23 November: Nancy’s Notes and Anecdotes

Quote I’m pondering:

“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.”
— Anne Lamott

BTW, click to follow our Pinterest Board for great quote inspiration!


On my reading list:

The Art of Servant Leadership II: How You Get Results is More Important Than the Results Themselves, by Art Barter. A Servant Leader is someone who overlays “their education, experience, and mindset with their hearts.” The title of this great book says it all: Servant Leadership is an art– it requires creativity and it requires grace and it requires placing others before ourselves.

This book is full of ideas, action items and stories that will get you thinking about leadership in a whole new way. Imagine turning your organizational chart upside down, with you at the bottom and the people who have the most contact with clients and potential clients at the top. What are you doing to enable them to shine, grow, perform and lead? It should be no surprise that the more you empower them the better they perform and the more they are willing to make sure goals and targets are met because of their new/renewed sense of ownership that stems from autonomy.

Here are 5 of the many concepts outlined in this book that caught my attention:

(1) Servant Leaders stand up for what’s right even if it means walking from business because of your company culture and core values.

(2) Servant Leaders are open and frequent communicators and the goal is to reinforce the organization’s purpose.

(3) Servant Leaders demonstrate courage– they have tough conversations when warranted and make decisions that might seem to go against conventional wisdom.

(4) Servant Leaders are conscious of the language they use; “When you say you’ll try, you are not fully committed to the action. You have a safe out to fall back on–”Well, I tried.”

(5) Servant Leaders engage in “a constant, never-ending process of learning and teaching and implementing.”


Meetings this week:

The meetings I’m attending this week are all about self care.

When was the last time you had your vision checked? If you’re over 40 and it’s been more than 2 years, it’s time! I’m also having a massage which in my book is not “just” indulgent. Massages improve circulation and give you an endorphin boost that is guaranteed to enhance creativity.

And we can all use an injection of creativity, don’t you agree?

Here’s your Rx for the week: practice self-care in at least 2 ways!

 


Ideas I’m Noodling…

From the book Seven Sacred Pauses:

“Open my eyes to the beauty that surrounds me that I may walk through this day with the kind of awareness that calls forth grateful living. May I live with the kind of presence that enables others to feel at home.”


I’m following…

Podcaster Carrie Green, author of She Means Business. She interviews business women who share challenges and successes.


I’m Celebrating…

True confessions: I am a collector and a lover of rituals and tradition. I’m in heaven this time of year because my house is the family gathering place and I get to welcome and enjoy so many people that I don’t get to see on a regular basis. One of my favorite traditions involves ringing sleigh bells. I’ve been collecting sleigh bells for 35 years– same bell, different design with the year engraved on each.

I order the bells in November, they usually arrive by Thanksgiving and I use them on my Christmas and New Year’s tables. On Thanksgiving, we pass around one of the bells and everyone gets to ring the bell and say what they are thankful for. Some of my favorite memories involve the candor of my son and my nephews when they were little: candy, toys and having to share a room so they won’t be lonely. At Christmas dinner we select a bell and say one great thing that happened during the year we selected– we all love this walk down memory lane. And finally, at New Year’s dinner we pass the bells around and say what our goals are for the New Year. I love those bells and I love that my family and friends love them too!

What are your favorite holiday traditions? Tell me here.

 

 


Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or concerns about that here.
Nancy Allen

30 November: Nancy’s Notes and Anecdotes

Quote I’m pondering:

“To listen is to lean in, softly, with a willingness to be changed by what we hear.” -Mark Nepo

{Pin it}


On my reading list:

The Cozy Issue by Bella Grace Magazine. Have you ever started reading something that is sooo wonderful that you force yourself to slow down because you don’t want it to end?? Well that is what is happening to me as I read this incredible magazine. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy and indulge in the stories and the recipes and the invitations to take things slowly and embrace the “coziness” of life. The piece by Elle Harris invites you to create a bank account of comfort: “We all experience bits and pieces of contentment, but wouldn’t it be grand to chase tranquility the same we run after accomplishments and accolades?

What if you created comfort lists like bank accounts depositing memories of positive associations that you could dip into whenever you needed to enrich a part of yourself?” AND she shares lists of things you can deposit into your bank account of comfort. I hope you share it with important people in your life.

