Ageless Passions by Karen Putz

Category: Uncategorized

  • Mark J. Sorokin, Attorney

    mark deaf attorney
    Mark Sorokin, Esq. is an attorney practicing in Connecticut, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
    Tell me about your job, career, or calling. How did you get into this line of work?
    I fell into it somewhat.  My father is an attorney, and upon graduating college, I had no idea what I wanted to do.  He helped me get a job as a paralegal at a law firm, and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to apply to law schools.  Have not looked back since.
    What are some of the challenges?
    As a solo practitioner, I don’t have the benefit of a supervising attorney, so I have to do tons of research to make sure that the decisions I make are correct.  Also, marketing is a huge challenge – getting my name out there and gaining prospective clients’ confidence.  Sometimes prospective clients or opposing counsel will call me and not understand how the relay system works.  But usually once they understand it, it becomes a non-issue.
     What was it like growing up deaf/hard of hearing?
    It was difficult.  I was mainstreamed through all of public school, and I experienced a lot of difficulties socially as the only deaf student in my school.  My mother always told me that things would get better as I got older and people started understanding  (in a good way) what made me different.  And as I got older, I understood that I controlled what I did far more than what other people did.
    What advice would you give a deaf/HH person who is looking for a job, career or calling like yours?
    Read a lot.  Write a lot.  Understand how the world works around you – both on a macro and on a micro level – and how to communicate with other people effectively.  This concept is vastly different from the ability to argue with other people, which doesn’t always win you favors.

     Sorokin Law Offices

  • One Direction Features an American Sign Language Version of “I Would”

    If I wasn’t already deaf my daughter’s scream would have done the trick.  Lauren and I were checking out the fan music videos on the One Direction website for the #1DDayMusicVideo and  the music video that Lauren and her friend, Lauren Holtz, created was one of the featured videos.  It was early in the morning and their American Sign Language version of  “I Would” was one of five.  I’m sure when I joined Lauren in the screaming we might have woken up a few neighbors too.

    You can see the featured video here:  One Direction #1DDayMusicVideos Playlist  It remains to be seen if it will be featured during the 7-hour webcast of 1DDay on November 23rd.

    The girls filmed the video in just 30 minutes as the video had to be submitted the next day and the sun was going down.  All in all, despite some bloopers and messed up signs, the girls put together a fun video:

    The two girls had the time of their life at the One Direction concert over the summer. Harry Styles signed to them a few times during the concert:

    Harry Styles Does Sign Language.

    Harry Styles Signs to Deaf Fans at the One Direction Concert

    Lauren’s guest post on ChicagoNow: Signing with Harry Styles at the One Direction Concert

     

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  • Back to Blogging!

    It’s been a long absence, but I’m back to blogging here! My site was attacked by a nasty malware and it took quite some time to clean it up and get it functioning again.  Meanwhile, I did my blogging over at ChicagoNow, where one of my posts went viral: Harry Styles Signs to Deaf Fans at a One Direction Concert.  Yes, a simple post about a One Direction concert hit the number two spot on ChicagoNow at one point.  My daughter ended up in M magazine as a result of her own guest post on ChicagoNow: Signing with Harry Styles at a One Direction Concert. 

     

    Back in January, I started a speaking business and I have been traveling all over the U.S. speaking to schools, businesses, and organizations.  I absolutely love it!  This year alone, I have spoken in Florida, Maine, New York, California, Canada, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, South Dakota, Indiana, and Colorado.  I can’t wait to see what next year brings!  If your school, business, or organization would like me to speak, email me at karen (at) karenputz.com. For more information about my speaking topics or how I can serve your speaking needs:  Karen Putz Speaking.  I speak frequently on the topics of overcoming adversity, parenting, and of course, PASSION!  I’m a Passion Coach who helps others unwrap their top five passions.

    Of course, I’ve been spending a lot of time enjoying my passion of barefoot water skiing this summer.  The sport has brought me many new friends and allowed me to barefoot in so many new places.  I unwrapped my passion for the sport just four years ago when the hubby sent me a link to this TODAY Show which changed my life:  66-Year-Old Judy Myers Barefooting.  In March of 2010, I went down to the World Barefoot Center for the first time and life has never been the same since!  I’m proud to be a part of the World Barefoot Center staff and a contributing writer to WaterSki and Water Skier magazines.  Joseph Campbell was right– he said, “If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are—if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time.”

