Quote I’m pondering:

You want to be the pebble in the pond that creates the ripple for change.”  –Tim Cook {Pin it}

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On my reading list:

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Meetings this week:

I like the kind of meeting that has a beginning, a middle and an end– you know the kind that is structured but not so structured that you forget to build in time for new ideas, creativity and innovation. I had one of those this week and it got me thinking about meetings that don’t go well. Have you attended one of those?

There are lots of studies indicating that meetings don’t go well when there isn’t buy-in to the outcome. We might not all agree on how to get somewhere, but we all have to agree that we want to get there, don’t you agree? I put together a Pinterest Board with some resources for running great team meetings and getting buy-in.

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Ideas I’m Noodling…

I just wrote an article on how to use Pinterest for business development and one of the tips is to follow influencers and to comment on and repin their content. I’ve got a long list of influencers to follow, do you? I’d love some inspiration, please share here.

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I’m following…

Dr. Gay Hendricks, author extraordinaire! I had the pleasure of introducing him at the Women of Color Empowerment Institute (#WOCEI) conference recently. I’m so excited that he has a new book coming out: The Joy of Genius, a sequel to The Big Leap Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level (a favorite of mine!).

From Amazon: “The new book shows how to solve two major problems creative people face: how to end negative thinking and how to liberate authentic creativity. The Joy of Genius: The Next Step Beyond the Big Leap also shows you how use the Genius Move, a new navigational tool for reaching the highest level of your potential. If you are committed to bringing forth your innate genius and making your largest possible creative contribution, The Joy of Genius, will become a trusted companion for the journey.” I can hardly wait!

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I’m Celebrating…

I’ve been thinking a lot about personal titles and status changes lately– you know, the Miss/Ms/Mrs titles and what it’s like to go through that status change. I’ve recently become a widow and am starting to understand the power of that word.

You know the adage “It’s better to have loved and lost than to not have loved at all”? That has taken on new meaning for me. I was loved for 34 years. That’s what I’m celebrating.

 

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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.

 

Quote I’m pondering:

“Laughter is the closest distance between two people.”
— Victor Borge

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On my reading list:

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Meetings this week:

I attended two short but powerful meetings this week. One I was dreading and one I was looking forward to. I decided to reframe the “dreaded” meeting into being all about information gathering. I convinced myself that no matter what transpired I was going to look for the positive lesson regardless of how deep it was buried. Wonder of wonders, the meeting went well and will lead to a partnering opportunity. The meeting I was looking forward to was too short but since it’s a regular meeting we will pick up where we left off next week. As I’m writing this I wondered what the two meetings had in common that made them work– the answer is attitude, yup, good old attitude. Telling myself I was dreading the meeting was going to undoubtedly make that a self fulfilling prophecy. Telling myself that I was going to look for positive lessons made that the self fulfilling prophecy.

 

Ideas I’m Noodling…

Someone recently asked me where I get ideas for the Her Toolbox articles. I have to admit that sometimes it takes me longer to come up with the topic than to write about it. I have a long list of topics that I think might be interesting to my readers, but most of the time the ideas come about from something I’m currently reading or researching. I don’t mind because I love to read and learn and I love to share what I learn. I was stuck recently and decided to Google September marketing ideas and read that some date in September is “national ask a silly question” day. That got me thinking about the types of questions business owners should ask, which led to what they should ask their clients, which in turn led to my wondering about what questions to ask clients that you lose? Yes, you can learn a lot by interviewing clients who decide not to renew their contracts with you. AND you can structure the exit interview so that you maximize what you learn and keep the door open for more contracts… I hope you’ll be on the lookout for an upcoming Her Toolbox about the importance of conducting client exit interviews.

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I’m following…

Sahara Rose: author, podcaster, speaker on Ayurveda. Check out her books: Ayurveda (Idiot’s Guide) and Eat Feel Fresh: A Contemporary Plant-Based Ayurvedic Cookbook and her podcast called The Highest Self Podcast…

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I’m Celebrating…

Decluttering. Have you heard of the KonMari method?

I read her book, the life-changing magic of tidying up: the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing when it first came out and I found it’s simplicity very powerful. You ask one question and make 2 decisions for each item you are trying to clear. The question? Does this bring me joy? Keep the item if it brings you joy. The decisions? Toss or donate the items that don’t bring you joy. You can bless the items you discard and those that you donate so they will bring joy to someone else. Decluttering is emotional and that’s why so many of us put it off. We keep things because of the emotions attached to those things.

