MarieTV’s 3rd Anniversary

Today is a very special Tuesday.

1. It’s NEW YEAR’S EVE
2. It’s (almost) the 3rd anniversary of MarieTV
3. Today’s episode was made especially to honor YOU

Here’s the scoop. A few months back, we asked you to share stories with us about MarieTV. How you found us, what changes you’ve been inspired to make, and anything else you wanted to share.

At first, we had no idea exactly how we’d turn all this goodness into an episode. But once we started reviewing the submissions, we figured it out.

We both laughed and cried at your funny, inspiring, heartfelt, and totally unexpected stories.

Your diversity, quirkiness, heart and soul inspired us to create the first (and possibly last) MarieTV Shoutie awards.

It’s a cliché thing to say, but it is true. Without you, there would be no MarieTV. Josh and Kuma would be absolutely sick of my advice (especially Kuma) and non-stop references to 90s hip-hop.

So thank you, truly, for being a part of my life. Thank you for helping us make it to 3 years of our show. And thank you for so graciously allowing us to share in your hopes and dreams each and every week.

As promised, here are just a few more from the hundreds of incredible stories you shared. Once again, a huge, huge thank you to everyone who submitted. We read every single word you wrote!

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1. Linda Lochridge Hoenigsberg

I have overcome so much in my life. I ask people, “What does being raised in a neglectful, alcoholic home, a placement in juvenile hall, getting kicked out of high school at 15, married at 16, motherhood at 17, admission to the State Mental Hospital at 18, a gang rape, abuse, abandonment, life on the streets, drug abuse, serious mental illness, the suicides of a brother and a father, a broken neck, and an inoperable brain tumor with one year to live all have in common? One woman: Me!” I started my masters degree while recovering from an extremely risky brain surgery, unable to walk, double vision, hearing loss, fatigued.

I had many fears about ever recovering, but I went on anyway. I have overcome all of this and live a joy filled life because of a wonderful husband, 3 children, 10 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren, a career I love helping others, and a new venture into selling online information products. MarieTV was the inspiration for my online venture.

I anticipate each new episode, and even if I am in my office in between clients, I will find the time to grab a latte and watch the latest episodes. It lifts me up, inspires my work, and expands my vision for myself and my career.

2.  Donna Knutt

I build websites and teach kids from underrepresented communities how to code here in NYC. One of the concepts that stood out for me or that I re-discovered after watching MarieTV was to focus on serving and giving. Often times we get caught up in the idea of growing and sustaining our business that we forget why we’re even doing what we’re doing. So when I started to think about my business from that point of view, things started to dramatically change.  Before MarieTV I was struggling with balancing my business and life as a new mom, but after watching MarieTV I have a clearer understanding of how to manage it all.

I came across a wonderful nonprofit organization, Black Girls Code, that was teaching young girls to code, and I was instantly interested in helping out. Everything about their mission spoke to me and I knew it would be a great way for me to make use of my web development skills while making an impact in these girls lives. I met with the founder at an event in the city and started talking about ways we can bring BGC to NY. Long story short, I now co-lead the New York chapter of this wonderful organization and have seen hundreds of girls go through our programs with a new found passion to code. Had I not made that initial step and got involved, I wouldn’t have had the privilege to experience all that I’ve had so far. I’ve met some amazing folks, and have learned so much in the short time that I’ve been with the organization. I’ve attended conferences, had multiple speaking engagements (with little to no prior experience; I did it anyway!), and my most proud moment, was talking about BGC at the recent Oreilly Strata Conference in NY (both a nerve racking and exciting experience)!

3.  Charlotte Smith

I own/operate a farm called Champoegcreamery that sells pastured animal products including raw milk (milk straight from the cow) grass fed beef, eggs, and chickens. Our raw milk helps hundreds of people maintain really great health, and also has helped many of them overcome huge health challenges– eczema, allergies, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, chron’s disease, colitis, acid reflux, and more.

