Finding your passion: no need to let a recession or marriage stifle you

April 19, 6:35 PMDC Marriage Advice ExaminerTonya Foust Mead, PhD, MBA, MA

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Concerned that you must throttle down your dreams in the midst of a recession or demanding marriage? Most research has indicated that a healthy marriage helps individuals evolve and reach self actualization, thereby achieving what would have been deemed impossible alone.

This week, Ms. Jo Parfitt represents the second in a series of interviews with experts seeking to guide others toward self actualization As an introduction, Ms. Parfitt is an established publisher, and distinguished author of 260 books since 1985. She is based in The Hague, the Netherlands. She began her writing career while spending 21 years overseas accompanying her husband overseas. We got together to discuss her three most successful projects: Career in a Suit Case; Release the Book Within; and Find your Passion. Please find excerpts of our discussion below.

Mead: Why are your books relevant to the lives of women in the Washington, DC metropolitan area?
Parfitt: A majority of the spouses residing in the metropolitan area are independent and have had or currently have a professional career. Many have lived overseas for a number of years, are returning the United States after an extended time abroad; and or they are married to armed forces personnel, governmental officials, lobbyists, and business men who travel quite frequently as a part of their daily work. My books speak to this demographic; in fact my books speak to anyone who wants to do what they love for a living. You do not need to have moved abroad at some point to appreciate A Career in Your Suitcase, Find Your Passion, Release the Book Within, Grow Your Own Networks or my Dates cookbook.
Mead: Let’s talk about Career in a Suitcase. It has been widely regarded, now in its third print?
Parfitt: I wrote this book back in 1997 when I was in Stavanger, Norway, because I could not find any English-speaking paid journalism work. When a local networking group asked me to talk about how I managed to have a portable career when in Dubai and Oman I realised I was onto something. The book is tied in to a range of workshops that I run too and, having sold out twice is now in third edition, bigger and better than ever.
Mead: What about Release the Book Within?
Parfitt: This book helps you to plan, devise, write, edit and publish a non-fiction book. It is based on what I have learned as an author, publisher and mentor of other budding authors.
Mead: And tell us about Find your Passion.
Parfitt: I believe the first step for creating the perfect career is to identify your passion. This book has 20 tips and 20 tasks to help you find your passion. It also has 20 case studies of people who found theirs and turned it into a successful business. This is an inspiring call to action.
Mead: How might we contact you? You founded a publishing house too. Can you tell us more about it?
Parfitt: My publishing imprint is Summertime Publishing and it is there to publish my mentoring clients’ books. I only publish books I believe in. I have also published some of my own, like my latest, A Moving Landscape, which is my memoir in poetry – I have documented my life along the way by writing poems you see. I can be contacted via my website www.joparfitt.com
Mead: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today. Do you have any parting words to help women and men who are seeking to maintain a meaningful career in spite of several relocations, absentee spouses, and the management of the household and the children?
Parfitt: Sure, your business needs to be the perfect fit for you, your family, your needs, your skills, your lifestyle and your talents. It does not have to be a huge empire it can be whatever you want it to be. You need a career that will make you want to get out of bed in the morning. If that doesn’t happen then you need to find your passion and act on it fast.