Our guest today is the epitome of one of the Luckiest People in the World. Lisa Corrado had fearlessly pursued three different careers. Every change was sparked by listening to what her body was telling her and then figuring out what she needed to do. Most of us know we want a change, but the fear of that first step into the unknown is paralyzing. Lisa has the tools and tips to help anyone take that first step. She has done it herself and understands the hurdles. Listen to learn more. The Luckiest People in the World at www.theluckiestpeopleintheworld.com
Lisa Corrado: lisacorrado.com
Transcript:
This is Changing the Rules, a podcast about designing the life you want to live, hosted by KC Dunster and Ray Loewe, the luckiest guy in the world.
KC Dempster 0:11
Good morning, everybody. Welcome to Changing the Rules. I'm KC Dempster. And I'm here in wonderful, downtown Woodbury, New Jersey at the Wildfire Podcast studios. And we are ready to have a fantastic podcast with you. You know, Changing the Rules is about taking control of your life, and deciding what works for you and what doesn't work for you. And our guest today has done that in the most amazing fashion more than once.
Ray Loewe 0:43
Yeah. And she really changed the rules. And she is one of these luckiest people in the world who have personally redesigned their lives and then are living them under their terms.
KC Dempster 0:56
That's correct.
Ray Loewe 0:57
That is Lisa Corrado. to a tee. I believe. So good morning, Lisa, welcome to Changing the Rules.
Lisa Corrado 1:07
Good morning. I'm excited to be here. And I'm glad I get to be in the luckiest people in the world club now.
Ray Loewe 1:14
Well, I think you've always been there. I you know, and and it's interesting, and this is a good time to comment on this is there are some people who go who become the luckiest people in the world, and then they kind of fall out of it at times. And that's one of the reasons that we're here. It's it's kind of KC hates this word. It's like a rope of hope, towards bringing people back in. And I think that, you know, when we get into your journey, you're going to show people that you kind of done this multiple times in your life. And I think you said it's something like on a 13 year cycle.
Lisa Corrado 1:51
You seem to I don't know if I'm like a cicada. But yes, I seem to 13 year cycle for for big changes. So Alright,
Ray Loewe 2:02
interesting. What's the let's let's skip the mundane. Let's start with the exciting. So a while ago, you climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. I did. So tell us a little bit about this.
Lisa Corrado 2:16
So we, I would say when my husband was 58 or 59. He said, Do you know what I want to do for my 60th birthday? And I said no. And he said, I want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. I said, that's great, honey. That's terrific. Because I knew nothing about it. And I said, Give me a little information and get back to me. And when I learned that it was one of the you know, one of the Seven Summits, the highest peak in Africa. It was like a scary, dangerous thing. I said, oh, we're not doing that. I'll take you out to dinner instead.
KC Dempster 2:55
Talk about mundane.
Lisa Corrado 2:57
Yeah. And what actually happened was we, we he embarked upon a campaign that I joined in on to learn more about it. And as I did, I got really, really excited. I was so excited to see the possibility of actually doing this thing that he wanted to do and that I became excited about. So we did some a lot of research. We spoke with a lot of people. And then we said, okay, we're gonna do this. And it's one of the greatest journeys of our lives. No question.
Ray Loewe 3:30
And you managed to do this right on his birthday, didn't you? Yes,
Lisa Corrado 3:35
yes. So somehow it worked out that our climb wound up with summiting on his 60th birthday, and there is nothing was that we had, when you climb Mount Kilimanjaro, if you're doing it with a reputable trekking company, you have a lot of people with you, to help keep you safe to carry things, all that stuff. And this group, this crew, this amazing crew that we worked with, sang Happy birthday, it's so unbelievable. We have a video of that, and we play it all the time because it's you can't help but smile when you see this. It's just really something else.
KC Dempster 4:14
It's the memory of a lifetime. Yeah,
Ray Loewe 4:17
I don't think that just happened. I think that was part of Lisa's plan. And we're gonna get into that planning stuff in a little bit, right? Yes. Okay. So so you climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and I know you're an active traveler and you have all kinds of plans to do some other things. So is there anything that's that spawned this or is just this just a natural part of who Lisa is.
Lisa Corrado 4:44
We have always liked to travel but we had kind of a catalytic event happen that really spawned even more travel. So in 2010, I was diagnosed with non Hodgkins lymphoma. And I went through many months of chemotherapy. And then I went through about a year of recovery. And my husband, Fred will call him Fred, because that's his name. Fred. Fred said, when we when you are done with this, we're, he said, I want to do something special and want to give you like your own Eat, Pray Love experience. And that's the Elizabeth Gilbert book where she took a year off, went to Italy, India and Indonesia. And he said, You know, I want to figure out something like that. And from there, we realized, boy, we've really dodged a bullet here. And there's no time to waste. Let's get out into that world. So since then we owe our big thing is travel. That's what we spend our money on. And it's all we talk about it seems we're always planning the next trip, even as we're on a trip. And we've done some truly remarkable things. I mean, Kilimanjaro was great. Last year, we did, we were in Peru, and we did the Salkantay Pass, which was about 15,000 feet. So Kilimanjaro is over 19,000 so Salkantay Pass is over 15,000 feet. So that was a nice big hiking trip, that we have plans to go to Patagonia. Next year.
