As many of you know, my partners and I recently completed and executed our second annual fund raising cirque show.

A2D2's Cirque Tea Party in support of the Canadian Paraplegic Association

In the circus, dance, and theater worlds the countdown to showtime can be both an exciting and stressful time.

On the one hand you have all of the magic and beauty of the creative process, and on the other hand you have all of the details (major and minor) which you must manage and often juggle in order to keep your head above water and ultimately follow through with successful execution.

Below are a few pointers which I find helpful in streamlining our planning process. As always, there are rush/last minute items which come up, but if you can prepare as much as possible ahead of time you will set yourself (and your amazing event) up for success.

1. Create Lists (lots of them)

Lists are a cornerstone of the production world. Where would we be without our lists?! Be sure that everyone involved helps to check and double check your list items. Just one missed item can spell disaster (or extreme inconvenience) for you and your team on-site/the day of your event!

2. Gather together a great team and delegate

Hmmm.

Delegating has never been a forte of mine but in this biz it is absolutely necessary. I am fortunate enough to have two phenomenal partners who will stop at nothing to carry out all of their tasks so I am constantly motivated and inspired by their energy to follow through with the items which I’ve been delegated.

Need more hands? Then don’t be afraid to ask for more help. You’ll be surprised by how many people are willing (and happy) to step up to the plate.

3. Communicate (constantly)

Cirque Tea Party interactive characters

There is nothing worse then making assumptions. Having sign-offs and important communications IN WRITING saves all parties involved a great deal of trouble. It never hurts to double check, triple check and repeat yourself. Phone conversations are fine – but emails, face-to-face team meetings and contracts are your best bets.

4. Take Care of Yourself (and encourage your colleagues to do the same!)

This is an important one.

Unfortunately I have a history of ambulance rides the night before our large-scale productions. (Whoops!)

Lack of sleep, extreme fatigue, discombobulated eating schedules combined with high stress can be a recipe for disaster. TAKE CARE! Just remember, you are no good to anybody if you are stuck in an emergency room!

5. Remember WHY you are doing this…

A great book comes to mind on this topic Start with Why by Simon Sinek.

It is so important to keep reminding yourself and the team of WHY you are putting forth hard work and great effort. If you are successful in communicating your motivation to others, chances are, your team will be inspired and moved to engage 100%.

If, for some reason you do become de-motivated, read this article about deadlines – I find a good kick in the pants is needed!

What do you find helpful when you are planning for showtime? I find this countdown business to be a constant work-in-progress and I look forward to your suggestions!

3…2…1…ACTION!

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Last summer, while attending Special Event Boot Camp, my partner Elisa and I had the pleasure of meeting the inspirational trail-blazer and humanitarian, Kim Bourne MacGregor.

This past fall, Kim launched a grassroots movement to unite and inspire 1,000,000 women around the world to recognize the amazing women in their lives-in memory of her dear friend Erika Heller, who lost her four-year battle with colon cancer on May 28, 2009, at 31 years old, just two weeks shy of her one-year wedding anniversary.

Elisa and I were (and still are) so moved by Kim’s love of her lost friend, and passion and dedication to her mission, that we are committed to helping Kim reach her goal.

Please (1) watch this video, (2) pass it on, and (3) visit Kim’s website to tell a special woman in your life why you believe she’s amazing!

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She often can be found lounging on a leaf mid-afternoon, or weaving her silken cocoon (at her leisure of course), which will eventually transform her into a gorgeous butterfly.

A2D2, Cirque Tea Party, Caterpillar

This creature doesn’t just perform the same old tricks…

Not a chance.

Our Caterpillar is a master hand-balancer and aerialist who specializes in the “wow” factor!

Fabulous florals and air born side-kicks are her best friends along with several other-worldly creatures.

Still wondering whhhooo she is?

Visit her in Wonderland on Sunday June 27th to find out!

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Specializing in time management, marathon running and excessive jumping, our White Rabbit is as high strung as they come!

A2D2

Why so stressed you ask?

She’s late of course!

For our white rabbit, there is absolutely nothing more dreadful then being late “for a very important date.”

While other rabbits are busy doing busy work, our hyper-hopper engages in important work which, she hopes, will one day change the world.

The White Rabbit’s world will have a cure for spinal cord disabilities through amazing organizations such as the Canadian Paraplegic Association at the forefront of revolutionary transformations in the field.

The clock is ticking…

Will you be late?

Only time will tell.

I often catch myself saying “It must have been meant to be!”

Hmmm.

Is this really the case?

I find when I’m “doing” I have an awful lot of “it was meant to be” experiences.

Likewise, when I’ll delaying, procrastinating, thinking and sitting, I tend not to have so many of those moments.

Is it a coincidence?

There is a famous saying which goes something like this: “The harder I work, the luckier I am.”

So, does that mean that all of the hard workers are likewise the “lucky” ones?

Perhaps.

I know one thing for sure – when I am fired up and passionate about what I’m doing – the stars seem to align.

When I’m down in the dumps, grumpy, or dis-bonded, everything seems to fall apart.

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A ring master of sorts, our mad hatter is accustomed to behaving erratically around friends, frequently mixing up words and phrases, and otherwise discombobulating his afternoon teas.

A2D2's Mad Hatter, Cirque Tea Party

What makes our hatter remarkable is his ability to transform a neat and orderly affair into an upside-down, topsy-turvy, cirque-tacular experience.

The reasons behind his “madness” are as follows:

The mad hatter frequently engages in…

• More dreaming and less sleeping
• More doing and less planning
• More action and less re-action
• More jokes and less tears
• More treats and less tricks

You may call him “mad” but understand that “all the best people are.”

