On this episode of Intercultural Spark we talk with Karen Putz, Passion Coach, Midlife Reinvention Challenge Mentor and founder of Ageless Passions. She’s also co-founder of TheDiversityAcademy.com, a diversity academy for interpreters for the deaf. Karen herself was born hard-of-hearing and became deaf after a barefoot skiing accident as a teen. But it was going back to that sport–in midlife—and competitively! — that changed everything.
Watch the Replay, Embedded Below.
Key Takeaways
This episode was all about PASSION! And, forget what society says–you can find and follow your passion at any age. Karen herself reconnected with her true passion—barefoot skiing– in her mid-40’s. (Watch her ski backwards and on one foot here.) We’ll have to ask how she didn’t drown during take-off next time we see her!)
The 5 Levels of Passion
Karen interviewed 200 people and found five steps to living our passions.
Curiosity
What are we curiosity? That’s where passion is born.
Learning
When we want to learn everything we can about our new passion.
Excitement
We can’t stop talking about it!
Acknowledgement
This is the stage where people get stalled. Getting others to acknowledge that it’s part of us, acknowledging that it’s important enough and worthwhile to have as part of our lives.
Recognition
Other people see it and associate it with you. That’s Karen, the barefoot water skier, or Karen, the writer.
The process is about uncovering who you are and how you want to live.
Extremely critical to have a mentor. The #1 way to success is to find someone who is farther along the path to where you are going. That’s how she ended barefoot skiing backwards and on one foot. (Karen—how did you not drown when you were getting up, when the boat first took off?
Karen was very gracious, and I realized things I take for granted…asked her TWICE as we were connecting she could hear me. And, Karen—the spot where I stopped talking and shook my head—there was a siren that sounded like a test of the national emergency system!
It’s deaf, not hearing impaired. And, whether it’s deaf person or person who is deaf is even a point of discussion within the community—depending on how people self-identify.
What Drives Karen’s Spark?
Barefoot skiing, of course, and helping others uncover their passion. Find her courses, coaching packages and free resources at agelesspassions.com
