Walt F. J. Goodridge

The Short Version: "Once upon a time, there was a Jamaican civil engineer living in New York City who hated his job. He followed his passion, started a sideline business publishing his own books, quit his job, escaped the rat race, ran off to a tropical island in the Pacific, and started a tourism business so he could give tours of the island to pretty girls every day! He now lives a nomadpreneur's dream life, while helping others do the same!" That's the short version of my life story. My name is Walt F.J. Goodridge. For the last several years I've been living what I call a "passionpreneur" and "nomadpreneur" lifestyle of money AND mobility! In other words, I make money doing what I love while seeing the world at the same time! However, it wasn't always like this. I went from being a frustrated civil engineer who hated my job to successfully turning my passion into profit! I now live on the tropical Pacific island of Saipan, from where I visit China, Singapore, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries around the world! Like I said, it wasn't always like this. Many years ago, after I graduated from Columbia University with my Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, I was, like many people, destined for a career in my "chosen" profession. I say "chosen" because I wasn't really the one who chose it! Like many people, I only ended up in engineering because my counselor in high school said I should do it, and being a good student, I listened. (I love you, Ms. Charlotte Huey!) " W i t h i n t h e f i r s t f i f t e e n m i n u t e s . . . . " Immediately after graduation, I accepted a job in the Design Division of the Port Authority Engineering Department on the 73rd floor of World Trade Center One. Within the first fifteen minutes of my first job in corporate America, I realized, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I absolutely hated it!! I saw the future in some of my co-workers, and, let me tell you, the prospect of working a monotonous and restrictive nine-to-five job for the rest of my life, scared me to the core! I wanted freedom. I wanted the freedom to wake up when I'm finished sleeping (and not a minute before)! I wanted the freedom to go see movies in the middle of the afternoon! I wanted the freedom to see the world! C h a n g i n g t h e G a m e So, from that moment, I did everything I could to escape and create the freedom I desperately desired. Unfortunately, no one in my family could offer me any real solutions to that desire. And my friends? Most of my friends were in the same situation, themselves. I knew I wanted to do something that was my passion. But no one had ever asked me "what is your passion?" or "What do you love to do?" I had to ask those questions of myself. To find the answers, I thought back to my college days. I had been a radio deejay on WKCR-FM, and I loved music. So, I went in the direction of that passion and first did some graphic design for an album cover, then became an artist manager, then a record label owner, until, by a stroke of chance, I found my true calling for sharing information and wrote Change the Game. Through the success of that single book, I was able to match my civil engineering income and walk away from my career to become a full-time "passionpreneur"--a phrase I coined. Want to know how I was able to walk away from a "good" civil enginering job into the uncertainty of being a passionpreneur? Want to know the fears and thoughts that went through my mind and how was I able to justify the decision to leave? Well, check out Ducks in a Row??? How to find the courage to finally QUIT your soul-draining, life-sapping, energy-depleting, freedom-robbing job now...before it's too late..and live passionately ever after! I then went on to write several more books on the music industry which you can check out at HipHopEntrepreneur.com C o m e s t h e P r o p h e t Based on the effectiveness of the information in those first few books, people started asking me to consult them to start businesses and launch their own passionpreneurial ventures. In time, I realized my life's mission ("I share what I know, so that others may grow!") , and when the internet came along, I took that mission online, providing "information, inspiration, ideas and instruction to help people succeed!" I do that through my books, coaching, workshops as well as my own brand of motivation I called "Life Rhymes. (Every week, for nine years I sent my Walt's Friday Inspiration emails to tens of thousands of subscribers. I've now resurrected them in 2018!) As time went on, I developed my experience and expertise in website development, internet marketing, and living true to my self, and put it all into a belief system and "Passion Profit Philosophy and Formula" that anyone can use to change their reality just like I did. I launched dozens of websites, created more unique products and developed a coaching and seminar practice as the "Passion Prophet." In 1999, I published the formula in my "how to" Turn Your Passion into Profit which, with yearly updates, has consistently sold in the top 50 in home-business books on