|
Issue No. 7 August 2008
|
|
Welcome to issue seven of my ezine. If you enjoyed last month you'll be craaaaazy about this month! 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.
So many of you asked for more info and photos from the Birthday Bash in France. We were hoping to give you a link this month to my blog so you could share THE most amazing trip ever, but it's taking a little longer than expected. We'll have it for you next month, promise!
| |
|
|
|
MUSINGS FROM MIKKI
The theme this month is The Dog Days of Summer.So you get to meet a special man in my life, my Lhasa Apso, aptly named Brat. I knew as soon as I saw him that I would spoil him silly (thank you, Dutch!). Coincidentally, my baby is celebrating his 13th birthday on August 20th.
The term "dog days" was used by the Greeks and Romans who named them after Sirius (the "Dog Star"), the brightest star in the heavens besides the sun.
During late July Sirius rises and sets in conjunction with the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. The ancients named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, "dog days" after the dog star. Today dog days occur during the period between July 3 and August 11, typically the warmest period of the summer.
LISTEN TO A PODCAST OF A VISTAGE INTERVIEW WITH MIKKI:
The highlight of my month was visiting my two former home cities, New York where I grew up and Westport, CT where I spent the second quarter of my life. In Westport I went to see the opening of the Levitt Pavilion, a band shell on the water that offers free concerts all summer except for two paid events that support the summer series. My dance company was the paid closing night act for ten years. I got to see many old (yes, old and old) friends, and Michael McDonald in concert as the summer opener.
 I then went on to the Marriott Marquis in New York City for my annual National Speakers Association convention. This year's theme was very exciting: NSA Rocks!, and it was filled with rock stars from the world of business such as Steve Forbes to the ones from from the music world like Simon Kirk from Bad Company.
I was especially busy as a panel member for my Vistage International affiliation which was a national sponsor (they are looking for more speakers and Chairs - if interested, contact me). It's a thrill to share any platform with fellow pros and friends: Jeff Blackman, Chuck Reaves and Linda Swindling. I also did a booth appearance for them at the trade show. Another highlight of the convention was the opening dance number performed by my former dance school students. Steve Sirico was a U of Tenn. fullback when he came to me for dance lessons and wound up a member of my dance company. Through my professional affiliations he got his first professional job and married the choreographer, Angie D'Valda. They became one of the leading international adagio dance teams. They returned to the states and bought my business and kept up the tradition of an award-winning dance company. It came full cycle and was so gratifying for me to have them open the speakers convention with their dancers.
Later on I did a breakout session with my NSA buddy, Steve Rizzo, called
Motivate This!!
A Bronx Bombshell and a Brooklyn Baddie Show Their Style
The real deal was emceeing the closing ceremony
(2000-attendees!) with Riz where I got to use my ol' NY humor like... "Excuse me, sir, could you
tell me what time it is or should I just go to hell first?"
Congratulations to my dear, funny, sushi-sharing, milkshake-loving peer and friend, Jeff Blackman, for being inducted into the NSA Speakers Hall of Fame.
 I'm so proud of you and thrilled for you. As for moi, I am the Susan Lucci of NSA. You figure it out! |
| |
|
| I LOVE THIS BOOK! |
|
 Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life)
by Cathie Black
I just heard Cathie Black give the closing keynote at my National Speakers Association convention in NYC (yours truly was the emcee, did a breakout and a panel and a booth appearance, whew!). I immediately felt a kindred spirit in our philosophies so didn't hesitate to buy her new best seller, Basic Black. She is exuberant and down to earth in sharing her journey through personal stories and the lessons learned in what she calls "the 360 life" which is a blend of professional accomplishment and personal contentment. She is currently President of Hearst Magazines. The book is inspiring as you learn how she got to the top and gives you straight-up, practical advice as if you were in a one-on-one session with a career coach. Even for a "serial entrepreneur" like myself, her corporate rise affirmed and gave credence to many of the success (and failure) experiences on my own crazy ride through business and life. |
|
| 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:
Hats in the Belfry (a hat shop)
Bonejour (dog supply store)
***********************************************************
I hope you'll continue to send me ones you know of.
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!"
 When I was in France for my recent birthday trip these fabulous wedgies just called my name. How do I know they were fabulous? Because every woman I saw complimented me on them!
I wore them recently to the Michael McDonald concert in Westport, and
I wore wedgies because I was walking on grass and dirt, and stilettos
would have sunk into the ground (guys, aren't you just loving this shoe
trivia?). We enjoyed cocktails at Tiffany's, dinner under a tent and
then walked to the site of the Levitt Pavilion where 2000 people were
on blankets on the lawn along the banks of the Saugatuck River. No, of
course I was not on the lawn. I was in the reserved chairs at the
front. Did you have any doubt??☺
AND THE WINNER OF THE SHOE CONTEST IS...Kara Bowen who guessed 237 pair of shoes and came the closest to the actual number of 168. Congrats, Kara, your Mikki Mouth book is on its way to you. |
|
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!
If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater...suggest that he wear a tail. --- Fran Lebowitz 
|
| 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.
