Q. What is a visionary?

A. A visionary is someone who sees things differently and who can see things other people can't. A visionary is imaginative, innovative and inventive. They can take what appears to be nothing and make something out of it.

Q. What's a paradigm and what is the new business paradigm?

A. A paradigm is a new way of functioning that shatters old beliefs and ways of functioning - with no way to go back. For example, when a butterfly leaves the cocoon it can't go back to being caterpillar. That is a paradigm shift.

The new business paradigm is a 21st century business model for people who want to make money - while making a difference. Thriving enterprises are being created by people who have chosen to use business as a vehicle to transform society. Marjorie Kelly, editor of Business Ethics Magazine said, "We haven't updated our image of business since the days of robber barons and it's time we did so. There is a new way to look at capitalism: not as preying upon society, but as serving society." New Paradigm Businesses are based on success from the inside out - and based on building businesses that are an extension of the person. You use your business as a self-development course and design it to provide financial stability.

Q. What's the difference between a job, a career or profession - and a vocation of destiny, right livelihood, or area of transformational service.

A. A job is something you choose to do to pay your bills. A career or profession is the specialized training you receive which enables you to live a desired lifestyle. Lifework is an extension of who you are ( a calling) and your purpose for being  - not just something you learn how to do or be. Many people have had enough jobs, businesses and careers and are ready for their vocation of destiny or transformational role.

Q. What is destiny?

A. Destiny is not a goal, objective or destination. It's all the activities in the theatre of your life. Catching up with your destiny is kind of like playing the board game called, CLUE. The purpose of CLUE is to solve the murder mystery of who did it, in what room, and with whom. Your destiny is not a destination - and you really don’t want to know exactly where your destiny will take you because that would spoil the game of your life. Enjoy the unfolding mystery and allow yourself to enjoy the adventures as they unfold. When you are mystified (and not at your command control post dictating each step) it's a sign that what you are doing is perfect.

Q. What are values?

A. Values are the most powerful form of motivation - they are driven by your heart's desires. Your personal core values are what you stand for ...your inner rules for how you are to be living your life. Your personal values are why you do what you do - and they invisibly influence every decision you make ... including your lifestyle decisions, work choices - where you go to school, where you work and who you work for - where you shop, where you live, how you spend money, how you choose relationships and even how you raise your children.

Values are your ideals, your standards for excellence. They provide purpose and passion from deep within - a driving force to overcome incredible obstacles in order to make your dreams a reality. Values come from your heart or soul - and when people come from their values they are all on common ground. Despite different religions or spiritual paths people feel a connectedness and share common concerns.

Q. Why do you use enterprise instead of business or organization?

A. Enterprise is inclusive of all types of ventures, regardless of the industry, business, institution or organization - and it defines more of an attitude than the specific arena in which activities are carried out. The word enterprise also denotes a more exciting, living, adventurous way of functioning.

Q. What is the spirit of an enterprise?

A. The spirit of an enterprise is an invisible feeling that permeates all organizational activities. It is the soul or spirit driving the enterprise. Spirit is an energy - a positive attracting field for opportunities, activities, products and people.

Q. What's the difference between a mid-life crisis and a crisis of my spirit?

A. In the past when someone reached their mid thirties or early forties, they often began to rethink their life. It could often be relieved by changing jobs, relationships or residences. A crisis of the spirit is a feeling of emptiness deep inside that won't go away - a search for meaning or purpose.

So let me start with the difficult task of using words to define spirit. Your spirit is an invisible immaterial quality. It's your essence, life-force, or energy, that gives life to your physical body. It's an activating principle and your sacred, moral and emotional nature. It is often referred to as your Real Self, spiritual Self, soul or higher self - which differentiates it from your ego personality self or human self.

The human spirit is the most valuable and unlimited resource. To better understand spirit, consider a passionate spirit, a spirited racehorse, team spirit, school spirit, a free spirit, the American spirit, the spirit of the law  -  or a spirited leader such as Martin Luther King Jr. or Ghandi  - or the power of a courageous spirit. Your true spirit is childlike, innocent, intuitive, playful, sensual and joyful.

Q. What process can I expect to go through?

A. First you need to understand you are never in the situation you're in ... for the reasons you think. When your old ways of doing things are not working anymore - and no new clear options have revealed themselves, it can be a frustrating, unnerving time. Your intellectual reasons for being in a certain crisis may make sense in your mind, but rarely reflect what your spirit is trying to get you to understand.

A spiritual crisis requires totally different rationales. Activating your spirit usually takes a 'crash course' of one form or another. This is not necessary, but it is very normal. Some people have had the luxury of activating their spirit gradually - others find themselves in a severe crisis. Your ego personality self seldom will take a secondary role without a severe crisis. Before you jump into something, take your time and look for options outside of conventional boxes. Try to understand yourself and your circumstances from a broader point of view.

Q. How would I know if am in a spiritual crisis?

A. To determine if you are in a spiritual crisis, stop and ask yourself if you are experiencing intense financial, work, relationships, or physical challenges - or even all of the previous challenges simultaneously. This is a good sign that your spirit wants your attention. I find that your spirit will tolerate your avoidance of initial prompting for about two years. Then it will get it's way by intensifying your pain and frustration to highly uncomfortable levels. Most people listen when the pain intensifies enough. Then they start earnestly searching for answers.

Q. What's the difference between religion and spirituality?

A. Spiritual means many things: living life fully and living life from the inside out, being clear about your values and making conscious life choices that are aligned to your values, creating sacredness in all areas of your life, being present in each moment, being creative and expressive, appreciating nature and natural beauty, enjoying a sense of mystery ... and it means having an awareness of one's self within a larger universal context and honoring godliness in each of us. The word 'spirit' comes from the Latin "spiritual" which means breath, courage, the soul, life; and from "Spirare" which is to breathe. Spirituality is an expression and an attitude - not something that is obtained. Its living harmoniously - allowing a loving outward flow from your inner resources. Religion differs from spirituality because there are no organizations to belong to or philosophies to subscribe to. Universal spirituality has always encouraged listening to an inner voice, regardless of what name you personally give it.

Q. What major factors deplete my spirit or make spirits weary?

A. These are the major factors that deplete your spirit: