The Origin of ShineOn and The Great Discovery Project

Hello, hello — welcome to the GDP community. I’m so happy that you’re here.

I’ll be honest, I’ve been overthinking things a little, so I decided to jump on, as I often do, for one of my “one-take wonder” lives. While scrolling earlier, I came across a Skool ad that said, “Six gentle reminders.”

1. Your first community doesn’t have to be perfect.

2. Starting with three members is starting.

3. You already know and care enough to help someone.

4. Imperfect action beats perfect planning.

5. Your people are waiting for you to begin.

6. Community grows when you show up, not when you’re ready.

That post hit me right in the heart — especially the part about imperfect action. I realized I’d been playing shy, overthinking what to share and when to show up. And yet, the magic of this community has always been about just that: showing up, imperfectly and authentically.

So, here I am.

It’s almost four in the afternoon, there’s a parent council meeting at six, and dinner still needs to happen — but I couldn’t let another day go by without jumping on. It’s been two weeks since my last live, and the excitement that started this community is still buzzing in me. Every time I think of ShineOn and The Great Discovery Project (GDP), feel that same spark that first inspired me to create it.

Where It All Began

This all started years ago — actually, if I think way back, I was just a young girl, maybe 10 or 11, already thinking deeply about the world and people. That curiosity and reflection have always been part of me.

But the most recent turning point was in 2018. After an autoimmune diagnosis and a season of burnout, I had to face a big question: What really matters? I was stressed, overwhelmed, and out of alignment. And in that moment of reckoning, I asked myself, What would a well-lived life look like, especially if it were cut short?

That question changed everything. It woke me up. I started thinking not only about how I was living but about how we grow up — what we’re taught to value and what we overlook.

My mind went to school — and the experience young people have while growing up. As a mom, I wanted my kids to be informed, thoughtful, and empowered — to make decisions grounded in knowledge and curiosity, not fear or emotion. But something was missing.

And then it hit me: the report card.

Report cards give parents the assurance that everything’s fine — that a child is “on track.” But that’s only part of the story. Where’s the internal development? Where’s the self-awareness, the sense of direction, or connection to purpose?

I remember being 19 or 20, discovering personal development for the first time, and realizing: this is what was missing all along. I hadn’t been in conversation with myself. I didn’t know who I was, how I fit into the world, or what mattered to me. I was a “good student,” but I didn’t feel whole.

That’s when the idea began to form — the idea of reimagining the report card.

The Meaning of ShineOn

“ShineOn” is one word — and intentionally so. The “shine” represents internal development — the process of discovering who you are, your values, your beliefs, and your purpose. The “on” represents living it out — bringing your light into the world through action, creativity, and contribution.

To shine on means to live fully engaged — not just letting time pass, but being active in the experience of life.

That’s what The Great Discovery Project is about. We are here to discover our shine and turn it on in the world. The ShineOn Method for Self-Activation was born from this vision — to help people, especially young people, connect with themselves deeply and act with clarity and confidence.

The Missing Conversation

I believe this is the conversation missing in our culture. Too many young people (and adults) feel lost. They haven’t been guided to explore who they are inside — their values, strengths, and sense of direction. They’re not grounded in truth or connected to community, and that leaves them feeling uncertain about where they fit.

We can’t do this work alone. We need each other. We need spaces like this one — communities of connection, conversation, and growth.

When people don’t know their inner compass, they can’t lead themselves with confidence. And that’s why I’m passionate — even fired up — to go live, to teach, to write, and to be part of this movement. Because scrolling and being entertained might fill time, but it doesn’t fill the soul.

We’re here to wake up. To come alive. To live activated lives.

The Three Pillars of ShineOn

At the heart of the ShineOn Method are three core elements:

1. Mindset — getting right in your head, cultivating clarity and resilience.

2. Curiosity — learning about yourself and the world through exploration and imagination.

3. Action — taking inspired steps toward growth and purpose.

These three elements are part of everything I teach, from coaching sessions to time management tools to Clarity Mapping. You can’t have one without the others. A healthy state of mind allows curiosity to flourish, which then leads to meaningful action.

I often say: We create the world every day. What kind of world do we want to create?

That question sits at the heart of all my work. It’s not just about personal growth — it’s about co-creating a better world together.

The Vision

When I close my eyes and picture the future, I imagine report cards replaced with Clarity Maps.

Instead of grades defining success, young people would track their growth in mindset, curiosity, and action. They’d learn to wake up each day, get centered, explore, learn, and take aligned action — again and again. That’s how purpose is formed: by becoming more and more yourself.

And when I look at people thriving in the world — the ones lighting it up — they all share something in common. They’ve done the inner work. They know who they are, what they value, and what they bring to the world. That self-awareness creates unstoppable momentum.

I want that for everyone — especially young people. I want them to grow up in a world that celebrates their individuality and their connection to the whole.

Moving Forward

So here we are — 19 members strong and growing!

I’m committed to showing up more often, even if it’s messy and imperfect. I’ve realized that waiting to be “ready” just keeps us stuck. This space — The Great Discovery Project — is meant to be alive, evolving, and real.

I’ll keep creating, connecting, and showing up with whatever inspiration strikes. My hope is that this community becomes a place of self-activation and inspiration — where people truly come alive.

Thank you for being here, for listening, for supporting, and for being part of this movement. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Here we go — let’s keep going. I’ll see you next time.