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It happens to all of us.

Inspiration = Bright Ideas

Sometimes we “have it” and sometimes it elludes us.

The “it” I’m talking about is inspiration.

When I’m excited and passionate about a project – everything seems to flow. On the flip side, when I am unmoved or even bored by what it is I’m doing – everything seems to be an agonizing struggle.

Sound familiar?

If so, I’ve re-posted two awesome articles that graced the blogosphere this week which I know you’ll enjoy.

Looking for a little inspiration? Then check out these posts and let me know if you can’t find the fire in your belly.

Enjoy!

Beyond Motivation

Where are all the good ideas?

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This week I had the pleasure of watching one of Toronto’s hottest contemporary Dance Companies, Desiraeda Dance Theatre, perform their newest creation WEIGHT.

"Weight" dancer Laura Ovcjak

The show is a passionate, hard-hitting, raw dance production which explores the depths of human relationships and all of its complexities. Exquisite choreography by the fabulous Niki Wozniak and stunning dancers combined to make WEIGHT an A2D2 fave.

WEIGHT opened Thursday at 8:00 PM at Dancemakers in the Distillery District, downtown Toronto. The show runs through to Saturday May 1st…Don’t miss your chance to see this beautiful show! I loved it and I know you’ll enjoy it as well

Dates & Times: Thursday, April 29th at 8pm
Friday, April 30th at 8pm
Saturday May 1st at 2pm and 8pm

Location: The Dancemakers Centre for Creation
The Historic Distillery District
55 Mill St., Building #58
Studio 313
(entrance is through the Cannery Building door,
located on Trinity St.)

Tickets: $25 General Admission, $20 Students & Seniors

You can pick up tickets at the door or online at

http://desiraedapresentsweight.eventbrite.com/

“Sometimes I dream up six impossible things before breakfast”

- Alice, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland

For the second year running, my incredible sisters/business partners and I are embarking on one of the most challenging endeavors undertaken by our company. We are self-producing another full-scale cirque production in which all proceeds will be donated to one of our favorite spinal research organizations – the Canadian Paraplegic Association.

Seeing as 2010 is the year of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, we decided to create a topsy-turvy, up-side-down event based loosely on the Mad Hatter’s afternoon tea.

Ladies and gentleman, I give you, the second annual Cirque-tacular production:

Cirque Tea Party! aka impossible thing #1

Impossible thing #2 Selling out the house. We did last year with Cirque-tacular and the Seven Deadly Sins (despite the naysayers and the economic downturn) and we’ll do it again. This year we are offering a delicious lunch, plus decadent one-of-a-kind desserts, plus a fabulous full-scale cirque show for $55. You can purchase your tickets here:

Cirque Tea Party Tickets

Impossible thing #3 Reaching and surpassing our fund raising bench mark. Last year we raised $7,500. I say, we’re going to top that figure because we are so excited to put in the hard work to make the dream a reality. As P90X coach Tony Horton would say: “BRING IT!”

Impossible thing #4 Putting it all together at lightning speed. Two months and counting…Tick, tick, tick.

Impossible thing #5 Gathering another group of dedicated sponsors and silent auction donors. If you are interested in contributing to this amazing event please do get in touch with us via email at info@a2d2.ca

Impossible thing #6 Knowing someone who is affected by a spinal cord injury. The positive attitudes, patience and bravery of people who live with spinal cord disabilities should be recognized in a meaningful way. Raising funds for organizations which step in to help is of the utmost importance.

So the question remains – How far down the rabbit hole will you travel?

I encourage you to buy your tickets, come out and enjoy an incredible show, and support an amazing initiative.

See you in the audience ~

A2D2's Cirque Tea Party, Mississauga ON, Sunday June 27, 2010

A2D2′s Cirque Tea Party Details

Date: Sunday June 27, 2010

Time: 1:00 PM Pre-Show 2:00 PM Lunch and Show

Venue: Renaissance by the Creek, 3045 Southcreek Road, Mississauga Ontario, Canada

Attire: As “mad” as you please

Tickets: http://a2d2cirqueteaparty.eventbrite.com/

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“Do not follow where the path leads. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Anonymous

Create your own path and reap the rewards!

Making your own way is scary – that’s a fact.

Why is this the case?

The road “less traveled” can sometimes seem to be a daunting and intimidating prospect.

I suppose we all have to struggle to face a barren landscape compared to the smoothly paved roads set out for friends, family, and colleagues who choose to play it safe.

It’s tempting to follow them…Very tempting indeed.

However, there are rewards for those who take risks. For those people who choose not to act like robots just going through the motions.

Rewards such as joy and satisfaction and sometimes money.

Risk taking can mean different things to different people. For example, going out of your way to help a customer, presenting an out-of-the-box idea to your boss (even if it might flop), starting your own business in a field that you love (even if everyone else is advising you against it).

I say – take risks, be brave, and most importantly, create your own trail!

What do you say?

Getting stressed while juggling your life?

“Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down.” -Natalie Goldberg

Stress.

Who needs it?

Anxiety (fearing fear) – even less helpful.

Beating yourself up, repeatedly telling yourself that you’re no good, feeling sorry for yourself and embracing a defeatist mentality are all things that are sure to take you nowhere, fast.

Time to get out of your head and into the world. It’s time to stop worrying about what other people think.

Sophocles had it right when he said “The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves.”

Life is too short to be wasting it!

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When meeting someone for the first time, one of the first questions we are usually asked is: “So, what do you do for living?”

