by Mella Noir | Featured Contributor
Ever met a 16 year old that started changing the world when she was 12?
I have, and her name is Gabrielle Posard. When she was just 12, she was inspired by her older sister Camille, who was a writer for a documentary on hunger. She drew the now famous “Donate, Don’t Dump” logo of a fork, spoon and knife combined with recycling while discussing the documentary over dinner with her family.
Fast forward four years later, this teen is pushing for bills in Sacramento, has been featured in People Magazine, is a writer for Huffington Post, as well as running weekly community food collections that donate good food to hungry families in her community. She has saved over 800, 000 pounds of food from going to waste, and also has inspired a whole new legion of children and youth in her community to follow in her footsteps.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Gabrielle for our radio show, which is a one on one chat with entrepreneurs, where they share their inspiring story of how they found and followed their passion.
Today, we got back together to share a few ideas, so simple to Gabrielle, but so profound to our adult ears, eyes and hearts.
Here are 10 important lessons a 16 year old taught me, and you should learn too:
1. People rise to the occasion when you give them a chance.
2. It takes one voice to initiate change, but a community to truly make something happen.
3. Learn to pick your own personal values and prioritize what’s important to you.
4. There’s no age requirement on making a difference.
5. A phone call > an email.
6. Don’t read off the PowerPoint.
7. Public speaking isn’t nerve wracking when you know what you’re talking about.
8. If you show people how passionate you are about something, they will more than likely help.
9. The largest problems can sometimes have the simplest solutions.
10. Donate, don’t dump!
What I also learned from Gabrielle, is that the initiative to help others can begin from a thought, turn into action, and can grow into a huge, life changing collective. Age has nothing to do with ability.
Thanks for the lessons, Gabrielle!
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Entrepreneur Success Stories & Inspirational Profiles by Mella Noir
Mella Noir – Entrepreneur Success Stories & Inspirational Profiles
Mella‘s great love of the English language began her adventures in journalism, with a side passion for sales and marketing. She segued into advertising, and her fascination for both people and Champagne propelled her flute first into event and party planning. Many soireés, fêtes, and galas later, she’s still popping corks, clinking and chatting her way through life. She’s an original “Champagne Sister“, and producer of the Bubbly Talk Radio Network, where each Wednesday on *Clink, Chat & Catch Up!*, she profiles inspiring and passionate entrepreneurs and shares their story of finding and following their dreams. You can find her in the twitter world anytime: @BubblyTalkRadio, @ClinkAndChat or every Sunday (noon PST) hosting #ChampagneChat. Do you Facebook? Join her there too: BubblyTalkRadio, ChampagneChat and Clink And Chat. An avid social media lover, Mella’s always ready to “Create Custom Content to Connect You!” at Clink And Chat. Her motto: Keep your flute full and ready to *CLINK!*