Marjorie Herter was the first recipient of our Member of the Year Award, voted on by her peers. Her company, Vee See Construction Company, Inc. builds environments where people work, play, heal, learn, and worship in the metropolitan Chicago area. As a general contractor for 61 years, Vee See Construction is positioned not only in the public sector claiming federal, state, and local governmental units as its clients but also constructing projects for private commercial and industrial companies. President Marjorie Herter is focused on scheduling and coordinating projects for timely completion; she insists on quality in the construction details and assures this with the company self-performing carpentry work.
For more information on Vee See Construction contact Marjorie at marjorie@veesee.com or call 708.425.3420.
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!
|
Even dogs have "dog days of summer."
 |
|
|
|
|
| THE HAPPY COOKER |
 Yes, that was the name of one of my businesses and oh, come on, I know guys cook too.
Peaches are so fabulous right now but in a pinch you can use frozen peaches and this is still delicious.
8 peaches, sliced1 tsp lemon juice
1 cup flour
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Preheat the oven to 375.
Arrange the peach slices in a buttered 1-1/2 quart casserole and sprinkle with lemon juice. Mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Then , cut in the butter until coarse, like cornmeal. Sprinkle over the peaches and bake for 30 minutes.
Best served warm with a big dollop of whipped cream. |
|
| 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.
 I'm in the process of interior designing my home and although my office came out as I desired, the process was painful and I was looking for a new designer. I wanted someone who would "get me," someone creative, playful and easy to work with. I wanted someone who could honor my individuality. While visiting the home of my Vistage member Sandy Rueve, owner of She Beads and profiled in the April issue, I was dazzled by her condo and found that the designer was the inimitable Jim Malone.
The design philosophy of Jim Malone Design is simple: "Love where you Live." He doesn't preach a steadfast design gospel. Nor does he insist on insinuating a "personal stamp" on his work. Rather, he believes that the spaces we inhabit should tell our own personal stories. His completed spaces, much like his own life experiences, reflect a collaborative amalgam of imagination and inspiration. No matter what lies ahead for Jim, rest assured you'll find his thoughtful trail of beauty left behind. For further info, contact the amazingly talented Jim and don't be scared by my "room", his designs run the gamut from contemporary to traditional.
Jim's design tip:
"Paint-phobic? Make your color statement with accessories: drapes, pillows, and rugs can add the necessary "oomph!!" without the permanence of paint, plus they can be easily switched out to freshen a room anytime."
Jim Malone Design, Chicago
Call him at: 563.580.5527, Email him at: jimmalone@mac.com
My fabulous funky, sexy, wild, unique boudoir:
and master bathroom:
And, Sandy's house...what started it all:
Isn't he just incredibly talented?
|
| MIKKI'S MANTRA |
|
Be outrageous...it's the only place that isn't crowded. |
| INSPIRATIONS |
As the wordsmith that I have always been, from my high school honors in English (and French) to my calling as a professional speaker, each of the "inspirations" that I share every month are from years and years of collecting words that have inspired me.
LOYALTYYou can't buy loyalty, they say, I bought it though, the other day.You can't buy friendships, tried and true.Well just the same, I bought that too.I made my bid and on the spotBrought love and faith and a whole job lotOf happiness, so all in allThe purchase price was pretty small.I bought a single trusting heartThat gave devotion from the start.If you think these things are NOT FOR SALEBuy a brown-eyed puppy with a waggling tail.Unknown My Brat, aka Bratty, Bratman, the Bratster, Bman, Bratalicious...OK, OK, so we dog owners get a little carried away.
|
|
|
Jason and Dirk, his Carlin Pinscher
A bit burned out on the long and late hours of the restaurant business my son Jason started his own "interim" business: www.GoDogBrooklyn.com a dog walking and sitting service. He was inspired when he set out to socialize his dog Dirk, and all the pooches he met. Jason said, "I decided to create my first entreprenurial venture by taking care of dogs, grooving with them, and absorbing the graceful and natural rhythm that they enjoy. It's been great for my songwriting! I continue to nurture my creative pursuits, whether theatrical, musical, entrepreneurial or intellectual, and am delighted in how caring for dogs has invigorated my spirit through all my endeavors." Jason entered Dirk in the Cutest Pet Contest and as much as I love my dog and the temptation to have you vote for Brat, I love my son more, so please vote for his Dirk.
Here's a letter from Jason: Vote For My Photo Of Dirk! MY NUMBER is #100334446
Dear Family and Friends,
 I entered my photo of Dirk into a contest at CutestPetContest.com. I am trying to win some really cool prizes including a $100 gift card to Pet Smart and $1,000 cash. I really want to win and all I need are votes from my family and friends. All you have to do is click on the link below and vote for my photo. If I get enough votes I win. It's that easy!Thank you very much for your vote. Wish me luck! Thanks a bunch!
Jason Durishin, Entry #100334446
|
| 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
is fast approaching. Register now and take advantage of the early registration discount.
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
Read a testimonial from one of the fabulous attendees of the April 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 |
|
| |
Thanks for spending
time with us! (Woof, woof!)
| |
|
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.