July 25, 2011 -  Do you confuse satisfaction with happiness? Do you base your happiness on what you are doing versus how you are being? Happiness is a state of mind, not a desired state. It is a way of being, not a goal to be. Those who know true happiness naturally gravitate to experiences, people, and circumstances that bring satisfaction. And when something doesn't go exactly as anticipated, someone who is happy deep from within themselves can shift and modify because there are so many other reasons to be grateful. Best of all, when you are happy and you show it, not only can you clap your hands, but everyone around you is applauding as well because of how pleasant you are to be around.

Take an MM&I Moment to note the key things that bring you satisfaction in your life and in your work. Then note areas that are not satisfying right now. Are you allowing these aspects to affect your overall happiness which is affecting other wonderful things in your life? If so, then stop and put things into perspective. Stop tying satisfaction to happiness and then note some steps you can take to make what is not satisfying more to your liking. 

Synergized Quote of the Week

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." - Herman Cain

Savvy Secret Tip of the Week

Are you feeling as if any work or project is better than no work or project at all? While it certainly is important to be grateful for what you do have flowing through the door, if lack of customers or work is causing you to take anything that comes along, then chances are you have not thoroughly identified who your ideal target customers are and how you can serve them better than anyone else.  You should not only know your customers demographically (who they are statistically) and geographically (where they are), but you should also especially know them psychographically (how they think and why they think the way that they do). When you get inside their minds, you also get inside their wallets. And best of all, they willingly and anxiously come to you desiring your most profitable and distinctive offerings. (Secret #13, 50 Marketing Secrets of Growth Companies).

CONFESSIONS OVER COFFEE AT ALTON'S KITCHEN ON THE 27TH: I am going to be speaking to the Executive Women of LKN at Alton's Kitchen this Wednesday, July 27th in Cornelius, NC, discussing "Confessions of a Mompreneur," where I share leadership and business lessons my daughters reinforced in me during my 27 years of raising a business and the three of them at the same time.