Just as every leaf on a tree is designed with its own intricate pattern, so were you born in that unique way. When you start doing what you were born to do, everything falls into place, as sure as that leaf eventually falls from its branches.
I know this, because I’m living, breathing proof. Pardon me in advance for feeling philosophical today, but there’s really something to this. Beginning to live your life doing what you were born to do, is the real secret to life, I think. I just know it.
When I started to take my passion for writing seriously, everything along the way has fallen into place. I began to skate easily over obstacles. People I had previously met, and had only been loosely tied to, but were already in my network, were suddenly there to assist me. I began to realize why I had met them in the first place. Because we were destined to meet.
When I needed an illustrator for my story, my friend, Jennifer Dawson, put me in touch with her brother, a storyboard director for SpongeBob SquarePants.
When I needed a publisher for my animated, musical, picture book app for iTunes, a colleague, Nathan Bailey, put me in touch with with a gal, Jacqueline Merrill, at Skies America who published my story. Coincidentally, I also met Robby Armstrong, the musician who eventually wrote and produced the original musical score, on an elevator in Nashville during a business trip. We got to talking because his wife, Chimene Armstrong, looked so much like Cameron Diaz. I later learned his wife IS Cameron Diaz’s sister. Chimene is now one of my closest friends.
When I came up with the idea to use my background and book to Crowd-fund an island for social good in a third-world country, my friend, Baz Patel, said, “Hey, I can help. I can introduce you to some friends.” Baz has helped me build the Finding Corte Magore project from the ground up.
My client, Lorna Pierno, is Nicaraguan. When I told her I was going to Nicaragua and wanted to meet some agricultural workers and their children who drop out of school in the fifth grade, Lorna knew she could help me. “Tonia,” she said, “I’d like to invite you home with me, to our family’s coffee plantation in Nicaragua. There you will meet one-hundred children who drop out of school that early. The plantation owners don’t make the decisions for the kids, the parents do. My family would like to support you in this.” Lorna leaves for Nicaragua with me next week.
When my Literary Manager, Gayla Nethercott, saw what I wanted to do in Nicaragua for the Finding Corte Magore island project–connecting kids here in the US with kids there to keep them from dropping out of school, she quickly jumped into action. Gayla said, “Hey, there may be a documentary or film in this.” She connected me to award-winning filmmaker, Robert Bellap, who is leaving for Nicaragua with me next week.
When Robert started to put together his wish list for camera equipment for the guerrilla-style filmmaking he’ll do in Nicaragua with me, he advised we’ll have to purchase or rent the camera equipment. Just a day earlier, Lydia Hurlbut endorsed me on LinkedIn. Lydia is a friend and is wife to renowned Cinematographer, Shane Hurlbut. Together they own Hurlbut Visuals and Revolution Cinema Rentals and are already working to get us the right camera equipment we need for our trip through their own connections. This trip came together in such a big hurry and I couldn’t reach Lydia, but I knew Star Ladin, another friend, knew how to get into touch with her right away.
Yesterday, by the pool at a promotional products industry event, a new colleague told me one of his best clients just left the corporate world to go teach English to kids in Nicaragua. He and I both knew we were supposed to meet to connect his client to me and my project.
I can go on and on and add names and friends and connections to this blog post and when I have a bit more time, I will. Everything is serendipitous and connected.
When I was younger, I wrote nearly every day. Back then, my teachers and friends applauded my efforts in writing and encouraged me to be a writer. Along the way, I fell off my own path and stopped doing what I was born to do. The phrase, “Finding Corte Magore”, to me–means getting back on my own path and helping people reconnect with or find theirs.
See you on Corte Magore!
Tonia Allen Gould
Author of Samuel T. Moore or Corte Magore, Entrepreneur and Founder of the Finding Corte Magore Project.
[…] Are You Doing What You Were Born to Do?. […]