Jodene is the co-founder of:
and founder of:
Published August 4th, 2011
Welcome to my home away from home!
Before I even begin I want to praise the power of social networking. Years after having taught Hustler Girl, we reconnected on Facebook. If it were not for that and Hustler Girl being roped into social buying, the events might not have led up to this very special partnership. In my world, most of my relationships have all begun on one social platform or the next. I don’t think I’ve mentioned that Mr Unexpected and myself met online initially.
In celebration of one networking meeting leading to another, I’m thrilled to announce this very special partnership. You’ve heard me mention La Vie en Rose on many occasion. When I initially met the owners, Rony and Yanky and was blown away by this gorgeous restaurant tucked away in the heart of Illovo. When I had my first real ‘date’ with Mr Unexpected after we realised that when friends move onto something more special … they might forget that the initial dating bits are fun. Or maybe it was when I hosted my first Jodene’s breakfast and shared this special find with my Twitter friends. It could also be when I totally kicked Hustler Girl right off that mayorship spot on foursquare … either way, it’s been the only place I have wanted to take my friends, family and clients for breakfasts and lunch meetings.
Oh … let’s not forget that the co-owner, Rony, is Libran!
In a very short space of time I have watched the mutual support for each other’s dreams blossom into a friendship where we both want what’s best for each other. We both see the value in the other’s offering and we both don’t want to look much further for online and offline support and partnership.
Rony, you and your team have been fundamental in being a part of some of the most important moments of my personal life and career and I am thrilled that you believe in Lifeology and me to offer your ‘home’ as my ‘home’.
So peeps … If you wanna chat, meet or tweetup, you know where to find me.
PS … Hustler Girl, I owe you a lunch kiddo, because you might not be mayor, but you have always been the greatest fan of La Vie en Rose.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published July 16th, 2011
What gets me blogging every single day of me life?
That’s always an interesting question and I would have to listen back to the radio interview this morning to see if I actually used the words “auto pilot”. If I did I don’t think that’s entirely true. While I sit here and type, my mother is finally home and I have a million things I want to tell her. In the other room, I have a very sick man who is fast asleep at 7pm and I know he’s not over-dramatising man flu. I could feel as though I were torn in three places at one time, but the truth is that the only place I want to be is right here, typing this post.
The combination of the comfort of my traditional cup of tea and the sifting through my thoughts as I share my day, is my saving grace right now.
Still, Mr Unexpected woke up at sparrows and made sure he got me to the SABC building way before time. I’m never shy to confess that it’s stressful enough for me to do new things without also having to find my way there. Don’t tell me that GPS makes it easier, but it my world, it just doesn’t. Of course it was much easier to find and navigate my way to and through the building, but I still would have wanted him by my side.
My little piece of paper was the other comfort that freed up my mind from the totally ego thought that I actually have no clue what I’m talking about. It was the thought of those big earphones and a microphone in my face that made it all feel too big for me. Greggie always gives me the eye when I say the words ‘just’ or ‘little’ when referring to all I have achieved with the blog and within the online space.
That little piece of paper was filled with stats about South Africa in the social networking sphere and all the Mashable social media day numbers from around the world.
Myself with Angela Ludek and Tsheko Mosito of the Radio 2000 FM breakfast show
From the moment Tsheko Mosito from Radio 2000 contacted me, I felt like that social influencer that I have worked so hard at becoming. It’s impossible to make myself look the roll at 7:30am but I felt it all fall into place from the moment Tsheko walked me into the studio.
I love the irony of my interview and the journey that I suddenly find myself in. Angela Ludek, the bright and bubbly (even on Saturday at 7:30am) breakfast show host is nowhere to be found. No, not in the real world, but in my world of Twitter, Facebook or any other platform you can think of. I loved the instant connection between us and I can see the underlying passion for our beautiful country, sharing knowledge and the power of social media.
The thought of being on air for 30 minutes freaked me out most of all and I truly had thoughts of me not knowing enough about social media to fill that time. Okay, so I still have some ‘project me’ work to do on my esteem, me thinks.
