Since I considered this not only work, but an adventure as well, I decided to bring my son, Spencer and my assistant, Vanessa to help sell books at the end of my talk. (In reality, I wanted them to eat fire. Come on, every kid should have that on their resume...)

I casually mentioned this to my son.
"So you'll come with me, set up the lecture, help sell my books and then we are going to be eating fire."
"Eat fire. I like the way you tried to sneak that in Mom. Look, I cook with fire, I toast marshmallows with fire, but I have no desire to eat fire. I'll watch you."

I smiled. "Spencer, darling... you're my son... you can eat the fire." "Mom, I have no desire to eat fire. Really."
"Okay, we'll see." I smiled.
"I know exactly what you are doing mom and it won't work."
"Good then you have nothing to worry about."

Flash forward.
We arrive at the YMCA camp grounds where the event was held.
Security wasn't exactly tight so we drove right in.

After a quick set up of my books and DVDs. We strolled into a session in progress taught by Larry Benet, known as "The connector."
He gave a great presentation and the events in his life seemed to unfold a lot like mine, he made things happen.

We spent a good part of the day listening to others workshops. Carson had gathered a fantastic group of people.
Each speaker had words of wisdom to offer.

One speaker, Bill Cawley, who is relatively new on the motivational front, had a very dynamic, heart felt message he calls his talk, "Life on Your Terms". You see at the age of 24, a dive into a bay changed Bill into a quadriplegic. Doctors told him he would never be independent, one year later; he was back at work, using a manual wheelchair and living without assistance. During the talk he said, "People always ask me if I would change that moment in time and I say, no." Then he said something that has stuck in my mind ever since. He said, "You see, I know if that moment never happened, my life would have been very different, but I can't guarantee it would have been better. Now I help motivate people around the world."

Those are powerful words. That made me think of all the moments in life we consider tragedies, and how we wish they didn't happen. But the truth is, we never know what the alternatives could be, or if they'd be better. Life always shows us very hard lessons; the thing is do we always take them away from the experience.

The weekend was filled with these pearls of wisdom. There were energetic balancing healers like Dr. Lin Morel (who I talked to in the bathroom for about 20 minutes, after I saw her working with someone in the hallway and give him a personal breakthrough.) There were life coaches, motivational speeches, peak performance speakers like, Jairek Robbins (Tony Robbins son.) There was an entertainment attorney, Peter Fields who talked all about copyrights and patents to protect our inventions etc. All amazing people, all spiritual, all positive, all insightful.

My first session, "Creativity in Marketing" was received well. I told stories of my book signings at the Top of Kilimanjaro and down by the wreck site of the Titanic, about my march along PA boulevard in Washington DC, to put a comedian in space, all my marketing ideas that got me huge press and how they could do the same for themselves. I loved hearing them laugh and encouraging them and giving them principles on how to apply their minds to attain their dreams.

After my first session, I was escorted into a room to do a live TV broadcast with Paul Sladkus of Good News Broadcasting... I don't think he knew I was the worlds fastest talker, because at one point he said, "In all my years of broadcasting... no one has ever left me speechless... you just accomplished that. Congratulations." We laughed and talked about doing future work together.

In the evening session I taught my "Dare to do it workshop" and was happily greeted with a standing ovation at the end. I took pictures of them standing.

One girl, Kelly Hall, hugged me,' you were the exact message I needed to hear tonight... thank you so much. I will spread the word about you!"

At the conclusion of my talks, I sold a bunch of books, signed some autographs and then joined the rest of the participants for our moment of truth. The time to break mental barriers through a physical act. Yup with all workshops done... it was time for this fast talker to turn fast lips into hot lips. It was time to eat fire!

Carson, lead the workshop. "Now remember... it's all a matter of your intention. Picture something in your minds eye and let the fire represent that. Make eating the fire synonymous with conquering your fear".

He then told us the stark reality... "This stick will be dipped in kerosene and then lit. But don't' let that scare you. Fire can't survive in oxygen. Exhale all you can, quickly and deliberately hold the flame out before you. Then raise it over your head, tilt your head backward.
Place the flame in your mouth and quickly close your lips over the flames, which will extinguish it, by eliminating all oxygen. Keep your mouth closed until we say you're done. It's that simple."

I saw the look of horror on some people's faces.
I was like a kid. I couldn't wait to try it.

Carson continued, "You all can do it. Trust me, if you listen to our instructions the flame will quickly extinguish. There is one minor thing however. What ever you do, don't inhale while the flame is in your mouth. Otherwise it will shoot down your lungs... not a pretty site."

There was nervous laughter in the room.
Spencer whispered, "I'm not doing it Mom."
Several people backed away.

Then Carson said, "To get in peak state we are all going to do an exercise." He had all the girls get in an inner circle, and the guys in an outer circle around us. We then had to dance and entice the guys.
I knew I should have taken those belly-dancing lessons from my sister!

It was awkward, until I saw a 65-year-old woman get on the floor and start to gyrate. That's it, IF grandma there has no inhibitions why should I. Of course, I didn't get on the floor, but then I just danced to my hearts content. Then the roles were reversed.

Then we all began to dance and let out our inhabitations.... once we were feeling happy and in peak state... we went outside into the darkness.

The kerosene flames were lit. One by one we stepped up to give the fire eating a shot.

Being one of the speakers, especially with my topic, "Dare to do it.
I felt I should go first and show people that even though I had never tried it there was nothing to it.

I was about to go up when I saw Spencer waiting in the wings. "Hey Spencer, you gonna do it? I'll video tape it on my camera."

He shrugged, "Will that make you happy?"
I smiled, 'Sure why not."
He went up and like a pro... listened to the instructions and then... ate the fire. Everyone applauded.
There was only one teeny tiny problem. I was taping it on my camera, and the video ran out just as he put the flames to his lips. I didn't want to tell him, but of course he wanted to see the playback.

"Mom, I can't believe that you missed it!"
"Sorry. Do it again, I'll get it on tape."
"What, did you do that on purpose!"
"NO! I swear."
"Mom!"
"No really, I didn't."
Then I started to laugh, not because that's what I did, but because actually thought I would think like that! Of course, my laughing looked like an admission of guilt. Then his expression of thinking I really did it on purpose made me laugh more. It was one of those ironic cycles in life.

"Spencer just do it again."

Again he did it, and again... the camera ran out.
(I swear I was not doing this on purpose... it's just that technology is not my strong point.)

Angry he said, "MOM! Just forget it..."
I felt awful.

He took a break then Vanessa was chomping at the bit to try it.
She did it, and Spencer taped it. Of course it taped it perfectly.

I said, "Spencer, third times the charm."
"Fine." Then he grabbed the camera out of my hands and handed it to a guy standing next to me.
"Can you tape this please."?
I shrugged.
"No offense mom."
"None taken."

He did it and it was caught perfectly on tape.

Now it was my turn.
"Fran are you ready?"
"Yes!"
"What is your intention?"
My intention is to eat the fire!"
"No what is your ultimate intention?"
"To eat the fire, that's really what I want to do. Please just give it to me."
And with that I ate it.
No thought, no fear. Just in, pop and flame was out. My mouth never noticed the heat, although the taste of kerosene lingered in my mouth for a few hours.

Spencer smiled. Of course, not to be outdone, I felt the burning desire to do it twice in a row, just so Spencer would not have one up on me. Happy that I now had two successful lectures and another adventure under my belt we drove home... mission accomplished.

The kids fell asleep in the back seat.

I meanwhile was smiling all the way home, as happy as can be. I played the firing eating scenario and standing ovations over in my head.

Then I remembered one of the keys to happiness and successful living is daily gratitude.

"Dear God, Mother Mary, Mom, Dad and Jesus. (I like to cover all my bases). I just want to say thank you for letting me have this wonderful life. A life where I can challenge myself and through my example challenge others to push beyond their limits, face their fears and achieve all of their goals. I thank you that people can hear my message, relate to me and laugh and know that if they truly believe, nothing is impossible. Please let me be able to spread this message to the world. Thank you."

And with that I drove home happy as can be... excited for what tomorrow may hold.