Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Teen Recording Artist CC Miles Talks Creating Music, Inspiring Emotions & Tuning Into Your Dreams

CC Miles is a recording artist. She is an experienced songwriter. She is a performer. She spends her days shooting music videos and delivering pitch perfect songs in a recording studio that has become, to her, a very comfortable second home. She is also the star of her school play.

At 13, CC is far from your average teen. Incredibly focused on her professional goals, ambitions and passions, she has diligently honed her craft as a recording artist for more than half of her life - so long she cannot remember the very start of her love of singing, creating emotion-packed lyrics and performing before crowds large and small.

Recently, CC spoke with Consumption Conversations as part of our "Artists Spotlight" series. Every bit as engaging and memorable as the songs she creates, this young New Jersey girl shared a glimpse into her joy of singing, courageous and ambitious personal goals to build a life in music - and how inspiration from her friends, family and herself drives her to perform.

When did you know music was going to be an important part of your life? 

CC Miles: It feels like it has always been there. So much so, I can't pinpoint an exact moment.

CC, What music do you enjoy listening to most? Who are your favorite artists? 

CC Miles: My interests vary widely. I love music as old as Don McLean's "American Pie" , Billy Joel's "piano man", and John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane, yet I am a huge Taylor Swift fan. I also think one of the best artists today is Ed Sheeran, but let's not forget Pink, I just love her music. There are so many more, it is hard to list.

Where do you find the inspiration to create your lyrics? 

CC Miles: I find my inspiration in my friends, family, TV shows and movies, thank God for Netflix, and, I guess ... myself.

If you could meet any recording artist, who would it be - and why? 

CC Miles: Taylor Swift, not just because she's big right now, but because she writes all of her own songs and tells stories that touch people.

Is it more exciting to sing at a small venue, or a big venue - or doesn't it matter at all? 

CC Miles: I enjoy both, but my favorite place to perform is down the shore for my family and close friends.

What are three ways music has impacted your life? 

CC Miles: On the just kidding side, I wasn't good at soccer, so I became a singer. But seriously, there hasn't been a moment I remember it not being part of my life. Music allows me to express myself and it enables me to connect with other people. People always told me to find something you love to do and I am lucky I found it.

CC, many people, regardless of their age, encounter in their lives a defining moment. A moment when they realize something about themselves - their passions, goals and even talents. Did you have one clear and specific defining moment that help set you on your musical journey?

CC Miles: I really enjoyed singing other people's songs, but I think the big defining moment was when I decided to set a goal to write my own music.

What do you want to be when you grow up? 

CC Miles: I would like to be an artist that continues to create music that people can relate to and that inspires them.

Who do you want to be when you grow up? 

CC Miles: I would like to be a unique artist, to never forget where I come from, and be grateful for everyone who has helped me.

Who are you - right now? 

CC Miles: I am a developing artist who has learned that you have to put the time in if you wish to accomplish your goals and dreams. I am busy putting the time in.

CC, what is your favorite place in the world?

CC Miles: My favorite place in the world is down the shore, in the summer with my cousins, eating buffalo chicken dip, and talking about all the things we've done all year since we haven't seen each other since the last summer.

What is your favorite place to express your creativity - where do your lyrics come alive?

CC Miles: In my room, when it's just me...and my guitar.

CC, you have worked so hard to build the foundation for your life in music. What advice can you give to other young people who are on their own journeys toward realizing their dreams?

CC Miles: My advice would be if you really love something, and you want to get good at it, ask for and accept help and put the time in.

Friday, January 23, 2015

The Inspirational Jen Croneberger Talks Awareness, Confidence & Doing What You Think You Can't

Do you know Jen Croneberger? Jen is a widely sought-after speaker for corporations, schools and universities, organizations and teams alike. She was the CEO/Founder of Excellence Training Camps, Inc. and is currently the president of JLynne Consulting Group - most of her last 10 years have been spent working with people of all ages, from all walks of life, instilling confidence and building deeper connections and awareness.

Jen was consulted by MTV’s show “MADE” as a mental skills/fear coach for one of its subjects in the Fall of 2007. She has also been interviewed on four different occasions by Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate, Channel 6 Action News and was selected by the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry as the 2009 Female Business Leader of the Year.

Recently, Jen kicked off the Pyramid Club Philadelphia's "Leadership Playbook" series, hosted by CJ DiRoma and Station Avenue Productions, a division of Asterism Group. Leadership Playbook is an ongoing series - launching out of the gates with the five-session experience led by Jen Croneberger. Leadership Playbook is an elite networking opportunity for professionals, executives and corporate leadership, focusing on leadership qualities, skills and success strategies.

Jen's motivational message has transformed the lives of many - inspiring people to believe in their own abilities. What words of wisdom are cornerstones of Jen's philosophy? Let's find out!

Jen, you are a widely sought-after speaker for corporations, schools and universities, organizations and even teams. People look to you for help and inspiration with building confidence and deeper connections and awareness. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the awesomeness - and significance - of what you bring to the lives of so many diverse people?

Jen Croneberger: I have a very relaxed way about what I do. If not, I may feel pressure :-)… Honestly though, I feel I was called to affect lives. My purpose is to deliver a message… and I believe I am just the messenger. I LOVE what I do, and am so humbled and grateful when I come home to beautiful and loving emails of gratitude. I am blessed to be able to have found my passion. I simply look at my job as one who can bring people to the mirror, it’s up to them to see what’s really there.

Tell us about The Five Words.

