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!
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.
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"...
- 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
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.
I want you to understand my perspective on Dr. Helen's approach to managing menopausal symptoms, and in order to do that, I need to share a little of my personal menopausal journey.
In the year leading up to 2000, I had a bout with ovarian cancer. This nose-to-nose fist-fight with the disease ended with a win for ME!
In June of 2000, I had a total hysterectomy and eight years later, I can confidently say, it got ALL the bad stuff out! I did have to fight with a few of my doctors on how I wanted to proceed with treatment. Knowing that I could not have any more children (a whole other long story), I pushed for just getting it all out of me for good, and the doctors finally acquiesed. I always did have good negotiation skills.
The thing that I didn't really understand at 38-years-old was the impact of post-surgical menopause and the traditional medical treatment for its symptoms.
Symptoms...such a clinical word for world-rocking physical and emotional feelings. After seven years of HRT (hormone replacement therapy), I found a doctor who could take me off HRT (which, by the way, put an extra 40 pounds of weight on me during the first few months of treatment, and I've been battling to get that weight off for years!). With the help of Dr. Helen Thomas, I've lost 20 of those 40 pounds and now I have my hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms under control - without taking hormones!
You know I love to share a good resource, and this week, I'm going to do just that!
I've blogged about Dr. Helen in the past, and now we're trying to share some of the treatment info that she's used with me to help other women who may not be geographically local to work with her directly.
You could suffer through menopausal symptoms...but why?
Dr. Helen Thomas and I present her Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program guaranteed to set you on a course toward "sama dosha" - all three doshas in balance (you can learn what a "dosha" is through her "What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Body Types" guidebook available for download with this program!) - during menopause and beyond!
Menopause is a natural cycle, but dealing with its symptoms can be uncomfortable and even embarrassing. Instead of turning to risky treatments like HRT, wouldn't you rather utilize the natural, safe practices of the ancient science of Ayurveda to soothe your hot flashes, mood swings, hot feet, fatigue and more?
Dr. Helen's Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program is a special combination of guides, recipes, regimens and a tele-seminar where YOU can tap into her vast Ayurvedic wisdom and ask her the direct questions about your personal journey through menopause.
STEP 1: The "What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Body Types" PDF booklet Determine which of the three doshas - Vata, Pitta or Kapha - that guides you, and discover which regimens will work with your body type and digestive tendencies.
STEP 2: The "Menopausal (and Menstrual) Remedies for Your Body Type" PDF pamphlet. Quiet and diminish your menopausal and menstrual symptoms with five-sense therapy and daily lifestyle regimens to re-align your doshic imbalances.
NOTE: Both booklets will be presented in one, easy-to-download PDF file, available after you finish the purchasing process.
STEP 3: The "Ayurvedic Menopausal Balance Tele-Seminar" on Wednesday, September 17th at 5:00 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. There's only so much information Dr. Helen can give you in her ezines (available at www.EffortlessAyurvedicLiving.com) and booklets, and because every woman's journey through menopause is unique, she wants to address YOUR specific issues and offer you personal Ayurvedic insights and knowledge. On this call, Dr. Helen will go into more depth about everything she's discussed so far and answer any questions you may have.
If you've been reading her recent ezines (sign up to read them at www.EffortlessAyurvedicLiving.com) you know that she's only scratched the surface of the wonders of Ayurvedic treatments for menopausal balance! By purchasing her Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program for the low price of $29.95 (or you could spend thousands of dollars on other "remedies" that may do more harm than good), you're opening yourself up to a world without the suffering of menopausal symptoms.
Enjoy this beautiful time in your life by attaining balance through menopause the Ayurvedic way!
Ordering this program is safe and easy. When you complete the purchasing process, you'll be e-mailed both pamphlets - in a single, easy-to-download PDF format - and the information on the tele-seminar call-in number and access code.
Take your menopausal care into your own hands and order today!
Recently, I was featured in an article by Katherine Reynolds Lewis (Newhouase News Service) in The Seattle Times, called "Working through on-the-job menopause." Even through menopause is a natural cycle, that doesn't mean its symptoms don't interfere with our personal and professional lives.
Hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue...few women are blessed enough not to have to deal with these symptoms. And they can wreak havoc in our personal relationships as well as our professional ones.
Raise your hand if you've ever sat in a meeting and suddenly felt the familiar rush of heat and sweat that a hot flash can bring. I know I have. It's uncomfortable and embarrassing, and it can often send the wrong message to your colleagues and even your boss. They may mistake your red face and your fidgeting as dislike for an idea or a project...when all you're trying to do is muscle through and ride out your hot flash!
Let me tell you a little bit about my personal experience with menopause and the treatements I've undergone to try and ease my way through the process...
My colleague, friend and Ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C., has helped me immensely as I navigate my way through menopause. Her safe, natural Ayurvedic methods have all but demolished my menopausal symptoms, and let me tell you, I feel a lot better knowing that I'm not pumping hormones into my body. Not to mention the fact that my work - face-to-face with clients and audiences of thousands - no longer suffers at the hands of menopausal symptoms.
And now I'd like to offer you the opportunity to experience Dr. Helen and her Ayurvedic methods for dealing with menopause. She's currently offering an amazing program called "Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program" on her website: www.EffortlessAyurvedicLiving.com.
The first step in her "Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program" is a fantastic PDF booklet called "What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Body Types". It gives a brief overview of Ayurveda and the Vata, Pitta and Kapha body types as well as specific regimens for each type, Ayurvedic recipes, and other Ayurvedic treatments.
The second step in her "Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program" is the "Menopausal (And Menstrual) Remedies for Your Body Type" PDF booklet. This informative pamphlet provides safe and natural Ayurvedic remedies for common menopausal and menstrual symptoms.
The third step in her "Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program" is a live tele-seminar with her, Dr. Helen, and myself. She'll be going into greater depth about all sorts of menopausal issues as well as proven Ayurvedic techniques for dealing with uncomfortable and often embarrassing menopausal symptoms. It's also your opportunity to speak with her (and me) directly: ask questions, offer your own insights, and share your menopausal experiences.
To learn more about Dr. Helen and her incredible Ayurvedic insights into menopause (as well as a whole host of other issues, including weight loss, food combinations and beauty), visit her website at www.EffortlessAyurvedicLiving.com and click on her "Archives" section.
Menopause is a natural process, but thanks to Dr. Helen and Ayurveda, it no longer has to interfere with your personal and your professional life!
Remember a few weeks ago, I alluded to a brand new program that I was developing to help people get over their fear of public speaking (the #1 fear of most people!)?
Well, it's ready to roll, and I'm so excited about it!
Knowing how to speak in public is VITAL to your success personally and professionally. Most executives that I know wouldn't be where they are today if they couldn't express themselves to their teams, their clients and their bosses. And the fear of opening your mouth in front of an audience - small or large - can be crippling to your career and your relationships.
My "Get Over Your Fear of Public Speaking!"video program shares my best tips for banishing those public speaking demons forever. As a professional speaker myself and someone who has met other amazing speakers, I've gathered a world of experience, tips, and tools that I want to share with you through this video program.
(The response to this program has been astounding! Don't miss your opportunity to tap into my professional speaking expertise and learn how to communicate confidently in front of any audience!)
Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention has people talking, and after seeing it, I can understand why. You gotta give her credit...what a fantastic speech and speaker! Michelle held that room in the palm of her hand! She knew that her role was to appeal to the women voters in the audience (both live and virtual)...the mothers, sisters and daughters and that is how she played her content and delivery. She knew she needed some female damage control...and she delivered.
The immediate connection she made with the women in the audience was, "I am someone you could chat with over coffee!"
The stories she told and the passionate and engaging way she told them really struck a chord. It was clear that although she was there to talk up her husband, she did so in a way that was personal and heartwarming - not cold and robotic, just spewing out facts about him. I admire how she embraced her roles as a wife, mother and daughter instead of shying away from them as so many professional women do. This woman clearly has a good idea of who she is and what role she would like to play as First Lady.
It was a brilliant move (and a crowd pleaser) when she...
gave props to her mother (and father), to Hillary Clinton for the "18 million cracks" she's made in the "glass ceiling", and to the generations of people who've come before us and how they paved the way, they are our role models, they've given us opportunities for success.
