Realism...Or Negative Thinking?
I was having a coaching session with a client on the phone the other day while I was at home trying to recuperate from two whirlwind weeks in California attending the WITI Women and Technology Summit and meeting with clients and colleagues. She's a new employee trying to establish herself as a vital part of her new team, but she's having trouble dealing with one of her teammates. "Every new idea that gets brought to the table is shot down by her," my client said. "We're facing some issues that demand solutions. We've had several meetings and are no closer to resolving anything. It's so frustrating!" That's a tough one. We've all known our fair share of "Debbie Downer" types; they always something negative to say, always want to poke holes in our ideas, always playing "devil's advocate." But are they being pessimists...or realists? I found a great article on this subject on The Wall Street Journal website: Tips on Finding Your Way Out of Negative Thinking at Work by Kayleen Schaefer In this article, Ms. Schaefer likens these people to the office Eeyore :) and she give some great tips on how to alter your way of thinking without sacrificing your personality or completely refraining from offering a differing opinion. After all, sometimes it's the devil's advocate or the hole-poker who keeps us from making major missteps at work. It's important to balance being positive with challenging your team and your company to strive for greatness and profitability. Read the entire article here. I've already forwarded this article to my client, and hopefully, she'll do the same to her co-worker! Labels: balance, career-advancement, leadership, negativity in the workplace, organizational-effectiveness, positive thinking
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Have you ever wondered how some people seem to always get exactly what they want? All they seem to have to do is snap their fingers and *poof* they've got the job they want, the home they want, the car they want, that gorgeous pair of shoes they want, even the soulmate they want. It's maddening, isn't it? Especially since most of us are floundering around, feeling inadequate, always wishing for things that never seem to materialize. And then we get resentful and even jealous. That's no way to go through life! So today, I'm going to share with you the 6 secrets to getting what you want, no matter what it is! (And it's a heck of a lot simpler than you think!)
For more FREE tips on advancing your career and navigating the workplace, sign up for my FREE e-zine "Lipstick Leadership" at LipstickLeadership.com today! And check out the products I've developed to guide you toward the success you deserve! Labels: balance, career-advancement, inspiration, overcoming fear, personal growth
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Healthy Women Make Strong Leaders
Hey gang!
Are YOU Ready to Unlease the Healthier, Sexier You?
Imagine having an unlimited amount of energy to nurture your health, an endless desire to make your health a priority, the effortless discipline to act in accordance with your priorities, and such a tremendous willpower that you no longer give into temptation. Imagine how much more successful, accomplished, fit and fulfilled you would be! At last, someone has discovered the secret to achieving and maintaining your health goals and dreams easily and effortlessly so you can avoid premature aging and chronic diseases such as: heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and obesity, and enjoy a much longer, healthier and happier life! That individual is my friend and preventative medicine expert, Dr. Karen Lee Paquette. She is a physical therapist, naturopathic physician, and professor turned author and wellness coach. Her inspirational message is to let you know that you no longer have to struggle to integrate the principles of healthy living into your life. You can easily achieve the health and appearance goals you so desperately want, and more importantly, deserve.  In her new book "Stop Being Stopped: The Go Doctor's Guide to Unleashing the Healthier, Sexier You", Dr. Karen teaches you to identify and overcome what's stopping you from reaching your dreams, and she reveals the 4 keys to looking, feeling, and BEING your very best - today and always. With passion as the driving force and nothing in your way, it's EASY to maintain an ideal weight, eliminate fatigue, and love the life you live! Sharing an intimate account of her own personal struggles and triumphs, Dr. Paquette in "Stop Being Stopped" will inspire you to live with vigor, follow your vision, and take control of your destiny. Let nothing stand in your way! I'm proud to announce that I've teamed up with Dr. Karen and a dozen of her friends (including my Ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Helen Thomas) and colleagues on the international launch of her book. We are excited to collectively make you such a special offer. Okay, so here's the deal: We'll give you over $500 worth of bonus gifts FREE when you purchase a copy of this amazing book by following these 2 simple steps right now! 1. Click here to open a new window to Amazon to order your book now! (Keep this window open and return to enter your Amazon order number upon completion at Amazon.com) 2. After you place your order, just enter your name, email, and your Amazon Order Number in the form here. We'll ask you to confirm your e-mail and then we'll send you access to all the bonuses. Here's what we have to say about Dr. Karen and "Stop Being Stopped"... Click here to watch my video testimonial!