|
Issue No. 5 June 2008
|
Welcome to issue five of my ezine. If you enjoyed last month you'll be craaaaazy about this month!
By now you've all read the Indy 500 recap. If you didn't get the special edition ezine let us know. You all asked what's the next item on the "experience list" and I believe it's the Kentucky Derby and Tango in Argentina, sooooooo if you know anyone who knows anyone in KY or Argentina, I'm all ears.
The purpose of this ezine continues to be inspiration, humor, business, personal and just plain fun; aka "the don't take yourself so seriously" ezine.
This month we're honoring...
WEDDINGS
 &
DADS
This is the last photo of my son Jason and his late dad, Gabe.
What Makes A Dad
Author Unknown
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it...Dad.
Happy Father's Day!
|
BREAKING NEWS!
HOT OFF THE PRESS!
Speaker Mikki Williams is recognized for going
'above and beyond.'
|
|
Try using
|
|
|
|
|
MUSINGS FROM MIKKI
Lots of travel this month and one of my highlights was staying at the new Palazzo Hotel  in Las Vegas for a repeat engagement with one of my favorite clients, Freeman Fox from Australia. I did a full-day program for them three years ago when they came to the States, then they went on African safari for their last two events and now came back to Vegas and invited me to speak again. I simply love those Aussies - the best laughter, the most upbeat personalities and they don't take themselves too seriously. The event was called Jornada which means journey in Portugese and these high net worth individuals were culminating their year of self discovery with this trip. Most of you have heard of my Ferrari Factor; well it's the first time that one of the gals in the audience actually owned TWO! And no, I am not including her contact info.
As I write this I can hardly contain my excitement over what's looming on my horizon. I am spending my July 4th birthday (what other day could it possibly be?) with ten of my most fabulous female friends from coast to coast. In case you are wondering, my age is somewhere between none of your business and how dare you ask. We will be creating more memories on the French Riviera for a week... Cannes, Nice, St. Tropez and Monte Carlo. That's just the teaser...details to follow in the July ezine. And no, there will not be topless beach photos.
| |
|
| I LOVE THIS BOOK! |
The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch
 By now, you've all either seen the video or heard the speech unless you've been living between a Barack and a hard place (I couldn''t resist). I was inspired and intrigued to read his book which is not at all a repeat of the lecture. He is a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The lecture he gave "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" wasn't about dying. It was about overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment...the very motto I live by: Carpe Diem!
Take time to VIEW THE LECTURE ON YOUTUBE
It was all about living, being fully alive. It was about the legacy we want to leave (just what I speak about in the third part of my Trilogy, "Running the Human Race: From Success to Significance." It's best summed up by one of my favorite quotes and what I embrace life to be:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO - what a ride!"
|
|
| 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:
Washa Da Car Bayou Self - Car wash in New Orleans
The Wizard of Ooze - Septic cleaning service in Indiana
(thank you, Treva Olson)
***********************************************************
I hope you'll send me ones that you know of or see from now on.
Please send to mikki@mikkiwilliams.com
|
| 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!"
Well, I just had to include all three pairs of shoes from Indy because of the story behind them. I thought I was being so practical in packing wedgies (guys, you will now impress all females by knowing what they look like) so I wouldn't put my stilettos in the dirt. The flowered ones worked for the Corvette Rally, because they matched the car  and isn't that important? BUT when I found out that I would be walking over railroad tracks and gravel to get to the track, I knew the orange ones weren't going to work so I found a 24-hour department store, called Meijers and bought the cheapest sneakers I could find...16 bucks and worth every penny for what it saved me from. Anyone want a $16.00 pair of sneakers? As Carrie's famous line from Sex and the City, "I lost my "Choo's" ...and I couldn't wait to get back in them. How many of you know what that means?
|
|
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!
"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life." ---Rita Rudner
|
| VISTAGE VIGNETTE |
|
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.
 Craig Fichtelberg of American Travel Solutions is yet another of my cherished members. Craig and I share a special affinity and a relentless banter over his NJ and my NY attitude. I've expressly chosen Craig for this month's profile to honor marriage and fathers because he is exemplary in both roles. Craig and his beautiful wife, Erin are celebrating their 11 year anniversary this month and he is a great Dad to eight year old twins, Dylan and Ellie.
In the ever-changing travel industry Craig Fichtelberg, President and Owner of American Travel Solutions, has built a 15 year business around making travel buying easy. He has done this through a variety of web site brands, servicing different travel buying populations. The three largest brands currently on the web are CheapAir.com, a retail site serving the public, AmTrav.com, a business travel site serving small to midsize companies, and NextFares.com, a travel technology site providing affiliate and private labeled opportunities to companies looking to sell travel on their own web sites. All of these brands, as well as many in development, strive to make travel-buying a simple and easy process for varying consumers.
