Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ilan Shamir. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi ILAN , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Having Core Purpose: Finding the unique way I could combine my talents in business/marketing and love of nature was a persistent process of exploration and discovery. An important part was discerning what wasn’t my path or purpose. While it was great to be creating products, promotions and marketing for high profile companies such as 7UP – The Uncola and for Willy Wonka Candy it lacked doing something that was consistent with my values of caring for the earth and creating products that touched people’s hearts. One day out in the garden with the intention of combining my business/marketing with love of nature, I developed Greeting Seeds – a unique greeting card with a gift of seeds and beautiful messages, it was a huge success and continued for 15 years! After completion with that I stood next to a 100 year old Cottonwood Tree and received the “Advice from a Tree” inspiration that led to sharing the wisdom of over 300 animals, plants, landscapes, etc with Your True Nature. Its widespread influence continues to bring nature and messages of hope to millions of people. I was successful in serving others, caring for the earth and creating a life and lifestyle of purpose and financial abundance. I used all of my passions – creating and running a purposeful business, art, writing, packaging design, marketing, nature, trees, and giving back. I live my “true nature” and inspire others to live theirs as well. Whether I am creating new products, delivering keynote speeches, running a company, playing music, preparing a meal or the many other aspects of life I know that I don’t have to be perfect (well, except for products I create and trying to run the best business I can!), this inner confidence and knowing influences all of my actions and decisions. Following are a few more thoughts on building confidence . . .
Knowledge and Preparation: The more I know about a topic or situation, the more confident I feel discussing or handling it. Continuous learning and staying informed help build this foundation.
Setting Achievable Goals: By setting realistic goals and achieving them, I gain confidence in my abilities. Each success, no matter how small, contributes to a sense of accomplishment.
Facing Challenges: As my Advice from a River states “go around the obstacles”, I know that I will overcome the challenges, even if initially daunting will boost my confidence. It shows that I can handle adversity and grow from it.
Positive Self-Talk: Paying attention to my internal dialogue and replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations has been crucial. This helps in building a more resilient and confident mindset. My mantra has been “A Thousand Things Went Right Today!” It works! See our music video on youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuZRu_4GmbU
Seeking Feedback: Constructive feedback, whether from mentors, peers, or others, helps me understand my strengths and areas for improvement. Incorporating this feedback helps in refining my skills and building confidence in them.
Taking Risks: Stepping out of my comfort zone and taking calculated risks has been instrumental. I have plenty of “failures” but many more successes. It allows me to learn new things and expand my capabilities.
Practicing Assertiveness: Expressing my thoughts, ideas, and needs assertively (but respectfully) helps in building confidence in my communication skills and personal beliefs.
Accepting Imperfections: Recognizing that nobody is perfect and that mistakes are opportunities for growth has been crucial. Embracing imperfections allows me to be more self-compassionate and resilient.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
What I do and who I am are consistent. How satisfying to bring messages of hope and beautiful products to so many others. Working with my incredible team is amazing and how powerfully and delightfully we are in the flow together. I am proud of how we have revised our website and have included features where someone can pick an Advice card of the day, plant trees for purchasing items in our store or listen to Advice tunes. The website experience should be fun shouldn’t it! I am also excited about our new line of stickers with humorous, artsy and thoughtful reminders of how to live a connected and positive life. We see all aspects of our business as an opportuntiy to express our unique nature. It’s been an honor as we celebrate 25 years of being in business.
Running a sustainable business is exciting and aligns perfectly with my purpose and values. We have planted over 150,000 trees and that number grow every day. We are members of 1% for the Planet, replant trees for all paper used in our 100% replanted program and donate to many environmental organizations. Our give back programs are an integral part of how we operate. We just completed a video about trees called Plant a Tree-Grow a Friend! Watch on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg6S-QfxZls I love this special song and video about the many gifts that trees give us.
