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“JESSICA ARANA, ARTIST, DESIGNER, WORLD TRAVELER; COMPLETE WOMAN” By Kim Somers Egelsee
Jessica Arana is a complete woman; multitalented, kind, inspiring, giving, creative and brave. She is a great example of a strong woman. Jessica has always explored the unknown and her journeys are her biggest accomplishments. She has: trekked the span of Mexico on her own; lived within an Indigenous community; explored Peru solo, climbing Machu Picchu and sharing native clothing with the women of Lake Titicaca; and independently traveled through England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Costa Rica. Jessica’s passion has taken her to more than twelve countries, had her work in NYC, the UK, Mexico, and LA; and has proven that a non-traditional path is ALWAYS worth it. Jessica’s mission is to celebrate and narrate her vivencias (lived experiences) through art, research, and community work. Her hope is that she can empower others to live colorful and spirited vivencias of their own.
I had the opportunity to interview Jessica, who also happens to design all of the gorgeous branding and flyers for my inspirational speaking events and workshops, and I found her to be extremely intriguing.
Jessica Arana grew up in a very small town in Pennsylvania, and has been creative since birth, having a long line of creative women in her family, At age 14, she began earning money painting faces. At age 18, she took a huge brave step and moved to New York to study art and graphic design and received a fine arts degree. Her talent led her to the chance to intern at MTV, work in impressive corporate positions with huge magazines like InStyle and People and work and rub shoulders with Derek Jeter, Donald Trump, Moby, and Jimmy Fallon name just a few. However, she began to feel like it “was not all of her”. Jessica took new classes, met new people, and allowed herself to search. She explained that if she has learned anything in this crazy life, she has always allowed herself to take many varied paths that were true to her true self.
Her next step was moving to California to be with her English boyfriend, and everything shifted. All she had ever gone after in her life so far had resulted in success. California shook everything up. She felt out of sorts, and began asking the question, “what is here that I cannot get anywhere else”? Being half Mexican and half American, she realized the gift of being surrounded by that culture in Southern California, and decided to go back to school to get her Masters in Chicana/o Studies. Jessica then experienced some challenges of difficult content and others being discriminatory of her mixed ethnicity. She soared through with strength, a positive attitude, and straight A’s. She learned that she could really get through anything thrown at her. With this degree combined with her art degree, Jessica can combine art with the topic of biracial identity development to reach others in the world. Her professors expressed to her that her work is valid, encouraging her to share her experiences and artwork. As a result, she was recently asked to sell one of her pieces to a famous Chicano art collector.
Travel has truly inspired Jessica along her path. When she needs creative energy and new inspiration, she plans a trip or retreat. Travel helps her to find her true self. She goes far away, to say, “there I am”, and feed off of new experiences, languages, colors and people. It creates huge amounts of passion and excitement in her life, and results in extreme creativity and wisdom. Travel has brought Ms. Arana many gifts, including her boyfriend whom she met in Peru, while traveling alone, her belief that she can do anything, which she earned by climbing Machu Picchu, and the realization that when you’re not looking for greatness, you will often bump into it and to allow herself to believe in herself.
Jessica is also the branding guru/designer and creative director for The Respect Institute, a non-profit that tours through schools with workshops about connecting, bonding, sharing and non-judgment instead of bullying and violence. She plans to continue following her dreams by empowering people with her art, speaking to women and girls, traveling, and creating her own unique brand of uplifting, inspiring, and powerful stationary and paper.
Jessica Arana is truly an example of a complete woman, continuously improving, growing and getting better and better, while giving back, helping others, and all with a smile of strength.
SPEND MORE TIME ON WHAT GIVES YOU ENERGY , ENTHUSIASM, JOY AND PASSION, AND LESS OR NO TIME ON WHAT TIRES OR DRAINS YOU.
By Kim Somers Egelsee
Life is about moving forward, always growing.
- If a group of friends wants you to go to an event with them, and you know they are generally negative and cause trouble, what do you do?
- If you are at work, and your client or boss talks to you very harsh and tells you to do something, what do you do?
- If you are overweight and unhealthy, and you have the choice to spend an hour at the gym, or an hour in front of the t.v. what do you do?
- List ten projects , activities, commitments, or people that you will stop doing, or associating with.
- Write 3 important projects, activities, people to be with that will help you achieve what you want.
- Focus on those.
- truly take time to evaluate your choices.
- ask for help if needed with a mastermind, friend, mentor or coach.