- Michelle Yozzo Drake, CEO - The Cove Group, Inc., and Author of "From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Mom's Wisdom on Leadership" My Gift: A downloadable audio "30 Action Steps to Jumpstart Your Career" - value: $79  "Dr. Karen has provided us all with a clear path to health AND most importantly has given us the means and mechanics to remove all of our obstacles on that path." - Dr. Helen Thomas, Ayurvedic Specialist My Gifts: "Guide to Effortless Ayurvedic Living" guide - value: $37; "Ayurvedic Beauty Type" online course - value: $47  "Wow - Dr. Karen has provided a simple, easy-to-follow guide to creating greater health and well-being. She gives the reader great tools, exercises, and easy-to-follow recommendations. I suggest you stop whatever you're doing (just for a moment) and get this book so you can begin to feel healthier, look better and become the sexier, unstoppable YOU that you deserve to be. I know I did!! Thanks again, Karen." - Susan Guiher, MS CCC - Author, Speaker and Professional Coach My Gift: "Jump Off the Balance Bandwagon" free tele-class - value: $49  "The GO Doctor offers a road map to well-being while giving us the green light to start the journey!" - Kristen Marie Schuerlein, Founder of Affirmagy My Gift: 20% discount off of Affirmagy blankets - value: limitless  "Karen's book entitled "Stop Being Stopped" gives us a step-by-step plan, elevating self-care, self-kindness and self-fairness so that we can't ignore our responsibilities to our bodies and our spirits. She urges us to protect our position of empowerment by choosing to act instead of react. Her personal victories over life challenges are exemplary, and I'm motivated to begin anew, reactiving my personal willpower." - Debra L. Morrison, Founder of Debra L. Morrison Speaks, LLC My Gifts: "7 Biggest Risks Women Investors Face" e-course - value: $79; "Compounding Wealth by Capitalizing on Boomer Gender Differences" e-course - value: $29  "Dr. Karen knows what gets in the way of living healthy, vibrant, happier lives, and she shares her expertise and those insights in this book. This is literally a road map to better health, filled with best practices regarding how to make positive choices and assessments for determining where we are and where we want to head. Open this book and step off the side-lines and onto the express lane to becoming a healthier, sexier you!" - Corrie Woods, Author of "The Woman's Field Guide to Exceptional Living" My Gift: "The Woman's Field Guide to Exceptional Living" e-book - value: $10  "My first 'ah ha' from 'Stop Being Stopped' came quickly on page three of Dr. Karen's enlightening book where she reports that '87% of women claim that their quest for health and wellness motivates their life decisions more than anything else' yet '70% report that they frequently do things that they know interfere with their well-being.' Wow, that hit home for me! It got me up off my butt and out walking again, and I've not stopped since. Thank you, Dr. Karen. That was the reality check I needed." - Dharlene Marie Fahl, Author/Inspirational Speaker/Tea Specialist My Gift: "Sipping Tea - Celebrating Me" e-book and seven daily prayers - value: $13  "Dr. Karen has nailed it! I'm a natural-health junkie, but this is the first book I've ever seen that handles mind, body and spirit together. For the GO DOCTOR knows that when you live a healthy life, you are better able to live your purpose. If you want to find more joy in life - read this book!! Oh, and the best bonus - the fatigue test. I've never seen anything like it. The GO DOCTOR really knows her stuff - take advantage and live your best!!!" - Dr. Patricia Ross, Best Affirmations My Gift: The Best Affirmations Workbook - value: $20  "The Go Doctor is just the right medicine for a healthy, vibrant life. Dr. Karen's insightful book, 'Stop Being Stopped,' was the green light I needed to get my health back on track. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a sexy, healthy, inspired life." - Elaine Starling, CEO of Promise Power My Gift: The Promise Power Daily Gratitude Worksheet - value: $20  "The GO Doctor has given mankind one of the most precious gifts - heartfelt sincerity to external and internal wellness...utilizing passion, compassion, and her 'pearls' of wisdom to stimulate a happier and more energetic you!" - Janice Bernhard, The "Happiness" Coach My Gift: 1-hour Power Coaching with Mind Kinetics session - value: $125  "'Stop Being Stopped' gets to the heart of what holds us back from having the health and energy we need and want in our lives. I am completely amazed with the clarity of the roadmap she provides. It's holistic health at its finest. Her unique approach leaves no stone unturned because it encompasses not only the body, but the mind, heart and spirit as well." - Faith Zimmerman, Radiant Life Strategies My Gift: The Holistic Balance E-Course - value: $30 Buy this incredible book now and receive your $500 worth of FREE GIFTS!It's EASY to Get Your Bonuses!Take these simple steps: 1. Click here to open a new window to Amazon to order your book now (keep this window open to know what to do next) 2. After you place your order, just enter your name, e-mail and your Amazon Order Number in the form here. We'll ask you to confirm your e-mail and then we'll send you access to all the bonuses. Get ready to unleash the healthier, sexier YOU! Labels: balance, Dr. Helen Thomas, health, inspiration, personal growth, stop being stopped, weight loss
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Sharing the Gift of Health...
