What does it mean to “feed your soul?”

It has everything to do with your fulfillment in life and your livelihood.  I’m a huge advocate in finding what “feeds your soul.” 

You'll see why I champion this in a second and how this relates to you...

"Feed your soul" meaning

Let’s first look at what the “feed your soul” definition is within context of one's life work - your career.

• Per Miriam Webster’s - “actuating cause of an individual life” 

• Per English Baby -  “something that you do which gives meaning and enjoyment to your spirit”

• Per  franchise & funding - engaging in activities that bring deep satisfaction, fulfillment and a sense of purpose.

How to neglect your soul - I struggled to get my footing starting out...

I started LSU pre-med.

Being a Dr./lawyer is what I heard growing up. 

After flunking my zoology and chemistry classes my freshman year at LSU, I knew the "Dr." path was not for me. So, I defaulted to a Psychology degree. 

On graduation day, I told my parents, “I’m done with college, forever.”

Then reality slapped me in the face. 

I couldn't find a job.

I took the first job I could get waiting tables at Applebees.

Recognizing how ill prepared I was with my newly minted degree, I enrolled to get my Masters in Business Administration(MBA). I also landed an internship with the Small Business Development Center consulting with entrepreneurs to "gain experience."

The #1 thing that happened to me while in grad school was meeting Jenny. 

Recognizing how lost I was regarding my career, Jenny taught me the the most valuable lesson I learned – the value of “feeding your soul.”

In other words, where did my genuine interests lie? What gave me purpose? I heard what Jenny was saying, but it wasn't sinking in...yet.

Upon earning my MBA, I still felt like I had limited options. 

My mindset was just not there yet.

It was deja vu all over again -  struggling to find a job.  I was even more frustrated after spending two more years in school.

I felt like I was spinning my wheels deeper in the mud.

Despite Jenny’s guidance, I took an office “job” to have a job. 

My office was a tiny grey cubicle cell with padded grey walls and thumbtacks.

The work that stuffed my inbox every morning did zero to inspire me. 

My frustration with my career and life was coming to a head. .

That job literally sucked the life out of me to the point I had my only ulcer at age 25. 

I was never meant to be couped up in a grey cubicle cell.

That look Jenny's giving me in the photo…with all the kids' programs she does providing free dance lessons, her kids call that the "Ms. Jenny look." That's the "look" that keeps me on my toes.

You know the moment you "get it."

As that "ulcer" moment, with Jenny’s continued guidance is when I really understood what she was saying about "feeding your soul," I finally “got it.” 

From that point forward I became very intentional regarding my life and livelihood. 

And I’m very grateful I did.  As Executive Director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board,  I found myself leading the seafood industry through Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill in a five year span. 

In addition to massive devastation and the brutal heartache, we lost billions of dollars in retail seafood sales globally. 

We built coalitions from Louisiana, across the Gulf of Mexico to DC. We shared our fishing communities' story through the media and to the world. We marketed and restored billions in lost sales.

We never let up on the gas pedal.

When faced with life at that  level of intensity, there's no option but to pour every ounce of your heart and soul into it to overcome and thrive again – twice. 

This journey certainly hasn’t been a straight line, but ever since that “ulcer” moment, I’ve been fortunate to find my purpose serving entrepreneurs. 

Today I believe this with all my heart...It's in finding our purpose we find our joy and fulfillment.

This isn't fluff...that mindset is what literally got me and our team through a string of crisis events (I failed to mention Hurricanes Rita, Gustav and Ike squeezed between Katrina and BP)  knowing I was serving something larger than myself.

I like to say crisis provides clarity.

Your next move...

No matter which direction you go from this point forward, I’m clearly a strong advocate for you finding the “thing” that pulls you out the sheets in the morning. 

Candidly, you deserve that....I'm not promising easy or comfortable.

That simple mindset of "feeding your soul" will serve you well finding fulfillment and joy as you make your next move, be it a job, starting a business or investing in the right franchise. That's the one that feeds your soul.

I wish you the best on your journey.

Make it a great day!

P.S. Feeding your soul takes courage. Allowing ourselves to drift doesn't.

We'll find genuine fulfillment through hard work, no matter what we do. That's a fact. That's also going to take mental toughness to persevere in overcoming difficulties when others won't. That's what most understand to be true.

What's interesting to me is the Latin root meaning of the word courage is cor – the word for heart.

When we care about what we do, we'll thrive. I challenge you to find what pulls you out the sheets in the morning.

What is the franchise & freedom framework?

Just as reputable franchises use systems and processes to help assure mutual success, the franchise & freedom framework is used to effectively and efficiently match franchise candidates with franchisors.

This system helps eliminate the guesswork for both franchise candidates and franchisors, leading to better franchise matches for both parties. 

Learn more:

Click to see the franchise & freedom framework

Click to learn about franchise funding.

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