Ralph Zuranski:
What is your definition of heroism?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
My definition of heroism is somebody who chooses to be
positive over negative. You have that choice every minute of the
day. When you are in a bad situation, if you can look on the
bright side, I know that sounds corny, but it’s those little
things that make up your life and your character.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
If you are a person who tends to find the positive and
has that perspective, then I think that usually translates into
a hero.
Ralph Zuranski:
Did you ever create a secret hero in your mind that
helped you deal with life’s difficulties?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Yeah, yeah, you know, I actually did. I’m going to
reveal some stuff to you that I have never talked about
publicly. We were talking earlier that I wanted to become an
actress.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Well, the reason I wanted to become an actress when I
was growing up was because I had a horrible, horrible childhood.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I had a double life. In order to survive mentally, I
turned to movies. I turned to TV shows and escapism. I was very
caught up into the celebrity world and into movies. That’s why I
had such an establishment with acting early on. I was just in
the survival mode.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
It wasn’t one particular hero in my mind like a
persona. It was just this escapism. Lets say Harrison Ford in
Star Wars.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I would adopt those types of characteristics…people who
were fearless, strong, even funny and just courageous. I would
translate those to myself, even though he was not a real person.
He was to me, in my mind so that is such a great question
Ralph Zuranski:
When was the lowest point in your life and how did you
change your life path to one of victory over all obstacles?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I did have a lot of obstacles. I used to not want to
talk about it but since you are doing this for kids I have to
tell you that this is really important.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I was sexually abused. Nobody back then talked about
it. I thought I was the only person in the world. Now, you can
look around and you can get help. What I did was I just sucked
it up.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I just told myself I will get out of this house and I
will survive. I will be successful. It was just a lot of inner
dialogue
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I was looking back now I realize a lot of it was God.
There is no way I could have survived the situation without a
higher power.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I wasn’t particularly religious although I did pray a
lot. But, when I look back, I can tell it was something much
bigger than me that pulled me through.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I just want to say to kids who are going through rough
times in their homes, it will get better. Just pray and talk to
somebody. Find a mentor like this program that you are doing.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Find somebody who is doing what you want to do and do
it. I didn’t have that luxury. I just had to pull myself
through with God and that’s how I did it.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
You feel completely helpless. Looking back while I’m
thinking, “Why didn’t you do this? Why didn’t you do that?”
But, your just, you’re a kid and your locked in.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
It is a little different now because people will listen
to you much more. Back then it was very hush, hush and you have
a hopeless feeling.
Ralph Zuranski:
Do you have a dream or vision that sets the course of
your life?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
You know it was kind of baby steps. When I got out of
high school I knew that I was going to go to college. That was
just a given.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
The man who was abusing me had left the country so I
was able to relax a little and focus on myself. After I got out
of college where I studied journalism, I told my father I still
wanted to be an actress.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
That’s what I really really wanted. So I drove myself
out to Caifornia to pursue it and I realized I really didn’t
like that lifestyle so much but it was just one step at a time.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I didn’t have a big over arching picture. I wish I
could say I did but now, when I look back, I think, “Wow
everything I did fits. It all makes since.”
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
“It’s come full circle because now I'm doing
copywriting, which its related to my journalism. It’s related to
the writing I have always loved to do. And, acting, believe it
or not, is also a piece of copywriting that’s helped me because
it helps you become very empathetic You understand psychology.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I was listening to your interview with Joe Vitale and
he emphasized how as a copywriter you really have to be able to
feel. And, that was so well said. That’s very, very true.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
So all the things that I have done have heightened my
ability to feel and to connect with human beings. And that I
believe is why my copywriting is very successful now.
Ralph Zuranski:
Do you take a positive view of setbacks, misfortunes
and mistakes?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Again it comes back to making a choice to become
positive or negative. We have that choice every second of the
day.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I don’t always make the right one, but I know that if
you don’t hang on to negativity you can move forward.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Honestly, it’s okay…praying. I am very codependent on
God.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Its amazing when you get clear intention and clear
focus and you ask for what you want, you may not get it in the
way you want it but its amazing. God is real and he’s definitely
very key in my life.
