The Flow of flow

Flow…
It sounds juicy, doesn't it? All effortless and float-down-the-river idyllic. But The path of FLOW is not for the faint of heart.
Only for those dedicated to master the art of not just trusting the Universe, but harnessing the Universe.

Flow is not
unconscious but
highly conscious…

And when you give yourself to this art, there
is nothing you cannot create.

A Moment That Changed Everything

My entertaining new acquaintance was asking me how I knew our friend Carlton. We had all just finished dinner at a group event, and we were now scattered around the room, networking and talking. I had just met him, and all I really knew was he was fun. His name was Dale, a Gay man with an incredible sense of humor, fascinating, articulate, and skilled in entertaining conversation.

We had laughed together at dinner, talking about an assorted array of topics, and we had both enjoyed each other's ability to spar with wit and humor. At that moment, we knew nothing more about each other.

I laughed and said in kind of a 'smart-ass' way, "Oh, I've known Carlton for over 35 years! I trained him in public speaking and communication skills as an Assistant General Manager at InterContinental Hotels. He asked me to train each of his executive teams in every hotel he has managed since then. He calls me his Secret Weapon!".

At that moment, Dale took his business card out of his pocket, handed it to me, and said, "Call me on Monday!".

I looked at the card. He was Senior Vice President of all of Hard Rock Hotels International.

And thus began our incredible journey together.

For 4 years with Hard Rock, I have facilitated a Leadership Development Program for Hard Rock Hotels, training executive teams in Florida, New York, Budapest, Madrid, Davos, London, Cancun, Punta Cana, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta.

What FLOW Really Is

In my understanding and interpretation, flow is the actions and results produced when we are true to our values and use our innate gifts and talents, operating by choice to fulfill one's passions. That formula opens a path toward seemingly impossible and fortuitous outcomes, even miracles.

It's much like going with the flow of a river. If you don't resist and surrender to it, the flow will take you past the rocks and through any treacherous obstacles that might be in the path.

Flow may take you on a path you least expect or through a terrain you had not thought to navigate using your own understanding of what is possible.

At the moment of that dinner, I was a visitor for only one week in Florida and was planning to move back to Aspen, Colorado, from my stint in Toronto, and even considering relocating to Europe. I never dreamed I would stay in Florida, nor imagined I would be instrumental in developing a leadership program of such magnitude.

Looking Back Through the Lens of FLOW

But as I look back at my life, I see the wisdom and path of FLOW.
Looking back, it is as if I have been on this path all of my life.

That is the power and gift of how things can work - of FLOW - when you are in tune with the higher laws of the Universe and true to your values,

It means surrendering to the magical force of FLOW and trusting in the abundance it brings. Not getting stuck in SCARCITY consciousness. But, it means being willing to risk and do what you love, rather than thinking you have to do something for money or survival.

I repeat…

"The path
of FLOW is not for the
faint of heart."

It means being willing to welcome - rather than resist - the experiences that confront us in life, as if they are there for a purpose, even when they are frightening, or painful, or full of loss.

I've had my share in my life for sure - a painful divorce, the loss of millions of dollars, the betrayal of a beloved friend, the sudden death of a loved one, the failure of a business, and the estrangement of family members.

But here I am, living my dream - even though it manifested itself in a way I never could have imagined.

Becoming What I Always Dreamed

When I was young, I wanted to be either a famous actress, an adventurous journalist or a prominent litigation lawyer.

I realize now, I am all three.

I spend my time on a stage - both live and through media - entertaining and educating audiences to grow and be better human beings.

I coach executives to be more powerful and better leaders - which takes much research and inquiry. It's my job to ask the right questions, unravel the puzzle of human behavior, and persuade and inspire my clients to use the courage they think they can't muster.

A great actress, journalist, or lawyer could not possibly be better at the skills necessary for those professions than I am. I am fulfilling all my childhood dreams.

It is as if my INTENTION created the path. My willingness to go with the FLOW allowed my journey to the destination I had imagined.

When Values Align With FLOW

Not many people know the 4 Mottos of the Hard Rock Hotel organization - they have been the same since the beginning of the first Hard Rock Cafe, before hotels were a part of the organization for over 50 years:

Love All, Serve All
All is One
Take Time to be Kind
Save the Planet

Interestingly enough, those 4 Mottos have been the foundation of my entire life and purpose, even before I ever knew of the Hard Rock organization.

How very funny, that of all the corporations in the world, and of all the Hotel Companies, that I would end up creating a Leadership Development Program for Hard Rock Hotels.

But in the world of FLOW, it was inevitable - as long as I was willing to go with the flow: staying true to my values, being willing to risk and step into the unknown (rather than act as if I HAD to do something to survive), and being willing to follow my passion and gifts.

It worked out the way it was supposed to work out. But if I had tried to figure it out, to drive it a particular way, or if I had resisted the experiences rather than welcome the journey, I probably would have fucked it all up.

Going with the FLOW was full of uncertainty, and it took courage, but it guided my boat in the right direction - which I could not have done on my own.

Working in flow...Madrid 2021

Looking back, I did all the perfect things! Even if they seemed by accident at the time:

As a young girl, I was trained to meditate and work with energy and healing arts and was taught we were all one, and everything was connected.

My university degree was in communication, drama, and business development due to a unique program I was offered. I learned how to build successful business concepts and structures. At the same time, I learned how to be effective on a stage and as a communicator and entertainer.

I was asked to join a new organization as a sales manager that provided personal development training. I ended up training tens of thousands of people.

As a result of my work there, I learned about transformational leadership and human potential development and training.

I partnered with a man who bought a hotel and asked me to be General Manager, and I learned the hospitality business first hand. As a result, I consulted various hotel brands and learned to apply my transformational leadership knowledge to that specific domain of business and market.

And here I am, working with and training the execs in the one hotel brand whose motto is 'Love All Serve All'!

There are no accidents when we let go, go with the FLOW, and stay true to our values and passions. The FLOW knows the way.

An Invitation to FLOW

I invite you to follow these steps toward an adventure of FLOW - where the promise is that you will be guided by the Universe in the most appropriate way, to contribute your gifts and best serve the world and make the most significant difference with your life.

Success and money will follow.

Create intentions based on WHAT you want to accomplish, not HOW it will happen or come to pass - don't try to figure out the HOW of it, stay in touch with the INTENTION you have created.

Be in touch with what your unique gifts are - what comes naturally to you, what is interesting to you, what is fun, what do you enjoy, what is a natural talent - and find a way to follow those paths.

Welcome the experience of whatever comes your way and understand it is a gift for you to be able to go through what is necessary for you to learn to be able to contribute what you are meant to contribute. Be grateful for it all.

Follow your heart in picking your work; do what you love to do; not what you think you HAVE to do just for money.

Stay in touch with, and be true to your innate values - take time to be kind. Be willing to trust and have the courage to move forward even when you feel you don't know HOW - surrender and move even in the uncertainty of it all.

When you are uncertain, make choices according to what produces the most amount of good for the most amount of people - and do that.

There is an innate wisdom in the Universe that flows through all of us and is the source of the FLOW outside in the world. Have the courage to take the trip down that river.