- Idea Party, hosted by idea lady and networker extraordinaire Joyanna Anthony, part of The Art of Healthy Living Series, Thursday, May 31 at 7 p.m. at the Ferry Building Gallery. Cost: $13. Registration: 604-925-7270. Info: www. ferrybuildinggallery.com.
THROUGH years of helping people uncover their dreams, Joyanna Anthony is proud of the nicknames she's earned: the idea lady and networker extraordinaire.
The West Vancouver resident has devoted tremendous energy to helping community members not only discover their passions, but find a means of pursuing them.
"People phone me from all over and say, 'Hey do you know so and so?' And I connect people and information," she says.
Anthony, 67, has been partnered since 2000 with New Yorkbased Barbara Sher, a career counseller and bestselling author (Wishcraft: How To Get What You Really Want) nicknamed the "godmother of life coaching." Sher's Canadian director, Anthony is active locally, as well as nationally, in offering programming to help community members recognize their natural talents, pinpoint their goals and turn their dreams into a reality.
"I get so inspired when other people get inspired," she says. "It's my joy juice."
According to Anthony, many people don't know what their passion is.
"Life happens," she says. "You go to school, you get a job, you get married, you have kids and you still haven't gotten in touch with your passion. The thing is, you can't let your song die inside of you. It's your genius, it's your passion and you have to live it."
Anthony is set to host an Idea Party, Thursday, May 31, at the Ferry Building Gallery. One of Sher's creations, an Idea Party sees participants interact with one another to brainstorm, troubleshoot challenges and make connections, with a goal of actively pursuing what they love to do.
Isolation is a dream-killer, says Anthony. "You think of all these things on your own, but they never get done. The magic of a group is you are accountable to them," she says.
At Idea Parties, people ask about a variety of things, like how to increase business, start a new company, change their career direction, record an album, obtain a radio show, produce a TV pilot, write a book, learn to play a musical instrument, or become a motivational speaker.
"You'd be amazed at the connections that happen right there in that room," says Anthony. "Often someone in the audience gives you the total solution."
Participants are encouraged to bring their business cards and flyers.
One man whose life was positively changed after attending an Idea Party was a successful engineer who realized his passion was acting. Four years later, he continues to get roles and is an awardwinning thespian. His wife asserts he's a positively changed man and truly happy.
It's never too late to make a change in your life, says Anthony. "For a lot of seniors, this is a wonderful opportunity because now they're retired and they have the time to do their dream," she says.
In addition to hosting Idea Parties, Anthony also periodically presents eight-session Success Teams, similar in theme to the idea parties, though take a longer, more comprehensive approach. Team members (typically four to seven) hold one another accountable to ensure they take the necessary steps to achieve their goals. She also hosts virtual Success seminars.
In addition, Anthony, who works at the North Shore News, is an active community volunteer, for example she works with newcomers to Canada, is a celebrant and is undergoing training in social media and Internet marketing.
Anthony encourages community members, of all ages and backgrounds, to attend the upcoming West Vancouver Idea Party.
She hopes they walk away, "inspired to step into their greatness. That they get a taste of that passion and dare to do it, dare to do their dream."
For more information, visit www.joyannaanthony.com.