While I was thinking about comfort, I stumbled into this fascinating topic: according to Wikipedia – Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment. As a cultural category with its sets of associated practices hygge has more or less the same meanings in Danish and Norwegian, but the notion is more central in Denmark than Norway. There are a few hygge groups on Facebook, FYI. I just joined and am looking forward to joining the conversation.


 

Meetings this week:

I’m so excited to be about to start Day 1 of our new program called Her Dreamers Retreat … this is the day where we start with a blank slate … the event itself is 3 chock-full days geared to helping women employees transition from employee to business owners, elegantly, efficiently and with as much courage, creativity and as many connections as possible.

I can’t wait to watch the ‘a-ha’ moments, the confidence and the plans to turn dreams into reality unfold. This is truly one of the most favorite parts of my job – I get to pass on my umpteen years of experience to help women shorten their learning curve when making this type of special career move. The saying that goes something along the lines of ‘even the expert was a beginner’ comes to mind … it’s not as hard as most people think!

I’d love to tell you more about this exciting new direction we are taking or if you’re interested in attending one of our boutique retreats, message me here.

 


Ideas I’m Noodling…

From Mark Nepo’s interview on the Good Life Project: In Hindu there is a term called Upaguru which means the teacher that is next to you. Sometimes we are the upa guru and sometimes it is literally the person next to us or ahead of us… what they do and how they do it teaches us and informs us (if we allow it!). And, we have a choice to embrace the lesson and incorporate it –or embrace the lesson and reject it as something we don’t want.

By the same token, knowing that I am the Upaguru will make me act more intentionally and more gratefully… how about you Natalie, which side do you find yourself on and why? Tell me here.

A little background I found when I was enjoying stumbling from one website to another … I landed on Inspired Yearth and have to share her clear explanation of the concept:

“[guru] broken down, the word actually means going from darkness into the light. So, a Guru is someone who leads you from dark (unknowing) and helps you into the light (knowledge).

The word Upaguru means the teacher nearby. Since everyone and anyone that crosses our path does so for a reason, they all should be looked upon as an Upaguru with something to teach you. Some of our Upagurus flit through our life for but a moment; literally, minutes. Others seem to stick around until we have caught on to the lesson and maybe then they move on.”

Wow, just wow … don’t you agree?!


I’m following…

Mark Nepo. Can’t wait to read his latest book More Together Than Alone, I just ordered it on Amazon the other day – it’s incredible how far we’ve come, don’t you think Natalie? Nowadays, at the press of a button, from wherever I am, I can order a book and it arrives at my door within a few days. Anywho, check out the interview he did on the Good Life Podcast with Jonathan Fields: ‘To succeed at anything, do this.’ Amazing, just ah-mazing!


I’m Celebrating…

The arrival of a world map that is big enough to cover half a wall in my office… I love looking at it and remembering all the places I’ve been and all the places left on my bucket list. I’ve had a passport since I was 10 and I am proud to call myself a citizen of the world. The furthest I’ve been is China where I walked on Tiananmen Square, visited the Forbidden City and climbed the great wall. I’ve straddled the equator in Ecuador and prayed on the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan, Mexico. I’ve been to the Sanskrit Institute in India where I got to see and marvel at books that were over 3,000 years old. Oh yes, and I’ve even been on the Marrakesh Express in Morocco…

And there are so many more places to visit and explore still on my list (and I keep adding more~ I’m looking forward to adding pins for all the places I’ve been and will go to!).

Do you have plans to travel this holiday season?? How about next year – have you started to plan it? Where have you visited? Where do you want to go? I would love to hear about it! Tell me here.

 


Wishing you a wonderful week ahead … I look forward to hearing from you…
Nancy Allen

7 December: Nancy’s Notes and Anecdotes

Quote I’m pondering:

“Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.”
— Ralph Marston | Lifehack Quotes {Pin it for later}


On my reading list:

It’s OK to be the Boss, by Bruce Tulgan – an insightful short book. It’s been on my shelf since it was first published in 2007. I use it as a reference and reminder because it’s chock full of relevant advice that’s applicable and timely all these years later! Here are my three favorite chapters to give you an idea of the awesomeness that lies within:

4. Take It One Person at a Time;

7. Track Performance Every Step of the Way;

10. Start Here.

The book is dense with helpful information about what to do to motivate employees, how to conduct employee evaluations, and the author intentionally and specifically makes the case that with some training everyone can be a good boss. But, very often when we become leaders and managers, we can often be uncomfortable with our new found authority. Check out this video/podcast interview from The Keys To The Shop (episode #28) here and video below about why It’s Ok To Be Boss – and creating a better way to lead and manage your team. He bases this on 24 years of research and candidly admits that it resonates because it’s based on real challenges in the real world.


