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Issue No. 8 September 2008
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Welcome to issue eight 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.
 FUN THINGS TO CHECK OUT:
1. My blog is finally up and running! Here's the link to read all about my Birthday Bash in France.
Mikki's Blah, Blah...Blog
2. In case you've missed past ezines here's a link to the archives:
Archive page
3. I was chosen to be in the Woman's Advantage Calendar 2009 which will be launched on September 8, 2008! Look for my quote on September 6, 2009 in that calendar. If you'd like to buy  one use the promo code ADVANTAGE for a $3 discount. Here's the link:
Women's Advantage Calendar
4. LISTEN TO A PODCAST OF MY VISTAGE INTERVIEW:
Mikki's interview
5. MORE VISTAGE NEWS:
I just found out I am rated #2 out of 26 Vistage Chairs in Illinois
(I'm putting a contract out on #1) and #24 out of 350 Chairs nationwide. Yay!!!
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Me and my college roomies. I'm on the left, Ellen "Tweeny" Colman, now Hefter, is in the center and Sharon Greenberg, now Greco, is on the right.
This photo was taken at my French Riviera birthday bash, Tweeny on the left, Sharon on the right and yours truly in the middle.
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OK, OK, so I'm going with the obvious September theme, "Back to School," but just to "Mikki-fy" it, there is a little twist. Back to school for me means looking back at my most memorable school days and those would be at good ol' Ithaca College (IC) in upstate New York. Here's a little bit of Mikki trivia...I went to college on a drama scholarship and wound up in PE. That would be Physical Education to you young 'uns who now know it as Exercise Physiology or Exercise Science or some other hoo ha, like that. Get over it, it's still PE☺
Went to PS28 (that means public school) in the Bronx, then Wade Jr. HS (or PS117) then to Taft HS (which always won city basketball at Madison Square Garden). After IC, I did my master's work in hospitality at University of New Haven in Connecticut, or as I say in my speech (ooooh I love to quote myself), I graduated from the School of Hard Knocks into the Graduate School of Endless Self-Improvement.
The view of Cayuga Lake from my South Hill dormitory at Ithaca College. |
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| I LOVE THIS BOOK! |
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 Happier by Tal Ben-Sharar, PhD
I love this book so much, I talk about it in my speech, I have it on my recommended reading list, it's my favorite book of the year...so far. This book is the backbone of the most popular course being offered at Harvard University by one of its most acclaimed professors. His course in positive psychology takes scientific research and combines it with good old common sense. There are an increasing number of wealthy children and adults who are unhappy. Some refer to this phenomenon as a form of "affluenza." Think of it this way, a wine connoisseur does not chug the entire glass of wine in one gulp; to fully enjoy the richness of the drink, she smells, she tastes, she savors, she takes her time. To become a life connoisseur, to enjoy the richness that life has to offer we, too, need to take our time. This book will make you think about all aspects of your life, with concrete exercises and ideas to truly become "happier". |
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NEW to this month's ezine...
BIZ BYTES
excerpts from my various keynotes, seminars and workshops.
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This first edition of Biz Bytes was inspired by "my Sam," as I call her. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting my Director of Everything, Samantha Hoffman, you are missing a joyful experience. Anyway, enough gushing about Sam, she is an anti-gusher anyway as opposed to moi, an overt unabashed gusher. Anyway, one day she suggested that, along with the lightheartedness, joy and laughter this ezine hopes to inspire, why don't I also share some of my business acumen from all those speeches I give?
Aha!
It seems appropriate to draw from my program on presentation skills as this month is yet another of my bi-annual Speaker Schools. So from my program Speak Loudly and Carry a Big Shtick, here's a metaphor.
A great speech should be like a great meal. Start with your amuse bouche (French, for to amuse your mouth, offered in fine dining) - that's your opening line, very important. Then your appetizer with your menu of things to come, that's your opening dialogue. The soup warms us up for the rest of the meal. The main course is your main points, sprinkled with salt and pepper (that would be the humor and quotes). Ah, the salad...the fiber, the bulk of your material. And of course, the best is the dessert, your wrap-up or closing statements.
I give this out at the end of Speakers School and want to share it with all of you:
The medicocre speaker...tells
The good speaker...explains
The superior speaker...demonstrates
The great speaker...inspires
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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:
Gun Ho (you guessed it, they sell guns)
Dog-ma (dog sitting service)
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I hope you'll continue to send me ones you know of.
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!"
 If you read last months' ezine, (you DID read last month, didn't you?) you know that I attended my National Speakers Association. What you may not remember is that I was the co-host of the closing ceremonies for 2000 speakers with my pal and peer, Steve Rizzo. I was all decked out in black and gold to match these fabulous Betsy Johnson shoes. These shoes graced the stage of the NY  Marriott Hotel and I would be remiss not to share the subtle jewelry that I wore with it, purchased when speaking in Switzerland. Rizzo asked if I had a Frisbee on my wrist.
