Encouragement Speaker Derrick Hayes gives a DERRICK Interview by asking 7 questions through each letter of his first name to give you an insightful perspective from other experts, entrepreneurs, celebrities and up and coming super stars. Today’s DERRICK Interview is with Fran Capo who is a comedienne, keynote motivational speaker, 18 time author, ordained minister, spokesperson, TV show host, radio host, event producer, adventurer who has bungee jumped, swam with sharks, driven race cars and eaten fire and is a six-time world record holder, most known as the Guinness Book of World Records fastest talking female clocked at 603.32 wpm.
She has appeared on over 4500 radio shows and 450 television shows including “The Talk”, CNN, Entertainment Tonight, The Late Show, Fox & Friends & The Doctors. Social Media wise, she has been trended on twitter and several of her You tube videos’ have over 3 million views. She keeps her fans entertained and motivated through her Capo update newsletter and her humorous motivational vlogs called “Cuppa Capo’s. She has a multitude of IMBD movie credits and her recent works include the horror film, “The Library” the reality show called, “Ladies of the Pulpit” which starts to air on Comcast in February 2013.
She does weekly movie reviews for New Media Stew with John Basedow and was listed as one of the most “Memorable Characters of 2012: in the Journal News. All this and more can be found on her website at Fran Capo.
D is for Dream. What is your dream and what have you achieved?
My dream has been and always is to have a balanced life doing what I want to do, and always doing what I love. So far my luck and determination has helped me achieve that. It’s kind of like the Frank Sinatra song, I did it my way. Family wise, I have a great relationship with my son, Spencer, a loving and mutually respectful relationship for 13 years with my fiancee, Steve and his daughter, Jamie. I am surrounded by great friends (nutty, unique and there whenever I need them and visa versa.) Career wise: I’m a stand up comic, comedy producer, TV show host, ordained minister, holder of 5 world records (most known as Guinness book of World records), author of 18 books (and writing 2 more this year), motivational speaker who has spoken on every continent (yes including antarctica- those penguins were dressed really nicely) and adventurer who has bungee jumped, dived with sharks, walked on hot coals, climbed Kilimanjaro and gone down to the wreck site of the Titanic…and seeing as I will always be 37 I have a lot more time on this planet to do tons more things.
E is for Encourage. What encourages you?
When I get an idea in my head that is unique or creative it’s like a light goes off. Then I am focused on getting it accomplished, seeing the progress and feeling happy inside as I do it encourages me to go further. When I know my end goal I am encourage to keep going no matter what it takes to get there. I may not always enjoy the whole journey but I know we are on this planet and in our physical bodies for two things only, to be happy and to learn.
R is for Resource. What resources do you bring to the table that makes you unique or stand out?
The belief that nothing is impossible and there is ALWAYS a way to accomplish something. A burning persistence to keep going to accomplish my goal. A creative mind that keeps me looking at things from a unique perspective. Keeping a positive attitude in the face of temporary setbacks and always keeping a sense of humor…remember life is not permanent so don’t take it so seriously, or as I always say, “Live everyday as if it’s your last, and one day you’ll be right, and on that last day you don’t want to be doing the laundry.”
R is for Ready. When did you realize you were ready for what you are doing now?
For me it just comes. I come up with a book idea for example, I write it down and then just start figuring out what I need to do to get it published. If it’s an adventure I see, I research what I need to do to get in shape or prepare for that adventure and then I go after it. I’m always working on several projects at a time, so I have to learn how to compartmentalize things so that I can get them all accomplished. NOW is the time…there is no other time to be ready. Live in the now that is truly all we have. Don’t get stuck in the past..it’s over…don’t wait…don’t live in the future because tomorrow may never come….act now, do now, be now…and move forward.
I is for Individual. Name at least one person that you know that you feel others should learn about and why?
Wow, this is a hard one. I have so many unique and creative people in my life. Okay here are five:
1. Saranne Rothberg – founder of Comedy Cures who is a breast cancer survivor and founded comedy cures to help cancer patients and their caretakers.
2. Janette Barber– Host of Janette’s Show on Sirus XM Radio who is always doing missions to help third world countries and children.
3. John Basedow – Fitness Celebrity who helped me lose 30 pounds with his program and who I also do movie reviews and motivational tips with.
4. Ashirta Furman – Holder of over 250 world records known as world’s most versatile human.
5. Donna Drake – Host of Live it Up TV (who I use to co-host the show with.) She had a dream about being on TV, then created her own show to do it.
C is for Continue. When you fail, things look bleak or are not optimistic what makes you want to continue?
When I’m upset, I allow myself to cry for a day, then I write all my feelings down in raw fashion…once it is out of my system I go to work on how to change it. For example when I needed to drop my cholesterol I refused to take a statin drug, so I did a ton of research and dropped it naturally 86 points in 1 month. If it’s a relationship, I analyze why things aren’t going right, and read books on relationships, and soul search and make tweaks in my approach to things so that they can work smoothly. If it’s my career, I make a list of what I need to do to get to where I want to go. Always changing my approach. You can’t get different results if you keep doing the same thing. I say, ‘Things come to pass, they don’t come to stay.” It may be horrible now, but soon it will get better if I don’t wallow or have a “victim” mentality. Victims cannot help themselves. But if you believe in yourself, you can make it in any situation. Also, when people say to me, “Don’t worry there is light at the end of the tunnel” I say to heck with that, “I’ll bring my own flashlight.” Simple I continue because I don’t like to be where I am. The only way to get through Hell is to keep on moving.
K is for Key. What keys to success can you leave for upcoming entrepreneurs and leaders?
Be yourself. You can watch how others got to a goal, but there is only 1 you, and be that to the best of your ability. Never do anything that you wouldn’t want in the headlines of a newspaper. Be your own best cheerleader. It’s great to have a supporting cast, but in the quiet hours you have to know how to pull yourself out of any situation. Be grateful, always have an attitude of gratitude. Keep your sense of humor, that will help you get through the rough spots. Don’t ask people to do something you wouldn’t do.
Visit Fran Capo for more information.