Trying to define your work? Join the club

Some people have a quick and easy answer: “I’m an accountant” or “I’m a corporate lawyer.”  Others, like me, struggle to choose the right words to articulate our work (because “circus performer” or “producer” or “blogger” just won’t cut it).

I think it’s time to end the era of cookie-cutter labels which we use to define ourselves.

Don’t get me wrong – I think it’s important to be able to articulate what it is that we do in a succinct manner, I’m just divided as to how to go about doing it.

Any thoughts?

Just suppose you’re a teacher. Is that it? Of course not!

What do you teach?  Who are your students? What is it about teaching that makes you passionate about your work?

So you see, you’re not JUST any old (insert inside-the-box term here) you’re something special.

Defining ourselves while at the same time avoiding the “box” is what I’m after.

Recently my friend Martin Perelmuter of Speakers’ Spotlight wrote a great piece on elevator speeches which speaks to some solutions.  Check it out here.

I’d love to hear what you think about this dilemma and how it can be remedied.

I’m all ears.

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Red Bull Stratos

On Saturday, my fabulous husband Nikola Danaylov of Singularity Symposium posted two videos which are goose-bump worthy enough to re-post on this blog.

The brilliant marketing execs at Red Bull are sponsoring a project which is truly mind-blowing and (literally) out-of-this world amazing.

In a nutshell, ex-military man Felix Baumgartner will attempt to break the skydiving record for highest jump ever.

It is so amazing to witness people who aren’t afraid to go for it and reach for the stars.

Check out the videos here and let me know if you are as inspired as I am!

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The Little Engine That Could, Photo by: Harvey Henkelmann

“Challenges make life interesting, however, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. ” Mark Twain

Some people call it “shipping.”

Some call it “being on time.”

I prefer to look at it as arriving at your final destination – and you got there because you committed to your deadline.

This past week I felt like The Little Engine That Could (pictured). Constantly telling myself “I think I can, I think I can…”

When your ship date is looming, be sure to hunker down and power through to the end. You’ll be happy that you did.

Although tempting, there are so many great excuses to bail out, ask for an extension, or miss your deadline completely.

Don’t.

There is too much value in seeing a project through to completion, on time.

Best of luck to you in meeting your upcoming deadlines.

Onward!

Cirque du Soleil's New Tent Show "Totem"

Step right up…

The latest and greatest creation from Cirque du Soleil is named “Totem” and I can’t wait to check it out live!

Below I’ve included the official trailer as well as CDS behind the scenes videos.

I hope you enjoy watching as much as I did!

Totem Videos

I don’t know about you but I’m sold…See you in the audience

FYI: Tickets are now on sale – just click here

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“Pain is only temporary. Giving up lasts forever!” Lance Armstrong

Group Fitness = Fun Times

I came back from vacation three weeks ago in serious need of a fitness kick start.

While I was away, my two sisters (as well as my adopted sister) began convening every morning at the crack of dawn to “bring it” with the famed P90X fitness DVDs.

Not wanting to be left out, I joined in and quickly realized I hadn’t just committed to a great workout, but so much more!

I am having an absolute blast and so are my work-out mates. Every day we tackle a new discipline and a new set of exercises (plyometrics, martial arts, free weights, yoga, cardio, abs and on and on…)

A side feature of kicking your own butt (physically) every single day is that it becomes more and more addictive as time goes on.  When you are in a group it feels amazing to collectively motivate and inspire each other to go faster, push harder and reach higher. (Circus artists and dancers know this best, but it’s great to remind yourself every once in a while!)

There is so much value in setting personal goals as well as group goals and seeing where your hard work takes you.

If you find yourself in a boring routine, or just in need of a motivational boost (like I did), give group workouts a shot, and if you happen to have P90X at your disposal – all the better!

When the lactic acid builds up and you can really feel the burn, I try to remember the great athletes of our time like Lance. If he can conquer the Tour de France seven times then surely I can endure 20 more agonizing ab ripper reps

Circus power – full speed ahead!

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Start building trusting and lasting relationships today

People don’t just buy things any more.

Nope.

We buy ideas, relationships, and feelings attached to products or services.

I don’t get my hair done at just ANY salon. I trim my long locks by going to see Sam – the one hair dresser who I feel understands my personal style and therefore my hair.

I won’t buy my cards for special occasions at any old card stand. My pick is Carrier Budge Cards created by friend and fellow entrepreneur Holly Main. Her witty humor is infectious enough to put a smile on my face (and on the faces of my card recipients!)

Oh, and I can’t fathom getting my gluten-free cooking lessons from anyone other than my fabulous cousin Rossanna DeAngelis of  Chili and Fennel who I know puts her heart and soul into every dish she creates.

Not to mention the tickets I bought for a dance show my amazing adopted sister is performing in [check out "WEIGHT" because it's going to be fabulous!]

You get the point, right?

How many times have you gone out of your way to purchase something simply because you’ve built a trusting relationship with a person who has sold you on their product?

I think it’s time to re-focus on people and relationships and not just sales.

If I’m sold on you, then there’s a 90% chance I’ll be sold on your product or service.

At the end of the day, we’re all selling something. It’s how you make the sale that’s important.

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Last week I had the incredible experience of attending the Canadian Special Events & Meeting Expo educational sessions and seminars hosted by some of the top event producers known in the industry today.

CSEME 2010 Star Awards Trophy Girls, A2D2~Aerial Dance Cirque Company

There were some fantastic quotes which I wanted to log via this blog for our mutual reference and on-going benefit.

