Jodene is the co-founder of:
and founder of:
Published January 29th, 2012
Meet Drifter, the scruffy, not so helpful horse, who needs to learn a lot about being responsible.
I haven’t spoken about the children’s book, Majestica remembers her magical powers, so quite some time and all of a sudden it has come to life again. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a horse, at the Johannesburg Zoo, who looks exactly like the horse I’ve pictured in my mind for so long.
Thanks to my man, Pat Sloane, who is an incredible photographer and has an eye that spots any moving creature from miles away, I also got the squirrels in the story and some other very cute farm animals.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 18th, 2012
I can’t remember when last I felt totally exhausted from excitement but at least I know that I’m not having a heart attack or going to pass out, even though that’s the message my heart keeps sending my very noisy mind after today’s events.
Actually, it’s not just today’s events but a build up that literally began the day Greggie and I got back to work. One exciting meeting after another. One person, with compatible ideas to accompany Lifeology, after another. One amazing opportunity after another.
No wonder my body is so tired that even typing is a blur and all my mind is churning in a dull begging voice is “sleep! sleep” sleep!” I think to night is going to make history for the earliest I’ve gone to be since I was in primary school, but then again I remember how excited I was in school and why the end of the day couldn’t come soon enough to go to sleep.
That’s today … one of those days where life was a fun-filled playground that I tired myself running from one activity to the next. There’s always the last swing ride, where you almost touch the sky or the last spin on the merry-go-round where you feel as though you are going to fall off the world … and then you know your day is complete.
That moment for me was a meeting Greggie and I had with Angela Ludek from Radio 2000. I am already honoured to have a regular 5 week slot on her show where I talk about social media, but today’s proposal from Angela left me so excited that I had to run to the bathroom and do air punches, jump up and down and scream silently into my hands.
I am so grateful to every celeb, entertainer, business person and blogger who has taken the time to do the ‘your project me story’ on my blog. It’s one thing to hear my story, but to have people that we admire take the time to share how they have made themselves their own project has taken my blog to a new level. Here is the link to the people I have interviewed so far: Your project me story interviews.
Trying to contain my excitement and extending the greatest thanks to Angela for believing in project me so much, I’m thrilled to announced that ‘project me’ now has a weekly radio 2000 slot with Angela Ludek starting from Sunday 5th February. Angela will interview the individuals I have interviewed as an extension of the blog and ask them to tell their project me story based on the blog’s interview questions.
*faints*
I’m sure the happy bathroom dance won’t be the first but there’s work to be done, guest blogger’s stories to share and a new chapter of project me to embark upon … and it all starts with a good night’s sleep and a prayer that if starts with thanks and gratitude, and end with a self hug.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 9th, 2012
Image courtesy of Sodahead.com
We all have to get back to reality at some point and it was my day today.
It started off with a refreshing and positive attitude considering I have set out so much to achieve this year and am trying very hard not to look back with any doubt or worry.
My first meeting cancelled, which isn’t all that bad seeing as though I haven’t sat behind my desk in three weeks.
#FollowSA is one of my priorities this year. Does it make me money as yet? That answer would be no. Is it giving me the greatest joy and satisfaction? That answer would be yes.
I’ve never denied that I’m ambitious and that everything I do is to forward my career and make my highly successful in the social media arena of South Africa. I’ve also never denied that #FollowSA is now part of my very big career plans and with that in mind I set out to define the concept of a hashtag that is truly making a difference in people’s lives in South Africa. I’m not having the best day so my esteem needs to say that I didn’t make that statement. Instead, the timeline is filled with comments about the impact #FollowSA is having out there.
Sadly, I know all too well that there is always a shadow to everything and the same shadow seems to be lingering even though I thought I had left it way behind last year. There was the online spat with someone I haven’t met and then there were a few people in the industry who said they didn’t want to be associated with me. I found that odd considering we really had few words and I admitted to my foolish actions. But it all became clearer today when another group of people said they needed to distance themselves from #FollowSA.