Meetings this week:

It’s strategic planning time at my office. We have a lot of big and exciting plans for 2019. Throughout the year, I’ve been tweaking our strategic plan for the upcoming year and now I’m meeting with all my team members to get their input and build out the foundation and add in the ‘short brush strokes.’ The Zoom platform makes it easy to include team members on all aspects of the plan so that things like distance don’t become obstacles to moving forward. Just this week, we had another very productive meeting with me in Miami, Steph from Membership in St. Augustine, and Barb from Outreach in Tampa! I find that having the input from cross-functional areas ensures the perspectives are fresh, relevant, and useful as we map out our best programs yet!~ what would you like to see? I’d love to know! Tell me here.

if you are getting ready to put some thought around scaling your business during the ‘quiet’ of the holiday season, I wanted to share our Pinterest board with ideas about strategic planning, check it out here or use the Pinterest button below.

image


Ideas I’m Noodling…

I’m a voracious reader and I love to share the books I read and I especially love getting suggestions about what to read next. Please send me a list of books you’d like to discuss in the Business Book Club that we are launching next month. Old, new, short, long, out-there, or conventional– what have you read or what has been on your list that you would like to discuss?? Please share the titles to books that have helped you through a particular transition or have been meaningful messages to you in your business career. Will you let me know the names here?

By the way, TED talks and podcasts count as reading in my world, so I invite you not to be held back by the ‘conventional’ definition of reading … you might know that I loooooove technology, so I simply see it as another way to consume media (that also helps us ingest more material – because gym time or windshield time are no longer dead time – you can consume a podcast or three depending on how long you’re exercising or how far you’re going!) … Did I tell you TED talks are the bomb?!?! I’ll gather some of my favorites on a Pinterest Board and share the link in case you’re interested.


I’m following…

WEConnect International. I invite you to take a look at their Facebook page and I hope you too will be inspired to think globally. I wish I was going to the meeting in Chile this year, but have put it on my calendar for 2019 instead (it’s hard to get it ALL in, don’t you agree?)

I’m really looking forward to attending their events and having the opportunity to mingle with women business owners and corporate sponsors who are promoting strategic alliances in the upcoming year! Will I see you there? 🙂


I’m Celebrating…

… being asked to contribute to a national magazine! One of my Toolbox articles resonated with an editor when she saw it on LinkedIn — and they are going to reprint it. I’m so honored that the content will go on to inspire and inform a larger group of women in business – that is always my goal, to motivate and share knowledge so each of us as a woman can leverage the power of collaboration — because together we are stronger~

 


I hope you have a chance to recuperate, recharge, and refresh over the weekend!
Nancy Allen


BTW

Some of you may remember that I used to do book reviews and summaries on FB Live. I’m happy to tell you that starting in January I will be leading a virtual monthly Business Book Club via Zoom. I hope you will consider joining in our discussion of well-vetted business books to inspire and ignite you to get to the next level. Yes, you ‘should’ read the book we will be discussing and YES , you should still participate even if you don’t have time to “read.” Don’t worry, my team will send links to videos and summaries that you can use to prepare for the discussions and like in all we do, help ensure you’re set up for success.

The intent of the Business Book Club is to create a space where we can share ideas and experiences. Let me know you’ll join us here. The first book we will discuss is It’s OK to be the Boss (mentioned above). Here’s a video interview with the author.

14 December: Nancy’s Notes and Anecdotes

Quote I’m pondering:

“You don’t love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.”
Oscar Wilde

{Pin it for later}


On my reading list:

I came across this great article in Inc. magazine that brought me such insight and such joy that I’d like to share it with you: The 1 Habit You Can Master in 10 Minutes That Will Transform Your Life Forever: Very few habits are this easy to acquire but have such an impressive impact on your life, by Geoffrey James

