Stop being so darned "professional" and take a break today!
Issue No. 22
December 2009
Welcome! 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.
Yes I have a
purple holiday tree - does that surprise you? And that's why this holiday ezine is purple! Looooooooooove this season and celebrate
Chrismukkah. Yup, both! The menorah is next to the white flocked holiday tree
with all the purple ornaments (you expected the traditional red and green?).
November was a great month with some really unique
happenings. Thanks to my Vistage
member and friend Susan Roman who with her husband Rick owns the gorgeous
Signature Room at the top of The Hancock (you really should go for the
holidays) I was a Marshall in the
Thanksgiving Holiday Lights Parade along the Magnificent Mile. What a great experience! I brought my
friend Michele with me and we escorted the Billy Elliot float (the show is
opening in Chicago soon).
Spent Thanksgiving at my home in FL and made dinner for friends in
my new kitchen, what fun. Worked with Sue Johnson, Executive Director
of St. James Health and Wellness Center (left) who I hadn't seen or worked with in 20
years. Now, as I write this, I'm in Alburquerque, NM and pictured here with Charlie
Hawkins at Dion's Pizza
Great story... Dion's is the top pizza place in the area and was
originally going to be a Greek restaurant named Dionysus but when the owner
found out it was going to cost $4500 to paint the sign and only $2500 to
shorten the name, it became an Italian chain called Dion's instead...ah,
entrepreneurs, we do what we have to do.
CARPE DIEM! CARPE CHRISTMAS!
CARPE CHANUKAH! CARPE NEW YEAR!
I LOVE THIS BOOK!
The Alchemist
By Paulo Coelho
This book is a classic that everyone should read at some point in
their life. I rarely read novels but this evocative and enchanting story is
about the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to
our heart. I quote from Carl Yung
in my signature keynote speech, "He who looks outside his heart dreams, he who
looks inside his heart, awakens."
I too believe in trusting one's heart so this book truly resonated with
me. Without giving away the story it's about Santiago's quest for worldly
goods and how his journey turns into the treasures he found within. It's about finding our true calling in life.
Mikki will be teaming up with some of her fabulous friends and peers to create unique training days.
SIGN UP NOW FOR THE NEXT TELESEMINAR: The Mental Workout and The Physical Workout aka How to Get Through the Holidays with Less Stress and Less Pounds
December 18, 2009 at 12:00 Noon (CST)
with Mikki and her personal trainer, John Godoy
As we look forward to a new year, Mikki will kick it off with favorites
from her
Whole Life Trilogy which deals with life skills; all the
tools you'll need to get a "mental workout" by learning, affirming and
being inspired to crystallize your goals with her "unique technique."
She is a goal-getter not just a goal-setter and has developed original
concepts over the years in achieving them. Listen and learn how! In
the second part of the teleseminar health and fitness professional John
Godoy will explain how to optimize your wellbeing by reframing how you
look at your health, fitness and the food you eat.
"Thanks
so much for a great tele-seminar. Sixty minutes of very valuable
information - I took eleven pages of notes!"
Sue Ryan
Naples, FL
My last stress
management program was in Hawaii (that's an oxymoron, like working
mother - lol). What is stress? It's
the common cold of the millennium. It's a natural reaction of the body to any
demand placed upon it; it's the way you react physically and emotionally to
change, a physiological response to perceived expectations and demands. Let me
dispel some stress myths. Four
Stress Myths 1. Only unpleasant situations
are stressful, i.e. new job or laid off, fall in love
or break up. The fact is you secrete hormones whether you
win the lottery or face death.
2. A lot of stress makes you less productive.
The fact is too little stress equals boredom and
unproductivity. Everyone has an optimal level, and a secret to maximum productivity is
to have enough stimuli and not too much. The trick is to find out how much is optimal and to use stress
management techniques to keep in optimal range.
3. Workaholics should
slow down or will get sick
Research
indicates many workaholics are satisfied with life and people who work for a
cause greater than self have a high sense of well being. You can't force a
turtle to run like a racehorse.