Thanks to my openness and working hard at being genuine, I gained enough respect for this individual to tell me why the distance needs to be kept. Apparently there are rumours going around about how I’m handling the prizes given to #FollowSA. Once again, I considered how to handle this in the blogging space and opted for my open policy of truth … otherwise why am I blogging?
My fears immediately headed in the direction of no one ever supporting #FollowSA again and no one ever wanting to hire Lifeology, but then a very famous dispute came to mind. It’s so fresh in my memory because I’m currently watching The Celebrity Apprentice and Donald Trump takes any opportunity to be disgusting about Rosey O’Donnell.
To this day, despite all the shocking publicity and negative press and despite all that has been said to each other, in malice … they are both successes in their own right. No one crashed and burned from the incident and no rumours tarnished anyone’s reputation so much that we don’t hear their names in all the right places.
We all need something to comfort our ego and despite comfortably standing in my truth, I still needed an outrageous ‘Hollywood’ story to calm me down and settle my mind on the first day back at work.
This is what project me is all about! This is why I blog and why I share truths about what is happening in the raw and real moment! Because on the very day when we are bravest and boldest and head out into the world with the most determination, that is the day that someone comes along and slaps you with hair piece.
I have decided that project me entail me knowing their are always two choice and throughout this year I want to share those two choices in the moment.
Today I could have either lashed out and told a few people to get stuffed and I would work around them but instead I took some sound advice and bravely took the first step to sort out these misunderstandings.
The toughest part about today was realising that no matter how hard I work at my reputation, I can never change how anyone feels about me or what they say about me. Therefore, I tell my truth, keep my eye on my dreams, have faith that everyone will take the time to see me for who I am and not what they hear and focus on the path I am on so that I don’t trip over anything along the way.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 7th, 2012
I hope you have 'that' place in your home where you can leave the world behind ... welcome to mine!
I can’t believe the amazing response I have been getting from people about my picture blog over the much needed December break, that it’s brought about a change for this year’s ‘project me’ story. The break from writing does me good and I know that this year is going to be some sort of busy, which I can’t wait for … so I’m introducing the picture blog into my word on the weekends. A few sentences might be used to explain the picture in more detail although we know that a picture paints a thousand words.
After choosing the worst possible movie under the sun … It’s got Nicolas Cage so I should have known … I left Pat to watch it and ended up back in a place that I realised I just don’t spend enough time in … my very olive green bathroom. Don’t panic … part of my daily visualisation is to buy this house and start renovations on the bathroom first.
It’s filled with dragons, fairies and candles and this year I have promised myself many more beautiful baths and much more pampering!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published December 10th, 2011
It was the second weekend of the Nkosi's Haven food collection and this girl has been a superstar ...
The Twitter community have been amazing during the week and a half of the @nkosishaven food collection and @lindseykin85 Tweeted her way while she drove through the East of Joburg, all the way to Fourways and collected food. You are a superstar hun.
A very big thanks to the guys in Pretoria who opened their hearts to the legacy of Nkosi Johnson and has a food collection day.
The moments don't get sweeter than the warm gesture of thanks from Tiny Koen of Nkosi's Haven
My amazing friend from high school, @figs_home arrived with the sweetest gift I have received in a very long time
Everything that has been done to support me and #FollowSA for this charity drive has touched the depth of my soul, but when one of my oldest friends arrived (for the second week in a row) bearing the most precious gifts … well let’s just say it took a lot to hold back those tears. Thank you so much @figs_home for your unfailing support, your amazing networking ability and the sweetest gesture, with the icing in top.
A cookie with the logo of @indulgence_cafe. Thank you Mandy for so generously welcoming us into your gorgeous cafe to have Tweetups for the food drive.
Oh my graciousness ,,, there's our company logo!
Well isn't #FollowSA just the sweetest thing?
