November, 29 2007

Happier

While I think of myself as an astute businesswoman, my best advice for succeeding in business has little to do with a business factor -- it has to do with being happy. Yep, it's the secret for moving ahead in many ways and certainly it's true for business. (As a little aside, I watched the finals this week of "Dancing with the Stars" and I have rarely seen a happier competitor than Helio. I wasn't surprised when he won -- he enlisted us all in his happiness and I take it people voted for him in droves even though he was a relative unknown when he started.)

I uncovered a new book on the subject of happiness this week. It's called “Happier” and was written by Tal Ben Sharby. He even tells you how to be happy: combine meaning with pleasure!

When did we become such a serious society? Why do we put pleasure on the back burner? How did we learn to be guilty about enjoyment? Where do we find meaning in what we do? We don't need answers to those questions, we only need to re-focus. Make a switch! Find the importance in an endeavor -- absolutely. Find the joy, too. Spread it around.

I have made reminders to myself by using the phrase, "To be happy, combine meaning with pleasure", as my screen saver and I've decorated my newest journal with the saying too. It sets the priority. It paves the way. It's the best advice I've seen in a really long while.

November, 18 2007

Challenges

Do you realize how many people ask for challenges? Folks actually think that they earn points if they overcome obstacles. Now, don't get me wrong -- I've known disappointment, struggle, uninvited consequences, of course. And in this season of gratitude, I am thankful for everything that has brought me to the place that I am now. But while I appreciate all of the lessons I have learned, I love even more every one of those instances, which appeared with ease and grace -- Halleluiah! That's where I want credit -- for visualizing what I want and having it come into my life bigger and better than I ever could have imagined. It's just simply delicious to feel life unfold perfectly. I'm grateful and hope you are too. Happy Thanksgiving. May your holiday be as good as they get.

November, 06 2007

Be Tech Savvy

Last night, I had the opportunity and privilege of hearing Lee Ramie, the director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project. His Center examines how people's internet use affects their families, communities, etc. Their reports are fascinating and his speech was eye-opening. Check them out at www.pewinternet.org. I was intrigued by what Ramie had to say, but most surprised by a question from an audience member, who called himself an old "fart." Well, he was probably not much older than me and his question was essentially -- who needs this stuff? And the stuff meant cell phones, internet, web, etc. It's safe to say that he has never text messaged anyone. He probably hasn't ever found something he needed to know on the web, and it's definite that he hasn't e-mailed family and friends -- preferring, in his words, postcards and telephoning. This guy and I aren't even close to being on the same page. But either is the woman, who is 15 - 20 years younger, whose computer was stolen and she had no back-ups...What????? Or the very young caterer, who prepared lunch for a board meeting I attended last week, who doesn't have a website. Come on, people! Get with it! In order to be competitive, you must understand what technology can do for your business. We live in a day and age when it is cheap, cheap, cheap to partake. About ten years ago, I purchased a server and connected all of my employees in the office -- it cost a lot of money. Five years ago, I bought a router for my home so my daughter, granddaughter and I could all be on the internet at the same time and use one printer and it didn't cost me more than $50. You can see where I'm going with this. We are BLESSED with having access to information and each other at a reasonable cost, and relative ease. I'm grateful to Lee Rainie and his staff for letting me know the reach and impact of the technology and I know for sure that I appreciateevery day the ability that I have to learn, communicate, keep records, and even blog. Hooray!

October, 20 2007

Lights, Camera, Action!

This is supposedly what happens as a movie is being made. I've been thinking a lot about the execution of ideas lately and that phrase kept coming into my mind. You can have the inspiration (light) and you have can have the vision (camera) but until you take some action, nothing happens. I don't mean you have to struggle or work extra hard to fulfill your ideas but I know, for sure, that action -- some activity -- moves us forward in some way and that that is important. I believe (and you can dispute this but I have found it to be true) that movement of any kind helps us to achieve our goals. I also know that many times we spend a lot of time and energy pondering our next move rather than just MAKING A MOVE. I urge my clients and my friends to stop analyzing and DO SOMETHING! Take action. If it helps you, go ahead and pretend that you are making a movie -- become your own director -- and shout...Lights, Camera, ACTION!