Another side of me…Many of you who know me, know that my passion is to assist others to tap their potential and become the fullest and most authentic expression of who they are–to be engaged in life, to have healthy relationships, and contribute to the greater good in meaningful and sustainable ways. I am blessed to be able to do so in my ‘day-to-day job’ as well as in my philanthropic service.

Some of you may know that in addition to being a leadership development consultant, I also serve as Vice-President for The SELF Movement, a young and growing not-for-profit organization, for which I wear several hats, including handling strategic operations, community outreach, and am involved in program development such as our signature Learn Earn Give (LEG) and our new initiative Teen Safe Driving programs.

I was recently overcome with gratitude when learned I was nominated to receive the HandsOn Community Award from HandsOnJacksonville.org. It was both an honor and humbling experience knowing that I am only one of so many people in our community who make conscious choices to give of themselves everyday to enhance the lives of others. As part of the award process, I was interviewed by Ashlee Gaudet from the University of North Florida, whose enthusiasm and professionalism I admire.

I share the interview Ashlee submitted to the Times-Union here simply to give you a glimpse into another part of my life, a part of which you likely are unaware, but a part that gives me sheer joy–philanthropic service. I hope it inspires you and encourages you to talk to your loved ones about the value of conscious leadership and how our youth can demonstrate leadership qualities and social responsibility today. Enjoy, and feel free to reach out with any queries!

When Jennifer Connell was in high school, the opportunity for college scholarships and first-hand inspiration from community leaders were few and far between.

Connell persevered through college and graduated with a master’s degree in organizational systems. Two years ago Connell joined an organization called The SELF Movement, which is currently providing the kind of help for students that Connell wishes she had received in high school.Connell wished there had been an organization like The SELF Movement when she was in high school.

“I would have loved to be part of a group that was being introduced to real world leadership perspectives, opportunities for community service and the opportunity to learn and grow together with my peers—not to mention earning extra money for college would have been a big help to my parents and me!”

Because of her commitment to TheSELFMovement.org, Connell received the 2012 HandsOn Community award from HandsOn Jacksonville.

Bill Bade, a local leader in the finance industry, founded The SELF Movement in April 2010 in order to connect high school students with real-world community leaders and allow them the opportunities to participate in community service and earn scholarships. The organization was founded on the idea that everyone has the ability to consciously choose their path in life. “The ingenuity of www.TheSELFMovement.org rests in its simplicity,” said Bade. “It is a simple call to action by a small group of established community members that has grown into a regional movement.”

Connell joined the organization only two months later and rapid progression in the organization’s projects followed quickly.
Though she began as a volunteer, Connell’s dedication has allowed her to take on the role of vice president. She helps manage strategic operations, community outreach and program development.

Connell learned of the organization when she saw an online ad for volunteers posted by Bade. Connell called in response to the director position of the Learn Earn Give program, designed to develop leadership skills and provide scholarships for high school students.
Bade refers to Connell as the catalyst to The SELF Movement’s impact in the community. Connell assisted in the creation of what the Learn Earn Give program is today.

Since the Learn Earn Give program was established, students involved in the program have received scholarship money. Learn Earn Give has also introduced 40 high school students to eight different Jacksonville leaders who inspire the students by sharing their real-world leadership perspectives and experiences.

“Jennifer is one of the best assets to our organization, and her innovative, contagious, and entrepreneurial ideas deserve to be recognized just as much as the countless hours she has poured into the nonprofit community.”Bade said, “The SELF Movement provides a support structure for those that need it to make positive choices and an outlet for community leaders to give back to those less fortunate.”

Connell said she has been regularly involved with service projects and volunteer teams throughout her life. Connell’s volunteer past, prior to The SELF Movement, included delivering holiday meals to the hungry, bringing clothes to people in need, providing a home makeover to a struggling New York family, and assisting with thousands of seminar participants during personal growth weekend retreats.

