Today’s CSIX Silicon Valley networking meeting was another example of why I am willing to drive 65 miles through three counties, 60+ minutes of mayhem similar to LA style freeway traffic in order to attend: it’s the “touches.” The personal nature of this meeting is it’s strength as people are given the opportunity to really meet, build relationships, and foster the ultimate connection-friendship.

Hamid Saadat, the sparkling presence with MC qualities and charismatic flair, provided much needed reminders of the importance of a clean-updated resume. He gave away 3 timely handouts: Top 10 Guidelines-Resume; The Eight Worst Things to Say in an Interview; and Networking, what not to do. This dovetailed perfectly with impromptu presenter Pamela Livingston of M Shift.

Pamela a woman of obvious boundless energy, provided what was the best most succinct tips of the day. She spoke of the importance of networking, the idea that nearly every waking moment of the day is an opportunity to network, and most important of all–give value and give often.

As the Vice President of Business Development for M Shift, Pamela related stories of her own employment history, her strategy in becoming more valuable to an organization, and a general approach to life that has a lets get it done together feeling.

Attendees with Expertise

1. Barbod Varjavandi- An irrepressible charismatic man with fantastic communication skills, Barbod’s expertise includes: Engineering Operations; Software Engineering; Product Management; Release Engineering; Information Technology. Barbod is the type of person every organization should have in order to prosper. Contact Barbod at barbod@varjavandi.com and 408 802-9120

2. Nobuko Isomata- Nobuko is such a joyful intelligent woman. She is fluent in English and Japanese and her background specialty is Asian Market Entry and Product Launch. Her consulting services, Market Entry Experts, provides a full array of market to market management and strategy. Contact Nobuko at nobuko@marketentryexperts.com and (650) 922-1786 or 240-0460

3. Joyce Phillips-Joyce is a Human Resources expert with a focus on H.R. Management and Business Partnership. She is looking for an opportunity with a large company. Joyce has the savvy and warm intelligence to relate to any situation as well as substance factor. With companies facing an ongoing battle for human capital “assets”, Joyce would be key acquisition for any organization. Contact Joyce at jelp444@gmail.com

4. Susan Siegel-Susan is an intelligent communicator who I only had a moment to connect with at our meeting. She impressed me as well spoken and hard working in her approach to business and networking. Susan can be contacted at smsiegel1@aol.com or (415) 602-1120

5. Bill Gascoyne-A man of substance he is an ASIC Engineer, a corporate technical trainer, and an amateur Physics lover. Bill is the type of guy who can train and relate to an audience of experts, hold their attention, and most important of all–be effective communicating complex theory in the most effective manner. Contact Bill at bill@billgascoyne.name and 408 497-5682

6. David Strom-David is a Technical Writer with expertise in API, software, and digital video. David’s strength is not only his substance factor but as an effective communicator through both the spoken and written word. Contact David at davestrom@mac.com and www.davestrom.com

7. Barb Kinnune-Barb is a Career Consultant with experience as a Personal Coach. Barb’s focus is talent management, career mapping, resume building, and networking. With experience in Silicon Valley, Barb would be an asset in order to move employees forward with a plan for success. Contact Barb at bkinn_1@yahoo.com

Finally me, Dean Guadagni, I have 23 years of business development experience. I am utilizing my substance factor as a blog consultant, free lance writer, and agent to author Susan Hanshaw. I am the Business Director of Inner Architect and Inner Architect Media. I represent Susan Hanshaw’s newly released book “Inner Architect: How To Build The Life You Were Designed To Live” our workshops, keynote speeches, and products are aimed at providing the platform for you to become your own life coach, identify your passions, and plot a new destiny built upon your passionate interests.

Author Susan Hanshaw left a successful 20 year corporate career that culminated in a position as Vice President and second in command of her direct marketing firm. During her transition she learned how to step into her current life as author, keynote speaker, and Founder of personal development firm Inner Architect.

The following is a smashing debut review for her latest work “Inner Architect: How To Build The Life You Were Designed To Live.” Reviewer Lori Hoeck of the blog spaceagesage.com succinctly and accurately analyzes Susan’s work; with a honest and impacting style, Hoeck captures the true essence behind this book and the meaningful messages contained within. For further information and to order “Inner Architect: How To Build The Life You Were Designed To Live”

List price: $14.95
innerarchitect.com price: $11.95 (save 20%)
Also available at Amazon.

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Lori Hoeck:

“When I started reading Inner Architect by Susan Hanshaw, I was perplexed. Other books I have read on self-help or personal growth immediately delve into meaty matters of mind, body, and soul, such as “Here’s your problem, here’s every reason behind your problem, and here’s the answer to your problem.”

I assumed Hanshaw would follow this pattern in the typical parental or professorial or counselor-type writing style. She does not. After a few more pages, it suddenly struck me. She is writing this so I can be my own life coach! I expected this book to give me just a few new insights here and there. Instead, it gives me the right tools for me to kick my own life into gear.

Her writing style isn’t for the reader to passively ingest words and ideas. Instead:

• It is about taking action.
• It is about taking action right now.
• It is about cutting through the hype and hyperventilation we often use to avoid change.

Her approach challenges the reader to actively progress through change in the form of over 30 fill-in-the-blank exercises. None of the exercises can be completed with superficial thought. For example in the section on Personal Obstacles, one asks, “What frightens you most about making this change?”

Her book is subtitled “How to Build the Life You Were Designed to Live.” Hanshaw uses the metaphors of designing, clearing obstacles for, constructing, and even moving into that life. I liked her stair-step process of beginning from the earliest point of considering a change to embracing, claiming, and enjoying a new life resulting from that change.

As I read more, I could easily imagine a life coach sitting across from me motivating me to think through all the steps. For example, in the finding purpose section, she helps readers find their passion by listing these “Clues:”

• Activities that cause you to lose track of time
• Unique talents and characteristics
• Yearnings and dreams that don’t go away
• Section in a bookstore you are most drawn to
• Classes you enjoy taking
• Complements you often get
• Roles that you naturally take on with family and friends
• Someone whose life you admire and wish you could be doing the same

Because of the straight-forward nature of the book and the mental work involved, readers may shy away from this type of life coaching in a book. If, however, you are ready to make changes and need a guidebook to your new life, Inner Architect will get you moving and thinking in more clearly defined, step-by-step, and motivational ways.”

Photo courtesy of SFGate.com

Imagine you are a history scholar, young father and newly wed in your 30’s, pushing hard for your doctorate from one of the leading universities in the world–and then it happens. You read an old version of the bible and you are blown away.

The experience is life changing and the transformation you embark upon begins with you leaving your doctorate studies for a life preaching “the word.” You begin your journey by inviting homeless people to sleep on your apartment floor every night. Your wife can not agree with your vision and your marriage ends in divorce with your wife and baby moving back to the East Coast.

The culmination of your transformation is your decision to turn in your apartment keys, sell your belongings, and go live in a homeless encampment under a freeway overpass so that you can relate to your “congregation.”

This is no Harlequin novel but rather the real life story, a wonderful read by San Francisco Chronicle’s Kevin Fagan, of Vincent Pannizzo a New Jersey native who was working toward his doctorate in History at the University of California at Berkeley before deciding, in his words, to heed God’s calling and preach “the word.”

What Do You Think Of This Man?

Maybe instead of a never ending stream of headlines about Paris Hilton, our convoluted and corrupt political system, and the ongoing soulless news items we are force fed, maybe we should seek out and make example of stories like Vincent’s story.

It is possible to change minds by simply changing what information you allow into your life? Tell me what you think.