Now this is the greatest hostess of them all! @indulgence_cafe
@TinyKoen from @nkosishaven, me @jodenecoza and Mandy the awesome hostess of @indulgence_cafe
The sweetest moment of all ... @TinyKoen and @MrCellaneous packing the @nkosishaven truck with groceries from the generous Twitter community
Today truly was such a proud and sweet ‘project me’ day, filled with the realisation of what I have managed to achieve from my status on the social media platforms. I have always said the we give charity for our very own, personal reasons and today, while I stood back and watched the kindness of others who came to my Twitter call … I so proudly acknowledged that I have influence enough to give … and encourage others to give … and they arrive with such giving spirits.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published December 7th, 2011
With my dear friend Chris Avant Smith on his first show, rant and rave, on Radio Today! What an honour to be your first guest ... thank you!
With every interview I have, I realise that more and more milestones get created along the way. My first big achievement was that good old Day 500 and so the moments continue.
Today was one of those super exciting ones and there are times when I think I should start a journal of the most memorable days, but then I realise that it would take away from the specialness of just remembering.
I know I will just remember today for a very long time.
Radio stations, in my perception, happen to be located in big office blocks with tons of security. How refreshing to arrive at the tranquil garden shop on Jan Smuts and find 1485AM Radio Today tucked away in a gorgeous stone house.
Adverts manage to find there way in to the 30 minute plays, but the odd advert slips in. Not on Radio Today … wow, I had a whale of a time driving to the studio and listening to oldies like Phil Collins, Barry Manilow, a Christmas carol or two and … was that Cinema?
To be humbled and proud of someone else at the same time is a rare joy, and my point of Joy for my day today.
I’m so proud of my friend, Chris Avant Smith, for hosting his first radio show in years. He called it ‘rant and rave’ and his first guest was … wait for it … ME!
There’s the humble honour right there. The first guest on a brand new show! Even more exciting was that Chris has shared the ‘project me’ journey with me almost from day one. He has shared the struggles and the determination. He has shared the tears of joy and the tears of frustration and there we both sat, having our own milestone experiences.
Yes, yes, I’ve done radio before, but I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to know that the show was being recorded and I would walk away with my very first podcast. So many people tell me that they would love to hear one of my shows and I finally get the chance to share my radio experience with all my special peeps around the world.
So here it is: THE PODCAST
And in other news … damn, I want to do more podcasts … now what do my peeps want me to talk about?
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published November 30th, 2011
That’s all I’ve wanted to do all day!
It’s a whirlwind of a day and this is still yesterday’s blog. Later today I’m going to share the experience of the amazing #followsa #downdown2011 event, but right now I’m catching my breath … okay, that’a a lie! I’m catching up on Tweets, phone calls of thanks and requests for more #followsa events and … and … and
For the first time in ages, there hasn’t been that sinking feeling that happens after the build up to a event. That’s because nothing seems final or done and I feel as though my path is slowly being paved for me just by being in the moment of all that #FollowSA means to me and everyone else around me.
I have come to realise that my priority is to get the ‘what is #FollowSA?’ document out there at that recording every moment from this second on is vital for the history of this booming hashtag nad concept … yet right now … all I want to do is hug myself.
I want to stop in the moment and not revel in the excitement of the flowing Twitter timeline. I don’t want to even daydream about the events that are going to be logged into a public Google map from this moment on … I just want to stop!
In the midst of it all, I want to spend a moment with me and acknowledge that I set out to do something and I’m doing it. That I said to myself I would live my project me for the world to see and I’m doing that. That I knew there would be obstacle to overcome and I’m overcoming them.
I just want to take a moment to be proud of me and give back to me what I give to so many people when I am proud of them … a hug!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published November 24th, 2011
Google really can be a toss up between my best friend and my worst enemy. Either way, we spend a good amount of time together each day. I check my spelling, my facts and my doubts and a day never passes without Google and I hooking up. I have come a long way from heavily relying on the information that Google sends my way, except for spelling, that I always trust of my own guesswork.