Ralph Zuranski:
Were you willing to experience discomfort in the
pursuit of your dream?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Well, there’s going to be pain and discomfort. There
definitely was when I decided that I was going to stay at home
with my kids.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Let me bridge you over from my acting. I , hated
acting, got married, had kids, got divorced and had to go to
work. When I had to go to work, I had to leave my kids which was
the worst thing in the world.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
All I ever wanted to do after my childhood was to be an
amazing mother. That’s all I wanted to do! When I had to leave
my little babies, who were 4 and 6, in daycare, it killed me.
So, all I wanted to do after that was to get home.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
To figure out how to work from home, I quit my job and
I became a copy writer. I was already doing some freelance
writing but I didn’t have a net. I didn’t have a back up plan.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
All I knew was that I wanted to be home with my kids
and for several years I made less than $5,000. That’s poverty.
But, it was more important to me to be home with them.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I wouldn’t get my nails done. I wouldn’t get my hair
done. I would pinch pennies and do everything I could do to make
sure I could be home with them.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I sacrificed that and now I have an amazing business
and now I want to give back. So, yeah, you’re going to have to
go through some discomfort, most likely. But, it makes you
appreciate what you’ve got.
Ralph Zuranski:
How were you able to overcome your
doubts and fears?
Prayer and also you can listen
to motivational tapes or to hypnosis tapes. Every night I
listen to one about manifesting what it is that I want because
where you put your brain is where you’re going to get results.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
You can take two people who were born the same and who
have had the same experiences. I’ll tell you an example is my
sister and I.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I love my sister to death. We have both had the exact
same horrible childhood, the same terrible things. We are both
mothers but my sister can not seem to get her life going the way
she wants it to. She’s in a rut. Soon she’s going to come out
here and I am going to help her.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
She is a great writer too. You’ll be seeing her name
out here too because is very talented. But it’s what you do
with your life…your attitude. It’s so dependent on your
attitude.
Ralph Zuranski:
Who helped give you the willpower to change things in
you life for the better?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Well I have very good friends and that’s been a great
help. I’ve always had very good friends so I think that’s
something.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
They change through time though don’t they?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I have a group of my college friends who were very
motivated and I had a group of my girlfriends I had been close
with for 20 years who just think that I can do anything. We are
very supportive of each other.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
So, I can’t tell you anyone specifically, but I have
been surrounded by friends who are supportive. I believe that
people are in your life for a reason in general and once that
reason is served, you may not be as close and I think that
happens.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
There are cycles even with woman that we are not as
close at different points of our life. like right now, I am on
the entrepreneurial track. I do have a group of my very close
friends who don’t quite understand why I work so hard. “What the
heck do I do in my house all day?”
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
So I think it’s an effortless, revolving dance…always
shifting.
Ralph Zuranski:
Do you maintain your sense of humor in the face of
serious problems?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I love laughing! That’s my favorite thing to do. I
don’t know how exactly I do that. I think you have a sense of
humor or you don’t, but I seek it out.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I look for things that entertain me. I like to be
entertained. Again, it’s back to perspective.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
It’s funny to sit back and watch people. Even as a
copywriter it’s actually a good thing to do to be able to study
people and watch their reactions. A lot of times I just watch!
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
People entertain me without even meaning to entertain
me. My son and I, my youngest son, Chase and I have these very
intellectual humorous banter back and forth.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
My sons keep me young. They’re still innocent but they
think they know everything. So, some of the stuff that comes out
of their mouths just cracks me up and I crack them up too.
Ralph Zuranski:
Who are the HEROES in your life?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
There are a few in Hollywood, but not many. There are
some good people here, but people can get sucked into the
trappings often.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I had alot of issues with trying to get work as an
actress. There was you know, there’s the drug scene. There’s so
little of everything here I guess it just matters what your
perspective is.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Who I found is a hero now, and I did find him in Los
Angles to be honest, is my husband John. He is just my best
friend and he understands me.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
He has been through a lot too. Even when we’ve had a
real horrible fight and I’ll just want to get pouty and make him
suffer…just do the things we woman like to do, he will say,
“Honey I love you so much!”
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Just knowing that I have someone there, who believes in
me and who cares about me no matter what is definitely my hero.
Most definitely! I hope everybody has a relationship like that.
Ralph Zuranski:
Who do you feel are the real heroes in our society
today?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Oh that’s so easy it’s just like we were saying its
parents and its teachers. It’s teachers who take extra time to
make learning more fun because with kids, you can’t drown
information into anybody whether it’s good for them or not. If
it’s boring, it’s not going to soak in.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
One of my sons’ teachers actually is very entertaining
and very bright too. I think there’s a correlation there
between being bright and being able to find the humor in things.
