Show notes
Genevieve Piturro ia an inspirational TEDx speaker, OPRAH guest, 5x award winning/best selling author, and founder of the national organization, Pajama Program. Her expertise is empowering leaders to ignite their purpose and inspire their teams and teaching others how to listen to their hearts, embrace the human connection and lead with purpose. In addition to OPRAH, her work has been featured in The Today Show, Forbes, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal, and she rang the Nasdaq Stock Market Opening Bell in 2016!Genevieve shares her journey from a successful television executive to founder of a non-profit organization. The discussion delves into Genevieve's early life and career ambitions, highlighting her drive to succeed in the radio and television business. In Genevieve's words, life in the entertainment industry was exciting, but it was a real workaholic life.A pivotal moment occured when Genevieve, questioning her life's purpose in her mid-thirties, finds herself profoundly moved by the experience of reading to children in homeless shelters. This leads to the inception of the Pajama Program, aimed at providing comfort and care to children in need. Genevieve narrates the challenges of venturing into this new path, including the financial sacrifices and societal pressures she faced, and emphasizes the fulfillment that comes from pursuing a heart-driven mission. The podcast encapsulates themes of finding one’s purpose, the importance of listening to one's heart, and redefining financial and personal success.“I found myself in a quiet moment, hearing something that spoke to me, in me. I heard it in the depth of my heart, which I learned later was my heart. It wasn't a brain thought that we all have, and I had 24/7. It was a voice that asked me, if this is the next 30 years of your life, is this enough?” - Genevieve PiturroKey takeaways:-Decide what you want and go after it. After hosting a show on her college’s radio station,, Genevieve decided that she wanted to go into radio or television. So she woke up each morning, picked up her rotary phone while still in her pajamas, and called every number on the list of radio and tv stations that she had compiled. She was eventually offered a job at a radio station that was owned by Group W, which also owned a tv syndication company.-Pursue projects that excite and motivate you. Genevieve was so motivated to find a position in radio and television that she was able to reframe the no’s she received during her job search as a challenge rather than as a rejection. And again, when working in PR, Genevieve was excited to call the press to get publicity for her company’s shows. She shared that she loved to see the articles come out and the positive reaction of readers to the stories. -Be open to listening to your heart, and not just your head. Genevieve describes finding herself, in a quiet moment, hearing a voice speaking to her from the depths of her heart. This voice asked her: “if this is the next 30 years of your life, is it enough?” She was making money, but was she truly contributing? Whose life was she touching? That voice was the first step towards the decision that would ultimately change the trajectory of Genevieve’s life and lead to the founding of Pajama Program. -Know that following your heart isn’t easy. Genevieve shared that she had to make some tough financial decisions when she left a successful career to found a national, non-profit organization. And she never regretted her decision; she says it has been the most rewarding thing she has ever done. She sees her mission now as being a cheerleader for individuals who are thinking of following their heart and making a change.About the Guest: Genevieve’s journey has taken her from a little girl's question in a homeless shelter to the Oprah show to boardrooms and stages across America. A successful TV executive, Genevieve dramatically changed the direction of her life and found her purpose when a 6-yr old girl’s question rocked her world and she jumped off the corporate ladder. In 2001 Piturro founded the hugely successful national organization, Pajama Program, and has written two books on purposeful leadership and launching a legacy. Her 7x award-winning Amazon best seller, Purpose, Passion and Pajamas: How to Transform Your Life, Embrace the Human Connection and Lead with Meaning, debuted during the Covid shutdown to rave reviews as its message dovetails with our Nation’s interest in the Power of Purpose & The Human Connection. Genevieve’s second book, Purpose, Passion and Moxie: How to Lead the Way and Leave a Legacy, a workbook to help you start a nonprofit from scratch to success, was released in September 2023. Website: https://www.genevievepiturro.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevievepiturro/Instagram: www.instagram.com/genevievepiturroFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenPiturro/Free resource: What's Your Purpose - an Exercise in 4 stepsBook: Purpose, Passion and Pajamas: How to Transform Your Life, Embrace the Human Connection and Lead With Meaning Stay connected:Connect with Laura on LinkedIn@Rotters5 on TwitterConnect with Laura on FacebookSubscribe to my YouTube channelSubscribe to my newsletterGet your free copy of Unlock Your Money Blocks Workbook: Your step-by-step guide to unlocking your blocks to financial freedom.Disclaimer: Please remember that the information shared on this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment or financial advice. It’s for informational purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.