Even if you aren’t in the special events or entertainment biz – these quotes are applicable across the board no matter what profession you happen to pursue.

“Pigs get fat, hogs go to slaughter.”

Debbie Meyers, Bravo Entertainment, Dallas USA

*I loved this one. A fantastic depiction of greed and its consequences.

“Being better isn’t good enough any more. You have to be different!”

Toni Newman, Catalyst for Strategic Innovation, Montreal

*This quote was pulled from Toni’s key note breakfast presentation when she talked about REDEFINING instead of simply redesigning old event ideas. Fantastic!

“We hug our clients and suppliers.”

Jocelyn Flanagan, CEO, e =mc2 event management, Calgary

*How awesome is that? One of the top event firms in the country fosters an environment where hugging is promoted and encouraged!

“Ask yourself, ‘are your actions congruent with your brand?’ The answers are there…just read your annual report or your business plan!”

Kenneth Kristoffersen, CEO, Experiential Events, Calgary

CSEME Star Awards Aerial Hoop, A2D2~Aerial Dance Cirque Company

*My partners and I love attending any seminar in which Ken happens to be speaking. I love the above quote because it reminds you to stay true to your identity as a company and ultimately your brand.

“Always take a phone call from your mother, even if it goes something like this: Hey Ma, I love you but I need to call you back.”

Jacyln Berstein, Partner, Empire Force Events, NYC

*How amazing would it be to have a boss like Jaclyn who actually allows phone calls from family members on the clock?

What a positive and worthwhile way to spend CSEME – in the company of such inspiring innovators of the industry.

Sign me up for next year’s sessions!

“You have three choices in life: Give up, Give in , or Give it your all! To me there is only one choice. What’s your choice today?” Tony Robbins

Every day is full of choices.

It's up to you to choose!

You can choose to:

Wake up and start your day or roll over and go back to sleep.

Just put in the bare minimum or go the extra mile.

Be invisible or make a difference.

Sit it out or dance.

Frown or smile.

Choose regrets or choose no regrets.

It’s your life and your choices.

Choose wisely!

Hands down, one of my favorite television shows of all time is CBC’s The Dragon’s Den.

I love watching fellow Canadian entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to dragons (aka self-made millionaires and billionaires) Kevin, Brett, Arlene, Robert and Jim.

What a fantastic concept! Go on the show, present your idea, gain free publicity and free advice and maybe…just maybe, you’ll go home with a fist full of cash and a partnership with a dragon (or two).

As a faithful fan and viewer I was particularly impressed with episode nine. The show explores each of the dragon’s life paths and individual journeys to wealth and power.

This video has inspired me to work harder and dream bigger and I hope it moves you as well!

Dragon’s Den, Episode Nine – The Road to Riches

Enjoy

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“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.”

– Henry Ford

A little piece of me died inside yesterday when I heard a mother say to her (very talented) teenage daughter: “You can’t make art your career because it’s too competitive.”

Sigh.

I honestly can’t think of a worse dream-crushing mentality.

Granted, I am not a parent, nor will I pretend to understand how stressful it is to raise a child (especially in this day and age). Clearly this woman only wants “the best” for her daughter.

The only problem  is, “what’s best” may not be the right choice after-all. What we perceive as “practical” or “realistic” can be very dangerous.

Is it better to spend your life working a thankless job and watch every minute of every day before you can finally punch out?

OR is it better to be in a profession which you love so much that when you wake up in the morning you can’t wait to get to work?

I think the word “job security” is out-dated.

It’s time to wake up. There is no job security (for anyone). If the events of the past year are not a stark reminder of the new economy and new world we live in I don’t know what is.

It is time for us to do what we love. The rest (aka money) will follow.

I’m sick of the word “can’t” and all of the excuses and labels that go along with with it.

Yes you can.

The problem with routine is just that – it’s a routine!

Don't get stuck in your routine!

The old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is true in some situations and in certain circumstances.

There are many benefits to having a routine, or a personal list of goals (similar to the list you had last year), or a process which you utilize in your line of business.

But not always.

The problem with regularity, predictability, and routine is that we run the risk of becoming too comfortable.

It’s important to remember that sometimes we need to be uncomfortable in order to make progress.

Usually, if not always, progress hides in discomfort.

I think it’s time to do some squirming, time to feel uneasy, and time to suck it up.

Who’s with me?

I am grateful to have had the chance to vacation in the Caribbean last week.

What an eye-opening experience.

Without going into specifics, to get to the resort which we were staying at, from the airport we had to drive an hour and a half in a state-of-the-art tour bus through several small towns.

As we drove through the streets, and looked down at the towns inhabitants, an alarming sense of “us and them”came over me.

I found myself wondering how it would feel to live in one of those ramshackle houses with only the bare minimum rations required to survive. Then I wondered what it was like for the townspeople to look up at our big beautiful luxury bus heading off to a five-star resort segregated from the poverty of the villages and located in a magical oasis.

If I was in their shoes how would I feel?

My trip was a sobering reminder of how incredibly fortunate I am to live in the free world, and to live in a place where there is so much abundance and opportunity.

As Cicero noted: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”

May we always find the strength to be thankful for the lives we live and move forward with the resolve to make a difference in our homes, in our communities and in our world.

“Us and Them” should be a term relegated to the history books.

Let’s focus on “us” as in “all of us” and move forward for good.

Mediocre, in the middle, so so, average…

Don't settle for being average!

It’s time for a change.

How was your day today?

If you answered “fine” or “alright I guess” it’s time to consider how you can make your day “great” or “fabulous” (not in a superficial way, but in a deep-down, sincere and meaningful way).

