. But there is also a personal return on investment on it.

[00:30:33] Between November 2017 and January 2022, we managed 27 different construction sites on Walt Disney World property. Over those Times had some remarkable experiences. One that stands out to him was when Pandora was almost finished and ready to open.

[00:37:05] Stop and take in the work that you have done. Enjoy what you have built out of it. I personally loved the Sorcerer's hat at Hollywood Studios. It's just a reminder that don't just rush from one project to the next.

[00:39:14]

We don't have the capacity to acknowledge every blessing that comes our way. There are small miracles every day that sometimes aren't quite as apparent.

[00:44:50] Even the quietest and the smallest blessings that are out there that aren't easily recognized are still there.

Connect with Tim on LinkedIn

Connect with Katie

About Katie: https://www.katiecurrens.com/about

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/

Follow Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_currens/

Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/

"People need to unlearn the phrase, 'the customer is always right'. And that's not easy. I think it's important that we unlearn that so that we can relearn how to support customers and guests."

Eleanor has always been passionate about empowering others and creating unique and creative solutions. Which is why after 20 years of working in hotel operations, she decided to use her experience and vision to do some disruption and create something bigger. She spent years traveling to work with frontline employees in hotels. It was clear that the pandemic was having a significant impact on the traveler experience and needs of frontline employees. As training dwindled, Eleanor began to recognize a divide between the people making decisions and frontline workers, and felt compelled to become a feedback loop between the two.

That led to her creating her 'Keep Your Cool' framework, which allows frontline teams to be proactive when faced with unhappy guests. It encourages them to feel empowered and not shattered by the situation. Eleanor is now traveling and training others to innovate in the hospitality industry and create a workforce that is supported, empowered, and engaged.

This episode will ignite a spark by:

Exploring the impact of the pandemic on hospitality and customer service

Discovering a framework to manage unhappy customers

Learning how to support frontline teams in a constantly changing industry

"I have always felt drawn to give something of myself in unique and creative ways, and now I am ready to use my experience, vision and slightly disruptive thoughts for the power of good on a greater platform."

Episode Highlights

[00:10:59]

Most hotels in the US stay in franchise operations. The divide between the people making the decisions and the people on the front line is getting bigger and bigger. This is where the opportunity to create a feedback loop between all of those came.

[00:14:32]

There is this focus on recovery. We understand there's recovery, but we actually have to also be future focused.

[00:15:59]

We can't use a reactionary framework for understanding and helping everyone. Cool stands for curious, observant, optimistic, offering options and keeping it light.

[00:24:41]

This is an always-on industry, making it hard for people to step away for training. That is why it is valuable to bring somebody in that can explore alongside the team, that can be the outside observer.

[00:25:13]

There are a few ways I've made the unknowns of entrepreneurship more manageable. I have a little happiness journal that helps me wake up the next day in a mindset of happiness and positivity. And I lean on people, friends, family, even strangers sometimes.

[00:33:54]

I've learned to say yes to every opportunity. Some of them turn out to be great opportunities, some of them are just learning opportunities.

[00:37:43]

I want people to unlearn the phrase, the customer is always right. And that's not easy. I think it's important that we unlearn that so that we can relearn how to support customers and guests.

Connect with Eleanor

Eleanor on LinkedIn

Eleanor's Website

Eleanor on Instagram

Tourism Talks on Clubhouse

Tourism Talks Community on Facebook

Connect with Katie

About Katie: https://www.katiecurrens.com/about

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/

Follow Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_currens/

Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/

"Until we really tap into our deeper purpose and passions, we aren't going to show up in our best for others."

Letty Benavides is a passionate people person and self-development coach who loves to help others discover their purpose and passions. She has always been a people person, wanting to support others, create joy and learning in her life and the lives of those around her. But when she turned 49, she started to explore the concept of personal development and wellbeing, and it opened a new world of discovery and growth.

Through connections with her coach and mentor, she was encouraged to take the leap and focus on what brought her the most joy - sharing the impact of personal development with others. Now, she can support her clients in a unique way and watching their own growth journey unfold is the most rewarding experience. Ignite a spark of purpose by:

• Discovering how a late start to personal development led to immense growth and fulfillment
• Exploring the power of deep conversations and connection in developing a personal brand
• Examining the role of mentors and coaches in empowering individuals to believe in themselves

"When I started my growth journey, I had zero people in my life that could understand. And I needed people that were on a journey at the same level as myself. I needed people that could mentor me. I wanted to contribute to people that were just learning." Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating, then make sure to share it with a friend.

Episode Highlights

[00:03:36] For a while, I think the personal development self help space was seen as very hokey or self serving, which is why I want to put personal development concepts in front of more people.

[00:13:48] It was time to switch careers from Copywriting to Entrepreneurial coaching last year when the joy was in writing about the value that comes out of personal development.

[00:19:23] Having the right people around you is crucial. Having a coach, having a mentor, having people that can look into your life and go like, you're capable of doing this stuff too. Trust that it's going to take you further.

[00:23:46] A coach needs to be on a growth journey themselves. If they just feel like they've got it all figured out, that's probably not the right coach for you. Find someone that is super intentional about their own health and it will make such a difference in your own.