Jen Croneberger: The five words started about six or seven years ago in a conversation with a pro baseball player. He asked for a few words to take with him on the first day of spring training that season. I asked him why he played. He responded because he loves it. So his mantra that day became For love of the game…” The next day I gave him another that also happened to be 5 words. I decided there must be something to that. When I worked with the professional softball team shortly after that, I brought five words each game and posted them next to the door on the way out of the locker room. It stuck… That became my trademark. Every blog title is five words, every chapter title of my book also five words, every time I speak I use five words to wrap my topic around… It has become my way of focusing on something each day. A mantra is a great way to make each day really count. Mine just always happen to be five words.

For parents, there is always the hope that we are raising confident and aware young people. Any suggestions on how parents can look for indicators that their children may be having issues in these areas - particularly in the area of confidence - and how best to address any issues that may be present?

Jen Croneberger: This is a tough topic. I have found it to be very difficult to break through that confidence issue at times, and other times it seems simple. I look for a kid who doesn’t make eye contact… someone who doesn’t speak much unless spoken to. Not to be confused with just being shy or an introvert… sometimes however, the shy, quiet kids, they often suffer from low confidence or self-esteem. My mom always told me to stand up tall. I hated it. I didn’t want to stand out, and hated being tall… However, I realized quickly that so much of confidence starts physically. We can help kids start there. Ask questions. I can’t tell you how often I hear parents ask me how to find out what’s going on with their kid. I always ask this one question…. “Did you ask her/him?” And often, the answer is no. Talk to them… keep letting them know that they are always enough. They may just start to believe it.

Jen, how best would you describe yourself? Say, in five words? 

Jen Croneberger: Passionate, Loving, Aware, Brave, Authentic.

There are some people that may not realize you are a life-long athlete, having held numerous sports coaching positions, including the head softball coach at Unionville High School, assistant and head softball coach at Ursinus College and the Mental Game Coach for the (NPF) Women’s Professional Softball Team, The Philadelphia Force. How is inspiring athletes to be their best different from inspiring the masses - the executives, students, professionals, community groups? Is there a different way of captivating and motivating athletes to be more confidant - or are we really just all the same, regardless of our abilities on the fields, courts or rinks?

Jen Croneberger: I have found, from seven-year-old children to pro athletes to 65-year-old tennis players…. we all deal with the same "stuff.” Whether it’s confidence or perfectionism or fear of failure and/or success… it’s all the same stuff. And it spans from the classroom to the boardroom to the delivery room to the locker room. How we manage our emotions and fears and understand that the process is more important than the outcome, will always be present in any aspect of our lives. I believe that it is the thread that binds us all together. And it’s the inner core of who we are, whether we then spend time on a court or in a courtroom… these are concepts at the core of all human beings.

Jen, what's one of your proudest professional moments?

Jen Croneberger: Can I give you five? :-) Being given the Female Business Leader of the Year award in 2009, cutting the ribbon on my 20k sq ft training facility in 2007, Stepping foot on the TEDx stage for the first time, Being interviewed by 6ABC Action News for the first time, and holding my first book for the first time. Sorry… couldn’t pick just one that created my story.

Why do you think so many people are lacking pride in their achievements and accomplishments? Is it an issue of awareness?

Jen Croneberger: It’s an issue of perspective. #ComeTouchMySideOfTheElephant. It’s all in the way we see things. Most people see only what their minds allow them to see, and when they are lacking confidence and purpose, they see just the negative and we all know we get what we focus on. When they walk around the other side of the elephant they can see and feel totally different things. Focus on the positive we get more positive. it’s that simple.

Do you ever get emotionally drained trying to uplift and inspire others to accept and celebrate their achievements - and their unique contributions and talents?

Jen Croneberger: Yes. And if I didn’t, I would know I didn’t leave it all on the field. I give 100% of what is in my tank every where I go. If I am not exhausted when I get on the plane or hit my pillow at night, I didn’t do enough.

Jen, what is the one PRIMARY thing that stops people in their tracks, when it comes to achieving success in their goals?

Jen Croneberger: Fear in the form of doubt. Think of the 7 year old… we believed we could be and do anything. We were fearless. That is innate. We aren’t born in fear, we learn it. We don’t doubt we can walk when we fall down as a toddler, we don’t know any better… so we get up and keep moving. Then as we get older, doubt and fear take over… We start to focus on negative.

If we would just take one step in the path of where we want to go…. JUST ONE… and then tomorrow we realize we can take another. And now we are two steps toward our goal. And then the next day we add a step… and now we know we can take three, it’s life changing.

This is the Kaizen Philosophy…. consistent improvement. One step at a time until you realize you are where you wanted to go. It’s how I have started to run. If you know me, you know I have HATED to run distances over a mile all of my life…I told myself I can’t. I can’t run more than a mile... until now. How have I done it? We can do anything hard, really hard, for one minute. And then another. When I run, I run to the next telephone pole… then I tell myself I can go to the next one. When we just add one more each time, we win. JUST TAKE THE FIRST STEP. We don’t know how far we can go until we go there.

Final thought: If you could spread a message of inspiration and motivation to every person right now, what would it be - and what would you hashtag it?

Jen Croneberger: YES, you can. That thing you thought you couldn’t do. We tell ourselves stories. We say we can’t when we really just don’t know if we can. My own story has unfolded that way. Yes…. I can. And I did. #ICantToIDid

Want more Jen? 

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Want to know more about Leadership Playbook?

For more information about Jen's sessions, starting January 2015, with The Pyramid Club in Philadelphia's "Leadership Playbook" series, organized by Asterism Group in cooperation with Station Avenue Productions, see this press release! Leadership Playbook, hosted at the Pyramid Club, is a presentation by CJ DiRoma, President of Station Avenue Productions and Chair of the Pyramid Club Sports Committee, in conjunction with the Pyramid Club.

Leadership Playbook is an ongoing series - launching out of the gates with the five-session experience led by Jen Croneberger. Leadership Playbook is an elite networking opportunity for professionals, executives and corporate leadership, focusing on leadership qualities, skills and success strategies.