Day 324: Corbie Dimopoulos
“… it wouldn’t be called “life” if … everything was great all the time. I mean, that’s the beauty of this rollercoaster that we’re on is that, you know, you have to take the bad in order to get the good, and vice versa. And I think that if you have that mentality, it really just flourishes through the rest of all of your abilities and your mindset of everything that you do.”
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Toni Reece: Thank you so much, Corbie, for agreeing to be part of the Project today, and before we begin, can you please introduce yourself?
Corbie Dimopoulos: Sure. My name is Corbie Dimopoulos.
Toni: And Corbie, what do you do?
Corbie: Well, I do marketing and designing for my family’s cabinet and countertop company. I also manage a countertop store that is part of our cabinet and countertop company, and I am taking on my own Pampered Chef business, as well as I am 33 weeks pregnant, so I will be leaving my job soon and starting a daycare.
Toni: Wow, you’ve got a lot going on, Corbie!
Corbie: I do.
Toni: So Corbie, when you think of that word inspiration, who do you think you inspire, and how does that happen?
Corbie: Well, as far as who I inspire, I think that a lot of my peers, whether it be employees or people that I’m involved with in community events, I think that I inspire them a little bit. You know, not necessarily that I inspire them, but maybe help them realize, you know, what their potential could be.
And I think that just by keeping a positive attitude and not really saying no to things, because I think that anything can be done. I think that it’s possible for anything to be done, so I think that that’s maybe how I Inspire the people around me, and I hope that I inspire my kids too, because, you know, I think that I’m a good role model for them, and I hope that I do inspire them.
Toni: Well, Corbie, when you are at work, or you mentioned that you do a lot of community work, are you involved in different activities as far as the community goes?
Corbie: Well, I’m involved … yeah, I’m involved in a different couple committees, and you know, one of them through the theater in town which is … they’re always looking for volunteers, and I tend to get more involved in younger groups … like theater wants to get the opinions of more younger people in town, so there was a group started for that I’m a part of.
Also, for the Chamber of Commerce, there’s a young professionals group, kind of a group that, you know, we’re all kind of in the same place in life — starting new families, starting our careers — so we can relate to people that way. And then you know, just being around and supporting the community, that’s one thing that I really enjoy doing.
Toni: When you speak about all the things that you’re involved in and what you do and how you inspire others by setting that example, I would imagine that that example that you set is also resourcefulness. When you said that you believe things can be possible and that you can realize your potential, do people comment on that with you? How do you hold so many things up in the air?
Corbie: I think, you know, they do. They comment on it. I think that I, you know … “dynamic” is one word that people use a lot I guess when they describe me. I do have a lot of energy. I’m always willing to take on another challenge, and you know, I think that that’s what kind of lights the fire underneath me is when a challenge arises, I always love to be able to take it on and embrace it and take it to the next level.
Toni: And so I’m watching you and I’m inspired by you. I can see the energy, I can see how dynamic you are. How will being in your presence and watching how you live your life, how might I explore my own potential by learning from you?
Corbie: I think that if you just kind of look at, you know, the way that I take on an activity or a challenge like I said before, whether it’s throwing an event or, you know, somebody’s … I don’t find myself to be much of an idea person, and I do have a great friend of mine that is just … he’s an entrepreneur and just full of ideas. We tend to feed off of each other very well because he really comes up with the ideas, and I, you know, charge them forward opposed to actually starting the whole process myself.
I really look on to other people to help me take the concept into reality, and I think that that’s maybe, you know, something that might inspire people too, is that it doesn’t have to be done all by yourself, you know? You can definitely put a team together and delegate tasks at hand that need to be completed.
Toni: That is really refreshing, because what you’re talking about is collaboration rather than competition.
Corbie: Oh, absolutely.
Toni: So Corbie, what inspires you?
Corbie: Well, like I said before, you know, a challenge always inspires me. I always find myself, you know, if somebody’s got something that they, you know, want to take on and just don’t know how to go about it, I definitely … I thrive on that kind of stuff. And you know, just as far as what inspires me, I think just being optimistic. That inspires me in and of itself, I think, just because I know that things can get done and that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, and I think that that’s a huge inspiration for me.
