Some of us are natural MAVENS, like my girl friend Kate Northrup. If you hang out with her for two seconds, you’ll get that Kate is a glowing database of yoginis and coaches, workshops, must-reads, gotta-do’s. Her tribe expects her to refer and rave about what moves her, and Kate is thrilled to rave. She just can’t hold back.

Some of us are natural CONNECTORS, like Michael Ellsberg. He’s interviewed billionaires and start-up wunderkind. He always finds a way to get to anyone. He asks penetrating questions, truly listens, and gets a total rush from making introductions. He’s proud of going out of his way to connect people.

Some of us are natural VISIONARIES, a.k.a. possibility addicts. That would be me. Show me a living room, tell me a business idea, whisper a plan, and I’ll go off about furniture placement and content ideas and over-arching strategies. It’s a total turn on for me to clarify and magnify. I’ve been known to map out business plans and book ideas with strangers in the park — simply can’t resist.

Some of us are natural PROMOTERS. Like Eric Handler, the founder of PostivelyPositive.com. He started ‘promoting’ inspirational quotes on Facebook, and 2.5 MILLION fans later, he spun off a website that promotes positive story telling and teaching. When he says, “How can I help get you out there?” he means it with every savvy cell he’s got. And when he’s in, he’s in.

Some of us are natural IDENTIFIERS, like Terri Cole. Cole’s a psychotherapist-coach, and, as my mother would say, Terri can “shoot bad things out of the air.” Lucid, like wow. She can look at a relationship dynamic, or a business structure, or a repeating pattern pattern and bam, fwam, shazam, she can tell you what’s really going on in one sentence, in one minute. And she does it freely, anytime of the day, with anyone who’s ready for it.

  • Point #1: Mavens, Connectors, Visionaries, Promoters, and Identifiers are cousins in talent. They’re similar and thus often mistakenly interchanged. But it’s important to distinguish yourself amongst these roles so you can move into your zone of mastery.Which are you most often, most habitually? When you know which role comes most naturally to you, that which gives you the most joy, be more of THAT.
  • Point #2: When you’re operating from your true strength, you’re… thrilled. You get a total rush; feel proud; get totally turned on; mean it with every cell you’ve got; do what you do freely anytime of the day, with anyone who’s ready for it.
  • Point #3: Be discerning with your gifts. All of the people I’ve mentioned here aren’t willy nilly about doing what they do best. They’re successful because they’re mindful about who and what they maven for, connect, visioneer, promote, and identify. They throw their seeds on fertile ground and they’re comfortable saying no, thank you to low-resonance situations.
  • Point #4: Once you decide to give, really really give. Everyone I know who operates in their true strength and is intentional about where they put their energy, is incredibly generous once they decide to shine their light on someone or something. They give their all, because they’re coming from a place of limitless strength and love.

Once you decide to give, really really give. @DanielleLaPorte
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Lucky us.


Danielle LaPorte is the outspoken creator of The Desire Map, author of The Fire Starter Sessions (Random House/Crown), and co-creator of Your Big Beautiful Book Plan. An inspirational speaker, former think tank exec and business strategist, she writes weekly at DanielleLaPorte.com, where over a million visitors have gone for her straight-up advice — a site that’s been deemed “the best place on-line for kick-ass spirituality”, and was named one of the “Top 100 Websites for Women” by Forbes.

You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter @daniellelaporte.

Image courtesy of Anne Akers.