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| Sam's the hand model since I'm traveling! (I know she covets my jewelry...tee hee!) |
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!
Instead of focusing on what we can 'live with', we should be thinking about what we can't live without.
--- Ebony Carter
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| 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 15,000 members worldwide. It is to my delight to profile one of them each month.
The newest member of my CEO group is Carlyn Berghoff McClure, owner of The Berghoff Catering & Restaurant Group. She is multi-talented, and one of a kind; a prolific culinary author who wrote one of 2007's top best-selling cookbooks, The Berghoff Family Cookbook, her second book The Berghoff Caf� Cookbook: A Century of Simple, Satisfying Food, will be out in 2009 and she is writing her third, an entertaining guide and cookbook. If that's not enough Carlyn is also a chef. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, one of six women in her class.
Carlyn, now the restauranteur; after her parents closed the historic Berghoff restaurant she purchased it and moved her 22-year-old catering company into the 45,000-square-foot historic building. She renamed her company The Berghoff Catering & Restaurant Group. In the Berghoff building she now operates a cocktail bar, a dining room and the Century Room for private events. She also runs the Berghoff Caf� and has catered more than 1,000 events in venues ranging from private homes to museums. Her clients have included U.S. Presidents, international heads of state, national and local government officials, celebrities in sports and entertainment and, equally appreciated, private citizens. Carlyn has been married for 15 years to Jim McClure; a son and two daughters complete their family.
For more information call Carlyn at 312.408.0229 or visit her website: www.berghoffgroup.com
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 |
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HE WHO LAUGHS, LASTS!
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| THE HAPPY COOKER |
 Yes, that was the name of one of my businesses and oh, come on, I know guys cook too.
Great time of year for tomatoes, hence...
 Tomatoes Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Chives (6-8 servings) 9 ripe plum tomatoes about 2 inches long � lb. goat cheese, mild and creamy heaping 1/3 cup chopped chives (keep tip of 2 spears for each tomato) 4 or more tablespoons extra virgin olive oil fresh black pepper Cut the tomatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides. Place the cut side down in a colander and drain for 30 minutes. Put the cheese, chopped chives, olive oil and pepper in a bowl. Mash all ingredients together to form a smooth mixture. Divide cheese mixture into as many parts as you have tomato halves and spoon into a mound in each. In the center of the mound embed the tip of a chive spear, sharp end pointing up. Serve at room temperature. |
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| 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.
David Fishof is the founder and creator of the famed Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp. The idea  came to him after years of producing rock tours with veteran rockers, Roger Daltrey, Levon  Helm, Joe Walsh, Roger Hodgson and Todd Rundgren.
David and I were introduced by Eric Chester, who was in charge of producing my speakers convention this year, the theme of which was, "NSA Rocks." Eric invited David to speak on the main platform and referred him to me as his speech coach. When David came to Chicago I went with him to a jam where Simon Kirk of Bad Company was playing with some past attendees of Rock Camp (photo below of me and Simon Kirk). 
Over the past 25 years David has been hailed as one of the most creative and innovative entertainment producers in the world. David is responsible for reuniting The Monkees and introducing them to a new generation of MTV fans with a string of blowout tours. It was David who went to Ringo Starr and together they created the All Starr Band concept and began touring.
David has also produced Dirty Dancing: The Concert Tour, Dick Clark's American Bandstand Tour, American Gladiators Live Tour, and the British Rock Symphony with feature vocalists Peter Frampton, Roger Daltrey, Alice Cooper and Jon Anderson.
My friend David has just moved to LA to work with THE Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice) to create a reality show based on his Rock 'n Roll Camp. David, you rock!!!
Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp
888-762-BAND(2263) www.rockandrollfantasycamp.com
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| MIKKI'S MANTRA |
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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.
I AM LEARNING
I am learning the art of listening.
I wish to be an eternal student.
I am learning the art of believing.
I wish to be an eternal believer.
I am learning the art of serving.
I wish to be an eternal servant.
I am learning the art of becoming.
I wish to be
The father of my silver dreams.
I wish to be
The son of my golden realities.
Excerpt from The Dance Of Life, Part 2
by Sri Chinmoy
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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 just invite her to dinner or shopping!
Click here for her calendar:
Mikki On The Move
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SPEAKERS SCHOOL with Mikki Williams, CSP
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The next Speakers School is 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.
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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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 Here's my industrious Sam who finished her Bachelor's Degree while working in the corporate world as a sales rep and traveling three weeks out of four. She graduated from DePaul University with honors in 2000 at age 51!!! What an accomplishment!
Thanks for spending
time with us!
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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.