{Pin it for later}

In a nutshell, the author invites you to spend 10 minutes a day reframing what you think about strangers. Our brains are wired to view strangers as friends or foes. We have also evolved to put strangers into a “neither” category. That’s good except that sometimes we “immediately formulate a criticism of the other person, like “he’s fat” or “what a loser” or “what an ugly hat” or whatever.” Mea culpa–I know that I have often been guilty of passing some kind of judgement… Those criticisms affect your mood and outlook. Geoffrey James suggests that “rather than dismissing or criticizing when you see a stranger, bring a kind thought or a positive idea into your mind.” The benefit is that this has an incredible ripple effect– your kind thought leads to other kind thoughts etc. and very soon your mindset and outlook have changed. You can master this in 10 minutes by just being conscious of people you see and intentionally thinking a kind thought about them. What do you think? Do you think you’ll try this? I’ve seen a difference and I’d love to hear about your experience~


Meetings this week:

I’m really looking forward to attending Andy Henriquez’ Master Storyteller Academy Boot Camp at the end of this week. I’ve been through a major transition recently and I learned a lot in the process. As is often the case, what I learned personally is insightful and applicable to my professional life. At this boot camp I’ll be learning storytelling skills that will help me better connect with audiences in speaking engagements and workshops, and of course during my favorite activity – training and coaching others. I am sooo looking forward to learning how to masterfully craft a story that will resonate with audiences. A story that will motivate and inspire. A story that will help me connect with and find my tribe.


Ideas I’m Noodling…

The restorative power of nature. This photo was taken during a spiritual retreat in India. Tree hugging was part of our daily meditation. We each selected a tree and hugged it for about 15 minutes each day. Bare feet on the roots, arms around the trunk and head against the bark. I felt the pulse of the tree and its energy calmed me. You might not believe me, but I invite you to try it – you can actually hear the sap moving and the bark adjusting for the wind … it’s an incredible experience and one that I’ve let slip a bit of late. I’m noodling about adding to my goals for 2019 … what are you noodling on? Tell me here.


I’m following…

Dame “Judi” Dench, the English actor. She and I share what I think is a fascinating and often surprising passion: Trees! I hope you’ll take a look at this video… I enjoyed seeing her energy and sparkle about a topic that so obviously lights her up! What lights you up? I love watching people share their passions – you can literally see the internal light shining through their eyes and smile!


I’m Celebrating…

Learning and sharing. I’m happiest when I’m sharing information that I have learned. I love connecting the dots of concepts and ideas and this week I got to do that over and over again. I’m celebrating the pursuit of knowledge in all its forms: reading, meetings, and especially quiet time when I create space for ideas to come and germinate…

What are you celebrating this week?

 


Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead my friend~
Nancy Allen


BTW

Some of you may remember that I used to do book reviews and summaries on FB Live. I’m happy to tell you that starting in January I will be leading a virtual monthly Business Book Club via Zoom. I hope you will consider joining in our discussion of well-vetted business books to inspire and ignite you to get to the next level. Yes, you ‘should’ read the book we will be discussing and YES, you should still participate even if you don’t have time to “read.” Don’t worry, my team will send links to videos and summaries that you can use to prepare for the discussions and like in all we do, help ensure you’re set up for success.

The intent of the Business Book Club is to create a space where we can share ideas and experiences. I would love it if you would join us, you can let me know if you’ll make it here. The first book we will discuss is It’s OK to be the Boss. Here’s a video interview with the author.

21 December: Nancy’s Notes and Anecdotes

Quote I’m pondering:

“Never suppress a generous thought”
— Camilla E. Kimble

{Pin it for later}

Never suppress a generous thought


On my reading list:

Are you a reader? If not, why not? Is it because you don’t have time? Would you consider listening to a book Barb? And before you say you don’t have time for that, consider this: Do you commute to work? Do you take a lunch break at work? Let’s say you have a 20 minute commute and a 45 minute lunch break– that’s a little over an hour and a half of time every day when you could listen to a book! …

 

But, I digress, do keep in mind that you can learn a lot and get through most business and self development books in a week, even if you only listened in 20 minute increments! I was surprised when I heard this fact too Barb – but I am a testament to the fact that it works!
This week, I listened to Money and the Law of Attraction by Jerry and Esther Hicks. I’m so happy that I heeded my friend’s recommendation. The book is all about attracting abundance and positive energy and vibration into our life. You’ve heard the dictum that what we focus on is what we get–well, why not focus on abundance and becoming aware of the possibilities of wealth all around us?
When you are in a positive state of mind and aware of what you want to attract it comes to you– think about the last time you wanted to buy a new car: you decided on the make and model and color and (think back) didn’t you start to see that car everywhere?