Not only did the words just tumble out of my mouth, did it feel totally natural and did I want to carry on speaking forever … but 30 minutes flew by ridiculously fast. So fast, in fact, that I only got to use one line out of all my notes on my little piece of papers. I was thrilled to be able to share the concept of #followSA, which sparked the realisation that this interview was just the tip of the ice berg. With the next guest waiting in the wings, a date was set for 5 weeks time and my next on-air chat with Angela … which let to the invitation to do regular features about Social Media every 5 weeks.
I’m stoked … I needed to hear myself reminisce on such a fantastic experience and not rip anything apart. The old me, pre ‘project me’ would have found fault with everything, yet I felt perfect.
This post and my entire journey would be incomplete if it were not for the social networking platforms that have create the beautiful people in my world. To all the Twits who sent such special message, my Facebook friends for love and to my dear friend, China Doll, who streamed the interview all the way in Hong Kong … you guys are truly awesome!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published June 30th, 2011It’s just a few hours away from the start of our social media day event at the Crowne Plaza Johannesburg hotel. A part of me still hasn’t digested that Derek Martin and myself go a video from Mashable to play at the event because we are official hosts. Another part of me really can’t believe that the event has grown so large and we are a little nervous that there’s going to be an interesting excess of anticipated guests.
Not that we are complaining, but I do have stand up as the co-organiser of the event and say a speech. We know me by now, I hate preparing speeches. I’ve spent the day resting my body and going of the concept that I want to speak about in my head. It’s a concept that is very dear to my heart and one that I have worked at for so long.
I know that we, as South Africans, lag behind in so many areas of social media. I can’t begin to string the list along because I really do have to get dressed soon … but it can be a joke a times. So my how speech is based on how we do have the ability to catch up with the rest of the world … well …
Today was Rica deadline in South Africa. What does that mean? It means that yet again, we have to identify ourselves as the owner of something because there is a huge amount of mistrust in the country. Yes, the concept might be clever and we might have had like 5 years to rica our sim cards with our service providers … but on crunch day our biggest cellular networks fall over. I’ve been in too much of my own bubble to find out if this is the reason why everything from Twitter to Blackberry to Vodacom and MTN calls are all screaming messages of non connection and failures.
Don’t you just love Murphy???
Well, I’m off to get ready for the biggest night of my social media career. My first major step as a social influencer. Lifeology’s largest hosted event to date … and the most number of people I have ever spoken in front of … all with the fear that SA’s technology is going to fall over and disconnect us from the rest of the world on the most crucial day!
Proudly South African
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published June 23rd, 2011
I like having a partner in crime and I’m so excited to introduce you to Derek Martin for an event that truly is defining me as the social influencers I have been working so hard at establishing myself as.
I had a plan to work with Derek on the night I met him at the Twitter Blanket Drive. It goes like that with me and I’ve made some great decisions that way. I had the same feeling when my Twitter friend, Liam told me about the Mashable International Social Media Day. Granted, we had about 10 days max to organise it, but when one of SA’s most advanced social media hotels, Crown Plaza Johannesburg, offered Derek and myself the venue then plans started to spiral.
The friends in my life are all a combination of talented in their own fields and extremely generous. With such a magical cocktail it was so special to have both Emmanuel Castis and Nick Duncan agree to contribute their talents to this exciting event. Both have already supported ‘project me’ by being interviewed for the blog and their generosity keeps flowing. Emmanuel is an incredibly talent actor, singer and celeb (and one of my favourite Twits) who will be singing on the night. Nick is the developer of SA’s Aggregator, My Scoop and one of the smartest people I have had the honour of meeting in the realms of social media.
We all know that I’m not mad into sports but a huge shout out has to go to Follow the Bounce (Twitter handle for Ben Karpinski) for having the following he does and showing the chilled out, sports mad and super fun side of Twitter. Derek made this happen and we are thrilled to have Ben as a guest speaker for the event.
But this is the best part … yesterday Derek and I sat at the Crowne Plaza, which is by far the sexiest hotel this town has to offer and we set out to create the event and get those invitations out. With a limit of 120 people, I did get myself in a state and imagined 20 people hanging around on the night. I need to give us as a team and as South Africans a huge well done for hitting our target in less than 24 hours.