But when you really think about it– they are just things. I’ve taken a lot of pictures of things I no longer want to keep and the emotion is still there when I see the pictures. I’m also a big believer in the energy of things and spaces. Are you? Every once in a while it’s really good to clear existing energy and make room for new energy. That’s what I’ve been doing this week and I’m celebrating the joy in keeping, tossing and donating.

 

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

Quote I’m pondering:

“It is when we are in transition that we are most completely alive.”

-William Bridges

{Pin it}

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On my reading list:

If you’re at a point where you are beginning to consider what to do next, this book offers some practical and spiritual advice. And if you’re a book discussion lover like me, you will appreciate that there are reflection and discussion questions for each chapter at the end of the book. I’d love to hear your thoughts here.

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Meetings this week:

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Ideas I’m Noodling…

As you can imagine, I’ve got travel on my mind. A lot of people spend time deciding what clothes and accessories to take on a trip. Don’t get me wrong, I do that too, AND I spend a lot of time deciding what reading material to take with me on a trip. It makes my heart sing that I’ve got two 8 hour flights to fill. I’d love to hear your suggestions, tell me here.

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I’m following…

Koren Motekaitis, podcaster, and radio host of “How She Really Does It.” She did a great interview with my all time favorite Brené Brown on vulnerability, shame and daring greatly.

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I’m Celebrating…

The awesomeness of handwritten notes. I’m still receiving beautiful cards from family and friends regarding my husband Joe’s death. Each and every card is so very special in its’ own way. One in particular, which I share here, was sent on a very simple piece of paper, but the sentiment it contained touched me so deeply and has left an indelible impact – reminding me of the strength of my support network.

I especially love the special touches some people have done like adding hearts and notes in the margins of store bought cards, or including a favorite snapshot of them with Joe. I love the stories they share of his generosity and kind spirit. This reminds me that I need to bring back the 30 day Thank You Note and Gratitude challenge I lead at the beginning of this year. My goal is to start up in time for the holidays. If you’d like me to keep you posted, please let me know here. In the meantime, I challenge you to take time to reach out via snail mail to someone you know who needs support – or even just a ‘hug from afar’ … It doesn’t have to be a long note, it can be a few lines that will make someone smile and feel loved and supported – after all, that is what life is all about, right?

 

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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.

Quote I’m pondering:

“Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”

– Ibn Battuta

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On my reading list:

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Meetings this week:

I’m in Cascais Portugal for the Women of Wisdom 2018 Conference. Wow, just wow! What an inspiring group of women and men who support women. This is the kind of conference that I like: small enough that you can get to know people over the course of a few days, but not so small that you’re stuck with the same people. This is an international bunch and that always brings a new perspective. And have I mentioned the food? Not a chicken breast in site! Portugal is known for its splendid cuisine and if you like fish, well you will be in 7th heaven. Each speaker has brought a wealth of knowledge and inspiration and the participants have been actively participating making it a rich experience!

I’m especially enjoying celebrating old friends and new in Portugal. You know you’re in the right place at the right time when people say what you’re thinking and share the same experiences. Have you ever experienced that?

 

 

 

 

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Ideas I’m Noodling…

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I’m following…

Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx and one of the richest self-made women in the world. Here is an interesting article and video clip about how she learned to embrace risk by redefining failure, a lesson she learned from her father who encouraged her to always share her failures along with her accomplishments. Why? Because there is always a hidden gift in failing.

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I’m Celebrating…

I’m celebrating the importance and restorative benefits of changing scenery. When was the last time you worked outside? Literally out in nature? You’ll be rewarded with new ideas and I’ll bet you will even get a lot more done than you would sitting at your computer.

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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.

Quote I’m pondering:

“Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall.”
— Ray Bradbury

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On my reading list:

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Meetings this week:

I just got word that the Super Bowl will be in our region in 2020 (Miami) and 2021(Tampa). This is great news because it means that there will be lots of bidding opportunities. Imagine being able to bid on everything from event planning to IT support, from gifts and promotional items to uniforms, and so much more! I’m a planner, so I am really happy to be invited to the committee this early in the process.

