EP #125: A Spirit of Innovation with Diane Strand
Every person in the world has the ability to contribute to society and make a positive impact in the world. It doesn’t matter their abilities, disabilities, ways of learning, or styles of communication. We should encourage people to chase their dreams and help them along the way as we can. Some people are called to start companies focused specifically on doing this.
Diane Strand is an entertainment, entrepreneur, leader, and impactmaker. She has professional roots in acting and production which led her to start JDS productions and various other ventures as a result of her desire to help people break into the acting field regardless of their abilities. Diane is inspiring yet real and tenacious yet compassionate. You’ll leave this episode underestimating no one.
What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:
About Diane’s TV Show
How Diane and her husband work together
How they built their acting school
Why it’s important to have good people as part of your impact project
How disabilities don’t have to prevent opportunities
What employers can do to work with differing abilities
About Diane’s book
Why it’s important to lead with gratitude
About Diane’s creative academy
How long it took to write Diane’s book
How to describe momentum
How your gut instinct works
How economic development is important for business
How Riverside country was underserved from a news perspective
The importance of positive news in the world
Why thinking too much is paralyzing
How JDS got its name
The importance of starting
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“When I was 21, I got my first credit card and maxed it out…and took about all of 36 hours to do it.” - Diane Strand
“You can’t connect your dots looking forward. You have to look back.” - Diane Strand
“I was diagnosed with dyslexia.” - Diane Strand
“Another thing that comes out of second grade is my tenacity.” - Diane Strand
“I did my time in the entertainment industry.” - Diane Strand
“Now I see my vision and my purpose as making dreams come true and providing hope.” - Diane Strand
“I don’t do it alone.” - Diane Strand
“It’s been a long journey but it’s been a great ride.” - Diane Strand
“We are placing adults with developmental disabilities into jobs.” - Diane Strand
“It’s a slow process but it’s a real process..” - Diane Strand
“I love meeting people.” - Diane Strand
“Everything is a business.” - Diane Strand
“If you lead with gratitude you can also then do better for the world.” - Diane Strand
“He’s the show. I’m the business.” - Diane talking about her and her husband
“It just kind of spilled out.” - Diane Strand talking about her book
“I joined this mastermind that was incredible and changed my world.” - Diane Strand
“It’s cathartic for me to be able to pull these stories out.” - Diane Strand
“You have to get through some of those tough moments to get to the other side.” - Diane Strand
“Momentum is contagious.” - Diane Strand
“I didn’t go to business school. I went to school to be a video producer.” - Diane Strand
“I operate off of my gut instincts.” - Diane Strand
“I got very comfortable being one of the only women in those big production rooms.” - Diane Strand
“That’s how business happens because of relationships.” - Diane Strand
“Now I have a business that helps people break down barriers to live their career and passion in video productions.” - Diane Strand
“We put in our notice and never looked back and it’s bit eighteen years.” - Diane Strand talking about quitting her job to start her company
“If you think too hard about things you’ll get scared and you won’t do it.” - Diane Strand
“It’s easy. It’s just not simple.” - Diane Strand talking about starting a non-profit organization
“Pack your own parachute.” - Diane Strand
“Be grateful for the pen you can journal with.” - Diane Strand
“Think about if we could make one person’s life better every day.” - Bob DePasquale
“That hits home. I was a cancer patient.” - Bob DePasquale
“It was very emotional.” - Bob DePasquale speaking about writing a book
Resources In Today's Episode:
JDS - Twitter - Actor’s Studio - Productions
Spirit of Innovation - Website - YouTube - Facebook - Instagram - Twitter
Bob’s Book - Personal Finance in a Public World
This week’s E-Impact Blog Entry
Episodes Referenced:
EP #39: Understanding ADHD and Using it to Thrive in Work and Life with Ben Sklivas
EP #65: Impactful Experiences From The Inside Out with Dennis Moseley-Williams
EP #103: Socks and Social Enterprise with John and Mark Cronin