You know, I think Michelle would really like my book!
As a professional speaker, I examined her with a critical eye and found her to be an excellent speaker both charismatic and focused. She looked elegant, stylish and (most importantly for managing her image) approachable- great choice not to put on the corporate suit because it would've contrasted with her subtle message ("I am just like you").
The girl sure can tell a story: she clearly projected that her message was heartfelt and that she was passionate about it, but she didn't slip into being overly sentimental. Her words had just enough polish to be taken seriously, but enough tiny mistakes to make it personable as well . Her gestures and body language complemented her eloquence and grace. Although sometimes her pointing of the finger gave away a bit of her more aggressive side.
All-in-all, I give her an A for her speech and her presentation. I particularly liked her call to action: stop doubting and start dreaming; follow your hopes instead of your fears.
My apologies for staying away from my blog for so long, but between working with clients, traveling to Salt Lake City for a conference about SendOutCards.com (you've GOT to check these guys out - their system is amazing and so much fun!), and getting my sons back off to college (the house is mine and my husband's again - woo hoo! But seriously, I love my kids and miss them, too), I've been using my few minutes of downtime to, you know, breathe.
And I've also been staying up way too late to watch the Olympics! I'm so proud of our fellow countrymen and countrywomen; they've been outstanding all around in their events. According to Yahoo! this morning, the USA has earned 101 medals so far (8 of which are the incredible gold medals won by record-breaker Michael Phelps - congratulations to him!).
While I love the thrill of the competitions, I'm truly amazed by the Olympians themselves. To paraphrase a comment made on "Project Runway" during their Olympic challenge, they are as close to real-live superheros as we can get. They are at peak performance levels, and they've trained endlessly to achieve their goals. Let's follow their example!
Today, I challenge you to commit to your career like an Olympian commits to his or her training. I want you focus on kicking your career into overdrive (especially if lately it's been chugging along like a golf cart), and I want you firing all cylinders as you work towards your career's peak performance level.
And as your coach, I'm going to give you the benefit of my knowledge with these 10 tips for advancing your career!
1. Create a "life skills" line: Record everything you know how to do - from birth until the present - and all the skills required to do them. What have you excelled at? (And they don't have to be just work-related...you'd be surprised how the skills you have in your hobbies translate into success into the workplace.)
2. Make a "life activity" line (layer it right over your "life skills" line). Identify the activies at work and at home that you enjoy doing. If your skill is problem-solving, activities you might like are troubleshooting at work or working on your car's engine. A career that is satisfying and challenging with incorporate some of those skills and activities.
3. Rate your enjoyment and aptitude of each entry on your line: 1 if you're excellent at it and love doing it; 5 if it's one of your weaker areas or if you wouldn't want to do it for more than a few hours. And with this info, you're going to then...
4. Create a clear picture in your mind of your next 5 career moves (they're not set in stone!). They could be in order and progressing up through your organization, or they could be lateral moves into other organizations or industries. Plotting out these career moves starts to set you up with a strategy for career advancement (and we all know how much I LOVE strategy!).
5. Map out opportunities within your organization. You got those 5 career moves in your head - where are they in your organization? Create a "treasure map" that you can follow, leading you to each of those 5 career moves. Who's holding those jobs now? What are your chances of earning that position? If there's a star blocking your route of advancement (think Don Draper of "Mad Men") who shows no signs of budging, then you should first do everything in your power to succeed and prove your worth in your current position (a shift all the way up line might occur) or you might want to consider moving to another company, which leads me to...
6. Map opportunities outside your organization. What organizations are the leaders in your industry? Are they looking for highly-skilled people like you, and if so, what could they offer you? Look for industries that are complementary to yours. There may be opportunities to not only bring your insights into a new industry, but also for you to be invigorated by a new set of challenges.
7. Assess people in higher levels of your organization. Give them a report card. Who does a great job? Who might be on his or her way out? Who might be open to talking to you about their position? What are their skills...and do you have them?
8. Make a list of people who would help you if they knew your career aspirations. While it's a good idea to be tentative about who you share your career plans with (especially if they include chucking your current job for another), you have people in your sphere of influence that can help you attain your career goals if you talk to them about those goals. Be selective in who you share your dreams with, but make sure you share your dreams with someone!
