Discover Your Passion: An Interview with Barrie Davenport

Today I'm interviewing, Barrie Davenport, from Live Bold and Bloom! She is a consultant for the A-List Blogging Bootcamps and A-List Blogging Club, working with Leo Babauta and Mary Jaksch to present one of the hottest blogging training programs on the internet!

Barrie wants to inspire you to live boldly and bloom to your fullest potential! Her readers have climbed summits, created vibrant businesses, written books, and dared to dream big dreams. 

How did you become interested in guiding people with finding their authentic self? 

I have always been interested in people – what they think, how they feel, what makes them tick. I have been an “armchair” counselor for my friends for as long as I can remember, and feel great satisfaction in helping people solve problems and overcome challenges.

It was only in the last few years that I understood I could take my personal passion for helping my friends and family and translate that into a career.

Through a lot of self-coaching and exploration, I discovered a career that would support that passion. Actually, two careers kept popping up for me, counseling and coaching. The more I learned about coaching, the more I knew it was a great fit for me.

As part of my work as a coach, I created a group workshop to help people discover their authentic selves and to open doors to a higher quality of life.

When I created my blog, I realized that I could reach so many more people, and that was the impetus to create this self-study course.

What skills, values and interests gave you the capability to find and live your passion?

That’s a great question, since that is exactly what I ask students of this course to do for themselves. I’m going to put values first, because I think it’s the most important. For me, the career values that drive me are serving, connecting, creating, and synthesizing.

Of course, those career values must be infused with integrity, balance, and joy. The skills I bring to the table are a decent ability to communicate, both in writing and verbally; a strong intuition and understanding of people; a well-spring of curiosity; and a long professional background in PR that fostered many practical business skills.

I am interested in so many things – but primarily I am interested in personal growth, blogging, writing, reading just about everything, traveling, the arts (particularly ballet), history, and the intersection of science and spirituality. I love learning. I also, have three teenagers who have been the center of my life for 19 years.

Tell us about a turning point in your life.

The most profound turning point in my life has been in the last couple of years. My oldest child moved away, giving me a lot more time to pursue my career.

This coincided with my turning 50 and realizing that I had better start creating the life I want and doing the things I’ve dreamed of doing – because they weren’t going to happen someday.

Someday had arrived. 

As a result, I have changed careers entirely (from a PR consultant to a coach), and have embraced new adventures (like blogging) that I never even considered before. I have finally come to deeply understand the power of the present moment – and it’s only in this moment, right now, that we can experience real happiness. So I’ve started making every moment count. 

What’s the most difficult job you’ve ever had?

Hands down, raising my children. The most difficult and the most rewarding. Jackie Kennedy once said, “If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matters very much.” I agree. It takes tremendous commitment and patience to raise small children and to launch teenagers into adulthood.

If I am able to give my children the tools they need — emotionally, mentally and practically — to become successful, happy adults, I will feel satisfied. The jury is still out since my youngest is just 13.

Who do you admire?

There are so many people I admire for various reasons. A literary character I admire very much is Atticus Finch from the book, To Kill A Mockingbird. He was such a remarkable mixture of integrity, humility, gentleness, and power.

There are many younger women I have met through blogging whom I admire very much for their ability to accomplish so much, with such grace, at a very young age. Two that come to mind are Carolyn Rubenstein of the blog, A Beautiful Ripple Effect, and Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project. They are both impacting many people in such positive ways.

Is there a specific book that inspired you to change your life?

I am a voracious reader, so I’m sure that many books have unconsciously influenced me. Eckhart Tolle’s book, The Power of Now, was the first to really hammer home the concept of working daily, hourly to live in the present moment. I’d certainly heard the idea before, but it really struck me with this book.

Another really powerful book for me is The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge, MD. He puts the science behind the power of positive thinking and shows how we can re-wire our brains to make remarkable positive change.

I have been inspired by Deepak Chopra, Stephen Hawking, Thich Nhat Hnah, Stephen Chandler – too many to name them all!

If you could make one change in the world what would it be?

That I could wave a wand and everyone would develop emotional maturity and self-awareness. Imagine how that would impact politics, international relations, religion, and our daily interactions with other people. 

Tell us about one thing on your bucket list.

To live this moment and the next one mindfully and joyfully.