FINDING YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE
By Kim Somers Egelsee
Inspirational speaker/www.kimlifecoach.com
Throughout our lives, we achieve, succeed, learn, grow, play and much more. Much of this we
do with the help, participation and involvement of other people. Sometimes we have a group
of people that we spend regular time with. Other times it is our best friend, significant other or co-worker. Additionally, it can be the help of a mentor, coach, workshop or seminar. One phrase or sentence from someone can be life changing, inspirational and filled with meaning. Something you hear, learn or experience can cause you to change your path and move toward your true dreams. Regardless of which human being is involved, we get a lot of joy from letting others into our lives. Relationships are fundamental to a fulfilling life.
Following your passion makes life easier, more fulfilling and enables you to be a living example For some people in today’s times, a new business or a side business can lead to greater income freedom and stability.. For others, moving up or growing in their current career is inspirational. Ultimately, finding your deep dreams, passions and purpose is key to getting every area of your life to a 10 plus.
July 9, 2011 in Huntington Beach, Kim Somers Egelsee and Howard Crampton Jr. are leading a life purpose workshop that will be life changing. They will be helping people find their purpose, gain focus and clarity about their lives, create definitive dreamboards for manifestation, eliminate emotional baggage holding you back and much more. www.Good-Terms.com is the official sponsor of the extraordinary workshop. The special positive word decals will be used for definitive dreamboarding.
“THE FIVE “R”’S AT THE END OF YOUR DAY”By Kim Somers Egelsee
1. REVIEW your day. (What went well, what are you grateful for?)
2 REALIZE that you did the best that you could. ( if there were things to improve on; now you know them)
3 RECOGNIZE that you are making a difference to others. ( think about the ways you help others daily, and make a difference in the world)
4. RECONCILE anything that you felt was negative. (Learn from it. What could have been done better or different?)
5. RELAX Spend time breathing, a pause in your day for a period of time to ease any tensions. Taking time for yourself, doing what makes you feel great. This way you can be at your best. (Relaxation= Rejuvenation and Refueling) This helps to make you strong and reinvigorated.
INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN OF ACTION; NUNG RIGOR
By Kim Somers Egelsee
I had the privilege of interviewing Nung Rigor several days ago, which was such a treat. This woman is so driven, thoughtful, peaceful and inspiring, that I knew I wanted to find out more. Most people know Nung as an achiever, a natural giver and public relations person, someone that you immediately want to be around, because her good energy can be felt around you.
Nung was born in Bangkok, Thailand. She has always been very close to her family, and worked in the family restaurant business there for years. She picked up a strong work ethic from both of her parents, inheriting her mom’s helpful, friendly and enthusiastic nature (which just comes naturally for Nung, it is also just her). She came to the California at the age of fifteen, attended school here as a teen, then went to college at Cal Poly Pomona, getting her degree in hospitality management. While at college, she worked at Disneyland, and had the chance to present a school project to Disneyland CEO, Mike Berry, who told her to remain enthusiastic, ambitious, with hospitality and integrity and she would be okay. That advice stuck with her.
From there Nung took Mike’s advice, going to work at huge restaurants; Wilshire Grand Hotel and then Lawry's, in the field of management. She was very good at moving up in her positions and gaining more and more responsibilities. During these years, Nung got married to a great man that she met at the Wilshire Grand hotel, and later they had a son. She also gained two step daughters that she is very close to. Although she loved these positions, after years in the restaurant industry, she longed to be her own boss, to make her own hours, and to be with her husband and son more often.
After fifteen years in the restaurant industry, she moved on to a totally new career and to her true life purpose. For the past two years, Nung Rigor has been an agent at New York Life, a career she sees herself doing at least thirty more years. She is very fulfilled giving people financial solutions, valuable information and help that can change their lives. She truly wants to see others successful and to grow with them. She makes her own hours and budget, and loves teaching workshops about having financial security. This go getter sees herself achieving more and more in her work, becoming part of the million dollar round table with national recognition, traveling often, and eventually having her own restaurant on the side.
She is a great person to look to for tips about life, success, and following your dreams. Nung explains that once you decide what you want to do in your life, even if it means switching careers like she did, to just go for it. Stop lingering, pray, ask and receive. It’s important to not second guess yourself. Keep your eye on the finish line and never look back.
Nung stays organized and positive with regular meditation, going for walks outside in nature and fresh air, and by regular phone calls to family, friends and her husband to start out her day of phone calls with great energy. She works hard to keep her life balanced by leaving her work in the car when she arrives home, so she can focus on her family, having family dinners and hanging out on the weekends whenever possible.
