When people join together in a combined effort an extraordinary thing happens, a new mind is formed, a mind that only exists as a result of all members coming together. That master mind for me is Gurutropolis and together we bring our collective talents, experiences and achievements to one common goal… to be a catalyst for positive change. [Read more...]

There are three things that I am certain of – I thrive on helping people, I love the art of filmmaking, and I’m an entrepreneur at heart.

After successfully completing my schooling in media and graduating with honours, I moved out West to pursue my dreams of running my own video production company. The people in my life wished me well but warned me to prepare for failure. I laughed, “Fail? Only people who don’t try hard enough fail” I assured myself. Within a few months, after trying really hard, I found myself completely deflated washing dishes for minimum wage with one failed business under my belt. I moved from job to job knowing where my passion lied, but too afraid to fail again. My pride hurt – a lot. I spent the next three years beating myself up over this so-called failure – it ate away at me.

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I was standing in my living room in January of 2008 staring at two different versions of a letter I had written to my employer. One was a resignation; the other a request for a 6-month Leave of Absence. The truth which had been revealed to me after taking Personal Best Truth Revealed was that I no longer wished to be a teacher. I wanted to write!

I had stumbled into Personal Best thinking I just didn’t like my job, and left realizing that my career was just the tip of the iceberg. Turns out, I was already a writer, but I was writing stories of victimization that limited my success. To my horror, I discovered that I had been navigating through my life using someone else’s roadmap! I was living someone else’s dream life, not my own.

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My journey in personal development began more than two years ago, when I asked my physician for support in helping me quit smoking.  When I experienced success within a couple of months, I knew that I needed to build on that momentum and take the next step forward in becoming the next, better version of myself.

I contacted a personal fitness trainer whom I’d met in January of 2007 (Kim Doyle), because I knew that I needed help in staying motivated to achieve my goals.  As we were talking, I asked her this question:  “If I need to have my a** kicked, are you willing to do that?” With a straight unwavering gaze, she calmly answered: “Yes”.   I hired her on the spot!

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“Chelsea, how are you doing?”
“Fine. I’m going home.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. I’m done. My Mom’s on her way.”
“Do you want to talk to Lynn?”
“No. I’m going home. I’m done.”
“You could talk to Lynn.”
“My mom’s here now. I’m going.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk to Lynn?”

This was the conversation I had with my PB1 small group leader one dark evening outside at a picnic table in May of 2003. Without really agreeing or consciously deciding, I found myself walking back to the hall to talk to the facilitator. After a brief chat with the facilitator, I was then back in the room, sitting with the rest of the group. This marked a very pivotal moment in my life. One that has lead to a sea of incredible transformations. [Read more...]

Born and raised in Edmonton, Darlene has had formal training in photography. She enjoys fine art, and travel photography, fine dining, good wine, personal growth, and working out. She’s been a professional photographer for 19 years, and has run her own business for over 18.

Darlene is a Personal Freedom program grad, and has given back by volunteering as a Team Member on a number of different teams.

After a recent trip to Peru, Darlene was left with a deep impression of the country and its people. Through travel, she believes that we gain a greater understanding of others, and what we understand, we can’t hate. It is her mission to take others to far away places – either personally through photography tours, or virtually through her images – so that ultimately there is a little more understanding, and lot less hatred in the world.

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In the late 1950s, a young, white girl in middle-class, small town Ontario clutched a dark skinned doll. Her grandfather bought it for her at her request. She had been walking through her town and a young African-Canadian woman and her baby passed by on the sidewalk; these were the first people of colour she had ever seen in all of her five years. The baby was so beautiful with big, dark eyes and curly hair, and a smile that shone as brightly as the midday sun. That young, white middle-class girl was me.

I loved that doll with all my heart. I carried her everywhere, took her to tea parties with my grandmother and slept with her each night. I cared for her as if she were my own child. My desire to care for those less fortunate, for the helpless, for the weak continues today. From as early as I can recall, I have always wanted to go to Africa, the birth place of all human life and for me, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. For me, Africa represents nature, life and hope. The smiles of African children, who seem to have nothing of value to those of us in the western world, are pure, natural and the most beautiful I have ever seen. They are grateful for everything and take nothing for granted. My lifelong dream was to go to Africa and help; I never made it happen.

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For those of you that love the Amazing Race, you will definitely love the Mitsubishi City Chase! This unique urban adventure requires teams of two to exhibit resourcefulness, determination and the ability to make decisions on the fly as they search for Chase Point challenges scattered in unknown locations throughout a City.

The event is a lot of fun, and there are a variety of different challenges, designed to push comfort zones and test mind body and spirit. Teams run, walk and use public transit to navigate their way throughout the city, while calling family and friends for help, accessing the Internet, and even employing assistance of total strangers. The first team to complete the required Chase Points and cross the finish line wins!!