This is possible, but first we have to recognize that “okay” or “average” won’t cut it anymore.

It’s tough, considering that society has trained us, conditioned us, groomed us to be middle-of-the-road folks.

Think about it.

Obedience, compliance, rule books, keeping your head down, and “don’t-make-any-waves-and-you’ll-be-just-fine” is what surrounds us and engulfs us as kids. From the second we step toe into kindergarten class and enter into the system.

This is our education. This is our world.

Granted, I had the very good fortune to be taught by some exceptional teachers who refused to follow the manual and teach with their hearts. These teachers made a lasting impression and they are all remarkable.

Unfortunately, there are many educators who are highly institutionalized (in every discipline – from ballet to advanced chemistry), so too are countless bosses, managers and supervisors. They put in bare minimum effort and wonder why no one (students, employees, customers etc) is paying attention. This is how we achieve mediocrity in huge numbers. Through junior school, middle school, high school and yes, even in our post-secondary education, and finally, in the work force.

It’s all there, all the time.  Follow instructions, try to fit in, don’t do anything to stand out or you’ll be embarrassed, and shut up. Be average.

Let me be clear - it’s not the type of work that we do that makes us average it’s how we do that work. It’s all about having the heart to make your work worth while – to make your job meaningful, and to make your life extraordinary.

If you are a garbage man, then you be the best damn garbage man you can be! Society needs you – we would be walking around in trash if we didn’t have you!

Or, if you are a circus performer – get on your apparatus and train till your hearts content so that when performance day comes you will ooze confidence, love and passion.

Time to make being average a thing of the past. No more lemmings please. (You know, the hamster-like rodents that are notorious for following the pack off a cliff to certain death?)

The status quo is simply a circle of mediocrity perpetuated by those of us too comfortable, too complacent or too lazy to make a change in our own lives.

Let’s stop being “fine” and start focusing on how we can be excellent. Let’s get going.

See you on the other side.

In the spirit of giving, this video was sent to me by a very dear friend, and I couldn’t wait to pay it forward to share with you.

This is super-star author J.K. Rowling giving an address to a group of Harvard graduates on their convocation day.

It is certainly worth twenty-minutes of your time.

Enjoy!

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

On the topic of failure – check out these previous Circus Blog Posts:

FAILURE – The Secret to Success

10,000 Nos Equals One Yes

Don’t Be Afraid to Fail!

“It’s not personal, it’s business.”

Make it personal and start giving!

How many times have you heard this line?

As an entrepreneur I hear this constantly, and I even believed it until recently.

Well guess what? It turns out that it is personal after all.

One thing that I’ve learned about running a business is that you must be passionate about what you do.

This is key.

If you truly love your work, a little piece of your soul is put into every task you undertake. These “gifts”  are the parts of us which we give away freely and are an invaluable part of your business no matter what business you’re in!

For example:

• If you wait tables and you take the time to remember a regular customer’s order – you are giving a gift.

• If you are a parking enforcement officer who overlooks a vehicle’s  parking meter is two minutes past expired -  once again, a gift.

• If you are a teacher who spends extra time with a student who is struggling with the curriculum (even though it’s way past the bell and you’d really like to get home)  – this is generosity. This is your gift.

• If you are an artist going the extra mile to create a client’s dream installation (despite the fact that the project is now taking up way more time). You guessed it.

These are all gifts that we need to give. We must give them.

Our gifts can be used everywhere, in every business, in every walk of life.

I think it’s time for us to stop separating ourselves from the situations we face and make it personal.

So, the next time a  customer of yours is unhappy, don’t blame it on Sally in the electronics department – face the problem head on. I bet there is something you can do to help the situation. (Remember, most of the time it’s not that you “can’t” do it, it’s that you “won’t” do it.)

Adding real value by bringing your unique gifts to the table is a must. This is what brings humanity to your work.

Start caring. Stop passing off the responsibility to others and take on the blame yourself.

Unless you hate your job…

Then it’s just back to “business”, right?

When we talk about “work ethic” what comes to mind?

Typically, we are groomed to punch in at 9:00 AM and punch out at 5:00 PM.

That’s convention. That’s what’s expected – no more, no less.

BORING!

Can you honestly think of an example of a person who has achieved great things by just going through the motions?

I can’t.

People who do great things have unrelenting work ethics – that’s a fact.

These are the folks that run when others walk, who stay up while everyone else sleeps, and who push forward when their peers fall back.

I’d like to share two items in this post which explore the topic of work ethic and the connection to greatness.

The first item is another fab article by blogger Seth Godin:

“I don’t feel like it”

The second is a YouTube compilation video of the legendary Will Smith.

It is not often that a celebrity really impresses me with their attitude, morals, and personal belief structure. As it turns out, Will is a tremendous guy with an outstanding work ethic.

Check it out:

Will’s Wisdom Video

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“Creativity is allowing oneself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

Scott Adams

The final film in this Circus Blog Video Series is about dreams, reality, and the merging of the two entities.

Ladies and gentleman, without further adieu, I give you:

Video # 3

Dreams vs Nightmares

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Ditch Plan B.

Period.

It only distracts from Plan A, which is your ultimate goal.

Dreams are funny things – they don’t come to fruition without lazer sharp focus, passion, courage, and of course lots and lots of hard work.

When you have a goal in mind you owe it to yourself to make it happen.

Think about it.

Whenever you design a “fall back” plan chances are you’ll do just that – fall back!

Dreams are worth chasing. Worth loosing sleep over. Worth loosing money over. Worth spending energy and time on!!

