One Degree of Separation - Preview

– Bonnie Stevens, Editor & Creative Consultant

Author, entrepreneur, international business speaker and educator Lori Anna Harrison is the president and founder of DLP Marketing. Born and raised in the mountains of Northern Arizona, Lori’s zeal for adventure and eagerness to explore calculated risks have taken her all over the globe, sailing across the world’s oceans on uber-opulent yachts and working for such varied and esteemed organizations and people as accounting giant Arthur Andersen, real estate developer Shea Homes and movie mogul Steven Spielberg. Lori’s passion for helping others create wealth and her commitment to the six pillars of success make this seasoned professional a refreshing and inspirational voice in the boardroom, on campus or hiking a forest trail. Down-to-earth, yet zazzi with style, Lori will feel like your mentor, big sister, tour guide and best friend when you get to know her and her wildly successful entrepreneurial friends in One Degree of Separation.

LORI ANNA HARRISON

MEET YOUR AUTHOR

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magine doing what you love, surrounding yourself with people you admire, earning more than you ever thought possible, supporting organizations that are changing the world and embracing a universal connection.

In One Degree of Separation, Lori Anna Harrison offers a glimpse into the fascinating lives of exceedingly successful entrepreneurs. Through skillful storytelling, readers will feel the ocean spray from the bow of lavish yachts, enjoy the urban living work/play vibe from the vantage point of a luxury high-rise, be memorized by rare and beautiful gems, and experience the rush from the soft leather seat of a custom, high-end motorcycle alongside Keanu Reeves. Harrison and the other featured entrepreneurs who are leading their best lives and contributing generously to their communities weren’t necessarily born lucky. What they have in common is a commitment to six pillars of success: excellence, an entrepreneurial spirit, philanthropy, higher education, spirituality and their network. One Degree of Separation reveals the power of a bachelor’s degree and a block-by-block roadmap to speed from ordinary to extraordinary. Get ready to turn up the heat on your personal and professional thermostat. Your best life is just a degree away.

ONE DEGREE OF SEPARATION

THE INSIDE

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BY LORI ANNA HARRISON

This book is dedicated to my parents, Bob and Lisa Harrison.

Thank you for always believing in me.

For providing me space so that I could explore – and enjoy entirely too much fun travelling the world.

Please skip the part where I get fired for shenanigans. And any other parts you didn’t know about that I’ve kept carefully hidden since youth.

Your sacrifices made it so college was not optional but rather a great expectation – and once again provided.

So. Much. Fun. With all my love.

Significance of One Degree There is really only one degree of separation between us and others, as humans we are intrinsically intertwined in the tapestry of life. One degree also represents a diploma in hand – crossing the stage to commence on the beautiful journey of life. There is just one degree of separation between where we are and where we want to go – that degree being the potential that lies dormant inside yet is bubbling up towards the surface as we stretch to achieve our goals and rise to the next level.

One Degree of Separation Pillars Definition Excellence: A determined pursuit of exceptional character traits and life experiences, guided by habits of high intention, sincere effort and intelligent execution.

Entrepreneurialism: The pursuit of passion through hard work, courage and discipline that leads to professional and financial freedom; the ability to grant your own wishes.

Philanthropy: The practice of cultivating a grounded sense of self by lifting others up, putting goodwill back into the world, and seeking ways to extend personal success to those around us.

A College Degree: A launchpad to limitless professional opportunities, earned through academic and social exploration, personal maturation, and exposure to new people and experiences.

Spirituality: Faith in a core set of values, a higher power or universal connection, often including personal and social responsibility, that guides decisions through both prosperous and challenging times, and instills a sense of gratitude.

Networking: Creating a community of likeminded individuals who inspire, encourage and expand our potential, nurtured through compassionate and skillful communication.

