Could you tell us about some of the happy moments during your travels?

I love trying to coordinate plans, using my ability to organize, to think in positive ways, and to show a professional manner. I enjoy keeping my commitments to meet the hosts’, audience’s, and participants’ expectations. I strongly believe that though nothing is perfect, I can work things out to do my very best in every circumstance.

Successes. Accomplishments. Achievement. Encouragement. It’s not always easy learning something new, but once you do, your confidence grows. First, plan. Then keep on going forward to make sure everything runs well. Getting your schedule right in advance is the best; sometimes I had to fly in and then run to present a workshop. I just keep my spirits up!

It’s a great pleasure for me to see participants absorbing information, updating their understanding about ASL, learning new classifier handshapes, and gaining the ability to translate English equivalents. I am thrilled to see their hunger for more! Some participants buy my DVDs so that they can practice at home.  Hot cocoa in hand, I keep presenting as much as I can.

When hosts book me, I am thrilled and honored to be a part of their special events. Relaxing in a hotel room before teaching or performing gives me time to think, prepare, meditate, and boost my energy! Organize! Think positive! I love journaling, too. This puts a big smile on my face.  When a plan falls apart, I just work to iron things out. Oh, and I learn from my mistakes, so the same problem won’t happen again.

Love these school kids coming and crawling for my autographed headshots. Their "tapping" on my shoulder, leg, arm, and back got my attention to take turns, signed my photos for them. Sweet moments!

 

I’ve received so many compliments, suggestions, and other ideas from all of YOU! Thank you! I will use some of these ideas in my presentations, along with offers to help. Everything you offer always gives me happy moments. Thank you, everyone, for all of your support.

CHALLENGES! CHALLENGES! CHALLENGES!

Friends, fans, and students keep asking me asked me about what challenges have come up as I’ve worked on my business. I’m patiently making my way through everything on my journey to success. I always learn something new everyday and plan to iron out my traveling plans more smoothly and make things happen in a magical way!

 

Here are some challenges I’ve faced:

 

• Flights cancelled or delayed due to weather, maintenance problems, or a strike. I have lost a few days "resting" due to these difficulties, but luckily I made it to work! For instance, I was supposed to arrive at 11 am but checked in to the hotel at 9:30 pm, instead.
• Had to pay for lodging, airport parking, and meals when my flight was cancelled and rescheduled for the next day.
• Luggage missing. I had to go shopping to find a nice outfit before the workshop started.
• Payments delayed. Didn't get my checks on time. Waits were everything from 30 days to 6 months!
• Airline fuel costs went up unexpectedly and I had to use my personal credit card to pay airline fares that should have been covered by the hosting organizations.
• Booked my rental car through an online website. Then I was hit with last-minute rate increases!
• Got two job offers on the same day - had to pick just one!

 

I am so lucky that most of my hosts are extremely friendly and respect my wishes. The hosts and I have been able to work things out beautifully to get through and make the events into miracles. Truthfully, the travel issues could have driven me crazy! Trial and error have taught me that right now it is best to fly in and stay overnight for the next day's work to save me from the worry of trying to fly out on the day of the event and having some issues come up to interfere. For sure, my hair is going to grow gray! But everything has been working out great!