art, commitment, creativity, determination, film, Second Step

Inspired: The Long Road Toward The Wolf of Wall Street

Christa Avampato
Leo laughing in the face of adversity, on-screen and off
Leo laughing in the face of adversity, on-screen and off

I thought Leonardo DiCaprio had some sort of magic Hollywood wand that makes everything he touches turn to gold. I was completely wrong. Even with his passion and commitment, it took Leo 7 years to get The Wolf of Wall Street made. Like Matthew McConaughey and Dallas Buyers Club (who incidentally is also in The Wolf of Wall Street), Leo refused to give up on the film and chipped away at Hollywood until he lined up the right partners and the right funding. In our own creative pursuits, we sometimes struggle to get something to go in the direction we want it to take. We grease the skids of our own imaginations over and over again without much movement. It’s often akin to getting a car parked on ice to move. Don’t let the hard work and slow progress deter you. Keep at it knowing you’re in good company. Eventually, the ice relents (or melts) and we’re on our way.

books, grateful, gratitude, loss, love

Inspired: Aren’t We Lucky We Had Today?

Christa Avampato
James Patterson's new book
James Patterson’s new book

Author James Patterson was on CBS This Morning talking about his new book, First Love. It’s inspired by a woman he was with many years ago. She developed an inoperable brain tumor and to keep their spirits up they adopted this shared philosophy: “Aren’t we lucky that you didn’t die today?” It kept them appreciative, hopeful, and present. We’re all lucky we had today, even if it’s been the worst day, because it’s so much better than the alternative of not having this day at all. It reminds me that there are so many people all over the world who have passed on who would have given anything to have today. On the tough days, that idea keeps me going. It keeps me grateful. It keeps me smiling.

creativity, work, writer, writing

Inspired: Nothing Works Unless You Do

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

“Nothing will work unless you do.” ~ Maya Angelou

Late at night after a long day and in the wee, still-dark hours of the morning, I’m often at my computer – reading, writing, and researching for one of my personal projects. They are labors of love – every bit as much labor as love. Every once in a while, the doubts creep in. I hear the hurtful comments of people who doubted, and probably still strongly doubt, that I’ll ever be able to do anything significant as a writer. That little voice of self-doubt pipes up in agreement.

When this happens, I think of the remarkable Maya Angelou who has long been one of my idols. When I was 31, first moved back to New York, and decided to work on becoming a writer, I learned that she also decided to focus on her writing in New York City when she was 31. Prior to that, she worked in the performing arts though with only limited success. The same was true for me. Her strength, determination, and work ethic kept her going, reaching, and striving. She has been a wonderful role model for me, in my writing and my life.

And with her example, I close the door on the doubts – my own and those of others – and just keep working, as hard as I can, with as much authenticity and passion as I can muster. She’s right. Nothing works unless we do, and I’m not afraid of work. I like it. I revel in it. I believe in its power. It raises me up and becomes its own reward. In those times, I realize that the only way to make my writing work is to keep going.

courage, design, fashion, Second Step, time

Inspired: Carolina Herrera Took A Big Bold Step at Age 40

Christa Avampato
Michelle Obama in a stunning Carolina Herrera design
Michelle Obama in a stunning Carolina Herrera design

Carolina Herrera, designer to the stars, took a big risk at 40. Prior to then, he was a housewife in Venezuela. When she turned 40, her children were grown and she told her husband she wanted to move to New York to start a new career as a fashion designer. She had plenty of connections and access to funds so that helped though without her drive, ambition, and impeccable taste, connections and capital wouldn’t have meant much.

She could have easily laughed off the idea, and stayed right where she was – comfortable, settled, and bored. Instead, she went for it and reinvented herself. Today, she’s still reinventing herself and her fashion line at age 74. She admits that she’s every bit as scared now as she was 34 years ago and she said that every year it’s harder, not easier, to do her work. However, she loves it so she keeps going.

We place so much emphasis on youth in our society that we forget that every day, at every age, we have the opportunity to reinvent who we are and what we do. We can shift gears and try new things. We can be daring and courageous. Reinvention is a choice and Carolina shows us where it can lead if we give ourselves the chance.

Second Step, time, work

Inspired: Can You Spare a Decade?

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

A lot of people tell me their ideas for businesses and projects and ask me if I think it will be successful. I answer with this question: “Are you willing to work on it for a decade with little to no success?” Some people look at me with a confused expression and others are completely horrified.

My Decade Rule has grown out of my own experience. I’ve found it takes 10 years (at least) to really get something to work. And I don’t mean a decade of casual work here and there. I mean a solid decade of effort, energy, and passion.

Maybe it’ll take you less time, but I think we have to go into new projects with the decade lens so that we make the best use of our time. I use this concept for all of my new ideas and it helps me decide what is and isn’t worth doing. If an idea can hold my attention for 10 years, then I know it’s worth my time. If not, I move on.

Making some decisions about ideas you’ve got? Put it through the decade test and let me know what you find.

determination, dreams

Inspired: Remember Why You’re Here

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

It’s easy to get caught up in someone else’s dreams. Our paths cross, we see how we can be useful and helpful, and before we know it we’re spending a disproportionate amount of time making someone else’s dream happen. This is especially true if you have clients for your business or if you work a day job that funds your dream. It’s so easy to take our eyes off our prize because someone else’s prize isn’t so bad to look at. I have to be very careful of this because I like to be helpful and useful. I’ve had so many people who have helped me and I want to constantly pay that kindness forward.

