February Newsletter from Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc!

Hello and welcome to the February newsletter for Jen Grisanti Consultancy, Inc.

This month I'd like to talk about clarity and passion. Clarity of purpose and intent mixed with passion are key ingredients to succeeding in business and in life. I love the following quote;

All people dream; but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recess of their minds wake up in the day to find that it was vanity. But the dreamers of the day are the dangerous people, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.
--T.E. LAWRENCE

Now more than ever, many people are forced into taking inventory, looking at their lives and wondering what's next? In one single day this past January, the news reported that 50,000 people were laid off. It is no doubt daunting when you go from the very fast-paced life of a working American to having so much time on your hands that you realize you've confused WHAT you DO with WHO you ARE. By simply asking a couple of key questions, the process of untangling that assumption can be very rewarding; what made you love what you do in the first place and what are you most passionate about? By answering these questions, clarity emerges about who you really are - and it's not simply a job or career, and it's not anything that can be taken away from you; rather, it's a guiding energy that can lead you with purpose and intent through all the moments of your life.

As Donny Deutsch says in his book, THE BIG IDEA, "The American Dream is within your reach. I've literally seen it happen hundreds of times. The people who turn their big ideas into millions come from every conceivable background. They're middle-class moms, factory workers, college kids, veterans, everyone and anyone. Ordinary people - some faced with enormous obstacles - are stepping out and achieving extraordinary goals." Donny goes on to mention the key behind this when he says, "They share one thing in common. They were passionate about their ideas - so passionate that when the naysayers piled on, they kept shrugging them off, believing they could achieve their desires... and they did. They acted on their beliefs. And their achievements represent a revolution that's sweeping across our nation, changing the way business is done."

How do we turn our dreams into a reality? We approach life knowing our purpose and tapping into the power of intention as well as moving past the fear. In times like we're living today, universal themes and values become even more apparent and more important to remember. And the more writers are in tune with what is happening around them, the greater the experience for those who get to experience the gift of their words. With this in mind, I love Ambrose Redmoon's words, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear."

Clarity and intent are so important in story as well. What is the protagonist's goal? What are the obstacles? What is the turning point and what is the resolution? It is stunning how much more fulfilling story is when the above elements are clear. It is even more fascinating to recognize that the above formula applies to our own lives; for it is from our truths that we draw some of the greatest stories.

If you are looking for clarity about how to approach your career as a writer and are interested in the value of a one on one experience to help you reach your goals and get to the next step, please contact me for an initial free consultation at jennifer@jengrisanticonsultancy.com. For a list of my services, you can go to my website at www.jengrisanticonsultancy.com.

EPISODIC TELEVISION
GREY'S ANATOMY
W - Debora Cahn D - Rob Corn
I love how symbolism enhances our experience of stories, and Debora's use of symbolism in this first of a three-episode arc that aired in January was powerful. Debora and Rob both did an outstanding job of digging deep for the emotional moments that made this episode a stand out.

LIE TO ME
W - Samuel Baum D - Robert Schwentke
This is a GREAT new show. The cast is compelling. Tim Roth is brilliant and charming, and I love the flavor that humor adds to a procedural show. It is also enlightening to see how much our nonverbal actions communicate and how it can be used to solve crime.

TRUST ME
W - Hunt Baldwin & John Coveny D - Michael Robin
Love this show. Tom Cavanagh and Eric McCormack play partners in an advertising agency, and the pilot started off with a strong moment that clearly set forth the drama we could expect to experience weekly. We quickly see what the dynamic team is made of and how they both contribute to the success they achieve. The show is quirky and dramatic and different. I applaud Hunt and John for tapping into their own advertising experience to beautifully capture this world and the pressure that comes with it.

FEATURES
FROST/NIXON
Did you see this OUTSTANDING movie? If not, you MUST see it! If for no other reason than to watch the scene when Nixon, played by Frank Langella in a mesmerizing performance, calls Frost - played brilliantly by Michael Sheen - the night before their final interview; for my money, this was one of the best scenes I've seen in a movie in a very long time. It was absolutely riveting! The final moment between Frost and Nixon was poignant and thought provoking as well. The story is satisfying on every level. It is writing, directing and acting at their BEST.


GREAT BOOKS

BUSINESS
THE BIG IDEA - HOW TO MAKE YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL DREAMS COME TRUE FROM THE AHA MOMENT TO YOUR FIRST MILLION
Written by Donny Deutsch with Catherine Whitney

This book is inspirational on every level. There are so many real life stories about how people rose above challenging life circumstances to find great success that the book makes it seem easy. I particularly LOVE the chapter, "Why NOT Me?" The book provides website, additional books and organizations that support you in going after your dream.