I know this blog totally sounds like a press release, but I can’t believe I’m here and I literally am making a big announcement. Myself and Derek grabbed the bull by the horns and are totally hosting an international event!
It all goes down in a week today and the next few days are all about press releases, media info and … um … Derek, what else???
Something has changed over the past few weeks and I must admit that I feel as though it’s a bit of a whirlwind. Not one thing is the same … I’m doing ‘project body’ which includes eating differently, hitting the gym first thing in the morning and having a totally different mindset. All of a sudden I’m falling for my friend and am doing my best to take it one day at a time … tell that to a heart.
I’ve been asked to talk at a ladies breakfast for 120 woman thanks to yet another project me partner, Regim A and the first issue of Curvy SA, with my article in it, goes out very soon. That’s a lot … right?
Well, not nearly enough with my cheerleader standing behind me. I don’t know how it all began, but I have found inspiration in my friend, The Gossip Guy that goes beyond words. When something exciting happens I just want to phone him and when he tell me to do something socially bold, I get my fears in check and run with it. All while he’s settling into his new home and new life … So today my Gossip Guy told me to sort myself out and get my blog off to one of the magazines who features a blogger a month. Okay, I knew they did that and made a half’ hearted attempt not so long ago, but that’s it … no half hearted … not for nothing!
This huge step to bring a Mashable event to life seems to be the wind that caught the sail and I feel like I’m really doing it … sailing into the sunset!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published June 4th, 2011
Emmanuel Castic and me!
It’s 4 hours before I am heading off to the Twitter Blanket Drive at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Rosebank. It’s been one of those emotional days that people battle to understand about me. Yes, I cry for almost anything! The tears vary from excitement to fear … but there is undoubtedly one shed often.
While chatting to Melanie Minnaar, who is the founder of the drive, I had already had a lump in my throat. Well, there was a build up to that.
It all started when we collected an international guest from the Gautrain station in Sandton and I realised just how far we have come as an country that welcomes tourists here. I don’t go to Sandton much and I’m horrified to say that I didn’t even know where the Gautrain station was. With each phone call people were telling me that it was pretty hard to miss and only when I turned the corner and saw this gorgeous building that any South African would be proud of, did I understand what everyone meant!
Fetching an American and hearing ‘Safari’ roll of their tongue from the moment they begin talking really isn’t that unusual. It’s the other part of the conversation that made me so proud to be a girl from Africa! She had such beautiful things to say about every part of Africa that she had visited. No part of this special tourist had missed any of the beauty through fears of traveling to Africa. How refreshing. She also told me how expensive it is to travel here and how willing tourists are to pay. Once again, they all come for the safari.
This was the last leg of M’s trip before she met up with her folks on the other side of the world. She was supposed to say in a youth hostel overnight but that is certainly not South African hospitality. Instead, she stayed with my mom and I and got to share a special South African treat with her.
M, Emmanuel Castis, mom and me
Along the way of my ‘project me’ journey I have met people with such acceptance and willingness to share their ‘project me’ stories with me. Some of them have been interviewed but I haven’t had the privilege of meeting them personally. There the is the opposite in the case of Emmanuel Castis who started as a South African celeb with a story to tell and has blossomed into a friend.
Friends have many things to share with each other and last night was his turn to share his singing talents. It was the perfect opportunity to introduce M to some cool South African peeps, take her to an amazing SA restaurant and have her be entertained by a gorgeous singer. I had never heard Emmanuel sing live until last night and I can honestly say that I had to sneak a tear or two in. I was bought up with music being a very important part of 0ur lives and memories and last night there were far too many of them.
I know it’s difficult to find the things that strike up memories, but there was a huge meat slicer right by our table and I couldn’t help but miss my dad terribly. We grew up having a butcher as a dad. Not one who owned a butchery, but one who was MD of one of the biggest meat companies in SA … Bull Brand! Most of the time I was grossed out as a child, but now I appreciate a meat slicer. It did freak him out that I don’t appreciate a good rump or sirloin though. Sorry daddy!