That’s why very clear statements of work, project goals, and timeframes are so important for me to have with my clients. I’ve been asked by a number of them to join them full-time and though flattered, honored, and humbled by the offers, I politely and professionally refuse. I feel very lucky to have a number of repeat clients, and I have to remind myself why I’m doing this: to help others along while I’m working on my personal writing and original content goals.

As you carve your own path, you’ll be tempted, too, because carving our own paths is very hard work. Day in and day out. There is so break from it. We chip away one tiny piece at a time, brick by brick, we build our dreams. It’s understandable to jump to someone else’s dream that feels easier to build up because honestly, it is easier. But I promise you it’s not as fulfilling. Road building it tough work and it feels amazing, the way a tough workout leaves you with a runner’s high. I combat the tired feeling by regularly taking time to step back and look at what I’ve done. I’ve got a long way to go, and I feel very motivated when I see how far I’ve already come. It gives me the energy and the drive to keep going.

art, writer, writing

Inspired: I Write for Others

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Here’s what’s amazing about art – we begin to create it for ourselves and it ends up being for others. One of the production designers on my play, Sing After Storms recently told me, “I feel like this play was meant to be. It’s exactly what I need in my life at exactly the right time.” These words met me like a brick wall. They made me look up and take notice. I thought I was writing and producing this play because it means something to me when actually I wrote it for so many others, some of whom I’m just meeting now and others I have yet to meet. And that feels damn good. It’s a gift that keeps on giving to everyone it touches.

childhood, media, television

Inspired: Thank God for Television

Christa Avampato
The Cosby Show – one of my favorites, then and now

There are a lot of people who bemoan TV as wasting the minds of America. I’ve never understood that mindset because TV literally saved me. As a kid, it taught me to dream. It taught me about relationships, friendship, and the many options that were available in the world of work. It showed me that I could live my life differently than those around me. It gave me a very small window into a very big world.

As a child of the 80’s, I looked up to and learned from characters in The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Growing Pains, The Facts of Life, Different Strokes, Cheers, Who’s the Boss?, and The Muppet Show. I loved reruns of The Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, M*A*S*H, All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and Mork & Mindy. I remember seeing the very first episode of The Simpsons and deciding to play the saxophone so I could be like Lisa. Saturday morning cartoons were my favorite event of the week. I watched the news morning and night to learn about far-flung places around the globe. From my tiny little town that didn’t hold much hope for me, TV gave me the idea that there was a lot more to the world than what I was experiencing. It made me laugh and it gave me an escape.

Somewhere inside me, that little girl is still there, her eyes glued to that small shiny box, her smile wide, and her face lit up by the light of pictures that showed her she could carve her own path. TV didn’t waste my mind. Quite the contrary – it bolstered me up. I wouldn’t be who I am without it.

time

Inspired: Your Time Is Now

Christa Avampato

wristwatch-NOW“The time is always now.” ~ James Baldwin

Are you wondering when you’re going to make something happen? When it’s going to be the right time to make your move, make your mark, and live exactly the way you want to live? It’s now. It’s always now. The only thing we know for certain is that we have this exact moment. Spend it wisely.

health, hope, running, sports

Inspired: Don’t Just Remember the Boston Marathon. Honor Boston and Its Residents.

Christa Avampato
Boston Marathon starting line

In exactly two months the media will turn its attention to Boston to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. My friend, Mary, a runner and proud Bostonian, is in the midst of some incredible work that I want to share with you.

Many of the Boston Marathon bombing survivors were treated at Spaulding Rehab Hospital. Mary ran the 2009 Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab as a mobility impaired runner and this year was at the Mandarin preparing to celebrate the Race for Rehab Team’s triumphant crossing of the finish line when the bombs went off.

As Boston and the world count down the days until the start of the 2014 Boston Marathon, Mary is honored and proud to co-host two phenomenal fun(d)raising events to benefit Karis Antokal and Greg Gordon who are running with Spaulding Rehab’s Race for Rehab Team in Boston 2014:

Karis’ Karaoke for a Kause happening on 2/20/14 from 8:00-10:00 pm at the Limelight Stage and Studios at 204 Tremont Street Boston. Suggested minimum donation is $20 and you receive a Take a Chance ticket to be entered to win an autographed Tom Brady Jersey. And don’t worry if you’re too shy to step up to the mic. They’ll have plenty of people singing strong. Cash bar and appetizers will be available. Read Karis’ story on her fundraising page. Silent auction items include autographed books by Bob and Lee Woodruff, a Cape Getaway Weekend, Celtics and Red Sox tickets, and gift certificates to Stapleton Floral Design and Marathon Sports.

An Evening of A Cappella to Benefit Spaulding Rehab will take place on April 4th at Boston University. Terpsichore, Boston University’s all-female a cappella group, will be your host from 7:00pm – 9:00 pm at Sleeper Auditorium located at 871 Commonwealth Avenue. The evening features performances by Terpsichore, the BU Dear Abbeys, BU’s In Achord and Bostonality, a post-collegiate a cappella group. Minimum suggested donation is $10. Make your donation to Greg Gordon’s fundraising page and in the comments section note that it is for the benefit concert.

No matter where we call home, let’s show Boston and the city’s residents the love they need to heal and get through this difficult milestone.