9. Use an interview as an excuse to go and speak to someone who has the job that you want. Does your company have a newsletter or a website that highlights employees and bosses? If so, go to the head of these departments and ask if you can do a profile on the person who has the job you want. I'm sure they'll be thrilled to have some of the burden taken off them, and I'm sure that the person you interview will be flattered that you're so interested in them and their job. Asking for an interview is a non-threatening way to do your research and gather information.
10. Join an industry organization. This is a primo networking opportunity just waiting for you to reach out and grab it. Learn about other companies in your industry, other positions you may be qualified for, and loads of other inside scoop that can help you strategize your next career move.
Now go out there and earn a gold medal in career advancement!
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.
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!
Well, after last week's whirlwind posting marathon during "Lipstick Leadership Week", I decided to lay low for the past few days.
In the interim, I've been swamped with coaching clients who are begging me to help them with their public speaking. Apparently, that old saying about public speaking being an even greater fear than death is true!
Now, I admit: even a professional speaker like me gets butterflies in her stomach before taking the stage and staring out into that sea of people. But then my adrenaline kicks in and my naturally talkative personality takes over. Unfortunately, that's not the case for most people.
I've heard horror stories from clients, colleagues and friends about how they froze under the spotlights (or even speaking to a smaller group in a meeting) and tripped and stuttered their way through their presentations. My heart goes out to them. (I feel the same way when faced with a situation where math is required!)
So a few days ago, I had one of those "aha" moments Oprah's always talking about:
- People need help with their public speaking. - I'm a professional speaker who can also be considered something of an expert in getting over fears.
Why not figure out some global way (as opposed to one-on-one coaching...there's only so much of my time to go around!) that I could help people overcome their fear of public speaking??
Eureeka!
I'm now in the process of developing a fantastic new video product and loads of special bonuses to go along with it. I can't wait to unveil it, and I'm hoping to have the finishing touches put on it next week!
Keep your eyes open, loyal readers, because you're going to be one of the first people I offer it out to. I'll post more details soon!
...all of the fantastic entries I received will live on here at my blog!
If you missed out on last week's event, feel free to scroll down or click on the "lipstick leadership stories" tag at the bottom of this post to enjoy all of the anedotes and insights that made "Lipstick Leadership Week" a smashing success!
I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who sent in stories - they were all truly amazing and inspiring. I only wish I could get to know each of these incredible role models personally!
And it's a great feeling to know that this network of "mother's wisdom" you all helped me create is only the beginning! I can't wait to get started on the next book in the "From the Kitchen to the Corner Office" series - you've proven that there's limitless inspiration out there and plenty of moms and mom figures to draw experiences from!
In the meantime, I've got a lot of other pots full of ideas bubbling on my mental stovetop, and you'll be the first to hear about them here on my blog and through my free eZine "Lipstick Leadership" (Haven't signed up yet? You're missing out on a lot of great info! Sign up here or at LipstickLeadership.com).
"Both of my grandmothers taught in one-room schoolhouses in rural Pennsylvania for many years. I visited those schoolhouses with them in the '50s and '60s and was amazed at how self-sufficient they were. My mother started her own kindergarten - also in Pennsylvania in the '50s - and then taught in an elementary school for another 35 years. The lessons that I learned from them are those of perseverance and determination to finish the job inspite of all obstacles and hardships which you may encounter both at home and in the workplace."
- Kati Machtley, Women's Summit Director, Bryant University
"My mother's courage, strength, resourcefulness and unconditional love shaped my self-image which allowed me to pursue everything and anything I have ever wanted to achieve in my life. Her actions taught me to persevere even in adversity and to believe anything is possible for me. Although she was not born in this country, she has amazed me with her ability to reinvent herself many times over! Not only does she have spirit but it is all grounded with an incredible faith that she has also instilled in me. My mother is my role model...she has led her life with the utmost grace and soul. I have grown to become a resilient woman who has approached all of my work with passion and the belief in my ability to achieve all of my goals. Because of the solid foundation she created for me, I don't hesitate to 'go for it' within my work every day. I'm not afraid to try new things, welcome challenges and have the confidence to plow right through them."