My dad taught us to be proudly South African and it would take far more than one blog post to tell you all the reasons why, but one of the greatest reasons he shared with us is the humility of the nation. Only when M asked where the paparazi was and couldn’t believe that a famous person was mingling with the tables, did I realise just how humble we are.
After hours of chatting we started talking about what I do and it seem that around the world, blogging is beginning to become a recognised career. Of course, she told me stories of friends of hers who had made a fortune from blogging and I did feel a little 3rd world. On the other hand, when I told her about today and the Twitter Blanket Drive, I felt like the proudest person of this great nation.
I am in awe of us right now. Twitterers across South Africa getting ready to hit venues around the country and bring blankets for the needy. On the other hand, I’m equally proud of Greggie who will be singing at a CANSA function and holding the flag for Lifeology there. Most of all, I am proud that the voice of social networking is shouting something so positive today!
Many times I find myself riddled with frustration at how far behind South Africa is in the social networking arena. I have wanted to bash my head against the wall when I see how we don’t use the power of this great tool to our advantage … and then I am silenced by the unbelievable dedication of one woman and her team across SA. Melanie Minnaar has become my friend and that would never have happened had Twitter not bought us together. It was an honour to tell M all about today and I could see her wonderment at what we do for each other as a nation. Good God it was incredible!!!
Tomorrow I get on a plane and fly to Cape Town for 9 days! Greggie and I have meetings and I have a novel to finish. The SA kindness flows through so much of this trip and I always smile when I say: ‘It began with a Tweet’. Thank you to 6 on thirteen for opening up your Cape Town home to us so that we can make something special happen for our business and ourselves.
I could go on for hours about the reason why I’m bursting as a proud South African today, but instead, I’m going to put on my lipstick and head out the Twitter Blanket Drive to be amidst the greatness once again.
To Emmanuel for blowing away a woman who lives amidst Hollywood starts! To Melanie for blowing away that same woman who comes from a county who boasts about giving a fortune! To South Africa for blowing away that woman with our smiles, greeting of strangers and love for our land that seems to be worn on our sleeves … I thank you for making this ‘project me’ day such an incredibly moving one!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published May 30th, 2011I can’t believe Greggie is another year older. It feels like the first real milestone I can distinctly remember from when the blog began. I remember his birthday party last year as if it were yesterday. I even remember sitting down to blog for it. The memories were so clear that I decided to do what I hardly ever do … go back and read the post from last year.
Some things have changed dramatically and others are exactly the same.
It’s the day I can pinpoint my back being sore for the first time, before it finally sequestrated and disks collapsed in about August. That’s a long time to have pain, but that the bitch about hindsight.
From an esteem point of view, I’ve come leaps and bounds but 365 days ago I was still on about my body and my weight. Actually, it wasn’t one of my finest days and I wouldn’t blame anyone for thinking I was pretty negative at some points. One thing I did notice is that I ended that day finding the good in it and I’m thrilled that I am at least getting that right.
Yesterday was so much fun and it was great to have Greggie’s party at Thava Indian Restaurant who have been very loyal sponsors and supports of ‘project me’. Okay, so that day I remember clearly too. The day the sponsorship was confirmed, we went to dinner at the restaurant and the next day my disks collapsed. All in all, this has become a very interesting time as I reflect on where I was and I contemplate where I’m going.
Of course, that will all unfold as the days go along. Right now all I want to do is give myself the pat on my back at where I am emotionally … and it’s such a special place.
A year ago today … I was miff and here’s proof: Flashback 365 to day 149 – Here it is in the words of my low self esteem.
That was then … and this is now:
Greggie, Emmanuel, me and Hustler Girl’s Ponkie (who isn’t on Twitter … sigh!)
Okay, so I forgot to organise a cake, but some very yummy Thava pudding did just fine!
Hustler Girl and Me
Oooh, look … there’s my Risky Business!
All the Twits from Twitter
Another very big thank you goes to the Thava Indian Restaurant for making Greggie’s birthday so special. Every person raved about the meal and it’s always a joy to share our time in such a special place.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published May 27th, 2011
I think the only person who can’t believe that I used to be this club hopping, 4am on a school night kinda girl is me.
