Issue No. 3 April 2008
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 Welcome to issue three of my ezine. If you enjoyed last month you'll be craaaaazy about this month! We've got lots more features and fun stuff. We've loved reading your suggestions - check it out to see your ideas, here, in print, and keep them coming! This month we added Chair's Corner and biz tip. The purpose of this ezine continues to evolve into inspiration, humor, business, personal and just plain fun; aka "the don't take yourself so seriously" ezine. Put on your e-sunglasses as it is Spring and since the weather outside has not yet brought us the spring palette of colors we have brought it to you in this issue. In spades!
BTW, it's come to our attention that some of you are being deprived of our fun and fabulous fotos (okay, artistic liberty in the name of my alliteration addiction). We checked to see why some of you only get text and were told that it's YOUR server that's blocking the images, so...stop reading this and go do something about it!
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Call me:
312.664.8447
e me:
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NEWS FLASH!
Just wanted to share with you an unexpected award I just received. It's the Chair Excellence Award from Vistage and only 3 of 25 Chairs in Illinois received this honor and only 80 out of 330 in the nation. This honor is given to Chairs who excelled in group size, member retention, number of referrals and participation. "Each of these Chairs has done an outstanding job in 2007 by providing excellent service to our members and by supporting our organization's mission," said Greg Wells, Vistage's Chief of Field Operations.
WOO HOO!!!
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MUSINGS FROM MIKKI  Major decision!! I've decided after all these years of my hair being my signature statement that I am going to cut it all off as of May 1st. Scroll to bottom for more details as to why.
Enjoyed another Speakers School this month and was delighted to have had so many people of diverse backgrounds fly in from all over the country. It truly enriches the overall experience.
A lovely note from one attendee:
"Thanks so much for the wealth of information you shared with us at Speakers School last week. The two days were organized, fast-paced, and provided lots of information, tactics, and pointers. You provided us insights in how to craft our message and techniques on delivering it. I personally appreciated your willingness to help me find my unique message and direction.
Fred D. Potthoff, President
Kroff Chemical Company, Inc.
Pittsburgh, PA
I just flew in from Winnipeg (and no, my arms aren't tired) and celebrated with my Vistage member, Mark Partridge, the 125th anniversary of his law firm Pattishall McAuliffe at the Art Institute of Chicago. Fabulous event!
I'm sure you're all in exhale mode, as I am, now that those taxes are filed.
They ARE, aren't they???
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| I LOVE THIS BOOK! |
The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die
by John Izzo, Ph.D
 This book was lovingly given to me by Sharan Tash,The Pro Networker and all around fearless fabulous female friend (I love alliteration☺). Sharan is being honored this month by NAWBO, the National Association of Women Business Owners, as their Member of the Year. Congrats, Sharan... and now back to the book! This book is the result of the author's lifelong search to discover what it means to live a full and meaningful life, a path that I continue to travel, and provides the basis for my work. He interviewed over 200 people, ages 60-106, each of whom was identified by friends as "the one person they knew who had found happiness and meaning." He asked questions like, "What brought you the greatest joy?" "What do you wish you had learned sooner?" "What ultimately mattered and what didn't?" You will find this book funny, moving and thought-provoking, and hopefully in the process find inspiration to discover what matters long before you die.
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| CREATIVE CAPTIONS |
I love creativity and as a wordsmith I love double entendres, alliteration, onomato... whatever the heck that one was. One of my quirky habits is collecting names of businesses that display any of the above. Here are two of my favorites:
Plumbing company tag line: Don't go to bed with that drip again tonight
Off Track Bedding (mattress store)
*********************************************************** I hope you'll send me ones that you know of or see from now on.
Please send to mikki@mikkiwilliams.com
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| SHOE-BE-DOO STORIES |
Yes, I own about a billion pairs of shoes. And each pair has a story to inspire, a lesson to be learned, a laugh or an "aha!"
These shoes prove that if you hold onto anything long enough they come back in style and certainly animal prints do. I wore these to speak at The Million Dollar Round Table at their annual convention in New Orleans. MDRT as it is known is the premier association of financial professionals and the most sought after speaking gig on the planet (OK so I like to exaggerate). This incredible event of over 7000 attendees created opportunities for me to speak in Singapore, South Africa, England, Ireland and so many more wonderful international destinations.
MUST HAVE BEEN THE SHOES!