Meetings this week:

I met with the WBDC of FL’s accountant and Finance Committee Chair to discuss the 2019 budget. The good news is that we will end the year with more than anticipated income. The even better news is that this is despite some pretty hefty unbudgeted expenses in 2018. (Honestly this was not a surprise because I keep up with my finances– both personal and business. I know how much we spend every month and I know how much we spend weekly. If you do the same, good for you! If you don’t know your finances you should! Feel free to contact me and I’ll tell you an easy way to stay on top of expenses and investments). I love to end the year on a positive note and meeting with the ‘money people’ on my team is an important part of keeping things on track and moving forward. Is this year-end for your business too Barb? How did your expected vs actual turn out? Tell me here.


Ideas I’m Noodling…

Facebook groups and how to keep participants actively participating. I’ve seen everything from challenges, to videos to tutorials to live Q&A activities. Do you have a favorite way to engage with content or get engaged with a group? I’m all ears Barb, tell me here.


I’m following…

… what is now a global movement that was inspired by a British feminist writer’s project which she also turned into a book. The Everyday Sexism Project started life as a website called Everyday Sexism, where in 2012 the site’s author, Laura Bates, began to document all the instances of sexism that she experienced in her life day to day.
She has created a safe space for people to share their stories of day-to-day sexism from the seemingly innocuous to the in-your-face-overt-and-malicious, terrible things many have survived.
“Once women and girls discovered a safe place to speak out about the harassment and discrimination they experienced, it seems the floodgates were open, shared the site’s creator.”
I hope you never have to hold that kind of secret Barb, but if you do, I hope you’ll find your way to this site where Laura personally offers space and encouragement. From her site: “say as much or as little as you like, use your real name or a pseudonym – it’s up to you. By sharing your story you’re showing the world that sexism does exist, it is faced by women everyday and it is a valid problem to discuss.”
Wow. Just wow.

I’m Celebrating…

I’m celebrating accountability groups. Three of us meet via phone every Thursday for 90 minutes. We each get 30 minutes to give an update, to ask for advice or to vent. (Sometimes we need more than our 30 minutes and that’s ok too). I was looking back through my calendar and of the 52 meetings this year I think I missed five.
My accountability group held space for me as I learned of Joe’s illness. They held space for me after he died and all the days in between. I knew that I could count on them to push me when I needed it. To encourage me when I need it and to let me breakdown when I needed that too. Despite this being one of the toughest years of my life it was also one of the most productive and creative years of my life.

Oprah Winfrey says you should surround yourself with people who lift you. I am celebrating Monique and Rosine for reminding me that I have songs and stories and I can still sing and inspire others and laugh. Who holds you accountable? Who reminds you of your abilities and of your goals and plans when they falter? Find your own Rosine and Monique and watch yourself soar and shine in 2019!


Sending you warmth and hugs during this holiday season!
Nancy Allen


BTW

Some of you may remember that I used to do book reviews and summaries on FB Live. I’m happy to tell you that starting in January I will be leading a virtual monthly Business Book Club via Zoom. I hope you will consider joining in our discussion of well-vetted business books to inspire and ignite you to get to the next level. Yes, you ‘should’ read the book we will be discussing and YES Barb, you should still participate even if you don’t have time to “read.” Don’t worry, my team will send links to videos and summaries that you can use to prepare for the discussions and like in all we do, help ensure you’re set up for success.
The intent of the Business Book Club is to create a space where we can share ideas and experiences. I would love it if you would join us Barb, you can let me know if you’ll make it here.

4 January 2019: Nancy’s Notes and Anecdotes

Quote I’m pondering:

“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and how that I have it, I’m not going to be silent.”
Madeline Albright


On my reading list:

Don’t you just love the week between Christmas and New Years? You know, that week when you lose track of time because of all of the activities and (if you’re like me) you start reflecting on last year and looking ahead?

I also really appreciate the week after New Year’s day because of all of the possibilities that lie ahead… What about you?

This week I was in my car a lot and that means that I got to listen to my favorite podcasts. One that stays around the top of my list is Elizabeth Gilbert’s podcast: Magic Lessons, based on her book Big Magic. She did a series where she invited people to write an essay about a creative project that they were struggling with. She got hundreds of submissions and selected 8 people to coach through their challenges. I am in awe of how capable she is in her role as a coach.