I started when I was 16 (I’m sure that was under age) and discovered a club called Ceasars Palace in Braamfontein. I kid you not … it became a standard Wednesday and Saturday night thing until it got to the point that a group of us were on the VIP list and used to stroll past the crowds lining up in long queues on a freezing night like last night.
Nothing would stop us! Not even exams or broken bones. Ladies night was on Wednesdays and we would grab front row seats on the edge of the dance floor. We would wait for certain songs the whole nite and sometimes arrive home as the sun was rising because it took that long to get up on the speakers and dance to it!
I remember that one year a friend of ours gave up clubbing for Lent … we thought she was psycho and there was a huge celebration when she returned after 40 days of real sacrifice. It did pay off though, because she met her hubby there not long after.
Believe it or not … I never had one comfortable day of clubbing in all the thousands of nights out. It was way before ‘project me’ and I was this chubby, glasses wearing virginal girl who thought that competing with size 2 chicks who got the guy was the end of my world. I went for the dancing, the b52 shooters and because I have always made beautiful friends throughout my life. Even now, as I sit here and think back, I can’t think of one time when I was happy in my skin and out on the town.
That girl in me is an old friend that I no longer recognise and I only realised that last night.
So, I bitched and moaned like an absolute brat and Tweeted myself silly about it being too cold to go out and that I was too old to go out on the jol (SA word for awesome time or party). I chewed Greggie’s ear off and shivered like a drama queen but kept reminding myself that in a few hours it would be his birthday and I had to grow the hell up!
Of course I’m thrilled that I went out and for so many reasons.
I’m loving getting to know people I’ve met on Twitter and I can slowly start to call real friends. Mike is one of those special peeps who invited us to go watch an SA band that he has been raving about. I haven’t done live music in ages and forgot how much I love it. I might still be feeling too old to go to loud concerts where I have to queue for hours and stand for even longer, but last night I realised that I’m not gonna get to old for amazing SA bands in chilled out venues, with special people.
My proud pic at the top is with Mike, me and Graeme from the Graeme Watkins Project in the middle. I haven’t seen stage personality like that in a very long time and for a girl whose passion lies with country music, I have to say they get full marks for stealing my heart. I loved the lyrics and I hope to interview Graeme on Your Project Me Story soon, so I will definitely include some of them.
Only when all the gorgeous girls arrived and it would have been that time for the old insecurities to kick in, did I realise just how happy I am to have taken time time to like me.
I mean seriously, look at my gorgeous friends! Oh, look … there’s gorgeous me too!
‘Project me’ made magic last night by not having to drag all the baggage of low self esteem out with me. I’m not a girl to look back with regret, but I am one to look at the moments as perfect and even more amazing remembering how far I have come.
In the end everything warmed up: The fingers, toes, heart and company.
Thanks to Mike for the invite and the Graeme Watkins Project for the SA pride. To Emmanuel for rocking up unexpectedly and being so freaking special.
Last, but certainly not least … to my best friend, business partner, next door neighbour and soul mate (in our own little way) … happy birthday to you! So much of who I am is because of the light that you held up so that I could see who I am through all the darkness. It was one of the most precious moments to count down to your birthday and wish you a happy birthday in moments when I couldn’t be happier to be me.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published May 20th, 2011TWEETING A VISION
Twitter Blanket Drive, South Africa. www.twitterblanketdrive.co.za
In 2009 I signed up for Twitter. Hardly an early-adopter. I lost interest very quickly as no one was apparently interested in what I had to say, and ‘they’ were downright rude as they didn’t even acknowledge my presence on the social media platform. It took 6 more months before someone explained to me how Twitter worked.
It was only in January 2010 that I really started exploring the bustling social media platform. I was on maternity leave, it was a cold autumn day. And as I was lying warm in my bed a thought crossed my mind that it may be a very uncomfortable winter for many less fortunate people. By this stage of my maternity leave I was already firmly glued to my BlackBerry and more importantly to the Twitter community (albeit only about 200 followers at the time).
