Interviewee Name: Susan Murphy
Company Name: Jester Creative Inc.
Website: http://www.jestercreative.com
Avil Beckford: Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Susan Murphy: I live in Ottawa, Canada with my husband, 3 cats, and 1 dog. I’m an entrepreneur, a writer, and a teacher. But mostly, I’m a storyteller.
Avil Beckford: How do you integrate your personal and professional life?
Susan Murphy: I became more involved in social media about 4 years ago. I don’t believe in having a distinct personal and professional presence online. I’m me, with all my warts and blemishes. Although I do have boundaries (e.g. I don’t ever talk about politics or religion online), I’m okay with my colleagues, clients, and friends knowing about all the aspects of my life – I’m a professional who also happens to love my family, my pets, music, and food. That I like to goof around on Twitter as much as I like to have serious conversations. I’m okay with people knowing lots of things about me. And I like knowing lots of things about them too.
Avil Beckford: What’s a major regret that you’ve had in life?
Susan Murphy: There’s no place in my life for regret. I simply choose not to have any.
Avil Beckford: What are five life lessons that you have learned so far?
Susan Murphy:
1) People don’t care as much about your mistakes as you think they do.
2) There’s no excuse for not trying.
3) Stop worrying. Just stop it.
4) Never spend time thinking about people you don’t like.
5) There’s no replacement for family and friends. They always come first.
Avil Beckford: When you have some down time, how do you spend it?
Susan Murphy: My husband and I are real movie buffs, so we watch a lot. Also, I’m very much into music (performing and listening) so I like nothing more than spending an evening at a live show or hanging out with friends, jamming. I also love to cook and find it extremely relaxing, especially after a long day.
Avil Beckford: What process do you use to generate great ideas?
Susan Murphy: I do my best creative work in the early morning. I clear my mind and my desk of clutter, and I just sit down and start typing. If ideas don’t come easily or if I’m working something through, I’ll take a walk, do some exercise, or have a nap. Some of my best ideas come to me in the shower or right when I wake up in the morning.
Avil Beckford: What’s your favourite quotation and why?
Susan Murphy: “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
It’s a great quote because it reminds me to stop and focus on the present moment, and not to get too wrapped up in the details of things that haven’t happened yet.
Avil Beckford: How do you define success?
Susan Murphy: If I wake up in the morning, I consider that a success.
Avil Beckford: In your opinion what’s the formula for success?
Susan Murphy: There is no hard and fast formula for success. It’s different for everyone. But what I do know is, nobody ever succeeded by sitting around not trying things. So just try.
Avil Beckford: What are the steps you took to succeed in your field?
Susan Murphy: One step. I worked my butt off and didn’t stop.
Avil Beckford: What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?
Susan Murphy: Be curious about everyone and everything. And, if a door shuts in your face (and it will!), go find another door.
Avil Beckford: If trusted friends could introduce you to five people that you’ve always wanted to meet, who would you choose? And what would you say to them?
Susan Murphy: I’m not after meeting a bunch of people just because they are famous or popular. In my line of business I’ve met plenty of famous people, and although most of them were very nice, the experience was fleeting.
There are a ton of people I admire greatly but have never met, and a lot of people have never even heard of them. Justin Levy, Geoff Livingston, Deb Brown, and David Henderson are all good friends of mine that I have never met in person. I would love nothing more than to spend an afternoon with all of them.
Avil Beckford: Which one book had a profound impact on your life? What was it about this book that impacted you so deeply?
Susan Murphy: Right now I am reading “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”, by Dale Carnegie. It’s been decades since a self-help book has resonated so well with me. It’s helped me make some really profound changes in my life. I think everyone should read it. This book is not new information – it was written in 1944. But it is something that I think most people need to be reminded of.
The negative effects of stress and worry are literally killing people. We could all do with less. Do yourself a favour and read this book!
Avil Beckford: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are five books that you would like to have with you and why? Summarize the book in two sentences.
Susan Murphy: Ahhh! The dreaded desert island question! 🙂
I really don’t know. Probably the Dale Carnegie book and Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth” would be all I’d really want or need.
Avil Beckford: What one music CD and movie would you like to have with you (on the deserted island) and why?
Susan Murphy: CD – probably a compilation of old jazz standards, because that’s the music that calms my spirit the most.
Movie – It’s a Wonderful Life, because it’s my favourite, I’ve seen it 100 times. And I don’t care that it’s a Christmas movie – I watch it in July.
Avil Beckford: What excites you about life?
Susan Murphy: Possibility.
Avil Beckford: How do you nurture your soul?
Susan Murphy: Music.
Avil Beckford: If you had a personal genie and she gave you one wish, what would you wish for? Or, if I gave you a magic wand, what would you use it for?
Susan Murphy: I’d use it to give homes and help to anyone who is homeless.
Avil Beckford: Complete the following, I am happy when…..
I’m connected to others.
How can you use this information? What do you have to add to the conversation? Let's keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Some book links are affiliate links.