    Over the summer, I also released a new book, The Passionate Lives of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People.  The book features 22 deaf and hard of hearing people in all kinds of professions, hobbies, and sports.  I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to cross paths with many amazing deaf and hard of hearing people all over the world and I wanted to share this with parents of deaf and hard of hearing kids as well as deaf and hard of hearing teens and adults.  This book is the first in a series–stay tuned for more!

    And… if you’re at the store, grab a copy of the October issue of O Magazine and you’ll find a little blurb from me on page 22.  This is the third time I’ve been in O Magazine and I’d love to see a full-fledged article in there next!

    Here’s a few more interviews and blurbs from over the summer:

    Putting Your Feet Back on the Water — The Shut Up Show

    Helping Others Help Themselves — Healthy Hearing

    The Parenting Journey — Book Review

  • The Passionate Lives of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People

    For a short time in college, I toyed with the idea of becoming a nurse. I wanted to become a labor and delivery nurse and work with babies. I was sitting with a counselor, planning my future classes and trying to select a major. She expressed her concern at my choice of a career: how would I communicate with the doctors? What if I misunderstood a patient?

    I was dealing with the newness of becoming deaf and my self-esteem was in a shaky place.  I dropped the idea and focused on a major which seemed to be a better fit, a vocational rehabilitation counselor. Never mind the fact that my heart wasn’t really into it, but hey, I liked helping people and counseling was right up my alley.

    Fast forward a few years and I began to meet more and more deaf and hard of hearing people from all over.  Heck, I met lawyers, engineers, pharmacists, vets, doctors, dentists and yes–deaf and hard of hearing nurses! Deaf and hard of hearing nurses in the emergency rooms, operating rooms, schools, nursing homes and heck yeah–working in labor and delivery! Oh, and musicians, athletes, actors, realtors, motivational speakers and more! All of them deaf and hard of hearing. Where the heck were these people when I was growing up? Where were they when I was picking my major in college?

    I’m a mom of three deaf and hard of hearing kids and I’ve raised them with the idea that they can do whatever they’re passionate about. I made sure to expose them to as many deaf and hard of hearing adults as I possibly could while they were growing up. I also wanted them to understand they might have to lead the way if they chose a path that someone hadn’t gone down before.  That’s how the idea for my newest book came about: “The Passionate Lives of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People.” The book features a collection of stories of 22 deaf and hard of hearing people living out their passions and doing what they were born to do.

    It is my hope that every deaf and hard of hearing person will pick up this book and realize they can live the life they’re passionate about–all that’s needed is the courage to unwrap their passion and put it in motion.

    Bulk orders are available at a discount–email me at: karen(at)karenputz.com.

    Other books by Karen Putz 

  • Out of the Comfort Zone at the Hands & Voices Leadership Conference

    The 10th Annual Hands & Voices Leadership Conference took place this week in Madison, Wisconsin.  The topic of the conference: Out of the Comfort Zone.  In the ten years I’ve been with Hands & Voices, I’ve had to step out of the comfort zone time and time again. In the process, I’ve grown in so many different ways. It is cool to see that same transition happening with the chapter leaders and parents over the years.

    A little over ten years ago when I first joined Hands & Voices, the leaders all fit around a single conference table.  I started the fourth chapter of Hands & Voices. I wasn’t sure how in the world we would create a 501c3 with no funds to begin with, but the Lions Club of Batavia and Barb Sims from the Special Education department in Illinois pitched in to give us start up funding.  I remained President for four years, and then Beth Donofrio took over. Today, Andrea Marwah is currently running the chapter.

    And today, Hands & Voices is expanding worldwide.  There is a strong need for a parent-driven organization which provides support for families with deaf and hard of hearing children– no family, no child, should travel the journey alone.

    As I watched Andrea  speak on the topic of Advocacy during her plenary, I thought back to the first time our paths crossed. I served as a Deaf Mentor for their family. One of the resources I often share with families is a book, “From Emotions to Advocacy” by Wrightslaw and I brought the book with me during one of the visits. Andrea, being the tenacious mom she is, took notes of everything. She followed up in getting the book and learning everything she could about education law.  Today, she teaches classes on special education law and advocacy. She has taken Illinois Hands & Voices to a whole new level with her leadership. I am so inspired by her leadership and her journey as a parent. She embodies the Hands & Voices philosophy on every level.