I love that we have honored the wolf, bear, owl, dragonfly, hummingbird, sunset, ocean, eagle, canyon, tree, mountain, river and hundreds more, listening to what they stand for and creating bookmarks, greeting cards, magnets and stickers and that carry their wisdom. The seven lines of advice on each are simple and profound reminders of what nature teaches us! And we also found that not only nature holds such wisdom, but other things as well. With my love of music we are also creating an Advice series of music . . . Advice from a Ukulele, Guitar, Piano, Drum, Harmonica and Song. Stay tuned as these will be out soon! It’s so easy in life to let what’s not working grab our attention. We recently completed a music video “A Thousand Things Went Right Today!” A catchy song and video celebrating what goes right in our days.
My love of words expresses itself in many ways. One particularly fun is an old ice cream truck that I restored. It was a truck I found rusting away in a field and restored to it’s previous glory. Instead of selling ice cream it has big magnetic words that can be arranged into poetry. It’s called Poetry in Motion! Words on wheels to travel and allow others the find their joy of words. Poetry in Motion has it’s own social media page at facebook.com/poetryinmotiontruck.
One more area that allows me to express my true nature is drumming and storytelling in my keynote programs. When I am on stage I feel so relaxed and excited as the words and stories of nature and positivity flow right out of me. Rather than live a life of limitation, I let the possibilities take center stage. Whether it is drumming and storytelling, creating advice, reimagining a truck, planting trees it’s all part of living my true nature. It is an exciting adventure in life to see what’s possible with the precious life I have been given.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Knowing who I am and what I stand for allows me to live from my strengths. But life is so complex and presents so many challenges as well. I Just keep learning, growing and expanding and being open to other people’s knowledge and expertise, especially in areas where I am not as skilled. We have a process in our company called “Group Wisdom” where each team member’s talents, ideas and perspectives are honored and encouraged. Following are a few more thoughts on coming from a place of strength . . .
Lifelong Learning: Continuous learning and growth and embracing the idea that learning doesn’t stop after formal education is crucial. Life is full of opportunities to gain new knowledge and skills, whether through reading, taking courses, attending workshops, or simply engaging in conversations. This mindset helps keep the mind agile and adaptable to change.
Expanding Perspectives: By exposing myself to different viewpoints, cultures, and areas of expertise, I broaden my understanding of the world. This can challenge my assumptions, enhance my creativity, and encourage innovative thinking.
Personal Development: Continuous learning fosters personal development, allowing myself to evolve as an individual. It leads to increased confidence, better decision-making, and a deeper understanding of myself and others.
Acceptance of Imperfection: Acknowledging that no one is perfect is essential for personal growth. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and understanding this can alleviate the pressure to be flawless. This acceptance allows for a more realistic approach to personal and professional development.
Identifying Expertise: Recognizing that there are individuals who possess expertise in various fields encourages collaboration. Rather than trying to master every skill or knowledge area, I can focus on your strengths while seeking out others who excel in complementary areas.
Building Relationships: Establishing connections with others can be incredibly beneficial. Networking allows me to learn from those who have different experiences and skills. These relationships can open doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and mentorship.
Shared Knowledge: Engaging with a diverse range of individuals creates a rich tapestry of knowledge. Sharing experiences, insights, and skills leads to collective growth and innovation. This collaborative approach enhances problem-solving and creativity.
Support Systems: Having a diverse network of connections provides emotional and professional support. During challenges or transitions, these relationships can be invaluable, offering guidance, encouragement, and different perspectives.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to challenges is crucial. Resilience helps me face difficulties with a positive attitude and learn from experiences, making it easier to navigate life’s ups and downs.
Self-Awareness: Understanding my strengths, weaknesses, values, and emotions is foundational for personal growth. Self-awareness enables me to make informed decisions, improve relationships, and respond effectively to situations.
Empathy: The capacity to understand and share the feelings of others fosters strong connections and improves communication. Developing empathy helps build trust and cooperation, essential for both personal and professional relationships.
A few more essential qualities . . .
Persistence.
Gratitude.
Living with purpose and creating a better world with each action.
Like Advice from a River says “the beauty is in the journey!”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://myadviceforlife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourtruenatureinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyAdvice4Life : facebook.com/poetryinmotiontruck
- Other: https://ilanshamir.com
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