Connell said two other organizations she enjoys working with most are Challenge Enterprises of Northeast Florida and ShapingClay.org of Clay County>.

Both Connell and The SELF Movement has exciting plans for the future.

One of the projects the organization is currently working on is a Teen Safe Driving video contest which partners with Duval County Public Schools, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and The Allstate Foundation. Videos will be judged on educational value and creativity and the student winner will receive $1,500 in scholarships and $1,000 toward public school improvement.

The SELF Movement plans to continue to expand by creating mutually beneficial partnerships between for-and not-for-profit organizations in order to further enhance student’s impact in the community.

“Overall,” said Connell, “we have inspired those who have participated in our programs to develop leadership and compassionate qualities to engage in the larger conversation about how to contribute to solutions in their community.

“I believe that one of the greatest acts of loving-kindness is to give to others without expecting anything in return,” she added. “However, when I am able to be of meaningful service, I receive a phenomenal gift in return in that my heart becomes filled with gratitude and joy! Indeed being nominated for the HandsOn Community award is touching and humbling because there are so many extraordinary individuals in Jacksonville whose acts of meaningful acts of service uplift so many people every day!”

By Ashlee Gaudet, University of North Florida

Share the impassioned stories in this book by women who’ve enriched and re-directed their lives to transform into a new way of being. Each author has experienced a major shift in consciousness either through outside-inflicted circumstances or by being inwardly called toward self-realized transformation. No matter the cause, the actions and practices they followed led each of them to a more integrated sense of wholeness and joyfulness of spirit which continues as they move through life.

Read these stories and you’ll feel their pain and joy, laugh and cry with them, and ultimately come to love them for being such courageous and inspiring women. In many cases, you’ll even see yourself reflected in their journeys. Women Living Consciously is a statement for life by women who chose to tell their stories and reinforce for others that the possibility of enhanced consciousness exists for us all. She knows this is possible, because she found it for herself!

Discover these Timeless Truths and Valuable Lessons:

• Rid yourself of the “disease to please” once and for all
• Recognize the diamond in the rough and polish it
• Know that your dreams have no limits–empower yourself
• Build your business to match your vision, no matter the economy
• Survivor and victim are two sides of the same coin–you choose
• Childhood trauma doesn’t equal a traumatized adult
• Labels are not death sentences, they’re just words
• How to live an authentic life in alignment with your highest values
• Spirit exists in every experience, sometimes you just need faith
• Release the darkness of the past and open up to your bright future
• Living in the moment is all you really have
• Love is the greatest elixir for all ills–physical, emotional and spiritual
• Fear is all in your head; living from your heart is the only way to eliminate it
• Maintain eternal connections with loved ones for greater peace

About The Authors
47 inspiring women including Jennifer Connell (www.JenniferConnell.com/WLC_Book) have come together to co-author this book. These women are at various stages and ages of life, they come from all walks of life and they have chosen at this moment in their lives to share their stories. Why? Because they know that in the sharing of their stories they will be freed to move forward powerfully in their own lives, as well as to inspire other women to free and empower themselves too.

Discover how embracing conscious leadership principles will have a positive impact on your personal and professional life.

Research and experience suggests that Conscious Leadership is central to a healthy and thriving business and personal fulfillment. Indeed we are all conscious leaders and while some of us choose to be intentional about leading consciously, others do not. Conscious leaders enhance communication, enhance individual and employee engagement and foster sustainable success by demonstrating three core habits. To illustrate that conscious leadership lives inside each of us, in this seminar we will stimulate our capacity for conscious leadership. We invite you to join us and learn:

1) The core habits of conscious leaders
2) How to prioritize or re-prioritize your goals and ensure they are aligned with your vision
3) Enhance your engagement in your business to foster sustainable success

Note to Listeners: This is an activity based presentation. To make the most of it, take a few minutes to write down beforehand the following: The five strengths you possess that energize you.

