Inspires Me: Joleene DesRosiers

Many of you may recognize Joleene DesRosiers as a former Central New York television Reporter. I was honored to have her one as my colleagues at YNN Central New York. Joleene was known for being an accurate and fair reporter. After a lot of thought and consideration she decided to hang up her Reporter's microphone and follow her inner voice and become a Transformational Speaker/Author.

She is now following her passion and today I bring you this interview of a woman who inspires me.

1. You had what many people see as a dream job and was secure, but in your heart of hearts you felt it wasn't what you wanted to do any more. Tell us how you were able to step out of that security into the unknown.

I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t easy. But I believe in following my gut. I knew my passion was connecting with people and being on the stage (I’m a theatre geek, too!) I also knew that if I stayed in a job that didn’t make me happy, I certainly wasn’t going to make anyone around me happy. Before I left my news career of 10 years, I chose to “test drive” my fear first. So I decided to go skydiving and jumped out of an airplane! As I was freefalling, I felt more empowered then I ever have before. That jump gave me the courage to move forward into the unknown. As Wayne Dyer says, I turned my fear into curiosity.

2. Eating disorders are often a silent fight. I thought it was extremely brave of you to come out and tell people you suffered from one. Was that liberating and are you hoping to help others by sharing something so personal?

It was raw, I’ll tell you that. The liberating part came months later. A local magazine did a cover story on me about the eating disorder, and the night before it hit the stands I couldn’t sleep. I thought, “What have I done??” But I chose to be open about it because, yes, I was hoping to help others. How? Millions of people hide behind addictions and eating disorders and family secrets and whatever else they may find shameful every day. (I hid my eating disorder for 26 years.) I wanted to let those people know they weren’t alone – and that they were just as normal as the next person, despite the skeletons in their closet.

3. You have written a book, "Memoirs of Normalcy: Journey from Sedentary to Extraordinary", and mow you have started your own public speaking workshops. Talk about this exciting new chapter in your life.

The book is a self-improvement book for anyone looking to “take the leap” and make change, no matter who they are, where they are in life, how old they are, or what they’ve done or not done in the past. Our past does not define us. Nor do the people around us. We have a bad habit of thinking we have to conform to what society says is right and wrong. I challenge all of us to rethink that. This is YOUR life to mold, just the way you want. I do the workshops so that people that feel “stuck” have an opportunity to forge a new path and think for themselves. I give them the tools the need to rethink life and change their state of mind. It’s a fantastic way to start over. And I LOVE this kind of work. I’m still learning everyday, too. Right now I’m completing my Robbins-Madanes Strategic Intervention life coach certification. (A mouthful, I know!) I’m going to see Tony Robbins in November for a 4-day intense seminar, too. I will never stop learning – because someone, somewhere, will benefit.

4. Tell us about about your new workshop "Getting Unstuck".

“Getting Unstuck” is for people that wake up every morning really disliking the path their taking - whether it be their job, their relationships, their choices or addictions. Its easy to remain sedentary and do nothing about it, but the truth of the matter is you’ll suffer in misery for the rest of your days if you don’t do something about it. I saw it with my mother. I’ve seen it with friends and family, too. They say, “Well, this is the hand I’ve been dealt.” Clearly they’ve never played poker! Just because you were dealt what you call a bad hand, doesn’t mean you have to live with it. The course is meant to help people take those brave, first steps to move toward the passions and goals they’ve only dreamed of. Really, anything is possible. I remind them of that and make them believe it. Before the course is even over, they will be taking steps to a new life and become very excited about it.

The course is a total of 6 hours, broken down over three days: M W F, 6 – 8 p.m. at Onondaga Community College, October 22, 24, 26. Tuition is $129. Course materials provided.

I asked Joleene to give us a video blog about "Getting Unstuck" and here it is. Wow- this sounds like an interesting workshop. If you are available you should check it out.


If you would like to learn more about Joleene and her new workshop "Getting Unstuck" click HERE.