Today, Barrie is launching her brand new eCourse, Discover Your Passion: A Step-By-Step Course for Creating the Life of Your Dreams. Learn how you can get a jump start on 2011, and begin your extraordinary journey. Life's too grand to settle for anything less. Life's too short to miss out on this wonderful opportunity! Click below…

Discover Your Passion

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Barrie Davenport December 7, 2010, 6:17 am

    Tess,
    Thank you so much for this lovely post and interview. You really made me think! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to “meet” your readers and to partner with you on presenting this course to them. Here’s to living the bold (and passionate) life!

  • Bryce Christiansen December 7, 2010, 8:53 am

    Your interviews are always a highlight.

    It’s so great to hear Barrie’s story about changing careers to match her passions. So many of us are too scared of the risk associated with change. I’ve talked with a lot of people through my work about doing this exact thing.

    The happiness and change people have once they are working in line with their passions is incredible. It’s hard to compare it to anything else.

  • Angela Artemis December 7, 2010, 12:18 pm

    Tess,
    What a wonderful interview. Great job with the questions – as usual! I really enjoyed reading this. You know – just when you think you know someone there’s always something more to learn about them. I guess that’s the mark of a fascinating person there’s always so much more to them.
    I’m so glad you introduced your readers to Barrie!
    .-= Angela Artemis´s last post…It’s Never Too Late to Live the Life Of Your Dreams =-.

  • Karl Staib - Work Happy Now December 7, 2010, 12:28 pm

    I love how barrie talked about waiting for “someday”. We can’t wait for this day because the more we wait the more time slips by. We really don’t have a lot of time on this earth. The older I get the faster time seems to slip by.

    We have to create the life we want by taking small steps each day. It’s a process, but if we do it now it makes life so much more rewarding.

    Great interview Tess! Thank you.

  • Lori December 7, 2010, 2:30 pm

    Hi Tess and Barrie,

    Tess: Great questions, again, you are remarkable with your skill in bringing out the best in every person on your interview couch. Thank you for introducing us to Barrie.

    Barrie: I love the image of you here, of yourself in a soft light—I have a feeling that says so much about your coaching style and the way you approach life. I think I had a similar moment as you when I turned 40. Now has indeed arrived and my life is here in this very moment. Not tomorrow, not yesterday, NOW.

    Enjoy what remains for 2010 both of you, and I’m sending lots of love your way.
    ~xo
    .-= Lori´s last post…An Update… =-.

  • Aileen December 7, 2010, 2:55 pm

    Great Interview Tess & Barrie!! I love how short Barrie’s Bucket List 🙂 it’s wonderful to live the life we desire rather that just dream about it – how exciting that Barrie has released her new eCourse!

  • Sandra Lee December 7, 2010, 2:58 pm

    Another wonderful interview, Tess!

    Barrie, Thanks for the opportunity to get a deeper glimpse into your being. I love your clarity: “For me, the career values that drive me are serving, connecting, creating, and synthesizing.” I’m sure this clarity bubbles up through your course.

    I also really appreciate your aspiration ‘To live this moment and the next one mindfully and joyfully.” Mindfulness is the first practice on the spiritual path and a very important one indeed.
    .-= Sandra Lee´s last post…Sneaking Up On Willy-Nilly Consumption =-.

  • Farnoosh December 7, 2010, 4:29 pm

    Great interview and discussion here. I love the book recommendations. I think Barrie, we talked about some of these books at Blogworld. You were also reading Brian Greene, the physicist’s book, which I started to read ages ago. Anyway, congratulations on your product launch and here’s to many happy returns!!!
    .-= Farnoosh´s last post…Top 65 Quotes on Making the Choice about Children =-.

  • Robin Easton December 7, 2010, 4:51 pm

    Dear Barrie, I enjoyed getting to know you better. I was really touched when you said raising kids was the toughest job you ever had. I didn’t have children, but am staunch believer that parents need and deserve so much more recognition for the job they do. It made me wonder if it’s why so many mothers that move into the workplace do such a great job, because the workplace is nothing compared to being at home alone with several children, and meeting their needs ALL day long. 🙂

    Also, I loved what you said about turning 50. “Someday had arrived.” Yes, life becomes even more precious and we become even more directed and focused. Beautiful!!.

