Author: Christa Avampato

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.
books, children, education, learning, technology

Beautiful: I’ve Joined the Advisory Board of Jumping Pages

Christa Avampato

3294658_300To continue my 2013 new years resolution to make beautiful things, I am thrilled to announce that I have joined the Advisory Board of Jumping Pages. Created by Rania Ajami, Jumping Pages brings classic and modern-day children’s stories to life through tablet apps. The artistry, music, and storytelling are stunning, and a portion of the proceeds of every sale is donated to charities that help kids in need. As someone who loves children, books, and technology and is dedicated to supporting good causes, I couldn’t be happier to take up this new opportunity that combines all of these passions!

Working with Jumping Pages also fuels another resolution I made last year. Inspired by David Kelley‘s decision to forgo a corporate job because he “wanted to work with [his] friends”, I have been looking for opportunities to do the same. John Casey, Director of Marketing for Jumping Pages, has been my dear friend since our days together at Toys R Us. When he started his own PR agency a few years ago, he inspired my own leap to work for myself through Chasing Down the Muse, my creative consulting practice. Being on the Advisory Board for Jumping Pages gives me an opportunity to work closely with John again – another career dream realized.

Jumping Pages has a number of exciting projects in the works and I’ll announce all new launches on this blog once they’re available for purchase. In the meantime, I hope you’ll visit the website and learn more about this amazing brand that brings reading to life.

determination, passion, success, work, writing, yoga

Beautiful: How to Be Successful

Christa Avampato

20700_446525692062402_1595450150_n“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, and every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.” ~ Swami Vivekananda

Above anything, success requires dedication. You must give you heart, body, and soul over to it. It’s the drumbeat that never stops ringing in your ears. The masterpiece that is never quite finished by your hand. You have to care so much that you are willing to tinker with it over and over and over again.  And for its own sake, you let others play a part in it to share its goodness. It’s bigger than you.

My passion projects – writing, Compass Yoga, fundraising for good causes – are never far from my mind. And they never feel burdensome. They never feel like work. They’re more an elixir, a balm that makes all the rough patches of life a little easier to bear. They do more than sustain me; they raise me up.

This feeling is all the success I’ll ever need.

business, work

Beautiful: What Jon Bon Jovi Teaches Corporate CEOs About Business and Leadership

Christa Avampato
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi

I recently read that a company is re-engineering (again) and laying off close to 10% of their workforce. The announcement is rather convoluted and it boils down to this: they don’t think the skills of the people that they have on staff meet today’s needs so they’re going to let them go and hire new people with different skills.

To this idea, I have one piece of advice: corporate CEOs, take a cue from Jon Bon Jovi. He respects every member of his band and when the chips are down for any single member, Jon gets them the help they need. He cares about them as people first, and as musicians and colleagues second.

To be perfectly honest, good business is not rocket science. Sure, there are some who are better at it than others, for whom business comes more naturally. However, all of it can be taught to anyone. And yes, that includes hot topics like product development, social media marketing, and coding. All that’s required is a qualified teacher and a willing student. To learn something new requires heart, passion, solid work ethics, and the desire to be helpful and useful. These are not the possessions of a chosen few; everyone can have those and with those traits, anything can be learned, rocket science included.

This retraining of existing staff is also good business. It costs companies millions of dollars to lay off staff and hire new people. Why not do as much as you can with the people you have? Give them a chance to adapt to a changing world by learning new skills. Companies need to invest their resources in training, not in re-engineering. This makes good sense for everyone – employees, companies, and shareholders.

I’m so sick of businesses treating people like line items on a spreadsheet rather than human beings who’ve given so much of their time to make these companies successful. And I’m especially sick of hearing CEOs use lines like “it’s not personal; it’s business.” Anything that involves people by its very nature is personal. It’s about time we start acting like people in business rather than drones. That’s what Jon would do and look how successful he is.

beauty, creativity, make, maker, nature

Beautiful: Nature Teaches Us to Be Resourceful

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

“When you let go of trying to get more of what you don’t really need, it frees up oceans of energy to make a difference with what you have. When you make a difference with what you have it expands.” ~ Lynn Twist

When I feel myself getting a case of the “I need more…” syndrome, I play this little meditation game. I imagine that I’ve miraculously found $100,000 with no strings attached that I can spend any way I like. Would I travel the world, donate it all to charity, put a down payment on a house, pay off all my student loans? A few minutes into the game, I always find myself saying “$100,000 just isn’t enough. What I really need is…” And then I start laughing. $100,000 of discovered money isn’t enough? That’s absurd.

And this is how it goes for so many of us. We focus so much on what we don’t have that we lose sight of all of the resources at our disposal. Our culture feeds us a healthy diet of lack. Nothing is ever, ever enough.

When this happens, it’s up to us to turn off all of our devices, get outside, and go for a walk. Look around. Nature doesn’t think about lack. It adapts without any drama to the resources available at the present time. Nature has a much bigger job than any of us. It has to keep this whole planet and all of life moving forward. We think we’re over-scheduled and tired? Mother Nature takes a look at her to-do list and shakes her head at all of us.

Stop letting a sense of lack deprive you of the wonders that lay at your feet. Pick them up and put them to good use. Everyone can make something beautiful right where they are with exactly what they have.

action, beauty, choices, yoga

Beautiful: The Heart as Leader

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

“Well done is better than well said.” ~ Benjamin Franklin, American inventor and statesman

Since the start of the new year, I’ve been speaking to a lot of yoga teachers who want to join Compass Yoga. They are passionate about their craft and have a strong desire to help others so I’m searching for opportunities for all of them. One of them recently said to me that so many people put together community efforts and half-ass them. She loves Compass because of the commitment that I and so many others have to it.

