|
|
|
|
By Robin Sauerwein Janie Jasin says that these days she is trying to give back. She wants to give back for all the years of wisdom, living and learning she’s received along the way. Jasin is someone who can make you feel great about yourself or at least she is willing to try very hard at it. Not only is she an inspiring speaker, but her presentations speak of great compassion and joy through her own style of humor and music. It isn’t hard for her since much of her life as a professional speaker has been just that: giving back. Her presentations to various diverse groups, ranging from IBM employees to ill children, all have one thing in common: human revelations. Jasin started out as ’an ordinary housewife,’ but she never wanted to stay that way. In 1969, her quest for what life was all about led her to General Mills where she became a tour guide. General Mills was developing a test product called, “Counterweight!” Jasin helped develop and teach about the product for four years. During those years, she also double majored in speech and art. From 1974-1976, she moved on to work as a sales rep for the Dale Carnegie Courses. It was a great opportunity for her and she learned how to communicate effectively. But it wasn’t until she received a call from the Minnesota Tech Colleges, looking for a speaker, that her speaking career took off. She called her friend and mentor, Frankie Finch, who agreed to play the piano for her at this meeting. Finch was both a musician and a dancer. “She had great faith in me. We cranked out the speech with music and flair. The audience, weary from working on budgets, was surprised with music, fun and the message of esteem and affirmation,” she said. For the next 33 years, Jasin has been crafting and delivering talks to diverse clients and audiences like asphalt pavers, seniors, dairymen, electric power companies, care centers, teens, women’s expos and many more. During this time, Finch became an integral part in her life, accompanying her in her presentations and always encouraging her by saying things like, “Let’s do it.” And affirming, “I see all this good in you.” This has been Jasin’s message to her audiences as well. After reading the book, Born Only Once by Conrad Baars, MD, she understood how an affirmed person has esteem and can pass it on, whereas an un-affirmed person will seek it in substances, fame or in other places. “I wanted to look at every person in every audience and that in my look, touch, presence, I would validate their personhood. And that maybe would make a difference in their lives,” she said. Her speeches cover a range of topics, such as: The Enthusiastic Person, (for organizations who want participants to take away esteem boosters on and off the job); The Health Care Dance: Will you be my partner? (for those in the health care field) and Making Dollars and Sense of Your Assets (for bankers, accountants). The common thread in Jasin’s talks is the life experience and humor she offers in each presentation. Often she uses music and humor. Each listener finds a personal meaning in her words. That may be from her sincerity and her own personal experience that is wrapped up so neatly for each person to take with them. In 1979, she joined the National Speaker’s Association where she received support from people like Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul). “The best of the best helped me,” she said. When Jasin’s parents became ill, life changed dramatically for her and it kept changing as she uncovered new truths about herself, about aging and about life. Her father became ill first, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1984. He died in 1987. He was a dynamic businessman and when his health fell away, he didn’t want to let go of control. Her mother passed away in December 2001 after suffering from Parkinson’s and dementia for more than 14 years. As an only child, Jasin’s struggle was difficult and lonely. Both of her parents suffered from failing minds and health. She had no power of attorney, nor was she a trustee for either of them. It was emotionally taxing as well. She remembers her visits with her mother and trying to find creative ways to take her out for an outing, despite her mother’s failing mind. When she took her mother out to visit her sister for a day and her mother didn’t remember her, it was hard. But she said, “I learned so much. Just let it go.” She said to give yourself permission to skip a visit. “You are excused from visiting today. You need a rest.” It is so important to acknowledge that. “I took my mom to Ridgedale every week for 14 years to look at jewelry,” she said. Her mother could still name all the kind of gold from working in a department store in 1940’s. “I started to look at things differently. Emotions of love and connections would jump up when least expected. I would not give up a thing during that period of time,” Jasin said. Her best-selling book, The Littlest Christmas Tree, came about while she was walking in the woods contemplating the illness of her parents and the choices she had to make. “I saw a small tree when walking. I wondered if the tree would make it. With two parents and my own difficult journey with them, I wondered if I was going to make it. It is a story of acceptance and going on,” she said. It was published in 1997 and has sold one million copies. “People who have had to deal with trauma, after it’s over, they don’t want to talk about it,” she said. But Jasin knows her stories can help other families who are suffering and this has been her priority now to get the message out. A PDF based on her stories and experiences entitled, Words with Wings may help many baby boomers who are now dealing with caring for their aging parents. “There were few resources and little support from bankers, attorneys and other professionals who dealt with my parents’ affairs. I would like you to learn from my own experience. My parents were wonderful, vital people and their lives were a treasure,” Jasin said. A few of the things she suggests in Words with Wings is to: share thoughts about your Will, Living Will, family heirlooms, jewelry, housing and your wishes now and introduce your children to your bankers. “There are no lessons about growing old,” she said. “We watch others and often their lives are our examples, but many lessons learned are usually hindsight and that is 20-20. Going forward we watch, listen and learn but we walk on our own paths.” Jasin said that she has learned from others. “They are like shining beacons.” Laughter has always been important to Jasin both in her professional and personal life. “Humor allows us to share our feelings. It’s so inclusive. Humor saves the day many times. It’s a tremendous gift. I especially love the kind that takes over and no matter where you are it seems impossible to stop. That is the magical kind. As good as weeping to remove tension,” she said. Whether or not, Jasin will ever retire is debatable. “As I aged,” she said. “I heard many folks over 65 tell me, ‘slow down, retire, and do nothing like we do.’ I tried to do it, sat back, went into a fog and turned into a slug.” “I will not be sitting around discussing restaurant coupons or some trip where an RV is headed.” Her latest project, A Shell from the Silvery Lake consists of an audio CD and booklet with her voice, the sound effects of the lake, music by Mary Beth Carlson and a true story. Its message, according to Jasin: “It takes a lot of storms and tumbles to be discovered and cherished on the beaches of life. It is peaceful, inspiring, tender and moving.” Wrapping up her own philosophy in a few words, Jasin says, “See the goodness in people. Reflect the good you see and take the time.” Jasin spends her summers in Wautoma, Wisconsin and lives in Victoria Minnesota. She has been the CEO of her own company, Creativity “No Limits,” Inc. since 1976 which schedules talks, and workshops. For more information about Janie Jasin, go to her website at www.janiespeaks.com.
|
Janie Jasin