She gave them great advice and assignments AND she took it one step further by inviting successful people in the same field as the person she was coaching and asked them to weigh in on the challenge and the assignments. Wow. Just wow! Just listening to her coaching, wisdom and advice gave me insight and inspiration.

I’d like to share one with you that truly that blew me away… She told one woman who was not sure she could write because she feels her voice doesn’t matter, to do some family research and document the names of the women in her family who had no voice because they were slaves. “Ask them what they would have said if they could speak.” She also asked her to look forward and write a letter from her own great-granddaughters thanking her for opening the door that they might speak.

Women have been silent and those of us who venture out and speak publicly open doors for all those years of silence. What stories would your female ancestors tell?


Meetings this week:

January is my ‘catch up with key people‘ month. I like to start by looking to see how and who can help me achieve my goals for the year ahead – and how I can help them. If you’ve been following me a while, you know I’m all about connections and collaborations to make us stronger.

And because I think January sets the tone for the whole year, I set up lunch and breakfast meetings throughout the month to touch base with the people who are going to make my vision happen.

Truth be told, I’m an old fashioned “let’s break bread in person” kinda gal, but virtual meetings and phone calls work just as well. How about for you?


Ideas I’m Noodling…

My word for the year is courage. Last year was all about transitions. This year my word is courage. I’ll focus on the courage to try new things, the courage to let go of old things and the courage to maintain some things just as they are.

Have you ever tried this exercise? If you had to pick, what would be your word of the year?


 

I’m following…

Sarah Jones, comedienne, political activist, and master storyteller. Here is a TED talk about the invention of self:


I’m Celebrating…


One of my favorite holiday traditions is a special luncheon with the key members of my team to bask in our esprit de corps! We usually do it before the holidays, but we could not fit it in then, so voila (!) a new tradition was born…

New year, new starts, new ideas!

 


If there is anything that we can do to help you make 2019 awesome, don’t hesitate to let me know! You can always call the office at 305.971.9446, we’re standing by to help you …

 

Nancy Allen

 

 

 


BTW

I’m happy to tell you that starting this month I will be leading a virtual monthly Business Book Club via Zoom.

The intent of the Business Book Club is to create a space where we can share ideas and experiences. I would love it if you would join us, you can let me know if you’ll make it here.

The first book we will discuss is It’s OK to be the Boss. Here’s a video interview with the author.

 

3 Aug 2018 – Nancy’s Notes & Anecdotes

Quote I’m pondering:

“Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun.”
— Pablo Picasso {Pin it}


On my reading list:

I’m a reader. I’m old school and I prefer to read an actual book or magazine because I like to underline and highlight as I read. That habit is from my university days when I learned that underlining and highlighting reinforced what I was reading: read the sentence, read it again as you highlight it and then read it a third time when you go back through the chapter to study for the exam. Yes I know, I’m more fastidious than most. And I actually schedule an hour a day in my calendar for reading.

Pressed for time? Don’t have time to read a book? Well, how about a magazine article? Those are quick reads and through technology and links you can go on an exciting journey of discovery.

Here are 5 articles I read this week:

  1. The 5 Hour Rule Used by Bill Gates, Jack Ma and Elon Musk
  2. From that article I linked to How to Make a 5 Hour Work Day Work for You
  3. Which in turn led to Why Summer Hours and Flexible Hours are a Must
  4. That led to How to Create a Formalized Flexible Work Week for your Company
  5. And that led to this great resource: 10 Questions to Ask Before Allowing Employees to Telecommute

I learned a lot of great information which I will be turning into Her Toolbox articles and that took less than 45 minutes!


Meetings I’m attending:

My mission is to provide access and resources to women in business and with that in mind, I’m so excited to tell you about two great meetings coming up …

Cybersecurity For Your Business {Orlando}

How To Cut Business and Personal Healthcare Costs {Tampa}

I hope you’ll join us for either or both!


Ideas I’m Noodling…

When was the last time you felt seen? This article via Thrive Global really gave me pause. All too often we walk around in our own world without connecting to those around us.

“Sometimes, the most unassuming acts of kindness make the most profound impact on our lives. A handwritten card from a friend, a “how are you?” from a neighbor, even a sincere smile from a stranger on your morning commute. These microscopic moments of acknowledgement may not seem like a big deal, but sometimes, they hold the power to make us feel seen.”