I've said it before and I'll say it again: We women have to stick together!We've got SO MUCH going on in our lives: handling our kids, our significant others, our households, our careers, ourselves... I felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over me just while I was writing that!
The only way we can have it all and do it all (and do it all right) is if we share what we know with each other, if we lend each other a helping hand, if we support each other. That's why I want to share with you an amazing gift! As you may remember, I've been working with an incredible woman named Dr. Helen Thomas. She is a practitioner of the ancient, healing science of Ayurveda. She's also the author of Effortless Ayurvedic Living (available for FREE on her website), and she's responsible for drastic, wonderful changes in my health. I've already mentioned how here and here. Now she's offering an amazing tele-seminar, and I just have to tell all of you moms out there about it. Many of us have had some sort of struggle with our weight. I know I have! (Until I met Dr. Helen, I felt like I kept losing and gaining the same darn ten pounds!) And I'm sure I'm not the only one who had an emotional struggle with it, too. I worried about how I looked, of course, but more importantly, I worried about my health and how I felt about myself. While this is important for us, as adults, to deal with, it's even more crucial when it's our children who are suffering from being overweight. The stigma surrounding being overweight, the health concerns, and the damage to their overall well-being are our responsibility, and we need to take control and set them on a path toward greater health not just now, but in the future as well. Enter Dr. Helen and Ayurveda! On her website (in the Archives section) she's been posting a three-part series on Childhood Obesity that is FANTASTIC! When I heard from her that the American Academy of Pediatrics is proposing to administer Statin drugs (cholesterol-lowering drugs) to children as young as age 8 (AGE 8!) I nearly fell on the floor! There's got to be a better way, I thought to myself. And Dr. Helen agrees. Her approach to childhood obesity is through the safe and natural practices of Ayurveda. This is an ancient science, readers, and as a patient of hers, I can attest to the unbelievable results it brings. But I'll let her tell you all about it... She's offering sensational tele-seminar on August 26th that you absolutely MUST be a part of, even if your child isn't suffering from obesity, because her tips and advice can help you help them maintain their healthy weight. The tele-seminar is called Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy! We all know that childhood obesity is a national epidemic, but Dr. Helen believes that the answer is NOT pharmaceuticals, fad diets, or shame and deprivation. AYURVEDA is the key to managing the weight of your child! It's gentle, loving, safe and natural - all the things you want for your child...and it's as close as your spice rack! The Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy! tele-seminar will be held on August 26th, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time/ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This phenomenal event is more than just valuable advice and tips: it's an opportunity for YOU to ask YOUR QUESTIONS! Dr. Helen Thomas and her husband, Dr. Craig Thomas, will be there, ready and willing to share their vast knowledge on Ayurveda. The info they're presenting, plus the live-and-direct Q&A with them, could easily cost you $$$$ in books, seminars, and products, but she's letting me offer this out to you for a special rate, a minimal cost of only $22.95. Your health and the health of your child are WORTH it! Ordering is safe and easy!
(Brought to you by me - Michelle Y. Drake - and my company, The Cove Group, Inc.) To sign up, simply click here to begin the purchase process. I'll be there on the tele-seminar call myself, so I hope to "hear" you there! Labels: Ayurvedic Medicine, balance, childhood obesity, children, Dr. Helen Thomas, education, health, motherhood, weight loss
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Lipstick Leadership: Accessorizing Your Life with Time for Yourself - Pam Robertson's Story!