Ray Loewe 6:25
Cool. Okay, so we've established you as an adventurer. Okay, now, how the heck did you get from computers to there?
Lisa Corrado 6:38
Well, so I know what you're referring to by so my undergrad is in computers. And my first my corporate job was, which was 13 years was working as a director of project management for a technical division of a marketing research company. And I, you know, loved the work, but I didn't, I didn't feel fulfilled, I didn't feel like what I did actually mattered in the scheme of things. So I did a great job with my clients, I had big consumer packaged goods, clients who sold products like soda, and beer and cigarettes and things like that. And I didn't have their passion for their products. So it, it began to really weigh on me, absolutely weighed on me every single day at work. And don't get me wrong, I had a great corporate life, I had a great salary, I had a beautiful office with a water view. I had somebody who watered my plants, I had somebody who fixed my printer, you know, I had all the things that you're supposed to want to have. And I was so miserable, because I didn't feel like I was making any kind of difference. And it became like, I started to become sick from it. I had a stomach ache every day, I lay on that lay on the floor of that really beautiful office with my door shot looked up at the window, the ceiling and I thought there's got to be a better way than this. Like this can't be, this can't be right. So I spent some time trying to figure out well, if I'm not going to do this, what am I going to do? And I just did a simple exercise where I walked around my house and tried to figure out okay, what do I really love to do? How do I spend my time when I'm not at work? And I got really clear on a few things. One, I have a book addiction problem. I had just tons of books all over the place. And I also noticed I bought a lot of books about nutrition. So I thought, well, that's interesting. And I started to explore a couple of different career paths, looking into being a librarian, and being a nutritionist, and honestly, it came down to the availability of the graduate school program, nutrition, nutrition won out because I love them both. So I you know, as I was still in corporate, I went to grad school on the weekends and got a master's in nutrition. And then you would think, the then all of a sudden, I'm in my new business being a nutritionist, but actually, I was really afraid to leave my corporate job. Because I think I might have mentioned the money, the plant water, you know, and all of these great things and of course, security. So, so I, I waited. And while I was waiting, I got a flyer in the mail about a culinary school in Manhattan. And I'd always love to cook and it never occurred to me that I could go to culinary school until I got this letter. And I thought, Uh huh. That's what I'm going to do. So I went to culinary school, also on the weekends. And I knew that in the course of that I would figure out how do I pair this with nutrition? Because they made sense to me. I knew they went hand in hand, but I didn't know exactly what kind of job I was going to create and While I was in culinary school, I learned about the concept of a personal chef. And I said, that's it. There we go. So I finished my coursework work, had to quit my job so that I could do the practical work. I had to work in a restaurant for several months before I could graduate. And then I just hung up my shingle, and I was a nutritionist, a personal chef, I was a nutritionist for 13 years, I was a personal chef for probably about five of those. And I absolutely loved it. absolutely loved creating this.
Ray Loewe 10:32
Okay, so this is why we consider you one of the luckiest people in the world right here. Because when you look at your story, you took into account what was important to you and what you love to do, and you acted on them. And you were willing to put the high paying plant watered, office in the corner, the window view over the water kind of a thing at risk, and step out. And I think it takes a lot of guts to do this. So what were some of your thoughts as you went through this?
Lisa Corrado 11:08
Um, well, once I got over the initial fear, because there was quite a bit of fear. I mean, all joking aside, I really was afraid of leaving the security because I didn't know anybody who had I thought I didn't know anybody who had done it. And my family thought I was insane. Except for my husband. My husband was like, we got this, you know, so I left my office, my corporate job on a Wednesday, Thursday morning, I woke up and I was like, Did we lose the house? Fred said, No, no, we didn't we still have a house. So we're good. But I was I was really afraid. And I had a lot of people around like my grandparents were alive at that time. And they just couldn't fathom, you know, making this leap. And my, my parents are supportive. My dad always said, you know, it's really important to do what you love. And I also realized a few years into my switch. So when I worked as a personal chef, I would, I was in the kitchen all day, and I was cooking all day, and I played the radio, I listened to jazz, you know, I just really, really enjoyed it. And I realized that when I was a little girl, my grandparents took me to visit friends of theirs who ran a bed and breakfast. And I, I really, I remember standing in the doorway of the kitchen of this bed and breakfast. And this couple is listening to opera on the radio. And they are, you know, cooking for their guests. And they're having fun. And I remember thinking like, Oh my gosh, I want my day to feel like this. Like, this is how I want to feel when I'm at work. And it was really my first example of somebody who did a job that wasn't a nine to five job. And I must have just tucked that away because it wasn't a conscious thought until, you know, one day and at the same doing the dishes, looking out the window, listening to my radio, making some food and I thought, oh my goodness, I'm doing exactly that. I'm doing exactly what I said, I've created a day that I absolutely love.