Ralph Zuranski:
Why are HEROES so important in the lives of young
people?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Oh gosh, because there is so much tragedy out there.
It’s so easy. I am terrified for my kids of what the world is
around us. We have to find little pockets of safety and people
that you can go to that you can tell if you have a horrible
thing happen to you.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I want to tell you a story that is disturbing me. It
may not be correct for this venue to mention it but, back east
some boys held down this other child and tattooed his forehead
with some obscenity.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
It just turns my stomach. You need to have people
around that you can talk to. How could something like this ever
get to such a point without there being adults or some maturity
around?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
It baffles me and it frightens me for my kids that
there are people out there who are loose cannons. It’s just that
they need love. That sounds very” Pollyannaish” but that is it.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
It comes down to the very, very basics. Nobody would
do such a horrific act if they felt confident and loved and
valued. That’s what heroes need to do for other people is help
them feel valued.
Ralph Zuranski:
Who do you think are the HEROES today that are not getting the
recognition they deserve?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
There are so many people that are not getting the
recognition they deserve. There’s so many!. Teachers again.
They have to put up with kids who are in a classroom with a lot
of kids and different personalities. They are supposed to teach
them, keep them safe and hopefully be good role models. They get
paid horribly and treated badly.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I have a couple of friends who are teachers in high
school and many of the students, don’t have respect for the
teachers. It’s all sick. It’s horrible. They don’t have respect
because they don’t have any parenting at home and that’s again
where your program comes in to play.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
These kids have to be realistic about what are they
going to do with their lives. They may think they’re tough
right now but in five or ten years are they going to be garbage
men? What do they want to do? They have all the power in there
hands right now and people just need to show them that they have
it.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
The teachers are grossly under paid and parents don’t
really get paid either. Those are definitely the most important
roles. Unfortunately, a lot of kids don’t have great teachers
or great parents that are there so that’s another great reason
why I am so happy you have created this program.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
There is no reason in the world why every child,
teenager and young adult shouldn’t be able to find somebody who
will take some time with them and show them that their life can
be all that they want it to be.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I work with my own kids. Of course they don’t want to
listen to me. They are 16 and 17. I will throw in things to
them without sounding like their mother who thinks that they are
perfect, about ideas on what it is you can do so you don’t have
to have a regular 9 to 5 job.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Yes you need to go to college just because it’s a good
launching pad, but you can do whatever it is that you want. You
do not have to have a cap on your income. I am proof of that.
It’s out there and there’s no reason why kids shouldn’t be
hooked up with people who care and think like that and who can
show them the way.
Ralph Zuranski:
How does it feel to be recognized as an Internet HERO?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
It makes me feel awesome. I feel really great. The way
you have this program set up where I know its going to attract
so many people, that makes me feel really good. I hope if I just
have the message for one person that something that I say can
make their lives a little bit better or I can shift their
attitude then, that’s the best feeling in the world.
Ralph Zuranski:
Do you have any good solutions to the problems facing
society, especially racism, child and spousal abuse and violence
among young people?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
That is such a tough question. That is a tough one.
Yes, if everyone would listen to me society would be much
better. No, I seriously believe that it comes back to God and
that prayer, and not forced prayer.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Of course it gets very sticky when you start bringing
God into the picture. For my own belief in my God, I believe
that if everybody were more in touch with the Golden Rule and
loving each other, and again I know it sounds so “Pollyannaish,”
but these little tiny things, they make such a difference.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Be of service to other people. Go out and do something
for you neighbor. There were some clothes in my laundry room, I
live in an apartment, and they were in the dryer and I needed
the dryer so I folded that persons clothes.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I never said anything to them. I have no idea who it
even was, but I know that I made their day and that made me feel
good.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
If you do things that make you feel good by doing
things that make other people feel good, it’s such a ripple
effect. It goes a really long way and it could be the tiniest
little thing.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Let somebody out in front of you while in the car
instead of jamming on the accelerator. Little things like that!
If you can make it your business to try and do some of those
things everyday, and then when you go to bed, think about 10
things that you are grateful for.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I am a firm believer of spontaneous acts of kindness.
It makes me feel good. I am not that different from anybody
else. It would make you feel good. It would make anybody feel
good so I would say give it a try.