Ask yourself: When was the last time I was really conscious of seeing the people around me? {Pin it}


I’m following…

Kate’s Take Podcast: where Kate Erickson of Entrepreneurs On Fire shares a behind-the-scenes look at how to run a 7-figure business. She shares step-by-step, in-depth and actionable lessons that will help you start creating, growing and monetizing your business.


I’m Celebrating…

It’s official– I’m a speaker at the OWIT International Conference in Nairobi Kenya. The event is about bridging the gap and empowering businesses to go global … and if you know me, you know that is ‘my bag.’

I’m so thrilled both professionally and personally: professionally I get to showcase insight on strategic alliances and how to use them to grow your business. Personally this is a dream come true because I will be in the land of Karen Blixen aka Isak Dinesen and Out of Africa.

 


In case you missed them, you can catch up here. I hope you’ll find ideas that spur your imagination and creativity to help propel you forward on your adventure.
Nancy Allen

10 Aug 2018 – Nancy’s Notes & Anecdotes

Quote I’m pondering:

“Want to be happy? Stop trying to be perfect.”
— Brene Brown


On my reading list:

The Growth Mindset: A Guide to Professional and Personal Growth, by Joshua Moore and Helen Glasgow. This is a short and powerful book. I’m not sure how I found out about it, but boy am I glad to have read it. Fourteen short chapters packed with info and ideas and work. Each chapter has a summary called the Big Takeaway with practical advice.

I especially appreciated the chapter called Happiness Retrospective: 3 questions that each have 3 questions about past, current and future happiness. This was a really simple but powerful exercise!

(1) When in the past were you at your happiest? Why was this? Who was involved? Why did it end?

(2) What currently makes you happy? Why is this? Who is involved? What could make it end?

(3) When you plan for the future, what do you think would make you happy? Why would this make you happy? Who would be involved? What would you do to ensure it wouldn’t end?

One of the things I learned is the same people are involved past, present and future. Try this exercise and let me know what you learn.


How I spent my time:

This week, for the Her Dreamers Membership Program, I had the pleasure to interview Terri Hall who is a friend, colleague and client. I’ve known Terri for 10+ years and her story still inspires me. She has grit, she has courage, she has charisma and she is one of the most creative people I know. If you’d like to watch the interview, here is the link.


Ideas I’m Noodling…

From the 52 Lists for Happiness book by Moorea Seal: “List the people you want to spend more time with before the end of the year… Plan one way you will spend time with a friend this week. Try to keep planning a friend hang-out time once a week for the rest of the year and think of it as your weekly happiness investment!” I absolutely love this idea! PS– you can plan virtual friend meetings too!


I’m following…

Have you heard of the artist Phil Hansen? I learned about him when I heard his TED Talk called Embrace the Shake. He did a project last year where he made portraits of poets using words from their poems and his medium was a Smith Corona Electra 110 typewriter(!). Remember those? I actually had one… Take a look at the portraits AND do yourself a favor and listen to his very inspiring TED Talk.



I’m Celebrating…

Sometimes I have to really dig deep to find something I deem worthy of celebrating. The good news is that the soul searching always pays off — being conscious of the fact that I’m looking for something to celebrate makes me more aware of my surroundings and reminds me that celebrations don’t have to be grandiose or mind blowing. A case in point: This morning I was interrupted as I was preparing this note and I saw this– I’ve had this bromeliad for many many years. You might not know that bromeliads are self perpetuating… the mother plant grows pups that eventually replace it and the cycle continues on and on. The bloom on this plant has probably been growing for weeks and today is the day I noticed it and now I’ll be on the lookout over the next few weeks as it continues to fill out and fill me with wonder and pride. What is right under nose that you can celebrate??

 


In case you missed them, you can catch up here. I hope you’ll find ideas that spur your imagination and creativity to help propel you forward on your adventure.
Nancy Allen

17 Aug 2018 – Nancy’s Notes & Anecdotes

Quote I’m pondering:

“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.”
-Erich Fromm


On my reading list:

The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have, by Mark Nepo. This book has been on my shelf for a while and I pick it up when I need a meditation guide. It contains daily essays written by cancer survivor Mark Nepo. He describes the book like this: “This book is meant to be of use, to be a companion, a soul friend…

It has helped me know and use my heart.” Here is a bit from the entry on 17 August: “In every space opened when what we want gets away, a deeper place is cleared in which the mysteries can sing. If we can only survive that pain of being emptied, we might yet know the joy of being sung through.” AMEN!