"...I credit a good part of my efforts at celebrating myself as a woman to my mom and my grandmother. They both taught me how to step back from work, kids and family issues to take some time just for me, and do it with panache. Nana had my mom in the midst of World War Two in Britain. Nana is a frugal woman and has lived what many of us would consider a hard life, but through it all - working as a housemaid and later, a hand model only to have to take work as a welder during the war, then moving to Canada with a young child - she could step back and unwind herself. Even if all she had was five minutes, my grandmother would spend some time on something that made her feel good, and often it was as simple as the way she put her lunch plate together. It was as simple as grating cheese on top of her salad and adding a sprig of watercress on the side. It was as elegant as winding her chestnut hair and pinning the curls in a way that crowned her head. My mom could be going to the shops for a few groceries or simply stepping out to say hello to a neighbor, but even during cancer treatment and with most of her hair gone, Mom always made sure that she looked good when people saw her, and she continues to do so. She'll throw on a beautiful pair of earrings, a necklace, scarf or brooch, something with a bit of style. When I was a young adult, I thought she was a bit over the top, always reminding me to accessorize, but I realize now that the effort that she made for herself made her feel good, and the energy and enthusiasm for life that she possesses also transfers to others around her and makes other people feel good. That says a lot for the power of a pair of earrings and a scarf, but it's true. At times when I am really feeling the pressures of work and running a business, family and all the things that come together to make it work, I pause to think of these two women who have had so much influence in my life, and I celebrate a little moment for myself. A cup of tea in my favourite cup, a sprig of parsley on my plate or a piece of jewelry that offers a statement, and I am acknowledging both of these remarkable women. I thank them for the example that they set about the importance of celebrating me and for embracing life with all it has to offer." - Pam Robertson 
For more of "Mom's Wisdom" to apply in your workplace for success, check out my new book "From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Mom's Wisdom on Leadership" available in local bookstores and online at BarnesAndNoble.com!
Labels: balance, inspiration, lipstick leadership stories, mother's wisdom, personal growth
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Lipstick Leadership: Learning to Be Myself - Laura Ries' Story!
"Mom's greatest gift to me was encouraging me to be me. She valued my sister and I for who we are. It was okay if we had interests that were not typical. She was full of life and loved to celebrate. It wasn't until recently that I have applied this gift to my career. I kept a part of me separate when at work. This was in an effort to be 'business-like'. I was able to do my job and very well, but something was missing. Oh, if I hadn't had the encouragement from mom, I wouldn't have ever tried being me. Now that I have, there is a new dimension to the work environment that enriches all of us." - Laura Ries, www.PrimaryParentingOnPurpose.com
For more of "Mom's Wisdom" to apply in your workplace for success, check out my new book "From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Mom's Wisdom on Leadership" available in local bookstores and online at BarnesAndNoble.com!
Labels: balance, inspiration, kitchen to corner office, leadership, lipstick leadership stories, mother's wisdom, personal growth
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Lipstick Leadership: Respect - Kristie Davis's Story!
"As a stepmother, I often struggled to find that fine balance between friend and mom. My stepson has a wonderful mother who is helping him lead a strong, value-filled life. However, I'm a firm believer that it takes a village to raise a child. I didn't want to just be his friend - I wanted to be a 'co-mom' for him, basically a third-party for him to talk to. After many years of struggle - taking him to the duck pond, playing football with him, and showing him that I loved him as a son - I sometimes wondered if it was working. That changed one day when I jokingly asked, 'Who's your favorite stepmom?' and he replied, 'You are.' I laughed and said, 'That's because I'm your only stepmom,' and he looked at me for a minute, and then what this 11-year-old said brought tears to my eyes. 'No, Kristie,' he said earnestly. 'Even if you and dad divorced and he remarried, you'd still be my favorite stepmom.' This story means even more to me today, now that he's a teenager, as his father and I are divorced. I'm still trying to figure out how to be a 'non' stepmom. But the lesson learned here is that you don't have to strive to be liked to be respected and loved. You have to go for what's right. I've applied this to my career as a teacher as well. I don't have to be a child's friend; I have to be his teacher, and I have to be respected by him." - Kristie Davis
For more of "Mom's Wisdom" to apply in your workplace for success, check out my new book "From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Mom's Wisdom on Leadership" available in local bookstores and online at BarnesAndNoble.com!
Labels: balance, inspiration, leadership, lipstick leadership stories, mother's wisdom, motherhood
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Lipstick Leadership: Setting an Example of Success - Carrie Lauth's Story!