So, I did the natural thing and tweeted a call to action… In May I posted this Tweet:
… And an amazing thing happened;
In just 1 week the thought grew into a full blown national initiative by the South African Twitter community. 7 regions from Pretoria to the Overberg all confirmed their participation through 9 events all to be held on the same day and time across the country.
Nothing in it for any of the participants and organisers except to be a part of the 1st national social media fundraising initiative in South Africa. Venue sponsors came out of the Twitterverse, as did volunteers to assist with things like website design (who knew we needed a website?), drop-off points and PR. We even received support through ReTweets and messages of support from various NGO’s in the USA and UK who have a focus on Africa.
My Twitter vocabulary was growing by the day – as was my fascination with what was unfolding.
Then, just as things seemed to be under control; a Tweep had an idea to take #TBD to the rugby at Orlando stadium/Soccer City for the game between the Blue Bulls and the Stormers. Suddenly, #TBD went mainstream.
We ended up being talked about on various blogs, sports columns, news articles and podcasts. We knew we were a part of something awesome.
In the end we collected over 500 blankets and loads of bags of old clothing. Cash donations were also made directly to the beneficiaries selected. More than 200 Tweeps attended the TBD TweetUps and many more Tweeps made contributions at the various additional dropoff points.
(My father-in-law still jokes about me being interviewed on a rugby show – me, of all people who couldn’t tell you the difference between Butch James and Butch Cassidy. It is Butch James right?)
Here we are in 2011 and the blanket drive is back on the road and in full swing.
| Province | Area | Venue | Time | Twitter host |
| Gauteng | Sandton | Crowne Plaza Hotel, Rosebank | 6pm – 10pm | @MelanieMinnaar |
| Benoni | The Coffee Shop, Rynfield | 6pm | @jackiejvr | |
| West Rand | SilverStar Casino | 6pm | @ReneeEverett | |
| Pretoria | The Blades | 6pm | @sdiedericks | |
| Western Cape | Cape Town | NewsCafe at Artscape | 4.30pm | @alambchop |
| Hermanus | OCF offices, Gateway Centre | 6pm | @talitharabie | |
| Plettenberg Bay | Fynbos Ridge Country House | 6pm | @fynbosridge | |
| Somerset West | TBC | 6pm | @Helderberginfo | |
| Knysna | Mitchell’s Brewery beer garden | 2pm – 4pm | @marleneboyce | |
| KwaZulu Natal | Durban | Luna Rossa, Gateway S/C | 11am – 4pm | @waewest |
| Durban north | Livingstone Gastro Pub, Glenore Centre | 6pm – 8pm | @askashe | |
| South coast | The Bistro, Ramsgate | 6pm – 8pm | @SouthCoastLive | |
| Eastern Cape | East London | TBC | TBC | @slummiesgirl |
| Port Elizabeth | Vovo Telo Pizzeria | 6pm | @mon_tays |
RSVP’s are encouraged and can be done online via the official #TBD website; www.twitterblanketdrive.co.za
For anyone wishing to donate but who cannot attend any of the events, Williams Hunt dealerships nationwide are once again drop off points for blankets and clothing (no cash donations). Follow them on Twitter – @Williams_Hunt
As much as I resist formalising the initiative I am asked more and more to talk about #TBD, something which I find soul fulfilling. The bottom line is: “want to collect blankets – I don’t care how we do these and what ideas individuals/corporates come up with to collect a many blankets as possible (legally).
What is most probably important to note is the vision that I carry in my heart for this project which is centred around the following pillars:
- Community for community. In this instance – Twitter community for local communities where events will be held.
- Friends with benefits – we will always endeavour to give back to charities represented on Twitter first, likewise – we will always look to support establishments with Twitter presence by selecting them as venues for our #TBD tweetups
- Uphold integrity of social media environment – #TBD will never belong to any one sole sponsor, the Twitterverse is diverse in its constituents and we will always be true to all our followers’ preferences. My preference will always be to drive promotion in the virtual space first.
- Anyone with shared goals can participate – this is not an exclusive project, the goal is to collect blankets for charity in the cold South African winter. If you can assist – we appreciate and welcome your efforts and will recognise these efforts – there will be no financial reward.