Table of Contents Preface Chapter 1 – The Pursuit of Excellence Chapter 2 – Lifestyles of the Entrepreneur Chapter 3 – Fostering a Generous Spirit Chapter 4 – Focus and Financing Your Own Endeavors Chapter 5 – The Act of Tenacity Chapter 6 – Lauren Ashley Cotton, Above Board with Cotton Crews Chapter 7 – Oh So Good Beer, the Hoppy Story of Jon Lane Chapter 8 – Kari Dern Harnesses the Energy to Become Spellbound Chapter 9 – Kayla Sharp is Rocking a ‘Just Do’ Attitude Chapter 10 – James James: Global Adventures in Service

of the Wildly Affluent Chapter 11 – Reinventing Indiana Jones: Eric Hendrikx

Makes Journalism an Adventure Sport Chapter 12 – Enter the World of Billionaires, Meet Scion

Rewant Ruia and Learn Chapter 13 – Sasha Spielberg: An Independent Island in a

Sea of Brilliance Chapter 14 – Keith Mishkin: Urban Living Evangelist Preaches

Passion and Purpose in Everything Chapter 15 – Aykut Ege: Honoring the Past, Building

Connections for the Future Chapter 16 – Guide: How to Become Your Own Boss Chapter 17 – Take Action Chapter 18 – Higher Education Equals Higher Income Chapter 19 – Financial Literacy for Entrepreneurs Chapter 20 – Inventing Your Extraordinary Acknowledgements

Preface

PREFACE My path to entrepreneurship and philanthropy has been one filled with adventure, excitement and also some stumbling blocks. I am incredibly grateful for my wealth of experiences, which has heightened my sense of possibility, humbled me and helped me grow throughout a life I can only call extraordinary. In addition to my own hard work, I owe much of my success to my upbringing. I have been blessed in life with a loving family who has always pushed me to be my best. My parents helped me from inception through college. Both my grandfathers were entrepreneurs and I grew up watching their dedication to their endeavors. I was surrounded by people making good choices, learning from poor choices and cultivating a spirit of tenacity through it all. These were my models in my formative years, instilling in me values that have helped me pursue my passion with determination and pride.

I know firsthand the power that exists when others lift us up, and I deeply believe that success is meant to be shared. I wrote “One Degree of Separation� to be an encouraging and informative guide that helps you reach your potential and go after your big dreams. i

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There is really only one degree of separation between us and others, as humans we are intrinsically intertwined in the tapestry of life. One degree also represents a diploma in hand – crossing the stage to commence on the beautiful journey of life. There is just one degree of separation between where we are and where we want to go – that degree being the potential that lies dormant inside, yet is bubbling up toward the surface as we stretch to achieve our goals and rise to the next level.

Throughout this book, you will find six pillars of success – the pursuit of excellence, an entrepreneurial spirit, philanthropy, a degree in higher education, spirituality and the power of a network – outlined and defined within my own recollections and the stories of my friends, wildly successful entrepreneurs. Each pillar is essential to entrepreneurship and the pursuit of an extraordinary life.

“One Degree of Separation” is not just for entrepreneurs, but for everyone. It captures wisdom and lessons from extraordinarily successful business people with impeccable character traits – entrepreneurs I greatly admire – which will help anyone interested in growing as a person or looking for a sign to pursue one’s greatest desires. These interviews and stories will provide you with insight into the struggles these individuals have faced, solid advice for achieving your dreams and the groundwork about how to get there. Within these chapters, you’ll learn how many of the individuals started from humble beginnings. Through diligence and excellent decision-making skills, you’ll see how they were able to become who they are today. I believe that my own personal journey is an ii

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exceptional example of what one can do with the six pillars that you will read about. This book is vital for all individuals seeking knowledge, encouragement and a path forward, and I challenge you to use it as a guide within every aspect of your journey.

So, please, put this book to work. Mark it up, take notes, highlight quotes that speak to you and write down ideas as they come! I have always kept journals, and each one represents a passage of growth. Use this time to illuminate your exponential evolution as you bask in the brilliance of the successful individuals featured. Throughout this text you will learn about each interviewee’s personal journey, including mine, and obtain a unique glimpse into their lives through exclusive interviews. You will find stories that have shaped my life, and lessons learned along the way. I found through writing this book that each experience I have been given has turned into a monumental lesson. These opportunities have taught me how to run a successful business, and I have no doubt they will lead you on your way to success as well.