4. What's stress for me is
stress for you
There are three people in an elevator,
the elevator's stuck. One flips out, one is calm but anxious, and after the rescue the
third who was unruffled throughout walks out with no afterthought. Situations themselves are rarely stressful;
we create stress by our perception.
For more info on my stress
management programs, visit http://www.mikkiwilliams.com
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:
Poochini (Dog
walking service)
Shake, Rattle and
Road (Car repair)
*********************************************************** 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!"
These shoes went to a close friend's going-away party this month as
she is moving due to her new job position. She is a celebrity so I will not be
mentioning her name but I was overwhelmed with emotion when Josh Groban
appeared by Skype on her laptop at the party and sang You Raise Me Up to her. What a special moment. The Four Tenors also performed at
the party and the candy bar and candlelit apartment were just breathtaking.
WONDERFUL WEBSITES
I come across so many and so many are shared with me that I thought I'd share with you.
www.eightprinciples.com
The eight irresistible principles of fun
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!
"Once again, we come to the holiday season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice."
"I
enjoy your upbeat and never serious message. It
has a great energy and makes me smile.
Dan
Lappin
CHAIR'S CORNER
As a speaker resource for Vistage International for 15 years and Chair of two groups for eight 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.
Jansen Chasanof
I have had the
extreme pleasure of working with Jansen and several of his groups on repeat
occasions. Each time I am inspired
by his leadership, his passion for his work and how he is respected and admired
by his members and peers. He is an award winning Vistage Chair based out of
Atlanta, GA and a former Best Practice Chair (mentor and coach to other
Chairs). He currently has one CEO group and two Trusted Advisors high referring
groups. He is involved with Business Club of America, Atlanta Chapter and
actively supports the Mayo Clinic.
Prior to becoming a Vistage Chair, Jansen owned and
operated a successful management consulting firm, The Jansen Group, Inc. During
those 14 years he focused on helping small and medium size business
owners select and retain customers through customer
satisfaction interviews and select and retain employees through the
use of behavioral tools.
He has been married to his best friend, Lynne, for 41
years. He has a daughter
Julia and two grandchildren. His
hobbies include bicycling and doing projects around the house. He rides MS
150's for fun, plays tennis and reads voraciously. Jansen's personal mission
statement is to provoke positive change in the lives of those who can make a
positive difference in the lives of others in a God honoring way with an
attitude of unconditional helpfulness.
404.403.5700 - cell
770.565.9775
- office Jansen.chazanof@vistage.com
For more information on Vistage International click here:
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!
JUST JEANNIE, THE SOCIAL MEDIA MAVEN
Jeannie Walters helps companies enter into the
social media mayhem - by connecting with customers, prospects
and colleagues in new and powerful ways. Tips from Jeannie:
Don't Forget "IRL" It's easy to focus solely on online networking and social media but one of the best tactics to connect with more people is to connect with them "In Real Life" or "IRL" in social media slang. If your organization hosts regular events use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc. to promote the events before and after. If you meet people in your daily interactions be sure you follow up and connect with them via LinkedIn or other networks to maintain that connection and deepen the relationship. Going to an industry event but don't know anyone? Post where you're going to be to your networks and ask who will be there. Ask for introductions ahead of time. You'll have friends at the event before you even walk in the door! Happy Networking & Happy Holidays.
Lay out 6 slices of bread, dot each with tbsp. cranberry sauce, an
even amount of Brie and turkey and top with remaining bread. Melt butter in
skillet. When butter starts sizzling, add sandwiches and cook until golden
brown. Remove from skillet, cut in
quarters.
MIKKI'S MANTRA
Be outrageous...it's the only place that isn't crowded. My favorite quote is featured in The
Woman's Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar, one of only 365 chosen from
over 3,500 submissions. The Woman's Advantage is a line of
information products designed exclusively for successful women business
owners. For more information call 919-841-0401 or visit The Woman's Advantage
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 have a list of people I know
All written in a book,
And every year at holiday time
I go and take a look.