In a nutshell, your dreams are worth your entire heart and soul.

Plan B is worthless.

Plan B is the compromise you make with yourself when you decide to quit chasing Plan A and settle.

I choose Plan A.

What about you?

“Things that are done, it is needless to speak about – things that are past, it is needless to blame.”  Confucius

The second documentary highlighted in my Circus Blog Video Series focuses on idea execution to deadline.

Personally, I find it hard enough to get ideas out the door, but throw in a pressing deadline and you’ve got yourself the kick in the pants that you needed all along!

Video # 2

Racing Against Time

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This post incorporates a combo of my favorite topics:

Fruit on the BBQ, www.calicocafe.ca

(1) Entrepreneurship (2) Healthy Eating for Performance Artists (3) Event Planning

Ladies and Gentleman I give you the best vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Toronto: Calico Cafe

Located at 1226 Bloor Street West, this restaurant totally blew my socks off and I`ll tell you why.

The reason I went to dine in the first place is because my good friend and fellow entrepreneur Krystal Speck of Krystal Speck Ceramics told me about a restaurant that she and her partner Jared opened last summer.

After looking up the website and reading the restaurant philosophy is to provide “healthy, sustainable, and delicious food“ I was sold. It was just a matter of finding the time to get over there.

So finally, after months of meaning to go, I visited Calico for the first time this week with my husband to give it a try. Suffice to say, we sampled everything on the menu and all of our plates went back licked clean. Ha! How`s that for a review?

The menu is all about quality not quantity (just like circus arts!)

I`ve listed the winter dinner menu, but the selections change seasonally, so best to check the website for the most up-to-date information on brunches, lunches and dinners.

www.calicocafe.ca

Two Apps:

Including – (1) Zucchini boxes with walnut-scallion pate, baby red romaine salad and cilantro-balsamic dressing  AND (2) Sauteed honey mushrooms with rapini and ginger-shoyu sauce

Two Mains:

Including – (1) Smoked tempeh with brussels sprouts and raisin ragout,   AND (2) Agnolotti trio: spinach, beet and carrot

Two Desserts:

Including – (1) Caremelized bananas and chocolate mousse with maple-cashew cookies, AND (2) Vanilla cake with orange-ginger icing

PLUS

Fresh squeezed juices, homemade specialty drinks (like the oh-so fabulous coconut hot chocolate – to die for!) Nik and I were highly impressed when chef Jared explained that his coffee is sourced from fair trade organic coffee suppliers – fantastic!

The food is light and refreshing (you feel great after you leave) instead of heavy and stuffed! Perfect for performance artists and more generally for folks who are health conscious with their dietary choices.

For planners, I would highly recommend chef Jared`s creations for any catering needs. I should also mention that Calico can accommodate small parties when booked in advance.

“If you want to live the life that most people want, then you have to put in the WORK the most people won’t.”

Trey Anthony, Award-Winning Canadian Playwright

Fresh off the heals of a fantastic motivational entrepreneurship event which was held this past Thursday in Toronto, I felt it would be fun to begin a Circus Blog Video Series with a focus on success, dreams, and inspiration.

I must credit my extraordinary husband Nikola Danaylov of Singularity Weblog for finding these videos as they are absolutely wonderful.

These docs are a brilliant example of how major corporations (in this case, Honda) are transforming the way they market their brand and their products. The videos are thoroughly entertaining, and highly inspirational, with the only catch being that you have to endure some skillful branding reinforcement.

My verdict:

Corporate video + strong content + entertainment value = three 10-minute videos which are well worth your attention.

I hope you enjoy watching as much as I did!

Video # 1

FAILURE – The Secret to Success

Depending on how you look at any given situation, you can choose to see your circumstance as either sour or sweet.

Samantha, Smooth Moves Dance Pack, 2009

Worthy of either a “lemon” label or “lemonade” title.

Sometimes life throws you curve balls.

So what are you going to do about it? How will you handle it?

Will you cry “foul” and of course complain, complain, complain? (Sigh) which is simply draining for both you AND the people subjected to your endless griping.

OR

Will you suck it up and seek out the positive? (Which is much harder by the way then listing off the negatives).

Sure it is much easier to whine, frown and grump about. But the real learning comes when you can take a deep breath and assess the good.

The point is that your perspective is determined by your mentality AKA your frame of mind.

So,  next time you’re given a lemon – you can choose to pucker up.

OR you can add a little sugar and make lemonade.

Being proactive beats being reactive nine times out of ten, and I’ll tell you why…

A2D2 Ring Master Reacts, www.a2d2.ca

1. Being proactive means taking ownership and responsibility
2. Being proactive means pushing for answers, even when it feels uncomfortable to do so
3. Being proactive demonstrates to your team mates that you care about the task at hand
4. Being proactive forces you to be organized
5. Being proactive helps you to preempt potential shortfalls
6. Being proactive helps you to deal with any issues that may arise ahead of deadline (and not on deadline)
7. Being proactive increases the chances of flawless execution
8. Being proactive will be applauded
9. Being proactive feels great!
10. Being reactive ensures you’ll assign blame to someone else.

So what will you choose?

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Following my post titled Our Most Powerful Word  – “No”

A2D2 Ring Master, "Hmmmm...Yeeeessss" www.a2d2.ca

I felt strongly that a counter post was warranted.  So, in the spirit of fairness, balance, democracy and equality – here it is.

The benefits of saying “yes” are many.

Short of being a “yes man” or a “yes woman,” it is great to be the one person who is always on board and always ready to rise to the challenge.

How awesome are these kinds of  people?!