[00:31:47] Letty's newsletter, Nurture the Seed, is a deeper dive for people that are curious about how to truly change their lives around.

[00:38:31] Investing in yourself isn't just a financial thing. It's the other areas you can invest in that don't cost money.

[00:41:11] Unlearning is part of the growth journey. When you start removing things that were already on that plate to begin with that aren't serving you, then you're going to create space needed to continue adding new things.

Connect with Letty

https://www.instagram.com/letty.joy/

https://linkedin.com/in/lettybenavides

Connect with Katie

Book Katie to Speak or Emcee your Event: https://www.katiecurrens.com/contact

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/

Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/

"Step away from familiarity and allow yourself to grow by embracing the unexpected."

Rob Midiri returns for yet another great, casual conversation. Join as we talk about:

• his recent experience on yet another experience at sea
• why more people need to embrace those moments of spontaneity and serendipity
• what we can learn from the feedback that stings

Connect with Rob Midiri

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertmidiri/

Looking to ignite a spark in your purpose?

Book Katie to Speak or Emcee your Event: https://www.katiecurrens.com/contact

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/

Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/

Episode Highlights [00:05:57] Some of the most amazing experiences come from moments of spontaneity. You can build a structure, but allow for change. Allow for serendipity. By eliminating the itineraries, by stepping away from the script, we open ourselves up to that growth opportunity. [00:12:39] Let your curiosity take over. Be open, have fun. It's amazing the opportunities that can come out of it. [00:18:32] Everybody has something to give, and we all have something to learn. That person might be there to tell you something that you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Don't allow yourself to be that person that never moves forward. [00:27:41] If you're not taking time to reevaluate the progress that you've made, you're doing yourself a disservice. But when you do celebrate it, celebrate it with others. [00:36:11] The ultimate way of finding happiness is to surround yourself with people that will challenge you. [00:40:37] Giving doesn't have to be transactional. Give time freely, and you never know how you're going to impact somebody.

Failing is what leads to your next biggest success. As we wrap up the new year I share some of my biggest failures and what we can all take away from them.

The Top 6 Failures of 2022:

1. Trying to stick with a 9 - 5 schedule
2. Saying Yes
3. Accepting Less
4. Not Asking for Help
5. Doing what I thought people would want from me
6. Not Trusting Myself

What were your biggest failures this year? Send me a message letting me know what you failed at and what your biggest lesson is as you move forward.

As always, be well, stay curious, and I'll see ya next year!

Looking to ignite a spark in your purpose?

Book Katie to Speak or Emcee your Event: https://www.katiecurrens.com/contact

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/

Katie on Instagram: @katie_currens

Instagram: @onesparkstories

This episode is taking on three things we have yet to tackle on this show; Mental Fitness + Masculinity + Plant Medicine. Neal Conlon is joining to share about his journey from Marine veteran to corporate to startups and cyber security technology to what he is calling his own personal development reset. In all of that he has had one core purpose; to create and provide safety and security for others.

Neal is wildly transparent on this show and his social media about his experiences in this thing called life, the good, the bad, the really bad, and the successes that come when you press forward.

A few highlights: {7:19} You can't have joy when you aren't feeling safe {15:49} US view on masculinity versus the world and the risk it poses

{22:54} Intentional transactions with a personal board of directors {31:26} Building mental fitness by pushing the norms of comfort... like a retreat at the worlds most dangerous hotel

{33:07} Why we need bigger problems to solve

Quote:

"A lot of times the thing that we think we are working on is not the thing we end up working on."

Connect with Neal:

https://www.nealconlon.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamnealconlon/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealconlon/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IamNealConlon/

Looking to ignite a spark in your purpose?

Book Katie to Speak or Emcee your Event: https://www.katiecurrens.com/contact

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/

Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/

At the age of 5, Lauren was literally thrown into a pool so she would have something to do at her sisters' swim meets. 17 years later, with a high school state championship and a top 3 finish in the Mid-American Conference, she said goodbye to a successful swimming career. This foundation as a student athlete set the tone for high achievement in the professional world.

After 15 years in HR, Lauren received her professional coaching certification from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) to feed her passion for supporting others in reaching their full potential. She started her business focused on leadership development and career advancement, but while watching the 2020 Olympic games it all changed.

As she watched Simon Biles remove herself from competition and Katie Ledecky do everything in her power to hide her disappointment following a lackluster race, she knew who she was called to serve. Athletes. It was validated when Michael Phelps told the world, "Competition is overwhelming. We just want someone to listen to us. Someone to support us mentally through the pressure-filled moments."

Lauren specializes in working with student-athletes to master the mental part of the game. Her company, Performance Reimagined, exists to show athletes there is an outlet to be heard, seen, and supported mentally and emotionally at the same level they are physically. Connect with Lauren:

website: performancereimagined.com

Instagram: @mrslaurenammon and @performance_reimagined_

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenammon/

Looking to ignite a spark in your purpose?

Book Katie to Speak or Emcee your Event: https://www.katiecurrens.com/contact

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/

Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/