Most importantly, the spirit of #TBD is a bunch of people coming together around a common cause. That’s it. #TBD is not a registered NGO or charity – it is a facilitator of helping real people to do the good deeds that they wanted to do in the first place. (Earl would be proud: “Do good things and good things happen” – NBC sitcom)
Hope to see you on the 4th of June – or in real life somewhere where another vision is being fulfilled.
(Follow me on Twitter @MelanieMinnaar)
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published May 19th, 2011
Most people have only heard about things like bending metal with the mind, and have never had first hand experience of mind reading and the power of thought control.
Gilan Gork demonstrates these abilities in an entertaining and mind blowing way, as he bends metal with his mind, reads thoughts and even predicts events before they happen. He inspires his audience to recognise the real potential within us all. Viewers were riveted when he appeared on SABC’s 3Talk and won over three skeptics. Some viewers even called in to say old broken clocks and watches were working again!
“I have no super-natural powers. I am simply tapping into abilities that we all already possess. I believe that anyone can learn to do what I do. My passion is in enhancing your experience. To pull you into the mind, where everything is possible, and then back into reality with inspired perspectives,” says Gilan.
On a personal note I would like to thank you, Gilan, for sharing your project me story with my readers and me by taking the time for an interview. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to witness ‘the mentalist’ in action and to feel the inspiration of living your dream from the youngest age. Enjoy every step along your journey of your own ‘project me’.
What is your definition of happiness?
Happiness is a choice. That’s all.
If you could have everyone say one thing to themselves every day, what would it be?
I find that most of us are actually scared of success. We deselect ourselves by thinking that success is reserved for the people who deserve it for one supposed reason or another, such as a type of natural ability. I would have more people tell themselves, and truly believe, that their success is closer than it seems and that they are good enough to reach those goals as much as any other person who has reached theirs.
We all need someone to believe in us. Who is that person for you and why?
As clichéd as it may sound, my parents have always believed in me. Since I was the age of five my parents recognised my abilities and supported me in every way. Their belief that I could become anything I dreamed of gave me the freedom and “permission” to dream.
Describe the moment when you realised that you could achieve anything?
Success is often mystified from a young age. The time I realised that we can all achieve anything we want was after learning from great people who are as normal as you and I. Understanding that achieving anything was a matter of leading ourselves and controlling our daily habits was an unbelievable sense of gaining complete control over myself and these aspects of my life.
What have you always dreamed of being or doing and have you reached that dream?
I have always dreamed of being a top Mentalist, presenting to theatres of thousands and touching millions of people at home through their TV with messages of upliftment. I don’t believe that this is a dream that can ever be “reached”, but rather one which will keep growing as I reach more milestones.
When life gets in the way, what do you always remind yourself of?
Responsibility. I know that the word “responsibility” does not immediately strike as a very inspiring word, but the truth is that once we acknowledge that everything that we have and everything that we are in life, right now, is a result of our own thoughts and actions, then it gives power back to us to change anything in our life that we don’t like. So when life starts to get in the way, the natural thing to do is to blame something or someone for the loss of control, which really makes it worse. When I remind myself that my attitude and my actions are my responsibility then I feel empowered again!
We all have something unique to offer the world, what is yours?
I can inspire people to believe in their true potential. I do this by presenting my Mentalism abilities: feats of the mind that are usually deemed to be unrealistic. I can read other people’s thoughts, move and bend objects under the power of my mind, and predict events before they happen. I am not psychic. I am just tapping into abilities that we all already possess, and I use this to uplift other people.
How do you deal with the fears that could potentially hold you back?
I keep in mind two thoughts. The first one turns F.E.A.R. into an acronym that stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. This reminds me that the majority of my fears are based on thoughts or “situational evidence” that is not even real, and therefore whatever I fear does not really exist. If that doesn’t calm me down then I make a decision to feel the fear and do it anyways! We must all realise that every successful person has had to overcome fear so whenever I feel fear and decide to overcome it, I feel like I am following in the footsteps of the greats.
What do you believe we have lost sight of in the world as a whole?