I can think of a few incredible A2D2 troupe members who are outstanding in this way – and my sisters and I cherish them deeply, as they are the perfect teammates – always ready to step up.

Seizing opportunities is also key. If we aren’t open to saying “yes” then we’ll surely miss out on any number of chances to learn, engage, and shine.

Sometimes you need to just say “yes” and if things don’t work out, at least you learned something about yourself and about others in the meantime.

Are you sitting on the fence?

Are you indecisive, waffling, unsure, or uncommitted?

You may be tired, confused, scattered or you may be just sitting on the fence.

That’s fine – fence sitting has it’s usefulness, especially when you are information gathering before making a big decision. [e.g. should I rent or own, practice or rest, run or walk, study or work? etc etc]

The thing is – sooner or later you need to make a decision and move on.

Whenever the Olympic games are upon us, I feel the familiar pangs of inspiration.

Each one of the athletes we see on television has achieved such a high level in their relative discipline, that their very existence in the arena is reason for applause.

Amazing.

Because all of these athletes are already at such a high level of physical performance, the separation between the people who triumph and the people who fall short seems to be a matter of mental toughness, a “never give-up” attitude, and an ability to keep oneself in a frame of mind suitable for champions.

In other words, at a certain point – it all becomes a head game.

Granted, sometimes there are factors beyond the control of the competitors which can lead to performance short-falls.

Beyond these unfortunate circumstances, the podium winners have not only won their medals based on their physical abilities but on their mental capabilities as well.

Those of us non-Olympic civilians can learn a lot from these people [although many circus performers are, in fact, ex-Olympians]

We need to get our heads in the game.

Whether you are training up a challenging maneuver, prepping for an important pitch session, or negotiating your mortgage terms, you need to get your head in the right space.

Achieving greatness is within our grasps. THINK about it…

From here on in – it’s just a head game.

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Alright.

A2D2's Cirque-tacular Productions, www.a2d2.ca

Time to make a fuss folks -time to GET NOTICED!

If my “Got An Idea?” post didn’t get you off your seat -maybe this post will.

It’s time to get excited, get inspired and get working on the one thing that you’ve been meaning to do.

Worried about your idea turning out to be a disaster after all?

Don’t.

Worrying just wastes time.

The Best Reason for a Big Event

I felt it necessary to re-blog this post from my favorite blogger Seth Godin. This short piece of writing has inspired me personally to work diligently, along with my partners, towards our next big event and I hope it fires you up as well!

If you’re sitting on an idea, a script, or a plan -get to it!

Not tomorrow -right now.

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Rejection is a reoccurring challenge for all of us.

A2D2's Cirque-tacular, "GREED" Act, www.a2d2.ca

The most effective learners among us know that real value is gained when we learn from those “nos.”

How many cold calls does it take to land your first client? How many auditions must you undergo before you land the role of your dreams? How many ads did you send out before you sold the first ticket to your self-produced show?

Chances are you’ve got to try, try again.

But don’t worry -there’s nothing wrong with “no.”

“No” just means your one step closer to your “yes.”

Time to face some rejection -you’ll be glad you did in the end.

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Image via Wikipedia

Each Olympic Opening ceremonies have their “high” points.

For me, it was when circus performers maneuvered snowboards and skis in harnesses high above the crowds at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games opening extravaganza.

As it turns out, those aerialists were direct from the National Circus School in Montreal.

Read on for more details and enjoy!

Olympic Opening Aerials

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In the spirit of the Olympics I thought I’d re-blog this awesome post published by the team at Speaker Spotlight about performing under pressure:

Performing Under Pressure at the Winter Games

Circus artists, and generally those of us in the performing arts, often must execute while under tremendous amounts of pressure.

As Dr Saul Miller explains, one of the antidotes to pressure is confidence (something that us hyper-sensitive artists sometimes lack).

Read on and enjoy!

We all need to do a handstand every once in a while to see the world from another perspective.

A2D2 Acro-Balance Duo, www.a2d2.ca

It is so easy to be down and out, sad, frustrated and generally in a bad mood.

When I encounter these kinds of days I try to get my perspective in check.

Am I suffering with a terminal illness? No.

Do I live in a third-world country and have to walk three hours every day just to retrieve clean water? No.

Are the people who are closest to me alive and well? Yes.

Voila -a fresh perspective.

I know of someone who lost their seven-year-old child to brain cancer this past weekend.

Perspective.

It is so much easier to be inwardly focused on our own “issues” that sometimes it’s difficult to look around and consider other people’s circumstances and find a different point of view pertaining to your own situation.

So, if you woke up with the grumps today, try turning your world upside down to gain a different perspective.

Sometimes just an elbow stand or a chest stand will do

Alright -I admit it…

I am a self-proclaimed “multi-tasker.”

Up until yesterday I thought that was a good thing, but as I was watching this amazing PBS Frontline documentary [link located below] with my bb messanger conversation going, my email open (new message half-written) , my twitter account tweeting, and my 2009 tax paperwork spread out on the kitchen table, I realized that I wasn’t doing anything well!

Even my tweet had a type-o.

Ha!

If you are convinced (like I was) that multi-tasking is a good thing, I urge you to take the time to watch this doc.

Digital Nation Documentary

As it turns out, despite of the fact that we have the ability to diversify our attention (due to the many many technologies out there designed to distract us!) our minds can only engage in one activity at a time, just as human minds have for centuries.

Circus and performance arts generally require lazer-sharp focus on maneuvers, choreographic sequences and so on. This makes sense, especially when your life and well-being “hangs in the balance.” Can you imagine rehearsing circus acts any other way?