Amazon.com. (They say that imitation is the best form of flattery. So, I consider myself flattered that several authors followed my lead with similarly-titled books of their own!) image of Turn Your Passion into Profit CD (Also available as a six-CD audio.) Over the course of the years since escaping from corporate America, I've written more than 25 books, over 400 articles and almost 500 motivational poems, and have dozens of websites that I manage! E s c a p e F r o m A m e r i c a However, as much as I felt fulfilled by helping others realize their dreams, we "passion prophets" have our own dreams, too! In 2006, through a friend who had visited and raved about his experience, I "discovered" the little-known US commonwealth island of Saipan for myself, booked a one-way ticket, and escaped from New York to begin living out my own nomadpreneur dream life on this Pacific island paradise. Want to know how I did it? Well, check out How to Become a Nomadpreneur: A pocket guide of income strategies, travel jobs & survival tips for expats, vagabonds, techies and rat race escapees who want to see the world AND make money too! J a m a i c a n o n S a i p a n Once on the island, and wanting to be a part of the re-branding of Saipan's image, I launched the WeLoveSaipan.com website, then 20 additional sites devoted to showing the world the often overlooked images and impressions of Saipan and the CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). For five years, I wrote a weekly business column for the Saipan Tribune entitled "The Saipanpreneur Project." I've also written several books about Saipan, including: (1) Jamaican on Saipan! My first year and impressions of life on a different island paradise! (2) Doing Business on Saipan to further encourage entrepreneurial activity on the island, and.... (3) Chicken Feathers and Garlic Skin: Diary of a Chinese Garment Factory Girl on Saipan, co-authored with former garment factory worker Chun Yu Wang. (Excerpted in French textbook on the American Dream; Used in three US universities in the textiles and women's studies programs;) (4) Saipan Living! A comprehensive guide for moving to, finding a job, working, living or vacationing in the Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Saipan Now book cover (5) Saipan Now! A photo adventure. I also formed SaipanBookings.com--a tourism company--to help visitors experience the best of Saipan's accommodations and activities, and actually do give tours to pretty girls (and everyone else) through my DiscoverSaipan.com website! R e c o g n i t i o n o n S a i p a n One of my proudest moments came when was recognized by official CNMI Senate Resolution No. 15-54 for my contributions to Saipan, its residents and economy. View it here I've been asked to provide location management for visiting film crews, coordinate logistics for research teams, arrange interviews with local resident for authors, and even participate in documentaries about the Northern Mariana Islands: But wait! There's more! J a m a i c a n I n C h i n a . . . . a n d B e y o n d Saipan was--and continues to be--a great experience, and one of the top three decisions I've made in my life, but the urge to see more of the world keeps calling me! So, I set my sights on China, and went to live there for 6 months. You can now follow my adventures there as well as in Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand and other destinations on my "Jamaican In China! blog Want to know what it was like spending six months in China, Singapore and Laos? Well, check out the book, Jamaican in China! Guess Who's Coming to Dim Sum! the entire blog adventure in book format (Download PDF Free) M y S a i p a n - S p e c i f i c " R e s u m e " As a transplanted resident of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) since 2006, I have embarked on several projects to make a difference and to help improve the quality of life here on the island. Since relocating here, I have: ► conducted several "Turn Your Passion into Profit" workshops ► launched the "We Love Saipan" website/blogger movement ► started a Food Co-op/Buyer's Group ► written over 300 empowerment articles for the Saipan Tribune and Marianas Variety newspapers in my weekly Saipanpreneur Column ► conducted numerous writer workshops for aspiring authors. View www.saipanwriters.com ► conducted similar workshops on the neighboring islands of Tinian and Guam for the Chamber of Commerce, US Navy ► given tours of the islands to visitors interested in the history and culture: http://www.discoversaipan.com Video of my tours ► been interviewed by authors writing books on this US territory (See The Not Quite States of America by Doug Mack) ► been featured as an expert in the documentary, "American's Forgotten Colonies" (72,000 views as of this writing) ► written and self-published several books about Saipan including ● Jamaican on Saipan ● Saipan Living ● Doing Business on Saipan ● Saipan Now ● There's Something About Saipan ● Chicken Feathers & Garlic Skin: Diary of a Chinese Garment Factory Girl on Saipan, which remains the only first-hand account of factory life on Saipan and was used as a