    Hugs to you both, Barrie and Tess! Robin xo

  • Andrea DeBell - britetalk December 7, 2010, 7:04 pm

    Hi Tess and Barrie! Wonderful stuff. Interesting that Barrie has been inspired by Deepak Chopra. I work at his center here in California and his body of work is really amazing. I like her concept “Someday had arrived.” It beautifully expresses how we can make ‘someday’ can become ‘everyday’.
    Thanks for the inspiration! Loving blessings!
    .-= Andrea DeBell – britetalk´s last post…Kickstart an Abundant Life the Easy Way =-.

  • Evita December 7, 2010, 8:16 pm

    Hi Tess and Barrie

    Barrie it is a pleasure to get to know more about you 🙂

    You have a fantastic life journey and what a beautiful time in your life to focus on all the things now that are part of your dreams and create the life you want.

    And 50! Wow, you don’t look a day over 40, if that in your photo! Congrats on the new life path and may you continue to inspire and help many more people in this world!
    .-= Evita´s last post…Essential Energy with Cyndi Dale- The Fallen Star – Bringing Light to the Deepest Part of Our Soul =-.

  • Lance December 7, 2010, 8:32 pm

    Barrie,
    It’s so wonderful to learn more about you! And…I have one of those 13 year olds, too…my daughter, who is sandwiched in between her two brothers!! Most definitely the most challenging job (and also the one with the deepest rewards).

    Ahhh…the moment. Moving more fully in line with “being” in all of the moments of our lives. And when we move in that direction, what a beautiful place to experience.

    Best to you on your new e-course…and for all the people you will positively impact with your beautiful message…
    .-= Lance´s last post…Silver And Grace =-.

  • Julie December 8, 2010, 4:39 am

    Barrie, I just love how you explained your wish for the world. So many I meet seem to focus on what’s either immediate (close to themselves) or else offer a broad global wish without noticing the details. For me, “why?” has always lead to deeper understandings about, well, everything I ponder. So many wondrous truths unfold… When we understand the cause and effect of everything we think, all that we do, and even what we believe, we find the tool we need to reshape our worlds—-our personal world and the greater community, too. Our relationships change even as we do.

    Tess, xoxo.
    .-= Julie´s last post…My Song =-.

  • Jane Rochelle December 8, 2010, 1:13 pm

    Barrie and Tess,

    This is a lovely interview! Thanks, Barrie for sharing so candidly about your family, and about your journey. Seeing strong women like you pursuing, and realizing a life of passion is empowering.

    I watched To Kill A Mockingbird on Monday night, and really did enjoy it! I found myself admiring Atticus for allowing Scout to be the girl she was. Tender, strong, fragile, and quirky. We could all use a little more Atticus in our life. 🙂

    Tess, thank you for taking the time to interview Barrie. Like all of your posts, I’m inspired to peek around new corners and see what’s in store for me. I am not fearless, but I do become more brave around women like you and Barrie.

    Both of you take good care,
    love,
    Jane
    .-= Jane Rochelle´s last post…Wishcasting Wednesday- What Do You Wish To Transform =-.

  • Dandy December 8, 2010, 2:49 pm

    Hi Tess!
    This is a great interveiw. I love the questions you ask. Barrie sounds like a facinating woman & I can’t wait to check out her blog. Thanks for telling us about her!

    Dandy
    .-= Dandy´s last post…Deep breathing techniqes for well being =-.

  • Jannie Funster December 9, 2010, 4:07 pm

    Okay, I want Tess to know I’ll have to get one of my tattoos of her wise words taken off and replaced with “integrity, balance, and joy.” Barrie, I have not a square untattooed inch left on me due to all of Tess’s wonderful wisdom since I met her via blogging a couple years ago. 🙂

    But seriously, to do what you love and are drawn to with integrity, balance and joy is as good as it gets! I too long to, and am conscious of serving, creating and connecting. I think if we all did everyone would be in their sweet life niche!

    Wow, 3 teens, a full life for you, Barrie. That IS the most important job.

    And super-congrats for following your heart to coaching, bravo!

    From Jannie — a longtime Tess Superfan, a Jannie who most days is hopefully sloping ever closer towards emotional maturity. 🙂

    xoxo to all
    .-= Jannie Funster´s last post…Paint Your Palette Blue And Gray =-.

  • J.D. Meier December 10, 2010, 12:39 am

    Beautiful interview.

    Atticus Finch is admirable.

    That would be a mighty powerful wand, but it would sure work wonders.
    .-= J.D. Meier´s last post…Insightful Personal Development Books =-.

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