Meetings this week:

This week I can’t say enough about virtual meetings. I have a favorite platform (Zoom) that allows me to easily invite guests, record and send links of the recording as audio and video files, you can share documents on your screen, and it even has a built in light enhancer (softer light means a more beautiful you). There is nothing like being able to see someone as you speak with them. An added bonus includes the fact that these meetings are much more efficient because you can “see” if a person gets what you are saying. You can really create rapport with new clients and you can nurture rapport with existing clients.

 

 


Ideas I’m Noodling…

I’ve been giving a lot thought to the concept of Servant Leadership, where you place service above all else. Service in the very broad sense of the term including teaching, empowering and especially putting others first. Service equals solutions, which in turn equals rapport which in turn equals trust.


I’m following…

The Creative Empire Podcast: “To empower, inspire, and educate the next creative entrepreneur who will take her industry by storm.” Love, love, love this podcast– 2 women interviewing successful business owners in creative industries. (AND if you really think about it, we are all in creative industries).


I’m Celebrating…

… letting go of total control of projects. Circumstances this week led me to allow someone else to do things I thought only I could do. What a beautiful lesson this was– I allowed someone to step up and shine and I gave myself the gift of personal time. And you know what — it was win, win. Win because the project was completed beyond my expectations; I gave the gift of trust to my team; and I was able to focus internally with much needed down time.


I hope you’ll find ideas that spur your imagination and creativity to help propel you forward on your adventure.
Nancy Allen

07 Sept 2018 – Nancy’s Notes & Anecdotes

A quote by St. Francis of AssissiQuote I’m pondering:

“You are that which you are seeking.” St. Francis of Assisi {Pin it}


On my listening list:

This week I’ve been listening to some very interesting podcasts. I probably have 20 or so podcasts I listen to regularly and as you can imagine, they are varied in style and content. This week I’ve been focusing on creativity and I found myself listening to The Creative Empire podcast. Two interviews were particularly insightful: Episode 231 with Chanti Zak– Creative and Converting Quizzes. Did you know that just about any business can benefit from using quizzes to get clients? To get information from existing clients? Chanti Zak makes the case that quizzes can work better than surveys because of the element of fun and feedback.

Episode 234 with Cara Chace called Why Pinterest Should be a Priority in Your Business is all about using Pinterest to grow your business. Pinterest is actually a search engine and you can get found by using “promoted pins.” Both episodes provide tons of really relevant information for small businesses (even if your business isn’t in the “creative” space) and the podcast notes for each will give you links for useful free resources.

Do you listen to podcasts? What are your favorites? Tell me here.


Meetings this week:

I’m looking forward to introducing Gay Hendricks at the Women of Color Empowerment Institute Conference. His book, The Big Leap is one of my all time favorites. I recommend it and use it as the basis of many workshops. (Originally published in 2009, it still resonates…) I especially love the section called “out of the box and onto the spiral”, here’s an excerpt: “I think of the Zone of Genius as a continuous spiral. You go higher and higher every day as you expand your capacity for more love, abundance, and success. It’s an upward journey with no upper limit.”


Ideas I’m Noodling…

Your life is your message to the world. Make sure it’s inspiring! {Pin it}


I’m following…

Kelly Roach of KellyRoachCoaching.com. Her focus is on selling through serving. If the sales process is difficult for you, consider thinking of sales as service. You have solutions that people need. They see value in that and the exchange is money.

If you approach people you meet and want as clients with a mindset that you can help them, your sales conversations will go much more smoothly. In fact, the more you give (advice/assistance/offerings) the more you get.


I’m Celebrating…

The cleansing and healing power of tears. I meditate a lot and I’m a big believer in the power of breath work for energy, for stress relief and for clarity… but there is nothing like a good cry, don’t you agree? It’s good for you and good for those around you.

Check out this Pinterest board full of great articles singing the virtues of tears for relieving stress, for mood enhancement and for overall good health here.


Check out this Pinterest board full of great articles singing the virtues of tears for relieving stress, for mood enhancement and for overall good health here.
Nancy Allen