Sheryl Entwistle considered herself a disciplined woman, choosing professions she says were “Analytical in nature. I was technical writer, a stockbroker: professions where qualities considered ”˜feminine”™ ”“ like compassion, caring and empathy ”“ were considered weaknesses.”
She became a devotee of motivational speaker Anthony Robbins, deciding to embrace his philosophy of “finding the power from within,” flying to Dallas in 2001 to literally walk the walk ”“ the fire walk, that is, one of Robbins”™ tests of personal endurance.
“One of the things I learned from the Robbins”™ presentations was to face your greatest fear. Mine was physical pain.” In the parking lot of the Texas hotel where Robbins was conducting a seminar, Entwistle lined up with others to walk on the burning coals. “Right before it was my turn, some people came out to throw more coals on the embers. You could feel the blast of heat coming off the rocks.” But she made the 10 foot walk and was amazed that she felt “no pain at all.”
It was then Entwistle had what she describes as her “epiphany moment. I didn”™t want to be analytical anymore. I wanted to be soft, warm, feminine, affectionate and to surround myself with people who felt the same way.” Entwistle”™s new challenge was how to switch gears and change careers ”“ and to accept that being a member of the “weaker sex” had some definite advantages.
“One thing that had always struck me about death was the sadness surrounding the families, those ”˜what if”™ moments people experienced. I thought to myself, ”˜Why not do something when the person is alive to enjoy it?”™” Little by little, her ideas gelled, and Living Celebrations became a living, viable business. Entwistle had a willing first participant in the startup: her mother.
“My mother loves Christmas, so over the course of a year, I found artists and illustrators to create ornaments representing significant moments in mom”™s life ”“ her first home, her wedding day, her children, places she had visited ”“ and each one was specially crafted to be as close to the genuine article.” Working with old pictures, mother”™s memories and help from her siblings to fill in the blanks, the finished product ”“ one-of-a-kind ornaments nestled in a three-tiered box — thrilled her mother to no end.
It was a great first project, said Entwistle, since the recipient ”“ her mother ”“ “was relatively easy to work with. I didn”™t have an art background, I had an analytical background, but those fire walks and other personal challenges were what helped me to change my attitude toward life. It was a learning process to embrace things that were feminine and not consider them weak: to be warm, compassionate and see my role as an ”˜empty nester”™ as a midlife awakening, not a midlife crisis. It helped me create this business, because it”™s all about bringing out the best in people and sharing with others.”
Since 2004, Entwistle has been creating “living celebrations” for clients around the country. Her latest commission was a special birthday gift for one client”™s 80th birthday.
“His stepdaughter wanted to do something special. This man led a long, blessed life. Bud Baker is the kind of guy that could walk into a place and not know anyone, but when he left, everyone knew him! My team and I worked on the theme and chose movies, since he had so many celebrity encounters. We created a James Bond type of poster; Kathleen Tracey wrote a screenplay of Bob”™s life, and our storyboard artist took nine of his stories, put them all in three film canisters, which were put into a giant film can. Bud (Baker) had no idea what his ”˜life story”™ would look like. Only his stepdaughter Michele, myself and the team knew what the finished product would be.”
Both Entwistle”™s client and the recipient were thrilled with the results. The cost? “I won”™t say it was inexpensive,” says Entwistle. Between interviewing the people in Baker”™s life, assembling the stories, pictures, artwork, and materials, the entire project, which took 10 months to complete, came in at around $57,000. “Truthfully, there was not a big profit margin on this project. But we loved every minute of it, and Bob got a gift that could not be found in any store, a living legacy.”
Admittedly, says Entwistle, some of the living celebrations she has created are priced above the normal birthday gift, but they are “one of a kind creations and a lot of labor-intensive work goes into each work of art.” She”™s in the process of rolling out some ideas that will not be as pricey but just as individualized.
Where does she get the drive to be bullish about her unique business in this bear market? She recently climbed a “pamper” pole, nearly 40 feet high. The challenge was to get to the top, figure out how to stand on it and then jump onto a trapeze swing. (Just to play it safe, participants wore a harness.) She made it to the top, and not only conquered her fear of heights, but made the catch and grabbed the swing. With that kind of drive, Entwistle”™s Living Celebrations has made her life ”“ and the life she brings to her creations ”“ all the more interesting. She”™s confident Living Celebrations will continue to thrive ”“ and she”™s up to the challenge.
Kind of interesting Sheryl.
Uncle George