I feel like I now have permission to be confident in what I do and who I am, and stop fearing that others would think I’m arrogant, cocky, presumptuous. Before MarieTV I thought – who am I to step up and be an expert in my field? After MarieTV I thought – yes, I am already recognized as an expert in my field and my field is just waiting for me to step into that role, own that role. I now get asked to speak at so many events I have to say no to some. I got a call from California (I live in Oregon) by PBS producers who said they heard I was an expert in my field and they asked to film me for a documentary (2 days filming on our farm, airing next spring). This was HUGE!! I hear Marie’s voice in my head if I ever have a doubt (oh so rare) telling me I am obligated to embrace all my gifts and talents and get up there and do what I’m meant to do!

In less than one year of MarieTV episodes I’ve taken my previously scattered efforts and confidence and focused it into this amazing, burning power that has helped hundreds of people. We’ve tripled our income in one year to well over 6 figures and I can help more people because of that. I also used to be apologetic for making money selling our products that changed people’s lives forever and they were grateful for. I feel great making money knowing I’m able to help more and more people. And, the more I make the more I give away and help those less fortunate in some way. Lastly, I am changing my industry. Becoming aligned with who I am, what I do, and my calling has opened doors for me to work on legislation in Oregon, improving the quality of the raw milk produced by others in our state, which will hopefully lead to legislation expanding the currently very limiting laws. People have been calling on me to do this for years, now I have the complete alignment in every way to do so.

4.  Berto Garcia

My wife’s all-time favorite book is Make Every Man Want You. Fascinated by her constant reference to Marie’s advice (particularly during “passionate” discussions), I decided to Google the be-jesus out of Ms. Forleo. I saw my first MarieTV video, The Most Dangerous Two-Letter Word for Your Relationship,  in Spring of 2011.  Ever since then, I’ve been hooked!

There came a disturbing moment in my life when I realized that I wasn’t happy. I became lost, angry, and eventually depressed.”What have I done with my life?” I would ask myself. It wasn’t until I consistently watched MarieTV that I was given the energy to get up and dust the dirt off my shoulders. Before MarieTV, my life was all about what I could GET. But, after watching MarieTV, my life is all about what I can GIVE to others.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. If I had a daughter, I would name her Marie simply because it’ll remind me that there really are loving, kind, compassionate, inspirational, generous, genuine, and overall amazing people in this world. Thank you, Marie, for sharing YOUR gift with the rest of us.I wish you all the blessings in the Universe.

5.  Jaya Marr

My husband and I run a small Mountain Guide Training school based in Patagonia and Alaska. Marie, you are a super classy very urban kind of girl, I live in a tent in the mountains for about 150 days a year. I never wear makeup and I seldom wear dresses, but we share the same kinds of dreams and the same kinds of challenges in our lives. I really like that, no matter the external trapping of how we pursue our lives, there is such a strong commonality. It’s pretty lonely being an entrepreneur, so I really appreciate being able to listen to your take on things and reset my perspective and know that there are other folks out there in the world going through the same trials as me.

One thing I have really struggled with is to step up and see myself as the boss, to really value my time and to understand the value of what I do. Before I found Marie TV my life was great, full, challenging, but I felt like a lonely little cloud without a wider community of like minded people, however after Marie TV I feel less alone and inspired that there are lots of other cool people making changes and not settling.

6.  Gilda Doganiero

I own a small wholesale bakery specializing in traditional biscotti. Gilda’s Biscotti Inc. was forged out of my apartment while I was still working full time at the Four Seasons Hotel (Philadelphia) in the pastry Department. Thanks to MarieTV, I finally got into a cage match with my “starving artist-i’m not a business person-bullshit rhetoric” and started to see my business for what it is.

We go to great lengths to make these hard Italian cookies. We use exceptional ingredients, deliver great honest service and employ several people with a great job. Once I polished this little ditty and replaced that old mindless chatter with this new one, great things started happening.

Sales have almost doubled, we have rolled out two new offerings that people are thrilled about, we are hiring for another shift and we are picking up new business left and right.

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Now, I’d love to hear from you.

Tell us your own MarieTV story below – or anything else you’d like to share.

Thank you, as always, for reading, watching and being a part of this incredible community.

We wish you and your family a happy, healthy, prosperous and blessed 2014!!

xoxo