How do you know conscious leadership is the right approach for you?    They:

• Operate from a place of authenticity, and create effective results?
• Create a vision for professional growth?
• Identify which self-limiting beliefs derail your effectiveness, and stop sabotaging your success?
• Be more confident in your decisions?
• Foster creative problem solving?
• Develop healthy communication & more accountability with colleagues, employees, vendors, and outsourcing partners?
• Inspire employees to be more aligned with your vision?
• Influence disengaged and/or unproductive employees?
• Transform meetings (aka ‘information dumps’) from a waste of time to a productive use of time?
• Create or deepen your commitment to your values of personal development and business transformation?

To Learn more and Register click here.

Discover how embracing conscious leadership principles will have a positive impact on your business.
Research and experience suggests that Conscious Leadership is central to a healthy and thriving business. Indeed we are all conscious leaders and while some of us choose to be intentional about leading consciously, others do not. Conscious leaders enhance communication, enhance individual and employee engagement and foster sustainable success by demonstrating three core habits.

To illustrate that conscious leadership lives inside each of us, in this seminar we will stimulate our capacity for conscious leadership. We invite you to join us and learn:

1) The core habits of conscious leaders
2) How to prioritize or re-prioritize your goals and ensure they are aligned with your vision
3) Enhance your engagement in your business to foster sustainable success Conscious Leadership Secrets for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners: How to live in Alignment with what’s MOST important to foster sustainable growth and success

For more information and to register, click here!

Conscious leadership can have a positive impact in your business!

• Have you ever worked in an organization where there was a lack of or inefficient communication?
• Have you ever been disengaged in the workplace?
• Have you ever set annual or quarterly goals only to find it difficult to achieve them, or keep yourself motivate after a few months?

Well…you are not alone and you are in good company! And this is happening in businesses across the country. In fact, it is well known and documented that traditional models of leadership endanger business success by fueling ineffective communication, disengagement, and an unproductive workplace. As a result of having worked in a dysfunctional workplace with a traditional command and demand leadership approach, I have studied conscious leadership formally, and I remain impassioned for it because of the profound effects it has had on transforming personal fulfillment and business success in myself and others.
Who are conscious leaders? They are leaders who are embracing an emerging model of leadership called conscious leadership marked by strong relationships with others and themselves. This model encourages leaders to create conditions that empower and enable others to take on leadership responsibilities at every level of the business. You likely can relate to the fact that individuals have a need for a greater sense of fulfillment at work, at home, and in their communities. They crave a stronger sense of connection and fitting in, of feeling appreciated and whole within themselves. These desires when fulfilled, bear a strong resemblance to the qualities of an engaged employee. Entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and small business owners take heed because business leaders that fail to foster these feelings within themselves or among their staff encourage disengagement, and when disengaged individuals dominate a workplace, they have the capacity to stop business success in its tracks. Conscious leadership speaks to these very issues.

Scholars have discussed conscious leadership for more than a decade and multiple agreed upon qualities have been offered including:

• Conscious Leaders are “awake at the wheel … they orient themselves to both internal and external worlds in a continual process of self-discovery and learning” (Anderson and Anderson-Ackerman, 2001).
• Conscious leadership requires a change in mindset from one where an individual operates like an automaton, engaging in repetitive patterns, to one where one behaves with a level of awareness, with more compassion and respect for others (Farr, 1998).
• Conscious leadership requires integrating one’s whole being with the external environment, acknowledging the interconnected systems of which we are all a part (Carter, 2009).

In sum, conscious leaders demonstrate a level of self awareness, they elicit the potential in others and they recognize and honor the interdependent connections of individuals with whom they interact or conduct business (i.e., vendors, outsourcing partners, joint venture partnerships, etc.) When individuals embody these principles, they:

• Cultivate healthy communication;
• Enhance individual and employee engagement; and
• Foster sustainable success.

To learn simple strategies for leaders who want effective results and sustainable success, join us for a success track tele-course during which you will receive the tools, support and resources you need to unleash the Conscious Leader in you! Visit us and Register Here.