Philanthropic involvement has always been a major part of my life. I was taught by my family to give back to church, charities and anyone who is struggling. As you will read later on, my parents have always been a huge influence on me about giving back to the community, even when personal means were tight.

With these strong morals created at a tender age, I was able to learn the value of compassion and the importance of giving, and I hope that your success will lead to more philanthropic endeavors.

Balancing the mind, body and spirit connection is my personal key to success. When reading, you will iii

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discover the value of maintaining a healthy equilibrium, and how it will help you achieve what once seemed unachievable, and more. We also must nourish our connections with our children, friends and employees. I encourage you to give back in any way possible. This can include mentorship, or just being there for a friend and simply listening. Sustaining these relationships is vital to your company and personal life. I hope, through my experiences, you will learn more about how to cultivate these connections.

My sincere hope is that this book inspires your personal journey, whether that involves graduating college, starting your own company, joining the workforce or becoming a better person. Each individual’s story will be different, but the common theme is that we all have to start somewhere. Let that development begin now and use the tools provided in “One Degree of Separation� to escalate that growth further than you could ever imagine.

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The Pursuit of Excellence

CHAPTER 1

The Pursuit of Excellence “Excellence is never an accident.”

– Aristotle, Greek Philosopher When I reflect on my life and the defining moments of what has made it exceptional, there are recollections of time spent with incredible people.

Yes, living in Antibes, France, was delicious.

Commissioning private yachts in Alblasserdam, Netherlands, was zazzi. Bartending to supplement my real estate career (nonexistent in actual sales but rich with characters) in Jaco, Costa Rica, was unique, especially my time on the show “Millionairios” with Jimmy T. These experiences make for interesting dinner conversation, but the pure essence of good stuff, the moments in time worth re-living in my mind,

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were extraordinary because of the excellent company along the way.

The spirit of excellence was ingrained in me as a small child. No, I’m not talking about the numerous times prior to kindergarten when I left the yard seeking adventure knowing full well I would receive a spanking for venturing beyond the safety of our yard, but rather the sheer excellence demonstrated by my young mother who made sure my sister and I had perfectly curled hair and impeccably pressed dresses for each Sunday service. Never mind that we were always late, even with the clocks turned forward by 10 to 15 minutes to make sure we made it out the door on time, because perfection takes time and the pursuit of it is quite worthy.

Excellence is defined as the quality of being outstanding or extremely good. Looking back, I’m not exactly sure what I was extremely good at – it wasn’t softball, yet I did receive the trophy for “Most Improved Player” as an 8-year-old. Doing homework, showing up and keeping a clean nose might be defined as steps toward creating excellence later in life. Now I look at excellence as the passion that is intrinsic in the pursuit of a life worth living. The magical elixir is setting one’s mind to something and then having the guts, or insanity, to carry forward until the desired goal is achieved. The pursuit of excellence, is important, as well. In my experience and in my interviews with successful people, excellence is not just about an accomplishment, but rather enjoying the journey that brings the result to fruition.

Another definition could simply be not giving up. It is always easier to quit than it is to proceed when the 2

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going gets complicated, or when obstacles pop up, which undoubtedly, they always do. Excellence is about harnessing the strength of character to overcome, not just to get it done, but to do it well.

Excellence also is the result of high intention, sincere effort and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives. Choice, not chance, determines our destiny. Being the best at something or exceeding expectations and rising to the occasion requires a measure of flippancy toward the arbitrary and laser focus toward the significant in pursuit of a life less ordinary, or simply, extraordinary.

Every day we all are given the same 24 hours in which we can create something with purpose and deep meaning for ourselves. We get to choose our path, our own adventure.

Higher Education is a Choice “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.”

– General Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State My path was not a straight line and I can really only connect the dots by looking back, but my creation is not finished yet. In many ways, I feel as though it has just begun.