Overall, Nung Rigor works hard at her own personal development by constantly reading, studying and attending events and seminars like Ursula Mentjes’s Sales Coach Now events and meetings, Niurka’s seminars, and more. Some of her favorite influential people are Warren Buffet, Jim Rohn, Napoleon Hill, and Walt Disney. She also learned a lot from Richard Frank Sr.; President of Lawry’s Restaurant Inc., who taught her perseverance, to treat everyone with respect, generosity, and to never use the word, “employee”, (everyone has value to contribute).
Overall, Nung is someone of influence, who is a great role model to all. She is a hard worker, full of faith and motivation. She truly is an inspirational woman of action.
GET COZY, FEEL THE WARMTH AND HEAR INSPIRATION AT COACH’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL
By Kim Somers Egelsee
You get an ultra warm feeling when you walk into Coach’s Mediterranean Grill in downtown Huntington Beach. It’s as if you are visiting dear friends that uplift you and make you feel loved. Coach’s is one of the best restaurants in Orange County with a great location by the beach and pier, great service, a warm ambiance, and fabulous food. It truly stands out for the warmth the staff, owner and even clientele exhibit when you are there.
I sat down with the owner of both this restaurant and Coach’s Deli down the street, and felt as if I was listening to an inspirational speaker. Coach, (yes, that’s really his name), is truly an extraordinary person with positive focus and beliefs that have led to his success as an entrepreneur. He is also a family man with a gorgeous wife and two young children. Born and raised in Turkey by a family in the restaurant business, only finishing elementary school, and working as a pastry chef in a bakery, Coach grew up loving food. His father was a huge positive impact on his life, teaching him to be giving, sharing, the importance of discipline, to never give up and focus. He was an educator, mentor and huge influence in Coach’s life. Later, as a teen, Coach moved to Jordan and became a chef for over four years, finally coming to the United States by himself in 1988 with only $550 in his pocket and limited English. He immediately fell in love with beautiful downtown Huntington Beach and got a job at a liquor store and a little apartment above the shop. For a couple of years he labored there from 8am to midnight, and finally decided he wanted something more in line with his passion. He ventured out and got a job at a food court in Fashion Island, Newport Beach.
In 1992, Coach experienced one of those moments that can happen in one’s life that truly changes everything. He entered a culinary competition and won. After that, restaurant owners and entrepreneurs were begging him to partner up with them. He chose one offer and trusted it was great. However, the deal fell through, and the partner took advantage of his limited English when signing contracts. He lost a great deal of money. Coach took this as growth and learning, not failure. He learned; “You cannot give up. People can’t take away your knowledge. By being positive you can get anywhere you want.”
In those next few years, Coach took these experiences and with his knowledge and drive, opened up Coach’s Deli inside of a liquor store. Around this time, his parents visited. Due to green card issues, he had not seen his loved ones for eight years. He spent quality time with them the first week, then his cherished father suddenly passed away. After spending a fortune on the funeral arrangements and shipping his dad back to Europe, Coach was again left with little funds.
In 1994, with the belief “to always persist”, he officially opened up Coach’s Mediterranean Grill (which recently expanded even bigger). His philosophy is to start with miminum money + knowledge+ name+ followers+ quality, hospitality and friendship= dreams. He opened it for the people. Coach’s is known for good food hospitality and service, and leaving your problems at home. His secret is to give positive energy to the employees and customers through words, truly talk to people and make them feel at home. The staff loves their jobs. Debbie, a server has been there since opening day, as has a chef. Coach is a good boss, fair, and treats everybody equally. The restaurant has such amazing energy, that they attract great people to come in to eat and relax.
Coach is truly someone to look up to as a role model or mentor. His definition of success is “be yourself. Don’t try. Have no fear, take chances, isolate yourself from the wrong people, and believe in yourself. It’s up to you!” He is proud of what he has done, as is the community. He has created positive establishments (with plans of an upcoming fast food bistro as well), provided jobs for others, and never sees himself above anybody.
He feels that “nothing is forever, all is fixable. Every day is a different day. Sit and think on things. When you take steps up half way and then have to take some steps down, there is knowledge gained.”
It doesn’t stop there. Coach is filled with inspirational advice, tips and tools for living an amazing life. One of his favorites is, “Any person who has two identical days in their life, is missing one day. Focus. Pray daily. His advice for other business owners and entrepreneurs is:” to work hard. Combine knowledge, confidence and positivity. Help others. When you give, it comes back tenfold.” Coach is always there to pass on knowledge and positive energy to others. Stop in and visit him, or any one of the shining vibrant staff in this special place by the pier.
JOE ALEXANDER; MENTOR, MOTIVATOR, LIVING AND LEADING BY EXAMPLE
By Kim Somers Egelsee
I have had the honor and pleasure of knowing Joe Alexander, owner/CEO of Park Regency Realty in the San Fernando Valley for almost 20 years. My dad, Mike Somers began as a realtor there in 1992, with my mom Nancy joining him soon after. The thing I noticed right away was that this was not your typical real estate office. This was something special.