Craig's Travel Tip:
Pack light. AA now charges $15 for the first bag and most carriers charge $25 for the second bag.
For more information on American Travel Solutions contact Craig at CraigF@amtrav.com or call 312.629.0664.
For more information on Vistage International click here:
Vistage International
If 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 |
|
HE WHO LAUGHS, LASTS!
|
 Marriage/Wedding Humor
Five things NOT to say on your wedding night:
1. But everybody looks funny naked!
2. Can you please pass me the remote control?
3. I thought you had the keys to the handcuffs!
4. But my cat always sleeps on that pillow.
5. Sorry about the name tag, I'm not very good with names.
Marriage has taken a whole new twist today. There are prenuptials, everybody is suing everyone, couples are getting divorced. There's even a guy suing his wife over a frozen embryo. I think that should be in People's Court. Can you just hear the announcer now..."Stay tuned folks, we'll be right back for more of leggo my eggo."
|
| THE HAPPY COOKER
|
 Yes, that was the name of one of my businesses and oh, come on, I know guys cook too.
This is a FAVORITE summer grill recipe. It's quick and easy!
Grilled Vegetable Packets Oregano
Makes 4 servings
4 red skinned potatoes, sliced thin
2 zucchini, sliced
2 yellow squash, sliced
12 cloves garlic, peeled
2 small yellow onions, peeled and sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp minced fresh oregano
sall and pepper to taste
Throw everything in a large bowl; lightly oil four large sheets of heavy duty foil. Divide the vegetables between the foil sheets and then fold the foil over the vegetables and seal tightly. Place the foil packets on the edge of the grill over medium-hot coals. Cook until the potatoes are tender, somewhere around 30 minutes. |
|
|
| MIKKI AND FRIENDS |
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.
Courtney Cole is the owner of Hare Auto Group, one of the largest GM dealerships in Indiana and the fabulous gal who heard me speak and then invited me to my
memory making drive at the Indy 500. While there I got to know more about the modest Courtney. I had to extract this from Wikepedia because she would not give me the details that her husband Ben proudly shared with me.
Cole (then Courtney Cox) played basketball at Noblesville (Indiana) High School, where she led the team to three straight IHSAA State Finals appearances, highlighted by a state title in 1987 and a state runner-up finish in 1988. She ranks 27th on Indiana's career scoring chart.
She won the Dial Award for the American high-school athlete/scholar of the year in 1988, and in 1989 was named to USA Today's All-USA high school girls basketball team and to Parade Magazine's All-American team. She went on to Indiana University where she competed at the varsity level in both basketball and golf. A member of the IU golf team, Cole averaged a 78.94 while at Indiana. More impressively, Cole earned All-Big Ten honors on three occasions and qualified for the NCAA Championship in 1993. Cole graduated from Indiana in 1994 with a degree in finance and accounting.
Whew! My head's spinning! I'm so proud and thrilled to have Ben and Courtney in my circle of cherished friends.
|
| MIKKI'S MANTRA |
|
Be outrageous...it's the only place that isn't crowded. |
| INSPIRATIONS
|
Gabe and me on our wedding day.  Our marriage vows were from The Prophet by Khalil Gibran, who like the quintessential American poet Walt Whitman emphasized individuality, equality and freedom as being critical elements on a successful partnership.
"You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of heaven dance between you. Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together but not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow." |
|
| MIKKI ON THE MOVE |
|
 Check out where Mikki will be speaking and piggyback your company or association event. Or just invite her to dinner or shopping!
Click here for her calendar:
Mikki On The Move
|
| |
SPEAKERS SCHOOL with Mikki Williams, CSP
The April Speakers School was a great success. Read a testimonial below from one of the fabulous attendees.
|
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
Thanks so much for the wealth of information you shared with us at Speakers School. The two days were organized, fast paced, and provided all the information, tactics, and pointers necessary to launch a speaking career. 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. Thanks again to you and Sam for an enriching experience.
Fred D. Potthoff
President
Kroff Chemical Company, Inc.
|
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
|
|
| |
 My cherished 13 year old Llasa Apso, aptly named Brat.
Thanks for spending time with us!
We wish all you dads a great Father's Day.
 And our wish to everyone who gets married this June is that you have a long and happy life together.
than Sam's first marriage (left). And her second...
and her third... (not enough space for all the pictures)
| |
|
Hair She is...!
*If you enjoyed this ezine and know others who would like to receive it, please forward this along to friends, family and colleagues! Use the "Forward e-mail" link at the bottom of this newsletter.