As a small-town girl from Flagstaff, Arizona, attending college was essentially 13th grade in my mind, but it was also a choice. I chose to be the first in my family to graduate from college, and then do it 3

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once more with a master’s degree. College was many things for me, but mostly it was fun. It was an opportunity to live on campus, five whole miles across town from my parents’ house, and make all my own important decisions like choosing what to eat at the Union, what time to go to bed, and how many fake IDs I would get taken away before memorizing the zodiac sign and high school mascot of friends who were crazy enough to let me get a copy of their Driver’s License.

It was so easy back then, and I don’t mean just because we didn’t have holograms on our IDs, but so easy because in college it seemed excellence could be achieved by attending class and getting good grades. It was only in my junior year that I fully understood the correlation between class attendance and accumulation of knowledge that catapulted me to the Dean’s List. One semester.

Ok, so I was a gifted elementary student who quite possibly may have lost a few too many brain cells in high school by imbibing a few too many beers prior to graduating a full semester early. I don’t condone underage drinking, nor do I recommend graduating early from high school or college. These are important times to enjoy and be fully present. And they are about so much more than grades. To be honest, I can barely recall what I did with all my new-found freedom earned by graduating early from high school, except for perhaps more shenanigans with friends who also graduated early. However, the good that came out of it was a bond liken to sisterhood with Wendy and Missy in a tapestry of love that has transcended divorce, broken engagements, births, 4

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deaths, geographic distance, our graduations, offspring graduations, business acquisitions, higher education, tax evasion, foreclosure and of course, more shenanigans.

As Gen. Colin Powell submits, habits in little matters lead us toward excellence in big matters. Important habits for me were attending class and getting the grades necessary to be accepted by the Beta Alpha Psi accounting fraternity. One of the most important and very conscious decisions I made in college was joining a social sorority my first semester. In fact, it was all I could dream of that summer prior to starting at Northern Arizona University (NAU).

I Choose All of the Above “Your life is controlled by what you focus on.”

– Tony Robbins, business strategist, life coach After being kicked out of my parent’s house at 17 for missing church, and probably for just driving my folks crazy in general, I moved in with a couple of friends from the restaurant where I was a hostess. They were 24 and 27, which to me as a teenager was pretty freaking cool.

They influenced me a little, but I was already pretty wild when we all first met. Something in me always believed that life was a show, like living on a big screen or simply being in the middle of it all, not really in a braggy way, but just in a larger-than-life way. If life were a multiple-choice quiz and the last answer was “all of the above,” that would have defined my 5

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perspective. I guess I naively thought that you can have it all – stay up to all hours, get amazing grades, have multiple boyfriends, wear the latest fashion, dance the night away and work the breakfast shift without a care in the world. That was what I thought.

Until I got fired. For drinking. Too much. And, not showing up for my shift. That is probably when I changed jobs, or more accurately, when I needed to find a new job. I began working with Kayla and Ellen at a fancy dinner establishment.

Looking backward, as we must do to connect the dots, it worked out in my favor. Even though I didn’t like getting fired, the new job landed me with roommates that would help shape and define an impactful portion of my college experience. Since my parents hadn’t gone to college, we all relied on the support of friends to foster me in a sense and reveal the path.

Kayla had attended the University of Arizona. She was an Alpha Phi. Not only was she my roommate, she was the one who got me ready for the ball, sorority rush. She helped me select each of my outfits and taught me how to look the part. It was all I had dreamed of and I couldn’t wait to become a sorority girl – to join the ranks of those who had a bond defined as sisterhood, to be a part of something larger than myself, to have a tribe and an association, to have an identity.

Excellence for rush week was about looking and talking the part. I still vividly remember going through this glamourous recruitment process with Lynelle, one of my best girlfriends from high school. She had graduated a year ahead of me and we rushed at the 6

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same time. On the final night, we stood in the Greek dorm and looked out on the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen. I selected Gamma Phi Beta and it selected me back. I had met my sorority big sister, Kelly, during the process and from that point forward my fate was sealed in the best way. At the time, I had no idea that this one little decision would positively impact the rest of my life.