However, today was one of those deep needed, I’m going to totally lean on Google, I must find the answers, days!
Why?
Because today Mercury goes retrograde and I’m determined not to have the same reaction or do the same things when our dear friend comes along.
For those of you who don’t know what Mercury Retrograde is … and you should if you’ve been following ‘project me’, because of my need to try to make friends with it each time it comes around … here’s how it goes.
This occurs 3 times a year, on average. This year it has 4 cycles just for extra measure.
So retrograde happens when it appears to be moving backwards through the solar system. It’s like travelling on the road watching another car beside you: when the other car slows down, or you speed up, it looks as though the other car is moving backwards. Planets are never actually retrograde or stationary, they just seem that way due to this cosmic shadow-play.
Either way, it messages with all the Mercury deals with … technology, communication and transport. I’m sure if you ask people who are aware of it, they all have a horror story about a delayed flight, a crashed computer or a lost document.
Life is a mixture or scary and exciting all at the same time and I can feel the need to slow down and focus on me for a while. It’s one of the toughest things in the world for me … to focus on me. And so I decided to Google the upside of Mercury Retrograde.
What’s ‘project me’ without looking for the positive and living with the consciousness and so I’ve decided to not be afraid of the usual stories of retrograde and I’m going to make my own … ones of positiveness, introspection and happy plans.
To do this Google took me to an interesting article that highlighted the upside of Mercury Retrograde and from the responses of just one Tweet, I think a whole lot of us need to embrace this time and turn it into positive potential before the year draws to a close and a new, fresh and limitless year begins …
“Here are nine ways to make Mercury Retrograde work for you. Note that many suggestions begin with the letters re. Think re for retrograde.
1. Re-connect.
This is the time to look up old friends and family. You’ve been meaning to call Aunt Martha, or get together with your old high school buddy. Do it! Now is the time to pick up the telephone. Chances are they will be receptive and you’ll be glad you did.
And you, yourself, may hear from long lost pals now.
2. Re-search.
While it is not the time to go forward with grand plans, this is a superb time to research facts and ideas you can use later.
3. Re-view.
Take that application or take your business plan and give it a second look. Chances are you will see things in a different light. And that can give you ideas to strengthen it. And that second look will ensure you have covered the bases.
4. Re-do.
If you were too hasty the first time, or you chose not to follow my advice, you may find yourself having to redo that report. But each time you redo, you refine.
5. Re-fresh.
Your brain and your body were not designed to function 24/7. Taking a little time to kick back and relax refreshes you and ultimately makes you far more productive than trying to plow straight through.
6. Re-solve.
Go back and clean up old relationships that ended badly. You can resolve many issues now – even bury the hatchet.
7. Back Burner items.
Now is the time to get to projects that have been pushed into the background.
8. Re-organize.
Mercury Retrograde is an excellent time to clean out old closets, old files, old agendas, throw out what is no longer useful to make room for the new.
9. Re-contact.
Are you in sales? Then, this is the perfect time to re-contact old leads.
If you must take on a new job or a new project during this time, know that it will change. A lot. So stay loose and flexible. Because your perspective will change also.
But if you had previously began a project, applied for that position, contacted that key lead, Mercury Retrograde will not affect you.
Use the Mercury retrograde time in a positive way, and you’ll be refreshed and renewed and ready to move forward when Mercury changes course.”
An extract from Ellen Zucker’s Ezinearticle on Mercury retrograde.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published November 20th, 2011
Hanging with @emmanuelcastis @frankietwigs and @SimbaThe1
I have blogged every single day for nearly two years. I intend to blog until I at least reach day 1000. That’s sure to bring reward! I didn’t set out to blog for reward, but I did set out to blog for my own personal insight into my life and to show the world that living your purpose is very possible.
