In the May 2005 Newsletter:
  Passion News / Profit from Spirit at Work / The N in Sunflower / Events

Passion News!

Media Highlights. You can tune into Theresa in these cities:

	San Francisco on Ch 38 KCNS-TV at 10:00 AM PDT on June 8th.
	Denver on KGNU (88.5 FM, 1390 AM; also 89.1 FM in Ft. Collins) at 8:30 AM MDT on June 10th.
	Raleigh, NC on Ch 30 WRAY-TV at 10:00 AM EDT on June 15th.
	Chicago on WLS-TV, ABC 7 News at 11:00 AM CDT on June 21st.

The Tour Rolls On. Theresa is on tour in Denver, Chicago, San Francisco and Fort Worth in June. Coloradoans can hear Theresa speak at the Rockies Venture Club on May 24th in Denver.

The Buzzzz. “Buy this book. It is a great resource for people who are not where they want to be. It provides a blueprint to get what you want in life.” David Brown, radio talk show host, on KVON-AM in Sonoma, CA.

Profit from Spirit at Work

Did you jump out of bed this morning and say, “Yes, I get to go put my spirit to work today! I can’t wait.” If you are like 75% of employees profiled in a recent study from the Society of Human Resource Management, you are yearning for different employment. Half of those people are actively looking. Many people leave their spirit at home as they drag themselves in for another day of drudgery. You are not alone if you are asking, “How can I make a living and do something I like and find worthwhile?”

Employers (and our greater community) are losing out on great potential and productivity. People-related expenses are typically the biggest element impacting a firm’s bottom-line. How can you help your employees become and stay Passionate Pursuers whose passion is aligned with a meaningful purpose and your organizational goals?

People also have the biggest potential to impact sales revenue and profits. Certain of your key people are selling agents — are they passionate about their jobs? Other people make decisions to buy your product or not. How can you transform your customers into Passionate Pursuers?

Practical Pointers. Use the Connections Strategy to the key resource — people.

	Listen. Ask and you may be surprised what you learn. What do your employees value? What are their gifts? How can they use their gifts to do something important in the work environment? Passion is found in the alignment of values and gifts. What small, inexpensive changes might really help your employees’ morale and productivity?
	Turn Your Customers into Your Advisors. What do your customers want? Do you have an organized program to learn from your most important resource — your customers? What marketing programs could be redirected to develop a Customer Advisory Program? This is an area in which Theresa specializes, with a proven, proprietary approach to build customer delight.

The N in Sunflower

Passionate Pursuers — people who successfully find and pursue a worthwhile purpose with intense interest, enthusiasm, and dedication — have nine winning traits. Consistent with the bold flower on the cover of Pursuit of Passionate Purpose, each trait aligns with a letter in the word SUNFLOWER. Over each of nine months of 2005, this newsletter highlights a “Sunflower” characteristic. Take the Self Inventory on p. 54 of Pursuit of Passionate Purpose to assess how well you are doing with these traits.

N – Integrity of effort. N also stands for Never quit. Passionate Pursuers have a strong inner drive — a determined willingness and ability to work hard to get what they want. They harness this initiative and maintain a strong work ethic. This ‘industry’ concept, also a fundamental element in the progress of human development, is defined by Erik Erikson as an ability to “eagerly work and produce to completion by steady attention and persevering diligence.”

Success in the pursuit of purpose is typically defined as accomplishing the goal. But some people believe a pursuit that does not reach the target can still be successful if you maintain integrity of effort and do the best you can.

For Jim Collins, author of the bestseller Good to Great, whose story is covered in Pursuit of Passionate Purpose, the most meaningful purpose in life is to maintain integrity. He suggests climbing to ‘fallure’ when rock climbing or pursuing life goals. He defines fallure as falling before reaching the climbing goal while still maintaining integrity of effort. He considers both fallure and reaching the goal as success. “If you make a commitment to somebody, there are only two alternatives: Fulfill the commitment or you are dead. Fallure, 100% commitment with no wavering whatsoever, is integrity.”

Practical Pointers. What helps YOU maintain integrity of effort?

	Commit. Pledge yourself to a clear purpose for which you have passion
	Burn. Keep your fire — your passion — burning for your purpose to strengthen your persistence. Experiment with the suggestions to foster passion on p. 69 of Pursuit of Passionate Purpose.
	Connect. Surround yourself with the proper people, who can encourage your pursuits. Use the Connections Strategy explained on p. 205 of Pursuit of Passionate Purpose.

Upcoming Events and Media Interviews

Tuesday May 24, 2005. Panel presentation on “Marketing Strategy Tune-Up” at the Rockies Venture Club / Capital Conference at the Marriott City Center. 1701 California St. in Denver, 10:30 AM -11:30 AM MDT. Visit www.rockiesventureclub.org for information.

Saturday June 4, 2005. Keynote address at the Business and Professional Women / Colorado convention at the Table Mountain Inn. 1310 Mountain Avenue in Golden, CO at 4:00 PM MDT. Open to the public. Visit www.bpwco.org or call 303-988-6791 for information.

Tuesday June 7, 2005. Radio interview with Tootie Cooksey on the “Hotline” show in Centralia, IL. WILY-AM (1210) and WRXX-FM (95.3), 9:05 AM – 10:00 AM CDT, about the book and the topic of why so few women pursue advanced degrees in science and engineering

Wednesday June 8, 2005. Ch.38 KCNS-TV in San Francisco (and Cable 21 in the Bay Area) from 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM PDT on the “Bay Area Week” show with host Doug Benson.

See many other listings at: www.pursuitofpassionatepurpose.com.

Be the BUZZZZ

Be a BUZZ AGENT about Pursuit of Passionate Purpose. A grass roots effort is the best way to build momentum. Please keep me in mind for business and organizational events and media opportunities.

Don’t Just Wish for a Prosperous Year

TAKE ACTION! You can revive spirit at work to make a meaningful difference. Let Technology and Management Solutions, the catalyst for your extraordinary results, help you and your organization thrive in these challenging times.

Thrive in 2005,
Theresa M. Szczurek, Ph.D.
CEO, entrepreneur, and author

P.S. Pass it on. Feel free to share this newsletter with your colleagues.