Toni: Have you always been that way, Corbie?
Corbie: I think so.
Toni: How do you stay that way, especially when times are tough right now? How do you stay that way? I mean, you know, that in itself can be very inspiring. There are people who are listening to your interview right now all over the world and are struggling, and they are going to be listening to this mindset that you have and that “get it done” attitude, and staying optimistic, and they may want to know the same thing. How do you stay optimistic?
Corbie: Well, you know, I’m not to say that … I was a young mother, and I’ve had my share of challenging times, you know? I’m in an industry that’s been greatly affected by the economy. My husband is in the same industry as I am, so we’re not, you know, strangers to hard times by any means. But I think that, you know, things can only go so bad before they start getting better.
That’s one thing that I’ve always kept in my mind is that it wouldn’t be called “life” if it was, you know … everything was great all the time. I mean, that’s the beauty of this rollercoaster that we’re on is that, you know, you have to take the bad in order to get the good, and vice versa. And I think that if you have that mentality, it really just flourishes through the rest of all of your abilities and your mindset of everything that you do.
Toni: That is a great attitude to have; it truly is. When you find yourself having a day maybe when you are looking to be a little more inspired today than you needed yesterday, what do you tend to go to? What resources or tools do you tend to reach for or people that you tend to go to when you’re looking for a little inspiration?
Corbie: You know, I definitely have those days, and I think you know when you start off those days, that when it rains it pours, and you kind of just have to say that tomorrow is going to be a different day, because it ultimately is. Every single day is different, and just, you know, stand there and just take it. That’s what you have to do, you know? And I don’t think that I necessarily use any tools or I go to anybody; I just stand there. And you just have to take it and just move forward and say “You know what? Today’s going to be a bad day, so bring it on; and then tomorrow will be different.” And it always is.
Toni: It’s interesting for me … there are words that come out to me when I’m doing these interviews. And people who have followed this, they know that there’s certain words that pop out when I’m doing these interviews, and for you there’s two. The first word that I’ve written down here is “resilient.” Very powerful. And the second is “resourceful,” and that’s what I’m hearing from you. Resilience and resourcefulness. So what are you doing now, Corbie, to explore your own potential?
Corbie: Well, like I said, I am going to be leaving my family’s business, which I’ve been a part of for about five years, and I’ve gotten to know the business very well. I’ve gotten to know contacts through the business very well, and so it’s going to be a little bit of a transition for me.
I also have to think about my family’s income, about, you know, what we’re going to do after I lose my job, because I’m just every much a part of our household as my husband is, and so I’ve explored different options that are going to work for us. And I’m really excited about my new endeavors and completely taking a new course with my career and with my life right now.
Toni: And so really, exploring your potential is to not stop dead in your tracks, but to …
Corbie: Oh, yeah.
Toni: … yeah, that’s what I’m hearing, that for you it’s “Okay, what next?”
0Corbie: Right, exactly. I mean, you can’t just say “Well, you know, this is … I’m going to quit my job, I’m not going to be bringing the income in,” but there’s ways that you can get around that, you know, and that’s what I’m doing. There’s ways that I’m getting around how to supplement my paycheck. That’s probably the biggest thing going on in my life right now, and I’m feeling that I’m taking the right steps to do it.
Toni: Well Corbie, when we do these types of interviews for the Get Inspired! Project, it can be the smallest acts of inspiration and the grandest acts of inspiration. And to listen to your interview about not only who you inspire but what you need to be inspired, it really is all about showing that sheer determination that tomorrow is another day, it’s going to be a better day, and there’s a way around things, and that’s the lesson.
Corbie: Absolutely.
Toni: Absolutely; I think that is the lesson that’s coming out of your interview today, and we can’t thank you enough. And for those of you who follow the Get Inspired! Project, I will let you in on Corbie is a fantastic lady, and I consider her … she is my niece, so there you go. So Corbie, I thank you so very much. I’m honored to call you my niece, and thanks for being part of the Project.
Corbie: Wonderful. It is my pleasure.
Toni: All right, take care, Corbie.
Corbie: Bye.
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For more information about Corbie Dimopoulos: www.heartlandcabinet.com, the-countertop-shoppe.com
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