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Hi my name is Laurie Laursen.  Last year was my PB year.  I took Level One in January 2007, Level Two in April, and Level 3 throughout the summer, starting in June & ending in August.  In September I started Living Fitt which went through until mid December.
It was my year of transformation for sure.  I begun a quest for something better about 7 years ago when I became ill, yet my progress, as I call it, did not really move until after I took PB 1.

Early last January in the wee hours of the night I woke up feeling empty inside, like I did not want to live anymore.  I know this concept surprised me because I was happily married (and still am) to a wonderful man; I had 3 great kids, a home I was happy with and a community that I love.  Yet the feelings of being sad, lost and empty were real and on top of that I was also having a lot of health issues.

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Prior to taking the Personal Freedom Program, I was unhappy and nothing was working in my life. I had read self help books for years- I knew the concepts, I used affirmations and other positive things, but found that I was unable to shift.

In 1990, I began Personal Best Level One: Truth Revealed and began to face all of the internal demons that I had collected through my life.  Through Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the Persona Freedom Program, I learned how much I ‘used’ confusion in my life, so that I did not have to make a choice. I allowed myself to be a ‘victim’ and thought I had no other choices. I was not responsible or accountable for myself or my life. Life just happened to me, and I reacted to it.

Through experiential exercises in the courses, I learned more and more about myself, fears, limiting beliefs and behaviors I used the tools that were taught and the resources that were presented. I continue to use many of them today.

I have faced many challenges through my life and since taking Personal Best. I had felt like a victim for years. Slowly, I began to grow, release, stretch and discover who I am and who I am not.

Because of Personal Best, I have made wonderful changes in my life. I am truly happy and content with myself, who I am and what I do. I have my own successful business doing work that I love.

Marie Belanger grew up in home that operated from fear.

“It was a stability and safety based home where – you never get something for nothing, you work hard your entire life at a J.O.B and retire when you’re 65, you keep everything and never get rid of anything because you never know when you’ll need it and if you don’t need it, maybe the neighbour will.”

That upbringing carved Marie into a dutiful mother and wife, afraid to take risks and live up to her full potential.

When Marie walked through the doors of Personal Best, she was no stranger to Personal Development.  She had read books, even taken some courses on personal growth.  Yet the businesswoman and mother to four small children was not happy.

“I was completely involved in the small stuff and I NEVER took time for myself.  I would go for haircuts once or twice a year.  I couldn’t bother to take the time and they cost way too much,” Marie said.

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Two months after losing her young mother to cancer and moving to Calgary from Nova Scotia by herself, Nanda Macneil was a lost soul, yearning for connection and answers. She asked the universe for a sign, some guidance as to what she should do.

One day, while on her way to the health food store, she came across a large brick building with a sign out front that read “Personal Best Seminars.”
“I definitely believe the law of attraction helped me find Personal Best. The sign spoke to me, so I called and set up an appointment to speak with a coach.” That step was a catapult to a new journey for Nanda.

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When I was a young girl, I hated to get dirty. My favorite color was pink and I loved Barbie. I even thought that one day, I’d grow up to look like her. I did have blond hair after all. Actually, I thought all girls grew up to look like Barbie. It didn’t occur to me that my mother looked nothing like Barbie with her short black hair and child-bearing hips. I simply took it for granted that I would become like my idol and then, just like the porcelain-skinned princess, I’d have several fabulous careers, a great house and car, and of course, the man of my dreams. Then, shortly before I turned 11, it clicked. Suddenly, the reality of impending perfection that I had taken for granted melted away, and I was left with the harsh reality of pimples, body fat, a series of bad perms and a gap-toothed grin.

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When I signed up for Personal Freedom Program, I was anxious and ready!  I knew I was stalled in my world and needed to deal with some of life’s events/stories that were buried. It was really hard to let go of the past things/events/people that I had let influence me which had kept me from enjoying all life has to offer.

When I was participating in the classes, I began to ‘peel away the layers’ and began to trust myself again! I began to laugh – from my belly – and I began to cry – from my heart. I felt ALIVE…I feel ALIVE!

The Personal Freedom Program courses have opened my eyes to my own world and made me recognize my own accountability for the way my life was, is and will be. Since the course, life has continued (some good, some bad, some neutral). What has changed dramatically for me is my own sense of responsibility for ME. I accept me, I don’t criticize me, I take time to nourish me and I surround myself with people who support me and challenge me to be authentic.

I have recommended the Personal Best courses to many, many people and am grateful that the Personal Best team is there, and that I had the courage and wisdom to step up!

Thanks for the opportunity to say thanks again.

Before I took the Personal Freedom Program, my life was not where I wanted it to be and I felt scattered, disappointed and stressed. I was judgmental of others and felt that people would gossip about me whenever I excelled at anything in life, so I chose to stay mediocre.

I enrolled in the Personal Freedom Program not knowing much about the courses other than it worked for the person that told me about it. I signed up for all three levels in February 2005 and started the program in May 2005.

Personal Best helped me to define what was important to me and my relationship with myself and helped me move from being average to being myself and the best I can be.