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MIKKI MOUTH:
QUOTATIONS I WISH I'D SAID AND SOME I DID SAY! |
 Enjoy a quote each month from my new book - some funny, some poignant, some professional, some just darn cute!
"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but you want someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down."
Oprah Winfrey
(I know, I know...you're thinking when's the last time I took a bus anywhere!)
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| VISTAGE VIGNETTE |
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As a speaker resource for Vistage International for 15 years and Chair of two groups for seven years I have the opportunity to interact with some of the most dynamic business leaders. Vistage is the world's largest executive organization with 14,000 members worldwide. It is to my delight to profile one of them each month.
 Sandy Rueve, She BeadsIn 1993, lifelong artist and designing entrepreneur Sandy Rueve was a stay-at-home mother of two. She employed all her creativity to make ends meet. One of several part time jobs, Sandy worked as an x-ray technician for the world famous Chicago Bulls. When sports legend Michael Jordan spotted Sandy-stringing beads in the locker room one night he asked if she could make some for him, and He Beads were born. The rest is history and part of the colorful legacy that has evolved into She Beads. Today She Beads are popping up on TV and in the pages of major fashion publications such as InStyle, appearing at the American Music Awards and the Grammy's Person of the Year Awards. She Beads have become favorites of celebrities like American Idol's Randy Jackson - check out his wrist when you watch the show! She Beads prides itself on being a company with heart. To that end She Beads offers its Charity Bead Collection for breast cancer awareness and the American Heart Association, among others.She Beads are trademarked. They are made in the U.S. and are being exported to Japan.Sandy has been a member of my Vistage CEO group for two years and is also the "heart" of our group. For more info on She Beads go to: www.sbstore.com or call 888.920.1923.For more information on Vistage International click here: Vistage InternationalIf you are interested in becoming a member of a Vistage group anywhere in the world, or a speaker or a Chair, drop us a line:mikki@mikkiwilliams.com |
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HE WHO LAUGHS, LASTS!
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 I always talk about the perspective of "choice" in my programs, that there is no time-management, only priority management, which is based simply on choice. One of my attendees sent me this joke in the spirit of choice.
Young guy gets on a plane and sits in first class. The flight attendant asks to hang up his coat and he says thank you very much and sits down next to a grumpy ol' guy. She then offers him a drink and he says thank you very much and I'll have a scotch and water. Guy next to him just huffs and grumbles so the young guy turns to him and asks him how he is today and the ol' guy huffs and grumbles some more. Flight attendant asks ol' guy if he wants a drink and he says, "Young lady, I don't drink, I never have, and I'd sooner commit adultery than drink." With that the young guy hands the drink back to the flight attendant and says, "Here, I didn't know that I had a choice." |
| THE HAPPY COOKER
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 Yes, that was the name of one of my businesses and oh, come on, I know guys cook too.
This is my FAVORITE soup and it's quick and easy!
SPEEDY TORTELLINI SOUP
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: About 15 minutes
Serves 4
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup diced carrot
2 tsp minced garlic
2 cans (13-3/4 or 14-1/2 ounce) chicken broth
4 ounces cheese tortellini
1 cup chopped escarole or 1 bunch spinach
1/2 cup frozen green peas
2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp prepared pesto
Salt and fresh ground pepper
In a large saucepan heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrot and
garlic; cook, stirring frequently until onion is translucent, about 3
minutes. Add chicken broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat and stir in
tortellini. Simmer until tortellini is cooked, 5-8 minutes. Stir in
escarole or spinach, peas, cheese, pesto and salt & pepper to taste.
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CHAIR'S CORNER
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 This is Chair's Corner - no, not that kind of chair - these are my colleagues with Vistage International, the ones like me who "herd cats" aka lead CEO groups.
Charlie Miller, Vistage Chair, Boston, has all of the usual prerequisites and several unusual ones. He's done the speaker bit, served on boards of directors and has even been published! Over a thirty-five year career he successfully led 80-person organizations and 350-person organizations, operated in smaller private companies, leveraged buyouts and large public companies. He has led acquisition teams and integrated newly acquired organizations. He has done it in North America, Europe and Asia. Most importantly he has done it by building highly motivated teams delivering extraordinary growth and profitability.
Charlie and his wife Marie live in a typical small New England community just south of Boston and visit their two grandsons in Virginia frequently!