ENTERTAINMENT
THE 101 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITERS
Written by Karl Iglesias

This book came highly recommended to me, and while reading it, I could see why; it's organized in a clear, compelling manner that keeps the reader glued to the page and on point. Karl achieved this by interviewing top-level writers and organized the book by the interviewees' responses to specific questions that writers can easily turn to for guidance in their own careers. It was inspirational for me to hear the stories behind some of these tremendously successful writers and see that their openness to their own stories rich with challenges and obstacles contributes to their success.

WRITER/YOGA RETREAT
Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc. is putting together a Writer/Yoga Retreat in Oahu from August 23-28. I am doing this with one of LA's top yoga instructors, Meaghan Townsend. You can read more about Meaghan at www.meaghantownsend.com. For me, there is no greater practice than yoga to find clarity.

The concept is to create a community experience to help accomplish your professional goals while taking care of yourself. Once the writers are assembled, they will exchange scripts; either television or features. There will be daily group and one-on-one sessions with me and daily yoga classes. By deepening your yoga practice, you get in touch with what is going on at your core. This is a tremendous exercise for your creative process. At the end of the trip, you'll feel more confident about your script, have a group that supports you and be refreshed from your yoga practice. The icing on the cake is you can write it all off!

If you are interested, please contact me at jennifer@jengrisanticonsultancy.com.


THINKING OF STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

I recommend the following resources who helped me;

Business Consultant - Alan Weiss - Summit Consulting at www.summitconsulting.com
I referred to Alan's books, which are all available on his website, to set up my business.
Website Designer - Suzie Roth at www.suzieroth.com
Copywriter - Robyn Dale Meyers - www.writingtotherescue.com
Photographer for Website - Michael Hiller - www.michaelhillerphotography.com

COOKIES
DeLuscious Cookies
If you're like me, you LOVE cookies. Well, I recently discovered one of the best cookie places in Los Angeles, DeLuscious Cookies + Milk. I had an oatmeal, cranberry, white chocolate and pecan cookie that was probably one of these best cookies I've ever tasted!

At DeLuscious, you'll find 24 flavors that will satisfy your desire for something extraordinary and keep you coming back for more. But you won't find any fillers, hydrogenated oils or corn syrup in their cookies.

You can order them at http://delusciouscookies.com.

RESTAURANTS
The Foundry on Melrose
7465 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 651-0915

Chef Eric Greenspan creates a chicken entree that melts in your mouth and the cozy ambiance is fantastic. You can either eat on the patio out back for a more romantic/intimate setting or up front where it's more casual. And jazz music on the weekends is a fabulous bonus.

NETWORKING
Friday Night Drinks is a networking group I started that meets the first Friday of every month at the X Bar at the Century Plaza Hotel at 2025 Ave. of the Stars.

The February mixer was INCREDIBLE! It was one of the biggest turn outs for this event despite the rain, making it clear just how important networking and cultivating relationships are right now. It's time to ban together. This provides you with the opportunity; it's up to you to take it!

The next Friday Night Drinks is Friday March 6, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. at the X Bar.

I would like to recommend another event called;
Strategy for Actors and Filmmakers February: Building Your Network of Supporters
DATE: Thursday, February 12th (Van Nuys)
TIME: 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Kimberly Jentzen's Studio in Van Nuys
RSVP: www.strategycoaching.info
Check out the website. This promises to be a terrific group experience about inspiring you to move past your barriers and make your dreams a reality.

EVENTS
I went to an event last week put on by the Writers Guild Foundation called Beyond Words. It was PHENOMENAL. The moderator was Judd Apatow with panelists, Simon Beaufoy (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE), Dustin Lance Black (MILK), Tom McCarthy (THE VISITOR), Jonathan Nolan (DARK KNIGHT) and Eric Roth (THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON).

The Writers Guild Foundation has a program called Writers on Writing. Their next event is
DIABLO CODY (THE UNITED STATES OF TARA, JUNO)
Thursday February 26, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. at the WGAW (7000 W. Third St.)
I got to hear Michael Patrick King (SEX AND THE CITY) speak via this program and he was HYSTERICAL. I loved it!

To order tickets for Diablo Cody and other events, go to www.wgfoundation.org

Have a GREAT month!


QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
Rumi


Love,

Jen

www.jengrisanticonsultancy.com
Developing From Within
website by Suzie Roth Design