My dad came home one evening and gave me a ticket to see Jim Rohn, an amazing man who is considered to be one of the biggest authorities on personal development and success. I was only 19 at the time, but my dad explained that Joe recommended us seeing Mr. Rohn, and that it would change our lives. And it did. Jim Rohn taught us to work harder on ourselves than we do on our jobs. I couldn’t believe that Joe Alexander, the owner of a company would promote this thinking. But then as my family and I began doing just that, we got it.
Joe’s business is an office of motivation, inspiration and positive thinking. He guides the realtors to live extraordinary lives at work and at home. He has regular meetings where he coaches, teaches and pumps up the people of Park Regency. There is a library of success CD’s and DVD’s on the premises, where the realtors can borrow something by John Maxwell, Zig Zigler, or Niurka and more at any time. The people of Park Regency have an advantage over many other offices, in that they can absorb great energy at a moment’s notice.
Of course, all of these years, I wanted to know, “How does Joe do it?”, “What makes him tick?” I got the chance to interview him after speaking at a Thursday meeting, which is planned by my dad each week. They have speakers from all over, including the Tony Robbins organization as well as Niurka. I was thrilled to speak there, and so grateful since my journey to being a life coach and speaker began with my exposure to Jim Rohn from Joe Alexander.
After my workshop, I met with Joe in his office. Since Mr. Alexander is so down to earth, it felt like we were just hanging out. But, wow did I learn. This information alone could help business owners, employees, and just about anyone live a more balanced, successful life.
Joe Alexander went snow skiing at the age of 16 on Mt. Baldy, and broke his leg so badly, that he ended up in bed for nearly a year. The entire healing was a 2 year process that ended up being such a gift. Sometimes in life, the biggest mishaps end up being the greatest growth and learning. During this time, Joe’s father gave him a real estate book to begin a career. Joe got so into it, he went to school on crutches, took the test and passed, all by the age of 18. He immediately began working for Forrest Olsen, and the first 6 months thought he knew it all. Of course with that attitude, he did not succeed right away. After that he realized that no one can succeed alone, shut up, listened, got with the right people, started selling away, and was the second youngest person to receive the million dollar club award.
From there he opened Park Regency in 1977, and has owned and ran it ever since. Joe was always blessed in the areas of charisma and communication, and has always been a natural teacher, mentor and counselor. Therefore, it came naturally to Joe, when putting together the first Park Regency meeting, to base it on personal development. Throughout the years, and many meetings later, he has seen many motivational speakers, read hundreds of books, and listened to tons of CD’s. Joe has truly developed his own style of speaking, to such a degree, that when Tony Robbin’s top speaker came to do a workshop at Park Regency, they asked Joe to come one board and speak around the globe. What an honor! Joe, however is so passionate about his business and the people, as well as his gorgeous family (he has a beautiful wife and 2 young children), he had to turn them down.
Joe Alexander loves to see growth in people. Realtors tend to stay put at Park Regency for 10-30 plus years, which is generally unheard of in a real estate company. He is doing something right…many things right. Joe especially notices growth and productivity in the people that LISTEN to the inspirational meetings, read the books, and work hard on themselves. He also feels that people can truly learn so much from their children. Children are the greatest teachers. His biggest influences have been God for spirituality and his ability to trust and let go, his father for his work ethic, and the great Jim Rohn for taking him to the next level and sculpting his life to where he is today, and boy he is not stopping!
Mr. Alexander’s advice to new people in real estate is to be surrounded by those who are willing to teach you, and who are doing well. It is the power of association. Stick to the basics and don’t get off track. Keep going and moving and you will get to success. As for new business owners, save money. Have double what you think you need to put away. Keep your finances in order. Do not hope, but PLAN well and take action. When Joe gets frustrated or disempowered, he just pops in a DVD or CD of one of the greats; Joel Osteen, Tony Robbins, Jim Rohn, etc., even when he doesn’t feel like it, and it changes his state and he begins to fuel back up his power; just like the people from Park Regency have learned to do, and you can choose to do too!
So, at the close of the interview, I learned that Joe has been through a lot of life experiences, has taken each of those and grown from it, and applied all of those lessons to his teachings with others. He has used his life as a gift, and plans to do so always. He is kind, humble, sincere, and an overall great guy, which is a true leader living by example. Joe shows that to live an ideal life, we must help others, have gratitude, work on yourself harder than your job, and be kind. If we can all learn from this and apply it, we too will see our life get better.