For information regarding available seats in Charlie's or other Boston area groups, please contact him at (508) 958-3681 or cf.miller@verizon.net, and let him know you read about him in my ezine.
Biz Tip from Charlie
When it comes to driving change in your organization, the tried and true KISS rule applies. Keep it simple, smart-guy. Once you have decided where you want your business to be positioned in the market 5 to 7 years out, identify the most important 3 to 5 change initiatives that have to be successful to reach your goal. Do not fall into the trap of trying to drive change in 10 to 20 areas at the same time. Focus the organization on the critical few.
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MIKKI AND FRIENDS
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If any of you remember the movie or Broadway show "Auntie Mame" or if you're old enough to admit you remember it, then you might recall that Mame was famous for her eclectic circle of friends. I pride myself on that same principle of knowing so many diverse people and calling many of them my friends. I would like to profile them and their expertise by offering this monthly addition of tips, tactics and techniques shared by experts in their field. Although someone once told me not to refer to myself as an expert as an ex is a has-been and a spurt is little more than a drip.
Jim Karas is unique in the lifestyle industry because he combines a degree from the Wharton School of Business with over twenty years of unparalleled success as a weight loss and fitness professional. Jim is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Business Plan for the Body, and Flip The Switch. His new bookThe Cardio-Free Diet presents a research-based solution that challenges one of the fundamental misconceptions facing Americans today. As Jim says quite simply, "Cardio is a 1970s solution to a 21st century problem."
Jim is also the Fitness Contributor on ABC's Good Morning America (he helped co-host Diane Sawyer lose over 25 pounds) and is frequently seen on The View (helping co-host Whoopi Goldberg shed the pounds). Jim has written feature articles for countless national publications, including "O" The Oprah Magazine. Jim is a dynamic brand of energy, intelligence and physical integrity.
Fit Tip from expert, Jim Karas
It's Spring. Contrary to what you've done for in the past I want you to totally skip the cardio. If you want to lose weight, optimize your body composition, improve your posture and totally stall, if not reverse, the aging process, ONLY perform interval strength training. You won't believe the visual results and your metabolism will pop!
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| MIKKI'S MANTRA |
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Be outrageous...it's the only place that isn't crowded. |
| INSPIRATIONS
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Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality.
It is the words that speak boldly of your
intentions. And the actions which
speak louder than the words.
It is making the time when there is
none. Coming through time after time
after time, year after year after year.
Commitment is the stuff character is made of;
the power to change the face of things.
It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.
Author unknown |
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MIKKI ON THE MOVE
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Check
out where Mikki will be speaking and piggyback your company or
association event, or simply invite her to dinner or shopping!
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SPEAKERS SCHOOL with Mikki Williams, CSP
The April Speakers School was a great success. Read a testimonial below from one of the fabulous attendees.
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The Next Speakers School will be September 25-26, 2008.
It's for people at all levels: novices, wannabes, CEOs, professionals.
Click here to register:
Speakers School
"The school definitely exceeded my expectations and I left energized and excited about all the possible "what next"'s. I tell everyone who asks what it was like, that I relate it to getting to talk with a professional athlete who brings you to the realization of just how much work needs to go into being really great at their sport, however they share enough tricks of the trade that you still think you might be able to do it too. I certainly won't be on ESPN anytime soon but maybe on a speaking circuit? Thanks for that."
Steve Conine
President
AccuStaff-Reno
Reno, NV
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Next month we'll have some of Mikki's favorite poems, anecdotes and assorted other surprises.
Stay tuned! |
To book Mikki for your next event as a keynoter, emcee, panelist, seminar or workshop leader (she doesn't do floors or windows) or for more info on Vistage, Speakers Schools, Coaching or Consulting or anything else that's on your mind, contact Samantha or Mikki
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Thanks for spending time with us!
 Where's Waldo...oops, I mean where's the very professional team of Mikki Williams (l), CEO (Chief Energetic Optimist) and Samantha Hoffman (r), Director of Everything?
Thanks to the fabulous A New Leaf at 1818 N. Wells St. in Chicago for the use of their shop and their flowers, and especially for loaning us Duncan Riddell, our art director and photographer. We love him!
For more information on A New leaf contact laurie@anewleafchicago.com or go to their website: www.anewleafchicago.com
Oh yes, about cutting my hair...? Hah!
April Fools!
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Hair She is...!
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