And that is when I realize
That those names are a part,
Not of the book they're written in
But of my very heart,
For each name stands for someone
Who has crossed my path some time,
And in that meeting they've become
A treasured friend of mine.
And once you've met some people,
The years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word
Or a friendly face.
So when I send a holiday card
That is addressed to you,
It's because you're on that list
Of folk I'm indebted to.
And you are one of many folk who
In times past I've met,
And happen to be one of those
I don't want to forget.
And whether I have known you for
Many years or few,
In some way you have a part in
Shaping things I do.
This, the spirit of the season, that
Forever and
ever endures.
May it leave its richest blessing
In the hearts of you and yours.
Anonymous
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!
NOW, DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND, Speakers School is three days!
Day One: Presentation Skills Day Two: Learning Lab (Your opportunity to practice what you learned in Day One. You must have completed Day One to participate.) Day Three: Marketing Your Speeches
The next Speakers School is February 18-20, 2010. It's for people at all levels: novices, wannabes, CEOs, professionals or anyone who needs to improve their communication skills.
Upcoming Speakers Schools: February 18-19, 2010 April 22-23, 2010
Mikki's Speaker's School goes way beyond the basics. She teaches you how to connect with an audience on multiple levels and provide a speech with superior value whether you are a professional speaker or a CEO such as myself, or anyone just looking to improve their presentation and communication skills. Chris Long, CFP President Long & Associates LLC
Become a fan on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, connect with me on LinkedIn, catch me on YouTube, look for me on Plaxo:
Don't forget to check out my personal blog every Sunday for a new post:
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 Mikki or Samantha
MIKKI WILLIAMS, CSP
Mikki Williams, CSP is a professional speaker/trainer, specializing in business dynamics and human potential as well as a Resource Speaker for Vistage International, the worlds largest CEO organization. She is a small business consultant, runs tri-annual Speaker Schools, Chairs two Executive Think Tanks, affilated with Vistage International and is a Life Architect, helping people design their lives and businesses through a coaching model. To learn more about Mikki Williams Unltd. and all the services provided CALL ME: 312.664.8447 FAX ME: 312.664.8460 E ME: mikki@mikkiwilliams.com SEE ME: www.mikkiwilliams.com
Thanks for spending time with us! (This picture is from last year with our beloved Brat who passed away in October. We miss his little presence. He was a treasure.)
*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.
** To unsubscribe please use the link at the bottom of this newsletter (but we'd rather you didn't!).
All contents � 2008, except where indicated otherwise. All rights reserved worldwide. Duplication or reprint only with expressed permission from Mikki Williams. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. All contents provided as is. In our extensive research we've made every attempt to be accurate in attributing quotes, poems, jokes and the like and want to apologize in advance if we have not given proper credit or given it erroneously.
And that's why this holiday ezine is purple!
(you really should go for the
holidays) I was a Marshall in the
Thanksgiving Holiday Lights Parade along the Magnificent Mile. What a great experience! I brought my
friend Michele with me and we escorted the 
Worked with Sue Johnson, Executive Director
of St. James Health and Wellness Center (left) who I hadn't seen or worked with in 20
years. Now, as I write this, I'm in Alburquerque, NM and pictured here with Charlie
Hawkins 
at Dion's Pizza 
As we look forward to a new year, Mikki will kick it off with favorites
from her
Whole Life Trilogy which deals with life skills; all the
tools you'll need to get a "mental workout" by learning, affirming and
being inspired to crystallize your goals with her "unique technique."
She is a goal-getter not just a goal-setter and has developed original
concepts over the years in achieving them. Listen and 
learn how!
Lay out 6 slices of bread, dot each with tbsp. cranberry sauce, an
even amount of Brie and turkey and top with remaining bread. Melt butter in
skillet. When butter starts sizzling, add sandwiches and cook until golden
brown. Remove from skillet, cut in
quarters.