"For many years during my childhood, my mother, in addition to being a full-time stay-at-home mom, was also a leader in Direct Sales. For several years, my family drove a Tupperware van that my mother earned because of her sales and recruiting achievements. Seeing her do something and succeed at something she obviously enjoyed had a real impact on me. I've always had an entrepreneurial streak for as long as I could remember. Now I earn a full-time living on the Internet and am able to raise my 4 children. Thanks Mom, for the wonderful example!" - Carrie Lauth, www.CarrieLauth.com
For more of "Mom's Wisdom" to apply in your workplace for success, check out my new book "From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Mom's Wisdom on Leadership" available in local bookstores and online at BarnesAndNoble.com!
Labels: balance, career-advancement, inspiration, kitchen to corner office, leadership, lipstick leadership stories, mother's wisdom, motherhood, working mom
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The struggle between having a career and raising kids is a battle for the ages. Speaking from experience, I know that when I decided to re-join the workforce when my kids were little, I was in a constant state of guilt. When I was at work, I felt like I was missing vital time with my children. When I was at home, I felt like I wasn't giving it my all at my job - and that's just not my style! There just didn't seem to be an optimal way to fit both pieces into my life back then. But thankfully today the working world is FINALLY starting to catch on that there are plenty of mommies out there who want to put their skills to work AND have the flexibility to raise their children! I came across this article on CNN.com, " Moms Find Balance as High-Skilled Temps" by A. Pawlowski, and I said, "Amen!" According to the article, staffing agencies like Mom Corps., On-Ramps, Flexible Executives, Flexible Resources and FlexWork Connection have cued into the fact that the "Mommie Talent Pool" is an amazing untapped resource, and the companies' mission is to "connect career-women-turned-stay-at-home moms with employers." These agencies are giving moms the opportunity to be successful both in their careers and in their personal lives by providing them with the flexibility they need and deserve. At the same time, they're giving companies a double whammy: highly skilled employees AND women who are enriching the workplace with their unique perspective as mothers. My book " From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Mom's Wisdom on Leadership" is all about that! All of the stories I tell in that book are drilled down to a "simple truth from Mom"; the case studies (real-life business examples) show how that wisdom can be applied. And with staffing agencies like the ones mentioned in this article, even more women will be able to benefit organizations with the gifts of their knowledge. Everybody wins! This is what " Lipstick Leadership Week" is all about: sharing the knowledge. By sharing stories about the incredible women in your life and how they've influenced you (and judging by many of the submissions so far, they've influenced your professional success just as much as your personal success!) we're creating a wisdom network that can help everyone advance their careers - and again I say, "AMEN!" " Lipstick Leadership Week" - July 28th through August 1st, 2008 Submit Your StoryLabels: balance, career-advancement, kitchen to corner office, leadership, mother's wisdom, motherhood, working mom
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More Fly Fishing - Video Footage!
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Surprise!!! Fly Fishing Brings Balance to this City Girl's Hectic Work Life
 When my husband Rich (and son Mike and our parish priest Fr. Gregg) left for their cross-country motorcycle trip in May, the last thing that they thought I would be doing with my "free" time was fly-fishing. I have to admit that when I was invited by Mark Victor Hansen, as a member of his Inner Circle, to spend 5 days in the wilderness of Colorado I was hesitant. Could an admitted city-girl like myself find any enjoyment in the rustic environment and activities that Dunton Hot Springs offered. When I googled the Hot Springs I was not reassured.
But being the open-minded person that I am, I agreed. Walking into the event with reluctant enthusiasm. As I shared in my last post, I experienced many firsts during this trip...but I fell in love with fly-fishing. There were three of us assigned to a field-guide that would take us to a good fishing hole...in the hopes of actually catching a fish. My footing was surprisingly steady (maybe it was all the time I spend balancing myself in 4-inch heels) as the current of the river rushed by.  Mark did have some difficulty with his footing and proceeded to give me a cold hug after he fell into the drink (the river...not the bottle!) I fell in love with the movement and rhythm of the fishing line as I gracefully cast and reeled in.  It was soothing...listening to nature, smelling the pines, rocking back and forth as I cast, feeling the cold water rush past my legs. The tension of the city melted away as I enjoyed my brief encounter with the countryside. To my surprise, Dunton Hot Springs was just what this stressed out Mama needed to recharge me to move ahead with the work of tomorrow...by enjoying the wilderness today! Labels: a, balance, colorado, fly fishing, Mark Victor Hansen, Mega Inner Circle
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