I feel that generally, people have forgotten how to do random acts of kindness. We will happily go through days on end focusing entirely on ourselves and miss all those opportunities to perform little deeds of kindness that would have continued to spread seeds of upliftment beyond what we would see while continuing in our own personal worlds. The world would be a much better place if we all just genuinely cared more for the other person.
Gilan’s official website: http://gilangork.com
Follow Gilan on Twitter: ImTheMentalist
Gilan’s charity of choice: Reach For A Dream
Reach For A Dream fulfils the dreams of children between the ages of 3 and 18 who have been diagnosed as having a life-threatening illness by a medical practitioner. We do not discriminate based on race, culture, financial status or any other factor.
Each child living with a life-threatening illness is given a chance to dream.
Reach For A Dream believes that no child should live without hope. Childhood can be the most magical phase of the human existence, filled with dreams, aspirations and most of all… fun!
For children who have been diagnosed as having a life-threatening illness, the magic of childhood may be lost in the emotional, physical and financial strain of dealing with their illness. Reach For A Dream tries to alleviate some of this strain (which often affects the whole family), by creating a different environment for the child – one that is not focused on her/ his illness. We would like our children to find their laughter again and therein find the strength to live beyond their illnesses.
To donate to Reach For A Dream
Follow Reach For A Dream on Twitter
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
I know you love me, now comment! – project me day 508
This is a first for ‘project me’ and completely out of my comfort zone, but that’s what makes it so ‘project me’ appropriate. On the other hand, it’s been a long time coming and the fact that I can’t hold back anymore is purely out of all the love and support I am surrounded by. I don’t know how many bloggers get the love, encouragement and support that I get and that’s what’s frustrating the hell out of me.
Shoo … it was good to get that load off my chest … the frustrated part … and no I get to tell you why!
Unless you are in the social media or blogging world you just won’t get the power of a comment. You won’t get what it means to have the smallest comment on your blog and what it does for the esteem of the blogger, never mind the reputation and thumbs up from the blogging community.
If you think I’m begging for comments, I’m certainly not … I’m just stretching out the teacher in me and kinda sorta redirecting all the love that I receive on a daily basis.
Greggie says that maybe people don’t know how to comment on the blog and I do know that I have to make my blog friendlier from the mobile platform, but I’m going on the theory that YOU don’t think your one word or repeated gesture of love counts for much. You are so … so … wrong!
In a day I will get a whole lot of thumbs up on my Facebook post. I will get Tweets on how fab my blog was. I get direct mails, BBM’s, sms’s and even phone calls … but I don’t get the comments. I wish I had it in me to say “Okay, now that that little message and go repeat it on the blog, please!” but somehow I just don’t do that enough.
Do you realise that your ‘another great post, Jo’ or ‘I totally agree, Jodene’, would make the biggest difference in my life, for two reasons.
1 … as a blogger, every comment does something to the momentum of writing on a day that I can’t believe I was ever dumb enough to get this started. Your comments are my fuel and my reminder that I’m not writing to an audience of three (my mother, my Greggie and me). You can never say ‘hi’ enough or ‘I’ve been here’ too many times. Not because I’m begging you to … but because you do it on so many other platforms anyway!
2 … It doesn’t matter if I blog for 2000 days, if the world doesn’t see my blog as interactive with my readers then I don’t have the proof that anyone has been here to read and left their mark. I kid you not, I read some blogs that get 50 comments a day and sometimes all they say is “I agree” or “Good one today” or “you are funny” … but that blog has 50 comments, I have 2 … and I’ve most probably had more beautiful people pass by my day!
‘Project me’ is about speaking my truth and then doing something about it and I have been carrying this around for me for so long now. It’s a tough one to write because it’s like the “say you love me” story. Now you say it and now I say: “You are only saying it because I told you to say it!”
However I try phrase it … I’m a blogger and you’re a reader and a blogger desires nothing more that to know they are being heard!
I am so grateful to each of you for every Tweet, like, smiley sms, praise over dinner and comment to my mother on my beautiful way of writing! Don’t stop … it’s my inspiration! But do me a favour … give yourself the gift of making you important enough to know that your little comment inspires me more than I could possibly inspire myself. I live by the philosophy that all we need is one person to believe in us … and to me, that person is you!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour