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Post from: Blisstree

HeadlineIt! Coming Online July 15

Well, she recently updated me what’s been going on in her neck of the woods, and I thought I’d share:

First, the HeadlineIt! is due out in May or June, a few months later than initially projected. Not only is the product hitting the shelves, but Jodi’s got a book coming out, too! “Bald Is Beautiful: My Journey To Becoming” is due out sometime soon from Nightengale Press. I couldn’t find it on Amazon yet, but here’s a peak at the possible cover for the book.

Jodi was also on Lifetime’s Health Corner yesterday morning. I don’t have cable, so I missed it…

…but Jodi is quick with the links! While I was writing this post, she replied with this link to her Health Corner segment. (Video is available once you click over.)

Post from: Blisstree

Bald Is Beautiful by Jodi Pliszka

Remember Semi-Finalist Jodi Pliszka?

Well, her product, HeadlineIt! is coming to a store near you soon. According to Jodi, production should begin soon, and we could see in on our store shelved as early as January/February 2007.

Congratulations, Jodi!

Also, here is a three-part interview with Jodi back in May.

Post from: Blisstree

HeadlineIt! Coming Winter 2007

You may remember Jodi Pliszka from the notorious moment in which she pulled her wig off on the new ABC show “American Inventor.” How you should remember Jodi Pliszka is the way she’s taken a proverbial bushel full of life’s lemons and made one fantastic batch of lemonade.

Post from: Blisstree

Jodi Pliszka: “Hair? Who cares!”

As a Clinical Therapist, Inventor, Award winning Author, and Bald Woman for the past twenty years, Jodi Pliszka LIVES her motivational, inspirational topics.

Jodi beat out 10,000 other inventors on ABC’S AMERICAN INVENTOR with her ability to speak passionately and intelligently. After giving several motivational, strategic “pitches” to the judges, Jodi moved from 10,000 to to the top 300 people, then to the top 50. Using every skill as a KEYNOTE SPEAKER, Jodi presented her story and product to the judges so comprehensively and brilliantly, she moved on to the top 24, then the top 12 finalists, beating out tens of thousands of other presenters. Jodi won $50,000 and was able to take that money and make her HEADLINE IT! product and packaging the revolutionary product that it is today.

Jodi’s experience, intelligence and enthusiam were what allowed her to break through all obstacles, and achieve this goal that was set before her. Jodi can teach YOU how to reach for your dreams and capture them in reality!

Motivation is the traditional way to teach people how to better perform a following method. After the motivational speaking ends, the inspiration begins.

Inspiration is the “spark” that unleashes the dreams and passion in our hearts. Jodi shows you how to follow your inspirations and passions, at any sacrifice, leading by the example of her journey.

The inspiration emanated by Jodi Pliszka, will transform people and shift ways of thinking. Jodi’s journey shows how you can move mountains with the power of positive thinking, and how making “hero” decisions” are a choice we all can make. Jodi’s words are irresistible and contagious to all! You will see how nothing stands in the way of inspiration.

Join Jodi on her JOURNEY TO BECOMING; your life will never be the same, after hearing this MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER!

If you’re interested in having Jodi speak at your event, please email: Scottlazersonpr@gmail.com. Press kits are available on request.

Post from: Blisstree

Jodi Pliszka – Guest Post

Jodi: I heard about the show from a postcard that was sent to me. I had been trying to get my product manufactured for years. That is what pushed me to the audition.

B: I’m sure you learned a ton about the process, from development to production to marketing. Any lessons that stand out to you?

J: All of the lessons stand out for me. I wrote another patent, and that was great. Protect your products everyone!

The prototyping phase was interesting. I learned that you need to stand firm to your own beliefs and not let the other people push you around. Your idea is your own, so own it and work it that way.

When marketing, keep an open mind and hit as many markets as possible. Passion is the key to everything. With passion will come money. if you lose the passion, you will have nothing.

B: What did you learn about yourself? Going thru the process and progressing as far as you did: How have you grown?

J: I learned that I am a stronger person than ever. I didn’t have my family to consult with, just myself. I relied on my faith in God and knew that htis was His mission for me. And I prayed a lot. You need to stop and be able to hear those prayers, as well. Being by myself and out of touch with reality for seven weeks helped solidify my mission and purpose in this world.

B: What’s next? Are you an inventor-by-trade with another product up your sleeve? Or is the Headline It! your one product.

J: I have a few other inventions up my sleeve, however, I cannot disclose them at this time. I have always been good with my hands and always tinkering to make products better than they are. I get that talent from my dad.

Tomorrow, I’ll share a guest post from Jodi.

Post from: Blisstree

Interview with Jodi Pliszka Part 3 – American Inventor

Baldiness.com: Tell me a little about your family life. Here’s a chance to brag about your daughter, something no parent can resist.

Jodi: I have the strongest relationship with my parents and of course, my “mini-me” daughter, Jessica who is 10 going on 15. She is wonderfully supportive of me. In a recent interview on TV she told the reporter that her mom is brilliant!

Jess wants to be an author and inventor like her mom – and is doing a great job making leaps and bounds towards that goal. I will be working with Jess, co-authoring a book about “My Mommy is Bald.” Jess wants to write how great life is, because mom is bald.

She loves to draw on my head with washable markers… And loves to rub my head at the end of a long day.

B: How did your family respond to your alopeica? Were they supportive, defiant, accepting?

J: At first, when I was thirteen, my mom, dad and brother, Rick were supportive, yet felt sorry for me. There is no worse thing than to be pittied. When I was 20 and lost all of my hair, my mom was in denial for a long time. And my brother and dad were avoiding the issue. I realized that the way I handled my hair loass was a mere reflection of their behaviors.

About two years later, when I hit my more accepting phase, everyone – including my mom – were much more comfortable and always supportive of me.

B: What does your daughter think of your alopecia? What about her friends? Have there been difficult moments for her because of your baldness?

J: There are no difficult moments for my daughter with my baldness. Only great news. Jess has so much pride in me. She makes jokes about having hair to me… like pretending to be a spokesperson for paul Mitchell. She’ll say, “Paul Mitchell – because I have hair!”

She is great and her friends think that I am special and wonderful. it’s lucky for me that I look good bald, and the Lord blessed me with a nice shaped head.

Tomorrow we conclude the interview by talking about Jodi’s experience on American Inventor, and on Sunday, I’ll share a guest post from Jodi.

Post from: Blisstree

Interview with Jodi Pliszka Part 2 – Motherhood

The interview was conducted via email, and we began with the obvious subject: Baldness.

Baldiness.com: Could you briefly recap your alopecia? When did you start losing your hair? When did you become “bald?” What, if any, counter-measures did you take?

Jodi: My hair loss began at the age of 13. For the next several years we went from doctor to doctor to see if they could find the cause of the bald spots but had no luck. Within a month, I was forced to wear a wig to conceal the bald area. I looked like a cancer patient losing hair from chemo. The huge difference is that I was not sick at all. I didn’t have cancer.

Eventually I learned that I had alopecia universalis. The universalis part of the disorder means that I have no hair anywhere on my body – not even inside my nose. Only one percent of the entire alopecia (balding) population has universalis.

People with alopecia universalis produce too many white blood cells which kill off infection. My body thinks that hair is an infection, so it kills of all the hair cells. However, the mutated gene that causes my immune system to overproduce the white blood cells also helps make me a very healthy person. I have a super woman-like immune system.

B: Is your hair loss permanent, or is there some chance that it might regrow?

J: My hair loss is permanent, since it is a reversed gene that is causing the overabundance of white blood cells.

B: What were you thinking as you begain losing your hair?

J: I was 20 and devestated. “How could this be happening to me? What bad did I ever do to deserve this?

B: At what point did you come to terms with your hair loss?

J: Two years after… I had a God like experience where I wept for 45 minutes. My clothes were saturated with perspiration. At that moment, I know that I no longer had to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. I knew that I could give this up to God and he would take care of me.

Q: What was the tipping point at which you were able to say, “This is me. It is who I am.”

J: Every day I gain more acceptance, with every person that I personally touch and help. it’s like a huge puzzle. The more people I help, the more pieces I am able to fit together for myself. It is a circular relationship. I love to help people and the help me right back in return. God is amazing. God has given me a voice, education and the ability to reach out to others.

Be sure to check out Part 2, where we discuss Motherhood.

Post from: Blisstree

Interview with Jodi Pliszka Part 1 – Baldness

Peter, her AI judge, said she is the most inspirational person he’s ever met. Her test groups – one women who lost their hair during cancer treatment; the other a group of firemen – both liked the product. In the end, though, I think it was cost and mass market appeal that did her in.

Be sure to check out Jodi’s Headline It website!

Ed, inventor of the Word Ace, advanced.

Post from: Blisstree

Jodi Doesn’t Advance to American Inventor Finale

Anyway, we find out if Jodi makes the Finale tomorrow. She is in the first of two episodes airing back to back tonight.

Peter Jones’ group of inventors includes:

Jodi Pliszka, 39, a healthcare case manager, a wife and mother of a nine-year old daughter from Muskego, WI. Jodi suffers from Alopecia, a medical condition that caused her to lose all of her hair. Her invention is the Headliner, a lightweight disposable liner that is worn underneath wigs, hats or helmets, providing comfort and protection from perspiration and oils.

Ed Hall, 40, a former elementary and high school teacher and coach who lives in Chicago, IL. His invention is the Word Ace, an electronic table-top game for 1-6 players that teaches children spelling and vocabulary skills in a fun, interactive way.

Robert Amore, 46, a youth hockey coach and lives in New York City. His invention is the Tonerbelt, a fitness belt featuring two handles on retractable cords. The belt is worn around the waist, and the user pulls on the cords for resistance training, which provides a cardio workout and builds strength.

Assuming all three work hard and put their $50K to good use, I think Ed should be her biggest competition. The way American’s suck up exercise gimmicks, however, Robert might have the most marketable product. i can already see the infomercial.

Post from: Blisstree

American Inventor – Jodi’s Chance to Shine