    I’ve been with Hands & Voices for over ten years now and my commitment and passion are stronger than ever.  There was a time I lost my passion and lost my way, but one day, I sat down and figured out my “why” of doing what I do. At the conference, a mom came up to me and introduced herself. As we chatted, she mentioned I had helped her seven years ago. When she walked away, I realized the value in what we do at Hands & Voices– we just never know who we help or how we inspire or impact families. This is why we continue to reach out and travel the journey with other families–this is our passion, this is our “why” of what we do every day at Hands & Voices.

    “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”

    Albert Schweitzer

  • What is Gone May Bloom Again

    When my parents built their new house on Christie Lake 20 years ago, my mom discovered a peony plant coming up out of the blue between two newly planted bushes. To her surprise, she discovered it was the same peonies that she transplanted long ago to a different spot in the yard and the bush had died. The yard had been completely torn up and reshaped when the house was built.

    Twenty years later, the peonies continue to bloom each spring. It’s a reminder of hope– because just when you give up, or think something is over and done with, you can thrive and blossom yet again.

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  • Unwrapping Your Passion, The Iron Jen Radio Show

    Early this morning, I shared one of my favorite topics, “Unwrapping Your Passion” on the Iron Jen Radio Show with Jen McDonough. The show was captioned live, enabling deaf and hard of hearing people to join in.

    Jen and I crossed paths over on Dan Miller’s site, 48days.net.   I was inspired and fascinated by her journey to becoming an Ironman athlete and her family’s journey to pay off over $200,000 of debt. In June, Jen and her family will unleash their “debt free” scream on the Dave Ramsey Show. I’m pretty sure the scream will be so loud that deaf people will be able to hear it!

    In addition to the radio show, I had the honor of guest posting as well:

    Unwrapping Your Passion

    The 30-minute replay of the show can be heard here:

    Unwrapping Your Passion on the Iron Jen Show

    Transcript and captions provided by SpeechtText Access:

     Unwrapping Your Passion Transcript

  • A Test of Patience

    Wednesday night, before heading to bed, I checked my flight schedule for Florida. “The plane leaves at 7:25,” I told Joe. I sank into bed early knowing that I’d have to get up at four a.m. to get ready. A nagging feeling crept up on me. I wanted to go downstairs and check the schedule one more time, but I was exhausted after two days on the road and three presentations.

    On the way to the airport, the nagging feeling returned. I took a look at the schedule and right then and there, my heart sank.

    6:10.

    I was looking at the landing time previously, not the flight time. I was going to miss my plane.

    “We’ll, there’s nothing I can do about it,” I told my husband. “I’ll just have to take the next available flight.”

    I was scheduled to speak at the Florida School for the Deaf at 2:15, but I wasn’t sure if I would make it there on time. The school informed me that the latest I could arrive would be 3 p.m.

    The Southwest agent gave me standby on a flight leaving in 20 minutes, but I had yet to get through security. I made it just before they were closing the doors. I picked up a connecting flight after arriving in Fort Lauderdale. I figured I would make it to the school

    As soon as I arrived at the rental car place, I was congratulating myself. There was no line! I figured I would arrive at 2:30. As I reached into my purse, my heart sank; my wallet was nowhere to be found.

    My cell phone rang and a kind traveler nearby answered it for me. It was Southwest– they were on their way with my wallet. I’m a frequent flyer with Southwest and they simply rock!

    There was a line when I arrived back at the rental car counter and by the time I hit the expressway, I knew I was cutting it close. I threw up a prayer and stepped on the gas.

    In the passing lane, I encountered one slow car after another. I couldn’t believe it. Almost no one moved over. I could feel the frustration building up inside of me.

    A digital sign indicted a stalled car ahead. Sure enough, the traffic crawled to a stop.

    I wanted to scream.

    Suddenly, I remembered one of Keith St. Onge’s lessons from his book, Gliding Soles. Whenever he encountered red traffic lights when in a hurry, he considered them as a test of patience.

    “Ok, God, bring it on, I can do this. No matter what happens on the road, I’m staying positive.”