Plenty of people have opinions about Greek life, but for me it was a chance to broaden my horizons and meet others who came from all over the world. It was my opportunity to spread my wings and to see a bigger picture. I was not a big fish in a little pond at my high school. High school was not my favorite time of life. Cheerleading was fun and helped me stay focused and get good grades, but the social aspects were daunting and I made a lot of bad decisions.

The Impact of One Good Decision “You’re fantastic, you’re terrific. Your excellence is almost scientific.”

– Elvis Costello & The Attractions If Cher and I could turn back time, it would be to make a few, or many, less hard-headed decisions. If there were two paths and one was downhill and softly blanketed with delicate rose petals and the other was uphill and overgrown with prickly pear cactus, it’s as though out of sheer necessity I would have chosen the latter.

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But one good decision, one moment of excellence helped shape a lifetime of developing better habits. It would be wonderful if there were a time machine capable of going back and telling my 17-year-old self that it simply didn’t have to be so hard, that I had nothing to prove to anyone, or that the show could be fantastic without having to take the road less travelled because it would be painful and alienating at times. I would heed that advice. Since there is no such time machine, I am left with some valuable gifts: gratitude for surviving my youth; stories from a thornier path; and, hard-earned wisdom to share with you.

All of that being said, college helped define my character. The college experience offers an opportunity for students to enjoy freedom of choice and time to mature. Or not. It’s a time to be confronted with options and learn to take on responsibility, or to shun responsibility and postpone moving forward in life. Obtaining my undergraduate degree was one of my biggest achievements up to that point, a proud moment for me and my entire family. Until…I missed my college graduation ceremony. Yep, they were all there, both sets of grandparents and my folks sitting in the NAU Skydome audience waiting for my name to be called. But it never was because I never showed.

If we back up a bit, my first experience living out of the country was on semester abroad to the Netherlands. My folks didn’t have a passport and as such it was improbable that I would ever obtain one either. A couple of sisters in the sorority had been involved in an exchange student program and came back with captivating stories of exotic fun. It was my 8

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gateway to a new continent, an escapade of epic proportions. I was 20 and knew if I went to Europe, I would be able to drink freely, and my credits would transfer back directly.

Baby steps of excellence resulted in the grade point average (GPA) necessary to enroll. And although I paint a picture of extreme immaturity, that is not entirely the case. I had accepted a position with Panhellenic as special events coordinator and was being asked to campaign for the role of president the following term. If I moved to the Netherlands, I would not be able to run for president. Decision made.

Going abroad was the only way forward. Each choice we make has a ripple effect. It’s like sliding doors, mutually exclusive options that divinely land us exactly where we are destined to be.

While in the Netherlands, character was defined. It was an incredible opportunity to make friends from all different countries and become introspective on dreams and desires. Prior to embarking, I had declared my major in accountancy, mostly to make my parents proud and prove once and for all to the world how smart I was. But the funny thing about selecting anything based on the implied approval of another human is that no one really cares. The best advice I can give in retrospect is to follow your heart.

It is just as easy to succeed at something you are totally passionate about as it is to fail at something you are uninspired to do. Bottom line is, when setting out on a path of excellence, it needs to be the right path for you.

Sally Andrews was my marketing professor at the International School of Business in Groningen. She 9

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may never know the impact she had on me, but I can never forget. The paper I wrote in her class on Heineken beer was fun and came easily to me. I thoroughly enjoyed the research and crafting the presentation. Conversely, every exam I took in my declared major required a painstaking eight hours of studying to pass. Alarms should have been blaring in my brain along with neon billboards flashing: “Change to a major where the work is enjoyable!”

The takeaway here is don’t waste precious time proving anything to anyone other than yourself.

The internal struggle to succeed was obliged and ultimately, I prevailed. In fact, I was offered my dream job at accounting firm giant Arthur Andersen prior to starting my “second” senior year of college. Yes, I was a five-year undergraduate student, but who’s counting? And yes, it was with the Arthur Andersen of the Enron Scandal, the company that no longer exists.

