After doing Devotions for Women on the Go, I found that the author had written a book: Woman of Influence by Pam Farrel. I'm already wholly intrigued by it and finished the first chapter quickly. Pam's book talks about how we can be outstanding influencers by adopting 10 traits. The overall question is: What is a woman of influence like? Answers: Impassioned, Individual, Intimate, Idealistic, Interdependent, Initiative, Integrity, Intense, Inquiring, Infectious. As a business owner and leader (of sorts) in my church community, I want to be a woman of influence in the most positive ways I can be... in every aspect of my life.

Chapter 1. Impassioned: Finding Your Unique Calling
"Passion is pure motivation sent through pure means to accomplish pure results that will glorify God and meet the needs of the people." Pam explains how she found her calling and how she was able to help others figure out what they are passionate about. She spoke about her passion for helping women of all means all over the world & how her heart was tugged in so many ways to help every one of them. The part of the chapter on Sojourner Truth's speech - how she was a strong, passionate woman who had been through more than any of us can even imagine - just ripped through me. Her impassioned plea to be made equal, standing before a crowd of women who couldn't stop cheering for her while she explained that she was as strong, as powerful, as incredible as any man.

Figuring out what I would die for, what I would put everything else on, what I would be happy without if I was able to live out my passion - that's not an easy task. She asks some questions about what would break my heart, what I daydream about and what I would stand up for... I kept coming up with the same answer (more on that in a minute).

The questions at the end of the chapter prompted me to blog about the book. It asked to give situations of when I was other-centered to see if there was a common-theme. It asked about topics I bring up a lot with friends and family. I realized that my business is doing exactly what I am passionate about. It might seem a bit funny to think that building websites and putting together marketing materials could be something that is up there with Sojourner Truth's passion but hear me out.

Sisarina, this company I have been building with God's help, is a passionate company - a company with a passion for helping businesses grow. Businesses are people. The world runs on small businesses but who teaches small businesses how to run the world? My passion has allowed me to hire a passionate staff interested in giving wings to those businesses. Every day we're approached by someone getting out of the corporate world because they know they can make a difference without the big business. They know they have a fire burning about something but aren't always sure where to start. We've learned that a lot of them need mentoring & a hand to hold along the path of starting a new business. We did it and we've made a success of it. We're still growing and our passion is growing the more we help others.

Someone asked me recently what I would do if I won the lottery - I said 'do what I do for free'. My goal in life is to make enough money to retire and do exactly what I do now without charging people for it. Sisarina as non-profit... what a concept. Passion - we even state it on the homepage of our website 'Your Brand. Our Passion.' - it's true... you won't find many other businesses out there ready to give you everything you need to get started in the world of running your own business.

A little disclaimer here though - I'm not saying this to pat myself on the back. We don't do this to get recognition - we do this because this is what we love to do. We get recognition because we're good at what we do. There are no big heads around our office - just hardworking women who have serious passion.

I am impassioned to be the best entrepreneur I can be while helping the world of small businesses flourish. I am working toward being a woman of influence.

2010 - the year I turn 30 has recently begun. Scary? No... Overwhelming? Yes.

I am a goal setter & typically accomplish the goals I set out for. Looking back over the last 10 years is an eye opening experience for someone on her way to 30. Some goals met, some set without full knowledge & later abandoned, others pushed back for future accomplishment.

When I was in college, I started a business called E-Spring Works (later known as Sisarina). E-Spring Works did a great job at helping local businesses with their websites (a rather new thing to do in 2001) and showed me that running a business was definitely something worth pursuing. This month marks the 9th anniversary of my being a sole proprietor. I was able to have that be my sole income for 2 years before deciding to work for 'the man' for more real world experience. I started my business at 20 in the year I was to turn 21. My goal was to be successful enough to purchase a newer car - a few months later, I hit my goal & upgraded my 1989 Chevy to a 2000 Olds Alero in cherry red. Mission accomplished.

As a high school student, I had set my life plans to go to college, get a job, get married & have babies before I was 25. I very quickly realized that I was behind in the getting married part, so I moved across the country and at 23 jumped at the chance a little too quickly, later realizing how uninformed I was of myself & what I really wanted. The children part of my plans was also set aside when I divorced and found the company of a dog much more enchanting than the company of children. I started to change my goals to seek out a career that made me happy instead of people.

I later became a homeowner due to having the dog and feeling like it was a very adult thing to do but failed miserably when the economy went into the circular file. It was just not the place I was meant to be. I then moved across country again to continue a career I wasn't happy in only to find the field I had majored in during college & a company that fit my life goals. My ultimate goal once again was to become a business owner by 30.

Mid-2009 found me in the perfect opportunity to enjoy sole-proprietorship once again along with partnerships that allowed me to be completely on my own. By the time I hit my 29th birthday, I was in full swing ready to show the world my stuff. Sisarina was launched again in full tilt, hiring staff, growing partnerships & local relationships and obtaining & renovating office space in the rich DC suburb of Bethesda, MD.

In early 2008, I started running, signing up for races of all shapes & sizes with the intent to hit the goals I had set for myself. Stepping up to the starting line of each race is the intent to finish, however it is that may happen. I've now finished two 5K's, two 10K's, one 10-miler, and one Half-Marathon. I am training over the next 3 weeks to complete my second Half-Marathon on the C&O canal trail. It's different training in the middle of winter for a trail race compared to training for anything else but I plan to complete it, fast or slow.

My current goals have now all been accomplished - and over a year earlier than expected! I am 29, successful, have a very loyal staff and am thoroughly enjoying the blessings God has presented me with. The trials to reach this point have not been easy but God never said He would make it easy - He just said I'd never have to do it alone. I am reminded daily, even by those in my office, how much God loves me & is obviously taking care of me. He's blessed me with an incredible family of friends and those relationships are my biggest accomplishment.

A few months ago, I realized that I knew very little about my religious beliefs. I know I am a woman of faith & that God is my purpose for being here but I found that I wanted to know more. I do a daily devotional for women who are busy, which gives me snippets to think about throughout the day but I didn't feel that was enough. Even being a very active member of my church caused me to find I was missing something. My church is doing a bible study for the next few months on Daniel L Migliore's 'Faith Seeking Understanding'. It's a captivating book allowing you to be a thinker, not just a doer. I have never been one to be told what to believe & then just accept it. I've always challenged the things others believe but want to know more about how my faith is challenged and upheld. I don't feel I know it all but I feel like God has some things to show me this year.

My goal for 2010 is not to work out more, eat healthier, be a better person or find true love. I'll try to do all those things but I don't feel they are goals I need to set. My goal for 2010 is to find out more about my faith & understand it enough to be able to have a conversation about it. To know why I believe it and not because I was told to. My second goal this year is to live my faith, not just talk about it. Living worship is key... and I intend to unlock it.

Happy New Year!