Ray Loewe 13:11
Can we repeat that again? I want to like my day.
Lisa Corrado 13:16
I want to like my day.
Ray Loewe 13:18
Yeah. Because this is a message that a whole lot of people I think think about and don't act on it. And if you know, somewhere, you know, the name of our show is Changing the Rules, you know, well, if you want to change rules somewhere, sooner or later, you got to change. Right. Okay. And and I think this this bit about making the change when it was time to change. I think this bit a little bit about following what was kind of fascinating and motivating for you is really an important message. If you want to be one of the luckiest people in the world. This is what you have to be willing to do. Right? I mean, if the corporate job is great then stay in the corporate job, that's okay. Right. But but so you were a chef, for 13 years.
Lisa Corrado 14:11
I did the personal chef worked for I think about five when the economy tanked in 2008. Suddenly, people didn't have the budget to for a luxury item, like having someone come in and cook for them. Which was fine. At that point. It's a very physical job. I started started culinary school when I was I think in my late 30s. It's really young person's job, like you need to start. You need to be 18 when you're starting out so but I loved it and I was ready to switch and focus solely so there was even a shift in that because then I thought I have an opportunity to focus solely on the nutrition. And I you know, I did that for 13 years until it was time for me to make another change.
Ray Loewe 14:54
Okay, so so one of the comments that you kind of made to me during our Pre interview is, and this is kind of a precursor to where you're going is a lot of people said to you that you showed us the pathway out?
Lisa Corrado 15:13
Uh huh. Yes. So when, after I left corporate, which, you know, was just such a wacky thing to do, I didn't know anybody else who had left to do something completely different. meeting some of my co workers. Sometime afterwards, one of them said, You showed us that you could leave, you showed us that we could leave and do something different. And since then, I've reconnected with coworkers who have gone on to do completely different things. There's one of my co workers, he and his wife owned a bed and breakfast in Massachusetts, someone else became a police officer, which was very different than what we did. You know? And that's just a couple of the people who have said, Oh, yeah, I guess we can do something else. So maybe you just need a little permission, you know, I find this with my clients, sometimes you just need a little permission to do the thing you want to do. And you maybe need to see an example of somebody else doing it so that you can feel a little more confidence yourself.
KC Dempster 16:13
Yeah, I've always felt that we were sort of dealt a bill of goods by the Puritans and their, their ethic, which was, you weren't supposed to be happy if you were happy than meant you were doing something sinful. That's why so many people, I think, stay in jobs that they hate, because they feel like well, but you know, it's my work ethic. It's the, you know, I have to do this. And that's not necessarily the case. And I think it's, it's very hard for us, but we do need to learn how to let that go. If we're forcing ourselves to continue in something that's not making us happy.
Ray Loewe 16:47
Well, this is why we have coaches around. Okay, so enter the next 13 year segue here, Lisa. And I have no idea where we're gonna go with the next 13 year segue. But we won't worry about that one yet. So, so enter this one, and what happened? And where are we and what are we doing?
Lisa Corrado 17:08
So once I wrapped up my 13 year cycle, as a nutritionist, I realized that what I really loved about that work was helping people create change in their lives. I really love the coaching aspect of it, I wound up wrapping up my nutrition practice, because I was working with people who had very serious illnesses, and I got burned out, it became too much for me to handle. So like I've done with all of my changes, I realized there's something there things about that I loved, I can do something else with it. So I took that component of really connecting with people meeting people where they are helping them really understand, you know, what, what do you want your life to be like what you know, and I work specifically with women business owners, how do you want your business to be how do you want to be as the business owner, and let's help you get there. So. So it takes what I loved about my past jobs, and allows me to work with a different population and in a slightly different way. And the kind of, you know, so what I'm my, and I always tell my clients, I don't have an agenda for you, my agenda is your agenda. But my agenda really is to help them create the change that they want to create, and help them see that there's, there's probably even more possible than they're thinking. So I tried to help them think even bigger than they're thinking for themselves, because I can look at them and say, you can do this, I can see how you can do this. You just need the confidence and the permission. And, you know, the the mindset to do it.