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Ideas I’m Noodling…

I have done a lot of research about transitions lately. Did you know that most women will manage about 50 major transitions in their lifetime? And I’ll bet you won’t be surprised to know that personal and professional transitions blend in and out of our lives. I am developing an online course called The Art of Elegant Transitions. I have found that transitions that are successfully managed have 3 key components: awareness, adaptability and accountability. Stay tuned for more info on this exciting program! And if you just can’t wait, send me a note and I’ll be happy to get you on the early registration list.

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I’m following…

My favorite author and researcher, Brene Brown has a new book: Dare to Lead. Here is an interview she did on CBS This Morning that captures the essence of the book. I can’t wait to get my copy!

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I’m Celebrating…

I’m celebrating kindness. Pure, simple, unexpected kindness. I’ve witnessed a lot of acts of kindness lately and now instead of just smiling to myself and thinking oh, that was sweet, I am making a point of walking up to the person who performed the act that I witnessed and telling them that I saw what they did and want them to know that it makes me feel great that there is still kindness in the world.

When was the last time you witnessed unexpected kindness? How did it make you feel? Tell me here.

 

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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.

Quote I’m pondering:

“Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.”
— Hermann Hesse

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On my reading list:

I’ve done this exercise before and was asked to select 5. I thought that was hard because that list had 52 values. This time I was asked to select two. It takes a while, but wow, how powerful! What I love about the way Brene approaches this are the prompts and questions that help you understand where you really live those values and what to do if you see yourself in conflict with them. From page 190 in the book: “Ask yourself: Does this define me? Is this who I am at my best? Is this a filter that I use to make hard decisions?”

My values are connection and creativity. I see those everywhere I look and I am most productive and happiest when I can easily identify how a project, a conversation, or a quiet moment embodies those two values. And on the flip side I get really uncomfortable when I sense a lack of connection and creativity. Good news, though– Brene Brown provides some great insight on what to do to work through that discomfort.

I’d love to hear what your core values are! When you take the assessment, let me know here.

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Meetings this week:

This week I had the pleasure of meeting with students from Rollins College through a special program called Immersion that is specifically designed to give students a real world experience with community organizations and leaders and business professionals. My staff and I told them about why and how women owned businesses get certified. We shared inspirational examples of successful and innovative businesses who we’ve helped and worked with in the past 15+ years.

I shared a recent story told to me by a woman business owner who applied for a loan at her local bank. The loan was approved and the bank officer called her home to let her know. Her husband answered the phone and said he did not know that she had applied for a loan. The bank officer, a woman (!) then proceeded to tell her husband all about the loan and terms under the pretext that “he should know about his wife’s business.”

The business owner went to the bank the next day, relayed the story to the bank manager and expressed her disappointment and outrage to the loan officer and closed her accounts. The moral of the story– I told the students– is that things are still not equal between men and women business owners. That is why we have organizations like WBENC and ours, a Regional Partner Organization of Women’s Business Enterprise National Council to help level the playing field.

I was excited about the enthusiasm and participation from the group. One young man by the name of Sebastian impressed me very much – he asked very simply what men could do to address these disparities: way to to go Sebastian! I was so impressed at his willingness to not only step in, but to also recognize and volunteer to be a part of the solution!

Have you witnessed this kind of example? I’d love to celebrate these types of stories – please do share here.

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Ideas I’m Noodling…

More from Brene Brown’s work– “the story I’m telling myself” — how many times do we assume/make up/really believe a story that is in our head? A story that we make up to understand something that happened? The truth is that most of the time the story is just wrong. Really wrong. The solution? Ask the person for an explanation. Brene Brown and her team have a phrase that I will be adopting:

“The story I’m making up is….”

Then they let the other person respond. Try this out — you’ll be as surprised as I was at how much BS we make up and let become true because once the story starts it takes on a life of its own.

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I’m following…

Jake Merriman. Listen to his powerful interview about “abundant relationships, abundance in general, the future of humanity, and the role of love and trust in business” with Michelle Villalobos called Awaken Your Inner Superstar episode #55.

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I’m Celebrating…

Good old fashioned conversations and vulnerability. Admitting I’m scared and I need help is not easy for me. Accepting help is teaching me grace and compassion. One very important person in my life asked me “how do you feel when I ask you for help?” I quickly responded – “Honored that you asked me. Grateful that you trust me. Happy that I can show you how much you mean to me.”

She smiled when I told her those things and then very softly and wisely said: “Exactly. Why would you deny me those same feelings?” Ahhh, grace and compassion. And as Brene Brown would say, my core value of connection is tucked right in there…

 

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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.