It is … all you have to do is know the difference between feeling purposeful and achieving goals. I’m not much of a goals person but I wake up ever day of my life fueled by purpose. That’s why this blog post is both one of the most rewarding and scary all at the same time.
I remember the day I stumbled across the word ‘social influencer, and ensured I secured the domain before the sun had set. I remember deciding that it was a new part of my journey that started as a blogger and was changing course, with the same purpose but different adventures. Someone with influence has a voice and once I realised that, I sat back and waited for my new purpose to be awakened.
Friday morning was it!
When I stood among a crowd of invited guests and was included in the ‘media and social influencers’, I can honestly say it was one of my greatest manifestations and achievements that have come out of 2011. And where was I? At the launch of the new version of that old, familiar game, ‘Trivial Pursuit‘.
Emmanuel Castis and I became friends because of the power of a Tweet and the purpose of a blog.
The invite said, “bring a guest” and who else but my friend and SA talent, Emmanuel Castis, to team up with and test the cranky old part of the brain that stores all that general knowledge.
Who remembers the old version? It amazing, I did a little exercise and searched who was playing Trivial Pursuit over the last few days, and I can’t believe the active Twitter stream. People from all around the world in every language and playing with everyone from mothers to nephews, is still loving the game that tests your general knowledge.
I was very happy to announce, in a Tweet, to the world, that my general knowledge sucks … but then I had my ‘project me’ moment.
Being a guest at the launch of the game and the super smart organisers from Twiga Communications having put us media/social influencers up against the MENSA people (the smarty-pants), I felt the pangs of not feeling too smart start to hover over me. It was one of the most fun days I have had along my journey and I fell in love with the new concept of the game and soon forgot about how smart I was because we had a game to win and a charity to give the winning cheque to. Each team played for their charity, either Chubby Chums and NET HIV Orphanage. We were lucky enough to play with James from Chubby Chums and he was so sweet that the bet for each person nearly every time.
What do I mean bet?
And then you meet amazing, inspirational & passionate people like @MelindaSMACKED ... who won the Trivial Pursuit trophy for the media/social influencers team
Oh, that’s the awesome new twist to ‘Trivial Pursuit, Bet You Know It”. The cards are different, with a topic first chosen and THEN a category within that topic. Wow, just loved that! But the most exciting part is that you can now bet whether your fellow players are going to get the answer wrong or right. There is a limit to the amount you can bet and my esteem was grateful for that, because Emmanuel took great joy in betting the maximum, that I would get the answer WRONG! Such a pity we were both on the ‘influencers’ side for the charity playoff.
So, we each got a game as a gift and this girl was playing the game ASAP!
Quickly whipping together a small crowd of friends and watching Pat and Greggie start out being very put out that you can win chips and then eventually buy pies to gain victory, was just the way I wanted the game to start. I love my crowd of friends, there is something so ethical about us that we truly had a hard time buying pies. On the other hand, the game became a little like poker and everyone was clinging to their chips for no apparent reason.
I WON!!! And that’s my ‘project me’ moment! The game to hours, which was super fun, but I didn’t buy one pie and I seriously one. If you’ve been reading my blog lately, you know that I’ve been dealing with some childhood issues of not being smart or responsible enough and there is nothing like a good dose of Trivial Pursuit and the test of ones knowledge to give the ego a boost.
All of a sudden I’m so excited for the summer holidays. I’m not as nervous to meet Pat’s kids and take them on holiday and I’m not as concerned that I will find myself working most of the time, when my body really wants a rest. There’s no running out of number of times you can play this game, so if you’re trying to figure out what to fill that Christmas stocking with … I’d say Trivial Pursuit is the best bet!
A big thank you to Twiga Communications for a brilliant launch and for seeing the value in the social influencer, Hasbro for your genius in the concept of the new game and Prima Toys for the magical day and keeping us having fun, no matter how old we are.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published November 13th, 2011
For more about Vanessa, see her website: http://soulwhisperer.co.za
In 1991 my grandmother passed away in my bed. My mom sat with her as she moved from one lifetime to the next and at that moment my life would never be the same again. After receiving a book on Jewish death and dying, my mom had the first urge to explore the mysteries of life and before long, we were sharing a very powerful journey.
