Beyond The Book “Think Big” Podcast
Featuring Gabriela Humailo
Click the link above to listen to Beyond The Book “Think Big” Podcast or scroll down to read the text.
10 Easy steps to become a confident person
About Education and Self-Education
Education is not a guarantee for success!
The Interview with Gabriela and Mike
Here are the topics and questions to Gabriela by Michael (Mike) Calendrillo, Creative Director at Dicks + Nanton Celebrity Branding Agency.
Gabriela’s Message
Mike:
Gabriela, you’ve got a very interesting story that compelled you to co-author the book “Think Big” with Brian Tracy. Tell us a little about your background and what you are currently doing to help your clients.
Gabriela:
Thank you, Mike!
The Life of each of us is a very interesting and unique story, and I am sure about yours too, Mike.
In my opinion, our Creator designed us TO BE The Message of our Purpose in Life.
It took me 50 years of “preparing” and continuous learning and improving.
And it was a second turning point in my life until I discovered My Message, and I understood my meaning and Purpose in Life.
First, it came to me the Message while analyzing what I constantly did in life and the decisions I took that influenced and built my Big Picture.
My Message is
I Choose – I am not a Victim
I saw myself as a Messenger until a moment of meditation when I realized that I Am The Message.
Then, all the life puzzle pieces matched and unveiled an extraordinary Purpose – To help women and men transform the feeling of being a victim with one of a victor through their Power of Choosing.
And also to show them How to Think to live the life they dream.
Gabriela’s Background
Gabriela:
A few words about me:
I am from Romania, but I traveled and lived in many countries in Europe, like France and Cyprus, and even Nigeria, Africa.
Now, my journey continues to the US, where I opened a non-profit company, I CHOOSE – I AM NOT A VICTIM.
This company is the legacy I began to build, even if I know that it will be a long journey, but I dedicate the rest of my life to that.
I learned the “Life as a Volunteer” experience in 1990 from the ROTARY CLUB, Carmaux, France, where I was involved for two years as a translator for humanitarian actions in Romania. What members of the French Club did for those “unknown people” of my country marked me for life!
As a professional background, I graduated with a Master’s Degree in Finance, Banks, and Stock Markets.
And I collaborated for 19 years with ING Life Insurance Romania SA and 11 years with ING Bank N.V. Amsterdam, Bucharest Branch, as an Owner and Business Manager of an ING Bank Franchise, the first banking franchise from Romania.
During 28 years of entrepreneurial experience, I built six companies in different areas, all starting from nothing, then developed and sold them.
My other Certifications are in Life and Business Coaching and as an International Coach, Trainer, and Speaker Certified by John C. Maxwell.
I am also a certified member of The National Association of Experts, Writers, and Speakers in the United States.
I am grateful to Brian Tracy for co-authoring his new book, “Think Big,” and allowing me to express and share my message with the world.
The “One Choice” at age 4
Mike:
Can you explain that “One Choice” you made at the age of 4 and why it was Life-Changing?
Gabriela:
Yes, of course, Mike!
The story began in Romania in June 1968.
The doctor called at birth was coming from a wedding. And he used a procedure that transformed me from a healthy child into a special needs child and stuck on me the label: Physically Handicapped.
But around the age of four, it happened my first turning-point moment. Which completely changed my life path and the achievements of my life, as no one could preview or dream.
The statistics and the people named me a Victim for Life.
At that age, I had no idea what a “victim” meant. It just didn’t sound good, and the feeling was overwhelming.
One day, full of hope, I innocently asked: “Can I choose not to be a victim?” There was total silence. All were shocked, and no one could give me an answer, even my mom.
Then, MY ANSWER was a big YES, and the first smile I remember appeared on my face.
I felt so relieved.
All my instincts made me understand the Power of Choosing, and instantly I decided to use, as much as possible, my first Choice for Life: I CHOOSE – I AM NOT A VICTIM.
I said YES to I CHOOSE and NO to what OTHERS CHOOSE for me.
I said NO to a LIFE AS VICTIM and YES to MY WAY OF LIVING LIFE.
Gabriela’s first Life-Lessons
That Choice for Life transformed me and my future. I understood that:
- When I say YES to something, I instantly say NO to an infinite number of possibilities.
- And when I say NO to something, I instantly say YES to an infinite number of possibilities.