Despite struggles along the way during this time, the most important task is to achieve the desired goal, not to stop when adversity strikes or the going is tough and frustrating, and the light at the end of the tunnel seems beyond reach. The college degree is a stamp in the passport that provides the gateway to open doors in perpetuity.

Honestly, attending university should be a time of enlightenment. It is possible to have entirely too much fun and still achieve your goals. As with most of life, the critical ingredient is balance. Too much of anything can be dangerous. Even good stuff. Too much water can lead to over-hydration and water 10

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intoxication. Seriously. So, prioritizing and being organized are some of those little habits of excellence that cannot be ignored. Of course, showing up is important as well, which would have been a helpful tip to my younger self prior to my college graduation.

But anywho, I had one such night of big fun with friends the night before commencement…and overslept for my 7:30 a.m. ceremony. For starters, what kind of maniacal college of business would set students up for failure by scheduling such an early ceremony? Secondly, what first-generation student would stay up so late the night prior and not set five alarm clocks and miss graduation? You guessed it.

In any case, I don’t believe we ever fully arrive at excellence, as if it is a destination, but rather it is a practice in the pursuit of and along the journey to create an exceptional life that will give rise to excellence.

Suggestions for achieving a life of excellence: 1. Find your passion. Don’t make choices simply to pacify other people or try to make them happy. It is your life. Change majors, change careers, find what excites you at any time in your life. If your choice isn’t to conquer a mountain of prickly pear, don’t climb it!

2. Prioritize. Make time for the big stuff. During college, the big stuff is attending class, taking notes, forming habits around studying, eating well and sleeping enough, plus having FUN! In

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a career, the big stuff is arriving early, being prepared and problem solving.

3. Choose your adventure. It is a journey, not simply a destination. The process should be just as rewarding as the outcome. I can’t stress this enough – savor the moments and enjoy time with human interaction. After all, actually doing something is way more exciting than just watching something. Get out of your comfort zone. Participate and travel!

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– Bonnie Stevens, Editor & Creative Consultant

Author, entrepreneur, international business speaker and educator Lori Anna Harrison is the president and founder of DLP Marketing. Born and raised in the mountains of Northern Arizona, Lori’s zeal for adventure and eagerness to explore calculated risks have taken her all over the globe, sailing across the world’s oceans on uber-opulent yachts and working for such varied and esteemed organizations and people as accounting giant Arthur Andersen, real estate developer Shea Homes and movie mogul Steven Spielberg. Lori’s passion for helping others create wealth and her commitment to the six pillars of success make this seasoned professional a refreshing and inspirational voice in the boardroom, on campus or hiking a forest trail. Down-to-earth, yet zazzi with style, Lori will feel like your mentor, big sister, tour guide and best friend when you get to know her and her wildly successful entrepreneurial friends in One Degree of Separation.

LORI ANNA HARRISON

MEET YOUR AUTHOR

1

DEGREE

I

magine doing what you love, surrounding yourself with people you admire, earning more than you ever thought possible, supporting organizations that are changing the world and embracing a universal connection.

In One Degree of Separation, Lori Anna Harrison offers a glimpse into the fascinating lives of exceedingly successful entrepreneurs. Through skillful storytelling, readers will feel the ocean spray from the bow of lavish yachts, enjoy the urban living work/play vibe from the vantage point of a luxury high-rise, be memorized by rare and beautiful gems, and experience the rush from the soft leather seat of a custom, high-end motorcycle alongside Keanu Reeves. Harrison and the other featured entrepreneurs who are leading their best lives and contributing generously to their communities weren’t necessarily born lucky. What they have in common is a commitment to six pillars of success: excellence, an entrepreneurial spirit, philanthropy, higher education, spirituality and their network. One Degree of Separation reveals the power of a bachelor’s degree and a block-by-block roadmap to speed from ordinary to extraordinary. Get ready to turn up the heat on your personal and professional thermostat. Your best life is just a degree away.

ONE DEGREE OF SEPARATION

THE INSIDE

O

f o tion a r a es p

BY LORI ANNA HARRISON