Ralph Zuranski:
If you had three wishes for your life and the world,
that would instantly come true, what would they be?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Three wishes for myself and the world? Oh my goodness,
well I would want my sons to both find their passion and to
follow it, what ever that is. I would support that.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I would desire world peace but that sounds so
hokey…like “Ms. Congeniality” but quite honestly I really do
wish it was a reality. Racism is so stupid. I wish it was
eradicated.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
We are all human beings. It’s ridiculous to think
otherwise, that we are better than anybody else.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
And the last one would be, I would like to, and your
helping me with this by the way, I would like to be able to help
young girls have a better sense of themselves, better confidence
and to know that you can compete on any field, on any level and
make it.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I think that girls need a little bit more self-esteem
and confidence now then boys do.
Ralph Zuranski:
What do you think about the “In Search Of Heroes” Program and
its impact on youth, parents and business people?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
The way you got it going, it will have a huge impact.
My only concern is that it’s only online, and while I am always
online and a lot or most people are online I think, there are
other people it won’t reach.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
But, as it grows online hopefully it will be taken out
in a bigger way as well and people will know there is a place
for them and get some support. It’s a great program you’ve got
going and it’s a heart-felt need that you’re filling.
Ralph Zuranski:
What are the things parents can do that will help their
children realize they too can be HEROES and make a positive
impact on the lives of others?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Well, spend time with your kids. That’s a good one.
It’s very easy to get caught up in our own world when we are
tired, if you work a regular job or even if you don’t.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
You put a lot of time in just to maintain your house
and your finances. But, take some extra time and really visit
with your kids and sit with them when they are watching their
goofy cartoons and just see what’s in their lives.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I think that would help a lot. It would go a long way
toward connecting. Show them some respect and they will give it
back to you. My X-husband it actually dating this other woman,
who I like very much, but she was wondering why my son didn’t
like her or wouldn’t talk to her.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
He was watching T.V. and she just walks over and turns
off the TV. She goes, “Okay, I want you to tell me why you don’t
like me.”
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Well, that’s not respectful. Being respectful would be
saying, “When you’re done I would like to spend 5 minutes with
you and talk with you. Would that work out for you in your
schedule?”
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
It is those kinds of things, instead of slamming down
the law. Just be more respectful.
Ralph Zuranski:
Do you think, especially boys, that it’s important to
have some sort of discipline?
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Oh yes. I actually fought my kid’s dad on this because
I just wanted to be the best mom in the world. To me that meant
they were happy all the time.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Well, they can’t be happy all the time because our job
is to teach them things. Teaching them means putting boundaries.
That was where John, as the male energy as well he should have,
came in and said, “You know these are the rules and you are
going to follow them.”
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
And at the time I hated it, but when I look at it now,
my kids clean up their room. They are responsible kids and they
will be responsible adults. I think it’s very critical and I
think it’s a crisis situation that other parents are not making
any boundaries around their own kids.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
When my kids were in preschool, experts taught that you
should be having dinner with your kids every night and that is a
special time for you all to sit around and bond, and I do
believe its true.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I have to be honest. We don’t do it every night like we
use to, but I think that having some stability, if you cant do
it every night, just do it a few nights a week or just some kind
of stability.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I drive my kids to school in the morning and that’s
when we have our best conversations because they will really
open up. There’s nothing else to do and I think the dinner table
is the same way. There’s nothing else really to do so you are
forced to interact. It’s a nice ritual.
Ralph Zuranski:
How important do you think it is for kids to learn to
write copy these days?
Well, I think writing in
general is a great way to get your emotions out of paper…
keeping a journal no matter if anyone ever sees it or not.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Even if you write something and throw it away, it’s a
physical act of putting your emotions into a physical place. I
don’t know that copywriting is a great career.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great career, but
copywriting is really selling. So, I don’t know if it’s
important that they learn to copywrite. I think it’s very
important that they learn to express themselves on paper. I
think that’s critical, and whatever way they use it after that.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
Like I said, copywriting is a good way to make a living
and you have to be in touch with your feelings. You have to
understand human psychology.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
I think all those things intertwined to make the
perfect career for me but it might not be perfect for
everybody. Just so as long as people are writing, it’s very
powerful. Like you said, “The pen is a powerful sword”.
Lorrie Morgan Ferrero:
My parting advice would be to be grateful for whatever
it is that you have because everything looks better when you
start to realize what it is that you’ve got under your own two
feet now.
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