So now it’s your turn to look inward: Are you a “multi-tasker?”

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Further to my “Don’t be Afraid to Fail” post ~

Have you ever heard the saying:

“Ideas belong to those who implement them?”

If you’ve got an idea you need to do one thing and one thing only…

GET GOING!

In other words, IMPLEMENT!

If you look back in history, no one remembers the guy or gal who thought of a great invention.

We only know of the ideas which come to fruition, and not the ideas that never came to be.

If you’re sitting on an idea right now, it is your responsibility to act, before someone else does.

I’d like to share an amazing blog post authored by Jonathan Morrow via copyblogger which explores this topic further:

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My husband, Nikola Danaylov of Singularity WEBLOG came across this neat BBC news item which I just have to share!

Image via Wikipedia

The video showcases a robot which has been programmed to break dance.

Although the technology is primitive, when the mechanics improve, the question remains:

Will robotics be the future of live entertainment?

Check this out and judge for yourself:

Break Dancing Robot Video from the BBC

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Fellow Artists,

The New Business Movement Event

If you are thinking of transforming your art form into a full-time business, I would highly recommend attending a Toronto event which I’m helping to plan entitled “The New Business Movement.”

Artists don’t always have the tools to create a business out of their talent. As such, this event is a fantastic chance to open the door to those opportunities.

I am so excited about the stellar line-up of workshops and key-note speakers as provided by Speaker’s Spotlight.

In the past this event was a great success and it changed people’s lives (including mine) by empowering people with the ability to start their own business.

The event welcomes individuals that have an entrepreneurial spirit and self-employed people that will benefit from a motivating, sharing, educational environment.

If you live in Toronto or GTA, I hope to see you and your friends at the New Business Movement event on Thursday, February 25, 2010; it will certainly motivate you to do more for yourself and your business!

Tickets are available via Eventbrite for $20.00 each:

New Business Movement Event Tickets

Further to my post on Pink’s cirque performance at the Grammy Awards, I came across this event coverage of a Grammy after party which was, you guessed it, entirely circus-themed.

Thanks to the amazing folks at Biz Bash for the excellent coverage:

Grammy After Party

Enjoy!

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I love it when pop stars feel the need to employ cirque tactics to infuse their act with the “wow” factor.

Last night at the 2010 Grammy Awards, singer Pink‘s apparatus of choice was aerial hammock (an A2D2 specialty!) which stole the show.

Check it out:

Go girl!

Despite all of the means we have to communicate this day and age (text-ing, MSN-ing, bb message-ing, emails, and yes, even calling…) effective communication continues to elude most of us on a continual and reoccurring basis.

The fact of the matter is, most of us are communication “dunces.”

That’s right, I said “dunces!”

You know, the little guy or gal in the corner with the big cone hat?

That’s us, right now.

How many times have you had a conversation with someone who is looking down at their smart phone? [I have to admit, that I myself am guilty as charged for this offence!]

Messaging while trying to carry on a conversation seems to offend the older generations tremendously and slightly put off the rest of us (but not entirely). Our inability to diversify our attention at A-D-D, or attention deficit disorder frequencies is troubling to say the least.

I recently had a conversation with my business partners which resulted in complete frustration simply because we weren’t taking the time to communicate effectively. We were all distracted and couldn’t come to a simple consensus on a basic issue.

Remember -REPEATING the same thing over and over does NOT improve your communication skills. If you are distracted by, say, email, facebook or any other such thing, it is very easy to attempt muti-tasking when all you’re really doing is shutting down your listening and therefore degrading your communication.

Now, think of circus training and how detrimental it would be if your teacher or trainer or partner is not absolutely focused on the maneuver at hand. Your safety and therefore your life would be at risk if you are not focused on communicating.

Consider, then, if you are tasked with rigging an apparatus and you are responsible for the lives of other performers… Is it appropriate to take a phone call in the gantry with shackles in hand?

Of course not!

Friends, I am not an expert communicator but I’d sure love to be one day. In the meantime, I’d like to hear your thoughts.

Now, I’ll listen

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On the topic of insecurity…

I can’t think of a more detrimental mentality, really.

Our insecurities, but more importantly, our INABILITY to face those insecurities have the potential to destroy or block out critical relationships.

Why, you ask?

The less secure you are with yourself, as in: your abilities as a performer, your capabilities as a negotiator, your skills as an entrepreneur etc, the MORE likely you are to make a critical error because of your insecurity.

These errors always occur when interacting with people who you PERCEIVE as a threat (either consciously or subconsciously).

In my opinion, this is a very dangerous self-imposed predicament.

Think about it.

Take for example a “class” scenario. You are in a workshop with several fellow artists experimenting with new maneuvers and challenging choreographic sequences. You look to your right and there is a performer who is more fit, and is demonstrating exemplary comprehension and execution of the new movements.

Is your immediate reaction to A) Feel inspired and motivated by your classmate, engage them in conversation and ask for assistance? or B) Feel intimidated and defeated and move to the back of the dance class?

The former, offers you an opportunity to improve yourself and to interact with a fellow performer while developing a relationship (either short-term or long), whereas the latter is a self pitying, isolated disaster which offers you nothing but more insecurity and inward focus.

I think what we need to do get over ourselves! It’s tough, but necessary.

In my experience, us folks in the circus industry are the worst offenders, so let’s work together to change this.

Generally art and artistic endeavors  work like this: The more you give the more your receive in return. So open up, share and let go of the insecurities which are holding you back. And if you feel like turning back just remember to G-O-Y!

Get-Over-Yourself.

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