As the spiritual part of my delved into every avenue of questioning and spirituality, my physical life took a back seat, where I’ve never quite managed to have the two worlds collide in harmony. My weight was always a trigger for me, but it’s only been since ‘project me’ and my conscious decision to journal my relationship with my body, that I’ve notice how the weight is only a catalyst to a far greater relationship I am destined to have with myself.
My journey took a dramatic but soul connecting turn when Rory Jean-Jacques partnered with ‘project me’. I’m still drinking his herbal remedy and the cravings aren’t there, but my body is still in turmoil and calling for me to pay attention to a few undiscovered areas of my life. Believe it or not, there seems to be a very arrogant part of me, who just can’t believe that I’m not ‘healed’. I look at the years of self discovery and spiritual work I have done. I look at my journey with Tantra, The Goddess and so many other amazing aspects of spirit, yet I still haven’t met ME.
The connections I have made on Twitter has taught me to take the suggestions of people to meet and so many of them have been life changing. It’s no surprise that the Universe (remembering we are the Universe) would send me the gift of a recommendation from Rory to meet Vanessa A’Wakan.
Vanessa is an internationally trained shamanic mentor and qualified Louise Hay Facilitator. She has been facilitating life-changing workshops in England, Scotland and various cities in South Africa for the past 25 years. Today, Vanessa travels to Hawaii once a year for intensive shamanic training and a retreat on the volcanoes with the Huna shamans. A healer, mentor, teacher and spontaneous channel, Vanessa believes that all beings have an inherent spark of magnificence. She has spent the past 25 years leading others to experience their aspects of self and it with humble blessings that I welcome Vanessa as a partner of my ‘project me’ journey.
This going to be a journey that I will blog about, but the initial meeting was a magical experience that started with something I am all too familiar with … numerology. Amazingly, I still don’t know Vanessa’s formula but her analysis was a story of my life. A perfect tale of the spiritual journey I have been on for so many years, the potential impact I know I can (and will have) on the world, but the constant chaos. The 5 … the number of chaos and they the light side that can be filled with balance and creativity. Hence my overwhelming excitement and anticipation as these sessions unfold with Vanessa.
She gave me an incredible daily exercise to do and I have been waiting to share it with you. Each day, she has asked me to find that one moment in my day where I am conscious of and feel the ‘joy’. A moment of joy can’t be too hard to find, but it’s made me aware of just how unconscious we truly are in a day. How very far from ‘present’ I can be at some times and how far from my purpose I stray in those moments when I’m not wondering ‘will this be my moment of joy?’
I can’t believe how much happiness, faith, courage and passion has filtered into my life in the short week that I have been more awake and conscious just by remembering to find my moment of joy.
My relationship with Pat has been so much more alive and real. My opportunities have opened up so many doors and I am far more clear on my purpose and my career direction. There have been countless moments of gratitude, happiness and faith, that I know I would have missed if I were not learning the technique of staying in the now.
The amazing thing is that I have done countless work that should have given me the gift I am learning through Vanessa, but what is our journey of ‘project me’ if we didn’t remember that timing, soul connection and faith in the process is vital for the tools to resonate and work with us.
On the other side of the coin, there is a part of me that I know every well but still need to understand the reason why, but I’m eating like crazy. I’m eating things that I know I shouldn’t even though there are no cravings. This is just bad choices and it’s always linked to my spiritual journey. So for now, I’m being kind to myself and watching my moments of joy, knowing that the one thing I do have is a great faith in myself and my willingness to see this journey though.
I wish you would join me in finding that one moment in your day that brings you the most joy. Journal it. Blog about it. Tweet it. Share it with someone … and live the life is your project me story.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