- Most of all, I chose to be myself and the Freedom to express my thoughts. Freedom is a birthright, and I dreamed so much of it.
- And I chose to surround myself with persons who respect and appreciate my values, including Freedom of thinking and expressing my feeling and thoughts.
Since then, I choose in almost every moment my future!
Then, I chose How To Think, and I won in the first 50 years of my life. Now I build the next 50 years.
Then, I was Successful. Now I will become Successful again. It’s a process.
I refused to be a Victim and chose to be the Victor of my life!
I was born to win! The same as You!
10 Easy steps to become a confident person
Mike:
In your chapter, I Choose — I Am Not a Victim, from the book “Think Big,” you clarify who you are and who you want to become in 10 easy-to-understand steps. How long would you say it took you to compile this information, and is it always evolving?
Gabriela:
Oh yes! Since the age of four, based on that Choice for Life, I sketch those ten easy steps daily because daily is an “updating” process.
Why? Because life is a continuous Change, and Change is continuity for life!
And choosing The Change is the supreme act of will, which opens the doors to an infinite number of choices.
You know, Change is simple but not easy to apply because it is a continuous and neverending process of small transformations.
And at each moment, we are the result of every single Choice made. And each Choice influences everything and everyone in our life.
About Education and Self-Education
Mike:
Education and almost all the self-education programs teach about “What to think” (generalities). Or “What to DO” in specific situations and “How to do it” to work.
How does your new program, Your Thinking Model, differentiates itself from the norm?
Gabriela:
Simple. Let’s think together:
What always works, gives the best results, and has the highest value?
The Original or The Copy?
The Creator and the Producer of the Original Product lives and transfers his emotions in it during the entire process of creating, producing, and selling. And he understands his Product 100%.
The Reproducer interprets to understand the Original, at his level of awareness, and lives and transfers his own emotions when using the Product, at a less capacity of it.
For example:
- When we buy a phone, how work an original comparing with a copy?
- How work a licensed program comparing with a copy?
- How much we pay for an Original paint/watch/whatever comparing with a copy?
The same is with Your Thinking Model – You are the Original.
And it is simple and easy to recognize the instant results when it fits our natural state of being.
Why?
It is because our Potential is not in our Education but in our way of thinking!
Education is essential but doesn’t eliminate us from the race to a successful life.
Education is not a guarantee for success!
And I demonstrate this statement by telling you a few names and brands that influenced the world.
Do you know WHO DROPPED OUT of school or college?
- – Albert Einstein
- – John D. Rockefeller – Oil magnate
- – Walt Disney – Walt Disney Company
- – Mark Zuckerberg – Facebook
- – Bill Gates – Microsoft
- – Sir Richard Branson –Virgin
- – Steve Jobs & Steve Wozniak – Apple and Pixar
- Founders of: Dropbox, WordPress, Coca-Cola, Best Buy.
Do you know WHO NEVER graduate High School?
- Founders of: Tumblr, Mashable, Spotify, DreamWorks, Twitter.
And do you know WHO NEVER went to school?
- – Henry Ford – Ford Motor Company
- - Ray Kroc – McDonald’s
And the list is too long to continue.
But do you know WHAT all of them have in common?
They have Their Own Thinking Model, not a Copy-Paste Model, and they followed Their One Idea at a time. But of course, they understood the efficiency of teamwork.
And through commitment and sustained thinking, they arrived to create Their Thinking Model.
Sustained Thinking or Smart Thinking?
Sustained thinking is like a trained muscle and is another way of talking about Persistence, but it is for growing your mind.
Smart Thinking isn’t as important as Sustained Thinking.
Many smart people have wonderful thoughts, and they engage for a day or two, then they move on.
But any person who takes one thought and is persistent and sustains it for a longer time it’s thinking becomes better than a person that maybe is smarter but didn’t stay persistent and sustained with their thoughts.
What life proven is that Smartness or Talent is not enough to win the race.
Do you remember Aesop’s fable with the race between “The Tortoise and The Hare,” with the typical ending being “slow and steady, win the race”?
If you look from the outside at the circumstances, you can easily make a wrong bet.
Why? Because Speed and Smartness or Talent without thinking of Direction is like a daily race in a roundabout.
The Direction in Thinking is the Most Important Focus in Life!
Why? Many smart and talented people are going daily fast, but nowhere.