    As soon as I got off the highway, I encountered more slow drivers and… You guessed it… red lights. Over and over, I stayed positive and envisioned myself arriving in time to speak to the middle school kids.

    The guard at the gate took a long time to process my information and print out a pass. Another test of patience, but I was determined to pass it with flying colors and a smile on my face. I walked into the building at…

    2:59.

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  • Meeting Joel Osteen

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    One week ago, I was sitting at the table with my brother and sister-in-law talking about their upcoming move to Houston. Just weeks before, they were scheduled to move when Dennis had a heart attack and landed in the hospital. He ended up having bypass surgery and was in the middle of a painful recovery. Their son was going to drive with them but he had the possibility of starting work at a construction site. They were trying to figure out Plan B.

    Suddenly, I was overcome by a strong urge to go with them. At first, I tried to ignore the urge. I was in the middle of finishing a book and preparing three presentations for the end of the month. The gnawing feeling inside would not stop. I had long ago learned to listen within. God often guided me in powerful ways with those internal nudges.

    “I’ll drive you guys down,” I said. Instantly, I wondered how I was going to justify it with Joe and the kids– because I had been traveling so much with the launch of my speaking and SendOutCards business this year. Thankfully, they were all supportive.

    Less than a year ago, I made a commitment in my journey back to God and found a church that I feel very much at home in. I felt as if I had lost my way over the years and I needed to find my way back to a faith which I actually knew little about.

    One day, Joe brought home a box of books from my mother-in-law. In the box was Joel Osteen’s book, “Live Your Best Life Now.” I had just started watching Joel on Sundays and I loved his uplifting messages and lessons. More than once, the same thought popped into my mind: I would love to attend a service at Lakewood and meet Joel. I wrote it down in my Dream book.

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    That’s exactly where I found myself on Sunday morning/Mother’s Day. I arrived at Lakewood church early and walked around. A man in a business suit approached me. “Would you like to meet Joel?” I could hardly believe my lip reading eyes! He walked me over to a roped off section. “Joel will be coming off the elevator here,” he said. “No pictures, though. Do you have something you want signed?”

    Instantly, I wished I had bought a book at the bookstore. Then I remembered my Dream journal– I would have him sign that!

    Just seconds before it was my turn, my hearing aid gave the warning sound of a battery about to die. (Ok, God, your sense of timing is funny!I have never changed a battery so fast in my life.) Not that it would have mattered much– but I wanted to make sure I could moderate my voice.

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    It was an amazing moment to shake the hand of a man who inspires many and makes a difference with his gifts. I enjoyed the lessons he shared at the service. The interpreters, Sally and Debbie, did a wonderful job translating. Sally took notes and gave out copies– I was SO grateful for that!

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    This morning, my brother and I were sitting in his new family room and reflecting on how everything worked out–and how everything magically unfolded beautifully. My brother was in no shape for this move, but the trip went well and we managed to unpack everything in one day so they could move in that evening.

    What a blessing!

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  • You are Phenomenal and You Were Born to Win

    karen putz howard partridge tom ziglar
    Tom Ziglar, Karen Putz, and Howard Partridge

    I recently had the wonderful opportunity to attend the “Born to Win” workshop with Tom Ziglar (author of Born to Win with his father, Zig Ziglar)and Howard Partridge (Seven Secrets to a Phenomenal Life). I met both of them last fall at a Business Expo– what a dynamic duo!

    Tom was kind enough to read “Gliding Soles, Lessons from a Life on Water” which I co-authored with Keith St. Onge.   Tom wrote an endorsement:

    “Gliding Soles is a powerful book about life detailing the many steps, choices, and falls Keith St. Onge took on his way to becoming World Champion.  I highly recommend it for everyone.  Why? Because Keith’s story is really your story.  Life is tough and we all take some hard falls along the way.  The key is getting up, making a better choice, and getting back on your feet.  This book will encourage you to do just that no matter what your goals are in life.”

    Although I’m a solepreneur with my speaking and writing business, I found lots of business gems from this workshop which applies to my work with Hands & Voices and SendOutCards. Speaking of SendOutCards, this service received a mention from Howard as a valuable business tool to keep in touch with others and to spread gratitude.

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    If you are considering attending a “Born to Win” workshop, I highly recommend it! Both guys truly live the Ziglar legacy: “You can have everything you want in life if you will help others get what they want.”