I do these 5 things every day without fail:
1.) I brush my teeth 2.) I walk Phin 3.) I eat breakfast 4.) I meditate 5.) I write
If we are to make a-go of our art, any art, it has to be as important as anything else we do every day. When I think of all the artists I admire, each one goes after it full-time with their full hearts. Once I saw that glaring similarity between them, I realized I had to do the same thing. I had to give myself as shot at being a full-time writer by choosing to write full-time. There was nothing else to do but that. Eventually we must decide – is this who we are or is this a hobby? Either answer is completely fine. I knew what I wanted mine to be, so I went for it.
I lived in artistic limbo for a long time. I made a lot of excuses. Now, it was time to commit, one way or the other. I’d been a writer on the side for 6 years, diligently plugging away every day, doing everything possible to improve the skills I had and build the new skills I needed. That incubation period was vital; it paved the way to today.
I still work on my skills every day. I hope I wake up every morning a better writer than I was the day before. That’s my only professional goal, and I’ll keep right on working for that as long as I have words.
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
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