I am creating my life now, not allowing it to just be created by circumstance or situations. I create change by making choices. Personal Best gave me practical life lessons and tools to work with, and since I still am in contact with the people and attend other functions with Personal Best Grads, I can actually let the information resonate and be put to use on a regular basis.

Of all the personal development I have done, the Personal Freedom Program was definitely the shining star of it all!

Thanks Personal Best!

“Prior to taking Personal Best Seminars, I held the belief that I was not deserving – not deserving of love, fun, money, and success,” says Bonnie Malach, a graduate of the Personal Freedom Program.

“This belief held me back in many ways – I was in a job with two abusive and manipulative bosses, I tended to be a hermit, I wouldn’t allow myself to even dream of life being different, and I was living pay cheque to pay cheque and sometimes not even that.”

After Truth Revealed, Bonnie’s self esteem began to increase. “I started to dream again. For years I hadn’t allowed myself to dream of anything bigger or better. After level one, I started to believe it possible to reach those dreams.”

Not only did her self-image improve, but others around her began to open up to her. “People responded to me in a more open way. I think they could sense an energy shift and began to mirror how I was feeling about myself. Since I was more open, they could be more open.”

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Before I completed the Personal Freedom Program I was working in a job I “believed” I loved. I believed I deserved it and I believed I was doing a good job at it. I now know that my unworthiness belief was in operation – big time!  When we did the video at the beginning of Personal Best Level 3: Infinite Possibilities I stated that I loved my job. When we saw the video at the end of the course I didn’t even look like the same person, never mind believing that I loved my job.  I realized somewhere in the middle of Level 3 that I really didn’t like my job, the people I worked with, or even the place that I worked. I shifted my thinking to blessing my job, the people I worked with and even the building I was in and believing that I could and would have a better job that I was passionate about and that wasn’t really a “job”. I even asked that this particular organization be included in our fundraising efforts.

During the shift I knew that I needed to move on and the opportunity to apply for a new position came up within a month of completing the Personal Freedom Program, I applied and within a week was hired.

I now work as a Mothers-to-be Mentor for women who are at high risk of having babies affected by alcohol. I love, love, love what I do and believe that I am in the right place doing the right thing, finally.  Before Personal Best I never dreamed of doing anything even remotely like this  – now I can do anything!!

Have you ever thought….”If I was rich and famous, I would….”?  I have.  And until recently, I thought that I would have to win a bunch of money before I could ever… Thankfully, a 2 year journey has brought me to a place where I now know that I can live the life of my dreams and I can do it NOW!

When I was a little girl, I believed that I could save the world.  I dreamt, hoped and prayed and then dreamt some more.

Along the way, people would “kindly” let me know that that was impossible, I couldn’t do that….and ask “exactly how are you going to do that?”  How did I know…I was only 5!  So, the logical voice, the voice of ‘reason’, fear, doubt slowly began to take over and a heart of hope and determination shriveled to a heart of fear, doubt, disbelief and of a secret longing left unacknowledged.

September 2004, I took Personal Best Level One: Truth Revealed where I first spoke the words aloud… ”I want to go to Africa!”  The words later scared me and I tried to forget the feelings that it had been stirred deep within my heart.

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I was introduced to Personal Best Seminars as a result of an information session. I signed up for the Personal Freedom Program out of general interest, not quite knowing what to expect, and with no pre-conceived notions about what value I’d receive from it.

Shortly after enrolling, I experienced a personal calamity, the likes of which I had never experienced. It was at that time that I realized that everything happens for a purpose, and I was able to work things through.

I listened intently throughout the course, completing all three levels of the Personal Freedom Program in the period of one year. I credit Personal Best for being able to open my eyes to the endless opportunities which were mine, just for the taking. I embarked on a real estate career, and have consistently out-performed most of Realtors in the city. I constantly reminded myself through-out this phase, of the lessons I had learned, and opened up my own real estate brokerage within three years.  I am now acting as Associate Broker and Assistant Manager at Calgary’s largest real estate firm!

There is no doubt in my mind that Personal Best provided me with the motivation and insight to be able to tackle every challenge enthusiastically in order to overcome even the most overwhelming obstacles. The course has taught me to accept what is, and move forward. I highly recommend the course to everyone.  The benefits will reveal themselves proportionately to your participation level, and has truly a life altering long-term results.

Before attending the Personal Freedom Program Courses I was angry and frustrated at the world and my perception of what had been done to me caused me to play the victim role.  I was playing the martyr and poor me, life sucks.  I was allowing the things in my life to have negative results because I wasn’t good enough.

Once I attended Personal Best Level One Truth Revealed, it increased my awareness and confirmed that I was on the right track of wanting and deserving more from my life.  I became 100% committed to my life, realizing I am the cause of my results in life.  I made the shift from playing the victim to being accountable; poor me to I create it; sitting back to taking action.  People who knew me before Personal Best and saw me after said that I had done a complete 180.  I have become a positive, energetic, joyful, optimistic, courageous, enthusiastic, inspirational, forward thinking person with increased awareness.

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