I love to find “treasures.” Hidden treasures, not so hidden ones, ones that no one else understands but me.

Sometimes when I travel, I put together my own Creative Scavenger Hunt – a few simple goals for guiding discoveries on my trips. But I recently realized that we don’t have to go far to find the unfamiliar, raise our awareness, delight in discovery – the Creative Scavenger Hunt can live online, offline, far away or close.

This week I came upon a few online discoveries through e-mail, sites, research and referrals. Here are the top 3:

1. A Virtual School For The World: Sal Khan, founder of The Khan Academy, is educating the world for free. From calculus to history, people are learning and listening to what Khan has to say through his unconventional (and successful, if you count the unique visitors, page views and feedback) methods. You can find out more in the Daily Good article about him – I am seriously considering taking his calculus class, just because it has got to be better than my 9th grade experience. Check it out and let me know what you think.

2. 57 Words For Writing Brilliant Headlines: Tiffany from Personal PR put together an awesome list of words to use to add punch to your blog headlines. Even if you don’t have a blog, that’s cool – all of us can use a refresher when it comes to being unique with our words, meaning and energy.

3. The Unconventional Guide To Freelancing: Good pal Charlie Gilkey and Chris Guillebeau teamed up for this most fabulous guide geared to those of us who run freelance businesses. I’ve had a freelance writing business for 2003 and thought I knew it all – but The Unconventional Guide to Freelancing helped me see where I had some gaps in my plan and execution. They’re the experts so I’d encourage you to check out this treasure. (They’re also all around fab guys.)

That’s a wrap for this week – and while I’d love to be on the road still, actively exploring new worlds, I know it’s still possible to unleash the curious within us, whether it’s sitting here on my couch or walking to Chelsea Market and doing some active people watching (with a crepe and/or cupcake, of course).

What new discovery did you make this week? How did you find it and what’s cool about it?

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Blissful. Prompted. Loved. Challenged. Eager.

Five of the many words that describe my feelings when I found Danielle LaPorte and her amazing creation WhiteHotTruth.com just months ago.

Upon discovery, I have since printed out many of her posts – some of them on my office wall, refrigerator door, and bedside table. I’ve forwarded them on to my mom, my sister, my friends, my co-workers. I’ve read them out loud to myself. She writes and speaks timeless inspiration I re-visit and re-absorb on a regular basis.

Her ripple effect doesn’t stop there. I’ve had entrepreneurial friends rave about Danielle’s Fire Starter Sessions. On May 12^th (yes, a few days from now), Danielle’s new digital book, THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS will be released worldwide. Designed to help entrepreneurs rock their career with integrity, audacity and their truest strengths, it’s also created to give back, with portions of every purchase going to The Acumen Fund or WomenforWomen.

I remember emailing with Danielle a few months ago prior to a speaking engagement here in NYC where I moderated a panel on blogging. She wrote three words to me that I will forever remember. “You will shine.” (P.S. I did).

We recently caught up for a short Q&A. I intentionally asked some basic questions – and of course, Danielle gave  colorful answers. I’m excited to share it with you on the eve of the release of THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS.

**

Laura: You are inspiring so many of us with your brilliant words, your meaningful actions, your contagious spirit. What are some of your own sources of inspiration?

Danielle: Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit really fueled my fire to just make stuff and keep experimenting and pushing my own boundaries. Leonard Cohen makes me want to sell everything, move to Greece and get to the heart of my matters. The mind of Zen master Alan Watts is like, one of my favourite places to get lost. Singer/song writer Antony of “Antony & The Johnsons” breaks my hear as does Rumi. My six year old boy draws the best post modern kind of art. Oprah. Bono. Eve Ensler deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.

Laura: What’s been the most rewarding part of your work to date? The most challenging?

Danielle: Rewarding: hearing someone’s dreams and ambitions is sacred stuff. My 1-on-1 work with my Fire Starter clients feels like a privilege, really.

Challenging: I really feel like my biggest challenges are behind me in some ways. I’ve burned a lot of vocational karma in the last few years and I’m really rocking my freedom. I’m looking forward to going deep, deep, deeper.

Laura: Finally – and it’s a very basic question – but who would you say is the person that has influenced you the most, if you look at your ongoing work that you share so magically with others?

Danielle: I worked for The Body Shop in my twenties and its founder, Anita Roddick left a very deep impression on me. She was fire itself. She used her commercial clout to make political change, she told evil corporations to go piss off, she campaigned for all sorts of justices, she reached out to orphanages in Romania. She was undaunted and outspoken and loving. And humble. I hope to be as indomitable and effective.

**

You can find Danielle on Twitter @daniellelaporte – but make your way over to WhiteHotTruth.com and soak in the goodness. And don’t forget to grab your copy of THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS. You’ll get a sneak peek chapter that, on its own, sparked a blast of new ideas for my own plans.

P.S. I only recommend what’s rocked my world. Danielle, I can’t thank you enough.

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Expert: a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field; specialist; authority.

Latin origins: experīrī to try, experience.

I’ve had a beautiful few days in Troncones, exploring new activities and having some very cool and real conversations with folks here.

With each conversation, I’ve learned some small, medium and big things:

- From my yoga teacher about how to improve my sun salutation

- From the Qi Gong instructor about the elevation of consciousness and our joint love of the Latin American culture

- From another guest who has a passion for Persian history (I had no knowledge of Zoroaster prior to Monday evening).

The thread?

They all expressed passion about their subject. When I asked them how they became so knowledgeable, each one of them said the same thing: experience.

Experience – not necessarily multiple degrees – makes the expert.

Each one of the individuals above shared their lessons or suggestions from experience. Maybe they earn money for their expertise, maybe they have some certification or degree as required to establish authority in our society. But their teachings, their conversations and what they share come from what they know to be true from what they’ve seen, heard, smelled, touched, listened to, lost and loved.

They share what they know. And it works.

My dad worked in technology for more than 40 years. And he’s a computer expert. He teaches computer science to college students now.

But he’s also an expert in being a dad, even if he didn’t go to school or get paid for it. He could probably teach a thing or two about it.

Seems simple, and it is. You’re already an expert – on you. Your story, journey, hobby or perspective is worth sharing. Someone will and will want to relate. And guess what? You don’t have to be popular, you just have to share what you know.

My guess is that if we all made an effort to share what we know, we’d all be loads smarter.

What’s your take? Is it life experience and willingness to share it that makes an expert or is it a combination of other factors and qualities?

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