Ray Loewe 18:45
You know, I think there are a couple things that you've shown here. You know, number one, you had this great job that everybody would love to have, except you. Okay. And then like the 13 year locust you have found at the end of a period of time that you weren't as happy as you wanted to be. And you went out and searched for the next thing. And then built on that, because you built from the culinary thing to the coaching business that you're now in. And I want to go back to one statement that you make again, because I think the business plan that you offer, everybody is I want to like my day. And what a great place to be.
Lisa Corrado 19:26
Yes, yes. And I, I might I think I told you when I first left corporate and I worked with SCORE, which is an amazing free organization to help you know, fledgling business owners. They said you have to come up with a business plan and I said great, I'm on it and the business plan I came back with was literally I want to like my day and they looked at me like I was nuts. You're gonna need a lot more here and I said, No, no, I don't need a lot more. I just need that. I've had a lot more What I want is to like my day Yeah. And that's, that's been my core business plan for since 2003. Since I left corporate, that it always comes back to that if I don't like my day, I'm doing it wrong, and it's time to make a change.
Ray Loewe 20:13
Okay, unfortunately, we are near the end of our time, and I want to hit a couple of things that are on your website. You had a couple of quotes that are on there. I'm going to start them and you're going to finish them, hopefully, right. Well, if not, you know, we'll go we'll work through it. But But when you walk up to opportunities door, don't knock.
Lisa Corrado 20:34
Kick that bitch in and introduce yourself.
KC Dempster 20:36
I Love it.
Ray Loewe 20:41
Yeah, absolutely. And, and this reflects your coaching style, and this reflects what people really have to be willing to do here. Okay, so it's not hell yes. If it's not, hell, yes.
Lisa Corrado 20:54
It's a no, it's not a hell yes. It's a no. swearing on my website, apparently, clearly.
KC Dempster 21:04
But it just means you're passionate about it.
Lisa Corrado 21:07
And I think it really speaks to, like you really have to, or I believe that we all have the opportunity to really love what we do. And if we don't love it, then do something different. Because there's so many things that we can do. So that's why I say if it's not a hell, yes, then don't waste your time with it.
Ray Loewe 21:29
And well, we waste our time, because we're learning I think, you know, we all go through this process of trying to figure out what we want to be, but I think that the thing that that differentiates, differentiates you is that you weren't afraid to, to do the research and then take action. Okay. So So, we're going to come back. Well, let me let me Let's do another quote here. Alice Cooper.
KC Dempster 21:53
My favorite one, the one from Alice Cooper.
Lisa Corrado 21:57
Oh, the Alice Cooper quote, yes. Never let a wake up call go to voicemail.
KC Dempster 22:03
I just think that is stunning. You know, of course, it's dated to because?
Lisa Corrado 22:12
Well, we still have voicemail Yeah, we
KC Dempster 22:14
do. But I just I just think that that is a motto. It's a motto to live by? Mm hmm.
Lisa Corrado 22:24
Yeah. And I said, that's what we did. When when I was diagnosed with cancer. My husband and I both circled the wagons and we're like, boy, the What a great wake up call. What a great opportunity to really just throw ourselves out into what we want to do.
Ray Loewe 22:40
Yeah, well, let's not hope everybody has to get cancer to get a wake up call. And, you know, let's let's kind of end this with with Lisa Corrado. And what is your email, or not your email but your website so that people can find you and we'll list this in our podcast note.
Lisa Corrado 23:02
My website is Lisacorrado.com. And my last name is spelled c o r r a d as in dog. Oh.
Ray Loewe 23:13
And And besides, it's not hell, yes. Then it's No. And besides, when you walk into opportunities, opportunities door don't knock kick the darn thing in. Okay. And last would never wake up. Never let a wake up call go to voicemail. And the most important thing is, I want to like my day. So Lisa, thanks for being one of the luckiest people in the world. You know, you're part of the club, whether you like it or not now,
Lisa Corrado 23:45
I'm so happy about
Ray Loewe 23:46
that. And thanks so much for being with us. And we're gonna get you on to one of our cocktail or coffee hour sometimes so that people who listen to this have an opportunity to meet you, but we'll talk about that going forward. And have a great day up in Connecticut and thanks so much for being with us and where we go next, KC.
KC Dempster 24:06
Well, given that tomorrow, St. Patty's Day I don't know
Ray Loewe 24:09
The bars are open.
KC Dempster 24:13
We have a wonderful podcast coming up next week with guess what an Irish girl. And so tune in again, because we've got so much wisdom for you from her
Ray Loewe 24:22
and say goodbye, Lisa,
Lisa Corrado 24:25
very much for having me. I really appreciate it and goodbye.
KC Dempster 24:29
Bye bye, Lisa. Thanks,
Thank you for listening to Changing the Rules a podcast designed to help you live your life the way you want and give you what you need to make it happen. Join us next week for our next exciting topic on Changing the Rules with KC Dempster and Ray Loewe, the luckiest guy in the world.