When I decide to do something, I just do it. Everywhere I go, I go with my whole heart. And if my heart goes somewhere, I know the rest of me is soon to follow. That string can’t be broken; it’s the true mind-body connection. Once my heart wishes for something, I have to act. And that is its own kind of gift.

action, adventure, creativity, time

Beautiful: Your Actions Belong to You

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

“My actions are my only true belongings.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

I know this to be true. Over 3 years ago, I lost almost all of my possessions and nearly my life in an apartment building fire. In an instant I learned the deep truth of that old adage “it’s just stuff.” If it had gone another way, if I hadn’t gotten out in time, all that would have remained of me would have been the results of my actions and the people who remembered them.

So there is no time like the present. It’s the only time we have. Do something with it. Make something beautiful that matters.

creativity, gratitude, Life, simplicity

Beautiful: Be Like Water

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

I started a new morning routine on January 1st. Upon waking, I stretch, place my hands in front of my heart, bow my head, say thank you (out loud), and drink a glass of water.

The stretching reminds me that my body is a vehicle for action to create a world I am proud to call home. The focus on my heart reminds me that it is the best guide for my journey, whatever that journey is each day. I bow my head in reverence for the wonders of the world. I say thank you to remind me that every day is a gift and I’m lucky enough to get another one each morning.

That all sounds lovely, right? But drink a glass of water? What’s that about? you may ask.

Yes, it keeps me nourished and hydrated. Yes, it reminds me about the ebb and flow of life. But why make it part of this ritual? Is there anything spiritual about drinking a glass of water?

Water reminds me to keep it simple and to never underestimate the power of simplicity. This humble offering, a glass of water, keeps all of life moving. Without it, we would all perish. Without it, nothing around us would have ever existed. It offers everything and asks for nothing. It is the ultimate creative force.

beauty, happiness, hope, sadness, time

Beautiful: Sing After Storms

Christa Avampato
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From Pinterest

“Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn’t people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them.” ~ Rose Kennedy, American philanthropist

2012 was difficult, particularly the latter half. Our country seemed to be in an odd state of discomfort. Even Christmas, usually such a bright and blissful time of year, was shrouded in something less than joy. Hurricane Sandy, Newtown, the fiscal cliff. Our country took a beating, and still got up to find a new day, albeit one that is beyond-difficult for many.

Then we turned the page into 2013 and we wondered what this year would hold for us. After shredding our disappointments in the Times Square confetti machine and resolving that 2013 will be better than the year we just finished, all we seemed to have left was hope. Hope for more happiness, more beauty, more peace. Somewhere in there, a tiny bit of guilt nags at us. Do we have the right to ask for more joy in the wake of so much hardship?

Hell yes. Joy is always our right, even in the darkest and saddest of times. Especially in those times. Once the clouds clear, and they always do, you go ahead and sing as loudly and clearly as possible. As our voices rise, our hearts follow.

beauty, creativity, curiosity, science, television

Beautiful: The Pi of Life

Christa Avampato

Have you been watching the TV show Person of Interest? Filled with quirky characters, nerdy testaments to the power of technology and programming, and a healthy dose of espionage and government secrecy, it consumes my complete attention during every episode.

Last week’s show, 2πr, began with a lyrical discussion of Pi. Yes, that Pi: 3.14159265359… or said another way, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Pi randomly repeats with no end. Finch, the main character of the show, explains that Pi contains every number combination possible. It contains all of creation – past, present, and future. Somewhere, it contains our phone numbers, birthdays, social security numbers. If those numbers were translated into letters, it would contain every word, every sentence ever written by anyone. Mind-blowing.

This is why I find math and science so intriguing, inspiring, and endlessly fascinating. We don’t need to ask, nor wait, for answers to any of our questions, curiosities, and confusions. They are all around us. All of them. What we need is an open heart, a discerning eye, and a clear, keen mind to see them, recognize them, and then put them to good use.

calm, cooking, faith, food

Beautiful: Baking and Breaking Bread – Acts of Trust and Faith

Christa Avampato
2013-01-06_08-57-44_864
My first loaf of homemade bread, baked in my new dutch oven

Baking and making bread is one of the simplest, most satisfying pleasures in the world.

Last year I began to challenge my long-held belief that I cannot bake. I made a personal vow to teach myself some very simple baking recipes. True to form that was not enough. Given my frugal ways, I began to take a long hard look at grocery store prices. “Why does fresh pasta and bread cost so much?” I wondered. “And if it costs so much, why is it so often not that tasty?” I decided to try my hand at making my own, and made the resolution that this year I wouldn’t buy any bread or pasta.

My pasta adventures are coming along. With proficiency in basic egg pasta dough, I’ve moved on to incorporating ingredients like spinach, beets, and carrots to create healthier options. (More on that in a future post.) It was easier for me to start with pasta because it’s so logical: mound the flour and add the eggs, salt, olive oil, milk, and a dash of cinnamon (yes, cinnamon!) to a well in the center of the flour. Knead, roll, cut, shape, boil, eat. There’s a lot of tinkering in pasta making and I love to tinker.

Bread baking? That’s a different story because the baker has so little control. The ingredients must be measured precisely and then the baker has to walk away, exhibiting extreme patience. 18 hours of patience, to be precise. The flour, yeast, warm water, and salt do some type of magic rising dance and voila – dough, ready for the super hot oven! Baking is an act of trust and faith in something that we cannot manipulate. The yeast and heat from the oven must be allowed to do what it does best all on its own, without our assistance.

But oh, the final result is well worth it. I used this bread recipe, followed it to the letter, and literally ooo’ed and ahh’ed over the result. Thick, golden crust and a moist, chewy interior. Slathered with butter and 3 berry jam, along with a mug of green peppermint tea, it was the perfect way to begin my Sunday morning.

No more store-bought bread for me. I’m a baker.