textbook in several "Textile Industry" and "Women's Studies" university courses in mainland US, and portions of which were excerpted in a French textbook on "The American Dream" ● From Bugle Boy to Battleship ● Drinking Seawater ● The Amelia Earhart on Saipan tour supplement ► launched a Change.org campaign to encourage Crayola Crayons to name their new blue color "Saipan Blue" in tribute to the amazingly blue waters that surround the island and SaipanBlue.com ► launched a successful GoFundMe campaign to help certain victims and survivors of the category 5 super typhoon YUTU, ► been recognized by American Memorial Park (National Park Service) for my efforts to increase visitorship through my tours http://www.saipantribune.com January 11, 2018 See: Photo in Marianas Variety newspaper ► started health groups and staged screenings of health documentaries in order to raise the health consciousness on island ► ...AND been recognized by the CNMI Legislature's Resolution 15-54 for my contributions to CNMI society I s h a r e w h a t I k n o w , s o t h a t o t h e r s m a y g r o w ! As much fun as it is to share the details of my life, I know you're not reading this just for fun. You want to know "what's in it for ME???" Well, everything, including my fun adventures in China, are offered to you to prove a point: to show that we can all make different choices; to show that when it comes to changing the direction of your life that it can be done; and to encourage you to do the same. In other words, I share what I know so that others may grow! That's my life's purpose. Everything I do serves that life purpose. The PassionProfit™ mix of products includes creations and guidance from my own journey discovering, developing and turning my own passion into profit. They contain "Information, inspiration, ideas and instruction" to help you turn YOUR passion into profit, escape the rat race and even become a nomadpreneur if that's your choice! All the products I've created or collaborated on serve as examples. I helped a Filipina nurse creat a children's book based on her son's school assignment. I helped a Chinese garment factory worker write and share her experience with the world. These represent ideas that can inspire you to do something similar. Even though I've been doing this for years, it's always great to hear just how much impact my books as well as my fun adventures have on others: "Hey Walt, When I first heard your personal story of the experiences that led you to the path of the passion pursuit, I knew you were achieving what many people think is out of their reach. You made me see that achievement had never been out of the reach for me. After attending your seminar and purchasing your book, I knew that the passion within me could only be profitable once I decided to take the necessary steps to success. I saw you as someone I was able to connect with and it made me think, "If he can do it, so can I." I am currently turning the passion I have of creating artwork, photography and dance to that next level. No longer are these just hobbies but a way of life that is invigorating, challenging and fulfilling. I feel a deeper connection to the purpose of this life path I am on. By focusing on this passion of creation, I am liberating myself from the limits of doing something I had no passion for. Getting Turn Your Passion into Profit was one of my first steps to acknowledging my own purpose, power and freedom. Thank you! And this comes straight from the heart because that is where passion truly lives. Peace and blessings!"--Nicole Woo, DC Read more testimonials, reviews and feedback at www.passionprofit.com/testimonials To learn and implement my philosophy, formula and strategies, start with these THREE FREE EBOOKS: (1) In Search of a Better Belief System, (2) 7 Conversations to Freedom, and (3) The Integrated Life which you can get when you join my mailing list (below). Then order a copy of my book, Ducks in a Row: How to find the courage to finally QUIT your soul-draining, life-sapping, energy-depleting, freedom-robbing job now...before it's too late..and live passionately ever after!, which you'll receive when you order Turn Your Passion Into Profit! See you on the other side! "Your Little Flights of Fancy..." There's nothing you can offer that I can't get on my own The essence of your sales pitch are all things I've long outgrown For it's not about the money I've got streams that feed my wealth And it's not about some "status" that's derived outside myself Yes, a legacy is fine So call me selfish if you must But my focus is the present not when dust returns to dust I roam the world nomadic poised to live out all my dreams You, who merely skim the surface miss the depth of all my schemes And yet how is it I'm able? So footloose and fancy free? It's those "little flights of fancy" that's how all this came to be! COMMENTARY: I've been having an interesting email exchange over the past few months with the head of a European-based publishing company who wants to commission me by contract to write a book about Saipan's history. ...read the story behind this and 485 other "life rhymes" at www.liferhymes.com