Lipstick Leadership: More Than Words - Corrie Woods' Story!
"The most powerful lessons I learned, and am still learning, from my mother haven't come in words. Not that the countless times she sat me down to share wisdom that helped me to find my way weren't important. They were. Yet the lessons that have lasted the longest and that have become a part of who I am came from watching how my mother shows up in the world. Here are a few examples of what I mean: my mother doesn't believe in complaining, never has. She takes what life hands her and makes the most out of it. My mother shows me that a woman can be tough and strong and have a huge and caring heart. Though I undoubtedly have had my moments of stretching her toleration and patience, I have never doubted she was there for me and my sisters 100%. My mother taught me that when it comes down to it, dropping everything and hopping a plane to take care of a loved one in need is a no-brainer. Most of all, my mother taught me these lessons and so many more which have helped me to be the best mom I can be for my children. That has been the greatest gift of all!"
- Corrie Woods, author of "The Woman's Field Guide to Exceptional Living"
"Brigadier Pat Foote influenced me when I was a 2nd lieutenant and trying to manage everything. She said, 'The sign of a leader is how well their people do when they are not there. Train your people, always tell them the result you want but don't dictate the how...let them surprise you with their ingenuity. Never micromanage. Trust them to do the job, but always check, check, check.' She then 'killed' me in the war games and had my sergeants take over - they did great and I learned to power down."
- E. Adrienne van Dooren, The House That Faux Built
Lipstick Leadership: "Igniting the Spark of Leadership" - Chris Brown's Story!
"My mom was my Brownie leader. She organized the crafts. She volunteered to pick up the patches at the scout shop. She still isn't much of a singer, but she taught us all those special Brownie songs. She helped us recite the Brownie promise at the close of each meeting. She got all of us girls to really believe in ourselves that when we chanted the phrase, "Twist me and turn me and show me the elf, I looked in the water and saw...myself!" When we glanced down at the pine branches laid around the mirror, we really were transformed into someone who can do anything. She gave us the confidence to try new things and make a difference. And over the years, our troop did. We cleaned up the overgrown corner lot in our town, throwing away trash, trimming back all the weeds and planting petunias. We visited the shut-ins in the nursing home. We camped in the woods and cooked on Buddy Burners made of 3 lb. coffee cans and tuna cans with cardboard and wax.
As we grew from Brownies to Juniors to Cadettes, so did our activities. We traveled to the capital. We helped organize events for the younger scouts. We saw plays. We earned badges. We took photos and cemented friendships. We created scavenger hunts for the younger scouts with watermelons as the prize at the end. We learned leadership skills like mentoring, planning, encouraging and collaborating.
My mom volunteered hundreds of hours to the girls in our troop. She taught us leadership by letting us try it on one step at a time. And now, many years later, if you surveyed those dozen girls, you'll find women who have grown up to become leaders in a wide variety of roles including business, government and health care (and scouts, too). And now we are passing it on to the next generation.
Thanks Mom, for igniting the spark of leadership in all of us!
"I learned an important lesson from my Aunt Evelyn, a farm wife. When I was young, I used to think that Evelyn was the most patient person I had ever met. Evelyn was slow to judge and quick to understand. She taught me that you never know what is happening with a person until you ask. This has helped me to forge business relationships that I would otherwise never have considered."
- Julie Viskup, Law Professor at Champlain College
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."
Lipstick Leadership: Independent Woman - Christina Lemmey's Story!
"My mother is very independent and led by example that women could do anything we wanted to do. She was a stay-at-home mom and was not a business person, but she took art classes at the community college, and she would travel at least once a year by herself to visit her brothers across the country or her best friend. We didn't have sit-down conversations about all the things I could accomplish, but sometimes seeing a living example is just as powerful as hearing the words. I've heard from many friends how they are surprised I would drive 3 hours with my kids to visit an out-of-state friend by myself. I also decided on my own to start my business and figured out myself what steps I needed to take to learn more from coaches to increase my business.
While I do not consider myself a risk-taker, the independence that I learned from my mother has definitely helped lead me on the right business path."