The Action or the Result?
If you ask people, “What do you choose first – The Action or The Result?” almost 95% choose Action, thinking that a Result comes after Action. And they are right!
Just is A Result and not The Result they want! So they are not happy.
People have the option to Act or React to life’s stimuli.
But Acting involves thinking and choices, which means responsibility for their decisions.
And taking responsibility is what they don’t like.
Reacting is only a copy-paste response to what others already did and no responsibility.
Instead, if you accept the discipline of learning Your Thinking Model and persevere, stay constant, and follow the process, you inevitably become successful.
Until you don’t evaluate and update Your Present Thinking Model, you have the same results.
Being a Best-Selling Author
Mike:
Being a Best-Selling author comes with many unique opportunities. Can you share what is a Best-Selling author means to you?
Gabriela:
Being a Best-Selling Author is a recognition and a reward for what I love to do most.
I Love Writing!
When I write (by hand) – I feel God’s pleasure because He inspires me with those words, and I obey to write them.
Before writing, I also love to talk with God.
And I love words for the emotions transmitted by them.
There is only Pure emotion in what I do.
How can I help?
Mike:
This book is just one tool that you use to help people. Tell us about some of the other ways that you are helping your clients?
Gabriela:
Bob Proctor said,
2% of people think, 3% of people think they think, and 95% would rather DIE than think.
What do you say about that?
Do we see a “need” of starting to think?
And for any beginning, we need a coach to teach us “how to do it” to fit us.
So I am a Mindset Coach, and I design their Thinking Models with my clients according to their knowledge and experiences and present needs.
It is possible when they accept that Copy-Paste Thinking doesn’t work for them.
Why would they need that?
It’s because they are unique and have their Original Thoughts.
When you don’t like what you see or feel in your life is about how you think.
Why? Because “How to think” is totally different from “What to think.”
There is an old saying:
Do something different if you want different results!
But before doing something different in your outside world, do something different in your inside world – Learn How To Think Differently.
For example, learn How to Think for:
- having a happier and fulfilled life
- a better relationship with ourselves, loved ones, and our children
- opening a business
- having a meaningful life
- discovering your purpose
Let’s think together to some questions:
- How can you do something by yourself if you never did it before?
- How can you recognize an opportunity if you don’t even know how it looks?
That’s why we all need someone who knows it and did it before!
Testimonials
Mike:
I know you have lots of stories about all the people you’ve helped. I’d love it if you could share one of those with us.
Gabriela:
As you said, Mike, all those stories are about them. So I choose to let people tell you their stories.
I just read their testimonials.
One year ago, I was doing the same thing every day – trying to do only my responsibilities.
I didn’t know anything about happiness or love.
But I had a chance to speak with Gabriela. And she shows me how to have positive energy and the meaning of happiness and satisfaction for myself.
It’s impressive to think positively and how this makes my life more valuable. And now I am willing to succeed.
She shows me how to replace negative things with positive ones because anything has two sides, and I can select the good side and move forward.
I am proud to speak with Gabriela, and I respect the great effort she made for me.”
Loai Keshk
In our Life, we are looking for chances.
Usually, people look for a chance to improve their money earnings.
I had got my chance of life, but it wasn’t money.
It is the best thing in my life – to discover the meaning of Life from Gabriela.
She gave me the secret key to living happily in this life.
And she showed me how to manage any issues and improve them.
She also taught me how to feel and enjoy life and always be positive.
Loai Keshk
Where can you find me?
Mike:
As a Best-Selling author and entrepreneur, I understand how valuable your time is.
But if someone is listening right now and needs your help, what is the best way for them to seek you?
Gabriela:
They can connect with me through my website: ichooseiamnotavictim.com.
There they can see more of my life stories and experiences.
And if they feel that my way of seeing life helps their friends too and add value to their relationship with them, then they can share the “Secret.”
That means Friendship!
The biggest lesson from my book
Mike:
Final Question: What’s the biggest lesson our listeners can learn from your book?
Gabriela:
Audrey Hepburn well said my biggest lesson from life:
Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE. The word itself says I’M POSSIBLE!
And you can start only from where you are NOW.
You can be what others expect from you, or you can become what you wish to – Yourself!
Your Uniqueness expresses being Yourself!
Do you know that Infinite ends where YOU choose to stop?